Systems and methods for monitoring input signal parameters

• US 8,688,862 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Alley, Daniel Milton
• Primary Examiner(s): TSENG, CHENG YUAN
• Application Number:
  US13/671,229
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3177 Testing of logic operation, e.g. by logic analysers

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring input signal parameters are provided. One embodiment may include an input unit for receiving at least three signals. The at least three signals can comprise at least one value associated with at least one monitored parameter. The system may further include at least one controller for determining that the at least one value of the at least three signals is outside of a predetermined range of values, detecting a deviation in the at least one value associated with the at least three signals from an expected value within the predetermined range of values, determining that the deviation exceeds a predetermined period of time threshold, and determining a change in at least one of the at least three signals based at least in part on the determination that the deviation exceeds the threshold period of time.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by at least one controller, at least three signals, wherein the at least three signals comprise at least one value associated with at least one monitored parameter;

determining, by the at least one controller, that the at least one value of the at least three signals is outside of a predetermined range of values;

detecting, by the at least one controller, a deviation of the at least one value associated with the at least three signals from an expected value within the predetermined range of values;

determining, by the at least one controller, that the deviation exceeds a predetermined period of time threshold; and

determining, by the at least one controller, a change in the at least one of the at least three signals based at least in part on the determination that the deviation exceeds the predetermined period of time threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller receives the at least three signals via a first channel and a second channel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least three signals are generated by at least one repetitive signal source or counter.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one repetitive signal source or counter comprises one or more of an incremental encoder, a rotary encoder, and a rollover counter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least three signals comprise one or more of a frequency-modulated signal, a amplitude-modulated signal, and a pulse-width modulated signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least three signals comprise one or more of A-quad-B signals.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored value comprises a measurement associated with at least one of:

signal amplitude, signal frequency, a signal pulse width, or a signal phase.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least three signals is associated with a timing signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the deviation of the at least one value is detected based at least in part on the timing signal.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating one or more time stamps associated with the at least three signals.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more time stamps are generated by a counter.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a log entry associated with the change in at least one of the at least three signals.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the log entry comprises a time stamp associated with the change in at least one of the at least three signals.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating a log file comprising two or more log entries.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the log file comprises three log entries respectively associated with the first, the second and the most recent change in the at least one of the at least three signals.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting the log entry to a monitoring system.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying low pass filtering to the at least three signals.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a measurement of a frequency of one or more of the at least three signals.

19. A system comprising:

an input unit configured to receive at least three signals, wherein the at least three signals comprise at least one value associated with at least one monitored parameter; and

at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller is configured to;

determine that the at least one value for the at least three signals is outside of a predetermined range of values;

detect a deviation of the at least one value associated with the at least three signals in an expected value within the predetermined range of values;

determine that the deviation exceeds a predetermined period of time threshold; and

determine a change in at least one of the at least three signals based at least in part on determining that the deviation exceeds the period of time threshold.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to generate a log entry associated with the change in at least one of the at least three signals, wherein the log entry includes a time stamp associated with the change in at least one of the at least three signals.