DMM wireless adapter

• US 20120045988A1
• Filed: 08/17/2010
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dearborn Group Technology
• Inventors: Blanton, Robin, Van Elslander, Roger Leon, Zachos, Mark P., Vink, Anthony B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

The present invention is an adapter for providing wireless communication between a digital multimeter (DMM) and a computer. The adapter has a processor as well as a transmitter operable for transmitting signals to the (DMM) from the processor. The adapter also includes a receiver operable for receiving signals from the DMM, the processor is able to receive the signals from the receiver. The adapter of the present invention also includes at least one radio transmitter operable for providing wireless communication between the processor and the computer. The data measurements obtained through communication with the DMM via the receiver and transmitter are transferred wirelessly to the adapter. The data measurements obtained by the adapter are then transferred wirelessly from the adapter to the computer through the radio transmitter. The radio transmitter is operable to communicate wirelessly with the computer in one or more communication protocols, such as Zigbee and WiFi.

Claims

1. An adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer, comprising:

a processor;

a transmitter operable for transmitting signals to a digital multimeter (DMM) from said processor;

a receiver operable for receiving signals from said digital multimeter, said processor operable for receiving signals from said receiver; and

at least one radio transmitter operable for providing wireless communication between said processor and said computer such that data measurements obtained by said DMM are transferred wirelessly to said adapter through the use of said receiver and said transmitter, and said data measurements are then transferred wirelessly from said adapter to said computer by said at least one radio transmitter.

2. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 1, further comprising an interrogator connected to said computer operable for wireless communication with said at least one radio transmitter, and transferring said data measurements to said computer.

3. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 1, further comprising:

a power source;

a charger/manager having a power supply switch, said charger/manager in electrical communication with said power source for changing the operation of said power source between a stand-by mode and an operational mode; and

a connector operable for connecting said adapter to a device operable for recharging said power source and reprogramming said adapter.

4. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 3, wherein said power source is a battery.

5. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 3, said device operable for recharging said power source and reprogramming said adapter further comprising a load box.

6. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 3, further comprising:

a multiplexer in electrical communication with said processor and said at least one radio transmitter; and

a universal serial bus (USB) to universal asynchronous receive/transmit (UART) bridge, said USB to UART bridge operable for translating data received through said connector to said multiplexer, said multiplexer operable to switch communication of said processor between said USB to UART bridge and said at least one radio transmitter.

7. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 1, wherein said at least one radio transmitter is operable for broadcasting in at least one communication protocol, said communication protocol being one selected from the group consisting of Zigbee, Wifi, infrared, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Bluetooth, Ultra-wideband (UWA), and Z-Wave.

8. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 7, said at least one radio transmitter further comprising:

a first radio transmitter operable for transmitting data received from said DMM; and

a second radio transmitter operable for transmitting data received from said DMM, said second radio transmitter operable for transmitting data in a different communication protocol compared to said first radio transmitter.

9. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 1, further comprising an optical interface, said receiver and said transmitter being part of said optical interface.

10. An adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer, comprising:

an optical interface having a transmitter and a receiver operable for providing wireless communication between said adapter and a digital multimeter (DMM), and for recording at least one data measurement from said DMM;

at least one radio transmitter operable for wirelessly transferring said at least one data measurement from said adapter to a computer; and

a processor operable for controlling the operation of said optical interface, and transferring data received by said optical interface to said at least one radio transmitter.

11. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 10, further comprising:

a universal serial bus (USB) to universal asynchronous receive/transmit (UART) bridge;

a multiplexer in electrical communication with said processor, said at least one radio transmitter, and said USB to UART Bridge, said multiplexer operable for switching communication from said processor between said at least one radio transmitter and said USB to UART Bridge.

12. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 10, further comprising an interrogator connected to said computer, said interrogator operable for wirelessly receiving said at least one data measurement from said at least one radio transmitter.

13. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 10, further comprising:

a battery;

a charger/manager having a power supply switch, said charger/manager in electrical communication with said battery for changing the operation of said battery between a stand-by mode and an operational mode; and

a connector in electrical communication with said charger/manager, said connector operable for connection with a device operable to charge said battery and reprogram said processor.

14. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 13, said device operable to charge said battery and reprogram said processor further comprising a load box.

15. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 10, wherein said at least one radio transmitter is operable for broadcasting in at least one communication protocol.

16. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 15, said communication protocol being one selected from the group consisting of Zigbee, Wifi, infrared, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Bluetooth, Ultra-wideband (UWA), and Z-Wave.

17. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 10, said at least one radio transmitter further comprising:

a first radio transmitter operable for receiving data from said processor, and broadcasting said at least one data measurement to said computer in a communication protocol; and

a second radio transmitter operable for receiving said at least one data measurement from said processor, and broadcasting said at least one data measurement to said computer in a communication protocol, said communication protocol of said second radio transmitter being different from said communication protocol of said first transmitter.

18. An adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer, comprising:

a processor;

an optical interface in electrical communication with said processor, and controlled by said processor;

a transmitter operable for wirelessly transmitting data from said optical interface to a digital multimeter (DMM), said DMM operable for measuring a desired parameter;

a receiver which is part of said optical interface, said receiver being operable for wirelessly receiving data from said digital multimeter; and

at least one radio transmitter in electrical communication with said processor and controlled by said processor such that said at least one radio transmitter wirelessly transmits a signal to said computer, and said computer is operable to record said desired parameter.

19. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 18, further comprising an interrogator connected to said computer, said interrogator operable for wireless communication with said at least one radio transmitter such that said desired parameter is received by said interrogator and transferred to said computer.

20. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 18, further comprising:

a multiplexer in electrical communication with said processor and said at least one radio transmitter;

a universal serial bus (USB) to universal asynchronous receive/transmit (UART) bridge in electrical communication with said multiplexer; and

a connector operable for connecting to a load box suitable for charging said battery and reprogramming said adapter, said USB to UART bridge operable for providing communication between said load box connected to said connector and said processor, said multiplexer operable for switching communication from said processor between said at least one radio transmitter and said USB to UART Bridge.

21. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 20, further comprising a charger/manager having a power supply switch, said charger/manager in electrical communication with said battery for changing the operation of said battery between a stand-by mode and an operational mode.

22. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 18, said wherein said at least one radio transmitter is operable for broadcasting in at least one communication protocol.

23. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 22, said communication protocol being one selected from the group consisting of Zigbee, Wifi, infrared, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Bluetooth, Ultra-wideband (UWA), and Z-Wave.

24. The adapter for providing wireless communication between a multimeter and a computer of claim 22, said at least one radio transmitter further comprising:

a first radio transmitter operable for broadcasting a signal in a first communication protocol; and

a second radio transmitter operable for broadcasting a signal in a second communication protocol, said second communication protocol different from said first communication protocol.