Abstract:
A data collection apparatus enables to connect to a support center via a network. The data collection apparatus has a measuring section which measures a physical quantity, a data storing section which stores measurement data obtained by the measuring section, in association with at least one of sound data and image data, a data communicating section which transmits and receives data to and from the support center, and an outputting section which reproduces and displays the transmitted and received data.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2005-156762, filed on May 30, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a data collection apparatus which has high affinity with a network, and which is suitably used for maintenance services of various kinds of apparatuses constituting building equipment or a control plant.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     As the maintenance of building equipment, for example, it has been proposed to use a mobile or portable data collection apparatus as disclosed in JP-A-2001-265823 and JP-A-2002-287819.  
         [0006]     JP-A-2001-265823 discloses a system configuration in which plural kinds of measurement data are collected and consolidated together with time data, and various analyses are performed by a personal computer.  
         [0007]     JP-A-2002-287819 discloses a system configuration in which plural kinds of measurement data are efficiently collected so as to enhance analysis accuracy, the collected data are transmitted to a distant place, operation data are efficiently collected for an intermittently operative apparatus, and the collected data are monitored or observed via the Internet.  
         [0008]     JP-A-2001-265823 is referred to as a related art.  
         [0009]     JP-A-2002-287819 is also referred to as the related art.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of an example of a related-art system configuration in a maintenance work for various apparatuses which constitute a control plant. A maintenance worker carries a data collection apparatus  2  which is connectable to the Internet  1 , and then goes to the site of a control plant  4  in which an apparatus to be maintained  3  is installed. At this time, the maintenance worker often carries a paper document file  5  such as a connection diagram of the apparatus to be maintained  3 , an installation diagram of the apparatus to be maintained, and an operation manual of the apparatus to be maintained, a recording medium in which these documents are electronically filed and stored, a personal computer  6  for reading out the electronically filed documents from the recording medium and displaying them, and the like. Additionally, a portable telephone  7  is carried.  
         [0011]     Also a data center  8  for storing measurement data related to the apparatus to be maintained  3  which are collected and transferred by the data collection apparatus  2 , and a support center  9  for supporting a user of the apparatus to be maintained  3  and a maintenance worker are connected to the Internet  1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing an example of the data collection apparatus  2  as a related art. The data collection apparatus  2  is configured by: an operation section  10  which performs various operations required for a predetermined maintenance work; a display section  11  which displays information related to the operation, and present and past measurement data related to the apparatus to be maintained  3  in the form of numerals and graphs; a signal input section  12  which measures various kinds of input signals related to the apparatus to be maintained  3 , and converts the input signals into measurement data; a data storing section  13  which stores the measurement data converted by the signal input section  12 ; a communication interface  14  which communicates with the data center  8  via the Internet  1 ; an external memory  15  which transfers and stores the data of the data storing section  13 ; a CPU  16  which collectively manages the operation of the whole data collection apparatus  2 ; and the like.  
         [0013]     When power supply voltages of three apparatuses to be maintained A, B, and C installed in the site are to be measured and checked as the maintenance work, for example, the worker first specifies the apparatuses to be maintained A, B, and C from the installation diagram of the site, and determines the work route (for example, B→C→A) for efficiently performing the measurement. In some cases, terminals from which the power supply voltage can be measured are varied depending on the apparatus to be maintained. Therefore, the worker reads out and determines the corresponding measurement terminals from the respective connection diagrams of the apparatuses to be maintained A, B, and C. Then, the power supply voltages are actually measured for the respective apparatuses to be maintained A, B, and C, and the measured results are recorded. The measured values are judged whether they are in the allowable range or not. If the measured value indicates an abnormal value outside the allowable range, the reason is determined and clarified. If the voltage is in an adjustable range, the voltage is adjusted to be a normal voltage. In the case where repair can be performed, a required action such as replacement of components is conducted.  
         [0014]     When, in such a maintenance work, the worker has little experience or comes to the site at the first time, it is sometimes difficult to perform sufficient works based only on the installation diagram of the site and connection diagram of the apparatus to be maintained  3  which are displayed on the display section  11  of the data collection apparatus  2 .  
         [0015]     Depending on the maintenance work, it is necessary to record the site conditions of the apparatus to be maintained  3 , so that also a camera must be carried.  
         [0016]     When the maintenance worker who comes to the site is to judge whether an operation error of the data collection apparatus  2  occurs or not, it is necessary for the worker to remember the operation procedure of the data collection apparatus  2  performed by the worker at the site, and to inform a maintenance manager in the support center  9  of the operation procedure via the telephone  7 . Therefore, a large number of processes are required, and the operation procedure may be mistakenly transmitted.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     An object of the invention is to provide a data collection apparatus which has high affinity with a network, and which can efficiently perform a high quality maintenance work on an apparatus to be maintained.  
         [0018]     The invention provides a data collection apparatus which enables to connect to a support center via a network, having:  
         [0019]     a measuring section which measures a physical quantity;  
         [0020]     a data storing section which stores measurement data obtained by the measuring section, in association with at least one of sound data and image data;  
         [0021]     a data communicating section which transmits and receives data to and from the support center; and  
         [0022]     an outputting section which reproduces and displays the transmitted and received data.  
         [0023]     In the data collection apparatus, the support center has an apparatus management data storing section which stores at least one of various kinds of management data including connection diagrams, installation diagrams, operation manuals, and version-up information of an apparatus to be maintained and the data collection apparatus, and information of toxic substances in discarding the apparatus.  
         [0024]     The data collection apparatus further has an operation history storing section which stores an operation history of the data collection apparatus.  
         [0025]     In the data collection apparatus, the support center reproduces operations performed to the data collection apparatus, based on operation history data transmitted from the data collection apparatus.  
         [0026]     The data collection apparatus further has a work progress management data storing section which stores work progress management data.  
         [0027]     In the data collection apparatus, the data collection shares work progress management data of other data collection apparatus each other via the support center.  
         [0028]     According to the data collection apparatus, it is possible to obtain a data collection apparatus which has high affinity with a network, and which can efficiently perform a high quality maintenance work on an apparatus to be maintained. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example of the system configuration of the invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a specific example of a data collection apparatus  17 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is an appearance configuration diagram showing the specific example of the data collection apparatus  17 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of an example of a related-art system configuration; and  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing an example of a data collection apparatus  2  as a related art. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]     An embodiment according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompany drawings.  FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example of the system configuration of the invention in a maintenance work for various apparatuses constituting a control plant. The components identical with those of  FIG. 4  are denoted by the same reference numerals.  
         [0035]     A maintenance worker carries a data collection apparatus  17  capable of being connected to the Internet  1 , and goes to the site of a control plant  4  in which an apparatus to be maintained  3  is installed. At this time, the maintenance worker does not carry paper document files such as a connection diagram, installation diagram, and operation manual of the apparatus to be maintained  3 , a recording medium on which these documents are electronically filed and stored, and a personal computer which is means for reading out the electronically filed documents from the recording medium and displaying them. The portable telephone  7  is carried to be used for packet communication.  
         [0036]     To the data collection apparatus  17 , a web camera  18  for shooting and inputting image data of the work site, a microphone  19  for inputting sound data, and a speaker  20  for reproducing the sound data are connected depending on the conditions of the apparatus to be maintained  3 .  
         [0037]     A provider  21  for performing packet communication through the portable mobile phone  7 , and a support center  22  for supporting a user of the apparatus to be maintained  3  and a maintenance worker are connected to the Internet  1 .  
         [0038]     In the support center  22 , disposed are: an apparatus management data storing section  21  which stores management data in which various documents such as a connection diagram of the apparatus to be maintained  3  and the data collection apparatus  17 , an installation diagram, an operation manual, version-up information, and toxic substances information in discarding the apparatus are electronically filed; an apparatus measurement data storing section  24  which stores measurement data of the apparatus to be maintained  3 ; a maintenance work progress management data storing section  25  which stores the progress management data of the maintenance work for each data collection apparatus  17 ; a device  26  which is identical with the data collection apparatus  17 ; a personal computer  27 ; and the like. In the support center  22 , a control supervisor for supporting a maintenance worker who goes to the site is always stationed.  
         [0039]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a specific example of the data collection apparatus  17 . The data collection apparatus  17  is configured by: an operation section  28  which executes various operations of the data collection apparatus  17  and the apparatus to be maintained  3  required for a predetermined maintenance work; a display section  29  which displays information related to the operations of the data collection apparatus  17  and the apparatus to be maintained  3 , and present and past measurement data related to the apparatus to be maintained  3 , in the form of numerals and graphs; a signal input section  30  which converts measurement signals related to various physical quantities such as a voltage, a current, a temperature, a pressure, vibration, and the like related to the apparatus to be maintained  3 , into measurement data; measurement units  31  which output measurement signals related to the various physical quantities, and which are detachably connected to the signal input section  30 ; a data storing section  32  which stores the measurement data converted by the signal input section  30 ; various communication interfaces  33  which communicate with the external via various networks such as the Internet; various external memories  34  which transfer and store the data of the data storing section  32 ; an Internet control section  35  which controls the connection to the Internet; a time data processing section  36  which performs the processing related to the time inside the data collection apparatus  17 ; a CPU  37  which collectively manages the operation of the whole data collection apparatus  17 ; and the like.  
         [0040]     The operation section  28  is configured by: an operation panel section  28   a  in which various switches and buttons for performing the setting of measurement conditions, the switching of the display selection, and the like are disposed; a mouse  28   b ; an operation history data control section  28   c  which controls the writing and reading of the operation history data of the data collection apparatus  17 ; an apparatus setting data control section  28   d  which controls the writing and reading of various data of the measurement conditions, parameters, and the like that are set in the data collection apparatus  17  and the apparatus to be maintained  3 ; a work data control section  28   e  which controls the writing and reading of the data related to the maintenance work performed by using the data collection apparatus  17 ; an apparatus information download control section  28   f  which controls the download of the electronically filed management data such as the connection diagram, the installation diagram, and the operation manual related to the apparatus to be maintained  3  from the apparatus management data storing section  23  of the support center  22 ; and the like.  
         [0041]     The output section  29  configured by: a display  29   a  of liquid crystal or the like; a moving picture display control section  29   b  which controls moving picture information downloaded from the web camera  18  or the support center  22  to be displayed on the display  29   a ; a still picture display control section  29   c  which controls the electronically filed management data information such as the connection diagram, the installation diagram, and the operation manual related to the apparatus to be maintained  3 , numerical values and graphs of the present and past measurement data, e-mails, and the like to be displayed; a sound output control section  29   d  which drives a speaker  20 ; and the like.  
         [0042]     The signal input section  30  is configured by: an analog measurement signal input section  30   a ; a digital measurement signal input section  30   b ; a sound signal input section  30   c ; an image signal input section  30   d ; and the like.  
         [0043]     As the various measurement units  31 , various physical quantity measurement units such as a power measurement unit  31   a , a temperature measurement unit  31   b , a pressure measurement unit  31   c , and a vibration measurement unit  31   d  are detachably connected.  
         [0044]     The data storing section  32  is configured by a measurement data storing section  32   a , a sound data storing section  32   b , an image data storing section  32   c , an apparatus operation history data storing section  32   d , an apparatus setting data storing section  32   e , an operation data storing section  32   f , a help display data storing section  32   g , a downloaded data storing section  32   h , and the like.  
         [0045]     The communication interface  33  is configured by a LAN interface  33   a , a USB interface  33   b , an RS232 interface  33   c , an RS485 interface  33   d , a mobile data communication interface  32   e , and the like.  
         [0046]     As the external memory  34 , useful are a card-type memory  34   a , a hard disk  34   b , a magnetic disk  34   c , an optical disk  34   d , and the like.  
         [0047]     The Internet control section  35  is configured by an SNTP time control section  35   a , an e-mail transmitting section  35   b , a Web server section  35   c , and the like.  
         [0048]     The time data processing section  36  is configured by: a GPS receiving section  36   a ; a time data management section  36   b  which manages the time data inside the data collection apparatus  17 ; a time data adding section  36   c  which adds time data to various data stored in the data storing section  32 ; and the like.  
         [0049]      FIG. 3  is an appearance configuration diagram showing the specific example of the data collection apparatus  17 . The components corresponding to those of  FIG. 2  are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the data collection apparatus  17  is configured by a body  38 , and a terminal case  39  which is detachably attached to one side of a front section of the body  38 , and which corresponds to a measurement unit.  
         [0050]     An attachment portion  38   a  for the terminal case  39  is formed in the vicinity of the one side of the front portion of the main body  38 . At both ends of the attachment portion  38   a , fixing members  38   c  having projections  38   b  for fitting to both ends of the terminal case  39  so as to fix the terminal case  39  are swingably attached. A connector  38   d  for electrically connecting and mechanically coupling a terminal plate  39   a  accommodated in the terminal case  39  is disposed in a middle portion of the attachment portion  38   a.    
         [0051]     To an upper portion of the terminal case  39 , a cover  39   b  is attached via a hinge in an openable and closable manner. One side face  39   c  of the terminal case  39  is opened as a connection port for wirings. Engagement pieces  39   d  with which the projections  38   b  of the fixing member  38   c  are to be engaged are disposed at both ends of the terminal case  39 .  
         [0052]     The display  29   a  is disposed in an upper portion of the front portion of the main body  38 , and the operation panel section  28   a  is disposed in a lower portion.  
         [0053]     In a side face opposite to the attachment portion  38   a  of the main body  38  and for the terminal case  39 , a slot for various memory cards, terminals for various communications such as LAN, RS232, RS485, and USB, a trigger terminal, an AC adopter terminal, a power switch, and the like are disposed.  
         [0054]     A housing portion of a screwdriver for operating screws of the terminal plate, and a housing portion of a battery for driving the apparatus are disposed in a bottom face of the main body  38 .  
         [0055]     In a state where the terminal case  39  is mounted, a detachable rubber boot which is hot shown, and which is used for improving the shock resistance is attached to an outer circumference of the body  38  excluding the front face, if necessary.  
         [0056]     The body  38  and the terminal case  39  are configured as a dust-proof and drip-proof structure which is complied with the standard of IP41 by JEM (Japan Electrical Manufacturer&#39;s Association).  
         [0057]     The operation procedure of a maintenance work by using the thus configured data collection apparatus  17  will be described.  
         [0058]     When a maintenance worker is informed of unique identification information of the apparatus to be maintained  3  for specifying the apparatus to be maintained  3  as a target of the maintenance work, the maintenance worker operates the operation section  28  of the data collection apparatus  17  before going to the site, so as to connect the apparatus to the support center  22  via the Internet  1 . After the completion of a predetermined personal certification procedure, the identification information which is unique to the apparatus to be maintained  3  is input.  
         [0059]     When the support center  22  receives and certifies the identification information which is unique to the apparatus to be maintained  3 , the support center  22  allows the maintenance worker to access the apparatus management data storing section  23 . Then, image data such as a map showing the vicinity of the business establishment in which the apparatus to be maintained  3  with the unique identification information is installed, and a specific layout drawing of the apparatus to be maintained  3  in the business establishment are transmitted to the data collection apparatus  17  via the Internet  1 . An identifier (icon) which clearly specifies the business establishment is added to the map image data, and an identifier (icon) which clearly specifies the apparatus to be maintained  3  is added to the layout drawing.  
         [0060]     When the data collection apparatus  17  receives the image data transmitted from the support center  22 , the data collection apparatus displays the data on the display  29   a  based on the control of the apparatus information download control section  28   f , and stores the data into the image data storing section  32   c , as required.  
         [0061]     Accordingly, the maintenance worker can accurately comprehend and understand the installation site of the apparatus to be maintained  3  which is the target of the specified maintenance work, from the display screen of the data collection apparatus  17 , so that the maintenance worker can rapidly reach the target apparatus to be maintained  3  without any mistake in the installation site in which many apparatuses are disposed. For example, a wireless tag in which unique identification information assigned to each apparatus to be maintained  3  is written is attached to the respective apparatus to be maintained  3 . Before the start of the work at the site, the identification information written in the wireless tag is read by means of the data collection apparatus  17  by the maintenance worker, so as to confirm the agreement, whereby false recognition can be prevented from occurring.  
         [0062]     The support center  22  consolidates the identification information unique to the apparatus to be maintained  3  and the data collection apparatus  17 , the map showing the vicinity of the business establishment in which the apparatus to be maintained  3  is installed, the specific layout drawing of the apparatus to be maintained  3  in the business establishment, the version-up information of the apparatus, the toxic substances information when the apparatus is discarded, and the like in association. Therefore, the maintenance worker can always obtain the latest information related to the apparatus to be maintained  3  and the data collection apparatus  17 .  
         [0063]     At the site, when the maintenance worker operates the data collection apparatus  17  to start the maintenance work, a sequence of operation history of the data collection apparatus  17  is stored in the apparatus operation history data storing section  32   d  on the basis of the control of the operation history data control section  28   c.    
         [0064]     All of the series of setting data of the data collection apparatus  17 , and, if necessary, the setting data for the apparatus to be maintained  3  are stored in the apparatus setting data storing section  32   e  on the basis of the control of the apparatus setting data control section  28   d.    
         [0065]     In addition, the progress conditions of the maintenance work for the apparatus to be maintained  3  by using the data collection apparatus  17  are sequentially stored in the work data storing section  32   f  at every completion of work items which are previously set in accordance with the apparatus to be maintained  3 , by the control of the work data control section  28   e . The progress condition data of the maintenance work for the apparatus to be maintained  3  stored in the work data storing section  32   f  are also transferred to and stored in the maintenance work progress management data storing section  25  in the support center  22  for each data collection apparatus  17 .  
         [0066]     The various measurement units  31  of the data collection apparatus  17  measure physical quantities such as an electric power, a temperature, a pressure, and vibration related to the maintenance of the apparatus to be maintained  3 , and the results are input into the signal input section  30 .  
         [0067]     The analog and digital measurement signals supplied from the various measurement units  31 , and also image signals output from the web camera  18  and sound signals output from the microphone  19  are input to the signal input section  30 . All of these signals are converted as measurement data.  
         [0068]     Time data is added to the measurement data on the basis of the control of the time data adding section  36   c , and then the measurement data are stored in the measurement data storing section  32   a . The accuracy of the time data is maintained to be high based on the management of the time data management section  36   b , by using the time data obtained from the SNTP time control section  35   a  and the GPS receiving section  36   a.    
         [0069]     These measurement results are listed or graphed in accordance with the applications, and displayed on the display  29   a  based on the control of the still picture display control section  29   c . The measurement results are transmitted to a predetermined destination as text data or attached files, based on the control of the e-mail transmitting section  35   b . As required, the measurement result screen is written in Web-based format and opened on the Internet  1  on the basis of the control of the Web server section  35   c.    
         [0070]     In the case where the apparatus to be maintained  3  accompanies the mechanical motion, for example, the image signal by the web camera  18  and the sound signal by the microphone  19  are recorded in synchronization with the measurement data by the measurement units  31 . When either of the image signal and the sound signal or the measurement data is judged to be abnormal, the other signal preceding, succeeding, and including the time when the phenomenon occurs can be referred. Thus, as compared with the case where the cause analysis is performed by using a single signal, more accurate judgment can be expected.  
         [0071]     In the case where the maintenance worker who goes to the site is not familiar with the operation of the apparatus to be maintained  3  or the data collection apparatus  17 , images of the operation conditions taken by the web camera  18  are transmitted to the support center  22  and monitored by the control supervisor, so that appropriate instructions can be obtained for the operation of the camera.  
         [0072]     The microphone  19  can be used also as a voice memo in which, for example, a phenomenon that is noted by the maintenance worker during the maintenance work can be recorded in the form of a voice.  
         [0073]     As required, the maintenance worker who goes to the site can check the general operation of the data collection apparatus  17 , at any time, by displaying the information stored in the help display data storing section  32   g  on the display  29   a.    
         [0074]     When the circuit diagrams of the apparatus to be maintained  3  and the data collection apparatus  17 , the manual for maintenance work, the version-up information, the toxic substances information when the apparatus is discarded, and the like are to be checked, the support center  22  is accessed via the Internet  1 , and the information is downloaded to be displayed on the display  29   a . Therefore, the work can be efficiently performed.  
         [0075]     When a desired result is not obtained from a series of collected measurement data related to the maintenance of the apparatus to be maintained  3  and the maintenance worker at the site cannot deal with the conditions, the maintenance worker can receive instructions from the control supervisor who is always stationed in the support center  22 .  
         [0076]     The control supervisor instructs the maintenance worker at the site to transmit via the Internet  1  at least data judged as required for analysis among the measurement data stored in the measurement data storing section  32   a , the sound data stored in the sound data storing section  32   b , the image data stored in the image data storing section  32   c , the apparatus operation history data stored in the apparatus operation history data storing section  32   d , and the apparatus setting data stored in the apparatus setting data storing section  32   e . When an operation error of the data collection apparatus  17  is presumed, for example, the transmitted operation history data is reflected on the data collection device  26  in the support center  22 , so that a stage in which the operation error occurs can be reproduced and checked up. Therefore, it is possible to give specific advices and instructions to the maintenance worker.  
         [0077]     In the maintenance work at the site in which many apparatuses to be maintained  3  are installed, a team including a plurality of workers with the respective data collection apparatus  17  may come to the site, and the maintenance work may be shared and performed in parallel. In such a case, the progress conditions of the maintenance work for each data collection apparatus  17  can be ascertained by making access to the maintenance work progress management data storing section  25  in the support center  22 . If the work sharing is reviewed while the site conditions are reflected as required, the work efficiency as the team can be enhanced.  
         [0078]     The communication between the data collection apparatus  17  and the external is not limited to the Internet  1  via the LAN interface  33   a . Alternatively, depending on the application, a serial communication network through the RS232 interface  33   c  or the RS485 interface  33   d  may be used, or a mobile data communication interface  32   e  may be used.  
         [0079]     As described above, according to the embodiment, it is possible to realize a data collection apparatus which has high affinity with the network, and which can efficiently perform a high-quality maintenance work for an apparatus to be maintained.  
         [0080]     In addition, according to the embodiment, the measurement data, the sound data, and the image data can be synchronized with one another as required, so that the analysis accuracy for the apparatus to be maintained can be enhanced.