Sensor system, computer, and machine

• US 9,310,345 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Uchida, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, John H
• Application Number:
  US13/817,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20130151170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,021 Days
• Field of Search: 702/33, 702/183, 702/184, 702/185, 702/188, 342/357.75, 701/1, 701/29.1, 701/33, 701/50, 705/7.27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/00 Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A machine in a sensor system is configured to measure conditions of parts in the machine with sensors, collect pieces of sensor data generated by the measurements, and transmit the collected pieces of sensor data to a computer while connecting to the computer via a network. The computer in the sensor system is configured to create an index for indicating that the machine is in a predetermined condition, based on the transmitted pieces of sensor data, and transmit the created index to the machine. The machine is configured to diagnose whether the machine is in the predetermined condition with the transmitted index and collected pieces of sensor data.

Claims

1. A sensor system comprising:

a machine including sensors; and

a computer connected to the machine via a network,

wherein the machine is configured to;

measure conditions of parts in the machine with the sensors;

collect pieces of sensor data generated by the measurements, including pieces of sensor data for at least one day; and

transmit the collected pieces of sensor data, including the pieces of sensor data in the at least one day, to the computer while connecting to the computer via the network,

wherein the computer is configured to;

hold the transmitted pieces of sensor data in at least one day for respective dates of generation of sensor data in the machine;

create a first index for indicating that the machine is in a predetermined condition, based on the transmitted pieces of sensor data;

transmit the created first index to the machine;

create first indices each for indicating that the machine is in the predetermined condition, for the respective dates of generation of sensor data, based on the pieces of sensor data held in the computer;

determine a diagnosis date to diagnose whether the machine is in the predetermined condition;

calculate a first period associated with the diagnosis date based on the determined diagnosis date and a first predetermined number of days;

create a second index including the first indices in the calculated first period; and

transmit the created second index and the determined diagnosis date to the machine, and

wherein the machine is configured to diagnose whether the machine is in the predetermined condition with the transmitted index and collected pieces of sensor data and wherein the machine is configured to diagnose whether the machine is in the predetermined condition with the transmitted second index and collected pieces of sensor data on the transmitted diagnosis date.

2. The sensor system according to claim 1,

wherein the machine is configured to transmit the collected pieces of sensor data in at least one day to the computer on a connection date to connect to the computer,

wherein the computer is configured to:

calculate a first diagnosis date by summing the connection date and a second predetermined number of days; and

calculate a next connection date for the machine to transmit pieces of sensor data to the computer, based on the calculated first diagnosis date.

3. The sensor system according to claim 2,

wherein the computer is configured to:

extract dates of the first predetermined number of days continuous to the connection date;

subtract each of the extracted dates individually from the calculated first diagnosis date;

calculate a first average difference in days by dividing a sum of results of the subtractions by the first predetermined number of days;

extract dates of the first predetermined number of days, in an order from the latest date to the earliest date, from the dates on which the pieces of sensor data transmitted from the machine are generated by the connection date;

subtract each date of the extracted first predetermined number of days individually from the calculated first diagnosis date;

calculate a second average difference in days by dividing a sum of results of the subtractions by the first predetermined number of days; and

calculate a second diagnosis date by subtracting a result of subtracting the first average difference in days from the second average difference in days from the first diagnosis date.

4. The sensor system according to claim 3,

wherein the machine is configured to transmit pieces of sensor data to the computer in a case where the machine has diagnosed that the machine is in the predetermined condition, and

wherein the computer is configured to:

diagnose whether the machine is in the predetermined condition with a created index and the transmitted pieces of sensor data; and

generate data to report that the machine is in the predetermined condition in a case where the computer has diagnosed that the machine is in the predetermined condition.

5. A computer to be connected to a machine including sensors via a network, the computer being configured to:

receive pieces of sensor data generated in the machine from the machine, including pieces of sensor data for at least one day;

create an index for indicating that the machine is in a predetermined condition, based on the received pieces of sensor data;

transmit the created index to the machine for the machine to diagnose whether the machine is in the predetermined condition;

hold the received pieces of sensor data in at least one day for respective dates of generation of sensor data in the machine;

create first indices each for indicating that the machine is in the predetermined condition, for the respective dates of generation of sensor data, based on the pieces of sensor data held in the computer;

determine a diagnosis date to diagnose whether the machine is in the predetermined condition;

calculate a first period associated with the diagnosis date based on the determined diagnosis date and a first predetermined number of days;

create a second index including the first indices in the calculated first period; and

transmit the created second index and the determined diagnosis date to the machine.

6. The computer according to claim 5, further configured to:

receive the pieces of sensor data in at least one day on a connection date to connect to the computer;

calculate a first diagnosis date by summing the connection date and a second predetermined number of days; and

calculate a next connection date for the machine to transmit pieces of sensor data to the computer, based on the calculated first diagnosis date.

7. The computer according to claim 6, further configured to:

extract dates of the first predetermined number of days continuous to the connection date;

subtract each of the extracted dates individually from the calculated first diagnosis date;

calculate a first average difference in days by dividing a sum of results of the subtractions by the first predetermined number of days;

extract dates of the first predetermined number of days, in an order from the latest date to the earliest date, from the dates on which the pieces of sensor data transmitted from the machine are generated by the connection date;

subtract each date of the extracted first predetermined number of days individually from the calculated first diagnosis date;

calculate a second average difference in days by dividing a sum of results of the subtractions by the first predetermined number of days; and

calculate a second diagnosis date by subtracting a result of subtracting the first average difference in days from the second average difference in days from the first diagnosis date.

8. The computer according to claim 7,

wherein in a case where the machine has diagnosed that the machine is in the predetermined condition, the computer is further configured to:

receive pieces of sensor data from the machine;

diagnose whether the machine is in the predetermined condition with a created index and the transmitted pieces of sensor data; and

generate data to report that the machine is in the predetermined condition in a case where the computer has diagnosed that the machine is in the predetermined condition.