Universal monitor

• US 4,924,418 A
• Filed: 08/23/1988
• Issued: 05/08/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dickey-John Corporation (Churchill Industries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dickey-John Corporation (Churchill Industries, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stone, Steven G., Bachman, Wesley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/238,975
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.03, 364/424.04, 364/431.04, 364/550, 364/551.01, 364/551.02, 364/552, 340/660, 324/113, 324/114
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction

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.

Claims

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.

2. A module according to claim 1 and further including operator accessible console means including observable display means for displaying functions and conditions monitored by said monitoring module in accordance with the display signals produced, and for selecting particular ones of said functions and conditions for display as desired.

3. A module according to claim 2 wherein said user accessible memory portion is further adapted to receive user-selected data corresponding to selection of English or metric units for display, to calibration of said processing means for operation with the particular sensors selected for use with a given machine, to user-selected alarm limits, and the like.

4. A module according to claim 2 wherein said programming means includes operator accessible control means for entering the desired data to said user-accessible memory portion.

5. A monitoring module according to claim 2 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 said functions and conditions;

and further including label means capable of being selectively superimposed upon said visual display means for labeling the display elements thereof in accordance with the functions and conditions corresponding to the sensors coupled to the input means of the module.

6. A module according to claim 5 wherein said programming means includes means for selecting the display functions to be associated with each said visual display elements.

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.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said user accessible memory portion is further adapted to receive and store user-selected data corresponding to the selection of English or metric units for display, to calibration of said processing means for operation with the particular sensor selected for use with a given machine, and for setting alarm limits for selected functions and conditions.

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.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein each said monitoring module also includes a plurality of visual display elements and further including the step of superimposing one of a plurality of selectable labels upon said visual display elements, each label being selected for labeling the display elements of the module upon which it is superimposed in accordance with the functions and conditions corresponding to the sensors coupled to the input means of that module.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein said step of programming further includes programming said memory portion accessible only to authorized factory or service programming personnel with commands for the selection of a display format and for the selection of the one or ones of said visual display elements upon which each of said functions and conditions is to be displayed.

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.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein said programming means includes operator accessible control means for entering the desired data to said user-accessible memory portion and for selecting particular functions and conditions for display on said observable display means.

14. A monitoring system according to claim 12 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.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein said programming means includes means for assigning a display element to be associated with each of the plurality of functions and conditions to be monitored by the associated module.