Measurement module and system for monitoring the status of armored vehicle electronic components

• US 6,697,763 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DRS Network & Imaging Systems, LLC (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: PEI Electronics, Inc. (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Swartz, Gary Steven, Finklea, Kenneth M. Jr., Wilkins, Debora, Nunley, Calvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, JOHN H
• Application Number:
  US09/455,858
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 702/182, 702/183, 702/185, 702/187, 714/17, 714/26, 714/37, 714/46, 701/1, 701/29, 701/32, 701/35, 701/99, 738/661, 712/32, 710/300, 703/2, 326/37, 713/320
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 3/10 having surface coverings F02F3/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers

Abstract

A testing apparatus and method consisting of multiple measurement modules having one or more circuit assembly boards, two data/power connectors, and a target connector. Signal data is accessed from 1-128 target signal sources and sampled through two separate analog to digital channels. An on-board microcontroller controls signal selection and data sampling rates and also provides for transfer of recorded data over a USB bus to a host computing device. Using a proper testing application loaded onto the host computing device, each module can be commanded to access and store representative data from a number of signal sources at each target system. Each module is connected to other modules and a host computing device to create a complete self-powered test access environment. The interconnectivity of the system makes diagnosing electronic component failures in an armored vehicle, such as a tank, much easier than prior manual fault isolation procedures.

Claims

1. A method for measuring the condition of a target system with a measurement module in electrical communication with said target system, compressing the steps of:

a. said module receiving measurement, command from a host computing device;

b. configuring at least one multiplexor in said module to access a selected signal from said target system;

c. converting said signal from an analog state into a representative digital measurement;

d. storing said digital measurement in a memory device; and

,

e. transmitting said digital measurement to said host computing device for analysis, wherein said step of transmitting said digital measurement to said host comprises the steps of;

e-1. determining whether a data ready variable is true;

e-2. if said data ready variable is true then performing the following steps i-iv;

i. filling a transmit FIFO with up to 8 bytes of data from a sampling data set;

ii. determining whether said FIFO is fill;

iii. If FIFO is full then sending all FIFO data to said host computing device, otherwise determining whether more data is available from said sampling data set;

iv. if no more data is available from said sampling data set then transmitting contents of said FIFO to said host computing device;

e-3. repeat step e-1.

2. A method for measuring the condition of a target system with a measurement module in electrical communication with said target system, comprising the steps of:

a. said module receiving measurement command from a host computing devices;

b. configuring at least one multiplexor in said module to access a selected signal from said target system;

c. converting, said signal from an analog state into a representative digital measurement, wherein said step of converting said signal comprises the steps of;

i. determining whether single or waveform target samples shall be taken of said target signal;

ii. storing a measurement count prescribed by said host computing device;

iii. converting said target signal into a digital value and storing said digital value in memory;

iv. if waveform target samples are to be taken then repeating step ii the number of times prescribed in said measurement count; and

,

v. setting a data ready variable state to true;

d. storing said digital measurement in a memory device; and

,

e. transmitting said digital measurement to said host computing device for analysis.

3. A method for measuring the condition of a target system with a measurement module in electrical communication with said target system, comprising the steps of:

a. said module receiving a measurement command from a host computing device;

b. configuring at least one multiplexor in said module to access a selected signal from said target system;

c. converting said signal from an analog state into a representative digital measurement;

d. storing said digital measurement in a memory devices

e. transmitting said digital measurement to said host computing device for analysis, wherein said step of transmitting said digital measurement to said host comprises the steps of;

e-1. determining whether a Data Ready variable is true;

e-2. if said Data Ready variable is true then performing the following steps i-iv;

i. filling a transmit FIFO with up to 8 bytes of data from a sampling data set;

ii. determining whether said FIFO is full;

iii. If FIFO is full then sending all FIFO data to said host computing device and repeating step i;

iv. if no more data is available from said sampling data set then transmitting contents of FIFO to said host computing device;

e-3. repeat step 1; and

f. receiving and decoding a command instruction having a structure selected from the group consisting of 02 HI LO, 82 HI LO HI LO, 03 XX XX HI LO, 83 XX XX HI LO HI LO, 43 XX XX TT HI LO, and C3 XX XX TT HI LO HI LO.

4. A measurement method as recited in claim 3, wherein said step of converting said signal comprises the steps of:

a. determining whether single or waveform target samples shall be taken of said target signal;

b. storing a measurement count prescribed by said host computing device;

c. converting said target signal into a digital value and storing said digital value in memory;

d. if waveform target samples are to be taken then repeating step b the number of times prescribed in said measurement count; and

,

e. setting a data ready variable state to true.

5. In a measurement module having a memory device for storing test data acquired from a target system, isolation circuitry for safely interfacing with said target system, an analog multiplexor for selecting a source of sampling data from said target system, a digitizer for acquiring sampling data from said target system, a diagnostic bus interface for transferring said test data to a host computing device, and microcontroller having a set of pre-programmed computer instructions for controlling said module, a method for measuring the condition of said target system, comprising the step of:

a. receiving a measurement command from a host computing device;

b. configuring said analog multiplexor to select a signal source from said target system;

c. converting said seleted target signal source into a representative digital measurement;

d. storing said digital measurement in a memory device; and

,

e. transferring said digital measurement to said host computing device for analysis, wherein said step of transferring said digital measurement to said host comprises the steps of;

e-1. determining whether a Data Ready variable is true;

e-2. if said Data Ready variable is true then performing the following steps i-iv;

i. filling a transmit FIFO with up to 8 bytes of data from a sampling data set;

ii. determining whether said FIFO is full;

iii. If FIFO is full then sending all FIFO data to said host computing device and repeating step i;

iv. if no more data is available from said sampling data set then transmitting contents of FIFO to said host computing device;

e-3. repeat step e-1;

f. receiving a command instruction having a structure selected from the group consisting of 02 HI LO, 82 HI LO HI LO, 03 XX XX HI LO, 83 XX XX HI LO HI LO, 43 XX XX TT HI LO, and C3 XX XX TT HI LO HI LO; and

,

g. said microcontroller decoding said command instruction and issuing a selection coding sequence said multiplexor for connecting a selected target signal source to said digitizer.

6. A measurement method as recited in claim 5, wherein said step of converting said signal source comprises the steps of

a. determining whether single or waveform target samples shall be taken of said target source;

b. storing a measurement count as prescribed in said measurement command;

c. converting said target signal source into a digital value and storing said digital value in memory;

d. if waveform target samples are to be taken then repeating step b the number of times prescribed in said measurement count; and

,

e. setting a data ready variable state to true.