JP2016130989A - Water temperature and water depth measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a reduction in power consumption of a compact water depth and water temperature gauge.SOLUTION: There is provided a water temperature and water depth measuring device comprising: a water temperature sensor and a water depth sensor; a transmission signal generation device; an identification signal generation part that converts a fundamental wave from the transmission signal generation device to form an identification signal and outputs the identification signal at a constant time interval; an interval modulation part that modulates the time interval of the identification signal with water temperature data from the water temperature sensor and water depth data from the water depth sensor; and a wave transmitter that generates a supersonic wave corresponding to a modulated identification signal from the interval modulation part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a water temperature and water temperature measuring device that is thrown into the sea and applied to measure water temperature and water depth.

  As a device for measuring the temperature and depth of seawater, a CTD (electrical conductivity (salt content), water temperature, depth meter) is known as a large-scale recovery device. The CTD is connected to the cable from the observation ship and dropped into the sea to measure the distribution of salinity and water temperature in the depth direction. The characteristics and flow of seawater are analyzed based on the measurement data.

  Since CTD is large and expensive, a small and inexpensive water temperature and water depth measuring device (referred to as a water depth thermometer) is used on fishing boats and the like. The water depth thermometer is equipped with a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor in a cylindrical case, stores observation data in a built-in memory, and reads the observation data in the memory with a dedicated reader after collection.

  In the case where the observation data is stored in the memory, there is a problem that the water temperature cannot be known in real time. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that the obtained observation data is transmitted to the main station on the ship in real time.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-9709

  In use, the water temperature and water depth measuring device disclosed in Patent Document 1 continuously communicates with the main station on the ship and the water depth thermometer (transmission / reception station) in the sea, and there is a problem that battery consumption is severe. there were. If, for example, a secondary battery is mounted as the power source of the water depth thermometer and is configured to be rechargeable, it is possible to cope with battery consumption.

  However, the water depth thermometer has a watertight structure and is filled with an epoxy resin in order to ensure water pressure resistance so that it can be used up to a depth of 500 m, for example. If the secondary battery is housed in such a structure, the secondary battery expands and gas is generated from the secondary battery, which may cause explosion. Furthermore, considering that it is disposable, it is desirable that the usable period of the water depth thermometer is one year or longer.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a water temperature and water depth measuring device that consumes less power and can extend the usable period.

A first invention of the present invention includes a water temperature sensor and a water depth sensor,
A transmission signal generator; and
An identification signal generator that modulates the fundamental wave from the transmission signal generator to form an identification signal, and outputs the identification signal at a constant time interval;
An interval modulation unit that modulates the time interval of the identification signal according to the water temperature data from the water temperature sensor and the water depth data from the water depth sensor;
A water temperature and water depth measurement device comprising: a transmitter that generates an ultrasonic wave corresponding to a modulation identification signal from an interval modulation unit.

A second invention of the present invention includes a water temperature sensor and a water depth sensor,
A transmission signal generator; and
An identification signal generator that modulates the fundamental wave from the transmission signal generator to form an identification signal, and outputs the identification signal at a constant time interval;
An interval modulation unit that modulates the time interval of the identification signal according to the water temperature data from the water temperature sensor and the water depth data from the water depth sensor;
A transmitter comprising: a transmitter for transmitting an ultrasonic wave corresponding to the modulation identification signal from the interval modulation unit;
A receiver for receiving ultrasonic waves;
An identification signal detector for detecting an identification signal from the ultrasonic wave received by the receiver;
A data discriminating unit for discriminating water depth data and water temperature data from the time interval of the identification signal detected by the identification signal detecting unit;
A water temperature and depth measuring device comprising: a wave receiving device including a data processing unit that processes data discriminated by the data discriminating unit.

  According to the present invention, the transmission device can be identified by the identification signal, and the time interval of the identification signal is modulated by the water temperature data and the water depth data, so that the power consumption can be reduced and the usable period of the device is lengthened. be able to. Note that the effects described here are not necessarily limited, and may be any of the effects described in the present specification.

It is a basic diagram used for description of the outline of the measuring system of this invention. It is the front view which shows the external shape of an example of a depth water thermometer, a top view, and sectional drawing. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structure of a depth water thermometer. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an example of a transmission signal formation part. It is a wave form diagram used for description of a transmission signal. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a receiving device.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention, and various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following description. Unless otherwise specified, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
The description of the present invention will be made in the following order.
<1. Embodiment>
<2. Modification>

<1. Embodiment>
"Measurement system"
FIG. 1A shows an example of a measurement system. The observation ship 1 is provided with a wave receiving device 2 and a CTD 4 connected to the cable 3 is thrown into the sea. Observation data of CTD4 is stored in an internal memory. A water depth thermometer 5 as a wave transmitting device is attached to the CTD 4. Observation data is transmitted from the water depth thermometer 5 to the wave receiving device 2 with ultrasonic waves, and the observation data received by the wave receiving device 2 is processed. By attaching the water depth thermometer 5 to the CTD 4, the cable 3 can be used as the cable of the water depth thermometer 5.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the wave receiver 2 may be loaded on a fishing boat 6 and a depth thermometer 5 may be attached to a fishing net 7 for fishing. The wave receiving device 2 can obtain the data of the depth of the fishing net 7 and the surrounding sea water temperature from the water depth thermometer 5 to acquire data on the relationship between the water temperature and the water depth and the catch and to increase the catch These data are available. In addition to the fishing net 7, the water depth thermometer 5 can be attached to fishing gear such as crabs. The rope for pulling the fishing net 7 can also be used as the rope of the depth water thermometer 5.

  Furthermore, although not shown in the figure, the depth water thermometer does not need to be connected by a rope. For example, a depth thermometer may be attached to a diver's diving equipment, or a deep water thermometer may be attached to a large fish such as a tuna. The diver's position is measured by attaching a depth thermometer to a diver's diving equipment. It is possible to prevent a diver's accident. Ecology can be investigated by attaching a depth thermometer to a large fish.

"Deep water thermometer"
FIG. 2 shows the outer shape of the water depth thermometer 5. As an example, a circuit part mounted on a printed circuit board in a cylindrical resin case 11 having a diameter of about 20 mm and a length of about 160 mm, a primary battery as a power source, for example, a lithium ion primary battery, is housed. The inside is filled with an epoxy resin. A temperature sensor 12, a pressure sensor 13 as a depth sensor, and an ultrasonic generator 14 for emitting ultrasonic waves into water protrude from one end of the case 11. The temperature sensor 12 uses a thermistor sensor, for example, and is installed in a mesh-like case. The pressure sensor 13 uses, for example, a semiconductor sensor. A rope (not shown) is tied to a part of the case 11 for use. However, the ropes and cables of other devices can be used by attaching to other devices. A large capacity capacitor may be used instead of the primary battery.

  FIG. 3 shows an electrical configuration of the water depth thermometer 5. Detection signals from the temperature sensor 12 and the pressure sensor 13 are supplied to the sensor signal amplification circuit 21 and amplified. The signal amplified by the sensor signal amplification circuit 21 is supplied to the AD conversion circuit 22 and converted into digital data having a predetermined number of bits. Output data of the AD conversion circuit 22 is supplied to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 23. The water temperature and the water depth are measured intermittently at predetermined time intervals.

  The CPU 23 controls each part of the water depth thermometer 5. Water depth data and water temperature data are supplied from the CPU 23 to the data memory 24 and the transmission signal forming unit 25. The data memory 24 has a nonvolatile memory configuration and stores measurement data (water depth data and water temperature data). The transmission signal forming unit 25 converts the measurement data into a transmission signal and supplies the transmission signal to the ultrasonic transmission circuit 26.

  The ultrasonic transmission circuit 26 generates a drive signal for the ultrasonic generator 14. For example, a drive signal having a voltage corresponding to the transmission signal is formed. The ultrasonic generator 14 is a laminate of piezoelectric elements, and generates an ultrasonic wave by applying an alternating voltage (drive signal) to the piezoelectric elements. The generated ultrasonic waves are emitted into the sea. Strong ultrasonic vibration can be generated by applying a drive signal having a resonance frequency of the piezoelectric element. For example, a drive signal having a fundamental frequency of 31 kHz is used. Note that a transmission signal modulated (spread spectrum) by a pseudo noise signal may be used.

  Furthermore, the power supply circuit 27 includes, for example, a lithium ion primary battery, and the power supply voltage from the power supply circuit 27 is supplied to the transmission signal forming unit 25 and to the other power supply circuit 28. The other power supply circuit 28 has a function of switching the power supply between the measurement state and the state where the depth water temperature gauge 5 is attached to the reader. In the measurement state, the power supply voltage from the power supply circuit 27 is supplied to the sensor signal amplifier circuit 21, the AD conversion circuit 22, the CPU 23 and the data memory 24.

  When the depth water thermometer 5 is attached to the reader, the CPU 23 of the depth water thermometer 5 communicates with the CPU of the reader, and the reader sucks up the observation data stored in the data memory 24. In this state, in order to prevent the battery of the depth water thermometer 5 from being consumed, a power source generated from the power carrier of the coupling coil 29 is used. Further, a communication carrier is supplied to the depth water thermometer 5 through the coupling coil 29. The communication carrier is supplied to the modulation / demodulation circuit 31 via the signal branch circuit 30, and the observation data read from the data memory 24 under the control of the CPU 23 is transmitted to the reader side. In addition, it is possible to receive data from the water depth thermometer 5 not only by the reader but also by a small wave receiving device.

`` Transmission signal forming part ''
An example of the transmission signal forming unit 25 will be described with reference to FIG. The transmission signal generator 35 generates a fundamental signal that is a sine wave of the fundamental frequency. A predetermined number of wave blocks (bursts) of the basic signal are output from the transmission signal generator 35 at regular time intervals and supplied to the phase controller 36.

  An identification signal (hereinafter appropriately referred to as an ID signal) is supplied to the phase controller 36. The ID signal is a code having a predetermined number of bits for individually distinguishing the water depth thermometer 5. For example, a 32-bit ID signal is used. Further, for example, a gold series is used as the ID signal. Even when a plurality of water depth thermometers 5 are used by the ID signal, each water depth thermometer can be distinguished.

  The phase controller 36 switches the phase of the basic signal in accordance with “0” and “1” of one bit of the code. For example, in the case of “0”, the phase is a positive phase, and in the case of “1”, the phase is an inverted phase. The phase control is performed for each of a plurality of consecutive (n) waves, and a predetermined number of waves (n × 32) of the basic signal correspond to the 32-bit ID signal. Furthermore, three ID signals are generated at regular intervals. Further, a set of three ID signals occurs at the observation time interval or at a shorter time interval.

  The output signal of the phase controller 36 is supplied to the interval modulator 38. Water temperature data and water depth data are supplied to the interval modulator 38 as observation data. Among the three ID signals, the time interval between the first ID signal and the second ID signal is modulated by, for example, water temperature data, and the time interval between the second ID signal and the third ID signal is For example, it is modulated by water depth data. A modulation identification signal of the interval modulator 38 is supplied to the ultrasonic transmission circuit 26, and an ultrasonic signal is emitted by the ultrasonic generator 14.

  An example of the transmission signal formed by the transmission signal forming unit 25 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5A, the first time interval T1 between the ID signal Sa1 and the ID signal Sa2 is a value corresponding to the water temperature data, and the second time interval T2 between the ID signal Sa2 and the ID signal Sa3 corresponds to the water depth data. Value. When these data have different values, the time intervals are set to T3 and T4 as shown in FIG. 5B. Furthermore, when the water depth thermometer is different, as shown in FIG. 5C, the ID signal is Sb1, Sb2, Sb3, the time interval T5 is a value corresponding to the water temperature data, and the time interval T6 is corresponding to the water depth data. Value.

  As can be seen from FIG. 5, the ID signal is intermittently transmitted as an ultrasonic wave and the observation data is transmitted at intervals of the ID signal, so that the power required for transmission is less than that in the continuous communication method. It is possible to suppress the consumption of the power source such as the primary battery. Furthermore, since an ID signal can be sent, there is an advantage that the water depth thermometer can be identified even when a plurality of water depth thermometers are used.

"Wave receiver"
A wave receiving device that receives an ultrasonic signal from the depth water thermometer 5 will be described with reference to FIG. A received signal from a receiver 41 such as an underwater microphone is supplied to a band pass filter 42, and a component in a necessary band is separated. The output signal of the bandpass filter 42 is supplied to the ID detection unit 43, and the ID signal is detected.

  The ID signal separated by the ID detection unit 43 is supplied to the data determination unit 44. As described above, the data discriminating unit 44 examines the time interval of the ID signal and discriminates the water temperature data and the water depth data. The obtained water temperature data and water depth data are supplied to the data processing unit 45. The data processing unit 45 stores water temperature data and water depth data in the memory 46. Further, the data processing unit 45 performs control to display a graph, a chart, and the like indicating the relationship between the water depth and the water temperature on the display unit 47. The data determination unit 44 and the data processing unit 45 are configured as a microcomputer including a CPU.

  In addition, you may make it provide the coupling coil and communication part for performing transmission / reception of data with the water depth thermometer 5 mentioned above. Furthermore, the wave receiving device preferably has a configuration of a small portable terminal such as a smart phone or a tablet.

<2. Modification>
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications based on the technical idea of the present invention are possible. For example, the configurations, methods, processes, shapes, materials, numerical values, and the like given in the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and different configurations, methods, processes, shapes, materials, numerical values, and the like are used as necessary. Also good.

5 Depth thermometer 12 Temperature sensor 13 Pressure sensor 14 Ultrasonic generator 23 CPU
25 Transmission signal generator 27 Power supply circuit 35 Transmission signal generator 36 Phase controller 37 ID generator

Claims (4)

A water temperature sensor and a water depth sensor,
A transmission signal generator; and
An identification signal generator that modulates a fundamental wave from the transmission signal generator to form an identification signal, and outputs the identification signal at regular time intervals;
An interval modulation unit that modulates a time interval of the identification signal according to water temperature data from the water temperature sensor and water depth data from the water depth sensor;
A water temperature and water depth measurement device comprising: a transmitter that generates an ultrasonic wave corresponding to a modulation identification signal from the interval modulation unit. A water temperature sensor and a water depth sensor,
A transmission signal generator; and
An identification signal generator that modulates a fundamental wave from the transmission signal generator to form an identification signal, and outputs the identification signal at regular time intervals;
An interval modulation unit that modulates a time interval of the identification signal according to water temperature data from the water temperature sensor and water depth data from the water depth sensor;
A transmitter comprising: a transmitter that transmits an ultrasonic wave corresponding to a modulation identification signal from the interval modulator; and
A receiver for receiving ultrasonic waves;
An identification signal detector for detecting the identification signal from the ultrasonic wave received by the receiver;
A data discriminator for discriminating the water depth data and the water temperature data from the time interval of the identification signal detected by the identification signal detector;
A water temperature and water depth measuring device comprising: a wave receiving device comprising: a data processing unit that processes data discriminated by the data discriminating unit. Sequentially generating first, second and third identification signals;
A first time interval between the first and second identification signals and a second time interval between the second and third identification signals are modulated according to the values of the water temperature data and the water depth data, respectively. The water temperature and water depth measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the water temperature and water depth are measured.   A measuring device to which the water temperature and water depth measuring device according to claim 1 is attached to a main device which is submerged in a sea from a ship via a rope.

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