DE4204429A1 - Programmable system for measuring physical parameters - has programming- and reading-unit and small measurement device contg. sensor unit and clock - Google Patents

Abstract

The measurement system consists essentially of a programming-reading unit and a measurement device. The measurement device is a body of optional stereometric shape of small dimensions contg. a sensor unit and clock working with a central control unit, which can be integrated. Depending on the stored program parameters measurements are performed at predefined measurement times and the measurement values are stored so as to be accessible. USE/ADVANTAGE - For many applications, enables continuous measurement of different physical parameters in running technical processes. Simple.

Description

The invention relates to a programmable measuring system for Measurement of physical quantities, which essentially consists of a programming / reading unit and a measuring device forms is.

Measuring devices of the type mentioned are in variety designs and for various purposes knows. However, it has been shown in practice that for the Measuring different physical quantities in current Processes in which the process or working conditions cannot be changed by inserting a measuring device suitable measuring devices are not available. In addition, in many work processes, for example for measuring temperature or pressure, only very small measuring facilities can be introduced. This can be considered a Reason to be considered that such measuring devices have not yet become known. Another reason is in in many cases the complicated and sometimes even impossible Introducing measuring devices into ongoing processes.

It is an object of the invention to provide a programmable measuring system to create the type mentioned above, which the measurement of  different physical quantities in current work pro enables technically simple means.

According to the invention this object is achieved in that the Measuring device a body of any stereometric shape and with small dimensions, in which a sensor unit and a clock are inserted, both with one too integrated central control unit in operative connection stand that depending on saved program parameters measurements are carried out at predetermined times and the measured values are stored so that they can be called up.

It can in a special embodiment of the invention in the Kör be used by a central control unit, which with the system units also introduced into the body: clock, Sensor unit, program parameter memory, measured value memory and communication unit such a functional connection produces that from the programmed parameters in the program parameter memory and from the position of the clock the respective time points for measurements detected by the sensor unit are then triggered, the measurements and the Sen time-dependent measured values in the measured value Memory can be saved, from which the measured values are by means of the communication unit to the external programming / reading Unit are communicable.

Further refinements and developments of the invention have been described in claims 3 to 9.

According to the inventive idea, there is the programmable one Measuring system essentially from an external programming Le device and the programmable miniature measuring system. The pro gramming reader transfers directly or indirectly a computer, for example a personal computer, the Interface to the user. The programmable measuring system can be in its various via this programming reader  Operating states are set and furthermore data emp catch and send.

The programmable measuring system is designed as a small volume and hermetically sealed body. Its size depends on depends essentially on the size of the sensor unit used. The volumes specified in claim 7 relate on temperature sensors and are with the appropriate choice of others Sensors applicable to the protected height. The body per consists of a universal or a special specific process coordinated material. In and on this Body of the measuring device are all components that for an independent measuring system of the type according to the invention required are.

According to the features according to the claims If the programmable measuring system has the function blocks:

• - energy storage or power supply,
• - measured value memory,
• - program parameter memory,
• - Clock,
• - sensor unit,
• - communication unit and
• - central control unit.

Essential with this programmable measuring system stem is the central control, which fulfills the task from the program parameters in the program parameter memory and from the position of the clock the times for the measurements recognize, trigger the respective measurements and the measurement store values in the measured value memory so that they can be called up. It is the communication unit is able to connect to the Programming read unit to recognize and transmit Measured data or programming data from and to the measuring device to lead. The clock serves as a link between the work program zeß and the measurements to be carried out during the  Sensor unit the physical quantity to be measured equivalent memory-capable signal. The measured values Memory and the program parameter memory can all possible take forms of read or write memory. The Finally, energy storage can take any form of battery, a battery, a capacitor or an inductor.

Further details and advantages of the invention are in the following description of the drawings. In the drawing show:

Fig. 1, the programmable measurement system in a simplified block diagram,

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the programmable measuring system,

Fig. 3 shows the measuring device of a programmable measuring system in the form of various stereometric bodies.

In FIG. 1, the programmable Miniaturmeßsystem is shown in a system overview. In this system, the measuring device 1 forms the central core. The measuring device 1 is functionally connected to an external programming / reading unit 2 . This functional connection is established by a communication unit used in the measuring device 1 and an equivalent communication unit in the programming / reading device 2 , as is explained in more detail in FIG. 2 for the measuring device. This programming read unit 2 is capable of the transmission of data to program optimization to the measuring device 1 and supply the retrieval device in the measuring 1 recorded and stored measured data by. The programming / reading unit 2 is, according to FIG. 1, directly or indirectly via a personal computer 7 in a line connection 3 with a printer 4 for the preparation of measurement protocols 5 . Another line connection 6 runs between the programming / reading unit 2 and a personal computer 7 with a screen 8 .

The actual measuring device 1 is a small-volume and outwardly hermetically sealed body, as is already indicated in FIG. 1.

In the measuring device 1 the block diagram of a central control unit is according to Fig. 2 used 9, the conduction and functional connections tion unit to a communica 10, a sensor unit 11, a clock 12, a values memory 13 and a program parameter memory 14 has . For the sake of simplicity, the individual lines are all provided with the reference number 15 . As a further component, the energy storage device 16 or the voltage supply in the form of a battery, an accumulator, a capacitor or an inductor is located in the measuring device 1 .

Before carrying out a measurement, for example the acquisition of temperature data as a function of the respective current time for a working method, the measuring device is preprogrammed accordingly by the programming / reading unit 2 . The preprogrammed data pass from the programming / reading unit 2 to the communication unit 10 used in the measuring device 1 and are finally stored in the program parameter memory 14 via the central control unit 9 . In this way, the measuring device 1 is informed, for example, at what time the measurements are to be carried out, at what intervals the measurements are to be carried out and at what time the measurements are to be completed. In order to ensure this as a program, the measuring device 1 is again informed of the current time of an external time standard via the programming / reading unit 2 and the clock 12 used in the measuring device 1 is again synchronized to the current time via the central control unit 9 . This means that the time of the inserted clock 12 and the current time of an external time standard are the same. The time standard can be, for example, the Central European time, which is automatically updated via a DCF-77 receiver in the program reading unit 2 .

In principle, this completes the programming of the measuring device 1 , which is now self-sufficient and can be brought to the measuring location in order to carry out the planned measurements. This can be, for example, temperature measurements or pressure measurements at certain locations during a machining or production process. Since the start time for the start of the measurements has already been stored in the measuring device 1 , the corresponding work process must now be controlled so that the phase to be measured takes place simultaneously with the respective measurements.

The measuring device 1 stores the required and he averaged measured values in the measured value memory 13 . After the work process has ended, the measuring device 1 is read out via the central control unit 9 , the communication unit 10 and the programming / reading unit 2 . All stored measured values are freely accessible and relate to the past work process via the time of the clock 12 used.

For correction purposes in work processes that require a lot of time, the state of the time of the clock 12 used can also be read out on the way via the central control unit 9 and the communication unit 10 . Deviations from the time standard when evaluating the measurement results can be taken into account.

After the measured data as a function of the time has been recorded and, for example, has been stored in a log 5 , the measuring device 1 can be reprogrammed for further work processes and thus used in any further work processes. Since the measuring device 1 only has an increased energy requirement in the actual measuring processes and only the clock 12 runs continuously, usage time spaces of this measuring device 1 of several years without changing the voltage supply 16 are conceivable. As described above, the start time for the desired measurements in the measuring device 1 has already been stored, which is why the work process must be controlled so that the phase to be measured takes place simultaneously with the measurements. This can be difficult in individual cases. Therefore, it is also conceivable that the Meßein device 1 via the communication unit 10 or via the central control unit 9 with the start of the work process provided for the measurement from the outside a start signal is given. From this start signal on, the entire sequence of the measurement program begins, as has already been shown above.

A conceivable place of use for this programmable miniature measuring system are, for example, cans. If in the manufacture of such canned cans the operating costs are to be reduced by optimizing the energy costs, the programmable measuring system is suitable if, after filling, the canned foods in the closed cans are warmed to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, so that Conservation and quality can be guaranteed. Since, as a rule, a large number of cans are to be heated simultaneously in a suitable boiler, the thermodynamic conditions are not the same in each of the cans. In addition, it is complicated to introduce a special measuring device into the boiler, since the boiler itself must be sealed tightly for the work process and also the cans in order to comply with the real conditions. This is where the programmable measuring system lends itself. This is because a measuring device 1 or more of such miniature measuring devices 1 can be enclosed with any doses, so that the operator can experiment experimentally with optimal energy supply and can also carry out controls. On the basis of the measurement result obtained after the programmed measurements have been carried out, optimal conditions can later be created for the production process.

Other possible areas of application for the programmable, in The Meteo are, for example, intelligent miniature measuring systems technology, process engineering, mechanical engineering, electronics technology, test laboratories, medical technology, chemistry and Physics, security technology, aerospace technology nics and explosion-proof areas.

In Fig. 3 some embodiments of bodies of the measuring device 1 for temperature measurement have now been exemplified. The body has been drawn as a flat disk 17 in the left half of FIG. 3. With a diameter of the flat disc of 30 mm and a thickness of 5 mm, the total volume is approximately 3.5 cc.

In the middle of FIG. 3, the body of the measuring device 1 has been drawn as a ball 18 with a ball diameter of 20 mm. This results in a total volume of approximately 4.2 cc.

Finally, in the right half of FIG. 3, a cylinder with a diameter of 15 mm and a length of 25 mm has been drawn. This results in a total volume of this cylinder 19 of approximately 4.4 cc.

Of course, other stereometric designs and shapes for the body of the measuring device 1 are conceivable both for temperature measurements and for measurements of other physical quantities.

It is expressly emphasized that the content of the Together a version of the inventive features poses.

Claims (9)

1. Programmable measuring system for measuring physical quantities, which essentially consists of a programming reading unit and a measuring device, characterized in that the measuring device ( 1 ) is a body of any stereometric shape and with small dimensions, in which a sensor unit ( 11 ) and a clock ( 12 ) are used, both of which are in operative connection with a likewise integrated central control unit ( 9 ) in such a way that, depending on stored program parameters, measurements can be carried out at predeterminable clock times and the measured values can be called up and stored. 2. Programmable measuring system according to claim 1, characterized in that in the body ( 1 ) a central control unit ( 9 ) is inserted, which is also introduced into the body ( 1 ) system components clock ( 12 ), sensor unit ( 11 ) , Program parameter memory ( 14 ), measured value memory ( 13 ) and communication unit ( 10 ) creates a functional connection derge stalt that from the programmed parameters in the program parameter memory ( 14 ) and from the position of the clock ( 12 ) the respective times for physical measurements are recognized by the sensor unit ( 11 ), the measurements are triggered and the time-dependent measured values detected by the sensor unit ( 11 ) are stored in the measured value memory ( 13 ), from which the measured values are transmitted to the by means of the communication unit ( 10 ) external program reading unit ( 2 ) can be transmitted. 3. Programmable measuring system according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that in the body ( 1 ) an energy store ( 16 ) is in operative connection with the Sy stembaussteinen. 4. Programmable measuring system according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that in the program parameter memory ( 14 ) the measuring sequence in dependence on a synchronized to the current time clock can be stored. 5. Programmable measuring system according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the body ( 1 ) is hermetically sealed to the outside. 6. Programmable measuring system according to claims 1 to 3 and 5, characterized in that the body ( 1 ) is optionally formed from a universal or egg nem for a specific application material. 7. Programmable measuring system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body ( 1 ) has a volume of less than eight cubic centimeters, preferably a volume between three and five cubic centimeters. 8. Programmable measuring system according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the sensor unit ( 11 ) is a temperature sensor. 9. Programmable measuring system according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the sensor unit ( 11 ) is optionally a pressure sensor, a moisture sensor or any other sensor of a physical size.