Wireless system and method for measuring an operative condition of a machine
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a sensor sized to be disposed within a reservoir of a machine having moving parts that are lubricated by a liquid in the reservoir, the sensor configured to obtain a measurement of the liquid that is representative of at least one of a quantity or quality of the liquid in the reservoir; and
a device body operably coupled to the sensor, the device body including a processing unit-and a transmitter, the device body configured to wirelessly receive an interrogation signal from a remote reader, the interrogation signal including electric energy that energizes the processing unit to generate a data signal representative of the measurement of the liquid obtained by the sensor, the electric energy of the interrogation signal additionally energizing the transmitter to wirelessly communicate the data signal to the remote reader;
wherein the device body is configured to be mounted to a wall of the machine, the wall at least partially defining the reservoir, the device body further including an accelerometer operably coupled to the processing unit and configured to obtain a vibration measurement of the wall, the processing unit configured to determine that the machine is in a stationary state based on the vibration measurement indicating less than a threshold amount of vibration of the wall for a designated amount of time, the processing unit configured to generate the data signal representative of the measurement of the liquid for communication by the transmitter during the stationary state of the machine.
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Abstract
System including a sensor configured to be disposed within a reservoir of a machine having moving parts that are lubricated by a liquid in the reservoir. The sensor is configured to obtain a measurement of the liquid that is representative of at least one of a quantity or quality of the liquid in the reservoir. The system also includes a device body operably coupled to the sensor. The device body has a processing unit that is operably coupled to the sensor and configured to generate first data signals representative of the measurement of the liquid. The device body also includes a transmitter that is configured to wirelessly communicate the first data signals to a remote reader.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a sensor sized to be disposed within a reservoir of a machine having moving parts that are lubricated by a liquid in the reservoir, the sensor configured to obtain a measurement of the liquid that is representative of at least one of a quantity or quality of the liquid in the reservoir; and a device body operably coupled to the sensor, the device body including a processing unit-and a transmitter, the device body configured to wirelessly receive an interrogation signal from a remote reader, the interrogation signal including electric energy that energizes the processing unit to generate a data signal representative of the measurement of the liquid obtained by the sensor, the electric energy of the interrogation signal additionally energizing the transmitter to wirelessly communicate the data signal to the remote reader; wherein the device body is configured to be mounted to a wall of the machine, the wall at least partially defining the reservoir, the device body further including an accelerometer operably coupled to the processing unit and configured to obtain a vibration measurement of the wall, the processing unit configured to determine that the machine is in a stationary state based on the vibration measurement indicating less than a threshold amount of vibration of the wall for a designated amount of time, the processing unit configured to generate the data signal representative of the measurement of the liquid for communication by the transmitter during the stationary state of the machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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providing a device body mounted to a wall of a machine having moving parts, the machine including a reservoir at least partially defined by the wall, the moving parts lubricated by a liquid in the reservoir, the device body including a processing unit, a transmitter, and an accelerometer operably coupled to the processing unit, the accelerometer configured to obtain a vibration measurement of the wall, the processing unit configured to determine that the machine is in a stationary state based on the vibration measurement indicating less than a threshold amount of vibration of the wall for a designated amount of time; receiving, at the device body, a measurement of the liquid in the reservoir representative of at least one of a quantity or a quality of the liquid in the reservoir, the measurement obtained from a sensor disposed within the reservoir; wirelessly receiving, at the device body, an interrogation signal from a remote reader; generating, by the processing unit, a data signal representative of the measurement of the liquid obtained by the sensor, the processing unit generating the data signal using electric energy of the interrogation signal, the processing unit generating the data signal only during a stationary state of the machine; and wirelessly communicating, by the transmitter, the data signal to the remote reader, the transmitter wirelessly communicating the data signal using the electric energy of the interrogation signal. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a sensor sized to be disposed within a reservoir of a machine having moving parts that are lubricated by a liquid in the reservoir, the sensor configured to obtain a measurement of the liquid that is representative of at least one of a quantity or quality of the liquid in the reservoir; and a device body operably coupled to the sensor, the device body including a processing unit and a transmitter, the processing unit configured to communicate a query to the sensor requesting the sensor to obtain the measurement of the liquid responsive to receiving an interrogation signal from a remote reader, the processing unit further configured to generate a data signal representative of the measurement of the liquid obtained by the sensor, the transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate the data signal to the remote reader; wherein the device body is configured to be mounted to a wall of the machine, the wall at least partially defining the reservoir, the device body further including an accelerometer operably coupled to the processing unit and configured to obtain a vibration measurement of the wall, the processing the unit configured to determine that the machine is in a stationary state based on the vibration measurement indicating less than a threshold amount of vibration of the wall for a designated amount of time, the processing unit configured to generate the data signal representative of the measurement of the liquid for communication by the transmitter during the stationary state of the machine. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification