Synchronous sampling of rotating elements in a fault detection system having audio analysis and method of using the same

Abstract

A fault detection system for determining whether a fault exists with a rotating element of a vehicle. The system includes a transducer, a diagnosis sampler, a sensor, and a controller. The transducer may be a microphone located in the vehicle for converting sounds to an electrical signal. The electrical signal includes a noise component generated from the rotating element. The diagnosis sampler is connected to the transducer and provides a sample of the electrical signal from the transducer to the controller. The sensor obtains data relating to the rotating element. The controller has functional aspects such as a synchronous resample, a spectrum analysis, and a fault detect. The synchronous resample has the capability of synchronizing the sample of the electrical signal with the data from the sensor to form a synchronized envelope. The spectrum analysis has the capability of forming a spectra from the synchronized envelope of the electrical signal, where the spectra is associated with the noise component generated from the rotating element. The fault detect has the capability of determining (from the formed spectra) whether the fault exists with the rotating element. There is also a method of detecting a fault associated with a rotating element in a vehicle using the above-described system.