JP2005274223A - Signal recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To start signal recording at optimum timing even after a signal recorder is attached to a measuring object while suppressing power consumption. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 15 of a data recorder 10 turns into an optical signal input waiting state, that is, an input standby state, when it receives a command to start recording from a computer 50 via an interface 17. The CPU 15 starts recording a signal inputted into any of amplifiers 11 and 12 and an optical sensor 14 when detecting that the optical signal is inputted into the optical sensor 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a signal recording apparatus, for example, a signal recording apparatus suitable for recording a signal related to a measurement object while being attached to the measurement object.

  There has been proposed a small data collection apparatus that measures and collects an analog amount without receiving external power supply and performs various data analysis using a computer (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As shown in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1, the small data collection device has an analog / digital conversion function for converting a plurality of different analog amounts detected by a plurality of analog sensors 5a and 5b into digital data, and digital data. A microcomputer 6 capable of storing the data in the data storage unit 3 and outputting the digital data stored in the data storage unit 3 to the personal computer 9; and a switch 1a for inputting a measurement start / stop signal to the microcomputer 6. A switch for inputting a data output start signal from the data storage unit 3 to the microcomputer 6, a battery for supplying power to the microcomputer 6 and the data storage unit 3, and a display unit 7 for displaying the measurement state are provided.

In addition, a technique has also been proposed in which the power is turned off to enter a standby state, and power consumption is suppressed by starting a data recording operation using a measurement signal or an external analog signal (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3). .
JP-A-8-159817 JP-A-8-320886 JP 9-128108 A

  The small-sized data collection device described in Patent Document 1 issues a data recording command by switch input. For this reason, when the small data collection device is attached to an object to be measured, it cannot give a data recording command after the start of exercise.

  In addition, since the small data collection device records data only with the first instruction given regardless of the measurement object, unnecessary data is also recorded, and limited memory and battery capacity cannot be used effectively. There was also a problem.

  In Patent Document 2, the start of data recording is determined based on the presence or absence of an input signal. In Patent Document 3, the start of data recording is determined by comparing whether the input signal is equal to or higher than the reference signal. For this reason, when these signal recording devices are attached to the measurement object, an unintended signal may be input due to vibrations of the measurement object, which may cause malfunction.

  Furthermore, the signal recording device is often placed in a state where it cannot be put on by a person after being attached to the measurement object. Therefore, the signal recording apparatus has a problem that if an unintended signal is input and malfunctions, power is wasted and necessary data cannot be recorded.

  The present invention has been proposed in order to solve such a problem, and is capable of starting signal recording at an optimal timing even after being attached to a measurement object while suppressing power consumption. An object is to provide a recording apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a signal recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a signal input unit for inputting a signal, a trigger signal detection unit for detecting a trigger signal, a storage unit for storing a signal, and the trigger signal detection. When a trigger signal is detected by the means, a recording control means for performing control for recording the signal input by the signal input means in the storage means, and a transfer means for transferring the signal stored in the storage means; It has.

  The signal input means may be any signal input means regardless of what kind of processing is performed. That is, the type of signal such as an analog signal, a digital signal, or an optical signal is not limited. The trigger signal detecting means detects a trigger signal indicating the start of signal recording. Here, regardless of the type of the trigger signal, any of an analog signal, a digital signal, an optical signal, and the like may be used.

  The storage means may be volatile or nonvolatile as long as it stores signals. The recording control unit performs control to record the signal input by the signal input unit in the storage unit when a trigger signal is detected by the trigger signal detection unit.

  Thereby, when the trigger signal is detected by the trigger signal detection means, the signal recording device records the signal input by the signal input means in the storage means, and transfers the signal stored in the storage means, The signal input by the signal input means can be recorded without the user's instruction at the start of signal recording.

  Here, in the signal recording apparatus, the trigger signal detection unit may detect a signal input to the signal input unit as the trigger signal. Thus, the signal recording apparatus can automatically record the signal at the same time as the signal is input by the signal input means.

  The trigger signal detection means may detect an optical signal as the trigger signal.

  In addition, the signal recording device further includes a timing unit that counts a predetermined time, and the recording control unit is configured to measure a predetermined time by the timing unit when the trigger signal is detected by the trigger signal detection unit. Control which records the signal inputted by the signal input means in the storage means may be performed at any time.

  Further, in the signal recording apparatus, the recording control unit records the signal input by the signal input unit in the storage unit and stops recording each time a trigger signal is detected by the trigger signal detection unit. You may perform control which repeats this.

  Thus, the signal recording apparatus can automatically and repeatedly record / stop the signal input by the signal input means.

  The signal recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a signal input means for inputting a signal, a storage means for storing the signal, a trigger detection means for detecting a power supply trigger, and a power supply trigger detected by the trigger detection means. A recording control means for performing control to record the signal input by the signal input means in the storage means and a transfer means for transferring the signal stored in the storage means. ing.

  The trigger detection means detects a power supply trigger representing the power supply timing. The trigger detection unit may detect a power supply trigger from the signal input by the signal input unit. The recording control means performs control to record the signal input by the signal input means in the storage means when power is supplied when the trigger detection means detects the power supply trigger.

  Therefore, according to the signal recording device, power is supplied when the power supply trigger is detected, and the signal input by the signal input means is recorded in the storage means, so that power consumption during standby without signal recording is achieved. Can be suppressed.

  The trigger detection unit may detect the power supply trigger when the signal input by the signal input unit has a constant period, or when the signal has a constant period and a predetermined period. Thereby, only the signal which has periodicity can be recorded reliably.

  The signal recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a signal input means for inputting a signal, a storage means for storing the signal, and a power supply trigger when the pattern of the signal input by the signal input means is a predetermined pattern. A trigger detection means for detecting, a recording control means for controlling the recording of the signal inputted by the signal input means in the storage means when a power supply trigger is detected by the trigger detection means, and the storage means Transfer means for transferring the stored signal.

  The trigger detection means detects a power supply trigger when the pattern of the signal input by the signal input means is a predetermined pattern. The recording control means performs control to record the signal input by the signal input means in the storage means when the power supply trigger is detected.

  Thereby, according to the signal recording apparatus, only a desired signal can be stored in the storage means even if the input signal is affected by disturbance or the like.

  The signal recording apparatus according to the present invention can automatically record a signal without an instruction from the user at the start of signal recording.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data recording apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The data recording apparatus 10 is for recording any one of an analog signal, a digital signal, and an optical signal, and amplifiers 11 and 12 that amplify the analog signal, respectively, and analog / digital (A) that converts the analog signal into a digital signal. / D) converter 13, optical sensor 14 for detecting optical signals, CPU 15 for performing predetermined processing, memory 16 for storing digital signals, interface 17 for performing data transfer in a predetermined format, battery for supplying power to the entire apparatus 18 is provided.

  The amplifiers 11 and 12 amplify analog signals input from the outside, and supply the amplified analog signals to the A / D converter 13, respectively. The A / D converter 13 converts the analog signals supplied from the amplifiers 11 and 12 into digital signals, and supplies the digital signals to the CPU 15.

  The optical sensor 14 detects an optical signal input from the outside, generates a signal, and supplies the signal to the CPU 15. Note that the optical sensor 14 may be either an infrared light sensor or a visible light sensor.

  At the time of data recording, the CPU 15 sequentially stores, in the memory 16, any one of the A / D converter 13, the optical sensor 14, and a digital signal directly supplied from the outside as data to be recorded. That is, the data to be recorded may be any of an analog signal input to the amplifier 11 or the amplifier 12, an optical signal detected by the optical sensor 14, or a digital signal directly input to the CPU 15, and is particularly limited. It is not something.

  Further, the CPU 15 has a built-in timer for counting a predetermined time, and can perform a predetermined operation after a predetermined time has elapsed. Note that the CPU 15 reads a digital signal from the memory 16 as necessary, and supplies the digital signal to the interface 17.

  The interface 17 supplies a command from the computer 50 to the CPU 15 before data recording. Thereby, the computer 50 can set the data recording operation of the data recording apparatus 10. After data recording, the interface 17 transfers the processing result of the CPU 15 to the computer 50 in a predetermined format.

  The data recording apparatus 10 configured as described above enters a standby state after being disconnected from the computer 50. The data recording device 10 is attached to a measurement object, for example, and can move with the measurement object. In the present embodiment, the data recording device 10 starts data recording by the following four methods. In the following, a signal input to one of the amplifiers 11 and 12 and the optical sensor 14 will be described as an example of data recording, but a digital signal directly input to the CPU 15 may be used.

(First method)
FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing the data recording operation by the built-in timer. When the CPU 15 of the data recording device 10 receives an instruction to start recording from the computer 50 via the interface 17, it starts counting the predetermined time by operating the built-in timer and enters a standby state. Then, the CPU 15 starts recording a signal input to any of the amplifiers 11 and 12 and the optical sensor 14 when a predetermined time has elapsed.

(Second method)
FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing a data recording operation using an optical signal. When the CPU 15 of the data recording apparatus 10 receives an instruction to start recording from the computer 50 via the interface 17, the CPU 15 enters an optical signal input waiting state, that is, a standby state. When the CPU 15 detects that an optical signal is input to the optical sensor 14, the CPU 15 starts recording the signal input to any of the amplifiers 11 and 12 and the optical sensor 14.

(Third method)
FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing a data recording operation using a built-in timer and an optical signal. When the CPU 15 of the data recording apparatus 10 receives an instruction to start recording from the computer 50 via the interface 17, it starts counting the predetermined time by operating the built-in timer and waits for an optical signal to be input, that is, It will be in a standby state. Then, the CPU 15 starts recording the signal input to any of the amplifiers 11 and 12 and the optical sensor 14 when an optical signal is input or when a predetermined time elapses, whichever comes first.

(Fourth method)
FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing a repetitive operation of data recording using an optical signal. When the CPU 15 of the data recording apparatus 10 receives an instruction to start recording from the computer 50 via the interface 17, the CPU 15 enters an optical signal input waiting state, that is, a standby state. When the CPU 15 detects that an optical signal has been input to the optical sensor 14, the CPU 15 starts recording the signal input to either the amplifier 11 or 12. When the CPU 15 detects that the next optical signal has been input to the optical sensor 14, the CPU 15 stops recording the signal input to either the amplifier 11 or 12, and enters a standby state. Further, when the CPU 15 detects that an optical signal is input to the optical sensor 14, the CPU 15 starts recording the signal input to one of the amplifiers 11 and 12. That is, the CPU 15 repeats start / stop of data recording every time an optical signal as a trigger is input.

  As described above, the data recording apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment uses the signal input from the outside as a trigger and records data based on the trigger even when moving with the measurement object. Can be started automatically. Further, the data recording device 10 can start data recording based on a trigger when a signal is input from the outside or when a timer counts for a predetermined time. Further, the data recording apparatus 10 can repeatedly start and stop data recording using an externally input signal as a trigger.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, It can apply also to what was changed in the design within the range of the matter described in the claim.

  For example, the CPU 15 used an optical signal as a trigger for starting data recording, but instead of using an optical signal, an analog signal input to the amplifier 11 or the amplifier 12 or a digital signal directly input to the CPU 15 is used as a trigger for starting data recording. It is good.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the data recording device 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The data recording device 20 includes an amplifier 21 that amplifies an analog signal, an analog / digital (A / D) converter 22 that converts the analog signal into a digital signal, a detection sensor 23 that detects a physical phenomenon, and an input signal. An input signal determination circuit 24 that determines whether the signal is a signal, a battery 25 that supplies power to the entire apparatus, a power control circuit 26 that controls power supply from the battery 25 to a predetermined circuit, a CPU 27 that performs predetermined processing, and a digital signal A memory 28 for storing data and an interface 29 for transferring data in a predetermined format are provided.

  The amplifier 21 amplifies an analog signal input from the outside, and supplies the amplified analog signal to the A / D converter 22 and the input signal determination circuit 24. The A / D converter 22 converts the analog signal supplied from the amplifier 21 into a digital signal, and supplies this digital signal to the CPU 27.

  The detection sensor 23 detects a predetermined physical phenomenon and supplies the detection result to the input signal determination circuit 24. Examples of physical phenomena include, but are not limited to, light, pressure, and acceleration.

  The input signal determination circuit 24 compares the analog signal input via the amplifier 21 or the analog signal input via the detection sensor 23 with predetermined data, and determines whether or not to supply power to the predetermined circuit. Determine whether. That is, the input signal determination circuit 24 compares the signal with predetermined data and detects a power supply trigger. Note that, in the internal memory of the input signal determination circuit 24, a cycle of a signal to be recorded, a signal pattern, and the like are set in advance.

  The battery 25 supplies power to the A / D converter 22, the CPU 27, and other circuits. However, the power supplied to the A / D converter 22 and the CPU 27 is controlled by the power control circuit 26.

  In the standby state, the power supply control circuit 26 performs control so that power is not supplied from the battery 25 to the A / D converter 22 and the CPU 27 (power is turned off). Thereby, the power consumption in the standby state is suppressed. Further, when not in a standby state, the power supply control circuit 26 controls the power supply from the battery 25 to the A / D converter 22 and the CPU 27.

  The CPU 27 sequentially stores the digital signal supplied from the A / D converter 22 in the memory 28 at the time of data recording supplied with power. Further, the CPU 27 has a built-in timer for counting a predetermined time, and can perform a predetermined operation after a predetermined time has elapsed. Note that the CPU 27 reads a digital signal from the memory 28 as needed after data recording, and supplies the digital signal to the interface 29.

  The interface 29 supplies a command from the computer 50 to the CPU 27 during data recording. Thereby, the computer 50 can set the data recording operation of the data recording device 20. After data recording, the interface 29 transfers the data read from the memory 28 by the CPU 27 to the computer 50 in a predetermined format.

  The data recording apparatus 20 configured as described above enters a standby state after being disconnected from the computer 50. The data recording device 20 is attached to a measurement object, for example, and can move with the measurement object. In this embodiment, the data recording device 20 starts data recording by the following three methods. In the following, a signal input to the amplifier 21 is used as a trigger for starting power supply, but a physical phenomenon detected by the detection sensor 23 may be used as a trigger for starting power supply.

(First method)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a data recording processing procedure by the data recording apparatus 20.

  In step ST1, the power supply control circuit 26 turns off the power to be supplied to the A / D converter 22 and the CPU 27 to enter a standby state, and then proceeds to step ST2.

  In step ST2, the input signal determination circuit 24 determines whether the analog signal supplied via the amplifier 21 is periodic. Specifically, when the analog signal is supplied several times, the input signal determination circuit 24 determines whether or not the analog signal has a certain period (periodic). Then, if the power supply trigger is detected at the fixed period, the process proceeds to step ST3. If not constant, the process returns to step ST1 and again enters the standby state.

  In step ST3, the power supply control circuit 26 turns on the power to the A / D converter 22 and the CPU 27. As a result, the A / D converter 22 converts the analog signal supplied from the amplifier 21 into a digital signal and supplies it to the CPU 27. The CPU 27 can record the digital signal supplied from the A / D converter 22. As described above, the data recording device 20 can perform the data recording operation by turning on the power when the period of the input signal is constant.

(Second method)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a data recording procedure performed by the data recording device 20.

  In step ST11, the power supply control circuit 26 turns off the power to be supplied to the A / D converter 22 and the CPU 27 and sets the standby state, and then proceeds to step ST12.

  In step ST12, the input signal determination circuit 24 determines whether or not the analog signal supplied via the amplifier 21 is periodic. When the period of the analog signal is constant (periodic), the process proceeds to step ST13. When the period of the analog signal is not constant, the process returns to step ST14 and again enters a standby state.

  In step ST13, the power supply control circuit 26 measures the period of the analog signal for several times supplied via the amplifier 21, and determines whether or not the measured period matches a predetermined period. Then, when the cycle matches, the power supply trigger is detected and the process proceeds to step ST14. When the cycle does not match, the process returns to step ST11. As a result, even if the cycle of the input analog signal is constant, if the cycle does not match the preset cycle, the standby state is entered again.

  In step ST14, the power control circuit 26 turns on the power to the A / D converter 22 and the CPU 27. As a result, as in the first method, the A / D converter 22 converts the analog signal supplied from the amplifier 21 into a digital signal and supplies the digital signal to the CPU 27. The CPU 27 can record the digital signal supplied from the A / D converter 22.

  As described above, when the period of data to be recorded is determined in advance, the data recording apparatus 20 turns on the power when the period of the input signal is constant and the predetermined period, Only desired data can be recorded.

(Third method)
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a data recording procedure performed by the data recording device 20.

  In step ST21, the power supply control circuit 26 turns off the power to be supplied to the A / D converter 22 and the CPU 27 to enter a standby state, and then proceeds to step ST22.

  In step ST <b> 22, when the power supply control circuit 26 detects that an analog signal is supplied to the amplifier 21 via the input signal determination circuit 24, the power supply control circuit 26 turns on the power supply to the A / D converter 22 and the CPU 27. At this time, the CPU 27 starts data recording and proceeds to step ST23.

  In step ST23, the CPU 27 collates the signal pattern of the digital signal input via the amplifier 21 and the A / D converter 22 with a preset signal pattern, and proceeds to step ST24.

  In step ST24, the CPU 27 determines whether or not the signal generation pattern of the digital signal input via the amplifier 21 and the A / D converter 22 matches a preset signal generation pattern. If they match, the process proceeds to step ST25. If they do not match, the process returns to step ST21.

  In step ST25, the CPU 27 performs data recording by storing in the memory 28 a digital signal that matches a predetermined signal generation pattern. As a result, when a desired signal is generated at an irregular cycle, the data recording device 20 prepares a predetermined signal pattern and records only a signal that matches the predetermined signal pattern. Can do.

  As described above, the data recording apparatus 20 according to the second embodiment uses a signal input from the outside as a trigger and a predetermined circuit based on the trigger even when moving with the measurement object. Data can be automatically started by supplying power to the.

  In addition, the data recording device 20 supplies power to a predetermined circuit when a signal is input from the outside, and determines whether the pattern of the signal matches the predetermined pattern, and then records the data. Only desired data can be recorded without being affected by disturbance.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, It can apply also to what was changed in the design within the range of the matter described in the claim.

  For example, in the first and second methods in the second embodiment, when the signal determined by the input signal determination circuit 24 exceeds a certain level, the power supply control circuit 26 and the A / D converter 22 and The power to the CPU 27 may be turned on. Further, instead of the power supply control circuit 26, it may be determined whether a main body signal processing unit (not shown) continuously turns on the power.

  In the second embodiment, the CPU 27 turns off the power of the A / D converter 22 and the CPU 27 in the standby state. However, the power of other circuits may be turned off.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the data recording device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart which shows the data recording operation | movement by a built-in timer. It is a timing chart which shows the data recording operation | movement by an optical signal. It is a timing chart which shows data recording operation by a built-in timer and an optical signal. It is a timing chart which shows the repetition operation | movement of the data recording by an optical signal. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the data recording device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the data recording by a data recording device. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the data recording by a data recording device. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the data recording by a data recording device.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20 Data recording device 11, 12, 21 Amplifier 13, 22 A / D converter 15, 27 CPU
16, 28 Memory 24 Input signal determination circuit 25 Battery 26 Power supply control circuit 17, 29 Interface

Claims (8)

A signal input means for inputting a signal;
Trigger signal detecting means for detecting the trigger signal;
Storage means for storing signals;
A recording control means for performing control to record the signal input by the signal input means in the storage means when a trigger signal is detected by the trigger signal detection means;
Transfer means for transferring a signal stored in the storage means;
A signal recording apparatus comprising: The signal recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the trigger signal detection unit detects a signal input to the signal input unit as the trigger signal. The signal recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the trigger signal detection unit detects an optical signal as the trigger signal. It further comprises a timing means for timing a predetermined time,
The recording control means stores the signal input by the signal input means when the trigger signal is detected by the trigger signal detection means or when the predetermined time is measured by the time measuring means, whichever comes first. The signal recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein control for recording is performed. The recording control unit performs a control of repeatedly recording the signal input by the signal input unit in the storage unit and stopping the recording every time a trigger signal is detected by the trigger signal detection unit. The signal recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A signal input means for inputting a signal;
Storage means for storing signals;
Trigger detection means for detecting a power supply trigger;
A recording control means for controlling the recording of the signal input by the signal input means to the storage means when power is supplied when the trigger detection means detects a power supply trigger;
Transfer means for transferring a signal stored in the storage means;
A signal recording apparatus comprising: The said trigger detection means detects the said power supply trigger when the signal input by the said signal input means is a fixed period, or when the said signal is a fixed period and is a predetermined period. Signal recording device. A signal input means for inputting a signal;
Storage means for storing signals;
Trigger detection means for detecting a power supply trigger when the pattern of the signal input by the signal input means is a predetermined pattern;
A recording control means for performing control to record the signal input by the signal input means in the storage means when a power supply trigger is detected by the trigger detection means;
Transfer means for transferring a signal stored in the storage means;
A signal recording apparatus comprising:

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