Docking station for environmental monitoring instruments

• US 6,442,639 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Industrial Scientific Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Industrial Scientific Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Wang, Annie Q., Wagner, David D., Skourlis, James, McElhattan, Kent D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, TIM T
• Application Number:
  US09/552,034
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 710/129, 710/305, 710/303, 250/73, 250/95, 250/134, 250/137, 250/96, 250/345, 250/324
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00326 Analysers with modular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0006 Calibrating gas analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0631 using root cause analysis; using analysis of correlation between notifications, alarms or events based on decision criteria, e.g. hierarchy, tree or time analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/16 using machine learning or artificial intelligence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity

Abstract

A docking station for use with an environmental monitoring instrument to provide predictive diagnostic information. The docking station is connected, typically via the Internet, to a remote service center, and exposure data, calibration data and diagnostic data are communicated from the instrument to the docking station and from the docking station to the service center. Mathematical analysis of the collected data from all available sources is performed at the service center and predictive warnings are generated to alert the users of potential instrument faults, thus allowing preemptive maintenance. The analysis methods include principle component analysis and other statistical methods, fuzzy logic and neural networks. This docking station can be used with monitoring instruments for water quality, pollution control, indoor air quality and breathing air quality.

Claims

1. A docking station for an environmental monitoring instrument including means for measuring at least one physical or chemical environmental parameter, said docking station comprising:

means for receiving at least one environmental monitoring instrument;

computer means including a user interface for input and retrieval of data;

a bi-directional data port for downloading measured data from the instrument to the computer and uploading data to the instrument from the computer; and

communications means for connecting the computer means to a remote monitoring station enabling remote download of measured data from the instrument and remote upload of data to the instrument.

2. A docking station according to claim 1, additionally comprising means for recharging a rechargeable battery disposed in the instrument.

3. A docking station according to claim 1, wherein the communications means is adapted for connection to the Internet.

4. A docking station according to claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a keyboard, touch screen or bar code reader for input of information, and a monitor or display panel for retrieval of information.

5. A docking station according to claim 1, wherein the computer means includes data storage means for storing data received through the data port.

6. A docking station according to claim 1, wherein the receiving means comprises at least one bay.

7. A docking station according to claim 1, wherein the receiving means comprises a jack, a cable or an infra-red communication device.

8. A docking station according to claim 1, additionally comprising means for calibrating the instrument, means for bump testing the instrument or both means for calibrating and bump testing the instrument.

9. A docking station according to claim 1, wherein the bi-directional data port comprises means for uploading instrument settings and software from the service center to the instrument.

10. A docking station according to claim 8, wherein the instrument includes means for gas analysis, and the means for calibrating or bump testing includes a source of test gas and a valve through which the source is connected to the docking station.

11. In combination,

an environmental monitoring instrument including means for measuring at least one physical or chemical environmental parameter, and

a docking station connected to the environmental instrument, the docking station comprising means for receiving at least one said environmental monitoring instrument, computer means including a user interface for input and retrieval of data, a bi-directional data port for downloading measured data from the instrument to the computer and uploading data to the instrument from the computer, and communications means for connecting the computer means to a remote monitoring station enabling remote download of measured data from the instrument and remote upload of data to the instrument.

12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the instrument comprises a rechargeable battery, and the docking station comprises means for recharging the battery.

13. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the communications means is adapted for connection to the Internet.

14. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the user interface includes a keyboard, touch screen or bar code reader for input of information, and a monitor or display panel for retrieval of information.

15. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the computer means includes data storage means for storing data received through the data port.

16. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the receiving means comprises at least one bay in which the instrument is disposed.

17. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the instrument is physically separate from the receiving means and is communicates therewith by a cable or an infra-red device.

18. The combination according to claim 11, additionally comprising means for calibrating the instrument, means for bump testing the instrument or both means for calibrating and bump testing the instrument.

19. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the instrument and docking station are combined into a single unit.

20. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the instrument contains means to perform a function selected from the group consisting of gas analysis, liquid analysis, particulate monitoring, temperature monitoring and humidity monitoring.

21. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the bi-directional data port comprises means for uploading instrument settings and software from the service center to the instrument.

22. The combination according to claim 18, wherein the instrument includes means for gas analysis, and the means for calibrating or bump testing includes a source of test gas and a valve through which the source is connected to the docking station.

23. A method for operating an environmental monitoring instrument including means for measuring at least one physical or chemical environmental parameter, comprising the steps of:

operatively connecting the instrument to a docking station comprising means for receiving at least one said environmental monitoring instrument, computer means including a user interface for input and retrieval of data, a bi-directional data port for downloading data from the instrument to the computer and uploading data to the instrument from the computer, and communications means for connecting the computer means to a remote monitoring station;

downloading measured data from instrument to the docking station;

establishing communication between the docking station and a service center remote therefrom;

transmitting said downloaded data from the docking station to the service center;

transmitting information dependent on the transmitted data from the service center to the docking station; and

uploading the transmitted information from the docking station to the instrument.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the communication is established via the Internet.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the docking station includes means for calibrating or bump testing the instrument, calibration or bump test data is transmitted to the remote service center, and diagnostic conclusions are transmitted to the docking station and uploaded to the instrument.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the instrument includes rechargeable batteries and the docking station recharges said batteries and provides data related to the recharging to the remote service center, and the remote service center transmits information relative to battery life to the docking station.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein the service center transmits instrument settings or software to the docking station, and the instrument settings or software are uploaded to the instrument.

28. The method according to claim 23, wherein the data transmitted to the remote service center is subjected to analysis by a method including principle component analysis, neural network analysis, fuzzy logic and statistical methods.

29. The method according to claim 23, wherein the communication is wireless communication.

30. The method according to claim 23, wherein the operative connection is wireless.

31. The method according to claim 23, wherein instrument exposure data is provided from the instrument to the docking station, an exposure log is transmitted from the docking station to the remote service center and the remote service center transmits conclusions relative to exposure to the docking station.

32. The method according to claim 23, wherein the instrument monitors air in breathing equipment.

33. The method according to claim 23, wherein the instrument monitors water quality.

34. The method according to claim 23, wherein the instrument monitors air quality.