System and method for obtaining and utilizing maintenance information

• US 20030215128A1
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pinotage LLC
• Original Assignee: Pinotage LLC
• Inventors: Thompson, Robert Lee
• Application Number:
  US10/464,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20030215128A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/141
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5866 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, manually generated location and time information
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A system for obtaining, recording, displaying, storing, transmitting and receiving maintenance and other information is provided. The system, which may include an electronic maintenance apparatus that may be in the form of a hand-held digital computer, allows a user to capture and store images, sound, and/or error codes and related text or voice data and other information concerning the system or object being maintained. The information can be stored locally and/or transmitted to remote locations. Retrieval of the images and other data at a later date provides an historical perspective of the object, enabling one using the maintenance apparatus to compare and contrast the condition of the object over time. Instruction on how to accomplish a job at hand, diagnostic information and/or support information may also be transmitted to and from the maintenance apparatus.

Claims

1. An electronic inspection apparatus adapted to communicate with a camera to obtain an image of an object, the apparatus comprising:

a casing;

a computer disposed within the casing;

a camera control unit disposed within the casing and coupled to the computer, the camera control unit being adapted to receive electronic images from the camera, reformat the electronic images into digital format and pass the digitally formatted images to the computer; and

an input device, coupled to the computer, adapted to allow a user to input full text data relating to the image.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the computer and adapted to display at least the digitally formatted images.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a computer readable storage medium communicating with the computer, the storage medium adapted to store the image and related voice or text data regarding the object.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a computer readable storage medium communicating with the computer, the storage medium adapted to store additional maintenance information regarding the object.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the computer for displaying at least two images.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the at least two images comprises a first image representative of a current condition of the object and a second image representative of an historical condition of the object.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the historical condition of the object is an initial condition of the object.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a device to transmit at least the image to a remote location.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage medium coupled to the computer, the storage medium storing at least one of an image of the initial condition of the object, maintenance history of the object, diagnostic information regarding the object and instructional information regarding the object.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a microphone coupled to the computer and adapted to obtain audio data regarding the object.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input device coupled to the computer and adapted to obtain an error code regarding the object.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a microphone coupled to the computer and adapted to allow a user to input voice data.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the device is a wireless communication device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera control unit is adapted to receive at least one of still images and streaming video.

15. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an Internet connection coupled to the computer for transmitting the image to the remote location.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, in combination with the camera.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a touch screen.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a hand-held apparatus.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is cordless.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera control unit receives images from the camera via a wireless connection.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera control unit receives images from the camera via a hardwire connection.

22. The combination according to claim 16, wherein the apparatus controls at least one function of the camera.

23. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a first portion of the display displays the image and a second portion of the display displays input keys.

24. The combination according to claim 16, wherein the camera is NTSC compatible.

25. An electronic inspection apparatus adapted to communicate with a camera to obtain an image of an object, the apparatus comprising:

a casing;

a computer disposed within the casing;

a camera control unit disposed within the casing and coupled to the computer, the camera control unit being adapted to receive electronic images from the camera, reformat the electronic images into digital format and pass the digitally formatted images to the computer; and

a computer readable storage medium, coupled to the computer, having an executable code stored thereon that allows the computer to execute at least two processes in a multitask fashion.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a display coupled to the computer and adapted to display at least the digitally formatted images.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a storage medium communicating with the computer, the storage medium is adapted to store the image and related voice or text data regarding the object.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the storage medium is adapted to store additional maintenance information regarding the object.

29. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a display coupled to the computer for displaying at least two images.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the at least two images comprises a first image representative of a current condition of the object and a second image representative of an historical condition of the object.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the historical condition of the object is an initial condition of the object.

32. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a device coupled to the computer to transmit at least the image to a remote location.

33. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a storage medium communicating with the computer for storing at least one of an image of the initial condition of the object, maintenance history of the object, diagnostic information regarding the object and instructional information regarding the object.

34. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a microphone coupled to the computer and adapted to obtain audio data regarding the object.

35. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising an input device coupled to the computer and adapted to obtain an error code regarding the object.

36. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a microphone coupled to the computer and adapted to allow a user to input voice data.

37. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the device is a wireless communication device.

38. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the camera control unit is adapted to receive at least one of a still image and streaming video.

39. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising an Internet connection coupled to the computer for transmitting the image to a remote location.

40. The apparatus according to claim 25, in combination with the camera.

41. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising an touch screen coupled to the computer and adapted to allow a user to input text data relating to the image.

42. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the apparatus is a hand-held apparatus.

43. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the apparatus is cordless.

44. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the camera control unit receives images from the camera via a wireless connection.

45. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the camera control unit receives images from the camera via a hardwire connection.

46. The combination according to claim 40, wherein the apparatus controls at least one function of the camera.

47. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein a first portion of the display displays the image and a second portion of the display displays input keys.

48. The combination according to claim 40, wherein the camera is NTSC compatible.

49. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the executable code allows the computer to execute the at least two processes simultaneously.

50. An electronic inspection apparatus adapted to communicate with a camera for obtaining an image of an object, the apparatus comprising:

a casing;

a computer disposed within the casing;

a control unit disposed within the casing and coupled to the computer, the control unit being adapted to communicate with the camera; and

an input device coupled to the computer and the control unit, the input device adapted to receive an input command from a user, the control unit adapted to receive the command and signal at least portions of the camera to react as commanded.

51. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a display coupled to the computer and adapted to display at least the image.

52. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a storage medium communicating with the computer that is adapted to store the image and related voice or text data regarding the object.

53. The apparatus according to claim 52, further comprising a storage medium, communicating with the computer that is adapted to store additional maintenance information regarding the object.

54. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a display coupled to the computer for displaying at least two images.

55. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the at least two images comprises a first image representative of a current condition of the object and a second image representative of an historical condition of the object.

56. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the historical condition of the object is an initial condition of the object.

57. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a device coupled to the computer to transmit at least the image to a remote location.

58. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a storage medium communicating with the computer for storing at least one of an image of the initial condition of the object, maintenance history of the object, diagnostic information regarding the object and instructional information regarding the object.

59. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a microphone coupled to the computer and adapted to obtain audio data regarding the object.

60. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising an input device coupled to the computer and adapted to obtain an error code regarding the object.

61. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a microphone coupled to the computer and adapted to allow a user to input voice data.

62. The apparatus according to claim 57, wherein the device is a wireless communication device.

63. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a camera control unit coupled to the computer, the camera control unit is adapted to receive at least one of a still image and streaming video.

64. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising an Internet connection coupled to the computer for transmitting the image to a remote location.

65. The apparatus according to claim 50, in combination with the camera.

66. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a touch screen coupled to the computer and adapted to allow a user to input the commands.

67. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a touch screen coupled to the computer and adapted to allow a user to input text data relating to the image.

68. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the apparatus is a hand-held apparatus.

69. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the apparatus is cordless.

70. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a camera control unit coupled to the computer that is adapted to receive images from the camera via a wireless connection.

71. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a camera control unit coupled to the computer that is adapted to receive images from the camera via a hardwire connection.

72. The apparatus according to claim 61, wherein a first portion of the display displays the image and a second portion of the display displays input keys.

73. The combination according to claim 65, wherein the camera is NTSC compatible.

74. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the control unit is adapted to control at least one of a viewing axis of the camera, a zoom position of the camera, and the focus of the camera.

75. An aircraft inspection system comprising:

a camera adapted to view a component of the aircraft; and

a portable electronic apparatus communicating with the camera, the apparatus comprising;

a casing;

a computer disposed within the casing;

a camera control unit coupled to the computer and disposed within the casing, the camera control unit adapted to receive an image from the camera and pass the image to the computer;

a display coupled to the computer and adapted to display the image;

an input device coupled to the computer and adapted to allow a user to input maintenance data relating to the component; and

a storage medium communicating with the computer, the storage medium adapted to store the image and related data.

76. The system according to claim 75, further comprising a device coupled to the computer to transmit the image and maintenance data to a remote location.

77. The system according to claim 75, further comprising an Internet connection coupled to the computer for transmitting the image to a remote location.

78. The system according to claim 75, wherein a first portion of the display displays the image and a second portion of the display displays input keys.

79. An electronic maintenance apparatus adapted to communicate with a camera to obtain an image of an object, the apparatus comprising:

a casing;

a computer disposed within the casing; and

a storage medium communicating with the computer, the storage medium including maintenance information regarding the object being imaged.

80. The apparatus according to claim 79, wherein the maintenance information includes at least one of the image of the object, related voice or text data regarding the object, an image of the initial condition of the object, maintenance history of the object, diagnostic information regarding the object and instructional information regarding the object.

81. The apparatus according to claim 80, further comprising an input device coupled to the computer and adapted to allow a user to input text data relating to the image.

82. The apparatus according to claim 79, further comprising a display coupled to the computer and adapted to display at least a portion of the maintenance information.

83. The apparatus according to claim 79, further comprising an Internet connection coupled to the computer for transmitting at least a portion of the maintenance information to a remote location.

84. The apparatus according to claim 79, in combination with the camera.

85. The apparatus according to claim 79, wherein the apparatus is a hand-held apparatus.