JPWO2016166824A1 - Sensor signal converter and sensor signal conversion method - Google Patents

Abstract

A sensor signal converter that corrects a signal input from the sensor, and outputs an analog signal based on the signal input from the sensor 115 to the output terminal 114, and an analog signal obtained from the analog signal line 111. An A / D converter 121 that performs A / D conversion on the signal, a digital correction circuit 12 that performs correction value calculation processing based on the digital signal obtained by the A / D converter 121, and a correction calculated by the digital correction circuit 12 By providing a D / A converter 122 that D / A converts a value, and a correction value analog signal line 112 that adds a correction value analog signal obtained by the D / A converter 122 to the analog signal. The responsiveness and the circuit configuration for correction processing can be simplified or reduced in cost.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensor signal converter and a sensor signal conversion method for correcting and outputting an analog signal from a sensor.

In various devices, control processing based on information obtained from sensors is performed. The sensor has a tendency according to the characteristics of each element, and the output value may fluctuate due to the influence of the environment. These are errors with respect to the value to be measured. Things have been done. In other words, each sensor element has problems such as individual differences, non-linearity, and temperature drift, so it is necessary to perform zero-point correction, full-scale correction, linearization correction, temperature correction, etc., for accurate measurement. is there.
Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose techniques relating to correction of errors generated by such sensors and the like.

JP-A-9-311080 JP 2005-218661 A

The signal obtained by the sensor is often an analog signal obtained as a fluctuation in voltage value or resistance value. When correcting the analog signal from this sensor, a method of correcting by an analog circuit for correction and an analog signal from the sensor There is a method in which a signal is A / D converted and corrected by a digital circuit.
When using an analog circuit for correction, it is excellent in terms of responsiveness. However, if various adjustment and correction functions are constructed with only an analog circuit, the circuit is generally large, complicated, and expensive. There is. In addition to the cost of the device itself, it can cause difficulties in development and design and prolongation of the development and design period based on it.
When correction processing is performed in a digital circuit, since the correction processing can be realized in software, a general-purpose and inexpensive device can be used for the circuit itself, but the processing time of correction processing that is software processing There is a problem that a delay based on this occurs and the responsiveness deteriorates. If an attempt is made to increase the responsiveness, a device with good performance is required, and there is a problem that the cost is increased and the power consumption is increased.

  In view of the above points, the present invention is a sensor signal converter that corrects a signal input from a sensor, and simplifies or reduces the cost of a circuit configuration for correction processing and maintains response performance. An object of the present invention is to provide a sensor signal converter.

(Configuration 1)
An analog signal line that outputs an analog signal based on a signal input from a sensor to an output terminal, an A / D converter that performs A / D conversion on the analog signal obtained from the analog signal line, and the A / D converter A digital correction circuit that performs correction value calculation processing based on the obtained digital signal, a D / A conversion unit that D / A converts the correction value calculated by the digital correction circuit, and the D / A conversion unit. And a correction value analog signal line for adding the correction value analog signal to the analog signal.

(Configuration 2)
The sensor signal converter according to Configuration 1, wherein the digital correction circuit performs linearization correction processing.

(Configuration 3)
The sensor signal converter according to Configuration 1 or Configuration 2, wherein the digital correction circuit performs temperature characteristic correction processing of the sensor based on temperature information from a temperature detection unit that measures a temperature in the vicinity of the sensor. .

(Configuration 4)
A temperature detection unit that measures a temperature in the vicinity of the circuit unit, and the digital correction circuit performs a temperature characteristic correction process of the circuit unit based on temperature information from the temperature detection unit; The sensor signal converter according to any one of the above.

(Configuration 5)
The digital correction circuit performs at least one of a zero point correction process and a full scale correction process, and adds a zero point correction value analog signal to the analog signal in a system different from the correction value analog signal, or a magnification. The sensor signal converter according to any one of Configurations 1 to 4, wherein the sensor signal converter is changed.

(Configuration 6)
An analog signal based on a signal input from the sensor is output to an output terminal, and a correction value calculation process is performed by a digital correction circuit based on a digital signal obtained by A / D converting the analog signal from the sensor. A sensor signal conversion method comprising: adding a correction value analog signal obtained by D / A converting the calculated correction value digital signal to the analog signal.

(Configuration 7)
7. The sensor signal conversion method according to Configuration 6, wherein the digital correction circuit performs linearization correction processing.

(Configuration 8)
8. The sensor signal conversion method according to Configuration 6 or Configuration 7, wherein the digital correction circuit performs temperature characteristic correction processing of the sensor based on temperature information from a temperature detection unit that measures a temperature in the vicinity of the sensor. .

(Configuration 9)
9. The sensor according to any one of Configurations 6 to 8, wherein the digital correction circuit performs temperature characteristic correction processing of the circuit unit based on temperature information from a temperature detection unit that measures a temperature in the vicinity of the circuit unit. Signal conversion method.

(Configuration 10)
The digital correction circuit performs at least one of a zero point correction process and a full scale correction process, and adds a zero point correction value analog signal to the analog signal in a system different from the correction value analog signal, or a magnification. 10. The sensor signal conversion method according to any one of Configuration 6 to Configuration 9, wherein the sensor signal conversion method is changed.

  According to the sensor signal converter or the sensor signal conversion method of the present invention, the correction process can be performed in software by a digital correction circuit, so that the circuit configuration for the correction process can be simplified or reduced in cost. In addition, since the analog signal itself based on the signal input from the sensor is directly output from the output terminal, the responsiveness can be enhanced.

The block diagram which shows the sensor signal converter of Embodiment 1. The block diagram which shows the sensor signal converter of Embodiment 2.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the following embodiment is one form at the time of actualizing this invention, Comprising: This invention is not limited within the range.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a sensor signal converter according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The sensor signal converter 1 amplifies and corrects the signal obtained from the sensor element and outputs the signal. More specifically, the sensor signal converter 1 amplifies the signal from the pressure sensor that measures the pressure of the molten resin or the like in the extruder. -Correct and output.
As shown in FIG. 1, roughly, an analog circuit 11 that handles an analog signal obtained from the sensor element 115, a digital circuit 12 that performs various correction calculation processes, and a circuit unit temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the circuit unit. (Temperature detector) 13 and an output terminal 14 are provided.

  The analog circuit 11 includes a sensor element 115 (a pressure sensor element in the present embodiment as described above), a sensor part temperature sensor (temperature detection part) 116 that measures the temperature in the vicinity of the sensor element 115, and an analog signal from the sensor element 115. Sensor signal conversion circuit 113 for amplifying signal, analog signal line 111 for transmitting the analog signal, and correction value analog signal line for adding a correction value analog signal to be described later to the analog signal of analog signal line 111 112, an analog output generation unit 114 that finally adjusts the output value, and the like.

The digital circuit 12 performs A / D conversion on the A / D conversion unit 121 that performs A / D conversion on the analog signal of the analog signal line 111 and the temperature information signal (analog value) from the sensor unit temperature sensor 116, and based on this. The sensor unit temperature A / D conversion value correction unit 123 that performs processing for correcting the temperature characteristics of the sensor element 115 and the temperature information signal (analog value) from the circuit unit temperature sensor 13 are A / D converted, and based on this A circuit unit temperature A / D conversion value correction unit 124 that performs processing for correcting the temperature characteristics of the circuit units (analog circuit 11 and digital circuit 12), a linearization correction unit 125 that performs linearization correction processing, and a pre-correction A correction amount calculation processing unit 126 that calculates a correction amount that is a difference between the waveform and the corrected waveform, and a correction value obtained by D / A conversion of the correction value calculated by the correction amount calculation processing unit 126 The analog signal comprises a D / A converter 122 to output to the correction value analog signal line 112, a.
The sensor unit temperature A / D conversion value correction unit 123, the circuit unit temperature A / D conversion value correction unit 124, the linearization correction unit 125, and the correction amount calculation processing unit 126 constitute a digital correction circuit. In the block diagram, there is a description in which individual circuits as hardware exist, but they are configured in software by a general-purpose MCU (Micro Controller Unit) or the like. However, a part or all of them may be configured in hardware.

Operation | movement of the sensor signal converter 1 provided with the said structure is demonstrated.
Since the signal obtained by sensing the sensor element 115 by the sensor element 115 (in this embodiment, the pressure of the molten resin or the like in the extrusion molding machine) usually has a low signal level, the signal is amplified by the sensor signal conversion circuit 113. In addition, the image figure of the signal of each place is attached | subjected in FIG.
The amplified analog signal is input to the A / D conversion unit 121 and output to the output terminal 14 via the analog output generation unit 114 by the analog signal line 111. That is, with respect to the signal from the sensor element 115, amplification in the sensor signal conversion circuit 113 and output adjustment in the analog output generation unit 114 (adjustment to current and voltage that can be captured by an indicator or controller connected to the output terminal 14). An analog signal that has just been output is output from the output terminal 14 as a base.

On the other hand, the analog signal (amplified signal from the sensor element 115) input to the A / D conversion unit 121 of the digital circuit 12 is A / D converted by the A / D conversion unit 121, and the sensor unit temperature A / D The D conversion value correction unit 123 and the circuit unit temperature A / D conversion value correction unit 124 perform correction based on the temperature characteristics of the sensor element 115 and the temperature characteristics of the circuit units (analog circuit 11 and digital circuit 12). That is, based on the temperature information around the sensor element 115 measured by the sensor unit temperature sensor 116, the temperature characteristics of the sensor element 115 are corrected, and the circuit unit (analog circuit 11, digital circuit measured by the circuit unit temperature sensor 13). 12) The temperature characteristic of the circuit unit is corrected based on the temperature information in the vicinity. It should be noted that each conventional method can be used for the temperature characteristic correction processing itself of each element or circuit.
The signal whose temperature characteristics have been corrected by the above is converted by the linearize correction unit 125 so as to have linearity when the change of the sensor signal with respect to the change of the input (pressure in this embodiment) is not linear. A linearize correction process is performed. As for the linearization correction processing, the conventional methods can be used for the correction processing itself.
As a result, the correction amount, which is the difference between the corrected signal that has been subjected to temperature correction and linearization correction, and the signal that has not been corrected (the signal that has just been A / D converted by the A / D converter 121) is obtained. It is calculated by the correction amount calculation processing unit 126.
The correction value calculated by the correction amount calculation processing unit 126 is D / A converted by the D / A conversion unit 122, output as a correction value analog signal to the correction value analog signal line 112, and added to the analog signal line 111. . That is, the correction of the signal is performed by adding the correction value analog signal to the base analog signal amplified in the sensor signal conversion circuit 113.

As described above, according to the sensor signal converter 1 of the present embodiment, the analog signal itself based on the signal input from the sensor element 115 is output from the output terminal 14 at any time, so that a delay due to correction processing or the like does not occur. . In addition, since the correction process can be performed in software by the digital circuit 12, the circuit configuration for the correction process can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.
In addition, when correction processing is performed by a digital circuit as in the past, it is necessary to increase the clock frequency of the digital circuit (MCU, etc.) in order to increase responsiveness, and power consumption increases accordingly. However, according to the sensor signal converter 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, there is no delay in the analog signal itself based on the signal input from the sensor element 115. There is no need to increase the clock frequency. Therefore, an MCU or the like with low power consumption can be used, and low power consumption can be achieved while having high responsiveness.
When the input fluctuates greatly, that is, when the sensor measurement value fluctuates greatly, a time lag occurs until a correction value is added to the output based on a delay caused by software processing in the digital circuit 12, but the input fluctuation Since the analog output fluctuates following it, the output value does not differ greatly. The input to the sensor can fluctuate abruptly and response to this is required, but in general, the ambient temperature in which the sensor or circuit is placed does not fluctuate abruptly, and the linearity characteristics However, it can be said that high responsiveness is required for the correction values of the temperature correction and the linearize correction themselves. Therefore, according to the sensor signal converter 1 of the present embodiment, various corrections can be realized without problems with a simple circuit and low cost while having high responsiveness.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a sensor signal converter according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
As in the first embodiment, the sensor signal converter 2 of the present embodiment amplifies and corrects a signal obtained from the sensor element, and specifically measures the pressure of the molten resin or the like in an extruder. The signal from the pressure sensor is amplified and corrected and output. The same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.

  The sensor signal converter 2 of this embodiment further performs zero point adjustment and full scale adjustment.

The digital circuit 12 of the sensor signal converter 2 includes a zero point adjustment value calculation processing unit 129, a D / A conversion unit 128, and a full scale adjustment value calculation processing unit 127.
Note that the zero point adjustment value calculation processing unit 129 and the full scale adjustment value calculation processing unit 127 also constitute a digital correction circuit, and each block diagram is described as existing individually as hardware. This is configured by software such as an MCU (Micro Controller Unit). However, a part or all of them may be configured in hardware.

  The zero point adjustment value calculation processing unit 129 adjusts the reference value, that is, when there is a deviation in the reference output of the sensor element 115 or the sensor signal conversion circuit 113 or the analog output generation unit 114 with respect to an input as a reference. The correction value is output based on the value set at the time of adjustment before shipment from the factory. This correction value is D / A converted by the D / A converter 128 and added to the output signal of the sensor element 115. Thereby, the zero point adjustment of the output signal of the sensor element 115 is performed. The line connected from the input point of the A / D conversion unit 121 to the zero point adjustment value calculation processing unit 129 is used only for the calculation processing of the set value during adjustment before factory shipment. It is not used for the adjustment processing operation itself.

  The full scale adjustment value calculation processing unit 127 adjusts the scale of the output, and is a value set at the time of adjustment before factory shipment, for example, a sensor element 115 or a sensor signal conversion circuit 113 for an input as a certain standard. Alternatively, the amplification factor in the sensor signal conversion circuit 113 is controlled based on the magnification at which the output of the analog output generation unit 114 becomes 100%. Thereby, full scale adjustment is performed. Note that the line connected from the input point of the analog output generation unit 114 to the full scale adjustment value calculation processing unit 127 is used only for the calculation process of the set value at the time of adjustment before shipment from the factory. It is not used for the processing operation itself.

As described above, according to the sensor signal converter 2 of the present embodiment, the zero point adjustment and the full scale adjustment are performed by the digital circuit, so that the circuit configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. That is, when the zero point adjustment and the full scale adjustment are configured by an analog circuit, it is necessary to manually adjust the volume and the like, and man-hours are required in the manufacturing process. In addition, since the volume is a geometric part, the reliability is low, and when a volume with good temperature drift performance used for zero point adjustment and full scale adjustment is used, the cost becomes high. Therefore, such a problem can be avoided.
In addition, since the system is different from the line for calculating a correction value that tends to cause delay such as linearization correction, zero point adjustment and full scale adjustment can be performed at high speed.

  In each of the embodiments, an example is one in which a signal from a pressure sensor that measures the pressure of a molten resin or the like is amplified and corrected in an extruder, and is output, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various sensors Can be used.

  In each embodiment, the sensor signal converter includes a sensor element or a sensor temperature sensor as an example. However, the sensor signal converter and the sensor are separate, and a signal from the sensor is input. The sensor signal converter may have an input unit.

1. . . Sensor signal converter 11. . . Analog circuit 111. . . Analog signal line 112. . . Correction value analog signal line 115. . . Sensor element 116. . . Sensor part temperature sensor (temperature detection part)
12 . . Digital circuit 121. . . A / D converter 122. . . D / A converter 123. . . Sensor unit temperature A / D conversion value correction unit (digital correction circuit)
124. . . Circuit temperature A / D conversion value correction unit (digital correction circuit)
125. . . Linearization correction unit (digital correction circuit)
126. . . Correction amount calculation processing unit (digital correction circuit)
13. . . Circuit temperature sensor (temperature detector)
14 . . Output terminal . . Sensor signal converter 127. . . Full scale adjustment value calculation processing unit (digital correction circuit)
128. . . D / A converter 129. . . Zero point adjustment value calculation processing unit (digital correction circuit)

Claims (10)

An analog signal line for outputting an analog signal based on the signal input from the sensor to the output terminal;
An A / D converter for A / D converting an analog signal obtained from the analog signal line;
A digital correction circuit that performs a correction value calculation process based on the digital signal obtained by the A / D converter;
A D / A converter for D / A converting the correction value calculated by the digital correction circuit;
A correction value analog signal line for adding the correction value analog signal obtained by the D / A converter to the analog signal;
A sensor signal converter comprising:   The sensor signal converter according to claim 1, wherein the digital correction circuit performs a linearization correction process.   The sensor signal according to claim 1, wherein the digital correction circuit performs a temperature characteristic correction process of the sensor based on temperature information from a temperature detection unit that measures a temperature in the vicinity of the sensor. converter.   A temperature detection unit for measuring a temperature in the vicinity of the circuit unit is provided, and the digital correction circuit performs a temperature characteristic correction process for the circuit unit based on temperature information from the temperature detection unit. Item 4. The sensor signal converter according to Item 3.   The digital correction circuit performs at least one of a zero point correction process and a full scale correction process, and adds a zero point correction value analog signal to the analog signal in a system different from the correction value analog signal, or a magnification. The sensor signal converter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sensor signal converter is changed. An analog signal based on the signal input from the sensor is output to the output terminal.
A correction value calculation process is performed in a digital correction circuit based on a digital signal obtained by A / D converting an analog signal from the sensor,
A sensor signal conversion method comprising: adding a correction value analog signal obtained by D / A converting the calculated correction value digital signal to the analog signal.   The sensor signal conversion method according to claim 6, wherein the digital correction circuit performs a linearization correction process.   The sensor signal according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the digital correction circuit performs a temperature characteristic correction process of the sensor based on temperature information from a temperature detection unit that measures a temperature in the vicinity of the sensor. Conversion method.   9. The digital characteristic correction circuit according to claim 6, wherein the digital correction circuit performs temperature characteristic correction processing of the circuit unit based on temperature information from a temperature detection unit that measures a temperature in the vicinity of the circuit unit. Sensor signal conversion method.   The digital correction circuit performs at least one of a zero point correction process and a full scale correction process, and adds a zero point correction value analog signal to the analog signal in a system different from the correction value analog signal, or a magnification. 10. The sensor signal conversion method according to claim 6, wherein the sensor signal conversion method is changed.

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