Wireless machine monitoring and communication system
First Claim
1. A communication system for monitoring the status of a machine and communicating the machine'"'"'s status through wireless signals, the system comprising:
- a plurality of machine monitors positioned to monitor operational characteristics of a machine, each machine monitor including;
a receiver for receiving wireless signals, including command signals;
at least one sensor for sensing a characteristic of the machine and generating a sensor signal corresponding to the machine characteristic that was sensed;
a data processor for receiving and processing the sensor signals to produce status data and for storing status data;
a transmitter for transmitting wireless status signals corresponding to the status of the machine as represented by status data;
a protocol stored in said data processor;
said data processor for communicating with and controlling said receiver, transmitter, and sensor and for selectively producing power-on and power-off signals for selectively powering said receiver, transmitter, and sensor signal in accordance with said protocol;
an electrical power source and control circuitry responsive to said power-on and power-off signals to selectively power said receiver, transmitter and sensor; and
a command station including a transceiver for transmitting wireless command signals and receiving said wireless status signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless machine monitoring and communication system includes one or more machine monitors which attach to one or more machines to sense a physical characteristic of the machine, such as vibration or temperature, and to produce wireless transmissions corresponding to the sensed characteristic. A command station executes machine status polling in accordance with a time-division communication protocol and processes machine status data obtained during polling to determine the status of the machine. The machine monitor incorporates a wireless transmitter for transmitting at least status information, and the command station incorporates a wireless receiver for receiving monitor transmissions. To conserve power, the machine monitors are turned on only at preprogrammed times in accordance with the time-division communication protocol. Each machine monitor includes a receiver and the command station includes a transmitter to enable the command station to send commands to each machine monitor. A microcomputer in each monitor analyzes sensor data and a memory stores the analyzed sensor data. Repeaters are employed as necessary to assist in propagating wireless transmissions throughout the system. A tachometer sensor is employed at each machine to provide monitors and sensors with information relating to machine speed. A computer network is connected to the command station for transferring data and for controlling the overall operation of the system.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A communication system for monitoring the status of a machine and communicating the machine'"'"'s status through wireless signals, the system comprising:
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a plurality of machine monitors positioned to monitor operational characteristics of a machine, each machine monitor including; a receiver for receiving wireless signals, including command signals; at least one sensor for sensing a characteristic of the machine and generating a sensor signal corresponding to the machine characteristic that was sensed; a data processor for receiving and processing the sensor signals to produce status data and for storing status data; a transmitter for transmitting wireless status signals corresponding to the status of the machine as represented by status data; a protocol stored in said data processor; said data processor for communicating with and controlling said receiver, transmitter, and sensor and for selectively producing power-on and power-off signals for selectively powering said receiver, transmitter, and sensor signal in accordance with said protocol; an electrical power source and control circuitry responsive to said power-on and power-off signals to selectively power said receiver, transmitter and sensor; and a command station including a transceiver for transmitting wireless command signals and receiving said wireless status signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A wireless machine monitoring system comprising:
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a plurality of machine monitors, each monitor having at least; a) one sensor for sensing a parameter of the machine and producing digital data corresponding thereto; b) a wireless monitor transmitter and receiver; and c) a monitor data processor for controlling the operation of the sensor, transmitter and receiver, for receiving and processing the digital data according to a first processing configuration, for communicating the digital data to the transmitter and causing the transmitter to produce transmission signals corresponding to the digital data; a command station having at least; a) a command station receiver and associated circuitry for producing received digital data; and b) a command station data processor for controlling and causing the receiver and associated circuitry to receive a transmission signal and produce received digital data corresponding to the transmission signal, said command station data processor being operable to store said received digital data; and means for reprogramming the monitor data processor to change the programmed processing configuration to reconfigure the machine monitor to process the data according to a second processing configuration. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of determining and communicating the status of a machine, the method comprising the steps of:
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programming a plurality of machine monitors in accordance with a communication protocol; transmitting wireless command signals from a command station to said plurality of machine monitors in accordance with the communication protocol, said command station and machine monitors comprising a machine monitoring and communication system; sensing a characteristic of the machine being monitored in accordance with said command signals to produce sensor signals; processing the sensor signals to produce machine status data; and transmitting wireless status signals representing status data to the command station in accordance with the time-division communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method of periodically polling a plurality of machine monitors for machine status data in accordance with an established communication protocol, said method comprising the steps of:
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defining a time-division schedule of events to occur during a periodic polling sequence, said events including; transmitting wireless command signals from a command station to other communication devices including machine monitors; receiving wireless command signals by said machine monitors; sensing one or more characteristics of the machine to produce sensor signals; processing said sensor signals to produce machine status signals; and transmitting wireless status signals to the command station; assigning each communication device a time slice within the time-division schedule during which the device powers up to receive and execute commands communicated by the command signals; and polling machine monitors in accordance with said time-division schedule to determine the status of the machine. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58)
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Specification