JP3100335B2 - Sensor signal processing module - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention digitizes measurement signals output from vibration sensors, temperature sensors, and the like provided in large-scale civil engineering work sites, large structures such as bridges, automobiles, and the like. The present invention relates to a sensor signal processing module to be passed to a data processing device such as

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In large-scale civil engineering work sites, large structures such as bridges, quality control, construction control, etc.
Various sensors have been buried and used in large quantities and on a large scale. In recent years, as seen in the United States, etc., the progress of measurement software used in personal computer devices has been remarkable, so that measurement results obtained with various sensors will be processed using personal computer devices. I think that the.

[0003]

However, at present, various measurement results measured by various sensors provided in such a civil engineering work site are efficiently transmitted to a data processing device arranged in a monitoring room or the like. No LAN or the like for transmission is provided. For this reason, carry a data logger, etc., go near various sensors, convert the measurement signals obtained by the various sensors into digital signals, and then take the data logger to a monitoring room, and go to this monitoring room, etc. The measurement result must be passed to the data processing device by the method of passing the measurement result to the arranged data processing device, and there is a problem that it takes too much time to collect the measurement result.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. According to the present invention, measurement results output from various sensors installed at each observation point are digitized and distributed at each observation point side. After that, the signal of RS485 format, RS4
Type signal 22, among such as an RS232C format signals, identification
The signal can be converted into a signal of the specified signal format via another pin, etc., and transmitted to a personal computer or the like through one type of common connector. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sensor signal processing module that can process a measurement signal in real time. Claim 2
Then, the type of the signal transmitted from the personal computer device is determined, and based on the determination result, the measurement result output from each sensor is converted into any one of the signal of the RS485 format, the signal of the RS422 format, and the signal of the RS232C format. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sensor signal processing module that can connect a sensor and a personal computer with one type of module regardless of the signal format of the personal computer. In addition,
In claim 3, by providing a plurality of common connectors,
Modules according to the invention can be daisy-chained together
Can be connected in a formula, thereby increasing the freedom of use.
To provide a sensor signal processing module
It is intended to be.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention is arranged near a sensor provided for each observation point, and processes a signal output from this sensor. and, the or working to accumulate or timing,
In a sensor signal processing module that converts the signal into a signal of a designated format and transmits the signal, a signal conversion unit that captures a signal output from the sensor and converts the signal into a digital signal of a designated signal format among various digital signals. And a connector for connecting the signal converter to an external device.
Is compatible with multiple digital signal transmission cable formats.
It has a preset pin arrangement that can respond and
Multiple identification pins to identify the type of transmission cable
And a common connector including
The digital signal output from the signal conversion unit
It is characterized in that it is configured to transmit to an external device . According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the sensor signal processing module according to the first aspect, the signal conversion unit converts a signal content of an identification pin provided in the common connector or a pin for various signals provided in the common connector. A signal format is determined based on a signal supplied via the sensor, and a signal output from the sensor is converted into a signal of a designated signal format among various digital signal formats. Further, in claim 3, the sensor according to claim 1 or 2 is provided.
In the signal processing module, the common connector
A plurality of such sensor signal processing modules
It can be connected in a daisy chain format.
are doing.

According to the above-mentioned structure, according to the first aspect, a signal arranged from a sensor provided at each observation point is processed, accumulated, or timed as it is, and the signal output from the sensor is processed as it is. In a sensor signal processing module for converting to a signal of a designated format and transmitting the signal, a signal converter takes in a signal output from the sensor and converts it into a digital signal of a designated signal format among various digital signals. And a connector for connecting the signal conversion unit to an external device.
Digital signal transmission cable format.
A transmission cable with a defined pinout and connected
By transmitting a digital signal output from the signal conversion unit to the external device by one or more common connectors including a plurality of identification pins for identifying the type of the After the measurement results output from the sensors are digitized and dispersedly stored at each observation point, a signal in the RS485 format, a signal in the RS422 format,
Among the S232C format signals and the like, the signals are converted into signals of a designated signal format and transmitted to a personal computer device or the like by a common connector , thereby greatly improving the collection efficiency of the measurement signals and allowing the measurement signals to be converted in almost real time. Perform processing. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the sensor signal processing module according to the first aspect, the signal is supplied via a signal content of an identification pin provided on the common connector or via various signal pins provided on the common connector. Based on the signal, the signal conversion unit determines the signal format, and converts the signal output from the sensor into a signal of a designated signal format among various digital signal formats, thereby transmitting the signal from the personal computer device. The type of signal that is output from the various sensors is converted into one of the RS485 format signal, the RS422 format signal, and the RS232C format signal based on the result of the determination. Regardless of the format, the sensor and the personal computer are connected by one type of module. Further, in claim 3, claim 1 or 2
In the sensor signal processing module described in the above,
By providing a plurality of connectors, a plurality of connectors according to the present invention are provided.
Daisy chain sensor signal processing modules to each other
And connectable in a form, to improve the flexibility of the use forms state.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. <Structure of Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a sensor signal processing module according to the present invention. The sensor signal processing module 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an amplifier circuit 3 for amplifying a measurement signal output from a sensor 2 for measuring vibration, temperature, and the like of an observation point, and an output from the amplifier circuit 3 at a specified sampling period. The A / D conversion circuit 4 which samples the measurement signal to be subjected to A / D conversion, and the A / D conversion circuit with a sampling period based on operation setting conditions specified by the personal computer device 25 (see FIG. 4). 4, a process of taking in and storing measurement data output from the A / D conversion circuit 4, a process of analyzing a command transmitted from the personal computer device 25, a transmission instruction signal from the personal computer device 25 side. Is output, the stored measurement data is converted into a signal format specified by the operation setting condition, for example, a signal of RS485 format, RS42.
It includes a CPU circuit 5 that performs a process of converting a signal of a specified signal format out of two types of signals and an RS232C format signal, a process of transmitting a signal obtained by this process, and the like.

Further, the sensor signal processing module 1 includes:
A ROM circuit 6 in which a program for defining the operation of the CPU circuit 5 and various constant data are stored;
RAM circuit 7 used as a work area or measurement data storage area of PU circuit 5, transmission cable 9 of RS485 format (see FIGS. 4 to 6), transmission cable 8 of RS422 format (see FIG. 7), RS232C format And two common connectors 11 to which any one of the transmission cables 10 (see FIG. 8) is connected, and an RS485-type transmission cable 9, an RS422-type transmission cable 8, and an RS232C-type transmission cable 10
Is connected, the signal supplied through the transmission cable is fetched and the CPU circuit 5
And a signal output from the CPU circuit 5, for example, an RS485-format signal, RS4
22 signal, RS232C signal,
It has a transmitter circuit 13 that sends out the signal to a transmission cable connected to the common connector 11 and supplies it to a personal computer device 25 connected to the transmission cable. And a power supply circuit 14 for supplying power to the power supply.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the common connectors 11 has a plurality of pins 30 necessary for transmitting and receiving signals of RS485 format and a plurality of pins 31 required for transmitting and receiving signals of RS422 format. And a plurality of pins 32 necessary for transmitting and receiving an RS232C format signal, and a plurality of identification pins 33 necessary for identifying the type of the connected transmission cable. The common connector 17 (FIG. 4)
To FIG. 6), a common connector 18 (see FIG. 7) provided at one end of the RS422 type transmission cable 8, and RS2.
When any one of the common connectors 19 (see FIG. 8) provided at one end of the 32C type transmission cable 10 is connected to the common connector 11, the identification pin 33 identifies which transmission cable is connected. . The connector 3 provided at the other end of the transmission cables 8 to 10
6, 38, 41 (see FIGS. 4 to 8), the personal computer 25 is connected to the personal computer 25.
When the command for changing the operation setting condition is output from the CPU, the operation setting condition is updated based on the command, and thereafter, the signal is output from the sensor 2 every time the sampling timing specified by the operation setting condition arrives. When a transmission instruction signal is output from the personal computer device 25 while the measurement signal is A / D converted and stored, the stored measurement data is read out, and the measurement data is read out according to the type of the transmission cable. Data is RS485 format signal, R
After the signal is converted into one of the S422 format signal and the RS232C format signal, the signal is transmitted to the personal computer 25 via a transmission cable.

<Description of Operation of Embodiment> Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 1 and the front view shown in FIG. << Connection between Sensor 2 and Sensor Signal Processing Module 1 >> First, when this sensor signal processing module 1 is used, as shown in FIG. After being transported to the vicinity and installed, the terminal 16 of the output line from the sensor 2 is connected to the input terminal 15 of the sensor signal processing module 1 as shown in FIG. << When the personal computer 25 has an RS485 communication board >> Also, in parallel with this operation, when the personal computer 25 has an RS485 communication board, either of the following two methods will be used. , The sensor signal processing module 1 and the personal computer device 25 are connected. The first connection method is as shown in FIGS.
In this method, a plurality of sensor signal processing modules 1 and one personal computer device 25 are connected collectively. In this method, a plurality of RS485-format transmission cables 3 are prepared.
5, the plurality of sensor signal processing modules 1 are connected in a daisy chain format, and one of the common connectors 11 of the sensor signal processing modules 1 at the uppermost end (the upper end in FIGS. 4 and 5) is connected to the RS485 format. The common connector 17 of the transmission cable 9 is connected, and the RS485-type connector 36 provided at the other end of the transmission cable 9 is connected to the connector 37 of the RS485-type communication board 34 built in the personal computer 25.

In this case, the sensor signal processing module 1 at the lowermost position (the lowermost position in FIGS. 4 and 5)
A terminator (not shown) is connected to the open common connector 11 as necessary. The second connection method is a method of connecting one sensor signal processing module 1 and one personal computer device 25 one to one as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Then
The common connector 11 of the sensor signal processing module 1
The common connector 17 of the S485-type transmission cable 9 is connected, and the RS4 provided at the other end of the transmission cable 9
The 85 type connector 37 is connected to the connector 37 of the RS485 type communication board 34 built in the personal computer device 25. According to these connection methods, when the connection between the sensor signal processing module 1 and the personal computer device 25 is completed, the connection contents of the identification pins 33 provided on the common connector 11 are identified by the CPU circuit 5 of each sensor signal processing module 1. Then, it is determined that the RS485 transmission cable 9 is connected to the common connector 11.

<< When the personal computer 25 has an RS422 type communication board >> When the personal computer 25 has an RS422 type communication board,
As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a common connector 18 provided on an RS422 type transmission cable 8 is connected to a common connector 11 of one sensor signal processing module 1, and the other end of the transmission cable 8 is provided. RS42 provided in
The two-type connector 38 is connected to the connector 39 of the RS422-type communication board 40 built in the personal computer 25. At this time, the CP of the sensor signal processing module 1
The connection contents of the identification pins 33 provided on the common connector 11 are identified by the U circuit 5, and the R
It is determined that the transmission cable 8 of the S422 format is connected.

<< When the personal computer 25 has only the RS232C connector >>
When neither the communication board 34 of the 485 format nor the communication board 40 of the RS422 format is incorporated, FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), a common connector 19 provided on a transmission cable 10 of the RS232C format is connected to a common connector 11 of one sensor signal processing module 1 and provided on the other end of the transmission cable 10. RS2
A 32C type connector 41 is connected to an RS232C type connector 42 generally provided in the personal computer device 25. At this time, C of the sensor signal processing module 1
The connection content of the identification pins 33 provided on the common connector is identified by the PU circuit 5, and it is determined that the RS232C transmission cable 10 is connected to the common connector 11.

<< Operation setting condition, communication operation >> Thereafter, one of the transmission cables 8, 9, 10 such as RS48
If a command indicating a change in the operation setting condition is output from the personal computer 25 while the connector 36 provided at the other end of the five-type transmission cable 9 is connected to the connector 37 on the personal computer 25, Based on this command, the operation setting conditions stored in the RAM circuit 7 are updated by the CPU circuit 5. Further, when the signal format is forcibly set, the signal format that is forcibly set is stored even if the signal format is different from the type of the transmission cable 9 connected to the common connector 11. Next, each time the sampling timing set by the latest operation setting condition transmitted from the personal computer device 25 is reached, the power supply circuit 14 is activated by the CPU circuit 5 to supply power to each module. With the specified contents, the measurement signal obtained by the sensor 2 is sampled, and measurement data is generated.
It is stored in the M circuit 7.

Thereafter, when this sampling operation is completed, the power supply circuit 14 is stopped by the CPU circuit 5, the power supply to each part of the module is shut down, and unnecessary power consumption is prevented. Further, in this state, if a command is supplied via the transmission cable 8, the CPU circuit 5 generates an RA based on the command.
The operation setting condition stored in the M circuit 7 is changed, and the measurement operation, the sampling operation, and the storage operation are continued under the changed operation setting condition. When the transmission instruction signal is supplied via the transmission cable 8, the CP
The measurement data stored in the RAM circuit 7 is converted by the U circuit 5 into a signal of the type of the transmission cable or the signal format specified by the personal computer 25, and is sent out onto the transmission cable 9 to be transmitted to the personal computer 25. And is processed by commercially available DB software and display software.

<Effects of Embodiment> As described above, in this embodiment, the transmission cable 9 of the RS485 format, the RS42
When one end of the transmission cable 8 of two types and the transmission cable 10 of RS232C type is connected to the common connector 11 and the other end of the transmission cable is connected to the personal computer 25, a command is sent from the personal computer 25. When output, the operation setting condition is updated based on this command, and thereafter, every time the sampling timing specified by the operation setting condition arrives, the measurement signal output from the sensor 2 is A / D converted. , While remembering this,
When the transmission instruction signal is output from the personal computer device 25, the stored measurement data is read out, and the measurement data is converted into an RS485 format signal or an RS422 format signal according to the format of the transmission cable and the settings of the personal computer device 25. Or an RS232C format signal, which is transmitted to the personal computer 25 via a transmission cable, so that the following effects can be obtained.

First, the sensor 2 can be connected to the sensor signal processing module 1 without using a special tool or the like, thereby facilitating construction and measuring each sensor 2 separately. Data can be saved by dispersing operations. Also, since all the measurement conditions including the format of the output signal can be set on the personal computer device 25 side, parameter setting work on the site side is unnecessary, so that even those who do not have special expertise can do so. , The sensor signal processing module 1 can be easily installed. The transmission cable 9 of the RS485 format, the transmission cable 8 of the RS422 format,
Whichever of the 232C transmission cables 10 is used, this can be automatically dealt with by the common connector 11, so that the format of the signal transmitted and received on the personal computer device 25 side is RS485 format, RS422 format. , RS232C format, the sensor 2 and the personal computer 25 can be connected by one type of sensor signal processing module 1.

<Other Embodiments> In the above-described embodiment, when the communication board 34 of the RS485 format is built in the personal computer 25, the transmission cable 9 as shown in FIGS. The RS485 type connector 36 provided at one end is connected to the RS48
Although the connector 37 is directly connected to the connector 37 of the 5-type communication board 34, the sensor signal processing module 1 and the personal computer 25 are connected to the RS48 in a state where the RS485-format communication board 34 is not built in the personal computer 25.
When connection is made by using signals of five formats, a transmission cable 46 provided with an RS485-type converter 45 in the middle of the cable as shown in FIG. 9 is used, and an RS232C-type connector 41 provided at the other end of the transmission cable 46 is connected. You may make it connect to the connector 42 of the RS232C format provided in the personal computer device 25. By doing so, even when the RS485 communication board 34 is not provided on the personal computer 25 side, the sensor signal processing module 1 and the personal computer 25 can be connected by the RS485 signal.

Similarly, in the embodiment described above, when the communication board 40 of the RS422 format is built in the personal computer device 25, the connector 38 of the RS422 format provided at one end of the transmission cable 8 as shown in FIG. Although a direct connection is made to the connector 39 provided on the RS422 type communication board 40 built in the personal computer device 25, the sensor signal is output in a state where the RS422 type communication board 40 is not built in the personal computer device 25. When the processing module 1 and the personal computer 25 are connected by RS422 format signals, as shown in FIG. The provided RS232C type connector 41 is connected to the personal computer device 25.
May be connected to the connector 42 of the RS232C type provided in the. In this way, even when the RS422 communication board 40 is not provided on the personal computer device 25 side, the sensor signal processing module 1
And the personal computer 25 can be connected by RS422 format signals. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the signal formats for connecting the sensor signal processing module 1 and the personal computer device 25 are RS485 format and RS422 format.
Format, or RS232C format, but basically, any format signal can be transmitted and received as long as it is a serial signal.
The sensor signal processing module 1 and the personal computer 25 may be connected via a network such as a serial signal or LAN of another type. Further, instead of such a serial signal, a parallel signal or the like may be used.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the first aspect, the measurement results output from various sensors disposed at each observation point are digitized and dispersedly stored at each observation point. After that, a signal of a designated signal format among signals of an RS485 format, a signal of an RS422 format, a signal of an RS232C format, and the like can be converted and transmitted to a personal computer device or the like by a common connector . As a result, the collection efficiency of the measurement signal can be greatly improved, and the measurement signal can be processed almost in real time. According to the second aspect, the type of the signal transmitted from the personal computer is determined, and based on the determination result, the measurement results output from the various sensors are converted to the RS485 signal, the RS4 signal.
It is possible to convert the sensor to the personal computer with one type of module regardless of the signal format of the personal computer, regardless of the signal format of the personal computer. Can be. Sa
Further, in claim 3, a plurality of the common connectors are provided.
This allows the modules according to the invention to be interconnected with one another.
Can be connected in the form of a chain
The degree of freedom of the form can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a sensor signal processing module according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a detailed configuration example of a common connector provided in the sensor signal processing module shown in FIG.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are block diagrams illustrating a connection example between the sensor signal processing module illustrated in FIG. 1 and a sensor;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a first connection example when connecting the sensor signal processing module shown in FIG. 1 and a personal computer with an RS485-type transmission cable.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a first connection example when connecting the sensor signal processing module shown in FIG. 1 and a personal computer with an RS485-type transmission cable.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are block diagrams showing a second connection example when the sensor signal processing module shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a personal computer with a RS485-type transmission cable.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are block diagrams showing connection examples when the sensor signal processing module shown in FIG. 1 and a personal computer are connected by an RS422 type transmission cable.

8 (a) and 8 (b) are block diagrams showing connection examples when connecting the sensor signal processing module shown in FIG. 1 to a personal computer with an RS232C transmission cable.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are block diagrams showing other connection examples when connecting the sensor signal processing module shown in FIG. 1 and a personal computer with an RS485-type transmission cable.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are block diagrams showing another connection example when connecting the sensor signal processing module shown in FIG. 1 and a personal computer with a RS422-type transmission cable.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sensor signal processing module, 2 ... Sensor, 3 ... Amplifier circuit, 4 ... A / D conversion circuit, 5 ... CPU circuit, 6 ... R
OM circuit, 7 RAM circuit, 8 RS422-format transmission cable, 9 RS485-format transmission cable, 10…
RS232C format transmission cable, 11 common connector, 12 receiver circuit, 13 transmitter circuit,
14 ... power supply circuit, 15 ... input terminal, 16 ... terminal, 17 ...
Common connector, 18 Common connector, 19 Common connector, 25 Personal computer device, 34 Communication board of RS485 format, 35 Communication cable of RS485 format, 36
Connector, 37 ... Connector, 38 ... Connector, 39 ... Connector, 40 ... RS422 format communication board, 41 ... Connector, 42 ... Connector, 45 ... RS485 format converter, 46 ... RS485 format transmission cable, 47 ...
RS422 converter, 48 ... RS422 transmission cable

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G08C 19/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sensor disposed near a sensor provided for each observation point, processes a signal output from the sensor, and stores the signal.
And the product, or in the sensor signal processing module to be transmitted into a format of the signal designated as the aim of timing, capture the signal output from the sensor, among the various digital signals, the specified signal format A signal converter for converting to a digital signal, and a connector for connecting the signal converter to an external device
A plurality of digital signal transmission cable formats
Has a preset pin arrangement that can correspond to
Multiple identifications to identify the type of transmission cable connected
And a common connector including another pin.
Digital signal output from the signal conversion unit through
Is transmitted to the external device . 2. The sensor signal processing module according to claim 1, wherein the signal conversion unit supplies the signal via a signal content of an identification pin provided on the common connector or a pin for various signals provided on the common connector. A sensor signal processing module that determines a signal format based on the received signal and converts a signal output from the sensor into a signal of a designated signal format among various digital signal formats. 3. The sensor signal processing according to claim 1 or 2.
In the module, A plurality of the common connectors;
Modules can be connected to each other in a daisy-chain fashion
Noh, A sensor signal processing module characterized by the above-mentioned.