JP6493424B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to management of various types of information unique to the electronic device.

  One type of electronic device is a field device configured to measure information such as a flow rate, temperature, and pressure of a measurement target in order to control a plant, for example. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a conventional field device. In FIG. 10, the detector 1 and the converter 2 are separated from each other, and the detector 1 and the converter 2 are connected via a signal / excitation cable 3.

  The detector 1 is installed in a pipe 4 through which a fluid flows, and a signal corresponding to the flow rate is output to the converter 2 via a signal / excitation cable 3.

The device-specific information of the detector 1 is determined at the time of factory shipment or device installation,
・ Port size ・ Production number ・ Production date ・ Customer specified information ・ Flow rate correction coefficient ・ Zero point adjustment value
・ Coil insulation resistance
-There are coil resistance values and signal insulation resistance values.

  Here, the zero point adjustment value is a value obtained by offsetting an undesirably slow zero point change or movement that occurs in the input / output relationship of the device over a period of time, regardless of external factors of the device, at the time of factory shipment or installation. It is. The zero point value fluctuates due to problems around the excitation circuit.

  The coil insulation resistance value is an insulation resistance value between a coil and a common or between a coil and a signal, which is usually about several MΩ. The insulation resistance value decreases due to deterioration of the detector.

  The coil resistance value is a resistance between excitation lines. It has different values depending on the diameter and lining, and usually shows a resistance value within ± 10%. The resistance value fluctuates due to coil abnormality or fluid / atmosphere temperature change.

  The signal insulation resistance value is an insulation resistance value between a signal and a common or between a signal and a signal, which is usually about several hundred MΩ. As described above, the insulation resistance value decreases due to deterioration of the detector or the like.

  These pieces of device specific information are described on, for example, the nameplate 11 of the detector 1, and the operator visually checks these pieces of device specific information and inputs them to the converter 2.

  FIG. 11 is a basic configuration diagram of an electromagnetic flowmeter conventionally used as a field device, and the same reference numerals are given to portions common to FIG. In FIG. 11, the liquid contact part of the tube 4 forming the flow path is formed of a material having electrical insulation. A yoke 1a made of a magnetic material is provided on the outer periphery of the tube 4 so as to face each other, and a coil 1b is wound around each yoke 1a. These coils 1b are excited by the excitation unit 1c.

  On the inner periphery of the tube 4, a measurement electrode 1d for detecting a signal proportional to the magnetic field and flow rate signal formed by the yoke 1a and the coil 1b is provided so as to face each other, and a ground electrode 1e is also provided. .

  The signal output from the measurement electrode 1d is impedance-converted by the buffer 1f and input to the differential amplifier 1g. The differential amplifier 1g removes the external noise generated in common with the pair of measurement electrodes 1d, and amplifies it to a desired amplitude level and inputs it to the A / D converter 1h.

  The A / D converter 1h performs A / D conversion so that an analog signal generated at the measurement electrode 1d can be read as a digital value.

  The CPU 1i controls the entire circuit, calculates flow velocity values and integrated values using the A / D conversion values of the A / D converter 1h, and performs calculations for diagnosing each part. Further, information on these calculation results is transmitted to the output circuit 1j to instruct the output circuit 1j to display a flow rate output value and a diagnostic result, and excitation is performed using the A / D conversion value of the A / D converter 1k. The unit 1c is controlled.

  Here, if the combination of the detector 1 and the converter 2 is fixed, the device-specific information of the detector 1 may be input to the converter 2, but in reality the detector 1 and the converter The combination with 2 is not necessarily fixed.

  That is, the combination of the detector 1 and the converter 2 may be changed at the time of installation of the field device or repair maintenance. When the combination of the detector 1 and the converter 2 is changed, it is necessary to input the device-specific information of the changed detector 1 to the converter 2 to which the detector 1 is actually connected.

  Patent Document 1 describes a technique that can prevent erroneous input of device-specific parameters by visual inspection and can efficiently update data of a plurality of electronic devices.

JP 2012-37696 A

  By the way, when inputting the device-specific information of the detector 1 to the converter 2, if it is input incorrectly, the measurement result may be adversely affected.

  In addition, when the detector 1 is installed in a place that cannot be reached by an operator, the device-specific information of the detector 1 cannot be easily confirmed, and the confirmation work is dangerous.

  Further, when it is difficult to visually confirm information written on the nameplate 11 due to deterioration over time, a large amount of man-hours are required for the information confirmation work, and in some cases, recalibration must be performed.

  Further, every time the combination of the detector 1 and the converter 2 is changed, necessary information must be re-input, and work man-hours for re-inputting necessary information are generated.

  Furthermore, when an operator performs manual input, it is difficult to easily increase the amount of information to be input, and there is a limit to the amount of information to be input, which may cause human errors such as typographical errors or forgetting to fill in. Also gets higher.

  The present invention solves these problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to easily and definitely accurately identify the device-specific information of an electronic device at the time of factory shipment, installation at a measurement site, maintenance, calibration, etc. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can be input and stored in an electronic device and can check the soundness of the electronic device by comparing and analyzing the stored device-specific information with a diagnosis result.

In order to achieve such a problem, an electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device including a detector in which device-specific information is determined, and a converter that is combined with the detector and communicates with the detector. The detector includes a non-volatile memory, and the converter includes a memory area for storing the device specific information of the detector, and the device specific information stored in the memory area of the detector. Means for transferring and storing in a non-volatile memory.
The detector may perform a soundness diagnosis based on the device specific information transferred to the nonvolatile memory.
Specifically, the detector can perform a health diagnosis based on a change amount between the device-specific information transferred to the nonvolatile memory and a value obtained by measurement.
The detector may output an alarm to the converter when the result of the health diagnosis does not satisfy a condition.

  As a result, the soundness of the electronic device can be accurately and accurately confirmed.

It is a block diagram which shows one Example of this invention. 4 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a data storage memory unit mounted on an ID board 12. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the diagnosis based on the apparatus specific information transferred and stored in the memory FM. It is explanatory drawing which shows the specific example of the relationship between estimation time and a risk level. It is explanatory drawing of a diagnostic result and a threshold value. It is a characteristic change curve example figure. It is composition explanatory drawing which shows the other Example of this invention. It is composition explanatory drawing which shows the other Example of this invention. It is composition explanatory drawing which shows the other Example of this invention. It is structure explanatory drawing which shows an example of the conventional field device. It is a basic block diagram of the conventional electromagnetic flowmeter.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. Components common to those in FIG.

  In FIG. 1, an ID board 12 is provided in the detector 1, and the ID board 12 is connected to the converter 2 via an ID communication / power cable 5.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the data storage memory unit mounted on the ID board 12. Data communication is performed between the detector 1 and the converter 2 by a serial interface method using a BUS line. Power is supplied from the converter 2. In FIG. 2, the negative logic signal is identified and displayed by adding “X” to the head of each signal name.

The detector 1 receives a chip select signal XCS, serial data XSDI, and a serial clock XSCK from the converter 2. Serial data SDO is output to the converter 2.

  The input / output interface unit of the ID board 12 performs a pull-up process on the power supply via the resistors R1 to R3 as a countermeasure against an IC input open when the power supply is turned off. As a countermeasure against electrostatic breakdown, a clamp circuit comprising a series circuit of diodes D1 and D2, D3 and D4, D5 and D6, and D7 and D8 is connected between the power supply and GND. Note that power is supplied from the converter 2.

  For example, a flash memory FM is used as the memory, and data is read / written by the SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface Module) method.

  Since the input signal interface with the converter 2 is performed with negative logic, inverters INV1 to INV4 are connected to invert the signal before input to the memory FM. However, since the XCS signal is a negative logic signal on the memory side, the logic is inverted again. Note that these inverters INV1 to INV4 also serve to shape the gradual rise and fall of waveform pulses caused by external factors such as cables by using a Schmitt trigger inverter.

  The data input and stored in the memory FM includes, for example, a caliber, a serial number, a manufacturing date, customer designation information, a flow rate correction coefficient, a zero adjustment value measured at the time of factory shipment, a coil insulation resistance value, and a coil resistance value. There is a signal insulation resistance, etc., which is performed by directly writing to the memory area set on the register on the converter 2 side.

  The serial data SDO to the converter 2 is output as a positive logic signal via the inverters INV5 and INV6.

  The device-specific information of the detector 1 is once input and stored in the converter 2 at the time of factory shipment, and then transferred and stored in the memory FM mounted on the ID board 12 of the detector 1.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of diagnosis based on the device specific information transferred and stored in the memory FM. (A) shows the case of zero point measurement, and (B) shows the case of coil insulation resistance value measurement. (C) shows the case of coil resistance value measurement, and (D) shows the case of signal insulation resistance value measurement. In any of the cases (A) to (D), a predetermined threshold value that is used as a reference for making a pass / fail judgment at the time of factory shipment is set in advance for each measurement result. If the threshold condition is not satisfied, an alarm is output to the converter 2 to alert the measurement operator to preventive maintenance.

  In addition, the amount of change for each reference measurement value of device-specific information when the device is shipped from the factory or when installed at a measurement site is determined, and the amount of change is analyzed in time series to estimate the time until a predetermined threshold is reached. An alarm may be output according to each risk level.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the relationship between the estimated time and the risk level. In the example of FIG. 4, the correspondence between the estimated time until reaching a predetermined threshold and the risk level is set as follows.

Estimated time Risk level 20 years or more Safety 10 years to 20 years Warning 5 years to 10 years Caution 1 year to 5 years Danger

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of diagnosis results and threshold values, (A) shows a conventional example, and (B) shows an example of the present invention. According to the conventional diagnosis result, an alarm is not output until the threshold value is reached as shown in FIG. 5A, so that signs such as aging deterioration cannot be detected.

  In addition, the conventional threshold value is determined by the manufacturer's recommended value (default) or user setting value, but if the threshold value is not an appropriate value, alarms are frequently output or alarms must be output originally. There was a risk of problems such as not being output to.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5B, the determination is made from the amount of change xa with respect to each reference measurement value of the device-specific information when the device is shipped from the factory or at the measurement site.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a characteristic change curve. As the determination criterion, for example, the estimated time tx until the threshold value k shown in FIG. 6 is exceeded is managed based on the risk level shown in FIG.

  The estimated time tx is obtained by approximating the amount of change from the latest data to obtain an approximate line, and is obtained from the slope of the approximate line as shown in Equation 1. At this time, if the approximation is performed from all data, the accuracy is deteriorated when the amount of change is complicated. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 6, the accuracy is improved by obtaining the estimated time tx by obtaining the slope of the approximate line based on the amount of change in the section t3. Note that the approximate period can be arbitrarily changed.

Estimated time tx = (threshold k−current change u) / slope of the nearest approximation line Δ (1)
As a parameter of the converter, in addition to the risk level, an estimated time until the threshold is exceeded can be displayed.

  6 shows an example in which the approximate line is a straight line, it is not limited to a straight line, but may be logarithm / polynomial / power.

  As a result, the device-specific information of the detector 1 can be easily and definitely input to the converter 2 accurately, and the soundness of the detector 1 can be improved by using the device-specific information of the input detector 1. Diagnosis can be performed to confirm.

  Then, by confirming the soundness based on the amount of change of each device-specific information with respect to each reference measurement value, the signs of deterioration of the detector 1 can be accurately grasped and confirmed, and the detector 1 can be maintained in a planned manner.

  Further, the cause of deterioration of the detector 1 can be narrowed down from the magnitude of the amount of change with respect to each reference measurement value of the device-specific information, and it becomes easy to deal with maintenance.

  When field devices such as detectors are used, soundness may be lost over time due to factors such as temperature, pressure, fluid, slurry, vibration, and impact. If the soundness is lost, there is an adverse effect such as an increase in measurement result error.

  In contrast, in the past, for example, the error was revealed after the cause was revealed, but in the present invention, for example, a value at the time of factory shipment or installation is set as a reference value, By comparing the measured value with the set reference value and obtaining the magnitude of the change amount with respect to each reference measured value, the soundness of the detector at the present time can be recognized.

  FIG. 7 is a structural explanatory view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the device-specific information is transmitted to the converter 2 using the memory FM, but the embodiment of FIG. 7 is realized by using a DIP switch. In FIG. The example which conveys information to the converter 2 is shown.

In FIG. 7, the fixed contact side of each of the DIP switches DIPSW1 to DIPSW4 is connected to GND, and the path is short-circuited to GND by turning ON the movable contact of the switch corresponding to each bit and turned ON. Bit data set to L level (negative logic)
Is done. Each bit signal of ID is pulled up to the H level by a resistor at the input terminal of the converter 2, and is set to the H level when the detector side is in the OPEN state. The diagnosis processing after configuration and setting is substantially the same as that in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is also an explanatory diagram of the configuration showing another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8, a two-dimensional code 13 such as a QR code (registered trademark) is attached to the detector 1. In the case of a QR code of standard size, it can have 2953 bytes of information for binary and 4296 characters for alphanumeric, which is much larger than the amount of information written on the conventional nameplate with character symbols. Can write a large amount of information.

  The device-specific information of the detector 1 is converted into the two-dimensional code 13 and written, and the two-dimensional code information is read by a dedicated reader when the device is installed and input to the converter 2. As an input method to the converter 2, for example, dedicated communication such as infrared rays, analog signal communication using a 4-20 mA current loop widely used in the industrial field, and HART (Highway Addressable) in which a digital signal is superimposed on an analog signal. Hybrid communication such as Remote Transducer) or digital communication such as fieldbus can be used.

  Note that the two-dimensional code 13 may be pasted or printed on the main name plate provided outside the detector 1 as in the prior art, or the detector may be used to prevent a visual error due to deterioration over time. You may make it stick inside 1. The diagnostic process after the setting is substantially the same as in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is also a configuration explanatory view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, the converter 2 is provided with a memory card 21. The device specific information of the detector 1 is input and stored in the memory card 21 at the time of factory shipment, and shipped as a set as an accessory of the detector 1.

  Since the memory card 21 may be lost, the data at the time of shipment from the factory is managed by the manufacturer, and the device-specific information is re-provided in response to an inquiry or is released after security management on the Internet. Alternatively, the user may be able to refer directly. When referring to the device-specific information, for example, tracking can also be performed from the device manufacturing number described in the main name plate.

  Moreover, although the example of the electromagnetic flow meter used in the plant control system has been described as the electronic device in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the electromagnetic flow meter, and home appliances, electronic office machines, electronic measuring devices, etc. It is also effective for other various electronic devices that require confirmation of the soundness of the electronic device.

  Furthermore, the device specific information of the electronic device may be provided as a two-dimensional barcode such as a QR code (registered trademark).

  As described above, according to the present invention, the device-specific information of the electronic device at the time of factory shipment, installation at the measurement site, maintenance, calibration, etc. can be input and stored in the electronic device easily and definitely. By analyzing the stored device-specific information and the amount of change of the device-specific information with respect to each reference measurement value, the soundness of the electronic device can be accurately and accurately confirmed. It is also suitable for equipment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Detector 11 Name plate 12 ID board 13 Two-dimensional code 2 Converter 21 Memory card 3 Signal / excitation cable 4 Piping 5 ID communication / power cable

Claims (3)

An electronic device comprising a detector in which device-specific information is defined, and a converter that is combined with the detector and communicates with the detector,
The detector comprises a non-volatile memory;
The converter has a memory area for storing device-specific information of the detector;
Means for transferring and storing the device-specific information stored in the memory area to the nonvolatile memory of the detector,
The detector writes the device-specific information transferred to the nonvolatile memory into a combined converter by communication, and performs a soundness diagnosis based on the device-specific information .   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the detector performs soundness diagnosis based on a change amount between the device specific information transferred to the nonvolatile memory and a value obtained by measurement.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the detector outputs an alarm to the converter when a result of the health diagnosis does not satisfy a condition.