Patent ID: 6268733
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A field service instrument for performing current analysis of electromechanical devices, comprising:a field-installable bus interface for transmitting digital control signals to a module that applies electrical current to an electromechanical device in response a specific digital control signals;a current sensor for monitoring current to said electromechanical device;a bus controller connected to said bus interface, said bus controller for applying said specific digital control signals to said module via said field-installable bus interface such that said current sensor monitors current to said electromechanical device;an analog-to-digital converter for converting said current to said electromechanical device into a digital form;a digital processor for obtaining a digital real time current profile of said digital form;a memory for storing a baseline current profile for said electromechanical device; anda fault determination network for comparing said digital real time current profile with said baseline current profile, the fault determination network comparing at least one of time-dependent peaks of the digital real time current profile, time-dependent peaks of the baseline current profile, and frequency-dependent peaks of the baseline current profile to determine degradation of the electromechanical device.