portable diagnostic equipment used in an industrial environment
A portable diagnostic device with wireless communication and sensors addresses the limitations of fixed installations by enabling flexible site use and cost-effective monitoring of consumption and operations in industrial environments.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023013394
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-30
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-31
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-11-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing diagnostic equipment in industrial environments is permanently installed and has limited mobility, making it difficult to use at other sites and for other functions, limiting its applicability and increasing costs due to site-specific installations.
A portable diagnostic device with wireless communication interfaces, sensors, and a computer system for measuring and diagnosing consumption of useful quantities, allowing mobility and shared use across multiple sites.
Enables flexible use across various sites, reduces costs by sharing equipment, and provides diagnostics for production operations and consumption monitoring.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Portable diagnostic equipment used in an industrial environment
[0001] The present invention relates to a portable diagnostic device used in an industrial environment. The device is used, for example, in a parts production facility, such as a factory.
[0002] In order to monitor the consumption of a useful quantity in such an industrial environment, for example electricity or air pressure, it is known to provide various sensors connected to a computer terminal that allows monitoring of the consumption of this quantity, in order to react if necessary. However, such a solution is permanently installed or has limited mobility, so its use at other sites and for other functions is not possible.
[0003] There is a need to remedy these drawbacks.
[0004] The invention aims to meet this need and achieves this, according to one of its aspects, by means of portable diagnostic equipment for a condition in an industrial environment, comprising:
[0005] - a shell defining a housing,
[0006] - at least one communication interface capable of exchanging wireless data with at least one external data source,
[0007] - at least one sensor capable of measuring a quantity, in particular a quantity accessible within the shell's environment, and
[0008] - a computer system located in the dwelling and configured to receive: data from the communication interface and, the measurements taken by the sensor, and configured to establish at least one diagnosis based on all or part of this data.
[0009] The use of data received from the communication interface(s) can enable a diagnosis of the consumption of a useful quantity in the industrial environment, for example, electricity consumption or the air pressure level in a circuit supplying pneumatic actuators in the industrial environment, or even water consumption in the industrial environment. Integration into portable equipment allows the equipment to be used successively at various sites, regardless of the distance between them. Transport of the equipment by any means of transport between these two sites is thus possible. Consequently, the relative cost of the equipment is reduced since it can be shared between several sites. Several communication interfaces are provided, for example, which may differ depending on the The communication protocol used. Thus, one communication interface might allow exchange via Zigbee®, another via Wi-Fi®, and yet another via Bluetooth®, for example. If necessary, a wired communication interface may be provided, for example, via a standard connector socket.
[0010] The data received via the communication interface(s) may originate from sensors located in one or more production lines or in the industrial environment, for example, sensors measuring the electricity consumed by a line or a zone of the plant, or measuring the pressure in the compressed air supply circuit of pneumatic actuators. Other types of data are possible, for example, from sensors measuring water consumption. Sensors sending data to the communication interface(s) include, for example, current sensors or pressure gauges. Alternatively or in addition, the data received via the communication interface(s) may originate from control units present in the industrial environment, for example, control units of production line PLCs, or control units of devices in the industrial environment.These control units, for example, implement electronic boards. Where applicable, a communication interface, for example one of the aforementioned communication interfaces, allows connection to a local network to which the PLC control units are already connected.
[0011] The analysis of measurements taken by the portable equipment's sensor(s) can enable diagnostics of ongoing production operations in an industrial environment. This diagnostics could, for example, relate to the operation of a production line. Thus, the diagnostic function for monitoring the consumption of a useful quantity in an industrial environment can be supplemented by a diagnostic function for monitoring ongoing production operations within that same industrial environment.
[0012] The equipment includes, for example, at least one of the following: an image sensor, a sound sensor, or a vibration sensor. This could be, for example, a camera, a microphone, or an accelerometer. The computer system is, for example, configured to compare these images and / or sounds and / or vibrations with reference data and to derive a diagnosis of a production operation in the industrial environment from this comparison. These sensors are, for example, positioned to provide measurements of a production line, and the diagnosis relates to the proper functioning of this production line. These sensors can be permanently mounted in the equipment, in which case they are fixed to the equipment. Alternatively, they are simply placed in the housing and can be moved within the industrial environment, while exchanging data. Wired or wireless connection to the computer system. Depending on the latter, the sensors can be stored in a compartment within the housing, from which they can be extracted for diagnostic use.
[0013] The casing includes, for example, means for providing electromagnetic shielding of the housing against external interference. These means are, for example, constituted by an envelope defining the outer layer of the casing. This envelope is, for example, made of aluminum.
[0014] The casing includes, for example, means for ensuring that the housing is sealed against the outside. These means may allow the equipment to meet the IP65 standard. A seal is, for example, located along one edge of the casing against which another edge of the casing rests when the equipment is closed.
[0015] The shell includes, for example, means of protection against pressure drops at altitude, particularly during transport in an aircraft cargo hold. Depending on the target altitude:
[0016] - the hull may include a wooden layer providing protective means against pressure drops at altitude, and where appropriate also electromagnetic shielding, or
[0017] - the shell may comprise an assembly of two layers, namely a layer external metal such as aluminium for electromagnetic shielding, and an internal layer of wood for protection against pressure drops at altitude.
[0018] The hull, for example, has the following dimensions:
[0019] - length between 40 cm and 60 cm, for example 50 cm or 55 cm,
[0020] - width between 30 cm and 40 cm, for example 35 cm,
[0021] - height between 20 cm and 40 cm, for example 25 cm or 30 cm,
[0022] Such dimensions can give the equipment its ability to be easily transported.
[0023] The equipment, for example, has a weight between 5 kg and 15 kg. A lower weight is preferred as it allows transport by plane in the "cabin baggage" category, the weight then being less than 12 kg or 8 kg depending on the airline.
[0024] The computer system may have a user interface combining at least one screen and at least one keyboard. Thus, the user of the equipment benefits from a suitable working environment for performing diagnostics, wherever they are located.
[0025] Where applicable, the communication interface(s) may allow the computer system to exchange data with a set of remote servers (called the "cloud"), in order to send the received data and measurements for processing to establish the diagnosis(es), or to send the diagnostics to remote users or to save the diagnostics on a remote server.
[0026] Alternatively, the establishment of the diagnosis(es) is done exclusively by the computer system, without transit via a remote server.
[0027] The computer system includes, for example, software solutions enabling the processing of received data and measurements. These software solutions may allow for visual representations of the received data ("data vision").
[0028] These software solutions can implement machine learning and / or deep learning algorithms to establish correlations between the measurements taken and other reference data.
[0029] These software solutions can also define, among other things, a conversational agent (chatbox) to help the user define the diagnosis, for example on the basis of diagnoses already established.
[0030] The equipment may have means of mobility on the ground, for example wheels. The equipment may, for example, be in the form of a suitcase.
[0031] The invention also relates, according to one of its aspects, to a diagnostic method for ongoing production operations in an industrial environment and for diagnosing the consumption of a useful quantity in the industrial environment, a method in which the diagnosis is established using the above equipment.
[0032] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description of a non-limiting example of its implementation and upon examination of the accompanying drawing in which:
[0033] [Fig. 1] is a view of equipment according to an example of an implementation of the invention, during movement,
[0034] [Fig.2] is a view of the equipment of [Fig.1] in the closed state,
[0035] [Fig.3] is a view of the equipment of [Fig.2] in the open state, and
[0036] [Fig.4] schematically represents the equipment of [Fig.3] in its interaction with the external environment in which it is located.
[0037] Figure 1 shows an example of portable equipment 1 for diagnosing a condition in an industrial environment. The industrial environment is, for example, a room in a parts production facility, in which one or more production lines are present. This is, for example, a factory. As will be seen later, the portable equipment 1 can be used to diagnose the consumption of a useful quantity in the industrial environment and to diagnose ongoing production operations in that room.
[0038] As shown in [Fig. 1], the portable equipment may be in the form of a suitcase, comprising a shell 2 internally delimiting a housing 3 receiving electronic components which will be described later.
[0039] The equipment in [Fig. 1] has, for example, a weight of less than 12 kg, in particular 8 kg, and the following dimensions:
[0040] - length of 50 cm,
[0041] - width of 35 cm,
[0042] - height of 25 cm.
[0043] As shown in [Fig. 1], in order to facilitate the movement of the equipment 1. Placed on the ground, the latter may be fitted with casters 4. However, the presence of casters 4 is optional. To facilitate its handling by a user, the equipment 1 may also be fitted with gripping means, such as a handle 5.
[0044] The shell 2 includes, for example, an outer metallic layer, for example made of aluminum, to provide electromagnetic shielding of the housing 3 from the outside. Alternatively, wood can be used to provide this shielding.
[0045] Sealing means are also provided in one example. These means may enable the equipment 1 to exhibit sealing according to the IP65 rating.
[0046] Furthermore, means enabling the electronic components in housing 3 to withstand a pressure drop at altitude are also provided in the described example. These means are, for example, constituted by a layer of wood.
[0047] In a particular example, the shell 2, combining aluminum and wood, for example in two superimposed layers, can provide this resistance to pressure drop at altitude and electromagnetic shielding. Such a shell allows, for example, the electronic components in the housing 3 to withstand an ambient pressure of 500 hPa, or better yet, 307 hPa, or better yet, 55 hPa.
[0048] Housing 3 includes, as can be seen in [Fig.3], a computer system 7 with a user interface combining a screen 8 and a keyboard 9.
[0049] As shown in [Fig. 4], the housing 3 provided in the shell 2 also incorporates in the example described:
[0050] - an image sensor 10 which is here a camera,
[0051] - a sound sensor 11 which is here a microphone, and
[0052] - a vibration sensor 12 which is here an accelerometer.
[0053] Other sensors can be integrated into the equipment 1. In the example considered, a current sensor 13 is also provided, the latter comprising, for example, one or more measuring toroids, or even "on / off" type sensors for The counting of parts in a production line. One or more temperature sensors can also be provided in housing 3.
[0054] All or part of the aforementioned sensors can be fixedly mounted in housing 3. In other words, they cannot be moved relative to the equipment during their use.
[0055] Alternatively, all or part of the aforementioned sensors may be mobile relative to the equipment 1, for example simply being placed in a compartment of the housing 3. During use, they may be moved relative to the equipment 1, including being placed at a distance from the equipment 1. The transmission of measurements from these sensors to the computer system 7 can then be done via a wired or wireless connection.
[0056] As can be seen in [Fig. 4], the equipment 1 may also have several communication interfaces, which may differ depending on the communication protocol used. Thus, one communication interface may allow exchange via Zigbee®, another communication interface via Wifi®, and another communication interface via Bluetooth®, for example.
[0057] As can be seen in [Fig. 4], the equipment 1 may further include a power supply interface 14, allowing the equipment 1 to be powered from a power distribution network, and a switch 15 allowing a connection of two external components to the computer system 7. The data received via the communication interface(s) comes from sensors located in a production line or in the industrial environment, allowing the measurement of electricity consumed by a line, by an area of the plant, or allowing the measurement of pressure in the compressed air supply circuit of pneumatic actuators, or even the measurement of water consumption in the industrial environment. This data may also come from PLC control units on the line or from any other sensor associated with a production line, for example, a parts counting sensor.Other external sensors or, more generally, other sources sending data to the portable device 1 are possible.
[0058] The computer system 7 can then, where appropriate after exchange with a set of remote servers, establish a diagnosis concerning, for example, the operation of a production line and establish a diagnosis regarding the consumption of electrical energy in the factory.
[0059] The invention is not limited to the example just described.
Claims
Demands
1. Portable equipment (1) for diagnosing a condition in an industrial environment, comprising: - a shell (2) defining a housing (3), - at least one communication interface capable of exchanging data wirelessly with at least one external data source, - at least one sensor (10, 11, 12) capable of measuring a quantity, in particular a quantity accessible in the environment of the shell (2), and - a computer system (7) disposed in the housing (3) and configured to receive: data from the communication interface and, measurements taken by the sensor (10, 11, 12), and configured to establish at least one diagnosis on the basis of all or part of this data, this computer system comprising software solutions enabling processing of the received data and measurements received, these software solutions implementing machine learning and / or deep learning algorithms.
2. Equipment according to claim 1, comprising several communication interfaces capable of exchanging wireless data, differing according to the communication protocol used.
3. Equipment according to claim 1 or 2, comprising at least one of: an image sensor (10), a sound sensor (11), and a vibration sensor (12)
4. Equipment according to claim 3, the computer system (7) being configured to compare these images and / or sounds and / or vibrations with reference data and to deduce from the comparison a diagnosis as to a production operation in the industrial environment.
5. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, the shell (2) comprising means for providing electromagnetic shielding of the housing (3) against the outside.
6. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, the shell (2) comprising means for ensuring the housing (3) is sealed against the outside.
7. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, the shell (2) comprising means for protection against pressure drops at altitude.
8. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, the hull having the following dimensions: - length between 40 cm and 60 cm, - width between 30 cm and 40 cm, - height between 20 cm and 40 cm,
9. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, having a weight between 5 kg and 15 kg, in particular less than 12 kg, in particular less than 8 kg.
10. A method for diagnosing ongoing production operations in an industrial environment and for diagnosing the consumption of a useful quantity in the industrial environment, a method in which the diagnosis is established using the equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.