Method for estimating a maintenance date and apparatus using the same
First Claim
1. A method of estimating a maintenance date for a tool based upon a parameter of the tool, comprising:
- obtaining a difference between a detected value of the parameter and a maintenance value of the parameter;
determining whether the difference is less than or equal to a predefined value;
performing a maintenance procedure if the difference is less than or equal to the predefined value;
estimating a maintenance date according to the difference and a variation value if the difference is greater than the predefined value, the variation value representing a change in the parameter per time unit; and
storing the maintenance date to a maintenance schedule for later use;
wherein the maintenance date is estimated by adding (a) a current date, (b) one, and (c) the difference divided by the variety value.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for estimating maintenance dates includes steps of obtaining one or more differences between detected values and maintenance values of parameters, and determining whether the differences are beyond predefined values. The method further includes a step of implementing or recommending an initiation of maintenance if any of the differences are beyond their respective predefined values. The method also includes a step of estimating the maintenance date according to the differences and variation values representing changes of the parameter per time unit for the tool, if none of the differences are beyond their respective predefined values. An apparatus for estimating maintenance date in this fashion is also presented. The apparatus includes a controller, a database, and a connection unit.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method of estimating a maintenance date for a tool based upon a parameter of the tool, comprising:
-
obtaining a difference between a detected value of the parameter and a maintenance value of the parameter; determining whether the difference is less than or equal to a predefined value; performing a maintenance procedure if the difference is less than or equal to the predefined value; estimating a maintenance date according to the difference and a variation value if the difference is greater than the predefined value, the variation value representing a change in the parameter per time unit; and storing the maintenance date to a maintenance schedule for later use;
wherein the maintenance date is estimated by adding (a) a current date, (b) one, and (c) the difference divided by the variety value.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for estimating a maintenance date for a tool, comprising:
-
obtaining a plurality of differences between a plurality of detected values of a plurality of parameters of the tool and a plurality of maintenance values of the parameters; determining whether each difference is less than or equal to a corresponding predefined value for each parameter, performing a maintenance procedure if a predetermined number of the differences are less than or equal to their corresponding predefined values; estimating a maintenance date according to the differences and a plurality of variation values for each parameter if the predetermined number of the differences are not less than or equal to their corresponding predefined values;
wherein each variation value represents a change in a corresponding one of the parameters per time unit for the tool; andstoring the maintenance date to a maintenance schedule for later use;
wherein the maintenance date is estimated by adding (a) a current date, (b) one, and (c) the difference divided by the variety value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. An apparatus for estimating a maintenance date for a tool, comprising:
- a database comprising at least one variation value, each variation value represents a change of a parameter of the tool per time unit; and
a controller operatively connected to the database and configured to estimate the maintenance date for the tool according to at least one variation value and at least one difference between a detected value of the parameter and a maintenance value of the parameter;
wherein the controller is configured to provide a recommendation that a maintenance procedure be performed on the tool when the difference is less than or equal to a predefined value wherein the maintenance date is estimated by adding (a) a current date, (b) one, and (c) the difference divided by the variety value. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
- a database comprising at least one variation value, each variation value represents a change of a parameter of the tool per time unit; and
Specification