Sensor system
First Claim
1. A sensor system, comprising a plurality of sensor units which are adapted to be placed closely one next to another and each assigned with an individual address, and a mobile console which is adapted to be connected to at least one of the sensor units, each of the sensor units comprising:
- an output circuit for forwarding an output signal to an electric cord;
connector means provided on each side for allowing communication with a corresponding one of the adjacent sensor units; and
data relaying means for relaying data received from one of the adjacent sensor units via one of the connector means to the other adjacent sensor unit via the other connector means so as to permit a bi-directional data communication from the mobile console to the sensor units or from the sensor units to the mobile console in the manner of a bucket brigade.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Provided is a sensor system which allows setting and adjustment to be conducted in a simple manner. The sensor system comprises a plurality of sensor units which are adapted to be placed closely one next to another and each assigned with an individual address, and a mobile console which is adapted to be connected to at least one of the sensor units, each of the sensor units comprising a connector provided on each side for allowing communication with a corresponding one of the adjacent sensor units, and a data relaying arrangement for relaying data received from one of the adjacent sensor units via one of the connectors to the other adjacent sensor unit via the other connectors when the data is not intended for the particular sensor unit so as to permit a data communication from the mobile console to the sensor units or from the sensor units to the mobile console.
37 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A sensor system, comprising a plurality of sensor units which are adapted to be placed closely one next to another and each assigned with an individual address, and a mobile console which is adapted to be connected to at least one of the sensor units, each of the sensor units comprising:
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an output circuit for forwarding an output signal to an electric cord;
connector means provided on each side for allowing communication with a corresponding one of the adjacent sensor units; and
data relaying means for relaying data received from one of the adjacent sensor units via one of the connector means to the other adjacent sensor unit via the other connector means so as to permit a bi-directional data communication from the mobile console to the sensor units or from the sensor units to the mobile console in the manner of a bucket brigade. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 22, 31)
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9. A sensor system, comprising a plurality of sensor units which are adapted to be placed closely one next to another and each assigned with an individual address, and a bus unit which is adapted to be connected to at least one of the sensor units, each of the sensor units comprising:
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connector means provided on each side for allowing communication with a corresponding one of the adjacent sensor units; and
data relaying means for transferring data received from one of the adjacent sensor units via one of the connector means to the other adjacent sensor unit via the other connector means;
the bus unit comprising protocol conversion means for converting a communication protocol between sensor unit communication system and field bus communication system which is connected to programmable equipment, so as to permit a bi-directional data communication between the programmable equipment on a field bus and the sensor unit in the manner of a bucket brigade. - View Dependent Claims (10, 23, 32, 43)
control output generating means for executing a sensing action and generating control output upon receipt of a prescribed timing signal from an adjacent sensor unit positioned to the opposite side of the bus unit; and
control output data relaying means for reflecting control output information of the particular sensor unit in control output data received from the adjacent sensor unit positioned to the opposite side of the bus unit and transmitting the control output data to an adjacent sensor unit positioned to the bus unit side, thereby allowing the control outputs from each of the sensor units to be transmitted to a programmable equipment on the field bus via the bus unit.
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11. A sensor unit, comprising:
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an output circuit for forwarding an output signal to an electric cord;
connector means provided on each side for allowing communication with a corresponding one of adjacent sensor units;
data relaying means for relaying data received from one of the adjacent sensor units via one of the connector means to the other adjacent sensor unit via the other connector means; and
command executing means which, if the data received from the adjacent sensor unit via one of the connector means is intended for the particular sensor unit and contains a command, executes a certain action corresponding to the command. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 24, 33)
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16. A mobile console adapted to be connected to one of a plurality of sensor units each adapted for a bi-directional communication with adjacent sensor units and a data relaying function, comprising:
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command means for entering various commands;
display means for displaying various items of data;
monitor command transmitting means for transmitting a monitor command, and including a detected value, and a set sensitivity level or a threshold level as monitoring items capable of being designated by said monitor command, to a designated sensor unit in response to a command entered from the command means; and
monitoring data display means for displaying the detected value, and the set sensitivity level or the threshold level, on the display means that is returned from the designated sensor unit in response to the transmission of the monitor command. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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17. A mobile console adapted to be connected to one of a plurality of sensor units each adapted for a bi-directional communication with adjacent sensor units, each sensor unit having a data relaying function, and an output circuit for transmitting output signals to an electric cord, comprising:
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connector means for connecting to one of the sensor units via a separate path from the electric cord using said data relaying function;
command means for entering various commands;
display means; and
setting command transmission means for transmitting a setting command for setting a set sensitivity level, or a threshold level, to a designated sensor unit in response to a command from the command means. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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18. A mobile console comprising a function key for setting or adjustment operation, and adapted to be connected to one of a plurality of sensor units each adapted for a bi-directional communication with adjacent sensor units and a data relaying function for data, comprising:
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command means for entering various commands;
display means for displaying various items of data; and
disable command transmission means for transmitting a disable command associated with disabling the manipulation of a prescribed key for setting or adjustment operation to a designated sensor unit in response to a command from the command means. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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19. A mobile console adapted to be connected to one of a plurality of sensor units each adapted for a bi-directional communication with adjacent sensor units and a data relaying function, comprising:
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command means for entering various commands;
display means for displaying various items of data; and
concealed function executing command transmitting means for transmitting a concealed function executing command to a designated sensor unit, the concealed function being unable to be invoked by a key operation from the sensor unit. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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20. A sensor system, comprising a plurality of sensor units which are adapted to be placed closely one next to another and each assigned with an individual address, each of the sensor units comprising:
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an output circuit for forwarding an output signal to an electrical cord;
connector means provided on each side for allowing communication with a corresponding one of the adjacent sensor units; and
data relaying means for relaying data received from one of the adjacent sensor units via one of the connector means to the other adjacent sensor unit via the other connector means so as to permit a bi-directional data communication between the sensor units in the manner of a bucket brigade. - View Dependent Claims (29, 34)
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21. A bus unit adapted to be connected to one of a plurality of sensor units each adapted for a bi-directional communication with adjacent sensor units and a data relaying function, comprising:
protocol conversion means for converting a communication protocol between a sensor unit communication system and field bus communication system which is connected to programmable equipment, so as to permit a bi-directional data communication between the equipment such as a programmable controller and personal computer on a field bus and the sensor unit. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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35. A mobile console which is provided commonly for a number of sensor units arranged one next to another and each provided with a communication function, each sensor unit provided with an output circuit for transmitting output signals to an electric cord, comprising;
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connector means for connecting to a sensor unit via a separate path from the electric cord using said communication function;
command means;
display means; and
control means for taking out data corresponding to a detected value, and a set sensitivity level or a threshold level, on each designated sensor unit from the sensor unit by communication according to a command entered from the command means, and displaying the data on the display means. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A sensor unit, comprising;
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connector means provided on each side for allowing communication with a corresponding one of the adjacent sensor units;
data relaying means for relaying data received from one of the adjacent sensor units via one of the connector means to the other adjacent sensor unit via the other connector means; and
command executing means which, if the data received from the adjacent sensor unit via one of the connector means is intended for the particular sensor unit and contains a command, executes a certain action corresponding to the command;
wherein the command comprises a monitor command, and the action comprises an action to read data on a monitoring item designated by the monitor command, to return the read data to the source of the command as monitoring data, and a detected value, and a set sensitivity level or a threshold level are capable of being designated as the monitoring items.
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40. A sensor unit, comprising:
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connector means provided on each side for allowing communication with a corresponding one of adjacent sensor units;
data relaying means for relaying data received from one of the adjacent sensor units via one of the connector means to the other adjacent sensor unit via the other connector means; and
command executing means which, if the data received from the adjacent sensor unit via one of the connector means is intended for the particular sensor unit and contains a command, executes a certain action corresponding to the command;
wherein the command comprises a set sensitivity level, or a threshold level attached to a data setting command, and the action comprises an action to write data attached to the data setting command to a designated setting item of the sensor unit.
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41. A sensor unit, comprising:
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a function key for setting or adjustment operation;
connector means provided on each side for allowing communication with a corresponding one of adjacent sensor units;
data relaying means for relaying data received from one of the adjacent sensor units via one of the connector means to the other adjacent sensor unit via the other connector means; and
command executing means which, if the data received from the adjacent sensor unit via one of the connector means is intended for the particular sensor unit and contains a command, executes a certain action corresponding to the command;
wherein the command comprises a disable command which is associated with disabling the manipulation of a prescribed key for setting or adjustment operation, and the action comprises an action to disable a manipulation of the sensor unit for a designated function.
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42. A sensor unit, comprising:
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connector means provided on each side for allowing communication with a corresponding one of adjacent sensor units;
data relaying means for relaying data received from one of the adjacent sensor units via one of the connector means to the other adjacent sensor unit via the other connector means; and
command executing means which, if the data received from the adjacent sensor unit via one of the connector means is intended for the particular sensor unit and contains a command, executes a certain action corresponding to the command;
wherein the command comprises a concealed function executing command, and the action comprises an action to allow a concealed function to be executed, the concealed function being unable to be invoked by a key operation from the sensor unit.
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44. A sensor unit, comprising:
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an output circuit for forwarding an output signal to an electric cord;
connector means provided on each side for allowing communication with a corresponding one of adjacent sensor units;
control output generating means for executing a sensing action and generating control output upon receipt of a timing signal from an adjacent sensor unit positioned to the opposite side of a bus unit; and
control output data relaying means for reflecting control output information of the particular sensor unit in control output data received from the adjacent sensor unit positioned to the opposite side of the bus unit and transmitting the control output data to an adjacent sensor unit positioned to the bus unit side.
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45. A mobile console adapted to be connected to one of a plurality of sensor units each adapted for a bi-directional communication with adjacent sensor units, each sensor unit having a data relaying function, and an output circuit for transmitting output signals to an electric cord, comprising:
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connector means for connecting to one of the sensor units via a separate path from the electric cord using said data relaying function;
command means for entering various commands;
display means;
monitor command transmitting means for transmitting a monitor command for monitoring a set sensitivity level or a threshold level, to a designated sensor unit in response to a command entered from the command means; and
monitoring data display means for displaying the set sensitivity level or the threshold level, on the display means that is returned from the designated sensor unit in response to the transmission of the monitor command.
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46. A mobile console which is provided commonly for a number of sensor units arranged one next to another and each provided with a communication function, each sensor unit provided with an output circuit for transmitting output signals to an electric cord, comprising;
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connector means for connecting to a sensor unit via a separate path from the electric cord using said communication function;
command means;
display means; and
control means for taking out data corresponding to a set sensitivity level or a threshold level, on each designated sensor unit from the sensor unit by communication according to a command entered from the command means, and displaying the data on the display means.
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47. A sensor unit, comprising;
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connector means provided on each side for allowing communication with a corresponding one of the adjacent sensor units;
data relaying means for relaying data received from one of the adjacent sensor units via one of the connector means to the other adjacent sensor unit via the other connector means; and
command executing means which, if the data received from the adjacent sensor unit via one of the connector means is intended for the particular sensor unit and contains a command, executes a certain action corresponding to the command;
wherein the command comprises a monitor command for monitoring a set sensitivity level or a threshold level, and the action comprises an action to read data on monitoring item designated by the monitoring command, and to return the read data to the source of the command as monitoring data.
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Specification