SENSOR FOR IMAGING INSIDE EQUIPMENT

• US 20110169941A1
• Filed: 03/19/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Raghunath, Mandayam Thondanur, Caceres, Ramon, Narayanaswami, Chandrasekhar, Berger, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US13/052,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20110169941A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/86
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0118 Apparatus with remote processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/889 providing a bare video image, i.e. without visual measurement aids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8803 Visual inspection measuring projectors G01B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/954 Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/06 Illumination; Optics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/08 Optical fibres; light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A system for monitoring performance of a machine for detection of visible signs of failure, the system including: a machine enclosure housing a plurality of machine parts; a visual conduit for providing a view of an interior of the machine; an interface to the machine configured to receive images from the visual conduit; and a repair network for linking the interface to a monitoring center that provides for the repair of problems with the machine.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring performance of a machine for detection of visible signs of failure, the system comprising:

a machine enclosure housing a plurality of machine parts;

a visual conduit for providing a view of an interior of the machine;

an interface to the machine configured to receive images from the visual conduit; and

a repair network for linking the interface to a monitoring center that provides for the repair of problems with the machine.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the visual conduit comprises a plurality of pathways throughout the machine to provide images of the interior.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising guide rails in at least one of the pathways to allow for movement of a camera to locations within the machine required for providing desired images.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the visual conduit comprises a machine enclosure made from a material that is transparent to a source of electromagnetic radiation at one or more frequencies.

5. The system of claim 3 further comprising a sensor.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the sensor is located outside the enclosure.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the sensor is located inside the enclosure and operatively coupled with a communication link.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein the machine enclosure is made from a different material than the machine parts.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the system further comprises a radio frequency tag reader;

and

wherein radio-frequency tags are embedded in the machine parts to provide an indication of the material from which they are made.