Knock sensor network systems and methods for characterizing noises

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016290884-A1
Application number	US-201514676733-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 1, 2015
Priority date	Apr 1, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of analyzing a noise signal includes receiving, via a local engine control unit (ECU), a noise signal sensed by a knock sensor disposed in a reciprocating device. The method further includes processing the noise signal via at least one of the local ECU, a remote ECU, or an external system. The processing includes preconditioning the noise signal to derive a preconditioned noise signal, and applying an ADSR envelope to the preconditioned noise signal. The processing additionally includes extracting tonal information from the preconditioned noise signal and creating a fingerprint of the noise signal based on the ADSR envelope, the tonal information, or a combination thereof.

First claim

1 . A method of analyzing a noise signal, comprising:
receiving, via a local engine control unit (ECU), a noise signal sensed by a knock sensor disposed in a reciprocating device; processing the noise signal via at least one of the local ECU, a remote ECU, or an external system, wherein the processing comprises:
preconditioning the noise signal to derive a preconditioned noise signal;
applying an ADSR envelope to the preconditioned noise signal;
extracting tonal information from the preconditioned noise signal; and
creating a fingerprint of the noise signal based on the ADSR envelope, the tonal information, or a combination thereof.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the creating the fingerprint comprises creating the fingerprint via the local ECU and transmitting the fingerprint to the remote ECU, the external system, or a combination thereof.

3 . The method of claim 2 , comprising analyzing, via the remote ECU, the external system, or the combination thereof, the fingerprint to derive an engine issue, and communication the engine issue to the local ECU.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the creating the fingerprint comprises creating the fingerprint via the remote ECU, the external system, or a combination thereof, and transmitting the fingerprint or an engine issue derive by using the fingerprint, to the local ECU.

5 . The method of claim 1 , comprising creating a second fingerprint via the remote ECU, the external system, or a combination thereof, wherein creating the fingerprint comprises creating the fingerprint via the local ECU; and using the fingerprint and the second fingerprint to classify an engine issue.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein applying an ADSR envelope comprises:
measuring a first period of time between a start of the preconditioned noise signal and a time at which the preconditioned noise signal reaches a maximum amplitude; measuring a second period of time between the time at which the preconditioned noise signal reaches the maximum amplitude and a second time at which the noise signal runs down to a sustain level; measuring a third period of time during which the preconditioned noise signal sustains; and measuring a fourth period of time during which the preconditioned noise signal runs down from the sustain level to zero.

7 . The method of claim 1 , comprising fitting the preconditioned noise signal to a chirplet by:
determining whether the preconditioned noise signal modulates upward or downward; and adjusting a modulation rate of the chirplet until the chirplet fits the noise signal.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tonal information comprises musical tones.

9 . A system, comprising:
an engine controller configured to control a reciprocating device, wherein the engine controller comprises a processor configured to: receive a noise signal sensed by a knock sensor configured to be disposed in the reciprocating device; create a local fingerprint based on the noise signal, transmit the noise signal to a second engine controller to receive a remote fingerprint from the external engine controller, or a combination thereof; and classify an engine issue by applying the local fingerprint, the remote fingerprint, or the combination thereof.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the engine controller is configured to classify the engine issue by communicating the local fingerprint to the remote ECU, and to receive the engine issue from the remote ECU.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the engine controller is configured to transmit the noise signal to an external system and to receive a second remote fingerprint from the external system based on the noise signal, and wherein the engine controller is configured to classify the engine issue by applying the local fingerprint, the remote fingerprint, the second remote fingerprint, or a combination thereof.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the external system comprises a cloud-based system, a workstation, a mainframe, a laptop, a notebook, a tablet, a cell phone, or a combination thereof.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the engine controller is configured to:
precondition the noise signal to derive a preconditioned noise signal; apply an ADSR envelope to the preconditioned noise signal; extract tonal information from the preconditioned noise signal; and create the local fingerprint of the noise signal based on the ADSR envelope, the tonal information, or a combination thereof.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the engine controller is configured to:
fit the preconditioned noise signal to a chirplet by: determine whether the preconditioned noise signal modulates upward or downward; and adjust a modulation rate of the chirplet until the chirplet fits the noise signal.

15 . The system of claim 13 wherein the controller is configured to:
measure a first period of time between a start of the reciprocating device noise signal and a time at which the reciprocating device noise signal reaches a maximum amplitude;
measure a second period of time between the time at which the reciprocating device noise signal reaches a maximum amplitude and a time at which the reciprocating device noise signal runs down to a designated sustain level;
measure the designated sustain level;
measure a third period of time during which the reciprocating device noise sustains; and
measure a fourth period of time during which the reciprocating device noise signal runs down from the sustain level to zero to apply the ADSR envelope.

16 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions that when executed cause a processor to:
receive a noise signal sensed by a knock sensor configured to be disposed in the reciprocating device; create a local fingerprint based on the noise signal, transmit the noise signal to a second engine controller to receive a remote fingerprint from the external engine controller, or a combination thereof; and classify an engine issue by applying the local fingerprint, the remote fingerprint, or the combination thereof.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions of claim 16 , that when executed cause the processor to classify the engine issue by communicating the local fingerprint to the remote ECU, and to receive the engine issue from the remote ECU.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions of claim 16 , that when executed cause the processor to:
transmit the noise signal to an external system and to receive a second remote fingerprint from the external system based on the noise signal, and to classify the engine issue by applying the local fingerprint, the remote fingerprint, the second remote fingerprint, or a combination thereof.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions of claim 16 , that when executed cause the processor to:
precondition the noise signal to derive a preconditioned noise signal; apply an ADSR envelope to the preconditioned noise signal; extract tonal information from the preconditioned noise signal; and create the local fingerprint of the noise signal based on the ADSR envelope, the tonal information, or a combination thereof.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions of claim 19 , that when executed cause the processor to:
measure a first period of time between a start of the reciprocating device noise signal and a time at which the reciprocating

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Bizub Jeffrey Jacob

Classifications

• G01L23/221 Primary

  for detecting or indicating knocks in internal combustion engines · CPC title

• F02D2200/025

  Engine noise, e.g. determined by using an acoustic sensor · CPC title

• F02B77/085 Primary

  with sensors measuring combustion processes, e.g. knocking, pressure, ionization, combustion flame · CPC title

• F02D35/027 Primary

  using knock sensors · CPC title

• Y02T10/30

  Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels · CPC title