System and method for obtaining and utilizing maintenance information
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of maintaining an object, the method comprising acts of:
- storing, in digital format, a first image of the object at a first time;
obtaining a second image of the object at a second time;
comparing the first image to the second image; and
determining whether to perform maintenance on the object based, at least in part, on the act of comparing.
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Abstract
A system for obtaining, recording, displaying, storing, transmitting and receiving maintenance and other information is provided. The system, which may include an electronic maintenance apparatus that may be in the form of a hand-held digital computer, allows a user to capture and store images, sound, and/or error codes and related text or voice data and other information concerning the system or object being maintained. The information can be stored locally and/or transmitted to remote locations. Retrieval of the images and other data at a later date provides an historical perspective of the object, enabling one using the maintenance apparatus to compare and contrast the condition of the object over time. Instruction on how to accomplish a job at hand, diagnostic information and/or support information may also be transmitted to and from the maintenance apparatus.
166 Citations
122 Claims
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1. A method of maintaining an object, the method comprising acts of:
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storing, in digital format, a first image of the object at a first time;
obtaining a second image of the object at a second time;
comparing the first image to the second image; and
determining whether to perform maintenance on the object based, at least in part, on the act of comparing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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19. A method of inspecting an object from a remote location, the method comprising acts of:
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obtaining a digital image of the object at a first location;
electronically transmitting the digital image to a second location remote from the first location;
viewing the digital image at the second location;
transmitting instructions to the first location; and
performing an act on the object in response to the instructions.
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38. An electronic inspection apparatus adapted to communicate with a camera to obtain an image of an object, the apparatus comprising:
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a casing;
a computer disposed within the casing;
a camera control unit disposed within the casing and coupled to the computer, the camera control unit being adapted to receive electronic images from the camera, reformat the electronic images into digital format and pass the digitally formatted images to the computer; and
an input device, coupled to the computer, adapted to allow a user to input full text data relating to the image.
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62. An electronic inspection apparatus adapted to communicate with a camera to obtain an image of an object, the apparatus comprising:
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a casing;
a computer disposed within the casing;
a camera control unit disposed within the casing and coupled to the computer, the camera control unit being adapted to receive electronic images from the camera, reformat the electronic images into digital format and pass the digitally formatted images to the computer; and
a computer readable storage medium, coupled to the computer, having an executable code stored thereon that allows the computer to execute at least two processes in a multitask fashion. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86)
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87. An electronic inspection apparatus adapted to communicate with a camera for obtaining an image of an object, the apparatus comprising:
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a casing;
a computer disposed within the casing;
a control unit disposed within the casing and coupled to the computer, the control unit being adapted to communicate with the camera; and
an input device coupled to the computer and the control unit, the input device adapted to receive an input command from a user, the control unit adapted to receive the command and signal at least portions of the camera to react as commanded. - View Dependent Claims (88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122)
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112. An aircraft inspection system comprising:
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a camera adapted to view a component of the aircraft; and
a portable electronic apparatus communicating with the camera, the apparatus comprising;
a casing;
a computer disposed within the casing;
a camera control unit coupled to the computer and disposed within the casing, the camera control unit adapted to receive an image from the camera and pass the image to the computer;
a display coupled to the computer and adapted to display the image;
an input device coupled to the computer and adapted to allow a user to input maintenance data relating to the component; and
a storage medium communicating with the computer, the storage medium adapted to store the image and related data.
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116. An electronic maintenance apparatus adapted to communicate with a camera to obtain an image of an object, the apparatus comprising:
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a casing;
a computer disposed within the casing; and
a storage medium communicating with the computer, the storage medium including maintenance information regarding the object being imaged.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeRobert Lee Thompson
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Original AssigneeRobert Lee Thompson
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InventorsThompson, Robert Lee
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Granted Patent
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Time in Patent OfficeDays
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Field of Search
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US Class Current382/141
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CPC Class CodesB64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircr...G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. sl...G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human...G06T 7/001 using an image reference ap...G07C 5/008 communicating information t...
