Event history data acquisition

• US 5,790,427 A
• Filed: 08/28/1995
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Schweikert, David E., Greer, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US08/520,464
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 364/556, 364/927.2, 364/928, 364/942.7, 364/920, 364/926.9, 364/927.5, 364/939, 364/964, 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2, 364/550, 364/551.01, 395/200.01, 395/200.08, 395/200, 395/200.43, 395/843, 607/27
• US Class Current: 702/127
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/335 using integrated circuit memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10666 Ring buffers, e.g. buffers wherein an iteratively progressing read or write pointer moves back to the beginning of the buffer when reaching the last storage cell

Abstract

An event data recorder and method for recording data relating to a distinct event which pertains to operation of a mechanism. The recorder comprises a device for collecting data pertaining to such operation and formatting such data into a sequence of data elements. A circular buffer is linked to the collecting and formatting device for temporarily storing a number of data elements. The elements are stored on the buffer as a newest element continuously writes over an oldest element as a storage limit of the buffer is reached. The recorder also includes a timer of predetermined duration which activates upon each occurrence of such event. The recorder has a memory device for retaining the data elements. The elements can be accessed therefrom for analysis of such operation of such mechanism surrounding such event. The recorder further includes a data element transfer device, connected to the timer, for transferring the elements from the buffer to the memory device wherein for each occurence of such event a preselected number of the data elements stored prior to, and including, an instant the timer deactivates is transferred by the transfer device from the buffer to the memory device. A data log is thereby formed within the memory device from which the elements may be accessed for analysis of such operation of such mechanism.

Claims

1. An event history data recorder for recording data relating to a distinct event and pertaining to operation of a mechanism preceding and following each occurrence of such distinct event, said recorder comprising:

(a) a means for collecting data pertaining to such operation of such mechanism and relating to such distinct event and for formatting such collected data into a sequence of data elements, said data collecting and formatting means further includes means for assigning sequentially and incrementally an index number to each of said data elements as such collected data is formatted into said sequence of data elements so as to form a sequence of index number-data element units;

(b) a circular buffer linked to said collecting and formatting means for temporarily storing a preset number of said data elements, said data elements being continuously stored on said circular buffer as a newest data element continuously writes over an oldest data element as a storage limit of said circular buffer is reached and as said circular buffer so continuously stores, said circular buffer includes means for temporarily storing said preset number of said index numbers so that said index number-data element units are continuously stored on said circular buffer as a newest index number-data element unit as said storage limit of said circular buffer is reached and as said circular buffer so continuously stores;

(c) a timer of predetermined duration activated upon each occurrence of such distinct event for said predetermined duration;

(d) a memory device for retaining said data elements and from which said data elements can be accessed for analysis of such operation of such mechanism surrounding such distinct event; and

(e) a means, connected to said timer, for transferring said data elements from said circular buffer to said memory device, said transferring means includes means for denoting a stop index number, said index number contained within said index number-data element unit being stored onto said circular buffer at an instant said timer deactivates and a means for denoting a start index number plus one less a preselected number;

wherein for each occurrence of such distinct event, said preselected number of said data elements stored prior to, and including, said instant said timer deactivates is transferred by said transferring means from said circular buffer to said memory device thereby forming a data log within said memory device from which said data elements recorded therein may be accessed for analysis of such operation of such mechanism.

2. The event history data recorder as recited in claim 1 wherein said data collecting and formatting means includes a computer, a plurality of sensors and an analog to digital converter, said plurality of sensors for monitoring and generating analog signals corresponding to such operation of such mechanism relating to such distinct event, said analog to digital converter for converting said analog signals into corresponding digital binary code, and said computer for formatting said digital code into said data elements.

3. The event history data recorder as recited in claim 2 wherein said transferring means includes a computer.

4. The event history data recorder as recited in claim 3 wherein said memory device is a random access memory chip.

5. The event history data recorder as recited in claim 4 wherein said data log is updated each occurrence of such distinct event.

6. The event history data recorder as recited in claim 4 wherein said memory device is an electrically erasable programmable read only memory chip.

7. The event history data recorder as recited in claim 4 wherein said data log formed when such distinct event initially occurred is retained and a new data log is formed within said memory device for each subsequent occurrence of such distinct event until a storage capacity of said memory device is reached at which time said data logs are updated in an order in which said data logs were formed.

8. A method for the selective recordation of data relating to a distinct event and pertaining to operation of a mechanism preceding and following each occurrence of such distinct event, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting data pertaining to such operation of such mechanism and relating to such distinct event;

(b) formatting such collected data into a sequence of data elements;

(c) assigning sequentially and incrementally to each of said data elements an index number thereby forming a sequence of index number-data element units;

(d) storing temporarily on a circular buffer a preset number of said index number-data element units as a newest index number-data element unit continuously writes over an oldest index number-data element unit as a storage limit of said circular buffer is reached and as said circular buffer so continuously stores;

(e) setting a retain event log flag to true when said data elements relating to such distinct event are to be retained in a memory device;

(f) setting an event active flag to true when such distinct event occurs;

(g) activating a timer of predetermined duration when both said retain event log and said event active flags are set to true;

(h) denoting a stop index number as said index number contained within said index number-data element unit being stored onto said circular buffer at an instant said timer deactivates upon expiration of said predetermined duration;

(i) denoting a start index number as said stop index number plus one less a preselected number; and

(j) for each occurrence of such distinct event, transferring from said circular buffer to said memory device said data elements located between and including said start and said stop index numbers thereby forming a data log from which said data elements relating to such distinct event may be accessed for analysis of such operation of such mechanism.

9. The method for the selective recordation of data as recited in claim 8 wherein, after said transferring step, said method further includes the step of updating said data log each occurrence of such distinct event.

10. The method for the selective recordation of data as recited in claim 8 wherein, after said transferring step, said method further includes the steps of retaining said data log formed when such distinct event initially occurred;

forming a new data log within said memory device for each subsequent occurrence of such distinct event; and

when insufficient space within said memory device exists, updating said data logs in an order in which said data logs were formed.

11. An event history data recorder for recording data relating to a plurality of distinct events and pertaining to operation of a mechanism preceding and following each occurrence of each such distinct event, said recorder comprising:

(a) a means for collecting data pertaining to such operation of such mechanism and relating to each such distinct event and for formatting such collected data into a sequence of data elements for each such distinct event for which data is to be recorded, one said data element from one such distinct event being formed nearly coincidently as another one said data element from each of all other such distinct events such that said nearly coincidently formed data elements constitute a set of temporally related data elements;

(b) a circular buffer, linked to said collecting and formatting means, having a plurality of tracks each of which is designated for storing temporarily a preset number of said data elements relating to one of such distinct events so that said data elements relating to such distinct events are aligned to form said sets of temporally related data elements, said sets of temporally related data elements being continuously stored on said circular buffer as a newest set of temporally related data elements continuously writes over an oldest set of temporally related data elements as a storage limit of said circular buffer is reached and as said circular buffer so continuously stores;

(c) a timer of predetermined duration for each such distinct event so that as each such distinct event occurs said timer individually corresponding thereto activates for said predetermined duration;

(d) a memory device having a plurality of memory locations each of which is dedicated to retaining said data elements temporarily stored on one of said tracks of said circular buffer when such distinct event to which said data elements relate occurs; and

(e) a means, connected to each of said timers, for transferring said data elements from said tracks of said circular buffer to said dedicated memory locations;

wherein as said timers individually corresponding to such distinct events deactivate, said transferring means transfers from said tracks to said dedicated memory locations a preselected number of said data elements for each of such distinct events so occurred thereby essentially forming within each of said dedicated memory locations a data log from which said data elements relating to one of such distinct events may be accessed for analysis of such operation of such mechanism.

12. The event history data recorder as recited in claim 11 wherein:

(a) said data collecting and formatting means further includes means for assigning sequentially and incrementally an index number to each of said sets of temporally related data elements as such collected data is formatted into said sequences of data elements for such distinct events so as to form a sequence of index number-set units;

(b) said circular buffer includes means for temporarily storing said preset number of said index numbers on another track of said circular buffer so that said index number-set units are continuously stored on said circular buffer as a newest index number-set unit continuously writes over an oldest index number-set unit as said storage limit of said circular buffer is reached and as said circular buffer so continuously stores; and

(c) said transferring means further includes means for,

(i) denoting a stop index number for each such distinct event so occurred as said index number contained within said index number-set unit being stored onto said circular buffer when said timer individually corresponding to such distinct event deactivates, and

(ii) denoting a start index number for each such distinct event so occurred as said stop index number plus one less said preselected number, said stop and start index numbers being generated in pairs where each pair corresponds to one of such distinct events;

wherein said transferring means for each such distinct event so occurred transfers said data elements located between and including said start and stop index numbers from said tracks to said dedicated memory locations.

13. The event history data recorder as recited in claim 12 wherein said data collecting and formatting means includes a computer, a plurality of sensors and an analog to digital converter, said plurality of sensors for monitoring and generating analog signals corresponding to such operation of such mechanism relating to each such distinct event, said analog to digital converter for converting said analog signals into corresponding digital binary code, and said computer for formatting said digital code into said data elements.

14. The event history data recorder as recited in claim 13 wherein said transferring means includes a computer.

15. The event history data recorder as recited in claim 14 wherein said memory device is a random access memory chip.

16. The event history data recorder as recited in claim 15 wherein said data log is updated each occurrence of such distinct event to which said data log is dedicated.

17. The event history data recorder as recited in claim 16 wherein any one or more of such distinct events may be either selected or deselected for recordation.

18. The event history data recorder as recited in claim 15 wherein said memory device is an electrically erasable programmable read only memory chip.

19. The event history data recorder as recited in claim 15 wherein said data log formed when such distinct event to which said data log is dedicated initially occurred is retained and a new data log is formed within each of said memory locations for each subsequent occurrence of such distinct event to which said new data log is dedicated until a storage capacity of said memory locations is reached at which time said data logs for each of such distinct events are updated in a general order in which said data logs were formed.

20. A method for the selective recordation of data relating to a plurality of distinct events and pertaining to operation of a mechanism preceding and following each occurrence of each such distinct event, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting data pertaining to such operation of such mechanism and relating to each such distinct event;

(b) formatting such collected data into a sequence of data elements for each such distinct event for which data is to be recorded, one said data element from one such distinct event being formed nearly coincidently as another one said data element from each of all other such distinct events such that said nearly coincidently formed data elements constitute a set of temporally related data elements;

(c) assigning sequentially and incrementally an index number to each of said sets of temporally related data elements so as to form a sequence of index number-set units;

(d) storing temporarily on one of a plurality of tracks of a circular buffer said assigned index numbers and on each of all other said tracks a preset number of said data elements relating to one of such distinct events so that said assigned index numbers and said data elements relating to such distinct events are aligned to form said sequence of index number-set units, said index number-set units being continuously stored on said circular buffer as a newest index number-set unit continuously writes over an oldest index number-set unit as a storage limit of said circular buffer is reached and as said circular buffer so continuously stores;

(e) for each of such distinct events, setting a retain event log flag to true when said data elements relating to such distinct event are to be retained in a memory location dedicated to such distinct event, said memory location being one of a plurality of memory locations within a memory device each of said memory locations being dedicated to one of such distinct events;

(f) for each of such distinct events, setting an event active flag to true when such distinct event occurs;

(g) for each of such distinct events, activating a timer of predetermined duration when both said retain event log and said event active flags for such distinct event are set to true;

(h) for each such distinct event so occurred, denoting a stop index number as said index number contained within said index number-set unit being stored onto said circular buffer at an instant said timer corresponding to such distinct event deactivates;

(i) for each such distinct event so occurred, denoting a start index number as said stop index number plus one less a preselected number; and

(j) for each such distinct event so occurred, transferring said data elements located between and including said start and stop index numbers from said track to corresponding said dedicated memory location for each occurrence of such distinct event thereby essentially forming within said dedicated memory location a data log from which said data elements relating to such distinct event may be accessed for analysis of such operation of such mechanism.

21. The method for the selective recordation of data as recited in claim 20 wherein, after said transferring step, said method further includes the step of updating said data log each occurrence of such distinct event.

22. The method for the selective recordation of data as recited in claim 20 wherein, after said transferring step, said method further includes the step of retaining said data log formed when such distinct event to which said data log is dedicated initially occurred;

forming a new data log within said memory location for each subsequent occurrence of such distinct event to which said new data log is dedicated; and

, when insufficient space within said dedicated memory location exists, updating said data logs in a general order in which said data logs were formed.