SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING VIBRATION ISOLATORS

• US 20130061666A1
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics Limited (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics Limited (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: GILLIES, Stuart
• Granted Patent: US 9,238,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/117.03
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1162 directly mounted on the suspension arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/91 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/94 Deformation of a vehicle part
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/14 Photo or light sensitive means, e.g. Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 99/002 Suspension details of the suspension of the vehicle body on the vehicle chassis
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/16 for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. optical strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 9/00 Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves by using radiation-sensitive means, e.g. optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/081 by using a contact-less detection method, i.e. with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/04 Suspension or damping

Abstract

A system may monitor a vibration isolating connection between a first part and a second part. The system may include a light source, an optical sensor mounted to receive light from the light source, and a processing unit for providing an output indicative of the deformation of the vibration isolating connection based on the output of the optical sensor.

Claims

1. -30. (canceled)

31. A system for monitoring a vibration isolating connection between a first part and a second part, the system comprising:

a light source;

an optical sensor configured to receive light from said light source; and

a processor configured to provide an output indicative of deformation of the vibration isolating connection based upon an output of said optical sensor.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein said optical sensor comprises a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD).

33. The system of claim 31 wherein said light source comprises a laser diode.

34. The system of claim 31 further comprising a housing carrying said light source and said optical sensor therein.

35. The system of claim 31 wherein the vibration isolating connection comprises a bushing.

36. The system of claim 31 wherein said light source and said optical sensor are mounted on the first part.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein said light source is mounted adjacent said optical sensor.

38. The system of claim 31 further comprising a single housing carrying said light source and said optical sensor.

39. The system of claim 31 wherein said light source is mounted on the first part and said optical sensor is mounted on the second part.

40. The system of claim 31 wherein said light source and said optical sensor are mounted on the first part;

and further comprising a light guide mounted on the second part and configured to direct light from said light source to said optical sensor.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein said light guide comprises a mirror.

42. The system of claim 31 wherein said optical sensor and said light source are mounted within the vibration isolating connection.

43. The system of claim 31 wherein said optical sensor comprises a plurality thereof.

44. The system of claim 31 further comprising a first memory coupled to said processor and configured to store the output indicative of the deformation of the vibration isolating connection.

45. The system of claim 31 further comprising a second memory coupled to said processor and configured to store information about the vibration isolating connection.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein said processor is configured to compare the information in said second memory with the output indicative of the deformation of the vibration isolating connection.

47. The system of claim 45 wherein said processor is configured to generate a warning signal when the output indicative of the deformation of the vibration isolating connection exceeds a predetermined range based upon the information in said second memory.

48. The system of claim 45 wherein said second memory is removable.

49. The system of claim 45 wherein said second memory is configured to communicate with an external processor.

50. A vehicle comprising:

first and second parts;

a vibration isolating connection between said first part and said second part; and

a device configured to monitor said vibration isolating connection and comprising

a light source,

an optical sensor configured to receive light from said light source, and

a processor configured to provide an output indicative of deformation of the vibration isolating connection based upon an output of said optical sensor.

51. The vehicle of claim 50 wherein said optical sensor comprises a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD).

52. The vehicle of claim 50 wherein said light source comprises a laser diode.

53. The vehicle of claim 50 wherein said device further comprises a housing carrying said light source and said optical sensor therein.

54. The vehicle of claim 50 wherein said vibration isolating connection comprises a bushing.

55. The vehicle of claim 50 wherein said light source and said optical sensor are mounted on said first part.

56. A method for monitoring a vibration isolating connection, the method comprising:

transmitting light from a light source along an optical path to an optical sensor, a length of the optical path being varied by deformation of the vibration isolating connection; and

determining from received light a value indicative of the length of the optical path.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising determining the deformation of the vibration isolating connection based upon a plurality of values indicative of the length of the optical path.

58. The method of claim 56 further comprising performing a calibration to provide a first set of readings for the vibration isolating connection.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein the first set of readings comprises data for a composition of the vibration isolating connector and tolerances of the vibration isolating connector.

60. The method of claim 58 further comprising comparing the value indicative of the length of the optical path with the first set of readings.

61. The method of claim 60 further comprising determining if a range of motion of the vibration isolating connector while in use is within a range based upon the comparing between the value indicative of the length of the optical path and the first set of readings.

62. The method of claim 61 further comprising generating a warning signal if the range of motion of the vibration isolating connector while in use exceeds a threshold.

63. The method of claim 56 further comprising recording information based upon the value indicative of the length of the optical path.

64. The method of claim 56 wherein transmitting of the light is preformed at a frequency of 5-100 Hz.

65. A storage device for causing a computer system to execute a method comprising:

transmitting light from a light source along an optical path to an optical sensor, a length of the optical path being varied by deformation of the vibration isolating connection; and

determining from received light a value indicative of the length of the optical path.

66. The storage device of claim 65 wherein the method comprises determining the deformation of the vibration isolating connection based upon a plurality of values indicative of the length of the optical path.

67. The storage device of claim 65 wherein the method comprises performing a calibration to provide a first set of readings for the vibration isolating connection.

68. The storage device of claim 67 wherein the first set of readings comprises data for a composition of the vibration isolating connector and tolerances of the vibration isolating connector.

69. The storage device of claim 67 wherein the method comprises comparing the value indicative of the length of the optical path with the first set of readings.