JP2014154726A - Device extending function by coupling other unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device which extends the function by coupling other unit.SOLUTION: A device has a housing including a first end wall in contact with other unit and a second end wall forming a corner with the first end wall, and a coupling member arranged at a corner and rotating about a first axis parallel with the first end wall. The coupling member includes a semicylindrical link part partially projecting from the first end wall when rotating for coupling, and an operation part exposed to the second end wall and being operated externally. The housing includes a semicylindrical storage slit extending along the first axis so as to store the link part.

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus capable of expanding functions by connecting other units.

  Devices for monitoring or measuring physical quantities such as voltage and temperature at a number of measurement points are provided. U.S. Patent No. 6,057,836 describes a battery signal system that can be used to monitor and / or control a battery having a number of battery cells connected in series. The battery signal system for monitoring the battery cell includes a battery centralized monitoring system for monitoring the entire industrial battery, a number of cell monitoring devices for monitoring one or more battery cells, and a battery daisy chain configuration to the battery centralized monitoring system. A communication link for connecting the monitoring devices in series, in order to detect cell failures and / or low activity, poll each cell monitoring device sequentially and analyze the data received from the polled cell monitoring device To do.

JP 2010-257964 A

  Depending on the number of measurement points, various types of measurement devices are often provided. For example, a voltage logger that measures the voltage output from a sensor and displays it as a voltage, or converts it into a temperature or other physical quantity and outputs it as a voltage logger for 4 points (4 channels), 16 channels, 32 channels Is lined up. It is conceivable that the number of measurement points increases or decreases. For example, it is not efficient to measure two points with a measurement device for 32 channels, and 32 in order to measure data at 40 locations. It is not efficient to prepare two channels. In addition, there is a case where increase / decrease in functions as a logger such as monitoring temperature and illuminance simultaneously is required. Therefore, there is a demand for an apparatus that can flexibly cope with increase / decrease in the number of measurement points and increase / decrease in required functions.

  One aspect of the present invention is an apparatus that expands functions by connecting other units. The apparatus includes a housing including a first end wall portion in contact with another unit and a second end wall portion forming a corner with the first end wall portion, and a connecting member disposed at the corner, And a connecting member that rotates about a first axis parallel to the one end wall portion. The connecting member includes a semi-cylindrical link portion that partially protrudes from the first end wall portion when rotated when connected, and an operation portion that is exposed to the second end wall portion and operated from the outside. The housing includes a semi-cylindrical storage slit extending along the first axis so as to store the link portion.

  In this apparatus, the first end wall portions are set face to face with respect to another unit including a housing and a connection member having the same configuration, and both link portions are connected to each other by rotating both connection members. The housing enters the housing slit, and the housings are connected to each other. Therefore, by connecting another unit to this device, it becomes possible to communicate with each other via the first end wall between this device and the other unit, and to connect the other unit. Therefore, it is possible to cope with an increase in the number of measurement points and an increase in functions. Further, by disconnecting the connection between this device and another unit (other device), it is possible to reduce the number of measurement points or reduce the function.

  The connecting member only needs to be rotatably attached to the housing. The housing includes a narrow portion with a narrowed width of the storage slit so that the link portion does not come out of the storage slit, and the connecting member is a connection portion that connects the link portion and the operation portion, and is thinner than the link portion. It may include a connecting part that passes through. The storage slit serves as a guide for rotating the connecting member around the first axis.

  The device further limits the rotation range of the link portion between a first state in which the link portion is housed in the housing slit and a second state in which the link portion is rotated 90 degrees from the first state. It is desirable to include one stopper. It is possible to prevent the link portion from rotating excessively by stopping the rotation of the link portion in the second state in which this device and another unit are connected.

  In addition, it is desirable that the device includes a second stopper that temporarily holds the link portion in the first state and the second state. The rotation of the link portion can be temporarily stopped between the disconnected state and the connected state.

  When the second stopper is provided on the side of the connecting member, the first portion that elastically connects the link portion and the operation portion to the connecting member, and the link portion is elastically divided into at least two in the first axial direction. It is preferable to provide a second portion connected to the second stopper so that the second stopper moves elastically in the first axial direction.

  It is effective to provide the first end wall with irregularities that define the connecting direction of other units. It can connect so that the upper end side or lower end side of this apparatus and another unit may correspond. For example, it becomes easy to align the direction of the display provided in this apparatus and other units.

  The apparatus further detects a mechanical contact, a magnetic field, or light, a data processing unit, a non-contact type communication interface unit that performs data communication with other units via the first end wall. It is desirable to have a switching unit that recognizes that the first end wall is in contact with another unit and puts the communication interface unit into an operating state. By connecting this device to another unit so that the first end wall portion faces, communication between this device and the other unit can be automatically started.

  The communication interface unit preferably includes a first communication interface unit that supplies a trigger signal for data communication at a low speed and a second communication interface unit that performs data communication at a high speed. When this device and other units (devices) are portable or battery driven, it is possible to suppress power consumed by communication.

  An example of the data processing target of this apparatus is a voltage signal, having a voltage input interface unit that receives the voltage signal, and the data processing unit may include a recording unit that converts the voltage signal into digital data and records it. desirable. A data logger can be provided that measures and records the voltage or other physical quantity supplied by the voltage signal.

The perspective view which shows the outline | summary of a voltage logger. The top view (a), front view (b), bottom view (c), and back view (d) of a voltage logger. Right side view of voltage logger It is a figure which expands and shows the side surface of a connection part, the figure (a) which shows the state except a connection member, and the figure (b) which extracts and shows a connection member. The figure which shows the state which rotated the connection member 90 degree | times. The figure which shows the state which connected the several voltage logger. The figure which shows the state which expanded the voltage logger partially. The block diagram which shows the structure inside a voltage logger. The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a voltage logger.

  FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a data logger (voltage logger) that can measure and record voltage signals. This voltage logger 1 can receive signals of four systems (four channels) by one unit, and not only the voltage but also various types such as water level, pressure, temperature, flow rate, power, pH, and acceleration by changing the unit. Various physical quantities can be measured, monitored, recorded, and output to an external server or host device using a communication function. Further, the voltage logger 1 can be used alone or as a multi-channel data logger having a plurality of units (voltage loggers) connected to 5 channels or more, for example, 8 channels, 12 channels, and 16 channels. is there.

  FIG. 2 shows a single voltage logger (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a unit or device) 1 in front (FIG. 2 (b)), back (FIG. 2 (d)), plane (FIG. 2 (a)), and bottom. The state seen from (FIG. 2C) is shown. FIG. 3 shows a single voltage logger 1 viewed from the right side. A state where the voltage logger 1 is viewed from the left side surface appears symmetrically. The voltage logger 1 has a flat, substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 10, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 21 and a button operation unit (operation panel) 22 are disposed on a front surface 11 of the housing 10, and a battery cover is disposed on a rear surface 12 of the housing 10. 23 is arranged. A connector (interface) 25 for measurement is disposed on the upper surface 13 of the housing 10, and a connector (interface) 26 for external communication is disposed on the lower surface 14 of the housing 10. Side surfaces 15 on both sides of the housing 10 are surfaces that come into contact with other units when the other units are connected, communication panels 51 and 52 are disposed, and a connecting member 31 of the connecting portion 30 described below can be seen.

  The housing 10 includes an upper half portion 10a and a lower half portion 10b, and has connection portions (connection units) 30 at four corners in a combined state. Each of the connecting portions 30 provided in the corner 19 has a common configuration, and hereinafter, the configuration will be described using the lower right connecting portion 30 as an example. The connecting portion 30 is formed at a corner 19 of a side surface (side wall, first end wall portion) 15 and a lower surface (lower wall, second end wall portion) 14 in contact with other units, out of the corners of the housing 10. Is provided. The connecting portion 30 includes a connecting member 31 that rotates about a first shaft 39 that is parallel to the side wall 15. The connecting member 31 includes a semi-cylindrical link portion 33 that partially protrudes from the side wall 15 when rotated, and an operation portion (knob) 32 that is exposed to the lower surface 14 and operated from the outside. The housing 10 includes a semi-cylindrical storage slit 60 that extends along the first shaft 39 in the corner 19 so as to store the link portion 33.

  FIG. 4A shows a state in which the connecting member 31 is virtually removed from the connecting portion 30 in order to show the storage slit 60. The connecting member 31 is indicated by a broken line, and the knob 32 of the connecting member 31 is directed upward. FIG. 4B shows the connecting member 31 taken out.

  5 shows a state in which the connecting member 31 protrudes from the side surface 15 by turning the connecting member 31 about the first shaft 39 by about 90 degrees. FIG. 6 shows a state in which two voltage loggers (units) 1 are mechanically connected by turning the knob 32 of the connecting member 31 by 90 degrees. FIG. 7 schematically shows a state where the connecting member 31, the rotation support member 65, and the communication panels 51 and 52 are removed from the lower half 10 b of the housing 10.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the lower half 10 b of the housing 10 includes a quarter cylindrical recess 62 at each corner 19. Similarly, the upper half 10a of the housing 10 also includes a 1/4 cylindrical recess 62 at each corner 19 and, when combined, each corner 19 has a semi-cylindrical shape (1/2 cylinder centered on the first shaft 39). ) Is formed. By attaching a cylindrical rotation support member 65 to the semi-cylindrical recess 61 so that the central axis coincides with the first shaft 39, each corner 19 has a semi-cylindrical shape centered on the first shaft 39. The storage slit 60 is formed.

  The rotation support member 65 includes a cylindrical main body portion 66, a flange portion 67 in which an upper portion of the main body portion 66 expands in the radial direction, and a hook portion 68 that fixes the lower portion of the main body portion 66 to the housing 10. The rotation support member 65 is attached to the housing 10 by attaching the hook portion 68 to the rod 18 protruding into the lower half 10 b of the housing 10. Since the flange portion 67 protrudes in the direction of narrowing the width of the storage slit 60, the narrow portion 63 is formed in the storage slit 60. The narrow part 63 functions to prevent the link part 33 of the connecting member 31 from coming off.

  The connecting member 31 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, a knob portion 32 for operating from the outside, a link portion 33 that moves (slides) inside the storage slit 60, and a connection that connects the knob portion 32 and the link portion 33. Part 34. The connecting portion 34 is thinner than the link portion 33 and has a thickness that can freely move (slide) in the narrow portion 63 of the storage slit 60. On the other hand, the link part 33 is thicker than the connection part 34, and can move freely (slide) inside the storage slit 60, but has a thickness that does not allow the narrow part 63 to pass.

  The connecting member 31 further has a coil spring-like configuration as a whole, the knob portion 32 and the link portion 33 are separated by a first slit 35 extending in the circumferential direction, and a thin connection portion at the circumferential end. 34 is elastically connected. The link portion 33 is divided into two in the direction of the central axis (first axis) 39 by an upper half portion 33a and a lower half portion 33b by a second slit 36 extending in the circumferential direction. The other end in the circumferential direction is elastically connected by a link connection portion 33c.

  The connecting member 31 further includes a first stopper 37 that limits the range in which the link portion 33 operates in a state of being accommodated in the accommodation slit 60 to 90 degrees. In this example, the first stopper 37 is provided on the link portion 33 so as to protrude outward in the circumferential direction from the link portion 33, and is deeper by an arc of 90 degrees along the circumferential direction in the storage slit 60. The first stopper 37 enters the groove 91 provided so as to limit the range in which the first stopper 37 can rotate. Accordingly, the link portion 33 is not detached from the accommodation slit 60 by the narrow portion 63 in the direction of the shaft 39, and is detached from the accommodation slit 60 by moving the first stopper (cam) 37 only in the groove 91 in the circumferential direction. It rotates 90 degrees without entering and exiting the side 15.

  The connecting member 31 is further connected to a first position P1 where all the link portions 33 are stored in the storage slit 60, and a second position P2 where the link portion 33 rotates and protrudes from the side surface 15 by about 90 degrees. A second stopper 38 for temporarily fixing 31 is included. In this example, the second stopper 38 is provided so as to protrude upward in the upper half portion 33a of the link portion 33 in the vicinity of the connection portion 34 between the link portion 33 and the knob portion 32. Further, the flange portion 67 of the rotation support member 65 is provided with a first recess 92 into which the second stopper 38 enters at the first position P1 and a second recess 93 into which the second stopper 38 enters at the second position P2. . Therefore, the position of the connecting member 31 can be temporarily fixed between the first position P1 in which the link portion 33 is accommodated and the second position P2 in which the link portion 33 is rotated and connected to another unit.

  The width of the first slit 35 that separates the link portion 33 and the knob portion 32 is sufficiently larger than the thickness of the flange portion 67, and the connecting member 31 is accommodated in the state where the second stopper 38 is disengaged from the recesses 92 and 93. 60 can be rotated. The link portion 33 is separated into an upper half portion 33a and a lower half portion 33b by a slit 36, and the upper half portion 33a provided with the second stopper 38 is elastically moved up and down with respect to the lower half portion 33b. It moves to. Therefore, when the link portion 33 is rotated with the knob portion 32, the upper half portion 33 a moves elastically with respect to the lower half portion 33 b, and the second stopper 38 enters and exits the recesses 92 and 93.

  Accordingly, when the knob portion 32 of the connecting member 31 is rotated 90 degrees, the link portion 33 protrudes from the side surface 15 by about 90 degrees as shown in FIG. 5, and is temporarily fixed at that position (second position P2). Is done. As shown in FIG. 6, when the two units 1 are combined so that the side surfaces 15 are adjacent to each other and the knob portion 32 of the connecting member 31 is rotated 90 degrees, the connecting members 31 of the two units 1 rotate together. To do. Therefore, the link part 33 of the connecting member 31 of one unit 1 enters the housing slit 60 of the housing 10 of the other unit 1, and the link part 33 of the connecting member 31 of the other unit 1 is the housing 10 of one unit 1. Enter the storage slit 60. Thus, when the link part 33 enters into the storage slit 60, the two units 1 are mechanically connected with the side surfaces 15 facing each other.

  On the other hand, when the connecting member 31 is rotated 90 degrees in the opposite direction in a state where the two units 1 are connected, the connecting members 31 of the two units 1 rotate integrally, and the connecting member 31 of the one unit 1 is rotated. The link portion 33 exits from the storage slit 60 of the housing 10 of the other unit 1 and is stored in the storage slit 60 of one unit 1. Further, the link portion 33 of the connecting member 31 of the other unit 1 also exits from the storage slit 60 of the housing 10 of the one unit 1 and is stored in the other storage slit 60 (first position P1). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the two units 1 are mechanically divided into one unit.

  Even if the connecting member 31 is provided only at one of the upper and lower (left and right, front and rear) corners 19 of the housing 10, the plurality of units 1 can be mechanically connected. However, it is preferable to dispose the connecting members 31 on both the upper and lower sides (left and right, front and rear) because the mechanical strength can be sufficiently maintained in the connected state. Moreover, the long link part 33 may be arrange | positioned along the some link part 33 or the side surface 15, and the long link part 33 may be moved synchronously along the some link part 33 or the side surface 15 with the common knob part 32. . By disposing the connecting member 31 having the knob portion 32 at each corner 19, the resistance when operating the knob portion 32 can be reduced, and a system (device) in which the plurality of units 1 can be easily attached and detached can be provided.

  Each unit (voltage logger) 1 includes flat communication panels 51 and 52 attached so as to cover a part of the side surface 15. The communication panels 51 and 52 are made of a magnetic field and infrared transmissive resin, and can communicate in a non-contact manner using a magnetic field and / or infrared rays through the communication panels. The communication panels 51 and 52 include a hook portion 53 attached to the rod 18 inside the housing 10 together with the rotation support member 65.

  Furthermore, the communication panel 51 includes a convex portion 55 protruding from the flat plate portion, and the communication panel 52 includes a concave portion 56 that is recessed from the flat plate portion and into which the convex portion 55 is inserted. On one side surface 15 of the housing 10, a communication panel 51 having a convex portion 55 is attached to one corner 19 side, and a communication panel 52 having a concave portion 56 is attached to the other corner 19 side. Accordingly, the side surface 15 is formed with unevenness that defines the connecting direction (vertical direction) with the other voltage logger 1, and the plurality of voltage loggers 1 are connected to each other so that the convex portion 55 fits into the concave portion 56 (connecting unit). By connecting with 30, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit for infrared communication are combined so as to automatically face each other between the voltage loggers via the communication panels 51 and 52.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the voltage logger 1. In FIG. 8, three voltage loggers 1 are mechanically connected by a connection unit 30 to constitute a system (measurement system) 100. In the voltage logger 1, the voltage logger (device, unit) 1 placed on the leftmost side at the time of connection becomes the master of the system 100. All voltage loggers 1 connected to the right side of the master voltage logger 1 are slaves to the master. The purpose of configuring the system 100 by connecting a plurality of voltage loggers 1 is to allow a plurality of voltage loggers 1 to be handled mechanically as one unit, and in the connected device (voltage logger) 1 all at the same timing. It is to be able to record information such as voltage.

  The voltage logger 1 includes a CPU (data processing unit) 71, a memory 72, an optical communication control unit 73, a peripheral function unit (PFU), a measurement interface 25, an external communication interface 26, and other A switching unit 75 that detects that the unit 1 is connected, a first communication interface unit 76 that transmits and receives a trigger signal for data communication at low speed, and a second communication interface unit 77 that performs data communication at high speed Including. The first communication interface unit 76 and the second communication interface unit 77 are connected to other units (devices) 1 using infrared rays via communication panels 51 and 52 provided on the side surface (first end wall) 15. It is a non-contact type communication interface unit that communicates with the first communication interface unit 76 and the second communication interface unit 77, respectively.

  The switching unit 75 includes a magnetic sensor (HS2) 75a disposed inside the communication panel 52 on one side surface 15 and a magnet (M2) 75b disposed inside the communication panel 51 on the other side surface 15. When the voltage logger 1 is connected to the other unit 1, the communication panels 51 and 52 approach and the magnetic sensor 75 a detects the magnetic force of the magnet 75 b, the CPU 71 connects the own voltage logger 1 to the other unit 1. Recognizing this, the communication interface units 76 and 77 are put into operation. The switching unit 75 may recognize that the other unit 1 is connected by other means such as a mechanical contact such as a limit switch or light. The switching unit 75 that detects a magnet (magnetic field) is low-cost, non-contact, consumes little current, and is suitable for detection of other units 1.

  The first communication interface unit 76 is an infrared receiver (SYNC-IN, light receiving element, photodiode) that is disposed inside the communication panel 51 on one side surface 15 and has a low self-consumption current when light does not enter due to low-speed response. 76a and an infrared transmitter (SYNC-OUT, infrared LED) 76b disposed inside the communication panel 52 on the other side surface 15. When the voltage logger 1 is connected to another unit 1, the first communication interface unit 76 can communicate in a non-contact manner using infrared rays via the communication panels 51 and 52. The data transmitted by the first communication interface unit 76 is a synchronous recording signal and a communication start signal from the master side. The first communication interface unit 76 is a transmission port for information such as a synchronization signal and a trigger signal for the second communication interface unit 77 to perform data communication, and the amount of information handled by the first communication interface unit 76 is small. Therefore, a low speed and low power consumption interface unit is used.

  The second communication interface unit 77 includes an infrared receiver (Rx1, light receiving element, photodiode) 77a arranged inside the communication panel 51 on one side surface 15 and an infrared transmitter (Tx1) arranged inside the communication panel 52. , Infrared LED) 77b, an infrared receiver (Rx2) 77c disposed inside the communication panel 51 on the other side surface 15, and an infrared transmitter (Tx2) 77d disposed inside the communication panel 52. When the voltage logger 1 is connected to the other unit 1, the second communication interface unit 77 performs non-contact communication using infrared rays via the communication panels 51 and 52 to exchange data. There are various types of data exchanged by the second communication interface unit 77, information on setting measurement conditions from the master side to the slave side, data measured by each voltage logger 1, setting values, presence / absence of occurrence of an alarm, etc. Is mentioned. Therefore, infrared receivers 77a and 77c are used which have a high response and a large self-consumption current when no light enters.

  What should be noted in optical communication (infrared rays) is to avoid the fact that if the reception is always active, photocurrent and self-consumption current due to external light flow and the consumption current of the device increases. Further, in this system 100, the voltage logger 1 serving as a master needs to know the number of slave-side units 1 connected to the slave 100 and recognize which slave the voltage logger 1 on the slave side is. .

  First, when the voltage logger 1 on the slave side senses magnetism with the magnetic sensor 75a of the switching unit 75, it can detect the presence (unit) of the host. When detecting the presence of a higher rank, the CPU 71 determines that the connection has been made, and activates the receiver (light receiving element) 76a of the first communication interface unit 76. If the voltage loggers are connected, the receiver 76a faces the transmitter 76b via the communication panels 51 and 52. The contact surfaces (connection surfaces) of the communication panels 51 and 52 are flat surfaces, and the connection surface of the first communication interface unit 76 is structured such that outside light does not enter. Therefore, an increase in self-consumption current due to external light can be suppressed.

  The CPU 71 of the voltage logger 1 includes a communication function (master communication function) 71a when it is on the master side and a communication function (slave communication function) 71b when it is on the slave side. The master communication function 71 a handles two types of signals by the first communication interface unit 76. One signal is a synchronization recording synchronization pulse, and the other signal is a communication start pulse (communication pulse) longer (8 times) than the synchronization pulse.

  The master communication function 71a outputs a communication pulse at the start of synchronous recording or at some trigger. When receiving the signal, the slave communication function 71b activates the receiver 77a on the upper side (master side) of the second communication interface unit 77 for a certain period of time. The master communication function 71a performs communication for recognizing the slave by activating the receiver 77c on the lower side (slave side) for a certain period of time. Through this communication (protocol), the voltage logger (SLV1) 1 of the first slave connected to the voltage logger 1 of the master (MST) can recognize that it is the first slave.

  The slave communication function 71b further makes the upstream receiver 77a and the downstream transmitter 77d through, and the downstream receiver 77c and the upstream transmitter 77b through when the own number is determined. including. Thereby, communication of the voltage logger 1 on the master side (upstream side) is communicated with the voltage logger 1 on the slave side (downstream side). The master voltage logger (the leftmost voltage logger) 1 communicates to detect the voltage logger 1 of another slave, for example, the voltage logger (SLV2) 1 of the second slave, through the voltage logger 1 on the slave side. The second slave voltage logger 1 can be recognized. By repeating the above, the master voltage logger 1 can recognize the nth slave voltage logger (SLVn) 1. Eventually there will be no response, so the number of slaves can be determined.

  The master communication function 71a and the slave communication function 71b inactivate the communication port of the second communication interface unit 77 on the slave side in order to reduce current consumption after all the voltage loggers 1 on the slave side are determined by the above processing. And includes a function of activating only the first communication interface unit 76. Further, the slave communication function 71b includes a function of activating each communication port of the second communication interface unit 77 for a certain time when a communication start signal is received from the master side by the receiver 76a of the first communication interface unit 76. . This function of making active includes a function of making the upstream side and the downstream side of the second communication interface unit 77 through, and a function of receiving data from the master side by the upstream receiver 77a at the same time. By using this function, the master voltage logger 1 can communicate with a specific slave voltage logger 1.

  The master communication function 71a of the master voltage logger 1 sends setting information to each voltage logger 1 on the slave side by communication via the second communication interface function (unit) 77 at the start of communication, and the slave voltage logger 1 Is included in a recording start ready state. Further, the master communication function 71a then outputs a synchronization pulse to the slave-side voltage logger 1 via the first communication interface function (unit) 76 at each timing when the master voltage logger 1 records as a logger. Includes the function that the master and slave record with the signal.

  In this system 100, the voltage logger 1 includes a switching unit 75 that recognizes the voltage logger 1 connected to the downstream side (slave side). In addition to or instead of the switching unit 75, different combinations of magnets and magnetic sensors are prepared, and arranged opposite to the switching unit 75, whereby the voltage logger 1 connected to the upstream side (master side). It is also possible to include a function for recognizing.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the voltage logger 1 including a more detailed configuration of the peripheral function unit (PFU) 80. The PFU 80 includes an AD converter 81 that converts a voltage signal supplied to the measurement interface 25 into a digital signal. The AD converter 81 is provided with four channels. The four voltage signals are converted into digital signals in parallel and supplied to the CPU 71.

  The PFU 80 includes an LCD 21 that displays information such as measurement data, measurement conditions, setting conditions, date, remaining battery level, and trend graph. The trend graph displays changes in data measured for each channel or a plurality of channels. The numerical value of the measured value displayed on the LCD 21 and the unit of the trend graph are not limited to the voltage, but should be set to a unit (physical quantity) indicating the state of the measurement object such as water level, pressure, temperature, flow rate, electric power, pH, acceleration. Is possible.

  The PFU 80 includes an operation panel 22 for inputting setting conditions, display selection of the LCD 21, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2B and the like, the operation panel 22 includes a plurality of buttons 22a to 22c and a wheel 22d. The wheel 22d is used to select information displayed on the LCD 21 or change the display density by operating the wheel 22d. The buttons 22a to 22c are used for selecting functions such as power on / off and LCD 21 on / off.

  The PFU 80 further includes a wireless communication unit 84, a USB interface unit 85, and an SD memory card unit 86 for external communication. The wireless communication unit 84 may be a wireless LAN unit or a communication unit using Bluetooth (registered trademark). The USB interface unit 85 is connected to the USB connector 26a of the communication interface 26, and the SD memory card unit 86 is connected to the SD card interface 26b. The memory 72 includes a memory unit 72a for recording data and an EEPROM 72b for recording setting values (conditions).

  As described above, the voltage logger 1 can be used either alone or by connecting a plurality of units. Since the voltage logger 1 is operated by the battery 24, the installation location is not limited. Therefore, various types of measurement systems 100 can be easily configured according to the purpose.

  Moreover, although the apparatus (unit) which can be connected is demonstrated to the example by the voltage logger above, the apparatus which can be connected by the connection unit 30 is not limited to a voltage logger. The device that can be connected may be a data logger specialized for measuring a specific physical quantity such as temperature, or a data logger that measures current, power, etc., and is a monitoring device including a measurement function. Further, it may be a control device with a built-in computer or the like, and devices having various functions can be connected by the connecting unit 30 to expand the functions.

1 voltage logger, 10 housing, 30 connection unit

Claims (9)

A device for expanding functions by connecting other units,
A housing including a first end wall contacting the other unit and a second end wall forming a corner with the first end wall;
A connecting member disposed at the corner, wherein the connecting member rotates around a first axis parallel to the first end wall portion;
The connecting member is a semi-cylindrical link part that partially protrudes from the first end wall part when rotating when connected,
An operation part exposed to the second end wall part and operated from the outside,
The housing includes a semi-cylindrical storage slit extending along the first axis so as to store the link portion. The claim 1, further comprising:
The housing includes a narrow portion that narrows the width of the storage slit so that the link portion does not come out of the storage slit,
The connection member includes a connection portion that connects the link portion and the operation portion, and includes a connection portion that is thinner than the link portion and passes through the narrow portion. In claim 1 or 2, further
A first range that limits a rotation range of the link portion between a first state in which the link portion is housed in a housing slit and a second state in which the link portion is rotated 90 degrees from the first state. A device having a stopper. In claim 3, further:
An apparatus comprising: a second stopper that temporarily holds the link part in the first state and the second state. In claim 4,
The connecting member includes a first portion that elastically connects the link portion and the operation portion;
A second portion that elastically connects the link portion in at least two parts in the first axial direction, and wherein the second stopper moves elastically in the first axial direction. In any of claims 1 to 5,
The first end wall portion includes an unevenness that defines a connection direction of the other unit. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 6, Furthermore,
A data processing unit;
A non-contact type communication interface unit that performs data communication with the other unit via the first end wall;
A switching unit that recognizes that the first end wall is in contact with the other unit by detecting a mechanical contact, a magnetic field, or light, and brings the communication interface unit into an operating state. ,apparatus. In claim 7,
The communication interface unit includes a first communication interface unit that supplies a trigger signal for data communication at a low speed;
And a second communication interface unit that performs data communication at high speed. In claim 7 or 8, further
A voltage input interface unit for receiving a voltage signal;
The data processing unit includes a recording unit that converts a voltage signal into digital data and records the data.

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