JPH10267706A - Tester - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tester with a light source which can improve substantial life of the light source and also save energy. SOLUTION: Designate working condition of a Vickers type hardness tester 1 is discriminated by a CPU 21 (a working condition discriminating means) and a light source lamp 41 of a lighting part 4 as a light source and back light of operation switches 71, 71... and display parts 72, 72,... of LED(light emitting diode) or a LCD(liquid crystal display) are put off or light of them are dimmed by the CPU 21 (light source emitting amount control means) when the tester 1 is discriminated with that it is not in working condition according to the result of the discrimination.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tester for measuring physical properties of an object to be measured, and more particularly, to a tester having a light source such as an operation panel or an optical measuring device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a Vickers hardness tester or the like is known as a tester having a light source. This Vickers hardness tester measures the hardness of the measured object by observing the dent formed by applying a load to the surface of the measured object using an optical microscope or the like as a dent observation unit. Machine. As the light source in the Vickers hardness tester, there are a lamp of an illumination unit of the hollow observation unit, a backlight of a liquid crystal display of an operation panel unit, and the like. By turning the switch on and off.

[0003]

However, in the Vickers type hardness tester described above, when the worker temporarily leaves the tester such as when taking a break or being called, In many cases, the user did not turn off the light source, and the lamp of the illumination unit of the hollow observation unit and the backlight of the liquid crystal display of the operation panel unit were kept on. Therefore, there is a problem that the life of those light sources is substantially shortened due to unnecessary lighting of the lamps and the backlight of the liquid crystal display. In such a case, there is a problem that wasteful power is consumed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a testing machine having a light source capable of improving the substantial life of the light source and saving energy. The purpose is to do.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a test for measuring a physical property of an object to be measured based on an operation signal output from an operation unit. A use state determination unit that determines whether the test machine is in a predetermined use state; and a result of the determination by the use state determination unit that determines that the test machine is not in the predetermined use state. And a light source light emission amount control unit for turning off or dimming the light source.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the use state discriminating means judges whether the tester is in a predetermined use state, and as a result of the discrimination by the use state discrimination means, the test machine is in a predetermined use state. When it is determined that the state is not the state, the light source in the tester is turned off or dimmed by the light source light emission amount control means. Therefore, for example, in a Vickers hardness tester or the like, when a worker temporarily moves away from the Vickers hardness tester such as during a break or calling, a lamp or an operation panel unit serving as a light source of the hollow observation unit is used. The backlight of the liquid crystal display is automatically turned off or dimmed, so that the life of the lamp or the backlight of the liquid crystal display is substantially longer than before, and the power consumption is wasted. Can be prevented.

Here, the tester is, for example, a Vickers type hardness tester. If the tester has a light source and measures physical properties of an object to be measured based on an operation signal of an operation section, the tester can be used. Anything is fine. The operating unit may be anywhere in the tester as long as it is operated by touching with a hand.For example, in the case of a Vickers hardness tester, not only the operation panel unit, but also a sample stage handle for positioning the sample stage, A load switching knob for switching the load is also included.

As the light source, for example, in the case of a Vickers hardness tester, a lamp (for example, a halogen lamp,
There is an incandescent lamp or a fluorescent lamp), or a backlight of a liquid crystal display of the operation panel unit, but any device that emits light may be used. The determination of the predetermined use state may be performed, for example, by determining whether or not a state in which an operation signal is not input from the operation unit has continued for a certain period of time. The determination may be made based on whether or not the sample is placed on the sample table.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the tester according to the first aspect, an operation signal output from the operation section is input during the predetermined use state, and the last operation signal among the input operation signals is input. A time-measuring means for measuring an elapsed time after the input of the operation signal corresponding to the above, and the use state determining means determines whether or not the elapsed time of the last applicable operation signal measured by the time-measuring means exceeds a predetermined time. It is characterized in that it is configured to be determined by

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the time elapsed since the last input of the operation signal among the operation signals input from the operation unit during the predetermined use state is measured by the time-measuring means. Since the state determining means determines whether the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time, it is possible to reliably determine whether the tester is in use.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the tester according to the first or second aspect, after the light source in the tester is turned off or dimmed by the light source light emission amount control means, an operation signal is output from the operation unit. When light is input, a light source light emission amount return unit that restores the light emission amount of the light source that has been turned off or dimmed is provided.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when an operation signal is input from the operation unit to the light source light emission amount return means after the light source in the tester is turned off or dimmed by the light source light emission amount control means. Then, the light source light emission amount return means performs control to restore the light emission amount of the light source. Therefore, the worker
When working again, the light emission amount of the light source can be restored by operating the operation unit arbitrarily,
Since the light emission amount of the light source is returned to the original value, no special operation is performed and the operation is not complicated.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tester according to the present invention. First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration of a main part of a Vickers hardness tester in which the present invention is suitably implemented.

A Vickers-type hardness tester 1 as a tester shown in FIG. 1 has a tester main body 2, which is mounted on the upper side of the tester main body 2, and which has a hollow observation section 3 for observing a hollow formed in a sample. A lighting unit 4 serving as a light source of the hollow observation unit 3; a turret 5 attached to a lower portion of the hollow observation unit 3 and capable of switching between an indenter 51 and an objective lens 52 by rotating; A sample stage 6 movably attached to the turret 5 and disposed opposite to the turret 5, and an operation switch provided as an operation unit for operating the Vickers hardness tester 1 provided below the sample stage 6. , An operation panel unit 7 having display units 72, 72,... For displaying measured data and operation contents of the operation switches 71, 71,. Load selector knob 8 (operating unit), a sample stage upper and lower handle 9 (operation unit) for moving the sample stage up and down is configured of a.

Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main control such as an operation control of the Vickers hardness tester 1 according to the present invention and a light emission amount control of a light source. The operation control and the light emission amount control of the light source are mainly performed by the CPU 21 (use state determining unit, light source emission amount control unit, light source emission amount return unit), and as shown in FIG. , The depression observation unit 3, the data display units 72, 72,..., The operation switches 71, 71,..., The load switching knob 8, the sample stage up / down handle 9, the external output unit 23, etc.
0 is connected to the CPU 21.

The CPU 21 is provided in the tester main body 2 and has an internal clock 2 serving as time measuring means therein.
1a, a control unit (not shown), a calculation unit (not shown), and the like, and based on input of operation signals from operation switches 71, 71,..., Operation control and light amount control of the Vickers hardness tester 1 And so on.

The internal clock 21a receives, for example, an operation signal output from the operation switches 71, 71,... Via the I / O port 10, and operates the last operation signal among the input operation signals. The elapsed time after the input of the signal is measured. An operation unit (not shown) of the CPU 21 serves as a use state determination unit, and includes an elapsed time after the input of the last applicable operation signal, a determination value (predetermined time) stored in a ROM (not shown) or the like in advance. Compare. When it is determined that the elapsed time after the input of the last corresponding operation signal exceeds the determination value, the CPU
The control unit 21 (not shown) serves as a light source light emission amount control unit, the illumination unit 4, the operation switches 71, 71,.
.. Are output to the display units 72, 72,.

When an operation signal is input again from the operation switches 71, 71,... After the output of the light amount adjustment signal, the CPU 21 operates as the light source light emission amount return means. The operation switches 71, 71,
, And the display units 72, 72,... Output a light amount return signal for returning the light emission amounts of those light sources to the original values. Further, the CPU 21 operates the operation switches 71 and 7.
When an operation signal is input from any one of 1, 2,..., An operation signal for applying a load to the sample is output to the load applying mechanism unit 22.

The load applying mechanism 21 includes a tester main body 2
The load set in advance by the load switching knob 9 is applied to the sample placed on the sample stage 6 via the indenter 51 of the turret 5 based on the input of the operation signal output from the CPU 21. It has become. While the load is being applied, a sensor signal indicating that the load is being applied is output to the CPU 21.

The illumination section 4 has a light source lamp 41,
As the light source lamp 41, for example, a halogen lamp or the like is used to supply light to the dent observation unit 3. The illumination unit 4 is provided with, for example, a well-known dimmer (not shown). When a light amount adjustment signal is input from the CPU 21 to the illumination unit 4, the light emission of the light source lamp 41 is dimmed (or , Is turned off), and then, when a light amount return signal is input, the light emission amount of the dimmed (or turned off) light source lamp is returned to the original.

The hollow observation section 3 has an eyepiece 31 and irradiates the light emitted from the illumination section 4 to the hollow in the sample through the objective lens 52 to observe the reflected image of the hollow. The size of the is measured. The measured data is output to the CPU 21 as depression data.

The operation switches 71, 71,... Are, for example, liquid crystal touch panels and employ a backlight mechanism. When a worker performs a touch operation, a corresponding operation signal is transmitted to the CPU 21 via the I / O.
The data is output via the port 10. The operation switches 71, 71,... Are provided with, for example, a well-known dimmer (not shown). When a light amount adjustment signal from the CPU 21 is input to the operation switches 71, 71,. When the light emission amount of the light is dimmed (or extinguished), and then a light amount return signal is input, the light emission amount of the dimmed (or extinguished) backlight is restored.

The display units 72, 72,...
CD (Liquid Crystal Display) and LED (Light Emit
ting Diode) and the like, and displays measurement data and operation contents of the operation switches 71, 71,... The display units 72 are provided with, for example, a well-known dimmer (not shown).
When the light amount adjustment signal is input from the display unit 72, the display units 72, 7
When the amount of light emitted from the backlight or LED of the LCD is dimmed (or extinguished), and then a light amount recovery signal is input, the dimmed (or extinguished) backlight or LED of the LED is dimmed. The light emission amount is restored.

The load switching knob 8 and the sample stage upper / lower handle 9 each serve as an operation unit for transmitting an operation signal to the CP.
Output to U21. The external output section 23 is provided in the tester main body 2 and outputs measurement data measured by the hollow observation section 4 or image data of a hollow taken by a camera (not shown) to the outside of the Vickers hardness tester 1. Output device 101 (for example, a printing device or a display device).

Next, the operation of controlling the light emission amount of the light source of the Vickers hardness tester 1 according to the present invention will be described. First, an operator turns on a main power supply (not shown) of the Vickers hardness tester 1 as a tester, so that the light source lamp 4a of the illumination unit 4 which is a light source in the Vickers hardness tester 1 is turned on. , Operation switches 71, 71,... And display units 72, 72,.
Is turned on.

Next, if the worker leaves the Vickers hardness tester 1 for any reason during the work, the operation switches 71, 71,.
An operation signal (finally corresponding operation signal) output from the load switching knob 8, the sample stage upper / lower handle 9, or the like is transmitted to the CPU 21.
Is input to the internal clock 21a (time measuring means), and the elapsed time after the input is measured by the internal clock 21a. When the CPU 21 (use state determination unit) determines that the elapsed time after the input of the last corresponding operation signal exceeds a predetermined time set in advance, the CPU 21 (light source emission amount control unit) , An illumination unit 4 as a light source, a display unit 72, setting switches 71, 71,...
The light amount adjustment signal is output to the light source controller 41, and the light source lamp 41 of the illumination unit 4, the backlight or LED of the LCD of the display unit 72, and the backlight of the setting switches 71, 71 are dimmed (or turned off) by the light amount adjustment signal. .

Therefore, when the worker temporarily moves away from the Vickers hardness tester 1 such as at the time of a break or at the time of calling, the halogen lamp, which is the light source lamp 41 of the illumination unit 4, and the setting switches 71, 71,. Backlight, display unit 7
The backlights or LEDs of the LCDs 2, 72,... Are automatically turned off or dimmed.
, And the backlights of the LCDs or the LEDs of the display units 72, 72,... Have a substantially longer life, and the useless use of electricity can be prevented.

Subsequently, the light source lamp 41 of the illumination unit 4
While the backlight or LED of the LCD of the display unit 72 and the backlight of the setting switches 71, 71 are dimmed (or turned off), the worker returns to the tester 1 and operates the operation switch 71 as an operation unit. , 71,..., The load switching knob 8, the sample stage vertical handle 9, etc.
The operation signal is output to the CPU 21. Then, based on the input first operation signal, the CPU 21 (light source light emission amount returning unit) transmits the illumination unit 4, the operation switch 71,
, And the display units 72, 72,..., Output a light amount return signal for restoring the light emission amounts of those light sources, and by using the light amount return signal, the light source lamp 41 of the illumination unit 4, the display unit 72,. 72, LCD backlight or LED,
The amount of light emitted from the backlight of the setting switches 71, 71,.

Therefore, when the worker works again,
By arbitrarily operating the operation unit, the light emission amount of the light source can be restored, and since the light emission amount of the light source is restored, the operation becomes complicated without special operation. Absent.

The light amount adjustment signal and the light amount return signal are output to, for example, a display device (monitor or the like) as an output device via the external output unit 23, and the screen of the display device is used by a tester. The light may be dimmed or turned off according to the state.

[0031]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the use state determining means determines whether or not the tester is in a predetermined use state. When it is determined that the device is not in use, the light source in the tester is turned off or dimmed by the light source light emission amount control means.For example, in a Vickers hardness tester, work is performed at a break or when calling. When a person temporarily leaves the Vickers hardness tester, the lamp that is the light source of the dent observation unit and the backlight of the liquid crystal display of the operation panel unit can be automatically turned off or dimmed. As a result, the substantial life of the lamp or the backlight of the liquid crystal display becomes longer than before, and wasteful power consumption can be prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the time elapsed from the input of the last corresponding operation signal among the operation signals input from the operation unit during the predetermined use state is measured by the timer means, and Since the state determining means determines whether the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time, it is possible to reliably determine whether the tester is in use.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when an operation signal is input from the operation section to the light source light emission amount return means after the light source in the tester is turned off or dimmed by the light source light emission amount control means. Therefore, since the control for returning the light emission amount of the light source is performed, the operator can return the light source by operating the operation unit arbitrarily when working again. The operation is not complicated since no special operation is performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration of a main part of a Vickers hardness tester according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of main control such as operation control or light quantity control of a Vickers hardness tester according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vickers-type hardness tester 2 Tester main body 3 Indentation observation part 4 Illumination part (light source) 7 Operation panel 8 Load switching knob (operation part) 9 Sample table vertical handle (operation part) 10 I / O port 21 CPU (use) State determination means, light source light emission amount control means, light source light emission amount return means) 21a internal clock (clocking means) 22 load applying mechanism section 23 external output section 71 setting switch (light source, operation section) 72 display section (light source)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A tester having a light source and measuring a physical property value of an object to be measured based on an operation signal output from an operation unit, determines whether the tester is in a predetermined use state. A use state determining unit, and a light source emission amount control unit that turns off or dims the light source when it is determined that the tester is not in a predetermined use state as a result of the determination by the use state determination unit. Testing machine characterized by the following. 2. A timer for inputting an operation signal output from the operation unit during the predetermined use state, and timing an elapsed time after the input of the last operation signal among the input operation signals. Means is provided, wherein the use state determination means is configured to determine whether the elapsed time of the last applicable operation signal measured by the clocking means has exceeded a predetermined time. The test machine according to claim 1. 3. When an operation signal is input from the operation unit after the light source in the tester is turned off or dimmed by the light source light emission amount control means, the light source is turned off or dimmed. The tester according to claim 1, further comprising a light source light emission amount returning unit that returns the light emission amount.