Method of Operating a Rotatable Part

Abstract

One embodiment of the present patent application is a method of operating a rotatable part. The method includes providing a system including a rotatable part, a magnet, an emf generating circuit, a processor, and a transmitter. The magnet and the emf generating circuit are mounted for relative rotational motion there between while the rotatable part is rotating. The processor is connected to receive a signal derived from the emf generating circuit and provide data for transmission by the transmitter. The method further includes rotating the rotatable part and generating an emf in the emf generating circuit while the rotatable part rotates. The method also includes using a signal derived from the emf to acquire data indicating a change in a mechanical property of the rotatable part while the rotatable part is rotating in which the data indicating a change in the mechanical property indicates a condition for maintenance The method further includes transmitting information related to the data with the transmitter and providing maintenance to the system based on the information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a rotatable part, comprising:
 a. providing a system including a rotatable part, a magnet, an emf generating circuit, a processor, and a transmitter, wherein said magnet and said emf generating circuit are mounted for relative rotational motion there between while said rotatable part is rotating, wherein said processor is connected to receive a signal derived from said emf generating circuit and provide data for transmission by said transmitter;   b. rotating said rotatable part;   c. generating an emf in said emf generating circuit while said rotatable part rotates;   d. using a signal derived from said emf to acquire data indicating a change in a mechanical property of said rotatable part while said rotatable part is rotating, wherein said data indicating said change in said mechanical property indicates a condition for maintenance;   e. transmitting information related to said data with said transmitter; and   f. providing maintenance to said system based on said information.   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said rotatable part is on a machine for delivering torque. 
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said machine is one from the group consisting of a motor, a vehicle, a pump, a valve, a compressor, a polishing machine, a grinder, a lathe, or a milling machine. 
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said processor has a sleep mode and an awake mode, further comprising waking said processor from said sleep mode at a frequency in the range from about 1 Hz to about 1 kHz. 
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising using energy provided by said emf generating circuit to power at least one component from the group consisting of said processor and said transmitter. 
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said processor further comprises controlling power to said transmitter, wherein said processor provides power to said transmitter only during said active mode time period. 
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor mounted for sensing a parameter of said rotatable part, wherein said sensor comprises at least one from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a strain gauge, a torque sensing device, and an accelerometer. 
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising sampling said sensor, wherein said sampling said sensor comprises sampling at a frequency in the range from about 1 Hz to about 1 kHz. 
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said processor further comprises controlling power to said sensor and wherein said processor sends a signal to provide power to said sensor only during an active mode time period when said processor is awake. 
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising sensor signal conditioning, wherein said processor further comprises controlling power to said sensor signal conditioning, wherein said processor provides power to said sensor signal conditioning only during said active mode time period. 
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a sensor signal conditioning power supply for powering said sensor signal conditioning, wherein said sensor signal conditioning power supply comprises an enable pin, wherein said processor further comprises controlling operation of said sensor signal conditioning power supply by sending a signal to said enable pin. 
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a transmitter power supply, wherein said processor has separate controls to enable said sensor signal conditioning power supply and to enable said transmitter power supply, wherein said processor further comprises enabling said signal conditioning power supply independently of enabling said transmitter power supply. 
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a sensor power supply, wherein said processor has an additional separate control to enable said sensor power supply wherein said processor further comprises independently enabling said sensor power supply. 
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said sensor includes a strain gauge, wherein said processor further comprises computing strain of said rotatable part. 
     
     
         15 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said processor further comprises computing torque of said rotatable part. 
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said processor further comprises computing at least one from the group consisting of angular velocity and RPM of said rotatable part. 
     
     
         17 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said processor further comprises computing instantaneous mechanical power of said rotatable part. 
     
     
         18 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver, wherein said receiver is connected to provide an output to said processor. 
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said processor has a sleep mode, further comprising receiving a command through said receiver to wake up said processor from said sleep mode. 
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising receiving a command to perform at least one function from the group consisting of logging said data, transmitting said information, and returning said processor to said sleep mode. 
     
     
         21 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising providing power to said processor and to said transmitter to transmit said information at preset time intervals. 
     
     
         22 . A method as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising an energy storage device mounted to provide said power. 
     
     
         23 . A method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said emf generating circuit is connected to provide power to recharge said energy storage device. 
     
     
         24 . A method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said emf generating circuit comprises an inductor for harvesting energy from relative rotation of said magnet and said emf generating circuit. 
     
     
         25 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , further comprising providing a circuit for converting alternating current to direct current that is connected to receive electricity derived from said emf generating circuit, providing said processor and said transmitter connected for receiving said direct current, drawing said direct current to said processor to provide said processor in an active mode, and drawing said direct current to said transmitter and using said transmitter for transmitting data. 
     
     
         26 . A method as recited in  claim 23 , further comprising providing a circuit for measuring state of charge of said energy storage device, said method further comprising providing a first measurement of said state of charge of said energy storage device. 
     
     
         27 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising providing a second measurement of said state of charge of said energy storage device and comparing said second measurement to said first measurement to determine if charge stored in said energy storage device is depleting or charging. 
     
     
         28 . A method as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising a sensor mounted for sensing a parameter, further comprising using said first measurement of state of charge in said processor to determine one of: rate of sampling data from said sensor, how long to sample data from said sensor, time between samplings of data from said sensor, how long to keep said processor in sleep mode, when to awaken said processor, how long to keep said processor awake, time for providing power to said sensor, and time for providing power to said transmitter. 
     
     
         29 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a non-volatile memory. 
     
     
         30 . A method as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said non-volatile memory includes a unique address to identify data transmitted. 
     
     
         31 . A method as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising a sensor mounted for sensing a parameter, further comprising storing data derived from said sensor in said non-volatile memory for transmitting by said transmitter at a later time. 
     
     
         32 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting operation of said rotatable part based on said data. 
     
     
         33 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a machine and a base station, wherein said machine drives said rotatable part, wherein said base station is positioned for receiving data transmitted by said transmitter, wherein said base station includes an output to control said machine driving said rotatable part. 
     
     
         34 . A method of operating a rotatable part, comprising:
 a. providing a system including a rotatable part, a magnet, an emf generating circuit, a processor, and a transmitter, wherein said magnet and said emf generating circuit are mounted for relative rotational motion there between while said rotatable part is rotating, wherein said processor is connected to receive a signal derived from said emf generating circuit and provide data for transmission by said transmitter;   b. rotating said rotatable part;   c. generating an emf in said emf generating circuit while said rotatable part is rotating;   d. using a signal derived from said emf to acquire data indicating a change in a mechanical property of said rotatable part while said rotatable part is rotating, wherein said change in said mechanical property is related to operation of said rotatable part;   e. transmitting information related to said data with said transmitter; and   f. adjusting operation of said rotatable part based on said information.   
     
     
         35 . A method as recited in  claim 34 , further comprising using energy provided by said emf generating circuit to power at least one from the group consisting of said processor and said transmitter. 
     
     
         36 . A method of operating a rotatable part, comprising:
 a. providing a rotatable part, a magnet, an emf generating circuit, a circuit for converting an alternating current into a direct current, a processor, and a transmitter, wherein said processor has an active state and a sleep mode, wherein said magnet and said emf generating circuit are mounted for relative rotational motion there between while said rotatable part is rotating for generating an emf in said emf generating circuit, wherein said circuit for converting an alternating current to a direct current is connected to receive an alternating current derived from said emf, and wherein said processor and said transmitter are connected for receiving said direct current;   b. rotating said shaft;   c. generating said emf, converting to said direct current, waking said processor, and drawing said direct current to said processor to provide said processor in said active mode;   d. drawing said direct current to said transmitter and using said transmitter for transmitting data;   e. shutting down power to said transmitter; and   f. returning said processor to said sleep mode.   
     
     
         37 . A method as recited in  claim 36 , wherein said data is regarding a parameter of said rotatable part. 
     
     
         38 . A method as recited in  claim 36 , wherein said data is derived from said emf. 
     
     
         39 . A method as recited in  claim 36 , wherein said processor is connected to receive a signal derived from said emf and provide data for transmission by said transmitter. 
     
     
         40 . A method as recited in  claim 36 , further comprising providing at least one from the group consisting of maintenance based on said information and adjusting operation of said rotatable part based on said information.