Data exception reporting system

• US 5,600,558 A
• Filed: 08/12/1994
• Issued: 02/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Schumacher, Greg A., Dickrell, David L., Sinn, Scott G., Keene, Robert W., Verheyen, Michael R., Gauger, Gregory S., Rathe, Richard D., Mearek, Ronald J., Rolli, Brian T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trans, Vincent N.
• Application Number:
  US08/289,470
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.04, 364/424.03, 364/550, 364/551.01, 340/438, 340/439
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A system for controllably sensing, recording, and selectively displaying data associated with operational characteristics of a vehicle is described. A plurality of transducers are connected to a programmable logic device along with data entry, data storage, and data display devices. Information received from the transducers is processed by the logic device to determine whether a certain operational characteristic has occurred during the time that certain other characteristics are present. In addition, the amount of time that the particular characteristic occurs is determined.

Claims

1. An apparatus to controllably sense, record, and selectively display data associated with preselected operational characteristics of a vehicle and associated engine, comprising:

a programmable logic device;

a data entry device connectable to said programmable logic device;

a plurality of transducers respectively connectable to said programmable logic device and each adapted to produce parameter signals responsive to respective preselected engine and vehicle parameters;

a storage device connected to said programmable logic device;

a display device connectable to said programmable logic device; and

,

wherein said parameter signals are received by said programmable logic device and controllably manipulated by said programmable logic device to produce responsive information signals, and wherein said programmable logic device controllably accumulates the amount of time a preselected one of said information signals occurs during a period defined by at least a preselected one of said remaining information signals having a predetermined value, said accumulated time value being delivered to said storage device and being controllably deliverable to said display device.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said preselected ones of said information signals are selectable by modifying said programmable logic device through said data entry device.

3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein selection of said preselected ones of said information signals and access to and alteration of said accumulated information signals stored in said storage device is controllably restricted using password protection.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including a communication port connected to said programmable logic device and a data transmission device connected to said communication port, said data transmission device being sufficient to deliver selected ones of said information signals to a remote location.

5. A method for controllably sensing, recording, and selectively displaying data associated with operational characteristics of a vehicle and associated engine having a plurality of transducers respectively connectable to a programmable logic device and adapted to produce parameter signals in response to respective preselected engine and vehicle parameters, and having a storage device connected to said programmable logic device and data entry and display devices connectable to said programmable logic device, comprising the steps of:

controllably manipulating said parameter signals to produce responsive information signals;

accumulating the amount of time a preselected one of said information signals occurs during a period defined by at least a preselected one of said remaining information signals having a predetermined value;

delivering said accumulated time value to said storage device; and

,

controllably delivering said accumulated time value to said display device.

6. A method, as set forth in claim 5, including the step of selecting said preselected ones of said information signals by modifying said programmable logic device through said data entry device.

7. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein selection of said preselected ones of said information signals and access to and alteration of said accumulated information signals stored in said storage device is controllably restricted using password protection.