Time Domain Sensor Systems, Devices, and Methods Using Enhanced Nonlinear Least-Squares Curve Fitting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016299873-A1
Application number	US-201615189981-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 22, 2016
Priority date	Jun 24, 2011
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A time domain sensor system operable via a set of executable instructions storable in relation to a memory device for transforming output data by performing a nonlinear least-squares curve fitting, involving: a time domain sensor device having a mass-spring oscillator including a frame portion and a cantilever portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the cantilever portion coupled with the frame portion; and a plurality of proximity switches having a movable portion and a fixed portion in relation to the frame portion, each proximity switch of the plurality of proximity switches having at least one proximity tip, and each proximity switch configured to trigger in response to an acceleration experienced by the cantilever portion; and a processor operatively coupled with the time domain sensor device and configured to operate via the set of executable instructions for transforming the output data by performing a nonlinear least-squares curve fitting.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A time domain sensor system operable via a set of executable instructions storable in relation to a non-transitory memory device for transforming the output data by performing a nonlinear least-squares curve fitting, comprising:
a time domain sensor device, the time domain sensor device comprising: a mass-spring oscillator, the mass-spring oscillator comprising a frame portion and a cantilever portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the cantilever portion coupled with the frame portion; and a plurality of proximity switches having a movable portion and a fixed portion in relation to the frame portion, each proximity switch of the plurality of proximity switches having at least one proximity tip, and each proximity switch configured to trigger in response to an acceleration experienced by the cantilever portion; and a processor operatively coupled with the time domain sensor device and configured to operate via the set of executable instructions for transforming the output data by performing a nonlinear least-squares curve fitting.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cantilever portion is coupled with the frame portion via the distal end.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each proximity switch of the plurality of proximity switches comprises at least one proximity tip.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one proximity tip comprises a pair of proximity tips.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cantilever portion is configured to experience and sense at least three possible modes of acceleration.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least three possible modes of acceleration comprises a negative acceleration, a zero acceleration, and a positive acceleration.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cantilever portion is configured to experience and sense an acceleration if the time domain sensor device is set into resonant motion.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured by the set of executable instructions to:
generate an electrical signal during alignment of the moving switch with the at least one fixed switch; digitize the electrical signal into an a time stamp of the “switch/trigger” event by way of a time-to-digital converter; relate each time stamp with each known location of each at least one fixed switch, thereby providing space-time data relating to at least one space-time coordinate set {x i , t i } corresponding to the i th switch, wherein i=an integer; process the space-time data via at least one numerical transformation, processing the space-time data implementable by way of at least one of software, firmware, and hardware; and perform an enhanced nonlinear least-squares curve-fitting between space-time data and a selectable analytic function approximating a true motion of the resonant oscillation, thereby providing at least one estimated value for at least one parameter of the selectable analytic function, and thereby improving the timing information.

9 . A method of fabricating a time domain sensor system operable via a set of executable instructions storable in relation to a non-transitory memory device for transforming the output data by performing a nonlinear least-squares curve fitting, comprising:
providing the time domain sensor system operable via a set of executable instructions for transforming the output data by performing a nonlinear least-squares curve-fitting, providing the time domain sensor system comprising: providing a time domain sensor device, providing the time domain sensor device comprising: providing a mass-spring oscillator, providing the mass-spring oscillator comprising providing a frame portion, and providing a cantilever portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the cantilever portion coupled with the frame portion; and providing a plurality of proximity switches having a movable portion and a fixed portion in relation to the frame portion, providing the plurality of proximity switches comprising providing each proximity switch of the plurality of proximity switches with at least one proximity tip, and providing the plurality of proximity switches comprising configuring each proximity switch to trigger in response to an acceleration experienced by the cantilever portion; and providing a processor operatively coupled with the time domain sensor device and configured to operate via the set of executable instructions for transforming the output data by performing a nonlinear least-squares curve fitting.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein providing the cantilever portion comprises coupling the cantilever portion with the frame portion via the distal end.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein providing each proximity switch of the plurality of proximity switches comprises providing each proximity switch with at least one proximity tip.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the at least one proximity tip comprises providing a pair of proximity tips.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein providing the cantilever portion comprises configuring the cantilever portion to experience and sense at least three possible modes of acceleration.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein providing the cantilever portion comprises configuring the cantilever portion to experience and sense a negative acceleration, a zero acceleration, and a positive acceleration.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein providing the cantilever portion comprises configuring the cantilever portion to experience and sense an acceleration if the time domain sensor device is set into resonant motion.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein providing the processor comprises configuring the processor by way of the set of executable instructions to:
generate an electrical signal during alignment of the moving switch with the at least one fixed switch; digitize the electrical signal into an a time stamp of the “switch/trigger” event by way of a time-to-digital converter; relate each time stamp with each known location of each at least one fixed switch, thereby providing space-time data relating to at least one space-time coordinate set {x i , t i } corresponding to the i th switch, wherein i=an integer; process the space-time data via at least one numerical transformation, processing the space-time data implementable by way of at least one of software, firmware, and hardware; and perform an enhanced nonlinear least-squares curve-fitting between space-time data and a selectable analytic function approximating a true motion of the resonant oscillation, thereby providing at least one estimated value for at least one parameter of the selectable analytic function, and thereby improving the timing information.

17 . A method of improving timing information by way of a time domain sensor system, the method comprising:
providing the time domain sensor system operable via a set of executable instructions for transforming the output data by performing a nonlinear least-squares curve-fitting, providing the time domain sensor system comprising: providing a time domain sensor device, providing the time domain sensor device comprising: providing a mass-spring oscillator, providing the mass-spring oscillator comprising providing a frame portion, and providing a cantilever portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the cantilever portion coupled with the frame portion; and providing a plurality of proximity switches having a movable portion and a fixed portion in relation to the frame portion, providing the plurality of proximity switches comprising providing each proximity

Assignees

• Spawar Systems Ct Pacific

Inventors

• Tally Charles
• Swanson Paul David

Classifications

• G01P15/097

  by vibratory elements · CPC title

• G06F17/18 Primary

  for evaluating statistical data {, e.g. average values, frequency distributions, probability functions, regression analysis (forecasting specially adapted for a specific administrative, business or logistic context G06Q10/04)} · CPC title

• G06F17/15 Primary

  Correlation function computation {including computation of convolution operations (arithmetic circuits for sum of products per se, e.g. multiply-accumulators G06F7/5443; digital filters, e.g. FIR, IIR, adaptive filters H03H17/00)} · CPC title