Systems and methods for machine sensing and communication

• US 10,214,180 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2017
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Hill, Jason E., Fogarty, Thomas E., Lathrop, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Ly D
• Application Number:
  US15/630,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20170369032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 706 22
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/00 Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/36 Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/365 of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2821 Pressure, vacuum level or airflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2831 Motor parameters, e.g. motor load or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/22 Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/468 Specific access rights for resources, e.g. using capability register
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 : Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 : Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 : Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 : for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 : using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

An apparatus and method for monitoring the productivity of a portable machine are provided. The method includes receiving motion data for at least one component of the portable machine from a multi-axis accelerometer, receiving position data for the at least one component from a process parameter sensor communicatively coupled to the at least one component, and determining, based on the received motion data and the received position data that the at least one component is oriented in a predetermined position for productive operation. The method also includes determining an area of productive operation using at least one physical dimension of the at least one component and the received motion data when the at least one component is oriented in the predetermined position for productive operation and incrementing a total area counter based on the determination.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring productivity of a vacuum cleaning system that includes a wand assembly and a mechanical portion including a fan coupled to a motor, the method comprising:

receiving first motion data for a cleaning head of the wand assembly from a multi-axis accelerometer coupled to the wand assembly;

comparing the received cleaning head motion data to a predetermined motion threshold indicating a proper operating technique of the vacuum cleaning system;

receiving position orientation data for the cleaning head from a process parameter sensor coupled to the cleaning head;

receiving pressure data from a pressure sensor;

receiving flow data from a flow sensor;

determining, based on the received cleaning head motion data and the received cleaning head position orientation data that the cleaning head is oriented in a predetermined position for productive operation of the vacuum cleaning system;

indicating, to an operator of the vacuum cleaning system, when the cleaning head is not oriented in a predetermined position for productive operation of the vacuum cleaning system or when accelerations of the cleaning head are outside an acceleration range that indicate proper operation of the wand assembly for optimum efficiency and productivity;

receiving second motion data for the cleaning head that indicates the cleaning head is oriented in the predetermined position or that accelerations of the cleaning head are within the acceleration range that indicates proper operation;

determining a total floor area of productive operation of the vacuum cleaning system using at least one physical dimension of the cleaning head and the received cleaning head motion data when the cleaning head is oriented in the predetermined position for productive operation

at least one of scheduling maintenance on the vacuum cleaning system and replacing consumables associated with the vacuum cleaning system based on the total floor area of productive operation; and

incrementing a total floor area counter based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving pressure data from a pressure sensor comprises receiving pressure data from the pressure sensor configured to indicate a distance of the cleaning head to a surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving flow data from a flow sensor comprises receiving flow data from the flow sensor configured to indicate a distance of the cleaning head to a surface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving position data in a building for the vacuum cleaning system;

determining a relative position of the cleaning head with respect to the vacuum cleaning system; and

determining a position in the building of the cleaning head using the received position data in the building for the vacuum cleaning system and the determined relative position of the cleaning head with respect to the vacuum cleaning system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an indication of the total floor area counter wirelessly to a central server.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an indication of the total floor area counter wirelessly to a supervisory computer device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a total floor area of productive operation using at least one physical dimension of the cleaning head comprises determining a total floor area of productive operation using at least a width of the cleaning head in a direction perpendicular to a direction of motion of the cleaning head.

8. A portable cleaning machine comprising:

a mechanical portion including a fan coupled to a motor and configured to generate a cleaning force;

a cleaning head comprising a first physical dimension and coupled in flow communication to said mechanical portion;

a multi-axis accelerometer positioned on said cleaning head, said multi-axis accelerometer configured to generate motion data of the cleaning head; and

a machine controller configured to;

receive motion data for said cleaning head from said multi-axis accelerometer;

compare the received motion data to a predetermined motion threshold indicating a proper operating technique of said cleaning head;

receive position orientation data for said cleaning head from a process parameter sensor coupled to said cleaning head;

receive pressure data from a pressure sensor;

receive flow data from a flow sensor;

determine, based on the received motion data and the received position orientation data that said cleaning head is oriented in a predetermined position for productive operation;

indicate to an operator of the vacuum cleaning system when the cleaning head is not oriented in a predetermined position for productive operation of the vacuum cleaning system or when accelerations of the cleaning head are outside an acceleration range that indicate proper operation of the wand assembly for optimum efficiency and productivity;

receive second motion data for the cleaning head that indicates the cleaning head is oriented in the predetermined position or that accelerations of the cleaning head are within the acceleration range that indicates proper operation;

determine a total floor area of productive operation of the vacuum cleaning system using at least one physical dimension of said cleaning head and the received motion data when said cleaning head is oriented in the predetermined position for productive operation;

at least one of schedule maintenance on the vacuum cleaning system and replace consumables associated with the vacuum cleaning system based on the total floor area of productive operation; and

increment a total floor area counter based on the determination.

9. The portable cleaning machine of claim 8, further comprising a mechanical portion position receiver configured to determine a location within predetermined boundaries of said mechanical portion.

10. The portable cleaning machine of claim 8, further comprising a motion and sensor processor configured to determine a location of said cleaning head within a set of predetermined boundaries.

11. The portable cleaning machine of claim 10, wherein said motion and sensor processor is configured to map an area covered by said cleaning head based on the total floor area counter and the location of said cleaning head within a set of predetermined boundaries.

12. The portable cleaning machine of claim 8, further comprising a motion and sensor processor configured to:

receive motion data from said multi-axis accelerometer; and

determine that the received motion data is within a threshold range of predetermined motion data.

13. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

receive motion data for a cleaning head of a vacuum cleaning system from a multi-axis accelerometer mounted on the cleaning head;

receive position data for said cleaning head from a process parameter sensor coupled to said cleaning head;

receive pressure data from a pressure sensor;

receive flow data from a flow sensor;

determine, based on the received motion data and the received position data that said cleaning head is oriented in a predetermined position orientation for productive operation;

compare the received motion data to a predetermined motion threshold indicating a proper operating technique of said cleaning head wherein the proper operating technique includes the received motion data being within a predetermined acceleration threshold range and said cleaning head being maintained in a predetermined position orientation;

indicate to an operator of the vacuum cleaning system when the cleaning head is not oriented in a predetermined position for productive operation of the vacuum cleaning system or when accelerations of the cleaning head are outside an acceleration range that indicate proper operation of the wand assembly for optimum efficiency and productivity;

receive second motion data for the cleaning head that indicates the cleaning head is oriented in the predetermined position or that accelerations of the cleaning head are within the acceleration range that indicates proper operation;

determine a total floor area of productive operation of the vacuum cleaning system using at least one physical dimension of said cleaning head and the received motion data when said cleaning head is oriented in the predetermined position for productive operation;

at least one of schedule maintenance on the vacuum cleaning system and replace consumables associated with the vacuum cleaning system based on the total floor area of productive operation; and

increment a total floor area counter based on the determination.

14. The computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to map the total floor area covered by said cleaning head based on the total floor area counter and a location of said cleaning head within a set of predetermined boundaries.

15. The computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:

receive motion data from said multi-axis accelerometer; and

determine that the received motion data is within a threshold range of predetermined acceleration.

16. The computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:

receive position location data within predetermined boundaries for the vacuum cleaning system;

determine a relative position of said cleaning head with respect to the vacuum cleaning system; and

determine a position, within the predetermined boundaries of the cleaning head using the received position location data in a building for the vacuum cleaning system and the determined relative position of the cleaning head with respect to the vacuum cleaning system.

17. The computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to transmit an indication of the total floor area counter wirelessly to at least one of a central server and a supervisory computer device.