JP2001060109A - Maintenance system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To link a diagnostic function of a device having the function for automatic diagnosis with information on a head mounted display part. SOLUTION: A maintenance worker 3 inputs paging of a maintenance information file of an information processing part inside a relevant device 1 corresponding to maintenance work in voice from a microphone 4-e or switch button of a switch box 4-f. Since contents of a concrete procedure or the like, for the maintenance work are shown on a combiner 4-b1 of a display unit 4-b of the head mounted display part, while confirming these contents, the maintenance worker 3 successively proceeds with the work and performs a detailed check, component exchange, repair or control or the like found from result of a self-diagnostic function.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a maintenance system for business equipment installed in various business spaces such as a production site, a work site, a commercial space, and a service site.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various types of devices installed for business use have become increasingly difficult and difficult to maintain on the user side as their functions have become diverse and complicated. In other words, with the latest devices, the functions are complex and contain a wide variety of contents, so even if you try to check all functions,
The amount of work is enormous, and it is difficult for the diagnosis operator to become familiar with all the information itself, so that there is a possibility that checks may be omitted or incomplete diagnosis may be performed.

[0003] Therefore, a communication line is connected to the device, and the state of the device is diagnosed by using this line from a maintenance center or the like. Specifically, the apparatus has a program for automatically checking the functions in the apparatus, checks the apparatus periodically or externally, and sends the result to the maintenance center. The maintenance center analyzes the received check results, and classifies a failure location or a location that does not lead to a failure but requires component replacement, particularly a location that does not require maintenance. Based on this, a service person visits the user and proceeds with maintenance work based on the diagnosis result.

[0004]

In the above-described maintenance system, since the service person can perform maintenance work with a narrow focus, the efficiency of maintenance is significantly increased. However, for service personnel, the devices to be maintained are generally of multiple models, and it is necessary to be familiar with all of these devices. For this reason, in order to realize maintenance by a wider range of workers, a method has been required in which a worker who is not familiar with the apparatus can realize reliable work.

[0005] In order to enable maintenance by a worker or a salesman on the user side, the maintenance worker wears a head-mounted display unit with a camera unit during maintenance work. A technician familiar with the equipment at a remote location grasps the situation from the camera image, and based on this, the technician selects and displays an appropriate maintenance manual etc. on the display of the maintenance worker for this purpose. Filed a file processing method (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-134793)

However, the guidance system using the head-mounted display unit links an information processing unit worn by a maintenance worker with an information processing unit handled by a technician who is familiar with a remote device. In the case of an apparatus having a function of performing an automatic diagnosis, an excellent processing function in which the diagnosis function is linked to information for a maintenance worker and whose contents are centralized is required.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a self-diagnosis program for diagnosing the function of the apparatus and an information file concerning maintenance are stored in the apparatus installed on the user side. A function part and a head-mounted display part that can display information during maintenance are provided. Based on the operation result of the self-diagnosis program, a maintenance target location is selected, and an information file related to maintenance of the maintenance target location is selected. The information extracted and displayed during the maintenance work is displayed on the head-mounted display unit.

[0008] Further, a communication function unit connected to a public line or a dedicated line is further incorporated into an apparatus installed on the user side, and connected to a computer terminal via the communication function unit. And a list of information files related to the maintenance of the information, and when the information is displayed on the head-mounted display unit as the maintenance work progresses, information indicating which file is selected and displayed in accordance with the display operation is displayed. It is also transmitted to the terminal and recorded. Further, the storage function unit and the head-mounted display unit may be pulled out of the apparatus as an information processing unit, and may be brought close to a worker who performs maintenance.

[0009] The head-mounted display unit has a structure which also functions as a wearing device to be worn on the head, such as an arc-shaped arm, a helmet, a cap, or the like which goes around the crown or / and the temporal region, or these wearing devices themselves. The display unit can be attached to a part to be attached to the wearer, eyeglasses, or the like. The display unit has at least a display that produces a display image, and an optical member that reflects display light emitted from the display and the like. As the display, for example, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, a small CRT, or the like can be used. When a liquid crystal display is used, a halogen bulb, a cold cathode tube, or an LED can be used as a backlight. The optical member is a semi-reflective mirror (combiner),
A total reflection mirror can be used. It is preferable that the display unit is disposed directly below the wearer's forward gaze direction. Further, it is preferable that the head-mounted display unit has a structure in which an earphone and / or a microphone are attached.

According to the present invention, an apparatus having a self-diagnosis function is provided with work information at the time of maintenance, and information is selected by linking the diagnosis function with the self-diagnosis function. Function to be displayed on the head-mounted display unit. In addition, the selected contents of the maintenance information are also sent to the department familiar with the maintenance contents via communication means, the maintenance history is recorded, and if the maintenance worker has any unclear points in the work contents, Allows for guidance on work.

The maintenance system of the present invention includes, for example, machine tools, equipment for power generation, steelmaking and petrochemical-related plants, transportation equipment such as ships and vehicles, various large-sized equipment such as construction equipment, various equipment, and copying equipment. It can be used for maintenance and inspection, repair, and parts replacement of various OA equipment such as machines.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is an image diagram of a maintenance system according to the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a maintenance target device installed mainly for business use, and an information processing unit (not shown) is provided inside the device 1 and executes a self-diagnosis function. The details of the information processing unit will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The information processing unit stores a storage area such as a hard disk in which maintenance information is stored, software for a self-diagnosis function, and a maintenance information file relating to maintenance work. Extract maintenance information files related to locations that require detailed inspection, parts replacement, repair, adjustment, etc. obtained from the results of the self-diagnosis function, and prepare for maintenance work.

The apparatus 1 is provided with a storage unit 9 for storing a head-mounted display unit. When the maintenance worker 3 starts maintenance from the storage unit 9, the storage unit 9 is used. Pull out the head-mounted display unit from and attach it. The head-mounted display unit consists of a headset 4-a for mounting on the head and a display unit 4
-b, and camera unit 4-c as needed
And earphone 4-d are included. In addition, microphone 4-
e or input switch box 4-f is attached. The display unit 4-b and the switch box 4-f are connected to an information processing unit (not shown) in the device 1 by a cable 8.
The internal structure of the display unit 4-b will be described later with reference to FIG.

The maintenance worker 3 inputs a page of the maintenance information file of the information processing section (not shown) in the apparatus 1 by voice or a switch button of the switch box 4-f in accordance with the maintenance work. Then, in response to this, the combiner 4-b1 of the display unit 4-b of the head-mounted display unit shows the contents of the specific procedure of the maintenance work, etc.,
The maintenance worker 3 proceeds with the work while confirming this, and performs detailed inspection, parts replacement,
Perform repairs and adjustments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the maintenance system of the present invention. The display unit 4-b described above is a liquid crystal panel 4-b2
Use Behind the liquid crystal panel 4-b2, a halogen lamp 4-b3 as a light source, an endothermic filter 4-b4, and a scattering plate 4-b5 for uniforming light unevenness are provided.
-b3 is dimmed by the voltage regulator 4-b6. The display unit 4-b has an image output interface 4-b7 for converting an image signal sent from the information processing section 2 into an image signal for liquid crystal, and a liquid crystal driver for supplying an image output to the liquid crystal panel 4-b2. The display image is controlled by 4-b8. The display light (broken line in the figure) from the liquid crystal panel 4-b2 is reflected by the combiner 4-b1 and guided to the wearer's eyes. The light source is not limited to the halogen lamp 4-b3, but may be a metal halide lamp, a cold cathode tube, or the like.

The information processing section 2 includes a CPU 2-2 for controlling an image to be displayed on the display unit 4-b, and a main memory 2 for storing software of a self-diagnosis function 2-a for operating the CPU 2-2. 6.Image memory 2-3 for storing image information, image controller 2-1 for reading and writing to them, self-diagnosis function 2-a This is a recording area for software and maintenance information file 2-b. Hard disk transfer to memory 2-
4. Input / output interface 2-5 to convert each input / output into appropriate signal, capture board 2-7 to capture image signal from camera unit 4-c, modem connected to communication line 7
It consists of 2-8. The communication line 7 is connected to a maintenance center (not shown) and the like.

In this embodiment, a hard disk is used as a recording area. However, another recording medium such as a compact flash or a smart media may be used instead. In addition to the display unit 4-b, the information processing unit 2 includes a camera unit 4-c for inputting an image signal to the capture board 2-7 and a switch box 4-f for controlling the self-diagnosis function 2-a. An earphone 4-d for outputting sound and a microphone 4-e for voice input are connected as necessary.

With the above configuration, when performing maintenance on the device 1, the maintenance worker 3 first pulls out the head-mounted display unit from the device 1 and wears it. The maintenance worker 3 inputs a page feed of the maintenance information file 2-b of the information processing unit 2 inside the apparatus 1 by a sound from the microphone 4-e or a switch button of the switch box 4-f in accordance with the maintenance work. . The combiner 4-b1 of the display unit 4-b of the head-mounted display unit shows the details of the specific procedure of the maintenance work, etc., and the maintenance worker 3 performs the work sequentially while checking this. Detailed inspections and results obtained from the results of the self-diagnosis function 2-a
Perform parts replacement, repair, adjustment, etc.

Next, FIG. 3 shows an example in which a link between information and the outside of the apparatus is established. The maintenance worker 33 wears the same head-mounted display unit as in FIG. The head-mounted display unit includes a helmet attachment 44-g for attachment to the head, a display unit 44-b, a camera unit 44-c, and an earphone (not shown).
Is included. Although not shown, a microphone for voice input is attached to the helmet attachment 44-g, and an input switch box (not shown) is attached to the waist of the maintenance worker 33. The internal structure of the display unit 44-b is the same as that in FIG.

Reference numeral 11 denotes the device to be maintained, which has the same information processing unit as that described in FIG. 2 and will be described below with reference to the numbers in FIG. Information processing unit 2
Is a storage area 2 such as a hard disk where maintenance information is stored.
-4, a maintenance information file 2-b for software and maintenance work of the self-diagnosis function 2-a is stored. The device 11
The information processing section in the inside and the above-mentioned head-mounted display section are connected by a cable.

Since the site where the apparatus 11 is installed is a place managed by the user, it is generally remote from a place where a technician 6 familiar with the apparatus 11 is located.
Therefore, information on the device 11 is accumulated, and a place where a technician 6 familiar with the device 11 is also provided. The maintenance center 5
In some cases, a full-fledged information management room is prepared in accordance with the device 11; on the other hand, an area for the maintenance information file 2-b is secured in the server of the design department of the device 11, and the In some cases, only the function of displaying the maintenance information file 2-b is added to the terminal 5a of the designer. However, in any case, the maintenance center 5 is provided with a file 2-bX corresponding to the original of the maintenance information file 2-b relating to maintenance.

After the software of the self-diagnosis function 2-a of the device 11 is operated, the maintenance information file 2 is stored in a storage area such as the hard disk 2-4 based on the result of the self-diagnosis function 2-a.
The content of picking up -b is also sent to the maintenance center 5 using the communication line 7, and the same pickup information is stored in the terminal 5a here. This pickup information becomes history information described later.

Further, display contents proceeding according to the maintenance work are stored in the maintenance center terminal 5a each time. These data are stored in the maintenance center 5 to investigate the actual usage of the user to examine the next product, to predict the procurement of maintenance parts, to identify items to be checked in periodic inspections by visiting the user, and to inform the user. This is used as basic data for proposal activities for updating the device 11 described above.

In the meantime, while the maintenance worker 33 is proceeding with the maintenance work, if the work content is unknown or cannot be determined, the maintenance worker 33 calls the maintenance center 5. The calling is performed by the maintenance worker 33 inputting voice from a microphone (not shown) and transmitting the voice to the input / output interface 2-5 of the information processing unit 2. The input / output interface 2-5 converts the transmitted audio signal into a modem 2-8,
It is sent to the terminal 5a via the communication line 7.

The apparatus 11 is photographed by the camera unit 44-c worn by the maintenance worker 33, and the generated image data is transmitted to the terminal 5a via the information processing unit 2. The capture of this image data is performed using the switch box 4-f
By inputting a camera image output instruction signal by the operation of, the capture image is captured by the capture board 2-7 in the information processing section 2. The input / output interface 2-5 sends the transmitted audio signal to the terminal 5a via the modem 2-8 and the communication line 7 for the captured image data. On the display screen of the terminal 5a, a camera image E corresponding to the imaging part f of the device 11 is displayed. FIG. 4 shows this corresponding state. Terminal 5
On the display screen a, history information E such as the content of maintenance work that the maintenance worker 33 has proceeded so far is also displayed.

Then, a technician 6 familiar with the device 11
History information E such as the self-diagnosis result of the apparatus 11 and the maintenance contents, and the maintenance work contents which the maintenance worker 33 has proceeded so far.
In addition, the status of the camera is checked by checking the camera image worn by the maintenance worker 33. Then, a technician familiar with the device 11
6 instructs the maintenance worker 33 on what action to perform next. As an instruction method, an appropriate work instruction manual may be transmitted and displayed on the head-mounted display of the maintenance worker 33, or may be given by a telephone orally. As a result, the maintenance worker 33 can promote the maintenance work without erroneous judgment and handling.

The maintenance information file 2-b provided in the device 11 is periodically updated from the maintenance center 5 via the communication line 7, and is always the latest file.

The present invention is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the transmission and reception of information between the information processing unit and the head-mounted display unit incorporated in the device may be performed by using a transmission means such as wireless. good. The information processing unit and the head-mounted display unit incorporated in the device may be connected to each other by using a connector to carry the head-mounted display unit and connect to a plurality of the devices. .

[0029]

According to the present invention, maintenance work information is picked up on the basis of the self-diagnosis result and is sequentially displayed in accordance with the maintenance work. Can be provided, and maintenance information can be accurately provided to the worker according to the depth of knowledge about the device. In addition, since the information displayed at the time of maintenance can be grasped by the maintenance center along with the self-diagnosis result, a medical record for the device can be created, which can be used for periodic inspections and examination of replacement with the latest device. . Furthermore,
Even very complex devices can be maintained by workers unfamiliar with it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an image diagram of a maintenance system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a maintenance system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram in which links between information and the outside of the device are constructed.

FIG. 4 is a correspondence state diagram of a photographed part f of the apparatus 11 and a camera image E;

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hidefumi Saito 1-term, Kuwabaracho, Nishinokyo, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto F-term in Shimadzu Corporation 5H223 AA01 AA15 CC08 DD03 DD07 EE06 FF03

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A self-diagnosis program for diagnosing the function of a device in a device installed on a user side, a storage function unit storing an information file related to maintenance, and a head capable of displaying information during maintenance. It has a wearable display, selects a maintenance target location based on the operation result of the self-diagnosis program, extracts an information file related to maintenance of this maintenance target location, and uses the information extracted during maintenance work as a head-mounted display. A maintenance system characterized by displaying on a display unit. 2. The maintenance system according to claim 1, wherein:
The device installed on the user side further incorporates a communication function unit connected to a public line or a dedicated line, connects to a computer terminal via the communication function unit, and the connected terminal is
A list of information files relating to the same maintenance, and information indicating which file was selected and displayed in accordance with the display operation when displayed on the head-mounted display unit as the maintenance work progressed. 2. The maintenance system according to claim 1, wherein the information is also transmitted to the terminal and recorded. 3. The maintenance system according to claim 1, wherein the storage function unit and the head-mounted display unit are pulled out of the apparatus as an information processing unit, and are taken out to a worker who performs maintenance.