JP2510728Y2 - Lightwave distance measurement system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of use] The present invention relates to a lightwave distance measuring system for irradiating a measured object with light and receiving the reflected light to remotely measure the distance to the measured object.

[Outline of device]

The present invention provides a lightwave distance measuring system including a lightwave distance meter main body for measuring a distance to an object to be measured and a transmission line for remotely transmitting an output signal from the lightwave distance meter main body. Driven light emitting means,
By providing each of the light receiving means for receiving the optical signal from the light emitting means and the information transmitting means driven by the signal from the light receiving means, when the lightwave distance measuring system has a trouble, It is possible to know whether the rangefinder main body has a failure or the transmission line has a failure.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, a lightwave distance measuring device that irradiates light onto an object such as metal, glass, brick, powder, paper, wood, and liquid, and receives the reflected light to measure the distance to the measurement object Due to remarkable progress, it has become widespread among electromagnetic rangefinders.

Many of these lightwave rangefinders measure the distance using a laser beam for long distances and a near infrared ray for medium and short distances.

Such a light-wave rangefinder, for example, as described in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 58-164312 by the inventor of the present application, modulates light and irradiates the measured object with the reflected light. The light is received and the distance to the object to be measured is measured by the phase difference.

An output signal from such an optical distance meter is remotely transmitted to a data processing device at a predetermined place through a transmission line. In addition, the main body of the optical distance meter is remotely operated as needed.

The light wave distance measuring system as described above is widely applied to a snow gauge for roads, a liquid level gauge for tanks, an accuracy measuring instrument for structures, a detector for preventing collisions on ships and the like.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

However, due to the nature of the measurement system, the body of an optical distance meter as described above is often installed in a high place where it is difficult to access the main body of the distance meter, so the distance measuring system causes trouble. If it occurs, it is not possible to determine whether a failure has occurred in the main body of the optical distance meter or a failure in the transmission line or the like, and there is a problem that proper maintenance cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lightwave distance measuring system capable of determining whether the lightwave distance meter main body or the transmission line is broken.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention comprises lightwave rangefinder main bodies 37, 37a for irradiating the measured object 50 with light and receiving the reflected light to measure the distance to the measured object 50. In the lightwave distance measuring system configured to remotely transmit the output signal a from the lightwave distance measuring device 37, 37, 37a, the light emitting means 10, 23, 25, 31 driven by the output signal a from the lightwave distance meter main body 37, 37a. , 33 and the light emitting means 10, 23,
Light receiving means 12, 26 for receiving the optical signal b from 25, 31, 33,
35, and information transmitting means such as display means 15, 34 and sound generating means 16 driven by signals from the light receiving means 12, 26, 35, respectively.

[Action]

The light emitting means 10, 23, 25, 31, 33 emit an optical signal b according to the output signal a from the lightwave rangefinder main body 37, 37a, and the light receiving means 12, 26, 35 emit the optical signal b. The light can be received at a position distant from the means 10, 23, 25, 31, 33 and the information transmission means 15, 34, 16 are driven by the signals from the light receiving means 12, 26, 35. Therefore, while the signal a relating to the measurement distance is output from the lightwave distance meter main bodies 37, 37a, that is, while the lightwave distance meter main bodies 37, 37a are normally operating, the information corresponding to the normal operation is obtained. Since the transmission means 15, 34, 16 are driven, it is possible to immediately know from the information transmission means 15, 34, 16 whether or not the lightwave rangefinder main bodies 37, 37a are normal. Even if the lightwave distance measuring system has trouble, the lightwave distance measuring device 37, 37
When a is normal, it can be determined that a failure has occurred in the transmission line 41.

〔Example〕

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a lightwave distance measuring system for a snow meter according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lightwave rangefinder main body shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the light receiving device shown in FIG.

The lightwave distance measuring system shown in FIG. 1 includes a lightwave distance meter main body 37 and a light receiving device 38 and a transmission line 41, respectively.

The lightwave rangefinder main body 37 is provided with a lightwave rangefinder unit 1, a modulator 8, a buffer 11, a light emitting element 10 and a transmission terminal 9 of RS-232C specification or RS-422 specification for transmitting signals to a transmission line, respectively. .

The light wave distance measuring unit 1 transmits pulsed light from a light emitting element 2 driven by a light emitting element driving unit 3 via a light transmitting lens 4 to a road surface.
It irradiates the snow surface 50 on 49, the reflected light from the snow surface 50 is condensed by the light receiving lens 5 and detected by the light receiving element 6, and this electrical detection signal is sent to the measuring unit 17 via the amplifier 7. The measuring unit 17 obtains a signal regarding the distance to the snow surface 50 based on the phase difference between the transmitted light pulse light and the received light pulse light.

In the modulator 8, the signal from the lightwave distance measuring unit 1 is
An electrical digital signal a related to the measurement distance is output after being modulated by the FM system with a 15 MHz carrier.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the lightwave rangefinder main body 37, the digital signal a relating to the measured distance from the modulator 8 is sent to the transmission terminal 9 and drives the light emitting element 10 via the buffer 11.

The digital signal a is remotely transmitted from the transmission terminal 9 to the data processing device 42 via the transmission line 41. The processing result of the data processing device 42 is displayed on the display 43.

The light emitting element 10 emits an optical signal b corresponding to the digital signal a relating to the measurement distance.

The light receiving device 38 can receive the optical signal b at a distant position, and as shown in FIG. 3, the light receiving element 12 supported by the light receiving element support portion 18 receives the optical signal b, and the received light signal is As shown in FIG. 1, demodulator 14 after being amplified by amplifier 13
The display 15 is demodulated by
The sound generation means 16 such as a speaker emits a sound indicating a normal state while displaying the information about the distance to.

According to the lightwave distance measuring system for a snow cover of the present embodiment configured as described above, when a trouble occurs in any of the measuring system, in the light receiving device 38 located away from the lightwave distance meter main body 37 By seeing that the display 15 is displaying a predetermined display, or by hearing the sound that informs the normal state from the sound generating means 16, it is possible to confirm that the lightwave rangefinder main body 37 is operating normally,
The trouble can be easily determined to be in the transmission line after the transmission terminal 9.

In addition, when the display 15 does not display a predetermined display and there is no sound from the sound generating means 16 to inform the normal state (conversely, a sound to inform the abnormal state may be emitted), the lightwave distance meter main body 37 is out of order. You can judge that you are doing.

Further, the light emitting element 10 can also be used as an operation indicator provided in the lightwave distance meter main body 37. However, the light emitting element 10
In the case where the colored light from (1) is not desirable because it adversely affects the other, the light emitting element 10 is preferably one that emits infrared light.

Further, the display 15 may be configured to display "no abnormality" or the like when the light receiving element 12 receives the optical signal b, or may be any other display. The sound generating means 16 can be configured to emit a simple buzzer sound or an appropriate artificial voice.

Further, the input of the display 43 and the input of the display 15 may be compared to detect whether or not the lightwave distance measuring system is in trouble, and the sound generation means 16 may be operated by this detection output.

FIG. 4 is a light receiving element of the main body 37 of the optical distance meter shown in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the light receiving device that receives the optical signal b from 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the light receiving device 38a is configured as a binocular type having a telephoto lens including a pair of objective lenses 19 and a pair of viewing windows 21. The light receiving device 38a includes a light receiving element, an amplifier, which is similar to the light receiving device 38 shown in FIG.
A demodulator and a display are built inside.

By pointing the light receiving device 38a of the binocular type toward the light emitting element 10 of the main body 37 of the optical distance meter shown in FIG. 2, the optical signal b is received by the light receiving element via the objective lens 19 and the like. Then, when the inside of the light receiving device 38a is viewed through the observation window 21, the information about the measurement distance to the snowfall surface 50 and the like can be visually confirmed on the built-in display in the form of letters, numbers and the like. According to such a binocular type light receiving device 38a,
Since it has a telephoto lens consisting of the objective lens 19 etc.,
It is possible to confirm the normal operation of the lightwave distance meter main body 37 from a place relatively far from the lightwave distance meter main body 37. Further, even when the lightwave distance measuring system has a trouble, it is possible to know the target of the failure similarly to the case of the light receiving device shown in FIG.

The light receiving device 38a may also be provided with the same sound generating means 16 as in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the sound generating means 16 may generate a predetermined sound.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of the light receiving device of the snow wave distance measuring system for the purpose of maintenance.

The light receiving device 38b shown in FIG. 5 is arranged such that the light receiving element 26 of the light receiving probe 27 is brought close to the light emitting element 10 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. An optical signal b is received by 26 and transmitted via a cable 28 to a demodulator 29 and a display 30 which are spaced apart. At a position relatively distant from the light receiving probe 27, by visually observing the signal related to the measured distance demodulated by the demodulator 29 as information such as characters, numbers and graphs on the display 30, the main body of the optical distance meter operates normally. You can know whether or not.

Since the light receiving device 38b of this embodiment is provided with the cable 28, the transmission of the optical signal b is not interrupted by obstacles such as trees and mountains in the middle, and the light receiving device 38b is located at a relatively distant place (for example, the data processing device 42 in FIG. (Although it may be the location where is installed) it can be constantly monitored for maintenance.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the light emitting means.

In the main body of the optical distance meter of the optical distance measuring system of this embodiment, the display element 23 for digital display, which is composed of a light emitting diode, is used. Then, by supplying a digital signal a similar to that in the lightwave distance meter main body 37 shown in FIG. 1 to the digit drive circuit 22 to drive a plurality of digit display elements 23, the measured distance is displayed and Light emitted from the digit display element 23 is used as an optical signal from the main body of the lightwave distance meter.

Further, in this embodiment, the optical signal from the main body of the optical distance meter can be output from either or both of the display element 23 and the light emitting element 25. Therefore, when the optical signal is output from the display element 23, the light emitting element 25 can be omitted. Incidentally, 24 is a power source of the display element 23.

The light receiving device for receiving an optical signal in this embodiment is the light receiving device 38, 38a, 38b shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 or FIG.
Can be used.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a main part of another embodiment of the lightwave distance measuring system according to the present invention.

In the measurement system shown in FIG. 7, the lightwave rangefinder main body 37a
A plurality of display elements 31a to 31d and a light emitting element 33 similar to those shown in FIG.

Further, the light receiving device 38c includes a light receiving element 35 that receives the optical signal b from the display elements 31a to 31d and / or the light emitting element 33, and may have the same configuration as that in FIG. The display device 34 capable of displaying

In such a measurement system, the display elements 31a to 31d of the main body of the lightwave distance meter correspond to the measurement distance up to the snow surface 50.
Displays the measured distance. The optical signal b from the display elements 31a to 31d is received by the light receiving element 35 of the light receiving device 38c, and the measurement distance is displayed on the large display device 34. Therefore,
By visually observing the display on the large-sized display device 34, it is possible to know whether or not the main body of the optical distance meter is operating normally.

When the display elements 31a to 31d are composed of light emitting diodes, they can also serve the function of emitting the optical signal b. When the display elements 31a to 31d are liquid crystal displays, for example, the light emitting element 33 can be used.

The light emitting element 33 can also serve as an operation indicator, but may be provided as a dedicated light emitting element for emitting the optical signal b. The number of such light emitting elements is not limited to one, but may be provided in a required number and in a required number.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, by performing optical transmission at a place relatively close to the main body of the optical distance meter and visually observing the large display device 34, the optical distance meter can be installed without laying a cable or the like. You can effectively know the normal or abnormal operation of the main unit from a distance at a glance.

[Effect of device]

The lightwave distance measuring system according to the present invention separates the light emitting means driven by the output signal from the lightwave distance meter main body from the ordinary transmission line for signal transmission of the measurement distance and the light signal from the light emitting means. Since it is equipped with light receiving means that can receive light at different positions and information transmitting means that is driven by signals from this light receiving means, if a problem occurs with this measurement system, information is sent at a position distant from the main body of the optical rangefinder. It is possible to easily detect whether or not the lightwave rangefinder main body is normal by the transmitting means. Therefore, if the lightwave rangefinder main body is normal, it can be determined that the transmission line is in trouble, and if the lightwave rangefinder main body is abnormal, it can be determined that the transmission line is normal.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment according to the present invention.
The figure shows the block diagram of the lightwave distance measuring system for snow cover, 2nd.
1 is a perspective view of the main body of the optical distance meter in the measuring system shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a light receiving device in the measuring system shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the light receiving device. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of the light receiving device, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the light emitting means, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the lightwave distance measuring system. It is a perspective view which shows a part. In the reference numerals used in the drawings, 10,25,33 ... light emitting element (light emitting means) 23,31a to 31d ... display element (light emitting means) 12,26,35 ... light receiving element (light receiving means) 15,30 …… Display (information transmission means) 16 …… Sound generation means (information transmission means) 34 …… Large-scale display device (information transmission means) 37,37a …… Lightwave rangefinder main body 41 …… Transmission line.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A lightwave rangefinder main body for irradiating a measured object with light and receiving the reflected light to measure the distance to the measured object. An output signal from this lightwave rangefinder main body is transmitted through a transmission line. In a lightwave distance measuring system configured to be remotely transmitted through, a light emitting unit driven by the output signal from the lightwave distance meter main body, a light receiving unit for receiving an optical signal from the light emitting unit, and a light receiving unit And an information transmitting unit driven by the signal of 1.