Retroreflective Optical Member for Passive Tilt Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current measurement systems for infrastructure and environmental monitoring face challenges such as high power consumption in wireless sensor nodes, frequent battery changes, and difficulty in accurately measuring tilt angles and vibrations under harsh conditions, especially in harsh environments like bridges and tunnels.
Innovation Solution
A visualizer system using an optical member with retroreflection characteristics, attached to the object to be measured, which changes its configuration based on the object's state, allowing for visualization and measurement of tilt angles and vibrations without the need for power-consuming components, using a lighting device and imaging device to capture and analyze reflected light patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wireless sensor nodes with batteries are used for monitoring, then measurement capability is provided, but power consumption is high and frequent battery changes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic sensor systems with battery power by an optical measurement system using retroreflective members that passively reflect light from LED units. The imaging device captures images of the retroreflective members, and tilt angles are calculated from these images without requiring any power consumption at the measurement location.
Solution Approach 2:
The retroreflective members serve themselves by passively reflecting light without requiring any power source. The system uses the existing light from LED units and the natural retroreflection property of the members to enable measurement, eliminating the need for batteries or power supplies at the sensor locations.
2Productivity
If wireless sensor nodes are deployed for infrastructure monitoring, then monitoring coverage is improved, but maintenance complexity increases due to frequent battery changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces battery-powered wireless sensor nodes with a passive optical system consisting of retroreflective members and external imaging devices. This substitution eliminates the need for battery replacement and electronic maintenance at the measurement locations, significantly reducing maintenance complexity while maintaining monitoring coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The retroreflective members are simple, inexpensive optical components with no moving parts or electronic elements that consume power. They have extremely long operational lifetimes compared to battery-powered sensors, eliminating the need for frequent maintenance and replacement.
3Measurement precision
If electronic sensors are used in harsh environments, then measurement data is obtained, but reliability decreases due to environmental disturbances like wind and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic sensors with passive optical retroreflective members that have no electronic components, power supplies, or moving parts. These members are highly resistant to environmental disturbances such as wind, corrosion, and temperature variations, thereby improving reliability in harsh environments while maintaining measurement capability through optical imaging.
4Use of energy by moving object
If optical retroreflection is used for visualization, then power consumption is reduced, but measurement precision may be affected by light source dependencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback by capturing images of the retroreflective members with an imaging device and calculating tilt angles based on the reflected light patterns. The measurement device processes the image data to determine precise tilt angles, compensating for any variations in light source characteristics and ensuring accurate measurements despite using passive optical reflection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient, accurate, and long-term monitoring of infrastructure and environmental states without frequent battery changes, reducing maintenance and costs, while being resistant to environmental disturbances like wind and corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
a visualizer (1) including an optical member (12) having light retroreflection characteristics
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A state visualizer according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an optical member including a fixed part that has a fixed relative positional relationship with an object to be measured and a movable part that is movably supported by the fixed part and keeps a constant angle with respect to a gravity direction, the optical member retroreflecting a light or an electromagnetic wave in a case where the fixed part and the movable part are in a predetermined positional relationship, wherein the optical member changes an intensity of the light or the electromagnetic wave reflected in a retroreflection direction in accordance with a change of a relative positional relationship between the fixed part and the movable part.