Universal monitor
First Claim
1. A monitoring module for monitoring a plurality of functions and conditions of a machine, said machine having a plurality of sensors associated therewith for producing sensor signals corresponding to said plurality of functions and conditions, said monitoring module comprising:
- a plurality of input means for receiving respective, selected ones of said sensor signals;
processing means responsive to the sensor signals received at said input means for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions in accordance with said sensor signals;
memory means for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of said sensor means for monitoring any of said corresponding functions and conditions; and
programming means for programming said memory means with data and instructions for enabling response of said processing means to any given plurality of sensors coupled to said input means for monitoring a corresponding plurality of functions and conditions;
wherein said memory means comprises a first memory portion for containing non-chargeable operating data, a second memory portion accessible only to authorized factory or service programming personnel for containing changeable data corresponding to data and instructions for monitoring particular types of sensors which may be selected for association with a given machine, and a third, user-accessible memory portion accessible independently of said first and second memory portions for receiving and storing data and instructions relating to the particular characteristics of particular sensors selected for use with a given machine.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for monitoring a plurality of functions and conditions of a machine which includes a plurality of sensors for producing sensor signals corresponding to these functions and conditions. The monitoring method comprises providing at least one monitoring module having a plurality of inputs, each for receiving a selected one of the sensor signals. The module also has a processor responsive to the sensor signals at the inputs for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions, a display responsive to the display signals for producing observable indications of the corresponding functions and conditions, and a memory for storing data and instructions for enabling the processor to respond to the sensor signals from any of the sensors for monitoring any of the corresponding functions and conditions. The method proceeds by programming the memory with data and instructions for monitoring the plurality of functions and conditions of the machine. The aforementioned monitoring module comprises the apparatus of the invention.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A monitoring module for monitoring a plurality of functions and conditions of a machine, said machine having a plurality of sensors associated therewith for producing sensor signals corresponding to said plurality of functions and conditions, said monitoring module comprising:
- a plurality of input means for receiving respective, selected ones of said sensor signals;
processing means responsive to the sensor signals received at said input means for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions in accordance with said sensor signals;
memory means for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of said sensor means for monitoring any of said corresponding functions and conditions; and
programming means for programming said memory means with data and instructions for enabling response of said processing means to any given plurality of sensors coupled to said input means for monitoring a corresponding plurality of functions and conditions;
wherein said memory means comprises a first memory portion for containing non-chargeable operating data, a second memory portion accessible only to authorized factory or service programming personnel for containing changeable data corresponding to data and instructions for monitoring particular types of sensors which may be selected for association with a given machine, and a third, user-accessible memory portion accessible independently of said first and second memory portions for receiving and storing data and instructions relating to the particular characteristics of particular sensors selected for use with a given machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- a plurality of input means for receiving respective, selected ones of said sensor signals;
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7. A monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of functions and conditions of a machine, said machine including a plurality of sensors for producing sensor signals corresponding to said plurality of functions and conditions, said monitoring system comprising:
- a plurality of physically substantially identical monitoring modules, each comprising a plurality of input means for receiving respective ones of said sensor signals, processing means responsive to said sensor signals at said input means for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions in accordance with said sensor signals, memory means for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of said sensor means by monitoring any of said corresponding functions and conditions, and programming means for programming said memory means with data and instructions for monitoring said plurality of functions and conditions;
wherein said memory means comprises a first memory portion for containing non-chargeable operating data, a second memory portion accessible only to authorized factory or service programming personnel for containing changeable data, including data and instructions for enabling response to a given plurality of functions and conditions to be monitored by each monitoring module, and a third, user-accessible memory portion programmable independently of said first and second memory portions for receiving and storing data relating to the particular characteristics of particular sensors selected for use with a given machine. - View Dependent Claims (8)
- a plurality of physically substantially identical monitoring modules, each comprising a plurality of input means for receiving respective ones of said sensor signals, processing means responsive to said sensor signals at said input means for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions in accordance with said sensor signals, memory means for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of said sensor means by monitoring any of said corresponding functions and conditions, and programming means for programming said memory means with data and instructions for monitoring said plurality of functions and conditions;
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9. A method for monitoring a plurality of functions and conditions of a machine, said machine including a plurality of sensors for producing sensor signals corresponding to said plurality of functions and conditions, said monitoring method comprising:
- providing at least one monitoring module comprising a plurality of input means for receiving a selected one of said sensor signals, said module further comprising processing means responsive to said sensor signals at said input means for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions in accordance with said sensor signals, display means responsive to the display signals for producing observable indications of the corresponding functions and conditions, and memory means for storing data and instructions for monitoring said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of the sensor means for monitoring any of the corresponding functions and conditions; and
programming said memory means with data and instructions for monitoring said plurality of functions and conditions;
wherein the step of programming said memory means comprises programming a first memory portion with non-changeable operating data and instructions, programming a second memory portion accessible only to authorized factory or service personnel with changeable data specific to the selected functions and conditions to be monitored by a given module and programming a third user-accessible memory portion, independently of said first and second memory portions, with data relating to the particular characteristics of particular sensors coupled to each said input means. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
- providing at least one monitoring module comprising a plurality of input means for receiving a selected one of said sensor signals, said module further comprising processing means responsive to said sensor signals at said input means for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions in accordance with said sensor signals, display means responsive to the display signals for producing observable indications of the corresponding functions and conditions, and memory means for storing data and instructions for monitoring said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of the sensor means for monitoring any of the corresponding functions and conditions; and
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12. A monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of functions and conditions of a machine, said machine including a plurality of sensors for producing sensor signals corresponding to said plurality of sensors for producing sensor signals corresponding to said plurality of functions and conditions, said monitoring system comprising:
- a plurality of physically substantially identical monitoring modules, each comprising a plurality of input means for receiving respective ones of said sensor signals, processing means responsive to said sensor signals at said input means for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions in accordance with said sensor signals, memory means for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of said sensor means for monitoring any of said corresponding functions and conditions, and programming means for programming said memory means with data and instructions for monitoring said plurality of functions and conditions, and further including operator accessible console means including observable display means for displaying functions and conditions as monitored by each said monitoring module in accordance with the display signals produced thereby and for selecting particular ones of said functions and conditions for display as desired, and wherein said display means comprises a plurality of visual display elements responsive to said display signals for producing visual displays corresponding to said plurality of functions and conditions; and
further including a plurality of selectable label means capable of being respectively superimposed upon said visual display elements of each module for labeling the display elements thereof in accordance with the functions and conditions selected for monitoring and display thereby. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
- a plurality of physically substantially identical monitoring modules, each comprising a plurality of input means for receiving respective ones of said sensor signals, processing means responsive to said sensor signals at said input means for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions in accordance with said sensor signals, memory means for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of said sensor means for monitoring any of said corresponding functions and conditions, and programming means for programming said memory means with data and instructions for monitoring said plurality of functions and conditions, and further including operator accessible console means including observable display means for displaying functions and conditions as monitored by each said monitoring module in accordance with the display signals produced thereby and for selecting particular ones of said functions and conditions for display as desired, and wherein said display means comprises a plurality of visual display elements responsive to said display signals for producing visual displays corresponding to said plurality of functions and conditions; and
Specification