Measurement control apparatus

• US 20020143487A1
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Takashi, Yasuda, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,200,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/119
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21047 Select module if address of module equals required address, compare addresses
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21122 Programmable signal discrimination, input can be used for several functions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21141 Latched I-O
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A measurement control apparatus designed to automatically select an interface circuit compatible with a measurement controlled object without error. A measurement control processor outputs interface setting data for setting one interface circuit compatible with the measurement controlled object in advance of output of measurement control data to the measurement controlled object. Based on this, an interface setting means activates only that interface circuit. Further, the processor is provided with a loopback unit for returning the interface setting data to the measurement control processor and confirms the match of the output interface setting data and the returned interface setting data. Further, it is provided with an identification code setting means for setting an identification code unique to an interface board mounting the interface circuit and confirms that the interface board has been correctly selected.

Claims

1. A measurement control apparatus comprising an interface circuit unit having a plurality of types of interface circuits compatible with a plurality of types of measurement controlled objects and a measurement control processor for selecting one interface circuit compatible with any one measurement controlled object executing predetermined measurement control, wherein

when said one measurement controlled object is given, the measurement control processor outputs from the output port interface setting data for setting one interface circuit compatible with a measurement controlled object among the plurality of types of interface circuits in advance of output of the measurement control data from the output port to the measurement controlled object and

further provision is made of an interface setting means which does not allow input of the interface setting data to the interface circuit unit while the interface setting data is being output.

2. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the apparatus is further provided with an input interface circuit unit arranged at the input side for receiving response data from the measurement controlled object to the measurement control processor and having a plurality of input interface circuits compatible with a plurality of types of measurement controlled objects, in addition to said interface circuit unit arranged at the output side for outputting said measurement control data from said measurement control processor to said measurement controlled object and

said interface setting means sets the one of the input interface circuits compatible with the one measurement controlled object when it is given.

3. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said measurement control processor is configured to output a control signal for selecting said one interface circuit and

said interface setting means does not allow input of said interface setting data to said interface circuit unit after receiving said control signal.

4. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said interface setting means includes a gated buffer circuit for prohibiting input to said interface circuit unit upon receiving said control signal.

5. A measurement control apparatus as-set forth in claim 1, wherein

said apparatus is further provided with a loopback means for returning said interface setting data latched at said interface setting means to an input port of said measurement control processor and

said measurement control processor confirms that said interface setting data which it output itself and the returned interface setting data match.

6. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein

the apparatus is further provided with an input interface circuit unit arranged at the input side for receiving response data from the measurement controlled object to the measurement control processor and having a plurality of input interface circuits compatible with a plurality of types of measurement controlled objects, in addition to said interface circuit unit arranged at the output side for outputting said measurement control data from said measurement control processor to said measurement controlled object and

said interface setting means sets the one of the input interface circuits compatible with the one measurement controlled object when it is given.

7. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further provided, at the output side of said input interface circuit unit, with an input gate unit for controlling the passing or prohibiting transmission of response data from said measurement controlled object to said measurement control processor and prohibiting the transmission of said response data by said input gate unit when activating said loopback means.

8. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein

said measurement control processor is configured to output a control signal for selecting said one interface circuit and

said loopback means includes a gated buffer circuit operating upon input of said control signal.

14. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the measurement control processor monitors whether the interface setting data which it output itself and the returned interface setting data match and issues an alarm when they do not match.

9. A measurement control apparatus comprising an interface circuit unit having a plurality of types of interface circuits compatible with a plurality of types of measurement controlled objects and a measurement control processor for selecting one interface circuit compatible with any one measurement controlled object and executing predetermined measurement control, wherein

said apparatus is further provided with an identification code setting means configured to be able to transmit a unique identification code set for each interface board carrying said plurality of types of interface circuits thereon to an input port of said measurement control processor and transmits said unique identification code set for said interface board from said identification code setting means to said measurement control processor and

said measurement control processor confirms that the interface board corresponding to the sent identification code and the interface board which it sets itself match.

10. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein

the apparatus is further provided with an input interface circuit unit arranged at the input side for receiving response data from the measurement controlled object to the measurement control processor and having a plurality of input interface circuits compatible with a plurality of types of measurement controlled objects, in addition to said interface circuit unit arranged at the output side for outputting said measurement control data from said measurement control processor to said measurement controlled object and

a loopback means for returning said interface setting data set in said interface setting means to an input port of said measurement control processor.

16. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the measurement control processor monitors if the interface board corresponding to the sent identification code and the interface board which it set itself match and issues an alarm when they do not match.

11. A measurement control apparatus comprising an interface circuit unit having a plurality of types of interface circuits compatible with a plurality of types of measurement controlled objects and a measurement control processor for selecting one interface circuit compatible with any one measurement controlled object and executing predetermined measurement control, wherein

when said one measurement controlled object is given, the measurement control processor outputs from the output port interface setting data for setting one interface circuit compatible with a measurement controlled object among the plurality of types of interface circuits in advance of output of the measurement control data from the output port to the measurement controlled object and

said apparatus includes an interface setting function of activating only the interface circuit while prohibiting input of the interface setting data to the interface circuit unit when the interface setting data is being output and has this interface setting function executed by a CPU.

12. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 11, which includes a loopback function for returning the interface setting data set by the interface setting function of the CPU to the input port of the measurement control processor and has this loopback function executed by the CPU.

13. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 12, which includes an identification code output function for sending a unique identification code set for each interface board carrying a plurality of types of interface circuits thereon to the input port of the measurement control processor and has this identification code output function executed by the CPU.

15. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the measurement control processor monitors whether the interface setting data which it output itself and the returned interface setting data match and issues an alarm when they do not match.

17. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein the measurement control processor monitors if the interface board corresponding to the sent identification code and the interface board which it set itself match and issues an alarm when they do not match.

18. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 14, which, at the same time as issuing the alarm, shifts the measurement control system comprised of the measurement controlled object and the measurement control apparatus to a failsafe mode.

19. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 15, which, at the same time as issuing the alarm, shifts the measurement control system comprised of the measurement controlled object and the measurement control apparatus to a failsafe mode.

20. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 16, which, at the same time as issuing the alarm, shifts the measurement control system comprised of the measurement controlled object and the measurement control apparatus to a failsafe mode.

21. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 17, which, at the same time as issuing the alarm, shifts the measurement control system comprised of the measurement controlled object and the measurement control apparatus to a failsafe mode.