Transducer Specification database

• US 20040034658A1
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Potter, David L., Shah, Mohammed Kamran
• Granted Patent: US 7,373,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 3/022 having an ideal characteristic, map or correction data stored in a digital memory

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention includes a computer-implemented method for operating a transducer database, the method including creating a first electronic datasheet for a first type of sensor on a first computer, wherein creating includes specifying a plurality of attribute values for the first type of sensor, accessing the transducer database over a network, and registering the first electronic datasheet for the first type of sensor in the transducer database, wherein registering includes storing the first electronic datasheet in the transducer database.

The method may further include coupling a first sensor to a system, wherein the system is coupled to the network, wherein the first sensor is of the first sensor type. The method may include obtaining the first electronic datasheet from the transducer database for the first sensor, wherein obtaining includes accessing the transducer database over the network; and after obtaining, performing at least one of: 1) configuring at least one of a device or a software program based on data in the first electronic datasheet; and 2) storing at least a portion of the first electronic datasheet in the system. The first sensor may only have analog interface connections.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for operating a transducer database, the method comprising:

creating a first electronic datasheet for a first type of sensor on a first computer, wherein said creating comprises specifying a plurality of attribute values for the first type of sensor;

accessing the transducer database over a network; and

registering the first electronic datasheet for the first type of sensor in the transducer database, wherein said registering comprises storing the first electronic datasheet in the transducer database.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein said accessing the transducer database over a network comprises using one or more of:

client-server communication;

email;

ftp; and

a web browser.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein said creating, said accessing and said registering are performed for a plurality of different types of sensors.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein said creating, said accessing and said registering are performed for a plurality of different manufacturers.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein the transducer database is a central database for storing electronic datasheets for a plurality of different types of sensors.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein the transducer database is a central database for storing electronic datasheets for a plurality of different manufacturers.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input specifying desired attributes of a sensor;

providing the desired attributes to a transducer database; and

determining one or more sensors which comprise the desired attributes, wherein said determining comprises searching the transducer database using the desired attributes.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving user input indicating a desire to purchase a first sensor of the determined one or more sensors;

providing information to a first manufacturer regarding the first sensor; and

the first manufacturer providing the first sensor to the user.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface for purchase of the first sensor.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

redirecting the user to the first manufacturer'"'"'s e-commerce web site.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving user input indicating a desire to purchase a first sensor of the determined one or more sensors;

providing information to a reseller regarding the first sensor; and

the reseller providing the first sensor to the user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

redirecting the user to the first reseller'"'"'s e-commerce web site.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

coupling a first sensor to a system, wherein the system is coupled to the network, wherein the first sensor is of the first sensor type;

obtaining the first electronic datasheet from the transducer database for the first sensor, wherein said obtaining includes one or more of;

accessing the transducer database over the network;

accessing at least a partial local copy of the transducer database;

after said obtaining, performing at least one of;

     1) configuring at least one of a device or a software program based on data in the first electronic datasheet; and

     2) storing at least a portion of the first electronic datasheet in the system.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving user input specifying the first sensor;

wherein said obtaining is performed based on the user input.

15. The method of claim 13,

wherein the first sensor does not have a digital interface connection;

and

wherein the first sensor does not contain the first electronic datasheet.

16. The method of claim 1,

wherein the system includes a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a software program, wherein said obtaining comprises the computer system execute the software program to programmatically obtain the first electronic datasheet.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input specifying purchase of a first sensor for a system, wherein the system is coupled to the network, wherein the first sensor is of the first type of sensor;

obtaining the first electronic datasheet from the transducer database for the first sensor, wherein said obtaining includes accessing the transducer database over the network; and

storing at least a portion of the first electronic datasheet in the system.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving the first sensor in response to the purchase;

coupling the first sensor to the system; and

configuring at least one of a device or a software program based on data in the first electronic datasheet.

19. The method of claim 1,

wherein the transducer database is stored in a server, the method further comprising:

presenting a graphical user interface on the server, wherein the graphical user interface is useable in guiding the user in selecting and purchase of a sensor.

20. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first type of sensor is at least one of:

an analog sensor operable to measure analog phenomena;

a digital sensor operable to measure digital phenomena.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating a datasheet for a sensor model, wherein the first electronic datasheet is an instance of the datasheet for the sensor model.

22. The method of claim 21,

wherein the datasheet for a sensor model comprises a plurality of distinct first electronic datasheets, wherein each one of the plurality of distinct first electronic datasheets corresponds to a type of a sensor.

23. The method of claim 1,

wherein the transducer database comprises one or more of following categories for categorizing electronic datasheets:

a type;

a sub-type;

a model; and

a specific instance, wherein a specific instance comprises a serial number of a sensor.

24. The method of claim 1,

wherein said accessing comprises using encrypted access over the network.

25. The method of claim 1,

wherein said registering further comprises using security features, wherein said using the security features comprises confirming one or more of a user name or a user password, wherein said registering further comprises using encrypted access over the network.

26. The method of claim 1,

wherein the transducer database comprises a distributed database.

27. A method for selecting a sensor for a measurement system, the method comprising:

receiving user input specifying desired attributes of a sensor;

providing the desired attributes to a transducer database; and

determining one or more sensors which comprise the desired attributes, wherein said determining comprises searching the transducer database using the desired attributes.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising

displaying an e-commerce graphical user interface which is usable to purchase the one or more sensors;

receiving user input to the e-commerce graphical user interface

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving user input indicating a desire to purchase a first sensor of the determined one or more sensors;

providing information to a first manufacturer regarding the first sensor; and

the first manufacturer providing the first sensor to the user.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

displaying an e-commerce web site of the first manufacturer, wherein the first sensor is produced by the first manufacturer.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

receiving payment information from the user using the e-commerce graphical user interface in order to purchase the first sensor from the first manufacturer.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

receiving user input indicating a desire to purchase a first sensor of the determined one or more sensors;

providing information to a reseller regarding the first sensor; and

the third party providing the first sensor to the user.

33. The method of claim 32,

displaying an e-commerce web site of the reseller, wherein the first sensor is produced by a first manufacturer.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

receiving payment information from the user using the e-commerce graphical user interface in order to purchase the first sensor from the reseller.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

displaying one or more icons corresponding to each of the determined one or more sensors.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

receiving user input selecting a first icon of the one or more icons corresponding to each of the determined one or more sensors to elect to purchase a first sensor of the determined one or more sensors.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

receiving user input dragging and dropping the one or more icons corresponding to each of the determined one or more sensors into a configuration diagram.

38. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

installing the first sensor;

obtaining a first electronic datasheet from the transducer database based on the user input, wherein said obtaining includes one or more of;

accessing the transducer database over the network;

accessing at least a partial local copy of the transducer database;

configuring at least one of a device or a software program based on data in the first electronic datasheet, wherein said configuring is performed after said obtaining.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

the transducer database reminding the user to calibrate the first sensor during at least one of a certain time interval or a pre-defined date.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

searching the transducer database for calibration information corresponding to the first sensor to determine if the first sensor has a fault.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

the transducer database automatically updating the first electronic datasheet corresponding to the first sensor, wherein said updating includes accessing the transducer database over a network; and

configuring at least one of a device or a software program based on data in the first updated electronic datasheet, wherein said configuring is performed after said updating.

43. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

displaying one or more images corresponding to each of the determined one or more sensors;

wherein the one or more images comprise one or more of the following;

a map of connections of each of the determined one or more sensors;

price of each of the determined one or more sensors; and

other attributes of each of the determined one or more sensors.

44. The method of claim 27,

wherein the transducer database comprises a distributed database.

39. The method of clam 38, further comprising:

the first sensor self-calibrating itself, wherein said self-calibrating uses the transducer database.

45. A method for operating a transducer database, the method comprising:

creating a first datasheet for a sensor model;

creating one or more sensor datasheets for one or more specific sensors, wherein the one or more datasheets are created based on the first datasheet;

accessing the transducer database over a network; and

registering the one or more sensor datasheets in a server over a network, wherein the server stores the transducer database.

46. The method of claim 45,

wherein said accessing the transducer database over a network comprises using one or more of:

client-server communication;

email;

ftp; and

a web browser.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

receiving confirmation of said registering the one or more sensor datasheets.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

registering the first datasheet in a server over the network.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

receiving confirmation of said registering the first datasheet.

50. The method of claim 46,

wherein said creating the one or more sensor datasheets for the one or more specific sensors comprises creating one or more instances of the first datasheet;

and

further comprising modifying the one or more instances of the first datasheet to create the one or more sensor datasheets.

51. A method for configuring operation of a sensor in a measurement system, the method comprising:

coupling a first sensor to a system, wherein the system is coupled to the network, wherein the first sensor is of a first sensor type;

obtaining a first electronic datasheet from the transducer database for the first sensor, wherein the first electronic datasheet corresponds to sensors of the first sensor type, wherein said obtaining includes one or more of;

accessing the transducer database over the network;

accessing at least a partial local copy of the transducer database;

after said obtaining, performing at least one of;

     1) configuring at least one of a device or a software program based on data in the first electronic datasheet; and

     2) storing at least a portion of the first electronic datasheet in the system.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

receiving user input specifying the first sensor;

wherein said obtaining is performed based on the user input.

53. A method for configuring operation of a sensor in a measurement system, the method comprising:

receiving user input specifying purchase of a first sensor for a system, wherein the system is coupled to the network, wherein the first sensor is of the first sensor type;

obtaining the first electronic datasheet from the transducer database for the first sensor, wherein said obtaining includes one or more of;

accessing the transducer database over the network;

accessing at least a partial local copy of the transducer database;

storing at least a portion of the first electronic datasheet in the system.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

receiving the first sensor in response to the purchase;

coupling the first sensor to the system; and

configuring at least one of a device or a software program based on data in the first electronic datasheet

55. A system, the system comprising:

a network;

a transducer database, wherein the transducer database is coupled to the network;

a first computer, wherein the first computer is coupled to the network;

a first type of sensor;

wherein the first computer is operable to;

create a first electronic datasheet for the first type of sensor, wherein said creating comprises specifying a plurality of attribute values for the first type of sensor;

access the transducer database over the network; and

register the first electronic datasheet of the first type of sensor in the transducer database, wherein said registering comprises storing the first electronic datasheet in the transducer database.

56. The system of claim 55,

wherein the first type of sensor is coupled to the first computer.

57. The system of claim 55, further comprising:

a computer system, wherein the computer system is coupled to the network;

a first sensor, wherein the first sensor is coupled to the computer system, wherein the first sensor is of the first sensor type;

wherein the computer system is operable to;

obtain the first electronic datasheet from the transducer database for the first sensor, wherein said obtaining includes one or more of;

accessing the transducer database over the network;

accessing at least a partial local copy of the transducer database;

after said obtaining, perform at least one of;

     1) configure at least one of a device or a software program based on data in the first electronic datasheet; and

     2) store at least a portion of the first electronic datasheet in the computer system.

58. The method of claim 57,

wherein the first sensor does not have a digital interface connection;

and

wherein the first sensor does not contain the first electronic datasheet.

59. The method of claim 55,

wherein the first type of sensor is an analog sensor operable to measure analog phenomena.

60. A system for selecting a sensor for a measurement system, the system comprising:

a transducer database;

a computer system, wherein the computer system is operable to;

receive user input specifying desired attributes of a sensor; and

provide the desired attributes to the transducer database;

wherein the transducer database is operable to;

determine one or more sensors which comprise the desired attributes, wherein said determining comprises searching the transducer database based on the desired attributes.

61. The system of claim 60, further comprising:

a manufacturer of a first sensor;

wherein the computer system is further operable to;

receive user input indicating a desire to purchase the first sensor of the determined one or more sensors;

provide information to a manufacturer regarding the first sensor; and

wherein the manufacturer is operable to provide the first sensor to the user based on the information regarding the first sensor.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the computer system is further operable to:

display one or more icons corresponding to each of the determined one or more sensors.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the computer system is further operable to:

receive user input selecting one of the one or more icons corresponding to each of the determined one or more sensors to elect to purchase a first sensor of the determined one or more sensors.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the computer system is further operable to:

receive user input dragging and dropping the one or more icons corresponding to each of the determined one or more sensors into a configuration diagram.

65. The system of claim 60, further comprising:

a first sensor, wherein the first sensor is operable to be installed;

wherein the computer system is further operable to;

obtain a first electronic datasheet from the transducer database based on the user input, wherein said obtaining includes one or more of;

accessing the transducer database over the network;

accessing at least a partial local copy of the transducer database;

configure at least one of a device or a software program based on data in the first electronic datasheet, wherein said configuring is performed after said obtaining.

66. A computer-implemented method for operating a transducer database, the method comprising:

creating a first electronic datasheet for a first type of sensor on a first computer, wherein said creating comprises specifying a plurality of attribute values for the first type of sensor;

providing the first electronic datasheet using one or more of;

mail;

phone;

fax;

accessing the transducer database; and

registering the first electronic datasheet for the first type of sensor in the transducer database, wherein said registering comprises storing the first electronic datasheet in the transducer database.