Multiple sensor system

• US 7,305,321 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2006
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Inoue, Yuichi, Iida, Yusuke, Hosoda, Toru, Ishikawa, Nobuharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUNDU, SUJOY K
• Application Number:
  US11/384,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20060224353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 702/155, 700/303
• US Class Current: 702/155
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/245 using a plurality of fixed, simultaneously operating transducers G01B11/2408 - G01B11/2425, G01B11/255 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/48 Active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

An extension unit provided adjacent to an amp unit comprises a measurement data accumulation memory, a measurement data acquiring part for acquiring measurement data coming through a transmission line and accumulating it in the above memory, a data analyzing part for analyzing an accumulated series of measurement data according to predetermined algorithm, a determining part for determining a data analyzed result, and an output part for outputting a control signal corresponding to a determined result to the outside. A plurality of process programs in which measurement algorithm is segmentalized are incorporated in the extension unit and a process program is selected according to a command from a personal computer and the selected process program is performed in a predetermined order.

Claims

1. A multiple displacement sensor system comprising an amp unit row in which one or more amp units constituting an amp isolated type of displacement sensor are adjacently provided, and a transmission line connected to each amp unit constituting the amp unit row and transmitting measurement data generated in each amp unit in one direction, wherein

an extension unit is connected to a transmission line similar to the amp unit and provided adjacent to the amp unit positioned at an end on the downstream of the transmission line in the amp unit row,

the extension unit comprises:

a measurement data accumulation memory in which the measurement data is accumulated;

a measurement data acquiring part for acquiring the measurement data coming through the transmission line and accumulating it in the measurement data accumulation memory;

a data analyzing part for analyzing the series of measurement data accumulated in the measurement data accumulation memory according to a predetermined algorithm;

a determining part for determining a result analyzed by the data analyzing part; and

an output part for outputting a control signal corresponding to a result determined by the determining part, to the outside.

2. The multiple displacement sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement data acquiring part automatically starts to acquire the measurement data when a predetermined data acquisition start condition is established and automatically completes accumulation of the measurement data when a predetermined data accumulation finish condition is established.

3. The multiple displacement sensor system according to claim 2, wherein the measurement data acquiring part selectively acquires the series of measurement data coming through the transmission line at predetermined intervals from the acquisition start to accumulation finish.

4. The multiple displacement sensor system according to claim 1, wherein an arithmetic process is sequentially performed, referring to a previous arithmetic process result each time the measurement data is acquired.

5. The multiple displacement sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the extension unit can communicate with a high-order apparatus such as a personal computer.

6. The multiple displacement sensor system according to claim 5, wherein the extension unit comprises:

a display data accumulation memory in which the measurement data is accumulated as display data;

a display data acquiring part for acquiring the measurement data coming through the transmission line and accumulating it in the display data accumulation memory as the display data; and

a display data uploading part for uploading the display data accumulated in the display data accumulation memory to the high-order apparatus.

7. The multiple displacement sensor system according to claim 6, wherein the display data acquiring part acquires the measurement data at constant intervals which is wider than the intervals at which analysis data is acquired and accumulates it in the display data accumulation memory regardless of a measurement data accumulating period for analysis.

8. The multiple displacement sensor system according to claim 5, wherein the extension unit further comprises a download processing part for downloading firmware for implementing each process of acquisition and accumulation, analysis, determination, and output of the measurement data, from the high-order apparatus.

9. An extension unit applied to a multiple displacement sensor system comprising an amp unit row in which one or more amp units constituting an amp isolated type of displacement sensor are adjacently provided, and a transmission line connected to each amp unit constituting the amp unit row and transmitting measurement data generated in each amp unit in one direction,

connected to and provided adjacent to the amp unit positioned at an end on the downstream of the transmission line in the amp unit row similar to the amp unit,

connected to the transmission line similar to the amp unit and provided adjacent to the amp unit positioned at the end on the downstream of the transmission line in the amp unit row, and

comprising:

a measurement data accumulation memory in which the measurement data is accumulated;

a measurement data acquiring part for acquiring measurement data coming through a transmission line and accumulating it in the measurement data accumulation memory;

a data analyzing part for analyzing the series of measurement data accumulated in the measurement data accumulation memory according to a predetermined algorithm;

a determining part for determining a result analyzed by the data analyzing part; and

an output part for outputting a control signal corresponding to a result determined by the determining part, to the outside.

10. The extension unit according to claim 9, wherein the measurement data acquiring part automatically starts to acquire the measurement data when a predetermine data acquisition start condition is established and automatically completes accumulation of the measurement data when a predetermined data accumulation finish condition is established.

11. The extension unit according to claim 10, wherein the measurement data acquiring part selectively acquires the series of measurement data coming through the transmission line at predetermined intervals from the acquisition start to accumulation finish.

12. The extension unit according to claim 9, which can communicate with a high-order apparatus such as a personal computer.

13. The extension unit according to claim 12, comprising:

a display data accumulation memory in which the measurement is accumulated as display data;

a display data acquiring part for acquiring the measurement data coming through the transmission line and accumulating it in the display data accumulation memory as the display data; and

a display data uploading part for uploading the display data accumulated in the display data accumulation memory to the high-order apparatus.

14. The extension unit according to claim 13, wherein the display data acquiring part acquires the measurement data at constant intervals which is wider than the intervals at which analysis data is acquired and accumulates it in the display data accumulation memory regardless of a measurement data accumulating period for analysis.

15. The extension unit according to claim 12, wherein the extension unit further comprises a download processing part for downloading firmware for implementing each process of acquisition and accumulation, analysis, determination, and output of the measurement data, from the high-order apparatus.