Measurement control apparatus including interface circuits

• US 7,200,510 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Takashi, Yasuda, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): West; Jeffrey R
• Application Number:
  US10/109,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20020143487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 702113-115, 702117-122, 702/127, 702182-186, 700/1, 700/12, 701/33, 701/36
• 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 and for executing predetermined measurement control,

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

wherein further provision is made of an interface setting function unit located between said interface circuit unit and said measurement control processor, the interface setting function unit being comprised of following units (i) and (ii):

(i) a gate function unit, coupled between said output port and a first input terminal of said interface circuit unit for receiving the measurement control data, the gate function unit for preventing input of said interface setting data to said interface circuit unit while the interface setting data is being output from said measurement control processor; and

(ii) a selecting function unit, coupled between said output port and a second input terminal of said interface circuit unit, for receiving said interface setting data and holding a selection of said one interface circuit which is selected by the interface setting data while said measurement control data is being output from said output port.

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 an input side of the measurement control processor for receiving response data from the measurement controlled object and supplying the response data 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 an output side of the measurement control processor for outputting said measurement control data from said measurement control processor to said measurement controlled object;

and

wherein said interface setting function unit 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

wherein said interface setting function unit 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 function unit 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 the interface setting data is latched at said interface setting function unit;

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

wherein 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 an input side of the measurement control processor for receiving response data from the measurement controlled object and supplying the response data 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 an output side of the measurement control processor for outputting said measurement control data from said measurement control processor to said measurement controlled object;

and

wherein said interface setting function unit 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 function unit.

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

wherein said loopback function unit includes a gated buffer circuit operating upon input of said control signal.

9. 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.

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

11. The measurement control apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of interface boards each carrying at least one interface circuit unit having a plurality of types of interface circuits, and an identification code setting function unit configured to be able to transmit a unique identification code set for each interface board 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 function unit to said measurement control processor,

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

12. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further provided with an input interface circuit unit arranged at an input side of the measurement control processor for receiving response data from the measurement controlled object and supplying the response data 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 an output side of the measurement control processor for outputting said measurement control data from said measurement control processor to said measurement controlled object and a loopback function unit for returning said interface setting data set in said interface setting function unit to an input port of said measurement control processor.

13. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the measurement control processor monitors if the interface board corresponding to the transmitted unique identification code and the interface board which it set itself match and issues an alarm when they do not match.

14. A measurement control apparatus as set forth in claim 13, 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.

15. A measurement control apparatus for controlling a selected measurement controlled object from among a plurality of measurement controlled objects, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of interface circuits including an interface circuit compatible with the selected measurement controlled object; and

a measurement control processor coupled to the plurality of interface circuits for generating an interface setting data for choosing the compatible interface circuit and for generating a corresponding measurement control data for controlling the selected measurement controlled object, the interface setting data and the measurement control data being output in series from the measurement control processor, the interface setting data being output before the corresponding measurement control data; and

an interface setting unit coupled between the plurality of interface circuits and the measurement control processor, the interface setting unit including;

a selecting latch unit coupled between the measurement control processor and a first input port of the plurality of interface circuits for receiving the interface setting data to the first input port for the choosing the compatible interface circuit; and

a gated buffer unit coupled between the measurement control processor and a second input port of the plurality of interface circuits for receiving the measurement control data to the compatible interface circuit,

wherein the gated buffer unit prevents input of the interface setting data to the second input port while the interface setting data is being output by the measurement control processor, and

wherein the selecting latch unit holds the interface setting data while the measurement control data is being output by the measurement control processor.