Patent Document

INVENTION BACKGROUND  
     Prior Art 
       [0001]    Earthquakes are the results when the energy stored in the strain between two Earth&#39;s tectonic plates is suddenly released. The primary waves (P-waves) and secondary waves (S waves) are two main waves that are released during a seismic event. P waves are compression waves that radiate in all directions from the epicenter, while S waves are transverse waves, where the magnitude is dependent on the incident angle of the wave and geological factors. Even though both waves are generated simultaneously, P waves travel faster and reach the crust surface before the bigger, more destructive S waves. Thus, P waves are often the target in seismic event predictions by many seismic predicting devices and systems. 
         [0002]    Accelerometers have been used to detect seismic activities in research since the 1940&#39;s. Most modern seismic detectors use accelerometers to detect seismic accelerations. In Chien-An Chen&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,979, patent teaches an earthquake sensing device that takes in consideration of both vertical and horizontal waves produced by the seismic event, reducing false detection. Though the detection method has minimized false detections, the disclosed device lacks functions to aid the users after the earthquake. 
         [0003]    Marvin J Yousif&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,118,386 teaches a modular mountable device that detects earthquake magnitude 3.25 or above on the Rictor-scale. It has an integral superheterodyne-AM/radio preset to a certain local news-station, allowing ongoing notification of any earthquake rescue procedures after a timed audible-alarm sequence. Though the said disclosed device has the capability to help users after earthquakes, it lacks the capability to directly impact the survival of trapped earthquake victims and rescue efforts. 
         [0004]    Many home earthquake alarms on the current market do their jobs appropriately, detecting a seismic event&#39;s P waves and alarming the users of an upcoming earthquake, but they lack the capability to help users for the entirety of an earthquake, from alerting users of an upcoming earthquake to helping post-event survivors. 
       INVENTION SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In accordance with one embodiment, seismic alarm and warning system has an accelerometer to detect upcoming seismic events, an acoustic-to-electric transducer to pick up on-site acoustics, and a RF module to receive emergency radio signals. All said components are connected to a controller unit that determines appropriate actions for different scenarios. 
       Advantages 
       [0006]    Accordingly several advantages of one or more aspects are as follows: to provide a seismic alarm system that is capable of helping the users before and during an earthquake, and also the victims after an earthquake. Other advantages of one or more aspects are that the seismic alarm is capable of warning users of natural disaster events (i.e. nearby earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes), thus offering a more complete solution for many scenarios. These and other advantages of one or more aspects will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS  
       Brief Descriptions 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of the device in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective-view, favoring the frontal-side of the device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In one embodiment, a seismic alarm and warning system is capable of activating alarms, providing illumination, detecting particular acoustics, processing RF signals, and performing other control functions. The internal accelerometer monitors device position state, and detects P waves in order to predict the arrival of S waves, determining the occurrence of seismic event; upon the determination of a seismic event and an earthquake, which is a detectable seismic event that may cause damage, a microcontroller (MCU) will activate an alarm and a light module to notify the users visually and audibly, and to illuminate the surrounding. Upon the determination of an upcoming earthquake, and the changing of device position state, the said MCU will activate an acoustic-to-electric transducer (microphone) to pick surrounding sounds. If human sounds or particular sound patterns are detected, the device will record then broadcast the acoustics of interest with a preset audio message. This way increases the possibility that trapped victims will be noticed by rescue personnel. Preferably, the device is housed by a high integrity enclosure that minimizes the damage to the device during an earthquake. When earthquake is not detected, the device monitors acceleration changes and incoming radio frequency (RF) emergency signals, broadcasted by trusted organizations. Please note that the arrangement of components and the quantity of each component are subjected to change without compromising the essence of the invention. For example, instead of having one acoustic-to-electric transducer, it is possible for an embodiment to have a plurality of acoustic-to-electric transducers to operate as a microphone array. Embodiments and methods of operations are described further below with reference to the figures. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a functional block diagram of one embodiment of the device. This embodiment of the device  10  comprises at least the following components: a 3-axis (X, Y, and Z) accelerometer  21  with three channel outputs, one output per axis; a controller unit in form of a microcontroller (MCU)  10 M; a RF module  51  composed of at least a tuner, a demodulator, and an analog output; an electric-to-acoustic transducer  60  (i.e. a speaker); an acoustic-to-electric transducer  40  (i.e. microphone); light module  90  containing plurality of LED  90 L; and a power supply  100 . 
         [0011]    Accelerometer  21  is a 3-axis sensor that detects acceleration changes on X axis, Y axis, and Z axis; each axis has its corresponding channel output. The accelerometer  21  detects and converts acceleration changes caused by seismic P waves on the X, Y, and Z axes into corresponding analog signals, which are then sent through X, Y, and Z channel outputs. Analog signals from the X, Y, and Z channel outputs are directed to designated operational-amplifier (OP-AMP)  22 X,  22 Y, and  22 Z, respectively, for signal pre-amplifications. For example, acceleration changes on the X axis will induce electrical signal output from accelerometer  21  to OP-AMP  22 X for signal pre-amplification; acceleration changes on the Y axis and Z axis go through the same process. The pre-amplified analog signal outputs from OP-AMPs ( 22 X,  22 Y, and  22 Z) are directed to three Analog-to-Digital (A/D) inputs ( 25 X,  25 Y, and  25 Z, respectively) on MCU  10 M. The MCU  10 M converts the incoming analog signal to digital data, and the said MCU also processes the digital data to determine if a set threshold is crossed, thus determining presence of an earthquake. If earthquake is determined, MCU  10 M enables other components such as amplifier  61  and driver  91 . The MCU  10 M enables amplifier  61  through wire  61 W. Said MCU then sends signals through Digital-to-Analog (D/A) converter  42 , amplifier  61 , then wire  60 W to electric-to-acoustic transducer  60 , creating sounds to alarm users. Driver  91  drives light module  90  to illuminate the surroundings. 
         [0012]    Microphone  40  detects surrounding acoustics then outputs analog signal to OP-AMP  41  for analog signal amplification. Amplified signal will then be sent to A/D converter input  45 . The MCU  10 M determines if the said amplified analog signal is processed and analyzed when certain conditions are fulfilled: magnitude of determined earthquake crosses a threshold, and/or a determined change of post-earthquake device position state, determined when accelerometer post-earthquake position state change crosses a predetermined threshold. Upon fulfillment of the said conditions, the MCU  10 M will allow A/D converter input  45  to accept amplified analog signal from  41 ; the analog signal will be A/D converted, processed through an algorithm, then analyzed for particular acoustic patterns and/or characteristics such as that of human voices. The A/D converter input  45  is enabled on specific schedule for a particular time interval. For example, upon sensing the device is tilted, MCU  10 M could enable A/D converter input  45  after the determination of an upcoming earthquake, and could continue to enable the said A/D converter every other minute for a particular duration of time. Upon the recognition of particular acoustics characteristics and/or patterns, MCU  10 M performs two actions: 1) initiates the recording of the acoustics for a length of time then store the data in the flash memory of MCU  10 M: 2) enables amplifier  61 , and retrieves the voice data and the said recording data from flash memory; the said data are then sent to D/A converter  42  for digital-to-analog conversion; the converted analog signal is then sent through amplifier  61  to electric-to-acoustic transducer  60  for broadcasting. For example, the device&#39;s broadcasting of digital voice and recording data retrieved from the flash memory might eventually sound “help!” followed by the recording of actual survivors&#39; voices, “we are trapped here!” It is preferred that MCU  10 M performs acoustics pickups and recording broadcastings in alternating sequence. 
         [0013]    Antenna  50  is connected to RF module  51  which serves as a RF receiver. RF protocols from incoming signals are sent through wire  51 W to MCU  10 M where they are processed to determine the level of urgency the protocols carry (i.e. county vs. national emergency). If the urgency level crosses a specific threshold, then MCU  10 M enables amplifier  61  through wire  61 W, and the RF signals are processed, demodulated, then converted to analog signal in RF module  51  and sent to amplifier  61  for amplification through wire  52 W. The amplified analog signal is then sent to electric-to-acoustic transducer  60  for broadcasting. RF is not used only for seismic emergencies but also for other emergencies at various levels of organization (i.e. national, state, county etc.) and importance (i.e. code red, code orange etc.). 
         [0014]    Light module  90  is driven by driver  91 . MCU  10 M sends scheduled electric signal patterns to driver  91  upon the determination of an upcoming seismic event. For example, upon determining an earthquake, light module  90  flashes with set patterns for visual warning, and after several seconds, it will be continuously activated for illumination purposes. 
         [0015]    When self-check button  70  is activated, preferably held down between 3 to 10 seconds MCU  10  will emulate scenario where there is an upcoming seismic event to see if all the described components are working properly together. The beginning, the ending, and the error occurrences will be coupled with auditory messages during the self-check test. For example, “Begin testing” and “test complete” can be used to notify the user the start and the finish of the test. If self-check button  70  is held down more than the preferred time mentioned previously, the button will perform a reset on the device back to its default settings. 
         [0016]    Power supply  100  is preferably a long lasting battery. When power supply  100  is low on power, MCU  10 M sends an electric signal to driver  81  to activate LED  80 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a front-view illustration of the system with outer housing  1  containing the entirety of an embodiment of the device. The outer housing  1  preferably has high structural integrity to survive through an earthquake. Button placements and shape of outer housing  1  are not limited but can be changed for better aesthetics, device performance, and structure integrity. Placement of the device is not limited to vertical surfaces but also is capable of mounting onto horizontal and slanted surfaces.

Technology Category: g