ARRANGEMENT FOR DISTRIBUTED MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR MEASUREMENT AND SIMULATION IN DISTRIBUTED CONTROL SYSTEMS

• US 20060241784A1
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Longhorn Automotive Group LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC), Kvaser Consultant Aktiebolag
• Original Assignee: Kvaser Consultant Aktiebolag
• Inventors: Fredriksson, Lars-Berno
• Granted Patent: US 7,987,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/106 using time related information in packets, e.g. by adding timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A first unit (200, 303, 304) works with analog and digital signals in physical sequences referring to one or several measurement objects (200′, 305, 307), which work with one or several functions (200″, 211, 302, 308, 309) and detectors (201, 202, 205) and/or control devices (212/214) detecting these functions. A distributed control system (206) works with a first protocol (218). The first unit (200) is connected to the control system (206) and is arranged, through its compatibility with the first protocol (218), to receive and/or send messages from/to the control system. The first unit (200) receives and sends physical signals for measurement and/or control of various types and combinations of functions and/or detectors or control devices, and processes the physical signals. The first unit is connected to a second connection (209) working with a second protocol (418). The second connection is in a link in a tool arrangement. The first unit communicates with a second unit (450 and/or 201, 221) via the second connection (209). The first unit van be set up via a connection that works with the first and/or the second protocol(s) or variant(s) thereof. In this way, more complex and simpler tasks can be dealt with separately, and can be divided up between different pieces of equipment and different people.

Claims

1. A distributed measurement and control system, comprising:

a plurality of detectors arranged to detect physical parameters of monitored devices and providing, at respective outputs, measurement signals representing the detected physical parameters;

a distributed control system compatible with a first protocol;

a measurement unit operably connected between the plurality of detectors and the distributed control system,

wherein the measurement unit is connected to the distributed control system via a first connection using the first protocol,

wherein the measurement unit receives the measurement signals and converts said signals into first protocol measurement messages which are provided to the distributed control system,

wherein the measurement unit transfers control signals between the distributed control system and one or more of the monitored devices;

a processor arrangement operably coupled to the measurement unit via a second connection using a second protocol different from the first protocol;

wherein the measurement unit is capable of being programmed or set up via a connection that works with either of the first protocol or the second protocol.

2. Arrangement comprising a first unit (200,303, 304) that utilizes analog and digital signals in physical sequences that refer to one or several measurement objects (200′

, 305,307) that work with one or several functions (200″

, 211,302, 308,309) and detectors (201,202, 205) and/or control devices (212/214) that detect these functions, and utilizing a distributed control system (206) that works with a first protocol (218), characterized in that the first unit (200) is connected to the control system (206) and is arranged, through its compatibility with the first protocol (218), to receive and/or send messages from/to the control system;

in that the first unit (200) is arranged to receive and send physical signals for measurement and/or control of various types and combinations of functions and/or detectors or control devices, and to process the physical signals;

in that the first unit is connected to a second connection (209) working with a second protocol (418);

in that the second connection constitutes or is comprised in a link in a tool arrangement;

in that the first unit communicates with a second unit (450 and/or 201,221) in the tool arrangement via the second connection (209); and

in that the first unit can be programmed or set up via a connection that works with the first and/or the second protocol (s) or variant (s) thereof.

3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the first unit occurs in two variants, one of which forms a simple variant (303) with measurement part, processor, a CAN bus connection and a USB connection, which first unit variant is arranged to carry out measurement and adjustment tasks on a measurement object, for example a turbo, and one of which forms a complex first unit variant (304) with similar equipment to that comprised in the first unit variant supplemented by an additional processor with more network connections, for example Bluetooth connections, more USB connections or alternatively more CAN connections, or combination of these, by means of which a measurement system network can be constructed.

4. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in the simpler first unit variant (303) is connected to a measurement object, for example in the form of a low-pressure turbo (305), via connecting cabling (306) which, in turn, is connected to requisite detectors or sensors for carrying out the measurement.

5. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the complex first unit variant is connected to another part of the measurement object, for example to a high-pressure turbo (307) and also to yet another part of the measurement object, for example to an intercooler (302), for measurements;

and in that the complex first unit variant also regulates devices in the measurement object that control functions, for example a bypass valve (308) and exhaust gas distributing valve (309).

6. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the measurement object comprises two essentially identical parts, for example two turbo systems, to which two essentially identical pairs of first and second unit variants (303,304 and 303′

, 310 respectively) can be connected, and in that one pair'"'"'s unit variant (310) is arranged with an interconnection function between the various measurement modules and the computer unit; and

in that this unit variant (310) is arranged to have the capacity to execute complex programs that take some of the load off the computer unit, which is particularly valuable if the computer unit consists of a unit with lower performance, for example a PDA, or if the system as such is designed to be used for independent compiling of measurement values where all the calculation is arranged to be carried out by the units involved and to be stored in the memories of the respective complex unit variants.

7. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the first unit (303 or 400) comprises one or two microprocessors;

in that the first unit (400) is connected to a system (401) via connections (402, 403) and a connection lead (404) and adapter electronics (405) that read off the first unit'"'"'s signals on a bus by means of a microprocessor (406) and interpret the said signals by means of instructions stored in the memory (407) in accordance with the protocol (408) utilized in the system; and

in that the first unit is arranged to add additional information to the interpreted information, for example time-stamping information regarding times when the signals were received from the system.

8. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the first unit (400) comprises a part in a microprocessor arrangement (406,406a (I/O)).

9. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the first unit forms a complex unit containing a first unit part (400) that is connected via a connection, for example a USB connection, to an additional unit part (450) with a microprocessor with peripherals, which complex unit is arranged to handle communication and calculation problems for solving analog and realtime-related problems by means of the first unit part (400), and to carry out the processor-intensive and less realtime-critical tasks by means of the additional unit part (450).

10. Arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the first unit part (400) and the additional unit part (450) are connected by means of a USB connection and associated protocol to obtain a well-defined interface between the unit parts (400,450) which facilitates a parallel and largely independent development of the unit parts which, in addition, can be manufactured as separate units, but can also alternatively be designed as one unit with an internal USB connection, either on one and the same PCB or as a sandwich construction.

11. Arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the additional unit part (450) is connected directly to one or several first unit parts (400) by connectors (451,452, 451′

, 452′

);

in that the additional unit part (450) comprises communication circuits (453,453′

) connected to a microprocessor (454) with associated peripherals, including memory or memories;

in that a memory card (455) is arranged for logging, recording and playback facilities, etc;

in that a memory (456) connected to the microprocessor can be written to and read from two (both) directions, that is from both the present system side and the tool side;

in that the memory is preferably divided into a number of sub-memories with different algorithms (456′

), that are protected by passwords and can also be encrypted; and

in that a clock function can be synchronized or coordinated with a clock (410) in the respective first unit part via the protocol concerned or by a separate clock-synchronization link.

12. Arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the additional unit part (450) is equipped with a GSM module (461) for communication over a telecommunication and/or data network, and the unit can be equipped with a GPS module (462) for time synchronization or clock synchronization, which GPS module can also be used for position determination, generation of random numbers for code functions, etc.

13. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the first unit part (400) handles input data for tools for both analysis of network communication and for analysis of physical events in a target system and also for simulation, and in that the second unit part (450) has the capacity to process the information so that the result can be presented, for example, as an operation point in a turbo compressor or turbine map, whereby the tester can determine on his PC or PDA in real time where the operation point in question lies in relation to the compressor map in question and thereby, by means of commands from his PDA, initiate logging of measurement values when the operation point lies in the required area.

14. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the additional first unit part (450) is given first trigger conditions for logging data, so that this is only carried out at predetermined points, which greatly reduces the memory required for logging and simplifies later analysis and/or in that other trigger conditions can be set up, for example in the event of noises, high and low temperatures, etc.

15. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the additional first unit part (450) is suitable for special programming, as the first unit part (400) carries out time-critical and complicated measurement, and a connection (422) that utilizes the protocol (423) constitutes an effective and well-defined interface between the different tasks concerned.

16. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the second protocol (582) constitutes a variant of the first protocol (572) with the addition of a clock-synchronization function or temporal-relation function, whereby the unit that works with the second protocol relates to each other temporally events that are detected by the different units.

17. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that, when executing applications within and between units that work with the second protocol, time-coordination is achieved by a time-determination device.

18. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the execution of applications for measuring or indicating events or functions can be coordinated temporally with the execution of applications for transmission of the respective results or information.

19. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the first unit (576,578) is arranged to measure analog values and to receive messages from the bus simultaneously.

20. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that communication between units or parts comprised in the measurement system can be effected using a variant or variants of one and the same basic protocol, for example USB.

21. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the tool arrangement is arranged as a complex embodiment (702), by means of which instructions can be created for simpler embodiments (709,704) in order for these to be able to carry out tasks suited to their capabilities and/or the capabilities of their operators (708).

22. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that two or more subsystems are arranged for parallel analysis.

23. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the second unit provides a common time base for first and/or second units working in parallel.

24. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the second unit (450) is arranged to collect, process and save information from the connected system independently;

and in that the information generated in this way is arranged to be able to be read and/or interpreted via the third unit (564,565, 709).

25. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the third unit or units are arranged to work with different functions in different stages.

26. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that one or several first units (400) can be connected to the system or to one or several of its subsystems, each first unit containing at least one microprocessor that communicates actively and/or passively with the control system or its subsystem, with relevant connection, protocol and bit speed for the system or the respective subsystem, and are connected to the second unit which is equipped with at least one microprocessor, by means of which it can exchange information using a protocol, for example the second protocol, and connections that differ completely or partially from the system protocol or the subsystem protocol, for example the first protocol;

and in that the second unit (400) is in turn connected to an additional unit, for example the tool arrangement (201) containing at least one microprocessor, by means of which it can exchange information using the said protocol and connections that differ completely or partially from the last-mentioned protocol, for example the first protocol, and/or the connections.

27. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the second protocol is arranged to serve in particular as a common platform for the analysis of two or more systems with different respective first protocols.

28. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that a third unit (400) is arranged to obtain measurement values from its own measurement (s) and from other units via messages.

29. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that a second and/or third unit requests information appropriate for the unit or related to the unit, for example measurement values, from an ECU or ECUs connected to the control system, for example according to CCP.

30. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that a second and a third unit (400 and 450) in combination simulate an ECU.

31. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the various parts of the tool work with a plurality of different protocols and/or protocol variants, modified according to time requirements and/or communication medium requirements.

32. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that a second unit (574) serves both as an independent log and as a connection unit between the tool'"'"'s lower-function unit(s) (574′

) and higher-function units (559,564, 565).

33. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that memories are protected and/or encrypted;

and/or in that authorization for changes to and manipulation of settings utilizes hardcoded identifications.