METHODS AND APPARATUS RELATING TO MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS

• US 20150102940A1
• Filed: 10/10/2014
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Limited
• Original Assignee: ABB Limited
• Inventors: KEECH, Ray, COLEMAN, Neil, ASQUITH, Peter, DRAPER, Simon
• Granted Patent: US 9,859,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• 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

Methods and apparatus are for storing and retrieving data related to the installation, service, repair or performance of an industrial flow meter or other measurement instrument. Methods and apparatus are also for other processes associated with measurement instruments.

Claims

1. A method of storing data related to the installation, service or performance of a measurement instrument, the method being performed by a mobile device and comprising:

interrogating the measurement instrument using near field communication;

receiving, in response to the interrogation, reference data from the measurement instrument;

capturing data related to the installation, service or performance of the measurement instrument; and

storing the captured data using or in association with the reference data in a data storage device.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein capturing the data comprises one or more of the following:

taking a photograph or a video clip, or recording audio;

capturing data relating to a physical position of the measurement instrument or of a port of the measurement instrument;

capturing a geolocation of the measurement instrument or the port using a location determiner of the mobile device;

capturing a compass bearing of the measurement instrument or the port, or inclination of the measurement instrument or the port, using one or more sensors of the mobile device;

receiving text or diagrams inputted or selected using the mobile device.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein capturing the data comprises capturing data relating to operational characteristics of the measurement instrument via one or more sensors of the mobile device;

optionally wherein the operational characteristics comprise one or more of vibration levels detected via said sensor(s) of the mobile device, and/or noise levels detected by an audio input of the mobile device.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein capturing the data comprises receiving, in response to the interrogation, data from the measurement instrument in addition to the reference data;

optionally wherein the data received from the measurement instrument includes data relating to operational characteristics of the measurement instrument as detected by one or more sensors associated with the measurement instrument;

and further optionally wherein the sensors associated with the measurement instrument include one or more of;

a vibration sensor, a tamper detector, a movement detector, an accelerometer, an inclinometer, a magnetometer, or a positioning receiver;

and/or optionally wherein the data received from the measurement instrument includes a current or past instrument reading.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reference data comprises one or more of an instrument identifier, a hyperlink, a position code or location information.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein storing the captured data using or in association with the reference data comprises storing the data in the mobile device.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein storing the captured data using or in association with the reference data comprises storing the data in a storage device separate from the mobile device and in communication with the mobile device via a network.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein storing the captured data using or in association with the reference data comprises storing the data in the measurement instrument.

9. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

analyzing the data collected from the measurement instrument, to determine whether recalibration or reconfiguration of the measurement instrument is necessary; and

in dependence on recalibration or reconfiguration being determined as necessary, producing recalibration or reconfiguration data and sending the recalibration or reconfiguration data to the measurement instrument via near field communication, to recalibrate or reconfigure the measurement instrument.

10. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

sending the data collected from the measurement instrument to another location for analysis, to determine whether recalibration or reconfiguration of the measurement instrument is necessary; and

in dependence on recalibration or reconfiguration being determined as necessary, receiving recalibration or reconfiguration data from the other location and then sending the recalibration or reconfiguration data to the measurement instrument via near field communication, to recalibrate or reconfigure the measurement instrument.

11. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

analyzing the data collected from the measurement instrument, to perform in-situ verification of the performance of the measurement instrument.

12. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

sending the data collected from the measurement instrument to another location for analysis, to perform in-situ verification of the performance of the measurement instrument.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measurement instrument is selected from a group comprising:

a flow meter, a pH meter, a pressure sensor, a level sensor, a temperature sensor, a utility consumption meter, a drive/actuator monitoring instrument, a robotic instrument.

14. A mobile device programmed and configured to execute a method of storing data related to the installation, service or performance of a measurement instrument, the method being performed by the mobile device and comprising:

interrogating the measurement instrument using near field communication;

receiving, in response to the interrogation, reference data from the measurement instrument;

capturing data related to the installation, service or performance of the measurement instrument; and

storing the captured data using or in association with the reference data in a data storage device.

15. A mobile device as claimed in claim 14, comprising a smart phone, tablet, portable computer, or personal digital assistant.

16. A measurement instrument comprising:

a data capturer configured to capture data relating to operation or functionality of the measurement instrument, and to data relating to one or more instrument or diagnostic readings;

a receiver configured to receive an interrogation signal via near field communication; and

a transmitter configured to transmit via near field communication, in response to the interrogation signal, reference data in respect of the measurement instrument together with the captured data.

17. A measurement instrument as claimed in claim 16, wherein the data capturer comprises one or more of:

a vibration sensor, a tamper detector, a movement detector, an accelerometer, an inclinometer, a magnetometer, or a positioning receiver.

18. A measurement instrument as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a receiver and a processor configured to receive and process recalibration, reconfiguration or reprogramming data received via near field communication;

optionally wherein the reconfiguration data comprises an activation instruction code to activate hitherto dormant functionality within the measurement instrument.

19. A measurement instrument as claimed in claim 16, wherein the captured data is configured to enable in-situ verification of the performance of the measurement instrument to be carried out.

20. A measurement instrument as claimed in claim 16, wherein the reference data comprises one or more of an instrument identifier, a hyperlink, a position code or location information.

21. A measurement instrument as claimed in claim 16, selected from a group comprising:

a flow meter, a pH meter, a pressure sensor, a level sensor, a temperature sensor, a utility consumption meter, a drive/actuator monitoring instrument, a robotic instrument.

22. A method of retrieving data related to installation, service or performance of a measurement instrument, the method being performed by a mobile device and comprising:

interrogating the measurement instrument using near field communication;

receiving, in response to the interrogation, reference data from the measurement instrument; and

retrieving data related to the installation, service or performance of the measurement instrument from a data storage device, using or through association with the reference data.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the retrieved data comprises one or more of the following:

a photograph or a video clip or recorded audio;

captured data relating to a physical position of the measurement instrument or a port of the measurement instrument;

a geolocation of the measurement instrument or the port, a compass bearing of the measurement instrument or the port, or inclination of the measurement instrument or the port;

text, images, audio or video clips.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the retrieved data comprises captured data relating to operational characteristics of the measurement instrument;

optionally wherein the operational characteristics comprise vibration levels and/or noise levels.

25. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the reference data comprises one or more of an instrument identifier, a hyperlink, a position code or location information.

26. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the data storage device is incorporated within the mobile device;

or wherein the data storage device is separate from the mobile device and in communication with the mobile device via a network;

or wherein the data storage device is incorporated in the measurement instrument.

27. A method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising outputting the data to a user.

28. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the measurement instrument is selected from a group comprising:

a flow meter, a pH meter, a pressure sensor, a level sensor, a temperature sensor, a utility consumption meter, a drive/actuator monitoring instrument, a robotic instrument.

29. A mobile device programmed and configured to execute a method of retrieving data related to the installation, service or performance of a measurement instrument, the method being performed by the mobile device and comprising:

interrogating the measurement instrument using near field communication;

receiving, in response to the interrogation, reference data from the measurement instrument; and

retrieving data related to the installation, service or performance of the measurement instrument from a data storage device, using or through association with the reference data.

30. A mobile device as claimed in claim 29, being a smart phone, tablet, portable computer, or personal digital assistant.