GB2273165A - Device for the remote aquisition of a physical quantity in a liquid or gaseous medium - Google Patents
Device for the remote aquisition of a physical quantity in a liquid or gaseous medium Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2273165A GB2273165A GB9324817A GB9324817A GB2273165A GB 2273165 A GB2273165 A GB 2273165A GB 9324817 A GB9324817 A GB 9324817A GB 9324817 A GB9324817 A GB 9324817A GB 2273165 A GB2273165 A GB 2273165A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- physical quantity
- acquisition
- sensor module
- cables
- electronic means
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 7
- 230000006698 induction Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000007654 immersion Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000013535 sea water Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 2
- BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N platinum Chemical compound [Pt] BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Lithium Chemical compound [Li] WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052744 lithium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052697 platinum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01V—GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
- G01V1/00—Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting
- G01V1/22—Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01K—MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01K1/00—Details of thermometers not specially adapted for particular types of thermometer
- G01K1/02—Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers
- G01K1/026—Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers arrangements for monitoring a plurality of temperatures, e.g. by multiplexing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01L—MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE
- G01L19/00—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus for measuring steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluent medium insofar as such details or accessories are not special to particular types of pressure gauges
- G01L19/08—Means for indicating or recording, e.g. for remote indication
- G01L19/083—Means for indicating or recording, e.g. for remote indication electrical
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geophysics (AREA)
- Arrangements For Transmission Of Measured Signals (AREA)
- Measurement Of Velocity Or Position Using Acoustic Or Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
Abstract
The invention concerns a device for the remote acquisition of the value of a physical quantity in a liquid or gaseous medium. A bundle of at least two cables 4, in particular electrical connection and traction cables of a sonar, is immersed in e.g. an undersea environment. The cables are connected together physically by attachment modules 5 distributed along their entire length, and connected to a central control and operating unit. The invention is characterised in that certain attachment modules 5 on the cables contain a sensor module containing electronic means 9 for measuring the value of the physical quantity (for example, temperature) and an induction coil 8 for transmitting information as to the measured value to a central control unit along one of the cables e.g. in digital form using frequency shift keying. <IMAGE>
Description
DEVI CE FOR THE REMOTE ACQUISITION OF A PHYSTCAL QUANTITY
IN A LIQUID OR GASEOUS MEDIUM This invention concerns a device for the remote acquisition, i.e., the measurement and storage with a view to processing, of a physical quantity in a liquid or gaseous medium, particularly for establishing a profile of a physical quantity such as temperature, pressure or turbidity as a function of depth of immersion. If the quantity in question is temperature, the profile concerned is bathythermic. This invention finds application particularly in the towing of sonar devices which require knowledge of such a profile, the performance of sonar devices being sensitive to temperature changes. For this type of application, the usual procedure is to launch probes at regular intervals from a surface ship. The drawback of this conventional method for measuring a bathythermic profile is that the probes cannot be recovered after launch with the result that the operation is very costly.
The purpose of the invention is therefore to propose a device for remotely measuring a physical quantity such as temperature, permitting the rapid and frequent acquisition of the value of the physical quantity as a function of a value of immersion depth, at a lower cost.
The subject of the invention is therefore a device for the remote acquisition of a physical quantity in a liquid or gaseous. medium in which is immersed a bundle of at least two cables, in particular electrical connection and traction cables for an undersea sonar, physically connected together by attachment modules distributed along their length, the bundle of cables being connected to a central control and operating unit fitted with a serial link on board a ship, wherein -- certain attachment modules of the cables incorporate a sensor module containing electronic means for the acquisition of the physical quantity.
The attachment modules are conventionally used to assemble the cables physically into a bundle, so as to keep them together as they are reeled in or out. In the sonar towing application, they are conventionally formed from a rectangular casing with transverse openings for penetration of thecables, surmounted by a part in the form of a fairing. The present invention in no way modifies the outer form of the attachment modules and utilises space available inside the volume of the fairing to accommodate a sensor module containing the electronic means for acquisition of the physical quantity. The addition of sensor modules in a number less than or equal to the number of attachment modules does not affect the integrity of the existing connection functions of the cables. The transmission and reception links from a towed sonar are therefore not affected by the means of the invention proposed. The attachment modules of the cable bundle arranged at regular intervals or otherwise along the cables have known positions ; the location of the sensor modules containing the electronic means for acquisition of the physical quantity is therefore also known. When the bundle of cables is submerged, a distance, which represents the immersion depth, is associated with the measurement of the physical quantity by the electronic means in the sensor modules.
The electronic means for acquisition of the physical quantity located in the sensor module are characterised by the fact that they comprise an induction coil. In fact the transmission and reception of information between the central control and operating unit and the sensor module are achieved by magnetic coupling between one cable in the bundle and the induction coil in the sensor module, thus preserving the integrity of the existing connections provided by the bundle of cables.
The electronic means in the sensor module advantageously comprise a circuit for measuring the physical quantity, a general power supply circuit, a watchdog circuit, a microcontroller provided with circuits for address decoding, digital coding and power supply monitoring, and a switch short-circuited by a conducting medium when the sensor module is immersed in that medium.
Each sensor module is assigned a coded identification whereby it can be recognised by the central control unit. The digital coding of the data advantageously involves frequency shift modulation.
The frequency shift modulation applied in the central unit-sensor module direction can be different from that applied in the reverse direction.
The invention will- now be- described by way of example with reference- to the attached drawings wherein: - figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the device for acquisition of a physical quantity for a sonar application; - figure 2 shows the positioning of a sensor module with its different components inside an attachment module; - figure 3 shows the functional circuit of a sensor module.
The entire device shown in figure 1 comprises a central control and operating unit 1 located on board a ship connected first by digital serial link to an operating system of the sonar 1' and secondly to a sonar 3 by a bundle of cables 4 for towing and transmission, through coupling means 2. These cables 4 are physically connected together by streamlined attachment modules 5 shown on figure 2, which are distributed along their entire length. These attachment modules 5 are also known as fairings owing to their hydrodynamic shape. They are in two parts, one part 6 is metallic in the form of a rectangular casing with transverse openings for the cables penetration , the other part 7 in plastics material in the form of a fairing. For certain attachment modules, the sensor module is accommodated inside part 7. It contains electronic means. 9 for the acquisition of a physical quantity, which in this particular embodiment of the invention is the temperature, an induction coil 8, one
. . .
or more electrochemical cells 10, an encoding circuit 11, and a seawater switch 12.
The various components are embedded in a resin with appropriate magnetic, thermal and conducting characteristics, ensuring good mechanical stability ans sealing. The induction coil 8 serves for the transmission and reception of information between the central control and operating unit 1 and the sensor module 7 by magnetic coupling with one of the cables 4 in the bundle. The oscillating signal passing along the cable induces a voltage E in the coil 8 comprising N turns of surface area S, which is a function of the time derivative of the field B generated by the current flowing in the cable, according to the expression E = - S N dB/dt. In the reverse direction, the coil supplies the cable with bathythermic measurement data in the form of an induced frequency signal following an identical law.
The communications signals between the central control operating unit 1 and the sensor modules 7 are numerical signals, transmitted using frequency shift keying.
The frequencies of reception and retransmission by the sensor module are preferably different. For example, the reception frequencies may be 50 kHz for a binary state of 0 and 60 kHz for a binary state of 1. The choice of these frequencies has an effect on the power consumption of the sensor module, which it is attempted to limit.
In retransmission, the frequencies are such as to optimise the coupling between cable and coil. They may be 200 kHz for a binary state of 0 and 220 kHz for a binary state of 1.
In order not to interfere with the emission and transmission links of the sonar, the frequencies are located outside the sonar communication frequency ranges. For this purpose, the induction coil 8 may be followed by a pass band filter.The electrochemical cells 10 are long- life cells such as lithium batteries.The encoding circuit 11 is used to identify the sensor module, and may consist of binary coded switches with 7 or 8 positions.The switch 12 in this particular embodiment is a so called seawater switch. Consisting of 2 metal plates, it is short-circuited by the seawater. In this way it then closes all the circuits of the sensor module so as to prevent the cells 10 from discharging uselessly when not in the immersion medium.
The electronic means 9 comprise in particular a temperature measuring circuit or sensor 18 shown schematically on figure 3 which is arranged in such a way that the sensitive part is in contact with the inner wall of the fairing so that the outside temperature is accessible by thermal conductivity. The temperature measuring circuit may consist of a platinum probe integrated with a Wheatstone bridge.
The electronic means 9 shown schematically on figure 3 comprise, besides the induction coil 8, a watchdog circuit 13, a microcontroller 14 consisting of a microprocessor fitted with an address decoding circuit 15, a power supply monitoring circuit 16 and a digital encoding circuit 17.
Operation is as follows.
The central unit 1 transmits a series of pulses at a given frequency, for example 50 kHz, as an order to initialize the watchdog circuits 13 in the sensor modules. The signals are transferred by magnetic coupling between a cable 4 and the induction coil 8 in the sensor modules. The result of this initialisation in each sensor module is to reverse the outputs of a flip-flop in the watchdog circuit 13, switching on the decoding circuit 15.
The central unit 1 then transmits a digital serial message using frequency shift modulation, comprising an address byte- for a given sensor module. This message is transmitted to the sensormodules by magnetic coupling between a cable 4 and the induction coil 8, to the watchdog circuit 13 which transmits it to the microcontroller 14.
The decoding circuit 15 decodes the address data reaching it from the watchdog circuit 13 via a so-called input phase locked loop.
It compares the binary code supplied by the encoding circuit 11 with the serial message transmitted in frequency shift modulation.
If the two 8-bit words do not coincide, all the circuits of the sensor module integrated are switched off, except for the watchdog circuit 13. If the two 8-bit words coincide, the microcontroller 14 then switches on, via the power supply monitoring circuit 16, the other circuits in the sensor module, i.e., the encoding circuit 17 and a measurement supply circuit 19 which may consist of a DC-DC voltage converter.
By means of the encoding circuit 17, the microcontroller 14 converts the analogue value coming from the temperature sensor 18.
A so-called output phase locked loop then constructs the signal using frequency shift modulation which may be different from that coming from the central unit.
The signal is transmitted to the central unit 1 by magnetic coupling between the induction coil 8 and a cable 4. The signal formed by the sensor module to be transmitted to the central unit consists of two bytes the first containing the address of the sensor module, the second a temperature signal.
Throughout the measurement process, the power supply monitoring circuit 16 allows the circuits in the sensor module to be switched on or off. On completion of the measurement, it switches itself off.
In this way the central unit can interrogate a number of sensor modules, equal at the most to the number of attachment modules.
By means of the same process, the central unit is capable of monitoring the charge level of the cells in the sensor module. It sends an address byte designating the module interrogated. The information is received and transmitted by magnetic coupling as before and involves the same- circuits 13, 15, 16 and 17 of the sensor module. A signal to monitor the charge level the cells can be-distinguished from a signal to measure the physical quantity by the content of the first bit in the address byte. For example, a binary state of 1 indicates a measurement signal while a binary state of 0 indicates a monitoring signal.
The acquisition of data and their processing are fully monitored by the central unit. Processing of the data makes it possible to determine the immersion depth of the sensor modules and also to plot a profile of the physical quantity measured as a function of the depth of immersion.
Claims (12)
1. Device for the remote acquisition of a physical quantity in a liquid or gaseous medium, in which is immersed a bundle of at least two cables, in particular electrical connection and traction cables of an undersea sonar, physically connected together by attachment modules arranged along their entire length, the bundle of cables being connected to a central control and operating unit fitted with a serial link on board a ship, wherein certain attachment modules of the cables contain a sensor module containing electronic means for the acquisition of the physical quantity.
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic means for acquisition of the physical quantity comprise an induction coil such that the transfer of all the signals from the central unit to the sensor module and conversely is effected by magnetic coupling between a cable of the bundle and the induction coil located in the sensor module
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein - the electrenic means -- for the acquisition of the physical quantity comprise a circuit for measuring the physical quantity
4. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the sensor module comprises a general power supply circuit consisting of one or more electrochemical cells
5. Device according to any- preceding claim, wherein the electronic means comprise a watchdog circuit
6. Device according to any preceding claim, wherein the electronic means for the acquisition of the physical quantity comprise an address decoding circuit and a digital encoding circuit
7. ' Device according to claim 6, wherein - the digital coding of data is effected using frequency shift modulation.
8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the frequency modulation applied in the direction from the sensor module to the central unit is different from that applied in the direction from the central unit to the sensor module
9. Device according to any preceding claim; - wherein- the electronic means for the acquisition of the physical quantity comprise a power supply monitoring circuit
10. Device according to any preceding claim, wherein ~ - the electronic means for the acquisition of the physical quantity comprise a switch short-circuited by a conducting medium in which it is immersed.
11. Device according to any preceding claim, wherein the electronic means for the acquisition of the physical quantity comprise an encoding circuit
12. Device for the remote acquisition of a physical quantity in a liquid or gaseous medium, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR9214543A FR2698981B1 (en) | 1992-12-03 | 1992-12-03 | Device for the remote acquisition of a physical quantity in a liquid or gaseous medium. |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9324817D0 GB9324817D0 (en) | 1994-01-19 |
| GB2273165A true GB2273165A (en) | 1994-06-08 |
| GB2273165B GB2273165B (en) | 1996-09-18 |
Family
ID=9436172
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9324817A Expired - Fee Related GB2273165B (en) | 1992-12-03 | 1993-12-03 | Device for the remote measurement of a physical quantity in a liquid or gaseous medium |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| FR (1) | FR2698981B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2273165B (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN113654687A (en) * | 2021-06-19 | 2021-11-16 | 广州欧纳电子科技有限公司 | Cable type temperature observation chain |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1355363A (en) * | 1970-06-11 | 1974-06-05 | Electroacustic Gmbh | Method of and system for transmitting a measurable quantity |
| US4953986A (en) * | 1989-04-27 | 1990-09-04 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Air/sea temperature probe |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE1238812B (en) * | 1966-03-01 | 1967-04-13 | Bissett Berman Corp | Method and device for measuring a property of sea water, such as temperature, salinity, pressure, speed or the like. |
| FR2577480B1 (en) * | 1985-02-21 | 1987-12-11 | Labinal | DEVICE FOR MEASURING BRAKE TEMPERATURES AND TIRE PRESSURES ON VEHICLE WHEEL TRAINS AND ESPECIALLY AIRCRAFT |
| EP0278102A3 (en) * | 1987-02-09 | 1990-06-06 | Combustion Engineering, Inc. | Multiple point remore temperature sensing |
| US4912684A (en) * | 1988-02-29 | 1990-03-27 | Digicourse, Inc. | Seismic streamer communication system |
-
1992
- 1992-12-03 FR FR9214543A patent/FR2698981B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1993
- 1993-12-03 GB GB9324817A patent/GB2273165B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1355363A (en) * | 1970-06-11 | 1974-06-05 | Electroacustic Gmbh | Method of and system for transmitting a measurable quantity |
| US4953986A (en) * | 1989-04-27 | 1990-09-04 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Air/sea temperature probe |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2698981A1 (en) | 1994-06-10 |
| GB2273165B (en) | 1996-09-18 |
| FR2698981B1 (en) | 1995-01-13 |
| GB9324817D0 (en) | 1994-01-19 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20071203 |