1400results about "Registering/indicating working of machines" patented technology

A data logging device tracks the operation of a vehicle or driver actions. The device includes a storage device, which may be removable or portable, having a first memory portion that may be read from and may be written to in a vehicle and a second memory portion that may be read from and may be written to in the vehicle. The second memory portion may retain data attributes associated with the data stored in the first removable storage device. A processor reads data from an automotive bus that transfers data from vehicle sensors to other automotive components. The processor writes data to the first memory portion and the second memory portion that reflect a level of risk or safety. A communication device links the storage device to a network of computers. The communication device may be accessible through software that allows a user to access files.

A system for condition monitoring and fault diagnosis includes a data collection function that acquires time histories of selected variables for one or more of the components, a pre-processing function that calculates specified characteristics of the time histories, an analysis function for evaluating the characteristics to produce one or more hypotheses of a condition of the one or more components, and a reasoning function for determining the condition of the one or more components from the one or more hypotheses.

A computerized "smart card" which has a read / write memory and formatted data storage blocks is used to track the life history of one or more associated machine(s) (e.g., vehicles, medical instrumentation and apparatus, business and copying machines, etc.). The smart card can store a variety of information including machine identification, hardware / software specifications, debit / credit, regulated performance, warranty / insurance, maintenance / service and operational transactions that might impact the hardware, software or the intended operation or performance of the machine. The smart card will be equipped to interact with any of a plurality of autonomous reader / writer smart card units and computer-based reader / writer smart card units that may be equipped to interact with any of the plurality of computer databases through the utilization of land or wireless communications links. Preferably, each smart card will be associated with one or more specific machines at the time of sale of the machines, and will be periodically updated at each transaction (e.g., repair, scheduled maintenance, transfer of title, etc.) using reader / writer units operated by service technicians, repair shops, insurance agents, or the like. Thus, upon transfer of title of the machine, the smart card will also be transferred to provide the new owner with a complete life history for the machine. The stored life history can be used for valuation, maintenance scheduling, problem trouble shooting, and other applications. In the case of a single card being associated with a group of machines (e.g., a company with a fleet of cars, trucks or buses, or a company with several photocopiers, etc.), the card can also be used to track the scheduled replacement of individual machines within the group. Provisions are also made to associate new cards with existing machines to track the future life history of a particular machine.

A mechanism and method for making status reporting devices for container handlers, including: providing a micro-controller module, and installing a program system into memory accessed by a computer directing the micro-controller module. The micro-controller module communicatively couples with means for wirelessly communicating and for sensing a state of the container handler. Means for wirelessly communicating may include means for wirelessly determining container handler location. The micro-controller module may be communicatively coupled to a separate means for determining location. An apparatus making the devices may include a second program system directing the invention's method through a second computer, which may control an assembly device in creating the micro-controller, coupled with the means for sensing and for wirelessly communicating.

A system for controlling operation of a sink may include a valving device adapted to be coupled to plumbing of the sink to selectively allow water to flow into a basin of the sink. The valving device can be configured to be actuated in response to a wireless control signal. The system may also include a valve controller for controlling operation of the valving device. The valve controller may be configured to provide the wireless control signal to actuate the valving device. Also provided are systems for monitoring and controlling operation of a sink, and methods of controlling operation of a sink.

Sounds, alarms or other indications of conditions of potential interest that are produced by appliances and other household devices are detected by one or more sensors to trigger a notification signal that is sent to a remotely located user. The signals produced by the sensors are advantageously compared with a database of signals representing conditions of potential interest produced by known appliances and devices, producing the appropriate notification signal when a match is found. Notifications may be relayed to one or more selected users only when predetermined conditions are satisfied.

A computerized "smart card" which has a read / write memory and formatted data storage blocks is used to track the life history of one or more associated machine(s) (e.g., vehicles, medical instrumentation and apparatus, business and copying machines, etc.). The smart card can store a variety of information including machine identification, hardware / software specifications, debit / credit, regulated performance, warranty / insurance, maintenance / service and operational transactions that might impact the hardware, software or the intended operation or performance of the machine. The smart card will be equipped to interact with any of a plurality of autonomous reader / writer smart card units and computer-based reader / writer smart card units that may be equipped to interact with any of the plurality of computer databases through the utilization of land or wireless communications links. Preferably, each smart card will be associated with one or more specific machines at the time of sale of the machines, and will be periodically updated at each transaction (e.g., repair, scheduled maintenance, transfer of title, etc.) using reader / writer units operated by service technicians, repair shops, insurance agents, or the like. The stored life history can be used for valuation, maintenance scheduling, problem trouble shooting, and other applications.

A system and method for monitoring a condition of a monitored system. Estimates of monitored parameters from a model of the system provide residual values that can be analyzed using a sequential probability ratio test (“SPRT”). The invention employs empirically derived distributions in the SPRT to provide more accurate and sensitive alerts of impending faults, breakdowns and process deviations. The distributions can be generated from piecewise continuous approximation or spline functions based on the actual distribution of residual data to provide improved computational performance. The distributions can be provided before monitoring, or can be updated and determined during monitoring in an adaptive fashion.

A system for condition monitoring and fault diagnosis includes a data collection function that acquires time histories of selected variables for one or more of the components, a pre-processing function that calculates specified characteristics of the time histories, an analysis function for evaluating the characteristics to produce one or more hypotheses of a condition of the one or more components, and a reasoning function for determining the condition of the one or more components from the one or more hypotheses.

A method and apparatus for handling bill jams within a currency processing device is provided. The device includes a transport mechanism adapted to transport bills along a transport path, one at a time, from the input receptacle past an evaluation unit into a plurality of output receptacles. At least one of the output receptacles includes a holding area and a storage area. A plurality of bill passage sensors are sequentially disposed along the transport path that are adapted to detect the passage of a bill as each bill is transported past each sensor. An encoder is adapted to produce an encoder count for each incremental movement of the transport mechanism. A controller counts the total number of bills transported into each of the holding areas and the total number of bills moved from a holding area to a corresponding storage area after a predetermined number of bills have been transported into the holding area. The controller tracks the movement of each of the bills along the transport path into each of the holding areas with the plurality of bill passage sensors. The presence of a bill jam is detected when a bill is not transported past one of the plurality of bill passage sensors within a requisite number of encoder counts. The operation of the transport mechanism is suspended upon detection of a bill jam. The bills from each of the holding areas are moved to the corresponding storage areas upon suspension of the operation of the transport mechanism. Remaining bills are then flushed from the transport path after moving the bills from each of the holding areas to the corresponding storage areas upon suspension of the operation of the transport mechanism.

An apparatus comprising a movable barrier operator for controlling the movable barrier; and a network interface electronically connected to the movable barrier operator for connecting the movable barrier to a network; wherein the network board sends a status of the movable barrier over the network to a requesting device.

A framework for adaptively managing the life of components. A sensor provides non-destructive test data obtained from inspecting a component. The inspection data may be filtered using reference signatures and by subtracting a baseline. The filtered inspection data and other inspection data for the component is analyzed to locate flaws and estimate the current condition of the component. The current condition may then be used to predict the component's condition at a future time or to predict a future time at which the component's condition will have deteriorated to a certain level. A current condition may be input to a precomputed database to look up the future condition or time. The future condition or time is described by a probability distribution which may be used to assess the risk of component failure. The assessed risk may be used to determine whether the part should continue in service, be replaced or repaired. A hyperlattice database is used with a rapid searching method to estimate at least one material condition and one usage parameter, such as stress level for the component. The hyperlattice is also used to rapidly predict future condition, associated uncertainty and risk of failure.

A mountable reporting source comprising a controller coupled with an interrogating component configured for automatically receiving an identifier which is unique to an asset. A position determining component coupled with the controller is configured for determining a geographic location of the mountable reporting source. A merge asset information enabling communications component is coupled with the controller and is configured for transmitting a message conveying the identifier, the geographic location and a first portion of information about the asset. The mountable reporting source is associated with the asset based on the characteristics of the asset and the objectives of the construction project. An asset management system is enabled to merge the first portion of information about the asset reported by the mountable reporting source with a second portion of information about the asset reported by another reporting source.

A method and system for detecting construction equipment process failure are disclosed. According to one embodiment, information about a construction equipment asset from a reporting source is received. A database is then populated with the information. A process failure report is provided if the construction equipment asset is operated in a manner which violates a process norm assigned to the construction equipment asset.

The invention discloses an intelligent inspection system and an inspection method for an electric transmission line by an unmanned aerial vehicle. The intelligent inspection system comprises an inspection mission planning system, a dispatching system, a monitoring system, an inspection result processing platform and mobile branch stations, wherein the inspection mission planning system communicates with the inspection result processing platform and the dispatching system respectively; the inspection result processing platform and the dispatching system communicates with the monitoring system respectively; the monitoring system is connected and communicate with the mobile branch stations. The inspection method has the benefits that factors of the inspection unmanned aerial vehicle, inspection equipment, an inspector, and the like accessing the dispatching platform through a dispatching terminal can be dispatched effectively to realize equipped configuration of unmanned aerial vehicle inspection resource; the usage rates of personnel and equipment can be improved; the no-load rate and vacancy rate of the inspection equipment are reduced; through centralized monitoring of condition information inspected by the unmanned aerial vehicle, unmanned aerial vehicle inspection dispatching personnel can master unmanned aerial vehicle inspection in the large effectively; the service life of the unmanned aerial vehicle is prolonged.

Aircraft maintenance and repair work is facilitated, especially for a commercial aircraft, by a diagnostic system and method, wherein an aircraft component or assembly of components is monitored by at least one sensor which produces and preferably also stores component status information. Respective status information signals are transmitted, preferably in a wireless manner, from a transmitter of the sensor to a receiver of a signal processing unit which provides status information on a display screen. The status information signals are preferably processed and evaluated with reference to rated maintenance and repair reference information to provide instructions as to what needs to be done where and when for a maintenance or repair. The sensor or sensors may operate during flight and the respective stored information is then processed and used on the ground.

A method is performed to provide a multi-functional user interface on a work machine for displaying suggested corrective action. The process includes receiving status information associated with the work machine and analyzing the status information to determine an abnormal condition. The process also includes displaying a warning message on the display device indicating the abnormal condition and determining one or more corrective actions to handle the abnormal condition. Further, the process includes determining an appropriate corrective action among the one or more corrective actions and displaying a recommendation message on the display device reflecting the appropriate corrective action. The process may also include displaying a list including the remaining one or more corrective actions on the display device to provide alternative actions to an operator.

The disclosure is directed to an interactive packaging system for monitoring the usage of personal hygiene products, personal hygiene product packages, and restroom facilities. The interactive packaging system may include a plurality of usage monitoring devices each configured to detect physical stimulus associated with the usage of the product, package or facility with which the usage monitoring device is associate, and to transmit usage messages containing information relating to the detected physical stimulus. The interactive packaging system may further include a base station configured to receive the usage messages transmitted by the plurality of usage monitoring devices and to generate sensory perceptible outputs corresponding to the information contained in the usage messages. Either the usage monitoring devices or the base station may be configured to determine whether the products, packages or facilities are used appropriately based on the detected physical stimulus.

The disclosure is directed to an interactive packaging system for monitoring the usage of personal hygiene products, personal hygiene product packages, and restroom facilities. The interactive packaging system may include a plurality of usage monitoring devices each configured to detect physical stimulus associated with the usage of the product, package or facility with which the usage monitoring device is associate, and to transmit usage messages containing information relating to the detected physical stimulus. The interactive packaging system may further include a base station configured to receive the usage messages transmitted by the plurality of usage monitoring devices and to generate sensory perceptible outputs corresponding to the information contained in the usage messages. Either the usage monitoring devices or the base station may be configured to determine whether the products, packages or facilities are used appropriately based on the detected physical stimulus.

A method for monitoring a system operating in real-time includes monitoring the system for a triggering event or events, recording data about the system to a first memory in real time prior to and / or for a set time subsequent to when the triggering event occurs, and sending the stored data from the first memory to a second memory or an interface for retrieval.

In a method for monitoring plants with mechanical components, measured values (xiT; xiu) are determined at predeterminable time intervals for a fixed set of parameters (xi). The measured values (xiT) which are determined for various working points during a modelling phase are used for the generation of a model for the operating behavior of the components. With the help of the model for the operating behavior at least one monitoring value (r; snu) is derived at predeterminable time intervals which is independent of the respective current working point. The temporal behavior of the monitoring value (r; snu) is used for estimating the wear in the components and / or for the detection of operating disturbances.

A framework for adaptively managing the life of components. A sensor provides non-destructive test data obtained from inspecting a component. The inspection data may be filtered using reference signatures and by subtracting a baseline. The filtered inspection data and other inspection data for the component is analyzed to locate flaws and estimate the current condition of the component. The current condition may then be used to predict the component's condition at a future time or to predict a future time at which the component's condition will have deteriorated to a certain level. A current condition may be input to a precomputed database to look up the future condition or time. The future condition or time is described by a probability distribution which may be used to assess the risk of component failure. The assessed risk may be used to determine whether the part should continue in service, be replaced or repaired. A hyperlattice database is used with a rapid searching method to estimate at least one material condition and one usage parameter, such as stress level for the component. The hyperlattice is also used to rapidly predict future condition, associated uncertainty and risk of failure.

A mountable reporting source comprising a controller coupled with an interrogating component configured for automatically receiving an identifier which is unique to an asset. A position determining component coupled with the controller is configured for determining a geographic location of the mountable reporting source. A merge asset information enabling communications component is coupled with the controller and is configured for transmitting a message conveying the identifier, the geographic location and a first portion of information about the asset. The mountable reporting source is associated with the asset based on the characteristics of the asset and the objectives of the construction project. An asset management system is enabled to merge the first portion of information about the asset reported by the mountable reporting source with a second portion of information about the asset reported by another reporting source.

A building management system and method are disclosed. The building management system includes: a central control system connected with a network and centrally controlling at least one sub-system accommodated in a building; a multi-air-conditioner system including an outdoor unit and one or more indoor units connected with the outdoor unit; a BACnet gateway serving as a connection passage of the central control system and the multi-air-conditioner system to allow the central control system to centrally control the multi-air-conditioner system; and a remote integrated management server that controls the multi-air-conditioner system by interworking with the BACnet gateway. Because detailed information can be managed through the remote integrated management server, that an existing building management system fails to do, the user convenience can be improved.

A system and method for displaying information related to the status of at least one machine of a plurality of machines. This system includes a data module coupled to each of the plurality of machines. The data module is adapted to collect and store information related to the corresponding machine. A data link is coupled to the data module. A display module is coupled through the data link. The data link is adapted to transmit data information between the data module coupled to each machine and the display module. The display module is adapted to display information relating from only a subset of the plurality of machines. The subset is selected from the plurality of machines as a function of machine parameters input by a user.

An apparatus comprising a movable barrier operator for controlling the movable barrier; and a network interface electronically connected to the movable barrier operator for connecting the movable barrier to a network; wherein the network board sends a status of the movable barrier over the network to a requesting device.

A method and system for detecting construction equipment process failure are disclosed. According to one embodiment, information about a construction equipment asset from a reporting source is received. A database is then populated with the information. A process failure report is provided if the construction equipment asset is operated in a manner which violates a process norm assigned to the construction equipment asset.

A self-powered tire revolution counter includes a motion sensitive power generation mechanism, a power conditioner, a pulse detector, a microcontroller, and, optionally, a radio frequency (RF) transmitting device. In one exemplary embodiment, the power generation mechanism corresponds to a piezoelectric patch that, during movement, provides both operating electrical power and pulsed signals indicative of tire rotation. The power conditioner receives a generator signal from the power generation mechanism and produces a conditioned output voltage that can be used to power associated electronic devices, including the microcontroller. The pulse detector receives the generator signal and produces a detection signal whenever the generator signal meets a predetermined condition. The microcontroller is programmed to determine current and lifetime-accumulated values of selected pulse indications in the detection signal that meet predetermined criteria. Data corresponding to tire environment related parameters such as temperature, pressure, tire deflection, and / or vehicle speed may be stored in the microcontroller at times during tire rotation as power is supplied from the power generation mechanism through the power conditioner. Additional data may be supplied to the microcontroller directly from an external source and read from the microcontroller either by direct electrical contact or via selective RF transmission.