PROCESS DATA TRANSMITTER WITH WIRELESS CAPABILITY

• US 20090239485A1
• Filed: 03/24/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Woodmansee, Mark Allen
• Application Number:
  US12/053,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20090239485A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/91
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 1/00 Measuring arrangements giving results other than momentary value of variable, of general application G01D3/00 takes precedence; in tariff metering apparatus G01D4/00; transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable G01D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 1/02 giving mean values, e.g. root means square values measuring root mean square values of currents or voltages G01R19/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 1/18 with arrangements for signalling that a predetermined value of an unspecified parameter has been exceeded G01D1/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Disclosed is a data transmitter for equipment monitoring including a data input portion capable of receiving data from at least one measurement sensor and a data storage portion capable of storing data received by the data input section. An output portion is capable of outputting data as electric current via an electrical wire, and a radio transmitter is capable of outputting data as a radio signal. A method for collecting data from at least one piece of machinery includes receiving data from at least one measurement sensor in operable communication with the at least one piece of machinery and storing the data in a data storage portion. At least a portion of the data is output as electric current via an electrical wire, and at least a portion of the data is output as a radio signal via a radio transmitter.

Claims

1. A data transmitter for equipment monitoring comprising:

a data input portion capable of receiving data from at least one measurement sensor;

a data storage portion capable of storing data received by the data input section;

an output portion capable of outputting data from the data transmitter as electric current via an electrical wire; and

a radio transmitter capable of outputting data from the data transmitter as a radio signal.

2. The data transmitter of claim 1 including at least one analog to digital converter for translating data received from the at least one measurement sensor from an analog signal to a digital signal.

3. The data transmitter of claim 1 including at least one data processing portion for performing calculations on data received by the data input section.

4. The data transmitter of claim 3 wherein the at least one data processing portion includes at least one microprocessor unit.

5. The data transmitter of claim 4 including at least one digital to analog converter for translating data processed by the microprocessor unit into an analog signal.

6. The data transmitter of claim 1 wherein the output portion includes a 4-20 mA transmitter powered by 12/24 V circuitry.

7. The data transmitter of claim 6 wherein the radio transmitter is powered by the 12/24 V circuitry.

8. The data transmitter of claim 1 wherein the radio transmitter includes a switch for preventing unauthorized retrieval of data from the data transmitter.

9. The data transmitter of claim 1 wherein the radio transmitter is capable of transmitting data to a wireless communication device.

10. The data transmitter of claim 9 wherein the wireless communication device is one of a personal data assistant, a personal data collector, a cellular phone, or a laptop computer.

11. The data transmitter of claim 9 wherein the data transmitter is programmable by the wireless communications device.

12. The data transmitter of claim 1 wherein the data input portion is capable of collecting event-triggered data at a rate of about 100,000 samples per second when one or more data parameters exceed a predetermined alarm level.

13. The data transmitter of claim 12 wherein the data storage portion is capable of storing the event-triggered data.

14. A method for collecting data from at least one piece of machinery comprising:

receiving data as from at least one measurement sensor in operable communication with the at least one piece of machinery;

storing the data in a data storage portion;

outputting at least a portion of the data as electric current via an electrical wire; and

outputting at least a portion of the data as a radio signal via a radio transmitter.

15. The method of claim 14 including converting at least a portion of the data received from the at least one measurement sensor from an analog signal to a digital signal.

16. The method of claim 14 including performing calculations on at least a portion of the data received from the at least one measurement sensor by at least one microprocessor unit.

17. The method of claim 16 including translating at least a portion of the data processed by the microprocessor unit into an analog signal.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein outputting at least a portion of the data as electric current via an electrical wire comprises transmitting the data via a wired pathway to a distributed control system.

19. The method of claim 14 including transmitting an electrical signal to the radio transmitter via the electrical wire to unlock the radio transmitter thereby allowing the radio transmitter to transmit.

20. The method of claim 19 including transmitting an electrical signal to the radio transmitter via the electrical wire to lock the radio transmitter thereby preventing the radio transmitter from transmitting.

21. The method of claim 14 including receiving the radio signal with a wireless communication device.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the radio signal is received by the wireless communication device during a periodic walk-around.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the wireless communication device is one of a personal data assistant, a personal data collector, a cellular phone, or a laptop computer.