Modular data collection and analysis system
First Claim
1. A diagnostic/prognostics system for collecting and processing data relating to a plurality of subsystems of a dynamic system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of sensors, each sensor gathering data and generating a data signal indicative of the health of a corresponding one of the subsystems;
a plurality of subsystem modules each electrically coupled to at least one corresponding sensor for generating a subsystem health signal in response to corresponding ones of the data signals, wherein one of the subsystem modules determines the lubrication health of the lubrication of the corresponding subsystem; and
a master diagnostics module electrically coupled to said subsystem modules, said master diagnostics module generating a system health signal in response to the subsystem health signals.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A diagnostics/prognostics system and related method for collecting and processing data relating to a plurality of subsystems of a dynamic system includes a plurality of sensors, each sensor gathering data and generating a data signal indicative of the health of a corresponding one of the subsystems. In addition, the diagnostics/prognostics system includes a plurality of subsystem modules coupled to corresponding ones of the sensors for generating a subsystem health signal in response to corresponding ones of the data signals. Further, a master diagnostics module is coupled to the subsystems to generate an overall system health signal in response to the subsystem health signals. Preferably, the master diagnostics module includes a memory having an embedded model to facilitate generating the overall system health signal and a related trend analysis. Preferably, a controller is used to generate a control signal in response to at least one of a group consisting of the subsystem health signals and the vehicle health signal, the control signal causing an operation parameter of at least one of the subsystems to change. The diagnostics/prognostics system is especially well suited for vehicles, but can also be applied to other dynamic systems.
-
Citations
44 Claims
-
1. A diagnostic/prognostics system for collecting and processing data relating to a plurality of subsystems of a dynamic system, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of sensors, each sensor gathering data and generating a data signal indicative of the health of a corresponding one of the subsystems;
a plurality of subsystem modules each electrically coupled to at least one corresponding sensor for generating a subsystem health signal in response to corresponding ones of the data signals, wherein one of the subsystem modules determines the lubrication health of the lubrication of the corresponding subsystem; and
a master diagnostics module electrically coupled to said subsystem modules, said master diagnostics module generating a system health signal in response to the subsystem health signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
at least one sensing element exposed to the fluid, said at least one sensing element adapted to be oscillated over a range of frequencies; wherein the viscosity of the fluid is determined as a function of the power required to maintain an oscillation of said at least one sensing element at a predetermined frequency.
-
-
19. The diagnostics/prognostics system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said sensors comprises a multi-element sensor system that includes
at least two sensors, each sensor adapted to collect data relating to a fluid; a data fusion processor operatively coupled to said at least two sensors, said data fusion processor processing said fluid data to at least compensate for fragmentation of information attributed to using the at least two sensors.
-
20. The diagnostics/prognostics system of claim 19, wherein said at least two sensors are integrated onto a semiconductor base.
-
21. The diagnostics/prognostics system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said sensors comprises a wear sensor that includes
an optical fiber for transmitting light from a light source, the optical fiber being embedded in the article; - and
wherein the interferometric system provides the processor with information relating to wear of the optical fiber, and the processor determines wear of the article based on the information.
- and
-
22. A vehicle diagnostics/prognostics system for collecting data relating to a plurality of subsystems of a vehicle, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of sensors for gathering data and generating corresponding data signals indicative of the health of associated ones of the subsystems, a first one of the sensors being disposed within a first vehicle subsystem and a second one of the sensors being disposed within a second vehicle subsystem;
a plurality of subsystem modules electrically coupled to associated ones of the sensors, a first one of the subsystem modules being coupled to the first sensor and a second one of the subsystem modules being coupled to the second sensor, said subsystem modules generating first and second subsystem health signals in response to corresponding ones of the data signals; and
a master diagnostics module electrically coupled to said subsystem modules to receive and process at least one member of the group consisting of the data signals and the subsystem health signals so as to facilitate rendering a health assessment of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
at least one sensing element exposed to the fluid, said at least one sensing element adapted to be oscillated over a range of frequencies; wherein the viscosity of the fluid is determined as a function of the power required to maintain an oscillation of said at least one sensing element at a predetermined frequency.
-
-
26. The vehicle diagnostics/prognostics system of claim 22, wherein at least one of said sensors comprises a multi-element sensor system that includes
at least two sensors, each sensor adapted to collect data relating to a fluid; a data fusion processor operatively coupled to said at least two sensors, said data fusion processor processing said fluid data to at least compensate for fragmentation of information attributed to using the at least two sensors.
-
27. The vehicle diagnostics/prognostics system of claim 26, wherein said at least two sensors are integrated onto a semiconductor base.
-
28. The vehicle diagnostics/prognostics system of claim 22, wherein at least one of said sensors comprises a wear sensor that includes
an optical fiber for transmitting light from a light source, the optical fiber being embedded in the article; - and
wherein the interferometric system provides the processor with information relating to wear of the optical fiber, and the processor determines wear of the article based on the information.
- and
-
29. A method of determining when a vehicle having a plurality of subsystems requires maintenance, the method comprising the steps of:
-
using a plurality of sensors to gather data indicative of the health of corresponding ones of the subsystems, and generate corresponding data signals based on the health data;
providing a plurality of subsystem modules, each subsystem module being associated with a corresponding ones of the subsystems and being electrically coupled to a corresponding one of the sensors wherein one of the subsystem modules determines the lubrication health of the corresponding subsystem;
generating, with the subsystem modules, subsystem health signals in response to corresponding ones of the data signals;
providing a master diagnostics module electrically coupled to the subsystem modules; and
generating, with the master diagnostics module and in response to the subsystem health signals, a vehicle health signal. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
determining when the vehicle requires maintenance in response to at least one member of the group consisting of the subsystem health signals and the vehicle health signal; - and
determining what maintenance is required and when the maintenance is required to meet optimization criteria.
-
-
31. The method according to claim 30, wherein said determining step is performed based on a maintenance model embedded in a memory of the master diagnostics module.
-
32. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of receiving user input data indicative of an operational parameter, wherein said generating the vehicle health signal is based on the user input data.
-
33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the operational parameter is one of travel distance parameter, a load parameter, and a terrain parameter.
-
34. A method of determining when a vehicle having a plurality of subsystems requires maintenance, the method comprising the steps of:
-
generating data signals with a plurality of sensors, the sensors being associated with corresponding ones of the subsystems;
transmitting the data signals to corresponding ones of a plurality of subsystem modules;
generating, with the subsystem modules, subsystem health signals in response to the corresponding data signals;
transmitting the subsystem health signals to a central terminal at a location remote from the vehicle, the central terminal having a host computer for processing the subsystem health signals;
determining, with the host computer and in response to the subsystem health signals, whether the vehicle requires maintenance; and
wherein said determining step is based on a predetermined vehicle diagnostics/prognostics model. - View Dependent Claims (35)
-
-
36. A method of determining when a vehicle having a plurality of subsystems requires maintenance, the method comprising the steps of:
-
generating data signals with a plurality of sensors, the sensors being associated with corresponding ones of the subsystems;
transmitting the data signals to corresponding ones of a plurality of subsystem modules;
generating, with the subsystem modules, subsystem health signals in response to the corresponding data signals;
transmitting the subsystem health signals to a master diagnostics, wherein said master diagnostics module is a swappable plug-in module and said transmitting the subsystem health signals and the vehicle health signal steps include removing the plug-in module and placing the plug-in module in a docking station disposed at the central terminal, the docking station being configured to mechanically receive the plug-in module;
generating, with the master diagnostics module, a vehicle health signal in response to the subsystem health signals;
transmitting at least one member of the group consisting of the subsystem health signals and the vehicle health signal to a central terminal at a location remote from the vehicle, the central terminal having a host computer; and
determining, with the host computer and in response to the at least one signal, whether the vehicle requires maintenance. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
-
-
40. A vehicle diagnostics/prognostics system for collecting and processing data relating to a plurality of subsystems of a vehicle, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of subsystem modules for receiving health assessment information associated with each of the subsystems and generating corresponding subsystem health signals based on the health assessment information; and
a master diagnostics module electrically coupled to said subsystem modules and including a memory having a health assessment model embedded in the memory, said master diagnostics module generating a vehicle health assessment based on said health assessment model and in response to the subsystem health signals. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
-
-
44. A vehicle diagnostics/prognostics system for collecting and processing data relating to a plurality of subsystems of a vehicle, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of sensors, each sensor gathering data and generating a data signal indicative of the health of a corresponding one of the subsystems;
a plurality of subsystem modules each electrically coupled to at least one corresponding sensor for generating a subsystem health signal in response to corresponding ones of the data signals wherein one of the subsystem modules determines the lubrication health of the lubrication corresponding system;
a master diagnostics module electrically coupled to said subsystem modules, said master diagnostics module generating a vehicle health signal in response to the subsystem health signals; and
a controller to generate a control signal in response to at least one of a group consisting of the subsystem health signals and the vehicle health signal, the control signal causing an operation parameter of at least one of the vehicle subsystems to change.
-
Specification