Abstract: A system and method is provided for predicting an imbalance condition in a rotating device. The rotational imbalance prediction system (100) includes an accelerometer assembly (104), including at least one accelerometer (304), and a processor (306). The at least one accelerometer (304) provides acceleration measurements to the processor (306), the measurements describing the current acceleration of an orbit of the rotational device (102). The processor (306) receives the acceleration measurements and calculates an average radius of the orbit (202) to determine if the average radius is increasing, predictive of an imbalance condition. The processor (306) generates a signal in response to the prediction of an imbalance condition and transmits the signal to a motor control (308) or a remote alarm module (302). The system and method provides for countermeasures to be taken in response to the prediction of an imbalance condition, thereby eliminating the imbalance condition.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for detection of a human body fall event. The fall detection system (100, 200) includes a monitoring unit (102, 202), including a plurality of accelerometers (106, 206), a processor (108, 208) and a wireless transmitter (110, 210). The plurality of accelerometers (106, 206) provide acceleration measurements to the processor (108, 208), the measurements describing the current acceleration of the person wearing the monitoring unit (102, 202) in all directions. The processor (108, 208) receives the acceleration measurements and compares the acceleration measurements to a value range to determine if the wearer is currently experiencing a fall event. The processor (108, 208) generates a signal in response to the detection of a fall event and the transmitter (110, 210) transmits the signal to a remote signal receiver (104, 204).

Abstract: A system and method is provided for electronic device fall detection. The system and method provides the ability to reliably detect falls even in the presence of other motion in the electronic device. The fall detection system includes a plurality of accelerometers and a processor. The plurality of accelerometers provides acceleration measurements to the processor, with these measurements describing the current acceleration of the electronic device in all directions. The processor receives the acceleration measurements and compares the acceleration measurements to a value range to determine if the device is currently falling. Furthermore, the system and method can reliably detect a non-linear fall, such as when the fall is accompanied with device rotation or initiated by additional external force. To detect a non-linear fall, the processor compares combinations of acceleration measurements to a value range and further determines the smoothness of the acceleration measurement combinations.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for predicting an imbalance condition in a rotating device. The rotational imbalance prediction system (100) includes an accelerometer assembly (104), including at least one accelerometer (304), and a processor (306). The at least one accelerometer (304) provides acceleration measurements to the processor (306), the measurements describing the current acceleration of an orbit of the rotational device (102). The processor (306) receives the acceleration measurements and calculates an average radius of the orbit (202) to determine if the average radius is increasing, predictive of an imbalance condition. The processor (306) generates a signal in response to the prediction of an imbalance condition and transmits the signal to a motor control (308) or a remote alarm module (302). The system and method provides for countermeasures to be taken in response to the prediction of an imbalance condition, thereby eliminating the imbalance condition.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for detection of a human body fall event. The fall detection system (100, 200) includes a monitoring unit (102, 202), including a plurality of accelerometers (106, 206), a processor (108, 208) and a wireless transmitter (110, 210). The plurality of accelerometers (106, 206) provide acceleration measurements to the processor (108, 208), the measurements describing the current acceleration of the person wearing the monitoring unit (102, 202) in all directions. The processor (108, 208) receives the acceleration measurements and compares the acceleration measurements to a value range to determine if the wearer is currently experiencing a fall event. The processor (108, 208) generates a signal in response to the detection of a fall event and the transmitter (110, 210) transmits the signal to a remote signal receiver (104, 204).

Abstract: A system and method is provided for electronic device fall detection. The system and method provides the ability to reliably detect falls even in the presence of other motion in the electronic device. The fall detection system includes a plurality of accelerometers and a processor. The plurality of accelerometers provides acceleration measurements to the processor, with these measurements describing the current acceleration of the electronic device in all directions. The processor receives the acceleration measurements and compares the acceleration measurements to a value range to determine if the device is currently falling. Furthermore, the system and method can reliably detect a non-linear fall, such as when the fall is accompanied with device rotation or initiated by additional external force. To detect a non-linear fall, the processor compares combinations of acceleration measurements to a value range and further determines the smoothness of the acceleration measurement combinations.

Abstract: An alarm circuit (10) includes a sensor (11), a comparator (13), a control circuit (16), and a transducer (19). The control circuit (16) controls the transducer (19) and has three modes of operation: standby mode, alarm mode, and silence mode. The comparator (13) compares the voltage of an input signal from the sensor (11) to a first threshold level during the standby mode of operation. The control circuit (16) enables the transducer (19) and transitions to the alarm mode of operation after the voltage of the input signal exceeds the first threshold level. The control circuit (16) disables the transducer (19) for a predetermined time period and transitions to the silence mode of operation after a silence signal is received by the control circuit (16). The input signal is compared to both the first threshold level and a second threshold level during the silence mode.