SYNCHRONIZED MEASUREMENTS FOR A PORTABLE MULTI-CHANNEL WIRELESS SENSOR SYSTEM

• US 20160282232A1
• Filed: 03/27/2015
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: Murphy, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 9,759,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/005 Testing of complete machines, e.g. washing-machines or mobile phones testing of machine parts G01M13/00; testing of electric apparatus or components G01R31/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0012 by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others

Abstract

A system for monitoring a machine includes first and second mobile units. The first mobile unit includes an emitter, a clock in communication with the emitter, and a sensor in communication with the clock. The second mobile unit includes a detector, a clock in communication with the detector, and a sensor in communication with the clock. The detector of the second mobile unit is configured to detect a signal from the emitter of the first mobile unit, and the clocks in the first and second mobile units are configured to be synchronized in response to the detection of the signal.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a machine, comprising:

a first mobile unit comprising;

an emitter;

a clock in communication with the emitter; and

a sensor in communication with the clock, wherein the sensor is configured to measure data related to the machine; and

a second mobile unit comprising;

a detector;

a clock in communication with the detector; and

a sensor in communication with the clock, wherein the sensor is configured to measure data related to the machine,

wherein the detector of the second mobile unit is configured to detect a signal from the emitter of the first mobile unit, and wherein the clocks in the first and second mobile units are configured to be synchronized in response to the detection of the signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal is a pulse of light.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the emitter comprises a light emitting diode or an infrared light source, and wherein the detector comprises a photodiode.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first and second mobile units also each comprise a filter that covers the emitter, the detector, or both, wherein the filter allows light within a predetermined frequency band or wavelength band to pass therethrough and prevents light outside the predetermined frequency band or wavelength band from passing therethrough.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises a sound or a radiofrequency signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises an electrical signal conducted through a cable.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the data comprises vibration data, pressure data, temperature data, position data, velocity data, rotational speed, enveloped acceleration, or acceleration data.

8. A method for monitoring a machine, comprising:

positioning first and second mobile units such that an emitter of the first mobile unit is in range to communicate with a detector of the second mobile unit;

causing a signal to be emitted from the emitter of the first mobile unit that is detected by the detector of the second mobile unit; and

synchronizing a clock in the first mobile unit with a clock in the second mobile unit using the signal emitted from the emitter of the first mobile unit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal comprises a pulse of light, wherein the emitter comprises a light emitting diode or an infrared light source, and wherein the detector comprises a photodiode.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising coupling the first and second mobile units to a machine after the clocks of the first and second mobile units are synchronized.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second mobile units each comprise a sensor, and further comprising capturing data related to the machine using the sensors in the first and second mobile units after the first and second mobile units are coupled to the machine.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data comprises vibration data, pressure data, temperature data, position data, velocity data, rotational speed, enveloped acceleration, acceleration data, or a combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the data from the first and second mobile units to a remote device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising temporally aligning the data from the first and second mobile units with the remote device.

15. A method for monitoring a machine, comprising:

connecting a remote device to first and second mobile units;

synchronizing a clock in the first mobile unit with a clock in the second mobile unit to a first level of accuracy using a signal from the remote device;

positioning the first and second mobile units such that an emitter of the first mobile unit is in range to communicate with a detector of the second mobile unit;

causing a signal to be emitted from the emitter of the first mobile unit that is detected by the detector of the second mobile unit; and

synchronizing the clock in the first mobile unit with the clock in the second mobile unit to a second level of accuracy using the signal emitted from the emitter of the first mobile unit, wherein the second level of accuracy is greater than the first level of accuracy.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the signal from the emitter comprises a pulse of light, wherein the emitter comprises a light emitting diode or an infrared light source, and wherein the detector comprises a photodiode.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising coupling the first and second mobile units to a machine after the clocks of the first and second mobile units are synchronized.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second mobile units each comprise a sensor, and further comprising capturing vibration data related to the machine using the sensors in the first and second mobile units after the first and second mobile units are coupled to the machine.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the vibration data from the first and second mobile units to a remote device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising temporally aligning the vibration data from the first and second mobile units with the remote device.