Patent ID: 7042365

Claim:
A method of operating a seismic sensor comprising the: steps of: (a) providing a seismic sensor, wherein the seismic sensor includes: (1) a set of accelerometers that generate electronic signals in response to vibrations caused by an earthquake; (2) a controller operationally coupled with the set of accelerometers and configured to receive the electronic signals and to determine whether the electronic signals represent an earthquake; (3) a switch having a first and a second state, operationally coupled with the controller, wherein the controller changes the state of the switch upon detection of an earthquake; and (4) a first enclosure for housing the set of accelerometers, the controller and the switch; (b) connecting the seismic sensor to a control system, wherein the control system includes: (1) a controller which is operationally coupled with the switch; (2) a second enclosure, larger than the first enclosure, for housing the controller; (c) fixedly mounting the seismic sensor adjacent to or inside of the control system; (d) periodically dismounting the seismic sensor and placing the seismic sensor on a vibration table, wherein the vibration table is operated to simulate the condition of an earthquake so that the seismic sensor operates to change the state of the switch; and (e) re-mounting the seismic sensor when the seismic sensor operates to change the state of the switch in response to the simulated condition of the earthquake.