Communications interface database for electronic diagnostic apparatus

• US 20080126423A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Vandevert Dunkle
• Original Assignee: Mark Vandevert Dunkle
• Inventors: Dunkle, Mark Vandevert
• Granted Patent: US 9,026,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31323 Database for CIM
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A connection to an item of equipment is detected. An equipment class of the item of equipment is determined. A selection of an attribute associated with the item of equipment is received. An attribute record corresponding to the equipment class of the item of equipment and the selected attribute is retrieved from a database, wherein the attribute record enables a retrieval of a value of the selected attribute from the item of equipment.

Claims

1. A method of testing equipment by a diagnostic apparatus, comprising:

detecting a connection to an item of equipment;

determining an equipment class of the item of equipment;

receiving a selection of an attribute associated with the item of equipment; and

retrieving from an attribute database an attribute record corresponding to the equipment class of the item of equipment and the selected attribute, wherein the attribute record enables a retrieval of a value of the selected attribute from the item of equipment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the attribute record includes a first field identifying the equipment class, a second field identifying the attribute, and a third field specifying an ID which the equipment class identified by the first field assigns to the attribute identified by the second field; and

the attribute is a sensor measurement or operating parameter of the equipment class identified by the first field.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

retrieving attribute data from the item of equipment using the first field, the second field and the third field of the attribute record.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

retrieving from the attribute database a subordinate record associated with the attribute record, the subordinate record having one or more subordinate fields that are subordinate to the second field of the attribute record.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more subordinate fields include at least one of an attribute name field, an attribute chamber model field, a read/write field, a units conversion field, a minimum scale factor conversion field and a maximum scale factor conversion field.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the equipment class of the item of equipment includes receiving a user selection of the equipment class, further comprising:

displaying a first view of a graphical user interface that includes a list of user selectable equipment classes; and

upon receiving user selection of the equipment class, displaying a second view of the graphical user interface that includes a list of user selectable attributes associated with the equipment class.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic apparatus is a portable diagnostic apparatus that includes the attribute database.

8. A computer readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of testing equipment by a diagnostic apparatus, comprising:

detecting a connection to an item of equipment;

determining an equipment class of the item of equipment;

receiving a selection of an attribute associated with the item of equipment; and

retrieving from an attribute database an attribute record corresponding to the equipment class of the item of equipment and the selected attribute, wherein the attribute record enables a retrieval of a value of the selected attribute from the item of equipment.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the attribute record includes a first field identifying the equipment class, a second field identifying the attribute, and a third field specifying an ID which the equipment class identified by the first field assigns to the attribute identified by the second field; and

the attribute is a sensor measurement or operating parameter of the equipment class identified by the first field.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, the method further comprising:

retrieving attribute data from the item of equipment using the first field, the second field and the third field of the attribute record.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9, the method further comprising:

retrieving from the attribute database a subordinate record associated with the attribute record, the subordinate record having one or more subordinate fields that are subordinate to the second field of the attribute record.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more subordinate fields include at least one of an attribute name field, an attribute chamber model field, a read/write field, a units conversion field, a minimum scale factor conversion field and a maximum scale factor conversion field.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein determining the equipment class of the item of equipment includes receiving a user selection of the equipment class, the method further comprising:

displaying a first view of a graphical user interface that includes a list of user selectable equipment classes; and

upon receiving user selection of the equipment class, displaying a second view of the graphical user interface that includes a list of user selectable attributes associated with the equipment class.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the diagnostic apparatus is a portable diagnostic apparatus that includes the attribute database.

15. A diagnostic apparatus comprising:

at least one of a digital communications interface or an analog communications interface to connect with an item of equipment;

an attribute lookup module, coupled with at least one of the digital communications interface or the analog communications interface and to an attribute database, to determine an equipment class of the item of equipment, to receive a selection of an attribute associated with the item of equipment, and to find an attribute record associated with the item of equipment and the selected attribute in the attribute database; and

the attribute database to store a plurality of attribute records, each attribute record including a first field identifying the equipment class, a second field identifying the attribute, and a third field specifying an ID which the equipment class identified by the first field assigns to the attribute identified by the second field, said attribute being a sensor measurement or operating parameter of the equipment class identified by the first field.

16. The diagnostic apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the attribute database to store a plurality of subordinate records, each of the plurality of subordinate records being associated with one or more of the plurality of attribute records, and each of the plurality of subordinate records having one or more fields that are subordinate to the second field of the associated one or more of the plurality of attribute records; and

the attribute lookup module is further to retrieve from the attribute database a subordinate record associated with the item of equipment and the selected attribute in the attribute database.

17. The diagnostic apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more subordinate fields include at least one of an attribute name field, an attribute chamber model field, a read/write field, a units conversion field, a minimum scale factor conversion field and a maximum scale factor conversion field.

18. The diagnostic apparatus of claim 15, wherein the attribute lookup module is further to retrieve a value of the selected attribute from the item of equipment.

19. The diagnostic apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a graphical user interface to display a list of user selectable attributes associated with the equipment class.

20. The diagnostic apparatus of claim 15, wherein the diagnostic apparatus is a portable diagnostic apparatus.