Apparatus and method for using a wearable computer in testing and diagnostic applications

• US 6,962,277 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bath Iron Works Corp. (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bath Iron Works Corp. (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Albis, Benjamin J., Quintana, W. Vincent, Mitchell, F. Christopher, Houston, J. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Application Number:
  US09/739,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20020074370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: 224/262, 224/263, 224/264, 224/265, 224/637, 224/639, 224/646, 224/647, 224/648, 224/649, 224/682, 224/684, 224/908, 224/930, 361/683, 361/730, 709/200, 709/201, 709/204, 709/217, 709/218, 709/250, 710/73
• US Class Current: 224/262
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2003/144 Pack-carrying waist or torso belts
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0525 Personal portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/14 Carrying-straps; Pack-carrying harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/908 Carrier for camera or other photographic equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

An apparatus and method for using a wearable computer in testing applications that uses a probe, a display, an audio communication device, a computer adapted to receive data from the probe, exchange data with the display, exchange data with the audio communications device, and exchange data using wireless communication, a battery, and a harness for securing the probe, display, computer, and battery to a person'"'"'s body.

Claims

1. A system including a wearable apparatus for on-site testing and diagnostic analysis of a device, the system comprising:

a computer for storing and processing data;

a data acquisition device adapted to communicate with the computer, wherein said data acquisition device is connected to the device to collect Property Data and to provide the collected Property Data to the computer for onsite testing and diagnostic analysis of the device;

a first camera, in communication with the computer, for collecting image data of the device and providing the image data to the computer;

a display, in communication with the computer, for displaying visual data from the computer;

a microphone, in communication with the computer, for providing first audio data to the computer;

a speaker, in communication with the computer, for providing second audio data from the computer to a user of the wearable apparatus;

a power source, in communication with the wearable apparatus, for providing a source of power to the wearable apparatus; and

a harness, adapted to support at least the computer, the harness being adapted to be worn on a body of the user as a part of the wearable apparatus;

wherein the computer is adapted to provide testing and diagnostic capability to the user based on the collected Property Data.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote expert location, in wireless communication with the computer, enabling real-time collaboration between the user of the wearable apparatus and a remote expert who can advise the user regarding the on-site testing or diagnostic analysis of the device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote expert location, in wireless communication with the computer, enabling real-time collaboration between the user of the wearable apparatus and a remote expert who can advise the user regarding the on-site testing or diagnostic analysis of the device;

wherein the system is enabled for an exchange of real time streaming video, allowing the remote expert to advise the user while the user is at a location of the device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote expert location, in wireless communication with the computer, enabling real-time collaboration between the user of the wearable apparatus and a remote expert who can advise the user regarding the on-site testing or diagnostic analysis of the device;

wherein the system is enabled for annotation of images by the remote expert or user, thereby facilitating the on-site testing or diagnostic analysis of the device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is adapted to run software enabling the computer to emulate at least one of a digital multi-meter, oscilloscope, signal analyzer, waveform generator, function generator, counter, timer logic analyzer, waveform editor, device calibrator and data logger.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition device includes an electrical probe connected to at least one FLA.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the electrical probe includes positive and negative test leads.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition device includes a data collection unit, in wireless communication with the data acquisition device for receiving the Property Data of the device from the data acquisition device and transmitting other data to the data acquisition device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the image data includes one of real time video and a detailed snapshot.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second camera, in communication with the computer, for collecting image data of the device and providing the image data to the computer;

wherein the first camera is an inspection camera and the second camera is an infrared camera.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer includes a graphical user interface for use by the user.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is enabled for a whiteboarding feature.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the display includes a thin film transistor touch sensitive display surface.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the testing and diagnostic capability provided to the user is further based on information from a remote expert.

15. An apparatus for use by a technician to facilitate at least one of testing and diagnosing the condition of a device, comprising:

a computer adapted to store and to process data and adapted to be worn on a user'"'"'s body;

a data acquisition device in communication with the computer, wherein the data acquisition device connects to the device to collect Property Data describing at least one property of the device for testing and diagnosing the condition of the device;

a first camera in communication with the computer and adapted to obtain first imagery relevant to the device;

a second camera in communication with the computer and adapted to obtain second imagery relevant to the device;

a microphone in communication with the computer;

a speaker in communication with the computer;

a display unit in communication with the computer; and

a battery adapted to provide power to at least one of the display unit and the computer.