Method and apparatus for acquiring data from a measurement transducer

• US 5,787,017 A
• Filed: 04/18/1997
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LMI Corporation
• Original Assignee: LMI Corporation
• Inventors: Hearing, Stephen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, CRAIG S
• Application Number:
  US08/844,232
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 364/550, 364/551.01, 364/551.02, 364/552, 364/560-564, 364/468.01, 364/468.16, 364/468.17, 364/468.18
• US Class Current: 702/155
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/02 for measuring length, width, or thickness G01B21/10 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of and an apparatus (10) for acquiring measurement data from a gage (54, 62) generating a measurement signal representing a dimensional measurement includes a CPU (46) for setting a dwell range representing desired high and low limits for a value of the measurement signal, setting a dwell time representing a desired time period during which the signal value must be within the dwell range, monitoring the signal value generated by the gage at an input port (52, 60) and accumulating an elapsed time beginning when the signal value enters the dwell range, and recording the signal value in a memory (48) when the elapsed time equals the dwell time. The CPU (46) resets the elapsed time when the signal value exits the dwell range and generating an indication by activating an LED indicator (108) when the elapsed time equals the dwell time. The CPU (46) transmits the signal value to a data collection device (70) connected to an output port (68).

Claims

1. A method of acquiring measurement data from a gage generating a measurement signal representing a dimensional measurement comprising the steps of:

a. setting a dwell dimensional range representing high and low limits for a value of a dimensional measurement signal generated by a dimensional measurement gage making dimensional measurements;

b. setting a dwell time period representing a length of time period during which the dimensional measurement signal generated by the measurement gage must remain within the dwell dimensional range;

c. timing the elapsed period the dimensional measurement signal remains in the dwell dimensional range; and

d. recording the value of the dimensional measurement signal in response to the elapsed time equaling the dwell time period.

2. The method according to claim 1 including a step of resetting to zero the elapsed time when the value of the dimensional measurement signal exits the high and low limits of the dwell dimensional range.

3. The method according to claim 1 including a step of generating an indication when the elapsed time equals the dwell time period.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said step of generating an indication includes activating a visual indicator.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of recording the value includes storing the value as measurement data in a memory.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of recording the value includes transmitting the value as measurement data to a data collection device.

7. The method according to claim 6 including generating an indication that the value is being transmitted.

8. An apparatus (10) for acquiring measurement data from a gage generating a measurement signal representing a dimensional measurement comprising:

at least one input port (52,

     60) for connection to a gage (54,

     62) to receive a dimensional measurement signal representing a dimensional measurement generated by the gage;

a CPU means (46) connected to said port (52,

     60) and monitoring a value of the dimensional measurement signal generated by the gage for comparing the value with a preset dwell dimensional range representing desired high and low limits for the value and for accumulating an elapsed time during which the value of the dimensional measurement signal remains in the dwell dimensional range; and

a memory means (48) connected to said CPU means (46) for storing the value of the dimensional measurement signal in response to the elapsed time equaling a predetermined dwell time period during which the dimensional measurement signal generated by the measurement gage remains within the dwell dimensional range.

9. The apparatus (10) according to claim 8 including a keypad means (44) connected to said CPU means (46) for selecting the dwell dimensional range and the dwell time period.

10. The apparatus (10) according to claim 8 including an indicator means (108) connected to said CPU means (46) wherein said CPU means activates said indicator means to generate a visual indication when the elapsed time equals the dwell time period.

11. The apparatus (10) according to claim 8 wherein said CPU means (46) resets the elapsed time to zero when the value of the dimensional measurement signal exits the high and low limits of the dwell dimensional range.

12. The apparatus (10) according to claim 8 including an output port (68) for connection to a data collection device (70) and being connected to said CPU means (46) for transmitting the stored value of the dimensional signal to the data collection device.

13. The apparatus (10) according to claim 8 including a display (18) connected to said CPU means (46) and being responsive to display signals generated by said CPU means for generating visual messages to a user of the apparatus.

14. The apparatus (10) according to claim 8 wherein said CPU means (46) reads a signal potential on a predetermined pin of said input port (52, 60) when said input port is connected to a gage (54, 62) to automatically identify the type of gage.