Portable, self-contained data collection systems and methods

Abstract

A portable self-contained data collection system for measuring and collecting vibration data from machines includes an accelerometer which is coupled to the analog input of a data acquisition card. The data acquisition card samples and digitizes the analog signal to produce a time domain digital signal. The data acquisition card output is coupled to a battery-powered portable computer. The battery-powered portable computer includes a database having machine identifications and associated measurement parameters. The portable computer processes the time domain digital signal according to the measurement parameters associated with a selected machine identification, and produces a frequency domain digital signal by performing a Fast Fourier Transform and other digital signal processing operations. The frequency domain signal is also analyzed in the portable computer to produce predictive maintenance information. A power supply for supplying power to the accelerometer is also included. The accelerometer power supply electrically and mechanically couples the accelerometer to the data acquisition card. It supplies power to the accelerometer when the data acquisition card is activated. The portable self-contained data collection system can be used to measure and collect vibration data from machines and to analyze this data to produce predictive maintenance information.

1 - 17 . cancelled  
   
   
       18 . A method of collecting machinery maintenance data from machines, comprising: 
 providing a portable computer comprising a processor, memory, battery, external interface, and user interface,    providing an analog machine activity sensor for collecting machinery maintenance data from one or more machines,    during battery-powered operation of said portable computer, interacting with said processor using said user interface to catalog a machine into said memory by identifying said machine, and identifying machinery measurement parameters to be used with said machine, and    during battery-powered operation of said portable computer, interacting with said processor using said user interface to select said catalogued machine, and collect data relating to operation of said selected, catalogued machine from said analog machine activity sensor, via said external interface, into said memory of said portable computer, using said machinery measurement parameters.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said memory comprises dynamic random access memory (DRAM).  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said memory comprises magnetic storage.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said memory is removable.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said external interface is a card slot, and an interface card inserted therein, both compatible with a personal computer interface standard permitting removal and replacement of said interface card without restarting operation of said processor.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising analyzing said data by operating said processor to perform a frequency transformation of said data.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising providing a sensor power supply for supplying power to said analog machine activity sensor.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said portable computer further comprises a connector for transmitting information between said memory and a host computer.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said portable computer further comprises a display.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said portable computer has less than a full set of alphanumeric keys.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said analog machine activity sensor is an accelerometer.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said interface card comprises an analog to digital converter.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said sensor power supply is responsive to a control signal from said portable computer to activate or deactivate said analog machine activity sensor, and further comprising operating said portable computer to produce a control signal to activate said sensor power supply prior to collecting data from said analog machine activity sensor.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising providing an interface cord connecting said sensor power supply and said analog machine activity sensor to said portable computer.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said sensor power supply comprises a sensor power supply battery, and further comprising providing a battery charger and connecting said battery charger to said sensor power supply battery to charge said sensor power supply battery.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising transmitting at least one of 
 data collected from said selected, catalogued machine via said analog machine activity sensor,    an identification of said selected, catalogued machine, and    measurement parameters to be used with said selected, catalogued machine    between said memory and said host computer via said connector.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising operating said processor to display data collected from said analog machine activity sensor on said display.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising operating said processor to perform a frequency transformation of data collected from said analog machine activity sensor and display said frequency transformation on said display.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said portable computer is a pen-based palmtop computer.  
   
   
       37 . A computer system for collecting machinery maintenance data from machines, comprising: 
 a portable computer comprising a processor, memory, battery, and external interface,    software in said memory for operating said processor to collect data from an analog machine activity sensor connected to said external interface, and store said data into said memory of said portable computer, and    sensor power supply circuitry for generating a supply of electrical power for said analog machine activity sensor that is different from that available from said battery.    
   
   
       38 . The computer system of  claim 37  wherein said memory comprises dynamic random access memory (DRAM).  
   
   
       39 . The computer system of  claim 37  wherein said memory comprises magnetic storage.  
   
   
       40 . The computer system of  claim 37  wherein said memory is removable.  
   
   
       41 . The computer system of  claim 37  wherein said external interface is a card slot, and an interface card inserted therein, both compatible with a personal computer interface standard permitting removal and replacement of said interface card without restarting operation of said processor.  
   
   
       42 . The computer system of  claim 37  further comprising software in said memory for operating said processor to analyze data collected from said analog machine activity sensor.  
   
   
       43 . The computer system of  claim 37  further comprising a sensor power supply for supplying power to said analog machine activity sensor.  
   
   
       44 . The computer system of  claim 37  wherein said sensor power supply is responsive to a control signal from said portable computer to activate or deactivate said analog machine activity sensor, and further comprising software in said memory for operating said portable computer to produce a control signal to activate said sensor power supply prior to collecting data from said analog machine activity sensor.  
   
   
       45 . The computer system of  claim 37  further comprising an interface cord connecting said sensor power supply and said analog machine activity sensor to said portable computer.  
   
   
       46 . The computer system of  claim 37  wherein said sensor power supply comprises a sensor power supply battery, and further comprising a battery charger connectable to said sensor power supply battery to charge said sensor power supply battery.  
   
   
       47 . The computer system of  claim 37  further comprising machine identifications and associated measurement parameters for a plurality of machines stored in said memory.  
   
   
       48 . The computer system of  claim 37  wherein said portable computer further comprises a display.  
   
   
       49 . The computer system of  claim 37  wherein said portable computer has less than a full set of alphanumeric keys.  
   
   
       50 . The computer system of  claim 41  wherein said interface card comprises an analog to digital converter.  
   
   
       51 . The computer system of  claim 42  wherein said software operates said processor to perform a frequency transformation of said data.  
   
   
       52 . The computer system of  claim 47  further comprising a connector for transmitting information between said memory and a host computer, including at least one of 
 data collected from said analog machine activity sensor,    an identification of a machine, and    measurement parameters.    
   
   
       53 . The computer system of  claim 47  wherein said portable computer further comprises a user interface, and further comprising software in said memory for operating said processor to interact with a user to select a machine identification, and then process data collected from said analog machine activity sensor in accordance with measurement parameters associated with said selected machine identification.  
   
   
       54 . The computer system of  claim 48  further comprising software in said memory for operating said processor to display data collected from said analog machine activity sensor on said display.  
   
   
       55 . The computer system of  claim 48  further comprising software in said memory for operating said processor to perform a frequency transformation of data collected from said analog machine activity sensor and display said frequency transformation on said display.  
   
   
       56 . The computer system of  claim 49  wherein said portable computer is a pen-based palmtop computer.  
   
   
       57 . A computer system for collecting machinery maintenance data from machines, comprising: 
 a portable computer comprising a processor, memory, battery, external interface, and user interface, said user interface having less than a full set of alphanumeric keys,    software in said memory for interacting with a user via said user interface to catalog a machine into said memory by identifying said machine, and identifying machinery measurement parameters to be used with said machine,    software in said memory for operating said processor to collect data from an analog machine activity sensor connected to said external interface, and store said data into said memory of said portable computer.    
   
   
       58 . The computer system of  claim 57  wherein said memory comprises dynamic random access memory (DRAM).  
   
   
       59 . The computer system of  claim 57  wherein said memory comprises magnetic storage.  
   
   
       60 . The computer system of  claim 57  wherein said memory is removable.  
   
   
       61 . The computer system of  claim 57  wherein said external interface is a card slot, and an interface card inserted therein, both compatible with a personal computer interface standard permitting removal and replacement of said interface card without restarting operation of said processor.  
   
   
       62 . The computer system of  claim 57  further comprising software in said memory for operating said processor to analyze data collected from said analog machine activity sensor.  
   
   
       63 . The computer system of  claim 57  further comprising a sensor power supply for supplying power to said analog machine activity sensor.  
   
   
       64 . The computer system of  claim 57  further comprising machine identifications and associated measurement parameters for a plurality of machines stored in said memory.  
   
   
       65 . The computer system of  claim 57  wherein said portable computer further comprises a display.  
   
   
       66 . The computer system of  claim 57  wherein said portable computer is a pen-based palmtop computer.  
   
   
       67 . The computer system of  claim 61  wherein said interface card comprises an analog to digital converter.  
   
   
       68 . The computer system of  claim 62  wherein said software operates said processor to perform a frequency transformation of said data.  
   
   
       69 . The computer system of  claim 63  wherein said sensor power supply is responsive to a control signal from said portable computer to activate or deactivate said analog machine activity sensor, and further comprising software in said memory for operating said portable computer to produce a control signal to activate said sensor power supply prior to collecting data from said analog machine activity sensor.  
   
   
       70 . The computer system of  claim 63  further comprising an interface cord connecting said sensor power supply and said analog machine activity sensor to said portable computer.  
   
   
       71 . The computer system of  claim 63  wherein said sensor power supply comprises a sensor power supply battery, and further comprising a battery charger connectable to said sensor power supply battery to charge said sensor power supply battery.  
   
   
       72 . The computer system of  claim 64  further comprising a connector for transmitting information between said memory and a host computer, including at least one of 
 data collected from said analog machine activity sensor,    an identification of a machine, and    measurement parameters.    
   
   
       73 . The computer system of  claim 64  further comprising software in said memory for operating said processor to interact with a user to select a machine identification, and then process data collected from said analog machine activity sensor in accordance with measurement parameters associated with said selected machine identification.  
   
   
       74 . The computer system of  claim 65  further comprising software in said memory for operating said processor to display data collected from said analog machine activity sensor on said display.  
   
   
       75 . The computer system of  claim 65  further comprising software in said memory for operating said processor to perform a frequency transformation of data collected from said analog machine activity sensor and display said frequency transformation on said display.