Patent Publication Number: US-2016225202-A1

Title: Method of detecting components in machine

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a method of detecting components in a machine, and more particularly relates to a method of detecting replaced components in the machine. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Generally, a machine includes various components for performing different functions such as, a prime mover for driving engine of the machine, a power source for providing power to the machine, and the like. Such components may be associated with Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags and barcode tags that are used in different applications. Also, validation of the barcode tags or the RFID tags occurs from a reader (e.g., a barcode reader or an RFID reader) associated with a detecting system to ensure proper identification of the component. The battery life of such barcode tags or the RFID tags may reduce when they are used for different applications like component sale, component tracking, component replacement, and the like. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,134,780 (the &#39;780 patent) describes a computer that includes a communication unit for obtaining usage data and/or run-time data associated with the computer, at least one component communicatively coupled to the computer, and/or a vehicle on which the computer is mounted and from which the computer is configured to receive power. The computer further includes a processor configured to extrapolate out of the usage data and run-time data patterns associated with activities implemented by the computer and/or the at least one component and power states of the vehicle and create and store a profile of patterns; receive an indication that the vehicle has been toggled to one of an “ON” power state and an “OFF” power state; identify a pattern associated with the power state of the vehicle; and adapt a power state of the computer and/or the at least one component responsive to the indication and the pattern. However, the &#39;780 patent does not disclose tracking of components of the machine. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     in one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of detecting components in a machine is described. The method includes determining, by a control module, ignition state of an engine of the machine. The ignition state includes at least one of an “ON” condition and an “OFF” condition of the engine. The method further includes identifying, by the control module, one or more electronic tags. Each of the one or more electronic tags is being associated with a component in the machine. The method further includes obtaining, by the control module, information pertaining to one or more components of the machine via the one or more electronic tags, when the ignition state of the engine is in the “ON” condition. The method further includes moving the machine from a first location to a second location. The first location is associated with a location at a service station and the second location is associated with a location at a threshold distance from the first location. The method further includes receiving, by the control module, information pertaining to replaced components from the electronic tags. The electronic tags communicate information to the control module for a predetermined time interval. The method further includes analyzing, by the control module, the received information by comparing with a predefined set of information. The predefined set of information includes information relating to non-replaced components in the machine. The method further includes displaying, by the control module, the information relating to the replaced components based on the comparison of the received information with the predefined set of information. 
     Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is perspective view of a machine, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of a service station showing the machine of  FIG. 1  in a first location; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic view of the machine of  FIG. 1  in a second location; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for detecting components in the machine. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, corresponding or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts. Moreover, references to various elements described herein, are made collectively or individually when there may be more than one element of the same type. However, such references are merely exemplary in nature. It may be noted that any reference to elements in the singular may also be construed to relate to the plural and vice-versa without limiting the scope of the disclosure to the exact number or type of such elements unless set forth explicitly in the appended claim. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a machine  10 . The machine  10 , may embody an earth moving machine, such as a dozer having traction devices, such as tracks, wheels, or the like. Alternatively, the machine  10  may be some other off-highway vehicle, such as an excavator, a backhoe, a loader, a motor grader, or any other machine. The machine  10  may be any of a manual, an automated or a semi-automated machine. In an example, the machine  10  may be adapted to perform operations in a worksite (not shown), for example, a mine site, a landfill, a quarry, a road site, a farm, a construction site, or any other similar type of worksite. 
     The machine  10  includes a frame  12  to support the various components of the machine  10  therein. The machine  10  includes an engine  14  adapted to power the traction devices of the machine  10 , and other systems and assemblies in the machine  10 . In an example, the engine  14  may be an internal combustion engine, such as a gasoline engine, a diesel engine, a gaseous fuel burning engine, or the like. The machine  10 , as illustrated, further includes an operator cabin  16  from where an operator of the machine  10  may control the various systems and assemblies to perform the requisite operations. The engine  14  is adapted to be electronically controlled by an Electronic Control Module (ECM) (not shown) or a “Control Module”  18 . The control module  18  determines an ignition state of the engine  14  of the machine  10 . The ignition state of the engine  14  includes any one of an “ON” condition and an “OFF” condition of the engine  14 . In an example, the control module  18  may utilize a plurality of sensors (not illustrated) for determining the operating parameters of the engine  14 . 
     The control module  18  may be a processor including a single processing unit or a number of processing units, all of which may include multiple computing units. The explicit use of term ‘processor’ should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing a software application. Rather, in this example, the control module  18  may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, digital signal processor, central processing units, state machine, logic circuitries, and/or any device that is capable of manipulating signals based on operational instructions. Among the capabilities mentioned herein, the control module  18  may also be configured to receive, transmit, and execute computer-readable instructions. 
     The machine  10  may include other devices that may degrade or wear over a period of time and needs to be replaced after a prescribed time period for efficient working of the machine  10 . These categories of devices are hereinafter collectively referred to as “machine components”  20  for the purpose of the present disclosure. The machine  10  may include one or more machine components  20  disposed therein. In the present disclosure, the machine components  20  include one or more electronic tags  21  associated with each of the components in the machine  10 . The control module  18  is adapted to identify the one or more electronic tags  21  associated with the machine components  20  in the machine  10 . In an example, the machine components  20  may include a variety of filters that are used to filter various kinds of fluids in the machine  10 , for example, engine oil filters, transmission oil filters, exhaust gas filters, coolant filters, fuel filters, etc. In another example, the machine components  20  may also include other type of components, such as, engine oil pumps, transmission oil pumps, fuel pumps, coolant pumps, etc. which form cavities after a certain period of usage and thus needed to be replaced. In yet other examples, the machine components  20  may also include accessories and service components, such as, tires, meters and gauges, valves, supply lines, etc. which may need servicing and calibration after usage over a period of time. The machine components  20  may sometime need replacement for proper functioning of the machine  10 . 
     In an example, the machine components  20  may be manufactured to include the one or more electronic tags  21 . The one or more electronic tags  21  may be fixed to a body of the machine components  20 . The one or more electronic tags  21  may be in the form of a tag embedded or attached to the body of the machine components  20 . In an example, the one or more electronic tags  21  and its associated circuits may be powered by a battery (not shown) disposed in the machine components  20 . In another example, the one or more electronic tags  21  may be powered by an energy harvester unit (not shown), such as, but not limited to, solar cell, piezo cell, and the like. In yet another example, the one or more electronic tags  21  may derive power from the engine  14  of the machine  10 . 
     The machine  10  further includes a display unit  22  within the operator cabin  16 . The display unit  22  is in communication with the control module  18  of the machine  10 . In an example, the display unit  22  may employ any combination of display screens, touchscreens, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), speakers, and the like, to provide one or more of visual and/or audible indications about the machine components  20  installed in the machine  10 . The display unit  22  is disposed in the operator cabin  16  that enables an operator to check information pertaining to the machine components  20  installed in the machine  10 , such as for the manually operated machines. In an example, the display unit  22  may be in the form of a mobile device, such as a smartphone, a tablet, personal digital assistant (PDA), or the like which enables the operator to remotely check information pertaining to the machine components  20  installed in the machine  10 , such as for the automatically operated machines. In another example, the display unit  22  may be disposed in a remote location from where the service personnel may check the information pertaining to the machine components  20  installed in the machine  10 . 
       FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic depiction of a service station  26  showing the machine  10  of  FIG. 1  in a first location  28 . The service station  26  may accommodate multiple machines among which the present disclosure illustrates a first machine  30  and a second machine  32 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The first machine  30  and the second machine  32  are adapted to perform various earth moving operations. In the present disclosure, the first machine  30  is excavator-type earthmoving or logging machine and the second machine  32  is a large mining truck. 
     The first machine  30  and the second machine  32  may further include a first control module  34  and a second control module  36 , respectively. The first control module  34  may be programmed for controlling various operations of the first machine  30  and an implement system of the first machine  30  based on an input command received from an operator of the first machine  30 . The first machine  30  may includes various components with one or more electronic tags  35  associated with each component of the first machine  30 . The second control module  36  may be programmed for controlling various operations of the second machine  32  and an implement system of the second machine  32  based on an input command received from an operator of the second machine  32 . The second machine  32  may include various components with one or more electronic tags  37  associated with each component of the second machine  32 . 
     Although the one or more electronic tags  21  of the machine  10  is collectively referred by the reference numeral  21 , it will be understood by a person skilled in the art that each of the electronic tags may be designated with a unique code. In an example, the unique code may be a combination of alphabets and numbers. In an example, the one or more electronic tags  35  of the first machine  30  and the one or more electronic tags  37  of the second machine  32  may be designated with the unique code. 
     The service station  26  is embodied as a repair garage. In the illustrated embodiment, the service station  26  is referred to as an automobile repair or component replacement station. The automobile repair or replacement station may be a location where the machine  10 , the first machine  30 , and the second machine  32  may be repaired. The service station  26  may further include new machine components  38  and used machine components  40  that may be installed on the machine  10 , the first machine  30 , and the second machine  32 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the machine  10  is in a first location  28 , the control module  18  of the machine  10  is configured to identify the one or more electronic tags  21 ,  35  and  37 , respectively, associated with components of the machine  10 , the first machine  30 , and the second machine  32  within a threshold distance “T”. The first location  28  of the machine  10  as used herein refers to a position of the machine within the threshold distance ‘T’ at the service station  26 . The control module  18  of the machine  10  is further configured to obtain information pertaining to one or more components within the threshold distance “T” via the one or more electronic tags  21 ,  35  and  37  within the threshold distance “T”. The threshold distance “T” is referred to as a maximum distance within which the control module  18  of the machine  10  may identify information pertaining to the components in the vicinity of the service station  26 . The display unit  22  of the machine  10  is configured to display the machine components  20  and components of the first machine  30  and the second machine  32  identified at the service station  26  based on signals received from each of the machines  10 ,  30 , and  32 , respectively, present at the service station  26 . The displayed components include both replaced components of the machine  10  and other machine components of the first machine  30  and the second machine  32  present at the service station  26 . 
     Based on the components thus identified, the display unit  22  of the machine  10  displays information pertaining to the components of the machine  10 , the first machine  30 , the second machine  32 , and the service station  26 , Such displaying of the information by the display unit  22  of the machine  10  may be based on presence of the components within the threshold distance “T”. The control module  18  of the machine  10  obtains information pertaining to the components only when the ignition state of the engine  14 , the first machine  30 , and the second machine  32  is “ON” condition. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic depiction of the machine  10  of  FIG. 1  in a second location  42 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the control module  18  of the machine  10  is configured to identify the one or more electronic tags  21  associated with the machine components  20  of the machine  10  when the machine  10  is in the second location  42 . The second location  42  of the machine  10  is a position associated with a location at a predefined distance from the first location  28  of the machine  10 . The predefined distance may be understood as a minimum distance that needs to be traversed by the machine  10  for not being covered within the threshold distance “T”. The control module  18  of the machine  10  is further configured to receive information pertaining to replaced components of the machine  10  from the one or more electronic tags  21  associated with each replaced component. The control module  18  is configured to receive information pertaining to the replaced components of the machine  10  from the one or more electronic tags  21 , for a predetermined time interval. The predetermined time interval may be understood as a minimum time required for the machine  10  to move out of the threshold distance “T” with respect to the service station  26 . In an example, the predetermined time interval may be about  10  minutes when the ignition state of the engine  14  is in the “ON” condition. 
     The information received from the one or more electronic tags  21  is analyzed and compared with a predefined set of information by the control module  18  of the machine  10 . The predefined set of information includes information pertaining to non-replaced components of the machine  10 . The predefined set of information may be pre-fed to the control module  18  of the machine  10 . In an example, the predefined set of information may relate to components present within the threshold distance “T” with respect to the service station  26 . Based on the comparison, the display unit  22  of the machine  10  is configured to display information pertaining to the replaced components of the machine  10 , Owing to the distance traversed by the machine  10  beyond the threshold distance “T”, components present within the threshold distance “T” may not be displayed to the operator. 
     Although the present disclosure herein describes detection of components in the machine  10 , it should be understood that the devices and methods aiding such detection are not limited to the machine  10 . Rather, the devices and methods are considered as exemplary arrangements for the purpose of detecting any replacement in the machine components  20  and indicating such details to the operator of the machine  10 . However, it will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the methods described herein may be implemented with respected to the first machine  30  and the second machine  32 . 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present disclosure relates to a method  44  of detecting components in the machine  10 .  FIG. 4  is a flow chart of the method  44  of detecting components in the machine  10 . The steps in which the method  44  is described are not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of steps can be combined in any order to implement the method  44 . Further, the method  44  may be implemented in any suitable hardware, such that the hardware employed can perform the steps of the method  44  readily and on a real-time basis. For example, the method  44  may be implemented by the control module  18  of the machine  10 . 
     At step  46 , the method  44  includes determining, by the control module  18 , ignition state of the engine  14  of the machine  10 , the ignition state includes at least one of the “ON” condition and the “OFF” condition of the engine  14 . The control module  18  determines the state of the engine  14  based on the operating parameters of the engine  14 . In an example, the control module  18  may identify the engine speed, the oil pressure, and the oil temperature of the engine  14 . At step  48 , the method  44  includes identifying, by the control module  18 , the one or more electronic tags  21 , each of the one or more electronic tags  21  is being associated with the machine components  20  in the machine  10 . 
     At step  50 , the method  44  includes obtaining, by the control module  18 , information pertaining to the machine components  20  of the machine  10  via. the one or more electronic tags  21 , when the ignition state of the engine  14  is in the “ON” condition. Further, at step  52 , the method  44  includes moving the machine  10  from the first location  28  to the second location  42 . The first location  28  of the machine  10  is associated with the location at the service station  26 . The second location  42  of the machine  10  is associated with the location at the threshold distance “T” from the first location  28  of the machine  10 . 
     At step  54 , the method  44  includes receiving, by the control module  18 , information pertaining to replaced components from the electronic tags  21 . The electronic tags  21  tend to communicate information to the control module  18  for the predetermined time interval, Further, at step  56 , the method  44  includes analyzing, by the control module  18 , the received information by comparing with the predefined set of information. The predefined set of information includes information relating to non-replaced components in the machine  10 . At step  58 , the method  44  includes displaying, by the control module  18 , the information relating to the replaced components based on the comparison of the received information with the predefined set of information. 
     Owing to such analysis and display of the information relating to the replaced components, the method  44  ensures proper identification of the machine components  20  in the machine  10  with the use of the one or more electronic tags  21  of the machine  10 . The operator of the machine  10  need not wait at the service station  26  to ensure proper tracking of the machine components  20 , as the control module  18  tracks and stores the information relating to the replaced components on a real time basis. Further, the control module  18  of the machine  10  communicates with the display unit  22  to display information pertaining to the replaced components of the machine  10 , when the machine  10  is in the second location  42  beyond the threshold distance “T”. The method  44  of present disclosure enables increasing battery life of the one or more electronic tags  21 , The battery life of the one or more electronic tags  21  is extended by reducing broadcasting rate of the information pertaining to the replaced components to the control module  18  of the machine  10 . 
     While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.