Devices, systems and method for flooring performance testing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9766171-B2
Application number	US-201514660647-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2015
Priority date	Mar 17, 2014
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

In one implementation, a footfall detection assembly comprising a sensor underlayment unit and a data analysis device is provided. The sensor underlayment unit comprises a sensor having a unique sensor identifier and a plurality of zones, wherein the sensor is configured to measure zone capacitance in of the plurality of zones, and a processing unit operably connected to the sensor. The processing unit is configured to receive the measured zone capacitance values from the sensor upon the occurrence of a change in measured zone capacitance of the sensor and generate and transmit a data packet comprising at least the unique sensor identifier and measured zone capacitance values upon occurrence of a change in capacitance of at least one of the plurality of zones of the sensor. The data analysis device is configured to receive the data packet, compare the measured zone capacitance values of the data packet to previously-measured zone capacitance values associated with the sensor underlayment into and generate a result therefrom.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A footfall detection assembly, comprising:
a sensor underlayment unit, comprising:
a sensor having a unique sensor identifier and a plurality of zones, wherein the sensor is configured to measure zone capacitance in each of the plurality of zones; and
a processing unit operably connected to the sensor and configured to receive the measured zone capacitance values from the sensor and generate and transmit a data packet comprising at least the unique sensor identifier and measured zone capacitance values upon occurrence of a change in capacitance in at least one of the plurality of zones of the sensor; and

a data analysis device configured to receive the data packet, compare the measured zone capacitance values of the data packet to previously-measured zone capacitance values associated with the sensor underlayment unit and generate a result therefrom.

2. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of zones comprises from about 2 to about 12 zones.

3. The footfall detection assembly of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of zones comprises from about 4 to about 10 zones.

4. The footfall detection assembly of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of zones comprises 8 zones.

5. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of zones are spaced radially about a center point.

6. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of zones are equally sized.

7. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the data analysis device is operable to determine if the measured zone capacitance values are a result of a singular footfall event.

8. The footfall detection assembly of claim 7 , wherein the data packet further comprises time values that correspond to the respective measured zone capacitance values, and wherein, if the time values of respective measured zone capacitance values are less than a predetermined time value, the data analysis device will generate a singular footfall event result.

9. The footfall detection assembly of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined time value is less that about 10 to about 500 msec.

10. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor underlayment unit further comprises a power supply bus configured to supply the sensor and processing unit with power.

11. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a data archival device configured to receive and store the data packet generated by the sensor underlayment unit.

12. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure plate capacitance sensor.

13. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of zones covers substantially equal radial portions as measured from a center of an area of the sensor underlayment unit.

14. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor underlayment unit covers an area of between about 0.05 to about 0.50 meters.

15. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor underlayment unit covers an area of about 0.25 square meters.

16. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , wherein each sensor comprises a sensor array.

17. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to wirelessly transmit the data packet.

18. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the data analysis device further comprises a wireless receiver.

19. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the data analysis device further comprises a radio frequency data logger.

20. The footfall detection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the data packet further comprises an area identifier.

21. A system for determining flooring performance, comprising:
a plurality of a sensor underlayment units wherein each sensor underlayment unit comprises:
a sensor having a unique sensor identifier and a plurality of zones, wherein the sensor is configured to measure zone capacitance in each of the plurality of zones; and
a processing unit operably connected to the sensor and configured to receive the measured zone capacitance values from the sensor and generate and transmit a data packet comprising at least the unique sensor identifier and measured zone capacitance values upon occurrence of a change in zone capacitance in at least one of the plurality of zones of the sensor; and

a power supply bus operably connected to each of the plurality of sensor underlayment units; and
a data archival device configured to receive and store data packets transmitted by each of the plurality of sensor underlayment units; and
a data analysis device configured to receive the stored data packets, compare the measured zone capacitance values associated with one of the plurality of sensor underlayment units to previously-measured zone capacitance values transmitted by the same sensor underlayment unit and generate a result therefrom.

22. The system for determining flooring performance of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of zones comprises from about 2 to about 8 zones.

23. The system for determining flooring performance of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of zones comprises from about 4 to about 12 zones.

24. The system for determining flooring performance of claim 23 , wherein the plurality of zones comprises 8 zones.

25. The system for determining flooring performance of claim 24 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure plate capacitance sensor.

26. The system for determining flooring performance of claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of zones covers substantially equal radial portions as measured from a center of an area of the sensor underlayment unit.

27. The system for determining flooring performance of claim 21 , wherein the sensor underlayment unit covers an area of about 0.25 square meters.

28. The system for determining flooring performance of claim 21 , wherein each sensor comprises a sensor array.

29. The system for determining flooring performance of claim 21 , wherein the processing unit is configured to wirelessly transmit the data packet.

30. The system for determining flooring performance of claim 21 , wherein the data archival device further comprises a wireless receiver.

31. The system for determining flooring performance of claim 21 , wherein the data archival device further comprises a radio frequency data logger.

32. The system for determining flooring performance of claim 21 , wherein the data packet further comprises an area identifier.

33. The footfall detection assembly of claim 21 , wherein the data analysis device is operable to determine if the measured zone capacitance values are a result of a singular external event.

34. The footfall detection assembly of claim 33 , wherein the data packet further comprises time values that correspond to the respective measured zone capacitance values, and wherein, if the time values of respective measured zone capacitance values are less than a predetermined time value, the data analysis device will generate a singular external event result.

35. The footfall detection assembly of claim 34 , wherein the predetermined time value is less that about 10 to about 500 msec.

36. A system for determining flooring performance, comprising:
a sensor

Assignees

• Columbia Insurance Co

Inventors

• Rees John J M
• Jones Jr Dennis J
• Mcclure Jr Thomas Jerry
• Chaffin Chester A
• Woodall Joseph M
• Buttenhoff Alan F

Classifications

• G01N3/32

  by applying repeated or pulsating forces · CPC title

• G01L1/146

  for measuring force distributions, e.g. using force arrays (G01L1/148 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N2203/0058

  Kind of property studied · CPC title

• G01N21/25

  Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands · CPC title

• G01N3/066

  with electrical indicating or recording means · CPC title