Vibration analyzer for vehicle diagnostics
A vibration analyzer with an integrated sensor and method are provided to sense a vibration in a component of a vehicle. The vibration analyzer includes a three-axis accelerometer, a controller, a connector, a wireless interface and a battery. The vibration analyzer receives vibration data and vehicle data and packages them together and transmits the packaged data to a remove device such as a scan tool. The vibration analyzer can be networked with the remote device or with another vibration analyzer.
1. A vibration analyzer, comprising:
a connector to network the vibration analyzer to another device;
a three-axis accelerometer to detect a vibration of a component;
a controller to control a function of the vibration analyzer, the controller communicates with the connector and the three-axis accelerometer; and
a housing that houses the connector, the three-axis accelerometer and the controller, the housing being formable to a shape similar to a portion of the component, wherein the vibration analyzer is able to perform a self-test using the networked another device that is a different vibration analyzer.
2. The vibration analyzer of claim 1 further comprising a memory that stores software to perform a vibration detection function, wherein the memory is coupled the controller.
3. The vibration analyzer of claim 1 , wherein the connector allows the vibration analyzer to be powered by an external power source.
4. The vibration analyzer of claim 1 , wherein the shape is formed so that it is held by the portion of the component under test.
5. The vibration analyzer of claim 1 , wherein the connector receives vehicle data from an electronic control unit of the vehicle.
6. The vibration analyzer of claim 5 , wherein the vehicle data is packaged with a vibration data and analyzed.
7. A vibration analyzer, comprising:
a connector to connect the vibration analyzer to a remote device;
a three-axis accelerometer to detect a vibration of a component;
a wireless interface configured to allow the vibration analyzer to network with the remote device;
a controller to control a function of the vibration analyzer, the controller communicates with the connector, the three-axis accelerometer and the wireless interface; and
a housing that houses at least a portion of each of the connector, the three-axis accelerometer, the wireless interface and the controller, the housing being formable to a shape similar to a portion of the component, wherein the vibration analyzer is able to perform a self-test using the networked remote device that is a different vibration analyzer.
8. The vibration analyzer of claim 7 , wherein the connector allows the vibration analyzer to be networked with another device.
9. The vibration analyzer of claim 7 further comprising a memory that stores software to perform a vibration detection function, wherein the memory is coupled the controller.
10. The vibration analyzer of claim 7 , wherein the wireless interface receives vehicle data.
11. The vibration analyzer of claim 7 further comprising a battery to power the vibration analyzer.
12. The vibration analyzer of claim 7 , wherein the shape is formed so that it is held by the portion of the component.
13. The vibration analyzer of claim 7 , wherein the connector receives vehicle data from an electronic control unit of the vehicle.
14. The vibration analyzer of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle data is packaged with a vibration data.
15. A method of detecting a vibration of a vehicle component, comprising the steps of:
sensing the vibration of the vehicle component with a three-axis accelerometer of a vibration analyzer;
processing a vibration data with a controller of the vibration analyzer, the controller having a memory containing software;
receiving vehicle data from the vehicle through a connector of the vibration analyzer;
packaging the vibration data with the vehicle data;
transmitting wirelessly, with a wireless interface of the vibration analyzer, the packaged vibration data and vehicle data to a networked remote device; and
performing a self-test with the networked remote device that is a different vibration analyzer through the wireless interface.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of;
shaping a housing of the vibration analyzer to fit on a surface of the vehicle component.