DE4039214A1 - Hand-held measurement instrument for physical parameters - has integral speech memory enabling output of speech identifying measurement values - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand-held measurement device for measuring a physical parameter has an input which is subjected to the measurement parameter. Control electronics or logic interact with the measurement input. An acoustic reproduction unit works in conjunction with the control electronics or logic. The control electronics or logic contains a digital speech component memory. The acoustic reproduction unit reproduces speech identifying the measurement value. USE/ADVANTAGE - The hand-held measurement instrument is of simple design and achieves optimal display or output of the measurement values.

Description

The invention relates to a measuring instrument, in particular their hand measuring instrument.

The object of the invention is a handheld measuring device for measuring to show physical values or physical quantities, which, with a simplified structure, provides an optimal display or Output of the respective measured value enables.

A hand-held measuring device is appropriate for solving this task the characterizing part of claim 1 or Claim 3 trained.

One aspect of the invention is accordingly a hand measurement device with which an acoustic Output (voice output) of the measured physical Value. Here are preferred with the Control electronics or control logic interacting memory in the simplest case as numerical values or as numerical-language Blocks only the ten number words "zero" to "nine" in stored in digital form, together with others Language blocks, which, however, have no numerical values meet, but mathematical information or units, such as "minus", "plus" and "comma" as well as physical units or definitions of the measured value to be measured, such as e.g. B. "degrees Celsius", "volts", "amps" etc. It is understood that the control electronics or control logic also means has, for example, by a speech processor are formed and those stored in digital form Speech modules in an electrical analog speech signal implement, which then preferably after reinforcement can be played using a loudspeaker.

With this aforementioned, simple form of the measuring device the language corresponding to a multi-digit decimal value issue formed by the fact that in succession other from the control logic from memory to the digits  numbers corresponding to the individual digits of the measured value Language blocks accessed and timed directly at the Device for acoustic reproduction are output, this issue, of course, with everyone further, for unambiguous identification of the measured value necessary language modules, such as B. "plus" or "minus", "Comma" and so on.

In addition to this simplified edition mentioned above, it is also possible, the handheld measuring device according to the invention spoke for one to form the usual output of the respective measured value, wherein then with this configuration next to the number blocks "Zero" to "Nine" also other language modules, such as "Thousand", "Hundred", "Ten", "Elf", "Twelve" and those 10 digits corresponding language modules "20" to "90" and the language element "and".

Both in the simplified speech and in the standard speech is only a relatively small one Number of language modules required in one Memory must be saved so that there is little Storage volume results. On the other hand, by use The language modules also ensured that the tax effort or the volume of the control logic remain small, so that overall the total volume of electronics required is small that the device as a handy handheld meter can be formed.

The acoustic output of the respective measured value has for the User z. B. the advantage that this of one or several measuring devices can record measured values without to be forced to use the corresponding handheld measuring device or to look at the corresponding handheld measuring devices. The user can therefore carry out other work during the measurement, that require his attention. Are several hand measurements devices used at the same time, it may be useful that the speech output of each handheld meter is one of these devices contains individualizing acoustic identifier. This can be formed, for example, by the fact that the actual  A short acoustic impulse ahead of the voice output goes, its frequency or pitch from device to device differently set or adjustable.

Basically, it is possible that the acoustic output language components after retrieval from the ent speaking memory can be output immediately. Basically, it is also possible that the issue language components in a separate intermediate memory and the output of the measurement result then make, if all necessary, the output language blocks are stored in the buffer are.

The handheld meter can be used to measure a wide variety physical quantities. In particular it is also possible to use the device as a multiple measuring instrument form.

Another aspect of the invention relates to Handheld meter, which with different sensors for Measurement of different physical quantities, for example way to measure temperature, humidity, electrical Sizes, etc. can be used. To an ad or Get output that is the value of the measured size actually corresponds, it is u. a. necessary the device of The type of sensor used corresponds to Kali and / or the characteristic with which that of the electrical data in the device supplied by the respective sensor processed and displayed or output, to adapt to the respective sensor.

To achieve this automatically, the invention sees one Voltage coding in such a way that with a Device connected sensor to an element of the multiple between the sensor and the device, the sensor character terisierendem coding voltage is applied, then of the Control electronics or logic in the device one of these coding voltage assigned calibration or processing of  Measuring signals according to a coding voltage corresponding to this Characteristic. Through this voltage coding, the just a single additional connector of the Multiple connection is required, a distinction is made Many sensors possible. This voltage coding is basically regardless of the type of output of the knife result, d. H. regardless of whether the measurement result is visual or is displayed or output acoustically. The coding Voltage is also preferably used to ensure the correct display or output physical unit.

Further developments of the invention are the subject of the Unteran claims.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures explained. Show it:

Fig. 1 in a schematic representation and in a block diagram a possible embodiment of the handheld measuring device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a table;

Fig 3 in a further simplified representation in block diagram a possible embodiment of the inventive hand-held measuring it with two, in each case optionally to a measuring input of the device connectable sensors.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of the voice output method used in the device of Fig. 3.

In FIG. 1, an electrical Handmeß is shown with device 1 in general, which is in the shown execution form a thermometer with a probe 2, or with a temperature sensor. The probe 2 is connected via a flexible connecting cable 3 to the electronic input stage 4 of the measuring instrument 1 .

The input stage 4 , which delivers a digital signal at its output, which corresponds to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 2 , is connected to a control electronics 5 , which is preferably formed by a microprocessor with a corresponding program.

The control electronics 5 is assigned an input device 6 as operator input and a memory 7 for the digital storage of voice information. The speech information or speech modules stored in the memory 7 correspond to the spoken numerical values from zero to nine and further information or speech modules necessary for the reproduction of the measured value (temperature value), such as the word "comma", "plus", "minus", "Degrees Celsius" etc. These speech modules are stored in the form of digital signal sequences. The input device 6 serves z. B. for switching the handheld measuring instrument 1 on and off, but may also have other functions, for example it is possible with the input device 6 to select the mode of operation of the handheld instrument so that the measured temperature is continuous, ie in a specific, predetermined time cycle is constantly reproduced, or that after the introduction of the sensor 2 in a medium to be measured or after touching a medium or object to be measured with the sensor 2, only that temperature is indicated by the measuring instrument that has been set as the final value, whereby The temperature can only be entered again by the measuring instrument after the user has entered it again. Of course, the measuring instrument 1 can also have other functions, which can then be adjusted accordingly on the input device 6 .

The control electronics 5 is connected to a display 8 on which the temperature measured by the sensor 2 is optically displayed in the usual way. Via a digital-to-analog converter 9 , the control electronics 5 are still connected to a speech amplifier 10 , to the output of which a mini speaker 11 is connected.

If the control electronics 5 , as is preferably the case, is formed by a microprocessor, the devices or circuits cooperating with this control electronics 5 are preferably bus-compatible and connected to a common data, address and control bus.

The operation of the measuring instrument 1 can be described as follows:

The temperature value measured by the sensor 2 is fed via the input stage 4 to the control electronics 5 as a digital measured value. From this measured value, a digital speech signal is then formed by calling up appropriate speech modules from the memory 7 in such a way that the digits of the individual decimal places of the measured temperature follow one another in time in the speech signal, starting from the highest decimal place and possibly with the speech device "Comma", which is inserted between two successive number-language blocks. The speech output composed of a simple sequence of numerical-speech modules (possibly with the "comma" speech module) is preceded by the "minus" or "plus" speech module and the "degrees Celsius" speech module is adjusted.

In this sense, for example, the temperature specification + 126.7 ° C would be composed of the language modules as follows:
"Plus",
"One",
"Two",
"Six",
"Comma",
"Seven",
"Centigrade".

The speech components that bind the voice output in the manner described above are then, for example, immediately, ie immediately after their respective retrieval from the memory via the converter 9, supplied as analog voice signals to the amplifier 10 and thus reproduced as acoustic signals from the loudspeaker 11 . In principle, it is also possible that the speech output formed from the stringing together of individual speech modules is stored in a buffer memory, which is, for example, part of the memory 7 or of an additional memory which interacts with the control electronics 5 . As a result of this intermediate storage, the voice output, which can also be referred to as an “acoustic output signal”, can be called up again by a corresponding input on the input device 6 , or else controlled by an internal clock signal, and output on the loudspeaker 11 .

In principle, it is of course also possible to provide a buffer for the digital measurement signal supplied via the input stage 4 , the speech being output by successively calling up the corresponding speech modules from the memory 7 whenever an acoustic output of the measurement result is to take place.

The example described above is simplified acoustic output of the respective measurement result.

In a further possible embodiment of the invention in which the (result) a customary output of the measurement result takes place, the voice modules reproduced in the table according to FIG. 2 can be stored in the memory 7 for acoustic reproduction of a physical value, specifically for an acoustic voice output of physical values in the range between -9999.9 to +9999.9.

The measured value applied by the sensor 2 and at the output of the input stage 4 as a digital value, e.g. B. of the value "1234.5" is then processed in the control electronics 5, for example as follows:

First, it is determined whether the measured value is a positive or negative value. The corresponding language block of group 1 of the table, which (group) contains the blocks "plus" and "minus", is retrieved from memory 7 and stored in a FIFO memory 7 'as the first word of the output.

The first valid digit of the measured value is then determined in the control electronics 5 . In the case of the measured value assumed, this digit is the thousandth digit and, in particular, "one". The corresponding language module of group 7 of the table, which (group) contains the language modules "zero" to "nine" is called up and stored in the working memory 7 'as the second word of the acoustic output.

In a third step, the power of ten of the first valid digit is determined and, according to this power of ten, the language module corresponding to group 2 or 3 of the table, ie either the language module "Thousand" or "Hundred" is called up and the third word of the acoustic output in the working memory 7 ′ saved. In the example adopted, this language component forming the third word is "thousand".

In two more, the second and third steps ent speaking steps then become the second valid digit and the associated power of ten determined and as another Words of output stored in memory.

In the subsequent method steps, the two digits corresponding to the tens digit and the ones digit are recorded and evaluated using the control electronics 5 before the decimal point of the measurement result. It is first determined in a sixth method step whether the digit corresponding to the tens digit is greater than zero. If this is the case, the two digits before the decimal point are formed using the language blocks of groups 4, 5 and 7 and stored in the working memory 7 '.

If the digit corresponding to the tens digit is a "zero", only the first digit before the "comma" is checked in a further procedural step and if this digit is not "zero", a digit corresponding to this number will correspond to group 7 of the table retrieved from the memory 7 and stored as another word of the output in the working memory 7 '.

In a further process step, the control electronics 5 then check the number after the decimal point of the measurement result. If this deviates digit of "zero" from, a numeral after the comma corresponding language block of the group is retrieved 7 of the table and stored in memory 7 'from the memory. 7

As the last word of the output, the physical dimension or size, such as, for example, “degrees Celcius”, “volts”, “millivolts”, “amperes”, “milli amps”, etc. is finally called up in the memory 7 and stored in the memory Working memory 7 'saved. Then there is the acoustic reproduction of the entire output from the working memory 7 '.

The device 1 is then preferably designed in such a way that the language-specific output described above can optionally be used for the simplified acoustic output using the language components of the table. The hand-held measuring device 1 has a switch for this purpose, one position of which outputs the measured value "+1234.5" in the sequence of the language modules "Plus", "One", "Two", "Three", "Four", "Comma" , "Five" takes place, whereby a particularly simple recording of the measurement result by hand is possible. In the other position of the switch, the output takes place in the usual language using the language modules "Plus", "One", "Thousand", "Two", "Hundred", "Four", "AND", "Thirty", " Comma "," five ".

Fig. 3 shows in a modified from the Fig. 1 representation a handheld measuring instrument or device 1 a, in which for measuring sizes of various types, for example, for measuring temperature, humidity, electrical quantities such as voltage, etc. different sensors a common measuring input 12 can be connected, the device 1 a not only automatically recognizing and taking into account the type of sensor, ie the physical unit to be measured with this sensor (e.g. temperature or humidity) after connecting a sensor, but taking place the calibration of the device and / or selection of the evaluation characteristics for the measurement signal supplied by the sensor according to certain characteristics assigned to the respective type of sensor is also automatically carried out for the sensor concerned or for the type of sensor concerned. “Calibration” here means in particular the correct assignment of the display or output of the device 1 a to the size of the electrical measurement signal supplied by the sensor or to the measured physical size, including a possible zero adjustment.

As will be explained below, this is done automatically matic calibration in a particularly simple manner Voltage coding.

In Fig. 3, two sensors 13 and 14 are shown, which can be included via a connecting line with multiple plug 15 to the measuring input 12 , which is provided on an input circuit or function block 16, which is essentially for detecting the sensors 13th or 14 ge supplied measurement data and for forwarding these measurement data or signals to a processing logic 17 of a logic function block 18 is used. The measurement data supplied by the sensors 13 and 14 to the function block 16 are electrical analog signals in the embodiment shown. The ge by the function block 16 to the conditioning logic 17 provided measurement data are, so that the function block 16 also includes at least one analog-to-digital converter in the illustrated embodiment digital signals.

The connector 15 of each sensor 13 and 14 has in addition to a contact pin or pin 15.1 for a supply voltage, to a ground connection, which is represented by pin 15.3 , and to a connection for the measurement data, which is indicated by pin 15.3 , yet another connection or pin 15.4 , to which, after connecting the respective plug 15 to the measuring input 12 or to the multiple socket forming this measuring input, a coding voltage is applied, which is accommodated by a voltage divider 19 accommodated in the housing of the plug 15 is formed. In Fig. 3, this voltage divider 19 is shown so that it is formed by two resistors in series between pins 15.1 and 15.2 . In fact, however, an element of the electrically active part of the respective sensor 13 or 14 can also be part of the voltage divider 19 , so that possibly only a resistor in the housing of the plug 15 is required.

For example, if the sensor 13 is a temperature sensor and specifically a surface temperature sensor, ie a temperature sensor which is designed to measure the temperature of surfaces, there is, for. B. by appropriate dimensioning of the voltage divider 19 on pin 15.4 to a voltage of 0.1 volts.

If, however, the sensor 13 is a plug-in temperature sensor, ie a temperature sensor which can be inserted or plugged into a soft body for measuring the temperature of the latter, then z. B. at pin 15.4, for example, a voltage of 2.0 volts.

If the sensor 13 is, for example, an immersion temperature sensor with which the temperature of liquids can be measured, then a voltage of 3.0 volts is present at pin 15.4 .

For example, if the sensor 14 is a moisture meter, a voltage of 4.0 volts is present at pin 15.4 of the associated plug 15 .

The aforementioned coding voltages can also be used as "Standard coding voltages" are referred to.

This voltage coding is recorded in function block 16 and then passed on as additional information about the necessary calibration and the physical unit measured with the connected sensor 13 or 14 to the processing logic 17 , in which the measurement data using one of the respective voltage coding corresponding standard calibration and / or processing characteristics are processed. The standard calibration, processing characteristics, etc. corresponding to the respective voltage coding are stored, for example, in a memory of the processing logic.

With the standard calibration, measurement results can be achieved with an accuracy that is sufficient for most applications, even with the usual tolerances of the sensors. If higher accuracy is required in special cases, it is also possible with the voltage coding described above to carry out a special or individual calibration for certain sensors, which is then permanently stored in a memory of the device 1 a, for example in a memory provided in the processing logic 17 is. If this special sensor is, for example, the sensor 13 designed as a surface temperature sensor, then the voltage divider 19 is set for this sensor such that the individual coding voltage of 1.1 volts results at pin 15.4, for example. By appropriate input or setting of a mode selection or input keyboard 20 , the calibration associated with this sensor 13 or the coding voltage 1.1 volts can then be stored in the relevant memory of the processing logic 17 using temperature standards, so that always when the corresponding sensor 13 is connected to the coding voltage 1.1 volts, the special calibration associated with this coding voltage is used for the evaluation of the measurement data.

In this sense, it is then also possible to use a large number of different sensors, each deviating from the standard coding, each with a different coding voltage and associated individual calibration, etc., in a device 1 a.

If, for example, several devices 1 a are in use with a user, it is preferably provided that, with all devices 1 a, the use of sensors with the respective standard coding voltage is possible when a sensor with an individual coding voltage is connected However, the device 1 a recognizes whether the sensor in question actually belongs to this device. A sensor not belonging to the device 1 a in question is then rejected, for example by an optical display on a display device or on a display 21 and / or by an acoustic display on a loudspeaker 22 of the device 1 a, or the device 1 a is used the associated standard calibration for this sensor with simultaneous display by the display 21 or by the loudspeaker 22 .

To a device from the individually coded sensors only always the right, d. H. assign those sensors can, for which in this device an individual potash the individual coding are saved Voltages differ from device to device.

The possibilities of voltage coding described above are of course only examples. Other types or organizations of voltage coding are also conceivable. Regardless of the special type of coding, the voltage coding has the advantage that only a single, additional connection or pin 15.4 is required for this coding.

The device 1 a also outputs the respective measurement result, ie the measured variable and the physical unit acoustically, ie by means of the loudspeaker 22 , which is connected via an amplifier 23 to the output of a corresponding speech processor 25 . This speech processor 25 is controlled by a flow logic block 26 of the logic block 18 and furthermore also interacts with a speech data memory 27 , which is also controlled by the flow logic 26 and essentially contains the speech modules of the table according to FIG. 2.

The output of the respective measured value including the physical unit takes place either in a repeat mode, that is to say after a predetermined time interval or a time interval that can be set on the input 20 and / or in each case when the measured value changes and / or upon separate request, for example when a key is pressed Input device 20 or when generating an acoustic signal, for example by whistling or clapping, etc. In the latter case, the device 1 a, z. B. on the input device 20 still a microphone with a corresponding electrical circuit on.

The device 1 a is preferably designed so that either a simplified acoustic output of the measurement result or a language-typical output of the measurement result is possible. In the first case, the digits of the measurement result are again output in succession, as described above for the temperature indication + 126.7 ° C.

The usual language output takes place, for example, according to a method as described in the flow chart shown in FIG. 4. With a speech output of physical values between -9.999.9 to +9.999.9 z. B. the value "+1234.5" in a language-specific output, the sign is first checked in a first process step. If this sign is negative, the language module "-" is output. If the sign is positive, there is no output in this process step.

In a second process step, the presence is then determined be the first possible power of ten, d. H. in the example the thousands place checked. Is this thousands place does not exist, so the third step initiated. If the thousands place is available, then first the digit of this digit, d. H. at the chosen one Example of the word block "On" and then the word block "thousand" issued.

In a third process step, the Way and checked for the presence of hundreds The presence of the hunter position, the corresponding number, d. H. in the selected example the language element "two" and then the language component "hundred" is output.

The check is carried out in a fourth process step the tens and ones digit. Are these digits ten, eleven or The corresponding language is output twelve times building block and the procedure with the sixth procedure step (output of the word block "comma") continued.

Are the tens and 911 digits different from ten, eleven or twelve, so in the fourth step of the process the Digit of the one digit issued, d. H. at the chosen one Example of the word blocks "four".

In a fifth method step, it is then checked whether the tens digit is a "1". If this is the case, the word module "ten" is output immediately in this method step. If the number of the tens digit differs from "1", then the language element "and" and then the language element "Twenty" ... "Ninety" corresponding to the digit of the tens digit are output, ie in the selected example the language element "Thirty". This is followed by process step 6, which has already been mentioned, and then, in a seventh process step, the number after the decimal point is output.

In a last, eighth process step, the Output of the physical unit, based on the of the coding voltage supplied to the respective sensor.

The voice output described takes place in the device 1 a without intermediate storage.

The described acoustic output of the measurement results an optimal compromise between the smallest possible Storage effort (for storing the voice data) and one represents as little logic effort as possible, the memory Effort also through the immediate output of the Language modules, d. H. by doing without intermediate storage is reduced.

The invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments described. It is understood that changes as well as variance lungs are possible without thereby of the invention supporting thought is left.

Claims (14)

1. Hand-held measuring device for measuring a physical value (measured value), characterized by a measuring input ( 2 , 4 ; 12 ) to which the measured value can be applied, by a control electronics or logic system interacting with the measuring input ( 2 , 4 ; 12 , 16 ) ( 5 ; 18 , 25 ) with at least one memory ( 7 , 7 '; 27 ) for the digital storage of speech modules, and by means of a device ( 9 , 10 , 11 ; interacting with the control electronics or logic ( 5 ; 18 , 25 ); 24 , 22 ) for the acoustic reproduction of an acoustic speech output characterizing the measured value. 2. Handheld measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that for measuring the physical value at least one electrical sensor ( 13 , 14 ) is provided, which by means of a detachable or separable multiple connection, preferably by means of a multiple connector ( 15 ), to the device ( 1 a ) can be connected, and that the multiple connection for voltage coding of the sensor ( 13 , 14 ) has a single connection ( 15.4 ), to which on the device ( 1 a) connected sensor ( 13 , 14 ) characterizes this sensor and / or the output of the measured voltage is present. 3. Handheld measuring device for measuring or displaying or displaying a physical value (measured value), with at least one electrical sensor ( 13 , 14 ) which can be connected to the device with a detachable or separable multiple connection, preferably a multiple connector ( 15 ), characterized that the multi-port (15) for the voltage coding has a terminal (15.4), the controlling with the device (1 a) connected sensor (13, 14) this sensor characterizing and / or output and / or display of the measured value voltage is applied . 4. Handheld measuring device according to claim 3, characterized by a measuring input ( 12 , 16 ) to which the measured value can be applied, by control electronics or logic (18 , 25 ) interacting with the measuring input ( 12 , 16 ) and having at least one memory ( 27 ) for digital Storage of speech modules, as well as a device ( 22 , 24 ) interacting with the control electronics or logic ( 18 , 25 ) for the acoustic reproduction of an acoustic speech output characterizing the measured value. 5. Handheld measuring device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the memory ( 7 ) for a simple voice output as numbers-speech modules for forming the voice output only contains the number words "zero" to "nine". 6. Handheld measuring device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control electronics or logic ( 5 ) has means for generating a preferably adjustable in frequency tone pulse which precedes the respective speech output. 7. Handheld measuring device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized characterized in that the control electronics or logic is a program controlled microprocessor. 8. Handheld measuring device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the memory ( 7 , 27 ) as a number-language modules for normal speech output also has the respective power of ten of the number of the measurement result corresponding language modules. 9. Handheld measuring device according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized records by means of switching between the simplified and the usual speech output is possible.   10. Handheld measuring device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized records that the acoustic speech output under Ver use of the language modules according to a procedure according to the following flow chart follows:   11. Handheld measuring device according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that certain physical units are assigned certain coding voltages or coding voltage ranges of the voltage coding, and that means ( 1 a) are provided in order to obtain a specific coding voltage display assigned physical unit or output acoustically. 12. Handheld measuring device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a calibration of the device ( 1 a) and / or processing of the electrical measuring or sensor signal supplied by the respective sensor ( 13 , 14 ) as a function of the respective Coding voltage takes place. 13. Handheld measuring device according to claim 12, characterized in that the calibration characterizing values and / or characteristics for the processing of the electrical sensor signals are stored, in each case in association with certain coding voltages, and that in the device ( 1 a ) Means are provided to automatically perform the appropriate calibration when a certain coding voltage is present and / or to process the sensor signals taking into account the characteristic corresponding to the coding voltage. 14. Handheld measuring device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized records by means of automatic repetition of the acoustic voice output and / or for automatic voice output again when the measured value changes and / or for renewed acoustic voice output Request, preferably on acoustic request by the user.