JPS6365327A - Light quantity detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To discriminate many kinds of the quantities of light by irradiating a surface to be detected with a constant quantity of light and photodetecting the light, and discriminating the photodetection output level by using different discrimination levels. CONSTITUTION:The light from a light emitting diode 62 is projected on the surface 63 to be detected through an optical fiber F for projection to the constant quantity. Its reflected light is photodetected by a phototransistor 64 through an optical fiber G for photodetection. A signal from it is amplified 67 and supplied to one input of an operational amplifier circuit 70 which constitutes a level discriminating circuit 69. Resistances R11-R1n and switches S11-S1n for determining the discrimination level are connected to the other input and they are grounded through mutual parallel circuits and applied to a high-level voltage through the resistance R11. The circuit 69 discriminates the photodetection output level successively by the discrimination levels according to the output of an oscillation circuit 83 and detects the variation to discriminate the quantities of light corresponding to the discrimination levels.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a light amount detection device capable of identifying colors and the like.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY A typical prior art for identifying colors is to divide the light-receiving surface of a silicon photodiode into three parts, arrange thin-film interference filters with different transmission wavelengths in each of the divided light-receiving regions, and then apply light to the light-receiving surface. When guided, the color is identified based on the current output value for each light receiving area.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention With such prior art, there is a limit to the types of colors that can be identified, and it is desired to identify even more colors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a light amount detection device that is capable of identifying light amounts of various colors.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention includes a light emitting element that emits light with a constant amount of light and irradiates a detection surface, and a light emitting element that receives light from the detection surface and derives an output having a level corresponding to the amount of light received. a light-receiving element, a level discrimination means for sequentially discriminating the received light output level at different discrimination levels, and a means for detecting a change in the output of the level discrimination means and identifying a light amount corresponding to the discrimination level at that time. This is a light amount detection device characterized by including:

According to the present invention, the surface to be detected is irradiated with a constant amount of light from the light emitting element, the light receiving element derives an output having a level corresponding to the amount of light received from the surface to be detected, and this output level is determined by the level discrimination means. Level discrimination is performed sequentially at different discrimination levels. Each discrimination level corresponds to the amount of light received from the detection surface. Therefore, the amount of light can be identified by detecting a change in the output of the level discriminator. This amount of light corresponds to the color, saturation, brightness, etc. of the reflected and transmitted light, and can be carried out not only for color identification (e.g., for detecting water turbidity, etc.) .

Example FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

The output of oscillation circuit 60 is given to the base of transistor 61. A light emitting diode 62, which is a light emitting element, is connected in series to the transistor 61.

The light from this light emitting diode 62 is transmitted via the light projecting light 7 eyeball F. The light from the optical fiber F is irradiated onto the detection surface 63 with a predetermined constant amount of light.

The light from the detection surface 63 is received by the light-receiving optical fiber G, and is then received by the radiation sensor 4, which is a light-receiving element. A resistor 6 is connected in series with the phototransistor 64.
5 is connected, and the output from the connection point 66 is amplified by an amplifier circuit 67 and applied from a line 68 to one input of an operational amplifier circuit 70 forming a level discrimination circuit 69. The level of the signal derived from line 66 corresponds to the amount of light received by phototransistor 64.

The other input of the operational amplifier circuit 70 in the level discrimination circuit 69 includes resistors R11 to R1n and switches Sll to S.
in are connected in series, and a parallel circuit in which they are mutually connected in parallel is connected, and voltages of different levels are applied via the resistor R1.

The resistors R11 to R1n determine the discrimination level of the level discrimination circuit 69, and the higher the resistance value, the higher the discrimination level, and their resistance values are determined as follows.

R11<R12<.-<Rln-(1) The output of the level discrimination circuit 69 is led out to the line 71.

This line 71 is at a high level when the level of the signal corresponding to the amount of received light given from the line 68 is less than the discrimination level of the level discrimination circuit 69;
When the signal level of No. 8 is higher than the discrimination level, it is low level.

The output from line 71 is sent to waveform shaping circuit 72.
The waveform is shaped into a rectangular wave and applied to the base of the open collector transistor 73. A Zener diode 74 is connected in parallel to this transistor 73, thereby blocking large noises mixed in from the outside. The output line 75 of the collector 73 includes switches 821 to S2n.
are connected in parallel, and these are connected to a high level voltage via a resistor R2. Switch 821~S2n
The output of is from line 76 to input terminal 78 of counter 77.
is input. The counter 77 has a reset input terminal 79
When a low level signal is applied to the input terminal 78, the count value becomes zero, and the pulses from the input terminal 78 are added one by one and counted. The count value of the counter 77 is the latch circuit 8
given to o. This latch circuit 80 has an input terminal 81
When a low-level latch pulse is applied to the counter 77, the count value of the counter 77 is stored and latched. In the latch circuit 80, the latched output is given to a drive circuit 82, whereby a numerical value is displayed on a 7-segment display member.

The output of the oscillation circuit 83 is given to a register 84. The register 84 has output terminals q1. ..., Qnt...

Low level pulses are sequentially derived from Qn+3.

The output terminals q1 to qn are connected to the relay coils 1 to 1 of the relay.
Ln is connected, thereby relay coils L1 to Ln
are sequentially excited one by one. Relay coil L1~L
By energizing n, the corresponding switch 511
-3in, 521-82n are conductive. For example, when the output terminal q1 of the resistor 84 becomes a low level, the relay coil L1 is excited, which makes the corresponding switches Sll and S21 conductive, and the remaining output terminal q2
~qn+31! High level, relay coil L2~
Ln is demagnetized, so switches 812-s
in, 822 to S2n are blocked.

By deriving a pulse from the output terminal qn+s of the register 84, the register 84 is reset, and again by a pulse from the oscillation circuit 83, low-level pulses are successively derived from the output terminals q1 to qn+3. A ring counter is constructed. Note that although the switching circuit is configured with a mechanical relay, a non-contact element may be used to improve reliability.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment in which m pieces of one light amount detection device shown in FIG. 1 are combined. The light-emitting optical fiber F shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the light-emitting optical fibers Fil to FII11 in FIG. 2, and the light-receiving optical fiber G corresponds to the light-receiving optical fibers Gll to G1+e. The light emitting optical cables F11 to F1m and the light receiving light 7 eyepers Gll to Gin individually paired therewith are connected to a control circuit 86. This control circuit 86 has a configuration shown in FIG. 1 for each of the seven optical eyes, for example, Fil and Gll, forming a pair, and thereby displays a numerical value corresponding to the amount of light on the corresponding display member D1.

The display members D1 to DII+ are paired light 7 eyes F11.
, G11; Fl 2. Gl 2;...;Fil, G
Each corresponds to 1 ml. These optical fibers F1
1 to F1m, Gll to G1Ta are light-shielding mounting members 8
7 to be integrally fixed. By allowing the mounting member 87 to face the detection surface 63, it is possible to individually detect the amount of light at different locations.

In the following explanation, the optical fibers Fil to FIIll for light projection are
is collectively represented by F, and the light receiving optical fibers Gll to G
1m will be collectively represented by the reference mark G, and the display members D1 to Dm will be collectively represented by the reference mark.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the amount of light received by the phototransistor 7-star 64 via the light-receiving optical fiber G when the detection surface 63 is irradiated with light having a constant amount of light by the light-emitting optical fiber F. The display portion PO-P9 displayed on the detection surface 63 is as shown in Table 1, and the amount of reflected light received corresponding to this is obtained.

FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The oscillation circuit 83 generates a pulse shown in FIG. 4 (13) and supplies it to the register 84. Here, n=9. Output terminals q1 to Q12 of register 84
From this, pulses shown in FIG. 4(1) to FIG. 4(12) are sequentially derived.

As shown in Table 1 above, when the detection surface 63 is the black display portion PO, the amount of light received by the F transistor 4 is almost zero, and therefore the amount of light received by the resistor R11 in the level discrimination circuit 69 is The corresponding discrimination level in FIG. 3 is less than 11.

Therefore, the output terminal 71 of the level discrimination circuit 69 is always at a high level, so that the transistor 73 is always cut off. Therefore, when the switches 821 to S29 are sequentially turned on in accordance with the output of the register 84, the line 76 and therefore the input terminal 78 of the counter 77 remain at a high level, and the count value of the counter 77 remains zero. .

When the latch pulse shown in FIG. 4 (10) is derived from the output terminal qlO of the register 84 and inputted to the input terminal 81 of the latch circuit 80, the latch circuit 80 stores the count value "0" of the counter 77. This value is displayed on the display member by the drive circuit 82.

Next, when the output terminal qll reset pulse of the register 84 is applied to the input terminal 79 of the counter 77, the count value of the counter 77 is reset to zero.

Further thereafter, a clear pulse is derived from the output terminal Q12 of the register 84 as shown in FIG. 4 (12), thereby clearing the register 84 and returning to the original state.

Referring to FIG. 5, it is assumed that the detection surface 63 is the orange display portion P6 shown in Table 1.

At this time, when the pulses given from the oscillation circuit 83 to the register 84 are shown in FIG.
The pulses shown in Figure (9) are sequentially derived.

The level of the signal led out to the line 68 becomes equal to or higher than the discrimination level 16 corresponding to the resistor R16 in the level discrimination circuit 69, so that the output terminal 71 of the level discrimination circuit 69 receives a pulse from the output 1m of the register 84. The transistor 73 becomes conductive, and pulses are input to the input terminal 78 of the counter 77 in response to the opening/closing operations of the switches 81 to S6, and the counter 77 counts up to "6" until it is derived. Perform the action.

After the pulse is derived from the output terminal q7 of the register 84, the output terminal 71 of the level discrimination circuit 69 becomes high level, the transistor 73 is cut off, and the pulse is derived from the output terminals q7 to q9 of the register 84, and the relay is activated. Even if the coils L7 to L9 are sequentially excited and the switches 327 to S29 are sequentially turned on, the input terminal 78 of the counter 77 remains at a high level, and the counter 77 does not perform a counting operation. , its counter 7
The count value of 7 remains "6". The latch circuit 80 is
When the latch pulse shown in FIG. 5 (10) is derived from the output terminal qlO of the register 84, the count value "6" of the counter 77 is stored and latched. As a result, the display member displays the numerical value "6" by the drive circuit 82.

When the reset pulse shown in FIG. 5 (11) is derived from the output terminal q11 of the register 84, the count value of the counter 77 is reset to "0". A clear pulse shown in FIG. 5 (12) is derived from the output terminal q12 of the register 84, and the register 84 is returned to its initial state.

The latch circuit 80 updates the count value of the counter 77 when a latch pulse is applied to its input terminal 81, and the drive circuit 82 displays the latched contents on the display member. Therefore, when the amount of light from the detection surface 63 is constant, the value displayed by the display member remains constant and does not vary.

In addition, in the control circuit 86 shown in FIG. 2, the pair of optical fibers Fl1. Gl 1; Fl 2. Gl 2;・
...; Although the configuration shown in FIG. 1 may be provided for each of F 1 a+ and G 1 m, in order to simplify the configuration, the oscillation circuit 60 and the light emitting optical fibers Fil to F1m may be provided in common. , Y range starro 1, and light emitting diode 62
may also be provided.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment in which the present invention is implemented. One end of the optical transmission line 1 faces the gas flow rate integrating meter 2, and the other end faces the meter reading board 4.

As shown in FIG. 7, this optical transmission line 1 includes a light emitting cable F, a light receiving cable G, and these cables F,
It is composed of a coating layer 5 that covers G. The needle detection board 4 is
For example, it is attached to the outer wall surface 6a of the house 6. This meter reading board 4 has a meter reading window 50, and the cables F and G face the meter reading window 50. The f1h flow rate integrator 2 is attached, for example, to an inner wall surface of the house 6 that is separated from the road 10. The gas flow rate totalizer 2 is provided with an inlet 12 through which gas is introduced from a service pipe drawn into the house 6, and an outlet 13 through which gas is discharged through the flow rate totalizer 2. It will be done. Gas from the outlet 13 is supplied to a gas combustion device such as a stove via a supply pipe 14 .

The amount of gas supplied and used by the gas combustion device is integrated by the integration 515 (see Figure 8) provided in the flow rate integration meter 2, and the integrated value is converted into a digital value by the display wheel M (see Figure 8). is displayed.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the flow rate totalizer 2, and FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the vicinity of the display wheel M. The display wheel M is surrounded by an integral cover 20 having an inclined cylindrical shape.

This cover unit 20 includes a main body 21 and a protrusion 22 that protrudes outward at the center of the main body 21. A window hole 23 is formed in the protrusion 22, and a transparent plate 24 is provided facing the window hole 23. In addition, the protrusion 22 includes a light projection cable F.
A fitting hole 26 into which the holding member 25 holding the light receiving cable G is fitted is formed.

A bolt 27 is inserted into the corner of the main body 21 of the cover unit 20, and this bolt 27 is screwed into the casing of the flow rate totalizer 2, whereby the cover unit 20 is attached to the flow rate totalizer 2.
Fixed. A cover unit 28 that covers the flow rate totalizer body 11
is similarly fixed to the flow rate totalizer 2 by bolts 27.

The flow rate integrator 2 includes a flow rate detection section 30 that detects the incoming flow rate, and a flow rate integrator 15. The flow rate integrating unit 15 includes a plurality of (seven in this embodiment) display wheels M that display the flow rate integrated value.
1 , M 2 , . . . 9M7 (generally referred to by reference mark M), and a cover unit 20. These display wheels M 1 , M 2 ,..., M7 are
They are arranged side by side so as to have a common axis. On the outer peripheral surface of the display wheels M 1 , M 2 , . . . , M7, numbers “0” to “9” indicating the integrated flow rate are printed, for example, in cream color. On the outer peripheral surface of the display wheel M1,
A plurality of display parts P 1 , P with mutually different colors for each number
2,...,P9. PO (collectively, the islands are referred to as P
) is provided. Display part P corresponding to the number “0”
O is painted black as shown in Table 1 above, and the display portion P9 corresponding to the number "9" is painted white.

The colors of the display portions PO-P9 corresponding to these numbers are the same for the remaining display wheels M2 to M7.

A holding member 25 is arranged within the casing of the flow rate totalizer 2 and below the indicator wheel M. This holding member 25 is
It has a rectangular shape and is made of acrylic resin. This holding member 25 is the display wheel Ml.

M2. . . , seven cells S1, S2 . . . corresponding to M7.
....

It consists of S7.

The light emitting optical fibers F include seven light emitting light beams F 1 , F 2 , . . . , F 7 that individually correspond to each digit.
The light-receiving optical fiber G includes light-receiving optical fibers G 1 , G 2 ,
....

Consists of G7. One end of the light projecting optical fiber F1 is inserted into the cell S1 of the holding member 25, and the display ring M
1, and the receiving optical fiber G1
One end is inserted and fixed facing the display wheel M1.

Similarly, one end of the light emitting optical fiber F2 and the light receiving optical fiber G2 is inserted into the cell S2, and the display ring M2 is inserted into the cell S2.
It will be fixed in front of you. Similarly, in the remaining cells 83 to S7, one light emitting optical fiber F and one light receiving optical fiber G corresponding to each display ring M are inserted, and the display corresponding to the fibers F and G is inserted. It is fixed facing the wheel M.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the needle detection board 4, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken from the section line summer −°C in the figure. The meter-reading window 50 of the meter-reading board 4 is held by the holding member 34, and the receiver is the opening member 3.
5F and 35G are fixed.

The holding member 34 is made of acrylic resin or the like, and has cells H1, H2, . . . , H7 for each digit. The receiver is the mouth member 3
The other end of the light emitting optical fiber F1 is arranged inside the opening member 35G, the other end of the light receiving optical fiber G1 is arranged inside the opening member 35G, and the two receivers are arranged inside the opening member 35F.
, 35G are held between the cells H1 forming the holding member 34. The remaining optical fibers F2 to F7. Similarly, G2 to G7 are connected to cells H2 to H via mouth members 35F and 35G.
7.

The receiver has a pair of plugs 38F and 3 in the mouth members 35F and 35G.
8G will fit. Inside the stoppers 38F and 38G are optical fibers F11. Light-receiving optical fibers G11 are arranged respectively. The remaining optical fibers F12 to F17. F12
~F17 is similarly attached to the plugs 3BF and 38G.

Light projection optical fiber Fl-F7. End face F of Fil-F17
la-F7aIF 11a-F 17a and light receiving light 7 eyeglass G1-G7. End face G 1 a of G11-Gl7
-G7a, G11a-G17a are cut perpendicular to their respective axes. A seven-run part 39 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the plugs 38F and 38G, and a cap nut 40 surrounds this seven-run part 39. The cap nut 40 has a socket member 35.
F and 35G are screwed into external threads 36 carved on the outer peripheral surface. In this way, the end face Fla of the light projecting optical fiber Fil and the end face F1a of the light projecting light 7 eyeball F1 are brought into close contact. The same applies to the remaining light emitting optical fibers F12 to F17 and F2 to F7, and the remaining light receiving optical fibers Gll to G17 and 61 to G7. As a result, the light from the light projecting optical fibers F11 to F17 passes through the light projecting optical fibers F1 to F7 to the display ring M1.
~M7 is irradiated. This reflected light is given to the control circuit 86 from the light receiving optical fibers 611 to G17 via the light receiving optical fibers 01 to G7. In this way, the meter reading operator can detect the colors of the display parts P of the display wheels M1 to M7, and thereby remotely read the flow rate integrated value of the flow rate totalizer.

Note that the holding member 25 is disposed below the display wheels M1 to M7, and therefore the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 detect the display part P in a state angularly displaced by 72° or 108° with respect to the actual flow rate integrated value. Therefore, the meter reading operator needs to take this point into consideration and reconvert the numerical value based on the color of the display section P visually observed from the meter reading board 4 to calculate the flow rate integrated value.

In this way, the flow rate integrated value of the flow rate totalizer 2 is read by identifying the color of the display part P coated on the outer periphery of the display wheel M. One optical fiber G may be provided for each digit. Actually, the display wheel Ml.

M2. MS is the test display wheel of the flow rate totalizer, and the remaining display wheel M4. MS, M6. M7 is the indicator wheel necessary for meter reading, so at least indicator wheels M4, MS, M6
．． It is only necessary to provide one each of the light-emitting optical fibers F4 to F7 and the light-receiving optical fibers 64 to G7 facing M7.

If it is necessary to add optical fibers F and G, attach connectors to the transmitting optical fiber F and receiving optical fiber G in advance, and connect the required lengths of optical fibers F and G to the connectors. Just add it. When adding such optical fibers F and G, in the present invention, it is only necessary to provide one optical fiber F and G for each digit, and therefore it is easy to add optical fibers F and G according to the length. is possible. If the numbers on the display ring M are to be read using optical fibers, approximately 6000 optical fibers are required, and therefore, in such a case, it is practically impossible to add more optical fibers.

For reference, when performing meter reading work at a location away from the flow rate totalizer by a method other than the above embodiments, for example, the signal pulse is extracted from the integration section of the flow rate totalizer, and a One possible method is to read the meter by inputting the signal pulse to an integration display, but in this case, one integration display is required for one flow rate integration meter, which not only increases cost but also increases the cost. However, this is not an easy method, as noise may enter the pulse connection between the flow rate totalizer and the totalization display, and maintenance of the totalization display may be required.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, remote meter reading is performed by providing a plurality of display sections P of mutually different colors around the outer periphery of the display wheel M of the existing integration section 15, which can reduce the cost. can be prevented. In addition, the meter-reading operator must insert plugs into the opening members 35F and 35G of the meter-reading window 50 of the meter-reading board 4.
Remote meter reading can be performed simply by connecting 8F and 38G.

Therefore, there is no noise problem or need for maintenance. Further, the installation location of the gas flow rate totalizer 2 can be selected from either the inner wall surface or the outer wall surface of a building or house, which is extremely practical.

The remote meter reading method according to the present invention is applicable not only to remote meter reading of the integrating section of a gas flow rate integrating meter, but also to remote meter reading of the integrating section of a flow rate integrating meter for water, electricity, etc., remote meter reading of various measuring equipment, and remote meter reading of a chemical plant. It can also be suitably used for detecting reaction states and the like.

The present invention can not only identify colors, but also detect the amount of reflected light and the amount of light transmitted through an object to be detected, such as the turbidity of water.

Effects As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect the level of light amount over a wide level range.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is an electrical circuit diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is the electrical circuit diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.
A block diagram showing another embodiment in which the embodiments shown in the figure are combined, FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the color of the detection surface 63 and the amount of received light, and FIGS. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the optical transmission line 1, and FIG. 8 is a flow rate integration diagram. A total of 2 vertical cross-sectional views, Figure 9 is the display wheel M
An exploded perspective view of the vicinity, Figure 10 is a sectional view of the needle detection board 4,
1 is a sectional view taken along the section line XI-XI in FIG. 10. 60.83...Oscillation circuit, 61.73...Transistor, 62...Light emitting diode, 63...Detected surface, 64...E)) transistor, 67...Amplification circuit,
69... Level discrimination circuit, 70... Operational amplifier circuit,
72... Waveform shaping circuit, 74... Zener diode, 77... Counter, 79... Reset input terminal, 80... Latch circuit, 82... Drive circuit, 84...
...Register, D...Display member, F...Optical fiber for light emission, G...Optical fiber for light reception, L1 to Ln...
Relay coil, P...Display section, R11-R1n-resistance, 5ll-8ln, S21-S2n...Switch agent Patent attorney Number of strokes 8 figure r-1 entry 11 near xJJ 24 , 0 ≧025 26FG 27 rabbit 11 I
t +1 111゜Procedural Amendment November 28, 1986

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A light-emitting element that emits light with a constant amount of light and illuminates a surface to be detected, a light-receiving element that receives light from the surface to be detected and derives an output having a level corresponding to the amount of light received, and a light-receiving element. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a level discrimination means for sequentially discriminating the output level at different discrimination levels, and a means for detecting a change in the output of the level discrimination means and identifying the amount of light corresponding to the discrimination level at that time. Light amount detection device.