ENHANCED FLEXIBLE PROCESS OPTIMIZER
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring a production process using a hardware monitoring device having at least one sensor module installed therein, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) acquiring sensor data using the at least one sensor module;
(b) splitting the sensor data from the at least one sensor module into a first signal and a second signal;
(c) processing the first and second signals independently; and
(d) generating a visual representation of the first and second signals substantially simultaneously on a display device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible process optimizer for recording and analyzing various parameters to improve the efficiency of a production process. The flexible process optimizer acquires and conditions signals from a variety of transducers mounted on a production machine. Through qualitative and quantitative data analysis, specific aspects are of the production process which need improvement are identified. The qualitative evaluation looks at the presence, absence, or duration of certain features of the production cycle as revealed by the sensor data. The quantitative evaluation of data involves the computation of certain data attributes. By providing useful data acquisition and data analysis tools, necessary adjustments are made to the required parameters of the production process to provide improved efficiency. The results of the changes are immediately verifiable using the flexible process optimizer.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a production process using a hardware monitoring device having at least one sensor module installed therein, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) acquiring sensor data using the at least one sensor module;
(b) splitting the sensor data from the at least one sensor module into a first signal and a second signal;
(c) processing the first and second signals independently; and
(d) generating a visual representation of the first and second signals substantially simultaneously on a display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of monitoring a production process using a hardware monitoring device having at least one sensor module installed therein, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) acquiring sensor data using the at least one sensor module;
(b) generating a visual representation of the sensor data on a display device in an amplitude versus time format;
(c) applying a negative amplitude offset to the sensor data when the amplitude of the sensor data exceeds a maximum threshold, thereby preventing the amplitude of the sensor data from drifting above a maximum displayable amplitude on the display device; and
(d) applying a positive amplitude offset to the sensor data when the amplitude of the sensor data falls below a minimum threshold, thereby preventing the amplitude of the sensor data from drifting below a minimum displayable amplitude on the display device. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of monitoring a production process using a hardware monitoring device having at least one sensor module installed therein, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) calibrating the at least one sensor module over a first amplitude range;
(b) acquiring sensor data using the at least one sensor module over the first amplitude range; and
(c) generating a visual representation of the sensor data on a display device, wherein the visual representation is over a second amplitude range that is less than or greater than the first amplitude range, wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed substantially simultaneously.
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21. A method of monitoring a production process using a hardware monitoring device having at least one sensor module installed therein, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) acquiring sensor data using the at least one sensor module;
(b) generating a first visual representation of the sensor data on a display device, wherein the first visual representation has a first time scale;
(c) generating a second visual representation of the sensor data on the display device, wherein the second visual representation has a second time scale that is different from the first time scale; and
(d) switching from the first visual representation to the second visual representation on the display device while continuously performing step (a).
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22. An apparatus for monitoring a production process performed by a production machine, said apparatus comprising:
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at least one sensor module for generating sensor signals related to the production process;
a switching circuit in communication with the at least one sensor module, the switching circuit for splitting the sensor signals into a first signal and a second signal;
a processing device in communication with the switching circuit for receiving and processing the first and second signals independently;
a display device for generating a visual representation of the first and second signals; and
an input device in communication with the processing device, the input device for accepting commands from a user to control the processing device to selectively modify the visual representation of the first and second signals on the display device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification