WO2011115121A1 - Wireless communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosed wireless communication system conducts wireless communication between one receiver (1) and a plurality of electric tools (2). Each electric tool (2) is given a different registry number and a corresponding designated transmission interval (T), and when data is transmitted from the electric tool (2), the receiver (1), which receives the data, transmits a signal to indicate receipt of said data to the electric tool (2). Each electric tool (2) is configured in such a way that the electric tool determines that data transmission is complete upon receipt of the signal to indicate receipt of data, but determines that data transmission is incomplete if the electric tool does not receive said signal, and retransmits the data after waiting for the transmission interval (T). Different transmission intervals (T) are set per registry number so that the electric tools (2) can each complete data transmission within a designated period of time.

Description

Wireless communication system

The present invention generally relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly to a wireless communication system for quickly completing data reception between one receiver and a plurality of power tools.

In factories, etc., it is desirable to manage the work status of multiple power tools via wireless communication. As a wireless communication system used for this purpose, there is a conventional one disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-195921.

In this conventional wireless communication system, data is transmitted from each of a plurality of power tools, and the data from each power tool is collectively received by a single receiver. At this time, in order to avoid a situation in which reception is not possible due to interference, data is set to be transmitted at random from each power tool a plurality of times.

By the way, in the conventional wireless communication system, in order to avoid interference on the receiver side more reliably, it is necessary to set so that data is randomly transmitted as many times as possible from each power tool. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve both data transmission from each power tool within a short time and avoiding interference.

Further, the conventional wireless communication system does not check on the power tool side whether or not the transmitted data is received on the receiver side. For this reason, the work has been carried out on the assumption that any of the data transmitted many times has been received, and there has been a problem in terms of communication reliability.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication system capable of ensuring high reliability for communication while achieving both data transmission from each power tool in a short time and avoiding interference. There is to do.

The present invention is a wireless communication system for solving the above-described problems, and performs wireless communication between one receiver and a plurality of power tools. In the present invention, a separate registration number and a predetermined transmission interval corresponding to each power tool are set for each of the power tools, and when the data is transmitted from the power tool, the receiver that has received the data transmits to the power tool. In response, a reception completion signal is transmitted. When the power tool receives the reception completion signal, it determines that data transmission is completed at that time, and when it does not receive the reception completion signal, determines that data transmission is incomplete, and The data is retransmitted after a transmission interval. As the transmission interval, a different time is allocated and set for each registration number.

According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve both the completion of data transmission from each electric tool within a short time and the avoidance of interference, and to ensure high reliability for communication.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the first retransmission time and the second and subsequent retransmission times are set separately as the transmission interval.

At this time, it is preferable that the second and subsequent retransmission times are set to be the same time for the plurality of power tools.

Further, the power tool of the present invention comprises an abnormality notification means for notifying that there is a transmission abnormality state, and when the reception completion signal is not received when the data is retransmitted a predetermined number of times, It is preferable to perform abnormality notification through the abnormality notification means.

Moreover, it is preferable that the power tool of the present invention includes number display means for displaying a set registration number.

In addition, the power tool of the present invention includes a work state detection unit that detects the work state, and transmits the data to the receiver when the work state detection unit detects a predetermined work state. Is preferred.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in further detail. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the electric tool and receiver which comprise the example radio | wireless communications system in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the electric tool of the radio | wireless communications system in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the receiver of the radio | wireless communications system in embodiment of this invention. It is a control flow figure by the side of the electric tool of the radio | wireless communications system in embodiment of this invention. It is a control flow figure by the side of the receiver of the radio | wireless communications system in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the timing of resending in the radio | wireless communications system in embodiment of this invention.

The present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this wireless communication system, data is transmitted and received between one receiver 1 and a plurality of power tools 2 by wireless communication. In the drawing, only one power tool 2 is shown for simplicity.

The electric tool 2 is a rechargeable tightening tool in this example, and transmits a motor 4 serving as a drive source and a rotational force input from the motor 4 to the output shaft 6 in a housing 3 having a handle portion 3a. The drive transmission part 5 etc. are accommodated. The drive transmission unit 5 has a structure in which an impact in the rotation direction is further applied to the output shaft 6. A tip tool 7 is detachably attached to the output shaft 6.

The handle portion 3a of the housing 3 is provided with a trigger switch 9, a registration switch 10, a display portion 11, a tool wireless communication means 12, a tool control means 13, and the like. In addition, a battery pack 8 is detachably attached to the distal end portion of the handle portion 3a. As shown in FIG. 2A, the tool control means 13 controls the motor 4 via the motor control means 14 and controls the tool wireless communication means 12 via the wireless control means 15. The tool control means 13 detects the current work state via the work state detection means 16 that detects the state of the drive transmission unit 5.

The tool control means 13 has storage means (not shown), and this storage means stores a tool ID number at the time of shipment. The tool wireless communication unit 12 transmits and receives data at a predetermined frequency, and includes a transmission frequency setting unit 17.

The receiver 1 includes a registration switch 18, a receiver wireless communication unit 19, a receiver control unit 20, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2B, the receiver control unit 20 controls the receiver radio communication unit 19 via the radio control unit 21. The receiver wireless communication unit 19 transmits and receives data at a predetermined frequency, and includes a transmission frequency setting unit 22.

In the wireless communication system of this example, first, both the receiver 1 side and the power tool 2 side are set to the registration mode, and in this registration mode, a separate registration number is set for each power tool 2. FIG. 3 shows a flowchart on the power tool 2 side, and FIG. 4 shows a flowchart on the receiver 1 side.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the registration switch 10 of the power tool 2 is turned on, the power tool 2 transits to the registration mode. As shown in FIG. 4, when the registration switch 18 is turned on also on the receiver 1 side, the receiver 1 shifts to the registration mode. Both the power tool 2 and the receiver 1 set the use frequency to a dedicated one for registration (for example, 2405 MHz) in the use frequency setting CH0 in the registration mode.

When transitioning to the registration mode, the power tool 2 transmits a registration request signal from the tool wireless communication means 12, and the receiver 1 in a waiting state receives this registration request signal through the receiver wireless communication means 19. The registration request signal here has registration request identification data and a tool ID number. After transmitting the registration request signal, the power tool 2 enters a waiting state.

The receiver 1 that has received the registration request signal allocates a registration number to the tool ID number of the electric tool 2 and transmits a registration confirmation signal through the receiver wireless communication means 19. The registration confirmation signal here has registration confirmation identification data, a receiver ID number, a tool ID number, a working signal use frequency, and a registration number. The working signal use frequency is obtained by assigning a channel to each registration number, and is set such that the use frequencies at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5CH are 2415, 2425, 2435, 2445, and 2455 MHz, for example. These working signal use frequencies are different from the use frequencies in the registration mode.

The power tool 2 that has received the registration confirmation signal confirms whether or not the tool ID number in the transmitted registration request signal matches the tool ID number in the received registration confirmation signal. If the tool ID numbers match, a registration completion signal is transmitted from the power tool 2 to the receiver 1 and various parameters are stored in the storage means. If the tool ID numbers do not match, the registration request signal is transmitted again from the electric tool 2.

Here, the various parameters stored in the electric tool 2 are a receiver ID number, a working signal use frequency, a registration number, and the like. The registration completion signal transmitted by the electric tool 2 includes registration completion identification data, a tool ID number, and a receiver ID number.

When the receiver 1 receives the registration completion signal transmitted from the power tool 2 side, the receiver 1 checks whether the tool ID numbers match. If they match, various parameters are stored in storage means (not shown) of the receiver control means 20. If the tool ID numbers do not match, the process transits to a waiting state for a registration request signal, and the above process is repeated.

Here, the various parameters stored in the receiver 1 are a tool ID number, a working signal use frequency, a registration number, and the like.

According to the registration procedure described above, a registration number (for example, 1, 2, 3,...) Is appropriately assigned to each electric tool 2, and the registration number and various parameters corresponding thereto are registered in the receiver 1 and the electric tool 2. Let me.

When the power of the power tool 2 is turned on after completing the registration work of each power tool 2, the power tool 2 receives the receiver ID number, work signal use frequency, registration number, etc. from the storage means of the tool control means 13. Is read.

Here, when the operator pulls in the trigger switch 9 to perform a fastening operation or the like and the tool control means 13 detects completion of a predetermined work through the work state detection means 16, the tool control means 13 stops the motor 4. Then, a work completion signal is transmitted from the tool wireless communication means 12 toward the receiver 1 side. The work completion signal includes work completion identification data, a tool ID number, a receiver ID number, and a registration number.

The receiver 1 receives the work completion signal from the electric tool 2 and, when the tool ID number matches, transmits the reception completion signal to the electric tool 2 side, and then receives it to an external device (not shown). Perform completion output. The reception completion signal includes work completion identification data, a receiver ID number, a tool ID number, and a registration number.

When the power tool 2 receives the reception completion signal and the tool ID numbers match, the power tool 2 determines that transmission is complete.

If the power tool 2 does not receive the reception completion signal even after the predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that the wireless communication has failed due to interference or the like, and a predetermined transmission interval is reached until the reception completion signal is received. The same retransmission is repeated after T is opened. There is a certain limit on the number of retransmissions.

Here, a table of transmission intervals T corresponding to each registration number is stored in the storage means of each power tool 2. In the table, as the transmission interval T, different times T1, T2, T3,. Each electric tool 2 sets the transmission interval T corresponding to the registration number stored by itself as an interval for retransmission. Instead of storing the table on the electric tool 2 side, a transmission interval T corresponding to the registration number is included in the registration confirmation signal from the receiver 1 and is stored in the electric tool 2 by transmission. There may be.

FIG. 5 shows a case where, for example, three power tools 2 are registered for one receiver 1. The three power tools 2 have registration numbers 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and initial transmission intervals T corresponding to the registration numbers are T1a, T2a, and T3a (T1a <T2a <T3a), respectively.

As shown in the figure, for example, when three power tools 2 complete the work at the same time and transmit data to the receiver 1 at the same time, data reception on the receiver 1 side fails due to interference (becomes reception NG). ) At this time, each power tool 2 retransmits data with a transmission interval T.

Here, since the transmission intervals T1a, T2a, and T3a corresponding to the registration numbers are set as the transmission intervals T in each electric tool 2, it is possible to suppress interference between the electric tools 2 at the time of retransmission. Is done. In other words, even if the first wireless communication fails, the wireless communication succeeds with high probability (reception OK) in the first retransmission.

Note that a predetermined time T0 is secured as a difference between the transmission intervals T1a, T2a, and T3a that are different from each other. That is, T3a−T2a = T2a−T1a = T0. The predetermined time T0 is set to a value different from the transmission intervals T1a, T2a, T3a and the transmission intervals T1b, T2b, T3b for retransmission after the second time described later.

In this example, a time different from the transmission intervals T1a, T2a, T3a for the first retransmission is set as transmission intervals T1b, T2b, T3b for the second and subsequent retransmissions. The transmission intervals T1b, T2b, and T3b are set so that all the electric tools 2 have the same time.

That is, in the electric tool 2 with the registration number “No. 1”, the transmission interval T for the first retransmission T = T1a and the transmission interval T2 for the second and subsequent retransmissions T = T1b. In the power tool 2 with the registration number “No. 2”, the first transmission interval T = T2a (= T1a + T0), and the second and subsequent retransmission transmission intervals T = T2b (= T1b). . In the electric tool 2 with the registration number “No. 3”, the transmission interval T for the first retransmission T = T3a (= T2a + T0), and the transmission interval for the second and subsequent retransmissions T = T3b (= T2b = T1b) It is.

As described above, if the transmission intervals T1b, T2b, and T3b after the second time are matched in all the power tools 2, the wireless communication fails even in the first retransmission in the plurality of power tools 2, and the second and subsequent times. Even when the re-transmission is performed (see the dotted line in FIG. 5), the timing of data transmission among the plurality of power tools 2 is suppressed. As a result, the wireless communication of all the power tools 2 can be successful within a predetermined time as short as possible.

Note that the transmission intervals T1b, T2b, and T3b may not be set to be the same for all the electric tools 2, but may be set to natural numbers times the predetermined time. Even in this case, the occurrence of interference in the second and subsequent retransmissions is suppressed.

Furthermore, in the power tool 2 of this example, when the reception completion signal is not received after the retransmission is performed a predetermined number of times, the retransmission is terminated and the light is turned on on the display unit 11. The operator is notified of abnormality. Note that the abnormality notification means in this case is not limited to abnormality notification due to lighting, for example, means for generating a notification sound from a buzzer provided in the electric power tool 2, or an abnormality to the operator by prohibiting driving of the motor 4. Means such as notification may be used.

In the electric tool 2 of this example, the registration number assigned to the electric tool 2 is set to be displayed on the display unit 11 when the registration switch 10 is pressed for a predetermined time. That is, the display unit 11 is used as number display means. In addition to the display unit 11, other parts may be used as number display means.

In the following, the effects of the wireless communication system of this example will be described in further detail.

As described above, the wireless communication system of this example performs wireless communication between one receiver 1 and a plurality of power tools 2. In this wireless communication system, a separate registration number and a predetermined transmission interval T corresponding thereto are set for each electric tool 2. When data is transmitted from the power tool 2, the receiver 1 that has received the data transmits a reception completion signal to the power tool 2. When the power tool 2 receives the reception completion signal, the power tool 2 is configured to determine that the data transmission is completed at that time. In addition, when the power tool 2 does not receive the reception completion signal, the power tool 2 is configured to determine that data transmission is incomplete and to retransmit the data after a transmission interval T. As the transmission interval T here, a different time is assigned and set for each registration number.

Thereby, in the wireless communication system of the present example, it is possible to achieve both high reliability in completing data transmission from each power tool 2 within a short time and avoiding interference. This is because each power tool 2 only needs to transmit data once if there is no interference on the receiver 1 side. Further, even if interference occurs in the first data transmission, after that, retransmission is performed with a different transmission interval T for each registration number, so that repeated interference between the power tools 2 is suppressed as much as possible. . In other words, even in an environment such as an assembly factory where work is performed one after another at short intervals (about 0.5 seconds), data transmission can be completed in real time within the short intervals. In addition, since the data transmission from the electric power tool 2 is not completed until the electric power tool 2 receives the reception completion signal from the receiver 1, the reliability of the data transmission is also ensured.

Further, in the wireless communication system of this example, in order to avoid the coincidence of data transmission timing in the second and subsequent retransmissions, the second and subsequent retransmission times T1a, T2a, and T3a are separate from the second and subsequent retransmission times. Retransmission times T1b, T2b, and T3b are set.

As the setting of the transmission intervals T1b, T2b, and T3b for the second and subsequent times, various settings such as unifying to a predetermined time for all the electric power tools 2 and setting each to a natural number multiple of the predetermined time are considered. It is done. In contrast, in order to complete data transmission in real time within a short interval, the second and subsequent retransmission times are set to be the same time for the plurality of power tools 2. It is preferable.

Moreover, in the wireless communication system of this example, the electric power tool 2 is provided with an abnormality notification means for notifying that there is a transmission abnormality state. When the reception completion signal is not received when the data is retransmitted a predetermined number of times, abnormality notification is performed through the abnormality notification means. As a result, a situation in which the work proceeds without realizing that the transmission is abnormal due to some cause is suppressed, and the reliability of the entire wireless communication system is further improved.

Moreover, in the wireless communication system of this example, the electric power tool 2 includes number display means for displaying the set registration number. Thereby, the management of the registration number allocated to each electric tool 2 and each parameter corresponding to this can be reliably performed while visually confirming the registration number for each electric tool 2.

Further, in the wireless communication system of the present example, the electric power tool 2 includes a work state detection unit 16 that detects the work state. When the work state detection unit 16 detects a predetermined work state, the power tool 2 is connected to the receiver 1. It is provided to transmit data. This eliminates the need for the worker to send data each time work is completed, thus contributing to improved work efficiency.

Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate design changes may be made within the intended scope of the present invention. Is possible.

Claims (6)

A wireless communication system that performs wireless communication between one receiver and a plurality of power tools,
When a separate registration number and a predetermined transmission interval corresponding to each registration number are set for each power tool and data is transmitted from the power tool, the receiver that has received the data has completed reception with respect to the power tool. Send a signal,
When the power tool receives the reception completion signal, it determines that data transmission is completed at that time, and when it does not receive the reception completion signal, determines that data transmission is incomplete, and It is configured to resend the data after a transmission interval,
A wireless communication system, wherein a different time is assigned and set for each registration number as the transmission interval. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first retransmission time and the second and subsequent retransmission times are set separately as the transmission interval. The wireless communication system according to claim 2, wherein the second and subsequent retransmission times are set to be the same for the plurality of power tools. The power tool is provided with an abnormality notifying unit for notifying that the transmission is in an abnormal state, and when the reception completion signal is not received when the data is retransmitted a predetermined number of times, an abnormality is detected through the abnormality notifying unit. The wireless communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein notification is performed. The wireless communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the power tool includes number display means for displaying a set registration number. The power tool includes a working state detection unit that detects a working state of the power tool, and transmits the data to the receiver when the working state detection unit detects a predetermined working state. Item 6. The wireless communication system according to any one of Items 1 to 5.

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