Sensing device and display method therein

• US 6,011,467 A
• Filed: 11/21/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Noda, Satoshi, Kamei, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/975,646
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/568, 340/632, 340/511, 340/555, 340/606, 340/815.45, 340/815.47, 128/204.6, 128/204.21, 250/563, 250/577, 250/223 B, 356/237, 356/240, 376/216, 376/217, 376/259
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/04 using a separate indicating element for each variable

Abstract

A received light level is displayed by a plurality of LEDs of a received light level display device like a bar graph. A set threshold value is indicated by a plurality of LEDs of a threshold value display device in correlation with the bar graph display. Adjustment of the threshold value is performed stepwise.

Claims

1. A sensing device comprising:

means for acquiring a feature quantity representing a physical state to be sensed,

a feature quantity display device, which includes a plurality of first indicator elements arranged in a line, for indicating the feature quantity acquired by said feature quantity acquiring means by a bar graph expressed by said first indicator elements;

a threshold display device, which includes a plurality of second indicator elements arranged in correspondence with the first indicator elements of said feature quantity display device, for displaying a set threshold value in correlation with the bar graph;

judging means for comparing the feature quantity acquired by said feature quantity acquiring means with the threshold value and for outputting a comparison result;

means for changing the threshold value in a plurality of discrete points in correlation with the second indicator elements in said threshold display device as the acquired feature quantity is being compared with the threshold value by said judging means; and

means for holding the threshold value changed by said threshold changing means,

wherein said threshold display device indicates the threshold value held by said threshold holding means, and said judging means uses the threshold value held by said threshold holding means in making the comparison with the feature quantity.

2. The sensing device according to claim 1, wherein said threshold display device includes n first indicator elements and indicates the threshold value in 2n-1 points by the selected one or plural indicator elements.

3. A sensing device comprising:

means for acquiring feature quantity representing a physical state to be sensed;

a feature quantity display device which includes a plurality of first indicator elements arranged in a line, for indicating the feature quantity acquired by said feature quantity acquiring means by a bar graph expressed by said first indicator elements;

threshold processing means, which include an input device, for setting a threshold value or changing the set threshold value in response to an input in said input device;

threshold holding means for holding the threshold value set or changed by said threshold processing means;

a threshold display device, which includes a plurality of second indicator elements arranged in correspondence with the first indicator elements of said feature quantity display device, for displaying the threshold value held in said threshold holding means in correlation with the bar graph; and

judging means for comparing the feature quantity acquired by said feature quantity acquiring means with the threshold value held in said threshold holding means, and for outputting the comparison result.

4. A display method in a sensing device which acquires a feature quantity representing a physical state to be sensed and compares the acquired feature quantity with a threshold value to output a comparison result, comprising the steps of:

displaying the acquired feature quantity by a bar graph expressed by a plurality of first indicator elements which are arranged so as to form a row;

displaying the threshold value separately from said acquired feature quantity by a plurality of second indicator elements which are disposed in correspondence with said first indicator elements in correlation with the bar graph display; and

adjusting the threshold value in response to an input entered by a user to display the adjusted threshold value.

5. A sensing device for acquiring a feature quantity representing a physical state to be sensed and for comparing the acquired feature quantity with a threshold value to output a signal representing the comparison result, comprising:

feature quantity display device means for displaying the feature quantity by a length representing the feature quantity in a predetermined zone for display;

threshold display means for displaying the threshold value at a position of a plurality of positions in correlation with the predetermined zone for display of said feature quantity display means; and

adjusting means including an input device operable by a user for adjusting stepwise the threshold value in correlation with the plurality of positions in response to an input from said input device,

wherein said threshold display means displays the threshold value adjusted by said adjusting means.

6. The sensing device according to claim 5, wherein said adjusting means changes a threshold which has been set in a plurality of discrete points in an ascending direction and in a plurality of discrete points in a descending direction in response to the input from said input device.

7. The sensing device according to claim 5, wherein said adjusting means includes an adjusting direction selecting device and a value-change instructing device, and causes the threshold position currently displayed to move in a direction selected by said adjusting direction selecting device by a number of steps instructed by said value-change instructing device.

8. The sensing device according to claim 5 which has different threshold values relating to an on-point and an off-point, further comprising a device for selecting one of the on-point or the off-point

wherein said adjusting means adjusts the threshold value relating to the point selected by said selecting device, and said threshold display means displays the threshold value relating to the point selected by said selecting means.

9. The sensing device according to claim 5 which has a hysteresis band, wherein

said adjusting means adjusts the hysteresis band, and said threshold display means displays the hysteresis band.

10. A sensing device for acquiring feature quantity representing a physical state to be sensed and for comparing the acquired feature quantity with a threshold value to output a signal representing the comparison result, comprising:

feature quantity display device means for displaying the feature quantity by a length representing the feature quantity in a predetermined zone for display;

threshold display means for displaying the threshold value at a position of a plurality of positions in correlation with and separate from the predetermined zone for display of said feature quantity display means; and

setting means for setting stepwise the threshold value in correspondence with the plurality of positions in said threshold display means as the acquired feature quantity is being compared with the threshold value, wherein said threshold display means displays the threshold value set by said setting means.

11. The sensing device according to claim 10, wherein said setting means includes means for selecting one of an on-point or off-point and sets the threshold value relating to the selected point, and said threshold display means displays the threshold value relating to the selected point.

12. A sensing device comprising:

a control unit including a first circuit for acquiring a feature quantity representing a physical state to be sensed;

a feature quantity display device, which includes a plurality of first indicator elements arranged in a line, for indicating the feature quantity acquired by the first circuit of said control unit by a bar graph expressed by the first indicator elements; and

a threshold display device, which includes a plurality of second indicator elements arranged in correspondence with the first indicator elements of said feature quantity display device, for displaying a set threshold value in correlation with the bar graph,

wherein said control unit further includes a second circuit for comparing the feature quantity acquired by the first circuit with the threshold value and for outputting a comparison result, a third circuit for changing the threshold value in a plurality of discrete points in correlation with the second indicator elements in said threshold display device as the feature quantity acquired by the first circuit is being compared with the threshold value by the second circuit, and a fourth circuit for holding the threshold value changed by the third circuit, and

wherein said threshold display device indicates the threshold value held by said fourth circuit, and said second circuit uses the threshold value held by said fourth circuit in making comparison with the feature quantity.

13. A sensing device comprising:

a first processor for acquiring a feature quantity representing a physical state to be sensed;

a feature quantity display device which includes a plurality of first indicator elements arranged in a line, for indicating the feature quantity acquired by said first processor by a bar graph expressed by the first indicator elements;

a second processor, which includes an input device, for setting a threshold value or changing the set threshold value in response to an input in said input device;

a memory for holding the threshold value set or changed by said second processor;

a threshold display device, which includes a plurality of second indicator elements arranged in correspondence with the first indicator elements of said feature quantity display device, for displaying the threshold value held in said memory in correlation with the bar graph; and

a third processor for comparing the feature quantity acquired by the first processor with the threshold value held in said memory, and for outputting a comparison result.

14. A sensing device for acquiring a feature quantity representing a physical state to be sensed and for comparing the acquired feature quantity with a threshold value to output a signal representing the comparison result, comprising:

a feature quantity display device for displaying the feature quantity by a length representing the feature quantity in a predetermined zone for display;

a threshold display device for displaying the threshold value at a position of a plurality of positions in correlation with the predetermined zone for display of said feature quantity display device; and

a control unit, including an input device operable by a user, for adjusting stepwise the threshold value in correlation with the plurality of positions in response to an input from said input device,

wherein said threshold display device displays the threshold value adjusted by said control unit.

15. A sensing device for acquiring a feature quantity representing a physical state to be sensed and for comparing the acquired feature quantity with a threshold value to output a signal representing the comparison result, comprising:

a feature quantity display device for displaying the feature quantity by a length representing the feature quantity in a predetermined zone for display;

a threshold display device for displaying the threshold value at a position of a plurality of positions in correlation with and separate from the predetermined zone for display of said feature quantity display device; and

a control unit for setting stepwise the threshold value in correspondence with the plurality of positions in said threshold display device as the acquired feature quantity is being compared with the threshold value, wherein said threshold display device displays the threshold value set by said control unit.