Remote operation and monitoring of measurement systems and remote measurement data processing

• US 8,976,039 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redfish Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Redfish Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: O'Hara, Patrick, Xiao, Qiwei (Alan), Lavo, David
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US13/329,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20120154172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/505, 340/517, 340/3.1, 340/3.3, 340/3.31, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

The present application is directed to systems and methods for operating a measurement system. Various embodiments may comprise a measurement device and a receiving device remote from the measurement device. The measurement device may acquire data corresponding to one or more measurements, convert any analog portion of the data into a digital transmission signal, and transmit the signal. The receiving device may receive the signal, convert the signal into digital data, and display the digital data.

Claims

1. A control device for remotely controlling a measurement device, comprising:

a graphical user interface to process commands from a user;

a processor to convert the commands into a signal; and

a transceiver that wirelessly transmits the signal to the measurement device and receives a return signal from the measurement device, wherein the signal directs the measurement device to measure one or more electrical characteristic parameters external to the measurement device and the return signal comprises data corresponding to the one or more measured electrical characteristic parameters.

2. The control device of claim 1, further comprising memory to store the data corresponding to the one or more measured electrical characteristic parameters.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein the processor analyzes the data and provides a graphical representation of the data.

4. A measurement system, comprising:

a control device, comprising;

at least one memory;

a first processor operatively coupled to the memory to produce command signals;

a display unit coupled to the processor for displaying data; and

a first transceiver for transmitting the command signals; and

a measurement device that is remote from the control device, comprising;

a second transceiver within the measurement device for receiving the command signals; and

a second processor within the measurement device that processes the command signals and adjusts operation of the measurement device according to instructions in the command signals.

5. The measurement system of claim 4, wherein the control device further comprises a graphical user interface for projection on the display unit, the interface processing commands for operation of the measurement device.

6. The measurement system of claim 4, wherein the measurement device further comprises a data acquisition component coupled to the second processor, the data acquisition component comprising one or more sensors to detect an input voltage corresponding to one or more measured electrical characteristic parameters.

7. The measurement system of claim 6, wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more probes that contact a portion of an electrical circuit and generate the input voltage.

8. The measurement system of claim 6, wherein one of the first and second processors is configured to convert the input voltage into a numerical representation of the one or more measured electrical characteristic parameters.