JPH05134946A - Automatic check system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an automatic check system of a large scale even with such a computer like 8 personal computer that has e comparatively small memory capacity. CONSTITUTION:The automatic check devices 121-12N are connected to a computer 11 for execution of the automatic check of data. In this case, the memory areas of the computer 11 are not assigned to the devices 121-12N respectively but a common memory area is assigned to these devices. In this respect, each of devices 121-12N has its own exclusive ID. Then only the automatic check device 12 that has an ID coincident with the data received from the computer 11 can perform the transfer of data with the computer 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic inspection system using a computer such as a personal computer, and more particularly to an automatic inspection system devised to use a memory area of the computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic inspection system in which an automatic inspection device is connected to a computer such as a personal computer is used for various automatic inspections. In such an automatic inspection system, when a plurality of automatic inspection devices are connected to a computer, the addresses and data in the memory area of the computer are assigned to the input / output ports of each automatic inspection device to execute the inspection. It was

[0003]

As described above, in the prior art,
Since the addresses and data in the memory area of the computer were simply assigned to the input / output ports of each automatic inspection device, when multiple automatic inspection devices were connected to the control bus from the computer, or with a huge input / output control port. If you are going to build an automated inspection system,
Computers are now required to have a large amount of memory. Therefore, it has been impossible to construct a large-scale automatic inspection system using a computer having a relatively small memory capacity such as a personal computer.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic inspection system capable of constructing a large-scale system even with a computer having a relatively small memory capacity such as a personal computer. ..

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, (a) a computer such as a personal computer having a predetermined memory area for data processing, and (b)
This comparison means, which is connected to this computer and compares the data sent when the predetermined address information is sent from this computer with the unique data preset in its own device, When the data are matched by the means, a plurality of automatic inspection devices are arranged so as to perform the automatic inspection by occupying the memory area of the computer until the comparison means detects the mismatch. Prepare for.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a predetermined memory area of the computer is used by a plurality of automatic inspection devices in a time-division manner, and which automatic inspection device uses the address information and data. It is realized by combining.

According to the second aspect of the invention, a plurality of automatic inspection devices are commonly connected to the bus of the computer for the convenience of connection.

[0008]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

FIG. 2 shows the outline of the configuration of the automatic inspection system in one embodiment of the present invention. Personal computer 11 for controlling this system
An interface panel 13 for incorporating an interface when the automatic inspection device 12 and the automatic inspection device 12 are connected to each other is incorporated in the device. Interface panel 13
Has a buffer function for various signals such as address, data and read / write signals. The interface panel 13 is connected to the automatic inspection device 1 via the bus cable 14.
It is connected to each of the two connectors. A measurement probe 15 is attached to the automatic inspection device 12, and an end portion of the measurement probe 15 is connected to an inspection object 16 which is a target of the automatic inspection.

Although this figure shows the case where one automatic inspection device 12 is connected to the personal computer 11, a plurality of automatic inspection devices 16 can be connected via the bus cable 14 in an actual system. It is possible.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic circuit configuration of an automatic inspection system in which a plurality of automatic inspection devices are connected.
A CPU (central processing unit) 21 in the personal computer 11 is connected to various circuit devices via a CPU bus 22 such as a data bus. Of these, the RAM 23 is a random access memory as a working memory for temporarily storing various data. The ROM 24 is a read only memory that stores fixed data and a predetermined program. Text and Graphic I /
O25 is a CR (not shown) via a connector (not shown)
Input / output port for connecting T. The CRT is used to display the progress and results of the examination. The hard disk and floppy disk controller 26 is
The controller is also used to connect a hard disk or floppy disk (not shown) via a connector (not shown). The hard disk or floppy disk stores programs and other data for controlling the automatic inspection system. A printer (not shown) is also connected to the communication I / O via a connector (not shown), and the inspection result is printed.

The CPU bus 22 has an interface shown in FIG.
The buffer circuit 28 consisting of the face panel 13 is also connected.
Has been. The buffer circuit 28 is an extension of the CPU bus 22.
This is a circuit for the bus cable shown in Fig. 2.
An extension bus 29 consisting of 14 is connected. Extension bus
29, N automatic inspection devices 12 (N is a positive integer) ₁
~ 12_NAre connected.

FIG. 3 shows a main part of a circuit in the automatic inspection device. This circuit portion is a portion which is not provided in the conventional automatic inspection apparatus, and is a characteristic portion of the automatic inspection system of this embodiment. This circuit portion includes an address decoding unit 31 that inputs address information 29A from the extension bus 29 shown in FIG. 1, a data decoding unit 32 that also inputs data 29B from the extension bus 29, and an extension bus 29 together with the data decoding unit 32. And a memory switching data setting unit 35 for inputting the memory switching data 34 to the comparing unit 33.

The memory switching data setting unit 35 sets arbitrary numerical data which is different for each of the _N automatic inspection devices 12 _{1 to} 12 _N.
4 _{1 to} 34 _N are supplied to the corresponding comparison units 33 _{1 to} 33 _N. These memory switching data 34
_{1 to} 34 _N are ID numbers for selecting which one of the automatic inspection devices 12 _{1 to} 12 _N corresponds when the memory switching instruction data is transferred through the extension bus 29 as a common bus. Is used as. However, in the following description, each automatic inspection device 12 _1-
12 _N without particularly distinguishing these subscripts ("1" ~
"N") will be omitted as appropriate.

When the personal computer 11 shown in FIG. 1 sends address information 29A representing a specific address (hereinafter referred to as address A ₀ ) for switching the automatic inspection device 12, the address decoding unit 31 sends it. It decodes and outputs the enable signal 41 to the data decoding unit 32 in the own device. This is an operation common to all the automatic inspection devices 12 _{1 to} 12 _N.

When the data decoding unit 32 receives the enable signal 41, the data decoding unit 32 latches the data 29B by the memory write signal 29C and outputs the decoding result to the comparison unit 33. The comparison unit 33 compares the decoding result with the memory switching data 34 of its own device. The comparison result is latched by the memory write signal 29C. The ACT signal 42 indicating the latched comparison match or comparison mismatch is output to a circuit (not shown) in the subsequent stage which controls the inspection operation of the automatic inspection device 12. That is, when the ACT signal 42 is in the active state indicating comparison match, the automatic inspection device 12 is in the inspection state and the inspection is executed.
When the ACT signal 42 indicates comparison disagreement, the automatic inspection apparatus 12 is held in a state of waiting for inspection.

As described above, the ACT signal 42 represents permission of control from the personal computer 11 to the automatic inspection apparatus, and only the automatic inspection apparatus 12 in which the ACT signal 42 is active is the personal computer 11. The upper memory area can be used for self-examination. That is, since the comparison result of the comparison unit 33 is held as it is, the permitted automatic inspection device 12 can send and receive the data 29B to and from the personal computer 11 to execute the inspection.

The automatic inspection device 12 currently executing the inspection
The condition for the active signal ACT signal 42 to transition from active to non-active is that the address information 29A representing the address A ₀ is sent to the address decoding unit 31 and the data 29B sent at this time is the memory switching data 3
It was when they did not match 4. As a result, the comparison unit 3
3 outputs the non-actively changed ACT signal 42, and the automatic inspection apparatus 12 cannot transmit / receive data to / from the personal computer 11. If the data 29B at this time matches the memory switching data 34 of the other automatic inspection device 12, the ACT signal 42 of the automatic inspection device 12 becomes active and the inspection by that device is started. Further, the data 29B at that time indicates which automatic inspection device 12 _{1 to} 12 _N
If it does not match the memory switching data 34 of
The entire inspection will be stopped or terminated.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of automatic inspection devices can be increased without being limited by the memory capacity of a computer. For example, a large-scale automatic inspection system using a personal computer can be used. There is an effect that can be built.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram specifically showing a circuit configuration on a personal computer side in an automatic inspection system of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an automatic inspection system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of a circuit in an automatic inspection device in the automatic inspection system of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Personal Computer 12 _{1 to} 12 _N Automatic Inspection Device 21 CPU 22 CPU Bus 23 RAM 26 Hard Disk and Floppy Disk Controller 28 Buffer Circuit 29 (CPU Bus) Extension Bus 29A Address Information 29B Data 29C Memory Write Signal 31 Address Decoding Unit 32 Data decoding unit 33 Comparison unit 34 Memory switching data 35 Memory switching data setting unit 42 ACT signal

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A computer provided with a predetermined memory area for data processing, and a computer connected to this computer, when the predetermined address information is sent from the computer, to the data sent and its own device. When the comparison means compares the preset unique data with the comparison means, and when the comparison means matches the data, the memory area of the computer is kept until the comparison means detects the mismatch. An automatic inspection system, comprising: a plurality of automatic inspection devices that exclusively perform automatic inspection. 2. The automatic inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of automatic inspection devices are commonly connected to a bus of the computer.