KR200256575Y1 - Smart type gas sensor module - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gas sensor module used in a gas measuring device for measuring and alarming oxygen, toxic gas and explosive gas in an industrial field, and more specifically, a signal processing unit and The present invention relates to a smart gas sensor module incorporating a memory device that stores main characteristics of a gas sensor.

The present invention can measure a variety of gases in a single device, the sensor drive circuit 102, which allows the gas sensor 101 to operate stably in a commercial gas sensor 101 that outputs an electrical signal in response to the gas Memory to store the primary signal processing circuit 103, which processes the shape and size of different output signals for each gas sensor constantly, calibration information, measurement range, alarm value, amplification factor, etc. The device 104 is manufactured by integrating a small electronic circuit composed of an address input unit 105 for setting an address of each module so as to mount and use several smart gas sensor modules 100 in one device. .

The inventive module configured as described above measures a gas by transmitting a constant output signal proportional to the concentration of the corresponding gas and main characteristic data of the corresponding gas sensor to the gas measuring instrument.

The present design module amplifies an output signal proportional to the gas concentration transmitted from the address setting unit 306 for setting an address in each module and a digital signal to prevent a collision in communication between a plurality of smart gas sensor modules. The microprocessor 301 for reading the main characteristic data of the gas sensor, calculating the gas concentration, and controlling various peripheral devices from the signal processing unit 200 and the memory element 104 of the smart gas sensor module 100 for conversion. An output unit 302 for displaying the measured concentration value and outputting an alarm, a storage device 305 for continuously storing the measured gas concentration as necessary, and a communication unit 304 for transmitting the stored concentration value to the outside. It is connected to the configured gas measuring device to perform a predetermined function.

The present invention incorporates the signal processing circuit and related data necessary for the gas sensor module itself, so it is possible to measure other gases by simply changing the gas sensor module in one device. Compared to the conventional method that had to be equipped with equipment, it is possible to economically measure various gases, and the manufacturer does not need to manufacture equipment for each gas, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing inventory burden.

In addition, even when the sensor is replaced due to the end of the life of the gas sensor, in the past, a standard gas calibration work by an expert is required, and thus, the user cannot easily perform the sensor replacement, which causes a lot of burden due to the operation of the device. Since the module has all the information about the sensor embedded in it, the end user can easily replace the sensor module.

Description

Smart type gas sensor module

The present invention relates to a gas sensor module that can measure and manage various types of gases with a single measuring device in order to ensure the safety of workers from various gases generated in an industrial field. By integrating the memory elements that store the main characteristics of gas sensors into one piece, non-expert workers can accurately measure various gases simply by exchanging the sensor module as needed, thereby economically securing worker safety and maintenance It relates to a smart gas sensor module with improved convenience.

In general, as industrialization progresses, the risk of oxygen deficiency, poisoning by various toxic gases, and explosion accidents due to explosive gases is increasing, and the types of gases generated in the workplaces are also diversified.

Conventionally, a gas sensor used for industrial safety has been used a semiconductor type, a thermal conductivity type, etc., but electrochemical sensors are generally used because of problems such as disturbance, measurement accuracy, and stability caused by other gases. However, in the case of oxygen and toxic gas, the measurement principle is similar, but the oxygen is galvanic cell type and the toxic gas is electrostatic discharging type, and the signal processing method is different. The risks are also different. In particular, combustible gases generally use catalytic oxidation, so there is a big difference in measurement principles and signal processing methods. Thus, due to the difference in signal processing method, output type, measuring range, risk, etc. for each measuring gas, it is impossible to measure other gases because only one gas can be fixed when manufacturing and shipping gas measuring equipment. It was. Therefore, in order to measure different types of gas, it is necessary to have several different types of gas measuring instruments, so the economic burden increases as the type of gas that can be exposed to the worker increases, so in the case of dangerous gas with low frequency of occurrence, In many cases, measurement and management were not carried out smoothly, and even if there were several gas measuring instruments, it was difficult for workers to carry and carry out the work.

In addition, the exchange of sensors is necessary because of the longevity of the sensor's measurement principle.In this case, precise calibration using standard gas is required due to individual deviations between the sensors. Therefore, there were many difficulties in the maintenance of the gas meter.

The present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned defects and problems, and the sensor drive and signal processing circuit and the memory element are integrally combined with one gas sensor to react to the gas according to the measuring method of each sensor. The sensor is driven to handle various types of output signals and the size of the output, and the sensor type, the amplification rate according to the sensor output, the alarm setting value according to the risk for each gas, the measuring range, and the calibration value are stored in advance. By recording in the smart type gas sensor module of the present invention to a predetermined gas measuring device, it is possible to measure the corresponding gas without any additional device adjustment or operation. The aim is to provide a gas sensor module to improve the accuracy and ease of maintenance by easily changing the sensor. The.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gas sensor 101 for contacting gas and outputting an electrical signal: the sensor driving circuit 102 for maintaining an electrical condition so that the gas sensor 101 can react with gas. And: Primary signal processing circuit 103 for converting various types of sensor output, such as a change in current, voltage or resistance, proportional to gas concentration into a constant voltage signal, and amplifying the magnitude of the sensor output signal to a predetermined range. Zero calibration value, amplification factor, primary alarm value, secondary alarm value, short term exposure limit (STEL), time weighted average (TWA), calibration gas concentration, maximum measuring range, Memory device 104 containing various sensor information such as resolution, sensor type, sensor display character set, sensor serial number, last calibration date, etc .: When a plurality of smart gas sensor modules 100 are installed in a single device, Memory element 104 and circles A smart gas that is composed of an address input unit 105 for active communication, and has all the information and signal processing circuits necessary for measurement and alarm in the sensor itself so that only the sensor module can be replaced to accurately measure or easily maintain other gases. Provide a sensor module.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a smart gas sensor module of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the gas meter equipped with a smart gas sensor module of the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

(100): smart gas sensor module (101): gas sensor

(102): sensor drive circuit (103): primary signal processing circuit

(104): Memory element 105: Address input section

200: signal processing unit 201: secondary signal processing circuit

(202): AD converter 300: central control unit

(301): MCU (microprocessor) (302): output unit

(303): input unit 304: communication unit

305: memory unit 306: address setting unit

400: power supply

Hereinafter, described in detail by the accompanying drawings an embodiment of the present invention as follows.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the smart gas sensor module of the present invention, Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a preferred configuration of the gas measuring instrument equipped with the smart gas sensor module of the present invention.

First, referring to FIG. 1, in the case of toxic gas according to different measuring principles for each gas sensor, the potential between the reference electrode and the corresponding electrode is kept constant using a grinding amplifier, and in the case of flammable gas, Wheatstone bridge A sensor driving circuit 102 implemented using surface-mount components according to a sensor driving method, and a primary signal processing circuit using an operational amplifier to convert a current signal or a resistance change proportional to a gas concentration into a voltage. 103). The primary signal processing circuit 103 sets the feedback resistance of the operational amplifier for each sensor so that the magnitude of the output signal different for each gas sensor can be collectively processed by the gas measuring instrument. The shape and size of the output signal were kept constant.

The memory device 104 uses a nonvolatile memory device such as an EEPROM, and information necessary for signal processing and measurement such as the maximum measurement range, resolution, and amplification factor of the smart gas sensor module 100, and zero calibration, span calibration, and calibration. Calibration related information such as gas concentration, date of last calibration for regular calibration of the instrument, primary alarm value, secondary alarm value, short term exposure limit (STEL), time weighted average It contains alarm setting value information to inform the user of the danger of gas such as concentration (TWA, Time weighted average), and sensor type, sensor display character set and sensor serial number.

In addition, in order to allow several smart gas sensor modules 100 to be mounted and used in one device, the address input unit 105 may be configured to set the address of the above-mentioned memory device 104 in the central controller 300. By configuring several smart gas sensor module 100 in a single device can be mounted at the same time.

Referring to Figure 2, a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the preferred gas meter is equipped with a smart gas sensor module of the present invention, a measurement signal information and calibration information of a certain magnitude proportional to the gas concentration Smart gas sensor module 100 of the present invention for providing related information, alarm information and sensor information to the microprocessor 301: and amplifies and processes the voltage signal output from the smart gas sensor module 100 to the secondary A signal processing unit 200 including an AD converter 202 for converting an analog signal into a digital signal for processing by the secondary signal processing circuit 201 and the microprocessor 301; A microprocessor 301 which reads the sensor type and various information from 100, converts the digitized signal into a concentration using this information, and controls various peripheral devices, and the measured concentration. And an output unit 302 for displaying an alarm and the state of the device using a display element such as a graphic LCD, and outputting an alarm using a high-brightness LED and a high buzzer and a vibration motor when an alarm condition is met. Memory 305, which continuously stores outliers when using the device, such as on / off of the device, alarm generation, and change of the set value according to the user, and wired or Set the address of the communication unit 304 to transmit in a wireless manner, the memory element 104 of the smart gas sensor module 100 to facilitate the communication even if a large number of modules in one device The central control unit 300 composed of a unit 306 and: a power supply unit 400 that receives power from the battery and supplies a constant voltage to the entire module.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, internal wiring is minimized and common bus type serial communication is used for smooth communication between the smart gas sensor module 100 and the central control unit 300. In order to prevent a collision between the gas sensor modules 100, an address for the memory device 104 in the smart gas sensor module 100 may be set.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described specific preferred embodiments, and any person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention claimed in the claims. Of course, such changes will fall within the scope of the claims.

As described above, the smart gas sensor module is equipped with the necessary items for gas measurement and management, and by simply replacing the gas sensor module with the gas measuring device, various types of gases can be measured quickly and accurately without additional device adjustment or operation. Therefore, the safety of the worker can be secured by having only one gas meter and a smart gas sensor module for each gas to be measured, without having to provide a separate gas meter for each type of gas to which the worker can be exposed. As a result, it is more economical than the conventional method, and the manufacturer does not need to manufacture equipment for various gases, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing inventory burden.

In addition, even when the sensor is replaced due to the end of the life of the gas sensor, the standard gas calibration work by the expert is required in the past, so that the user cannot easily replace the sensor, and thus the economic burden of operating the device was large. The module has the effect that all information about the sensor is embedded in it, so that non-expert personnel can easily replace the sensor module.

Claims (1)

A gas sensor 101 which outputs an electric signal in response to the gas; The sensor sensor circuit 102 and the gas sensor 101 to stably react to the gas and: A primary signal processing circuit 103 for uniformly processing shapes and sizes of different output signals for each gas sensor 101 so as to measure various gases in one device; The main characteristic values of the gas sensor 101 are calibration information, measurement range, alarm value, amplification rate, short-term exposure allowable concentration, time weighted average concentration, calibration gas concentration, maximum measurement range, resolution, sensor type, sensor display character set, A storage element 104 for storing sensor information such as a sensor serial number; Smart gas sensor module, characterized in that it is configured by integrally combining the address input unit 105 to set the address of each module so that a number of smart gas sensor modules can be mounted on one device.