Analyzing signals generated by rotating machines using an order mask to select desired order components of the signals

A memory medium comprising program instructions for analyzing one or more order components from an input signal acquired from a mechanical system containing a rotating apparatus, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement:

• receiving samples of the input signal;
• performing an invertible joint time-frequency transform on the samples of the input signal to produce a first array of coefficients which depend on time and frequency;
• constructing an order mask array in response to user input;
• masking the first array of coefficients with the order mask array to generate a second array of coefficients which depend on time and frequency;
• generating a time domain signal from the second array of coefficients;
• presenting the time domain signal to a user on a presentation device;
• wherein the time domain signal is useable in analyzing the mechanical system.

A memory medium comprising at least one software program for analyzing one or more order components from an input signal generated by a mechanical system containing a rotating apparatus, wherein the memory medium stores:

• samples of the input signal;
• the first array of coefficients which depend on time and frequency, wherein the first array of coefficients is generated by performing an invertible joint time-frequency transform on the samples of the input signal;
• an order mask array which is operable to be applied to the first array of coefficients to generate a second array of coefficients which depend on time and frequency;
• the second array of coefficients;
• and
• a time domain signal generated from the second array of coefficients;
• wherein the time domain signal is operable to be presented to a user on a presentation device;
• wherein the time domain signal is useable in analyzing the mechanical system.