Cordless machine operation detector

• US 6,466,134 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2000
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Ahearn, John Carrington
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US09/717,813
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 340/679, 340/683, 340/686, 340/825.54, 340/870.17, 340/457.4, 340/309.15, 361/23, 318/490, 736/58, 736/60, 368/5
• US Class Current: 340/683
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/04 using counting means or digital clocks

Abstract

A cordless machine operation detector including a vibration sensor, a location detector, a data logger, and a transceiver. The vibration sensor detects when a machine is operating by sensing the vibrations that are caused by the machine during operation. The location detector provides a geographical location and includes a time clock for providing time. The data logger uses time from the time clock and an operation indication from the vibration sensor for logging the time for operation of the machine. The data logger also logs a geographical location associated with the machine operation. The transceiver communicates the times and locations of the operation of the machine through an interchange to a tracking monitor. The machine operation detector, the interchange, or the tracking monitor includes an engine time monitor and an alarm sensor. The engine time monitor tracks an accumulated time of operation of the machine. The alarm sensor provides alarms when pre-defined limits of engine time or location are exceeded.

Claims

1. A detector for detecting machine operation, comprising:

a vibration sensor coupled to a machine for sensing vibration of said machine and providing an operation indication in response to said vibration for indicating that said machine is operating;

a location detector for determining a geographical location of said machine;

a clock for providing times;

an engine time monitor coupled to the clock and the vibration sensor for using said times associated with said operation indication for determining an accumulated time of operation; and

a transmitter coupled to the vibration sensor, the location detector, the clock, and the engine time monitor for transmitting a transmit signal, said transmit signal including information for said operation indication, said location, times associated with said operation indication, and said accumulated time of operation.

2. The detector of claim 1, wherein:

the location detector includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

3. A detector for detecting machine operation, comprising:

a vibration sensor for sensing vibration of a machine for providing an indication of said machine operation;

an engine time monitor coupled to the vibration sensor for determining an accumulated time of said operation indication;

an alarm sensor coupled to the engine time monitor for providing an accumulated time alarm when said accumulated time passes a pre-selected accumulated time limit; and

a transmitter for transmitting a transmit signal having-said accumulated time alarm.

4. The detector of claim 3, further comprising:

a port for receiving an indication of on-off power for operating the machine; and

wherein;

the alarm sensor is coupled to the port for providing a disconnect alarm when said on-off power indication indicates that said machine is off while said operation indication from the vibration sensor indicates that said machine is operating; and

said transmit signal includes information for said disconnect alarm.

5. A method for detecting machine operation, comprising steps of:

sensing vibration of a machine;

providing an operation indication in response to said vibration indicative that said machine is in operation;

determining an accumulated time of said operation indication;

issuing an accumulated time alarm when said accumulated time passes a pre-selected accumulated time limit; and

transmitting a transmit signal having said accumulated time alarm.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising steps of:

receiving an indication of on-off power for operating the machine; and

generating a disconnect alarm when said on-off power indication indicates that said machine is off while said machine vibration operation indication indicates that said machine is operating;

wherein;

said transmit signal includes information for said disconnect alarm.

7. A system for detecting machine operation, comprising:

a machine operation detector including a vibration sensor coupled to a machine for sensing vibration of said machine and providing an operation indication in response to said vibration for indicating that said machine is operating, a location detector for determining a geographical location of said machine, a clock for providing times, an engine time monitor coupled to the clock and the vibration sensor for using said times associated with said operation indication for determining an accumulated time of operation, and a transmitter for transmitting a transmit signal having information for said location, said operation indication, said times associated with said operation indication and said accumulated time; and

a tracking system including a receiver for receiving said transmit signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the location detector includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

9. A system for detecting machine operation, comprising:

a machine operation detector including a vibration sensor coupled to said machine for sensing vibration of said machine and providing an operation indication in response to said vibration for indicating that said machine is operating, an engine time monitor for receiving said operation indication and determining an accumulated time of operation, an alarm sensor coupled to the engine time monitor for providing an alarm when said accumulated time passes a pre-selected time limit; and

a transmitter for transmitting a transmit signal having said alarm; and

a tracking system including a receiver for receiving said transmit signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the machine operation detector further includes a port for receiving an indication of on-off power for operating the machine and an alarm sensor for providing a disconnect alarm when said on-off power indication indicates that said machine is off while said operation indication from the vibration sensor indicates that said machine is operating.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the tracking system includes a communications transceiver connected into a wide area network (WAN).

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the WAN includes a transceiver for connecting said machine operation data into the worldwide telephone network.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the WAN includes an Internet service provider (ISP) for connecting said machine operation data into the Internet.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the WAN further includes a server having a web site for making said machine operation data accessible to a user having another ISP.

15. A system for detecting machine operation, comprising:

a machine operation detector including a vibration sensor coupled to said machine for sensing vibration of said machine and providing a machine vibration operation indication in response to said vibration, and a transmitter coupled to the vibration sensor for transmitting a transmit signal having information derived from said operation indication; and

a tracking system for receiving said transmit signal, the tracking system having an engine time monitor for tracking an accumulated time for said operation indication and an alarm sensor for providing an alarm when said accumulated time passes a pre-selected time limit.