Patent Application
20150172151
The present invention relates to a condition monitor and associated method of use. More specifically, the condition monitor includes a data conveyance system which utilizes a variety of data formats in conjunction with an HTTP web server application providing an adaptive data dissemination process enabling receipt of condition data using any web based browser.
Continuous runtime of, and predictive maintenance windows, for machinery is essential to optimizing reliability and minimizing impact on productivity. Understanding the condition of the machinery is beneficial in determining and optimizing maintenance schedules for the machinery.
Condition monitors are typically employed for obtaining data indicative of a condition of an operating machine. The condition monitors senses and obtains parameters of conditions in machinery (vibration, temperature, etc.), in order to identify a significant change, which is indicative of a developing fault. The use of conditional monitoring allows maintenance to be scheduled, or other actions to be taken to prevent failure and avoid its consequences. Condition monitoring has a unique benefit in that conditions that would shorten normal lifespan can be addressed before they develop into a major failure. Condition monitoring techniques are normally used on rotating equipment and other machinery (pumps, electric motors, internal combustion engines, presses), while periodic inspection using non-destructive testing techniques and fit for service (FFS) evaluation are used for stationary plant equipment such as steam boilers, piping and heat exchangers.
Condition monitors collect and store data in a predetermined format dictating a specific application for receiving and deciphering the data indicative of the conditions of the machinery. This requirement can be limiting, as it requires dedicated software based upon a selected protocol (commonly proprietary to the manufacturer), which is commonly installed on a specific computing device. Additionally, the dedicated software can be limiting on the end user's ability to manipulate, index, or in any other way manage the condition data obtained by the condition monitoring device.
Separately, web based data platforms utilize data manipulation platforms enabling flexible data output to any browser enabling computing device.
HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is the main markup language for creating web pages and other information that can be displayed in a web browser.
HTML is written in the form of HTML elements consisting of tags enclosed in angle brackets (like <html>), within the web page content. HTML tags most commonly come in pairs like <hl>and </hl>, although some tags represent empty elements and so are unpaired, for example <img>. The first tag in a pair is the start tag, and the second tag is the end tag (they are also called opening tags and closing tags). In between these tags web designers can add text, further tags, comments and other types of text-based content.
The purpose of a web browser is to read HTML documents and compose them into visible or audible web pages. The browser does not display the HTML tags, but uses the tags to interpret the content of the page.
HTML elements form the building blocks of all websites. HTML allows images and objects to be embedded and can be used to create interactive forms. It provides a means to create structured documents by denoting structural semantics for text such as headings, paragraphs, lists, links, quotes and other items. It can embed scripts written in languages such as JavaScript, which affect the behavior of HTML web pages.
JavaScript (JS) is an interpreted computer programming language. As part of web browsers, implementations allow client-side scripts to interact with the user, control the browser, communicate asynchronously, and alter the document content that is displayed. It has also become common in server-side programming, game development and the creation of desktop applications.
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language with dynamic typing and has first-class functions. Its syntax was influenced by C. JavaScript copies many names and naming conventions from Java, but the two languages are otherwise unrelated and have very different semantics. The key design principles within JavaScript are taken from the Self and Scheme programming languages. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles.
The application of JavaScript to uses outside of web pages—for example, in Portable Document Format (PDF) documents, site-specific browsers, and desktop widgets—is also significant. Newer and faster JavaScript VMs and frameworks built upon them (notably Node.js) have also increased the popularity of JavaScript for server-side web applications.
Web browsers can also refer to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to define the appearance and layout of text and other material. The W3C, maintainer of both the HTML and the CSS standards, encourages the use of CSS over explicit presentational HTML.
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a style sheet language used for describing the presentation semantics (the look and formatting) of a document written in a markup language. Its most common application is to style web pages written in HTML and XHTML, but the language can also be applied to any kind of XML document, including plain XML, SVG and XUL.
CSS is designed primarily to enable the separation of document content (written in HTML or a similar markup language) from document presentation, including elements such as the layout, colors, and fonts. This separation can improve content accessibility, provide more flexibility and control in the specification of presentation characteristics, enable multiple pages to share formatting, and reduce complexity and repetition in the structural content (such as by allowing for tableless web design). CSS can also allow the same markup page to be presented in different styles for different rendering methods, such as on-screen, in print, by voice (when read out by a speech-based browser or screen reader) and on Braille-based, tactile devices. It can also be used to allow the web page to display differently depending on the screen size or device on which it is being viewed. While the author of a document typically links that document to a CSS file, readers can use a different style sheet, perhaps one on their own computer, to override the one the author has specified.
CSS specifies a priority scheme to determine which style rules apply if more than one rule matches against a particular element. In this so-called cascade, priorities or weights are calculated and assigned to rules, so that the results are predictable.
Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a markup language that defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. XML is designed utilizing standards based upon free open standards. The design goals of XML emphasize simplicity, generality, and usability over the Internet. It is a textual data format with strong support via Unicode for the languages of the world. Although the design of XML focuses on documents, it is widely used for the representation of arbitrary data structures, for example in web services. Many application programming interfaces (APIs) have been developed to aid software developers with processing XML data, and several schema systems exist to aid in the definition of XML-based languages.
JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), is an open standard format that uses human-readable text to transmit data objects consisting of attribute—value pairs. It is used primarily to transmit data between a server and web application, as an alternative to XML.
Although originally derived from the JavaScript scripting language, JSON is a language-independent data format, and code for parsing and generating JSON data is readily available in a large variety of programming languages.
Thus, what is desired is a condition monitoring device capable of exporting data using a flexible data presentation and/or dissemination format.
The present invention is directed towards an adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus.
A first aspect of the present invention introduces an adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus comprising:
a condition monitor housing;
a main controller circuit in signal communication with a signal processor and digital a memory device, wherein at least one of the signal processor and the main controller comprising an instruction set that stores data obtained from the condition monitoring sensor system in at least one of:
a condition monitoring sensor system in signal communication with the signal processor;
a microprocessor circuit operating in accordance with a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) web server application, wherein the microprocessor circuit is one of integrated into the main controller and in communication with the main controller;
a microprocessor circuit operating in accordance with a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) web server application, wherein the microprocessor circuit is one of:
a bidirectional data communication circuit enabling communication between the main controller and at least one externally located browser enabling computing device.
In a second aspect of the present invention, the bidirectional communication circuit includes a wired transceiver.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the wired transceiver employs at least one of Ethernet communication protocol, universal serial bus (USB) communication protocol, parallel communication protocol, and the like.
In another aspect of the present invention, the bidirectional communication circuit includes a wireless transceiver.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the wireless transceiver employs at least one of wide area networking (WAN), local area networking (LAN), 802.11 radio transmission protocol, cellular transmission protocol (including but not limited to frequency division multiple access (FDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), CDMA-One, CDMA2000, Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), Digital AMPS (IS-136/TDMA), and Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), and the like), Bluetooth, ZigBee, and the like.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the microprocessor circuit operating in accordance with a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) web server application further comprises a compilation instruction set comprising a step of compiling the stored data into a webpage format.
In yet another aspect, the HTTP web server application is adapted for viewing on desktop devices, mobile devices, and the like.
In yet another aspect, the HTTP web server application is compatible with multiple browser platforms, such as INTERNET EXPLORER™, FIREFOX™, CHROME™, SAFARI™ and the like.
In yet another aspect, the mobile devices can include smartphones, laptop computers, tablet computing devices, personal data assistants, and the like.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed towards a method of use of an adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus, the method comprising steps of:
employing an adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus to monitor conditions of a machine, the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus comprising:
storing data obtained from the condition monitoring sensor system in at least one of:
compiling the stored data into at least one web page format for display as at least one web page;
communicating the at least one web page to a data recipient.
In yet another aspect, the method further comprises a step of submitting a GET request to the condition monitor to receive the at least one web page.
In yet another aspect, the step of compiling stored data can be further refined by including a step of receiving a request for specific data from a data recipient.
In yet another aspect, the method further comprises a step of requesting missing assets from the condition monitor.
In yet another aspect, the method further comprises a step of embedding a condition monitoring application within at least one webpage for use within a browser.
In yet another aspect, the method further comprises a step of parsing a response obtained from the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus.
In yet another aspect, the method further comprises a step of constructing a response from HTML files stored in the memory device of the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus.
In yet another aspect, the method further comprises a step of constructing a response from at least one of Cascading Style Sheets (CCS), JavaScript, and image files stored in the memory device of the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus.
In yet another aspect, the method further comprises a step of building an application in the browser. The browser automatically adjusts to accommodate a browser and device screen size.
In yet another aspect, the method further comprises a step of submitted a request to receive condition data to the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus, wherein the request is submitted through a browser on the browser enabling computing device.
In yet another aspect, the method further comprises a step of submitted an asynchronous request to receive condition data to the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus, wherein the request is submitted through a browser on the browser enabling computing device.
In yet another aspect, the method further comprises a step of submitted a request to receive missing assets or condition data to the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus, wherein the request is submitted through a browser on the browser enabling computing device.
In yet another aspect, the method further comprises a step of identifying the specific adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus.
In yet another aspect, the method further comprises a step of receiving compiling data from multiple adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus.
The adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus provides several advantages over the currently available condition monitoring apparatus. Initially, the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus enables the apparatus to communicate obtained condition data from the condition monitoring sensor system to any browser enabling device through a browser and respective data protocols.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings, which follow.
For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
An adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus 100 provides an adaptive solution for monitoring conditions of a monitored machine 199 is illustrated in the exemplary schematic diagram presented in
Details of exemplary components integrated into the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus 100 and their respective interactions are best presented in
The condition monitor main controller 120 is provided in signal communication with each of a signal processor 122, a digital data storage device 124, a HTTP web server 140, and a wireless transceiver 170. An antenna 172 can be included and in signal communication with the wireless transceiver 170 to improve and preferably optimize the data transmission quality and signal strength. The signal processor 122 is provided, in turn, in signal communication with the condition monitoring sensor system 150. Machine condition data is obtained by and received from each of the at least one sensors 152. The condition monitoring sensor system 150 manages and collects the machine condition data from each of the at least one sensors 152. The sensors 152 can monitor temperature, wear, vibration, power loss, acceleration, lubrication, operational runtime, and the like. Power can be provided to each of the at least one sensors 152 by either the condition monitoring sensor system 150, the condition monitor main controller 120, the power and charging circuit 160, or any other suitable power network. The received data is processed through the signal processor 122. The processed data is subsequently forwarded to the main controller 120. It is understood that the signal processor 122 can be independent of the condition monitor main controller 120 (as illustrated) or integrated into a single component. The data is converted into at least one of HyperText Markup Language (HTML) formatted data 130, JavaScript formatted data 132, JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) and/or Extensible Markup Language (XML) formatted data 134, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) formatted data 136, image files 138, and/or any other suitable web supporting format. The converted data is stored in a digital data storage device 124. It is understood that the digital data storage device 124 can be independent of the condition monitor main controller 120 (as illustrated) or integrated with the condition monitor main controller 120 as a single component.
A Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) web server 140 is integrated into the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus 100. The HTTP web server 140 enables delivery of the condition data in a web content format that can be accessed through the Internet 310. The web server 140 hosts a website accessible by a data recipient. The HTTP web server 140 can additionally be used for data storage (replicating or replacing the digital data storage device 124) and/or running local applications. It is also understood that the HTTP web server 140 can be independent of the condition monitor main controller 120 (as illustrated) or with the condition monitor main controller 120 as a single component.
Communication between the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus 100 and a browser enabling computing device 200 is provided through a wireless transceiver 170. The wireless transceiver 170 provides wired and/or wireless communication with external devices using any suitable communication protocol(s). The wireless transceiver 170 can be integrated in signal communication with the condition monitor main controller 120 (as shown) and/or the HTTP web server 140, providing an information communication link between the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus 100 and the browser enabling computing device 200. The exemplary embodiment illustrates a wireless communication interface 300, wherein the wireless communication interface 300 can be accomplished in any of a variety of wired and/or wireless protocols or combinations thereof.
When employing a wired communication interface, the wired transceiver employs at least one of Ethernet communication protocol, universal serial bus (USB) communication protocol, parallel communication protocol, and the like.
When employing a wireless communication interface, the wireless transceiver employs at least one of the following protocols: wide area networking (WAN), local area networking (LAN), 802.11 radio transmission protocol, cellular transmission protocol (including but not limited to frequency division multiple access (FDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), CDMA-One, CDMA2000, Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), Digital AMPS (IS-136/TDMA), and Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), and the like), Bluetooth, ZigBee, and the like.
The schematic diagram illustrated in
The browser enabling computing device 200 includes circuitry and instruction set directing an integrated microprocessor to operate in accordance with a browser 250. The browser 250 can be any commercially available software or customized software enabling interaction of websites/web pages through the Internet 310. Examples of browsers 250 include INTERNET EXPLORER™, FIREFOX™, CHROME™, SAFARI™ and the like. The browser enabling computing device 200 can include elements integrated into a commonly offered form factor of a browser enabling computing device. Primary components integrated into the browser enabling computing device 200 include a browser enabled device housing 210, enabling integration and support of other components; a browser enabled device display 212, which is preferably a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and could be either a viewing display or a touch sensitive screen; and a mobile device keypad 230, which can be a physical component or a virtual component utilizing the functionality of the touch screen. A data entry window 232 can be included providing a user with a reference for data entry. Additional components can include at least one browser enabled device audio input device 214 and a browser enabled device audio output device 216 enabling audio input and output interfaces for the user.
The exemplary browser 250 introduces a portion of features, including a browser address window 260 and a browser search data entry window 262. The exemplary browser is illustrated displaying a portion of the data features associated with a typical website for accessing the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus 100. The displayed information obtained from the interaction with the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus 100 includes a condition monitor application reference 270, a condition monitor identifier 272, a condition monitor location reference 274, and a condition monitor data 276. It is understood that the condition monitor data 276 can be displayed in an array format, including having searchable, sortable, and exportable functionality.
The flexibility offered by the inclusion of the combination of the HTTP web server 140 and the various stored data forms: HTML formatted data 130, JavaScript formatted data 132, JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) and/or Extensible Markup Language (XML) formatted data 134, CSS formatted data 136, image files 138, or any other suitable formatted data enables the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus 100 to transfer data indicative of a condition of an operating machine to any browser enabled platform. It is understood that the data would be stored in any suitable format capable of acting as a web Application Programming Interface (API). The exemplary communication embodiment presented in
An exemplary condition monitoring data dissemination flow diagram 400 is presented in
The HTTP web server 140 enables communication between the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus 100 and any browser enabled device exclusive of any specific software. This provides flexibility to the data recipient. Access to the adaptive data conveyance condition monitoring apparatus 100 can be governed by passwords or other security enabling features.
Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.
