System for evaluating abnormal sound, sound recorder and apparatus for evaluating abnormal sound

• US 7,187,773 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daihatsu Motor Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Daihatsu Motor Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ando, Masaru, Kusao, Nozomi, Ogino, Michiaki, Edo, Ryoichi, Hamada, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton; Brian T.
• Application Number:
  US10/415,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20040015251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: 381/56, 381/58, 381/86, 701/29, 701/33, 702182-186, 735/87, 736/60, 736/59, 736/02, 736/49, 736/50, 735/89, 738/659, 731/16, 731/174, 731/19.R
• US Class Current: 381/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/12 by monitoring vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/14 using acoustic emission techniques echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00

Abstract

An abnormal sound evaluation system according to this invention includes a sound recording device for recording a sound generated from equipment at a location adjacent the equipment, and an abnormal sound evaluation device for evaluating the sound recorded, wherein: the sound recording device includes sound data conversion means for converting the recorded sound into digital sound data, and sound data output means for outputting the digital sound data thus converted for the abnormal sound evaluation device; and the abnormal sound evaluation device includes sound data input means for receiving the digital sound data, and abnormal sound evaluation means for evaluating the sound as to abnormality based on the digital sound data inputted and outputting a conclusion of the evaluation including abnormality information about the equipment.

Claims

1. An abnormal sound evaluation system comprising a portable sound recording device for recording a sound generated from a component in a vehicle at a location adjacent the component, and an abnormal sound evaluation device for evaluating the sound recorded, wherein:

the portable sound recording device includes sound data conversion means for converting the recorded sound into digital sound data, and sound data output means for outputting the digital sound data thus converted for the abnormal sound evaluation device;

the abnormal sound evaluation device includes sound data input means for receiving the digital sound data, and abnormal sound evaluation means for evaluating the sound as to abnormality based on the digital sound data inputted and outputting a conclusion of the evaluation including abnormality information about the component; and

the abnormal sound evaluation device comprises data storage means for storing reference digital sound data corresponding to an abnormal sound generated when an abnormality occurs in the component in relation to incidental information about an abnormality condition;

wherein the portable sound recording means is used at a site other than where the abnormal sound evaluation device is located, and the portable sound recording means and abnormal sound evaluation device are connectable to each other for bidirectional communication.

2. The abnormal sound evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein the conclusion of the evaluation includes at least one selected from abnormality information items about presence or absence of an abnormality, a location of the abnormality, an abnormality condition, a replacement part, and a repairing method.

3. The abnormal sound evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein the component is an engine and the portable sound recording device records a sound generated from the engine with engine revolution information.

4. An abnormal sound evaluation system comprising a portable sound recording device for recording a sound generated from a component in a vehicle at a location adjacent the component, and an abnormal sound evaluation device for evaluating the sound recorded, wherein:

the portable sound recording device includes sound data conversion means for converting the recorded sound into digital sound data, sound data output means for outputting the digital sound data thus converted for the abnormal sound evaluation device, and evaluation conclusion input means for receiving a conclusion of evaluation outputted from the abnormal sound evaluation device; and

the abnormal sound evaluation device includes sound data input means for receiving the digital sound data outputted from the portable sound recording device, abnormal sound evaluation means for evaluating the sound based on the digital sound data inputted and outputting a conclusion of the evaluation including abnormality information, and evaluation conclusion output means for outputting the conclusion of the evaluation outputted by the abnormal sound evaluation means for the portable sound recording device;

the abnormal sound evaluation device comprises data storage means for storing reference digital sound data corresponding to an abnormal sound generated when an abnormality occurs in the component in relation to incidental information about an abnormality condition;

wherein the portable sound recording means is used at a site other than where the abnormal sound evaluation device is located, and the portable sound recording means and abnormal sound evaluation device are connectable to each other for bidirectional communication.

5. The abnormal sound evaluation system according to claim 4, wherein the conclusion of the evaluation includes at least one selected from abnormality information items about presence or absence of an abnormality, a location of the abnormality, an abnormality condition, a replacement part, and a repairing method.

6. The abnormal sound evaluation system according to claim 4, wherein the component is an engine and wherein the portable sound recording device records a sound generated from the engine with engine revolution information.

7. An abnormal sound evaluation device comprising:

sound data input means for receiving digital sound data converted from a sound generated from a component in a vehicle and recorded at a location adjacent the component;

data storage means for storing reference digital sound data corresponding to an abnormal sound generated when an abnormality occurs in the component while relating the reference digital sound data to condition data representing a condition of the abnormality; and

abnormal sound evaluation means for evaluating the abnormal sound by comparing the digital sound data inputted with the reference digital sound data and outputting a conclusion of the evaluation including abnormality information

wherein the abnormal sound evaluation device is installed at a site other than the location of the vehicle, and the portable sound recording means and abnormal sound evaluation device are connectable to each other for bidirectional communication.

8. The abnormal sound evaluation device according to claim 7, wherein the conclusion of the evaluation includes at least one selected from abnormality information items about presence or absence of an abnormality, a location of the abnormality, an abnormality condition, a replacement part, and a repairing method.

9. The abnormal sound evaluation device according to claim 7, wherein the component is an engine, wherein the recorded sound is a sound generated from the engine and the sound generated from the engine is recorded with engine revolution information.