Patent ID: 6275765
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
A method for characterizing the operation of an apparatus, comprising:monitoring the magnitude of a first operating condition of said apparatus;periodically measuring a first indicator parameter during a time when said apparatus is operating at a first magnitude of said first operating condition;recording an accumulated duration of time that said apparatus has operated at a first magnitude of said first operating condition;determining a reference magnitude of said first indicator parameter for subsequent use when said apparatus is operating at said first magnitude of said first operating condition as a function of one or more measurements of said first indicator parameter;storing said reference magnitude;comparing said accumulated duration of time to a predetermined threshold magnitude;calculating a difference between said stored reference magnitude and a subsequent measurement of said first indicator parameter;providing an output signal if said difference between said stored reference magnitude and said subsequent measurement of said first indicator parameter exceeds a preselected value.