User customized machine data acquisition system

• US 20080270074A1
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Horkavi, Robert A., Johnson, Stuart C., Laube, Donna K., Ring, Paul A., Hasty, William T.
• Application Number:
  US11/797,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270074A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/264 Sensors and their calibration for indicating the position of the work tool
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A data acquisition system for a machine is disclosed. The data acquisition system has at least one sensor disposed on a machine and configured to produce a signal indicative of a value of an operational condition of the machine. The system also has a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to receive a user-defined event associated with operation of the machine, and receive a user-defined trigger corresponding to the event. The controller is also configured to receive a user-defined parameter to be reported upon triggering of the event, and report an occurrence of the event and a value of the user-defined parameter based on the signal.

Claims

1. A machine data acquisition system, comprising:

at least one sensor disposed on a machine and configured to produce a signal indicative of a value of an operational condition of the machine; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller being configured to;

receive a user-defined event associated with operation of the machine;

receive a user-defined trigger corresponding to the event;

receive a user-defined parameter to be reported upon triggering of the event; and

report an occurrence of the event and a value of the user-defined parameter based on the signal.

2. The data acquisition system of claim 1, further including an off-board system in communication with the controller to receive input from a user, wherein the user-defined parameter is selectable from a list of available monitored operational parameters via the off-board system.

3. The data acquisition system of claim 2, wherein the user-defined parameter is communicated to the controller in response to the input.

4. The data acquisition system of claim 2, wherein reporting the event includes communicating the event and the value of the user-defined parameter to the off-board system for storage.

5. The data acquisition system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with the off-board system.

6. The data acquisition system of claim 1, further including an operator interface on the machine communicatively coupled to the controller and being configured to receive input from a machine operator, wherein the user-defined parameter is selectable from a list of available monitored operational parameters in response to the input.

7. The data acquisition system of claim 1, wherein the user-defined trigger includes a predetermined value of an operational condition of the machine.

8. The data acquisition system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to report at least one default parameter corresponding to the event.

9. A method of acquiring machine data, comprising:

sensing a value of at least one operational condition of the machine;

receiving a user-defined event associated with operation of the machine;

receiving a user-defined trigger corresponding to the event;

receiving a user-defined parameter to be reported upon triggering of the event; and

reporting an occurrence of the event and a value for the user-defined parameter based on the signal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving a user-defined parameter includes receiving from an operator of the machine a selection of the user-defined parameter from a plurality of available monitored parameters.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving a user-defined parameter includes receiving from a user of an off-board system a selection of the user-selected parameter from a plurality of available monitored parameters.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein reporting the event includes communicating the event and the value of the user-defined parameter to an off-board system for storage.

13. The method of claim 9, further including reporting a value of at least one default parameter associated with the event.

14. A machine, comprising:

a power source configured to power operations of the machine;

a traction device coupled to the power source to propel the machine;

a tool; and

a data acquisition system disposed on the machine, including;

at least one sensor disposed on a machine and configured to produce a signal indicative of a value of an operational condition of the machine; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller being configured to;

receive a user-defined event associated with operation of the machine;

receive a user-defined trigger corresponding to the event;

receive a user-defined parameter to be reported upon triggering of the event; and

report an occurrence of the event and a value of the user-defined parameter based on the signal.

15. The machine of claim 14, further including an off-board system in communication with the controller to receive input from a user, wherein the user-defined parameter is selectable from a list of available monitored operational parameters via the off-board system.

16. The machine of claim 15, wherein the user-defined parameter is communicated to the controller in response to the input.

17. The machine of claim 15, wherein reporting the event includes communicating the event and the value of the user-defined parameter to the off-board system for storage.

18. The machine of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with the off-board system.

19. The machine of claim 14, further including an operator interface on the machine communicatively coupled to the controller and being configured to receive input from a machine operator, wherein the user-defined parameter is selectable from a list of available monitored operational parameters in response to the input.

20. The machine of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to report at least one default parameter corresponding to the event.