Method and apparatus to provide a data interface between equipment to be temporarily monitored and diagnostic data gathering apparatus

摘要

A channel (500) is configured and arranged to be fixedly mounted (401) to equipment (100) to be temporarily monitored. At least one sensor-engagement member (800) is movably captivated (402) within this channel and a sensor assembly (1000), comprising a plurality of photosensitive receptors (1001) that are disposed in a pattern that corresponds to signal lights as comprise a part of the monitored equipment, is biased (404) towards the sensor-engagement member by an affixment member (1200) to thereby retain the sensor assembly in place with respect to the monitored equipment. By this approach, the sensor assembly, in combination with the sensor-engagement member, can be moved (403) along the channel to a selected position with respect to at least one of the signals lights and then retained in that selected position by the affixment member.

主权项

1. An apparatus configured and arranged to provide a data interface between equipment, having a plurality of signal lights, to be temporarily monitored and a diagnostic data gathering apparatus, comprising:
a channel configured and arranged to be fixedly mounted to the equipment to be temporarily monitored; at least one sensor-engagement member movably captivated within the channel such that the sensor-engagement member moves laterally with respect to the signal lights; a sensor assembly comprising a plurality of photosensitive receptors disposed in a pattern that corresponds to at least two of the plurality of signal lights as comprise a part of the equipment to be temporarily monitored such that illumination events for each of the at least two of the plurality of signal lights is detected by a corresponding one of the plurality of photosensitive receptors; an affixment member configured and arranged to bias the sensor assembly towards the at least one sensor-engagement member to thereby retain the sensor assembly in place with respect to the equipment to be temporarily monitored; such that the sensor assembly, in combination with a corresponding one of the at least one sensor-engagement member, can be moved along the channel to a selected lateral position with respect to at least one of the signal lights and then retained in the selected position by the affixment member.