SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING REMAINING LIFE OF AN OPERATIVE SUB-SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle comprising:
- an operative sub-system positioned within a body of the vehicle; and
a sensor assembly secured to the operative sub-system, wherein the sensor assembly includes;
(a) at least one sensor configured to detect vibration or shock energy directed into the operative sub-system; and
(b) a processing unit configured to determine damage to the operative sub-system as damage data that is based on one or both of a magnitude and duration of the vibration or shock energy detected by the at least one sensor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle may include an operative sub-system positioned within a body of the vehicle, and a sensor assembly secured to the operative sub-system. The sensor assembly may include at least one sensor configured to detect vibration or shock energy, directed into the operative sub-system; and a processing unit configured to determine damage to the operative sub-system as damage data that is based on one or both of a magnitude and duration of the vibration or shock energy detected by the sensor(s). The sensor assembly may be self-powered.
9 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A vehicle comprising:
-
an operative sub-system positioned within a body of the vehicle; and a sensor assembly secured to the operative sub-system, wherein the sensor assembly includes;
(a) at least one sensor configured to detect vibration or shock energy directed into the operative sub-system; and
(b) a processing unit configured to determine damage to the operative sub-system as damage data that is based on one or both of a magnitude and duration of the vibration or shock energy detected by the at least one sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A sensor assembly configured to determine a remaining life of an operative sub-system of a vehicle, the sensor assembly comprising:
-
at least one sensor configured to detect vibration or shock energy directed into the operative sub-system; a processing unit configured to determine damage to the operative sub-system as damage data that is based on one or both of a magnitude and duration of the vibration or shock energy detected by the at least one sensor; and a memory in communication with the processing unit, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine the remaining life of the operative sub-system as a function of at least the damage data and full life data stored in the memory. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of determining a remaining life of an operative sub-system of a vehicle, the method comprising:
-
determining a full life of the operative sub-system of the vehicle; storing full life data related to the full life of the operative sub-system in a memory of a sensor assembly secured to the operative sub-system; using at least one sensor of the sensor assembly to detect vibration or shock energy directed into the operative sub-system; using at least one processing unit of the sensor assembly to determine damage to the operative sub-system as damage data that is based on one or both of a magnitude and duration of the vibration or shock energy detected by the at least one sensor; and determining the remaining life of the operative sub-system as a function of at least the damage data and full life data stored in the memory. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification