Patent Description:
In recent years, with Internet of Things (IoT) and informatization of manufacturing apparatuses/devices, productivity, quality, reliability and the like are improved, and market input of optimal-quantity goods in a shorter period is advancing. For example, a sensor as the lowest layer is also networked, which seeks efficiency of start, maintenance and care of apparatuses, or collects real-time information of the sensor as big data and performs feedback and control, thereby improving the quality and the like.

In the past, in the case of a sensor not connected with an upper device, start, maintenance and care of devices are performed with the following methods such as (<NUM>) and (<NUM>).

Moreover, in the case of a sensor connected with an upper device, the value of
the sensitivity can be set freely through communication from the upper device.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses an interconnected sensor system having a network unit and multiple sensor units.

The document <CIT> discloses a further sensor according to the state of the art.

However, in the case of a sensor not connected with an upper device, each sensor has to be set directly, and the efficiency is poor in each working procedure.

Moreover, in the case of a sensor connected with an upper device, which of the value set on the frame (described as "frame setting" later) and the value set through communication of the upper device (described as "communication setting" later) is valid is switched, after the setting is made through communication, when a fault occurs during operation, the communication setting has to be set as invalid by using the communication from the upper device once, and after the frame setting is set as valid, on-site responses are made, which is thus ineffective.

The present invention is accomplished in view of the problem, aimed at achieving a sensor that can be used more efficiently than before.

To solve the issue, the sensor of the present invention measures physical quantity based on a set value, and the sensor and a measuring method thereof are set out in the appended set of claims.

In the sensor that measures physical quantity based on a set value, sometimes the set value is updated to any of multiple input values.

In such a sensor, when the sensor does not operate according to the user's assumption, preferably, the user, for example, performs a mechanical operation on an operator disposed in a frame of the sensor, so as to be able to update the set value near the sensor.

At this point, in the former sensor, the behavior of the sensor has to be changed in a manner of omitting any of the multiple input values. Therefore, users of the former sensor cannot use the sensor efficiently.

On the other hand, in the sensor of the present invention, according to the structure, the setting portion updates the set values to a later input one of the following (<NUM>) and (<NUM>).

Therefore, the sensor can measure physical quantity based on a set value without receiving an instruction indicating that which of (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) should be adopted from the user of the sensor.

According to the above, the user of the sensor can use the sensor more efficiently than before.

In addition, the so-called "updating according to a later input one" includes: the setting portion converts any input value in the operation input value and the communication input value, and updates the set value to a converted input value.

Moreover, the setting portion's updating the set value is not limited to once. After the set value is updated, the setting portion can further update the set value to the input value input as long as any input value in the operation input value and the communication input value is input.

Moreover, the operator may also have an operation movable portion listed in the following.

Preferably, the operator includes an operation movable portion, the an operation movable portion changes a configuration angle or configuration position according to the mechanical operation of the user, and the operation input value is the configuration angle or configuration position of the operation moveable portion.

According to the structure, the operator may generate the operation input value from the configuration angle or configuration position of the operation moveable portion through a mechanical operation of rotating or displacing the operation moveable portion. Thus, after the operation of the operation moveable portion, the set value is updated immediately.

At this point, the appearance of the operator will change according to the configuration angle or configuration position of the operation moveable portion. Hence, the user can discriminate the updated set value. Thus, the sensor does not need to have a display device that displays the updated set value. Therefore, the sensor can be miniaturized.

The operation moveable portion, for example, is the so-called "volume" that continuously changes the set value of the sensor by rotation. At this point, the mechanical operation is an operation of rotating the volume.

Preferably, the setting portion samples the operation input value with a fixed sampling cycle, when an absolute value of a difference between the operation input value sampled at a determination starting time and the operation input value sampled from the determination starting time to a time prior to the sampling cycle, i.e., a reference value, is equal to or above a specified value, starts counting the number of sampling of the operation input value, when an absolute value of a difference between the operation input value sampled at a time after the determination starting time and the reference value is equal to or above the specified value, increases the number of sampling, and starts updating the set value to the operation input value at a time when the number of sampling reaches a specified number.

According to the structure, the setting portion can be prevented from updating an operation input value which is not preferably updated to the set value in the operation input value to the set value.

Thus, the user of the sensor can utilize the set value of communication for updating and can efficiently utilize the set value of the operator for updating.

The so-called "the absolute value is equal to or above the specified value" refers to that the absolute value is a specified value or the absolute value exceeds the specified value. In addition, in the structure, the sensor having a structure specified as "the absolute value exceeds the specified value" is also included in the present invention. "specified number" is the number of times the setting portion samples the operation input value within an appropriate period of continuation of the operation of the operator.

In addition, when the sampling cycle of the setting portion is low, even if the absolute value of the difference between the operation input value and the reference value is equal to or above the specified value, the setting portion sometimes may still sample an operation input value an absolute value of a difference between which and a reference value is less than the specified value if the sampling cycle is increased, i.e., the operation input value sampled within a fixed period is increased. According to the structure, the operation input value whose absolute value is less than the specified value will be omitted.

Preferably, when the absolute value of the difference between the operation input value sampled at a time after the determination starting time and the reference value is less than the specified value, the setting portion stops the counting, and sets the number of sampling as <NUM>.

According to the structure, when sampling an operation input value an absolute value of a difference between which and a reference value is less than the specified value, the setting portion stops counting the number of sampling, and sets the number of sampling as <NUM>. Hence, the setting portion can be really prevented from updating an operation input value which is not preferably updated to the set value in the operation input value to the set value.

Preferably, if a variation of the sampled operation input value is included in a specified variation amplitude above a fixed period counted from that the number of sampling reaches the specified number, the setting portion stops the counting, and sets the number of sampling as <NUM>.

According to the structure, the setting portion can be really prevented from updating an operation input value which is not preferably updated to the set value in the operation input value (e.g., an operation input value varying significantly instantly) to sensitivity.

"fixed period" is an appropriate period from when the operation is operated to next time the operation is operated. "specified variation amplitude" is an appropriate variation amplitude from when the operation of the operator stops to after the operation input value is converged to a fixed value.

The sensor of the present invention may also further include a measuring portion that projects and receives light, and
the sensor being any photoelectric sensor of the following (<NUM>) to (<NUM>),.

According to the structure, a photoelectric sensor that can be used more efficiently than before may be achieved.

In addition, the sensor of (<NUM>) may specifically be a photoelectric sensor that judges a distance between the object and the sensor is closer or farther than the reference distance, a Time of Flight (TOF) measuring manner/phase difference manner/triangular ranging manner/Pseudo Noise (PN) code manner and other manners.

The sensor system of the present invention has the sensor and an upper device connected to the communication portion.

In the sensor system having the sensor that measures physical quantity based on a set value and an upper device thereof, the upper device sometimes sends an input value to the sensor, and updates the set value of the sensor through communication.

At this point, in the former sensor system, the behavior of the sensor has to be changed through communication in a manner of invalidating the updating of the set value of the sensor by means of communication.

On the other hand, in the sensor system of the present invention, according to the structure, the setting portion of the sensor updates the set value to a later input one of the following (<NUM>) and (<NUM>).

Therefore, the sensor can also measure physical quantity based on a set value even if the user of the sensor system does not perform the following operation. The operation is: in order to invalidate the updating of the set value of the sensor by means of communication, changing the behavior of the sensor through communication, to avoid updating (<NUM>) to the set value of the sensor.

According to the above, the user of the sensor system can manage the sensor more efficiently than before.

In addition, the so-called "an upper device connected to the communication portion" refers to a structure where the upper device and the communication portion conduct communication therebtween. The communication may be wired communication and may also be wireless communication.

The measuring method of the present invention measures physical quantity based on a set value, the measuring method including: an operating step of accepting a mechanical operation of a user, and generating an operation input value corresponding to the operation; a communication portion of receiving a communication input value; and a setting step of updating the set value to a later input one of the operation input value and the communication input value.

According to the method, in the setting step, the set value is updated to a later input one of the following (<NUM>) and (<NUM>).

Therefore, even if any of (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) is not selected, the physical quantity can also be measured based on the set value.

According to the above, the physical quantity can be measured more efficiently than before.

The present invention produces the following effects of (<NUM>)-(<NUM>).

<FIG> are diagrams of a structure of a sensor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a three-dimensional diagram of an overall structure of a sensor <NUM>, <FIG> is a plane diagram of a structure of an operator <NUM> of the sensor <NUM>, <FIG> is a plane diagram of a structure of a varying example of the operator shown in <FIG> is a side view of a structure of a communication portion <NUM> of the sensor <NUM>, and <FIG> is a side view of a structure of a varying example of the shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> has an operator <NUM> and a communication portion <NUM>. The operator <NUM> is disposed on a frame of the sensor <NUM>. The communication portion <NUM> is connected with an upper device <NUM>. One side of the sensor <NUM> is provided with a measuring portion <NUM> for measuring physical quantity.

As shown in <FIG>, the operator <NUM> has a so-called "volume", and the volume is an operation moveable portion for continuously changing sensitivity of the sensor <NUM> through rotation.

As shown in <FIG>, a VCC/communication signal/GND is input into the communication portion <NUM>. The communication signal is a signal transmitted and received between the upper device <NUM> and the communication portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a detailed structure of the sensor <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> further has a Central Processing Unit (CPU) <NUM> (setting portion).

The CPU <NUM> is an operation processing block that performs processing through a CPU, and has an Analog Digital Converter (ADC) <NUM> and a processing portion <NUM>.

The operator <NUM> has a Variable Resistor (VR) <NUM> (operation moveable portion). The VR <NUM> is connected to the ADC <NUM>.

The ADC <NUM>, the communication portion <NUM>, an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) (registered trademark) <NUM> and an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) <NUM> are connected on the processing portion <NUM>.

The sensor <NUM>, as described later, measures physical quantity based on a set value.

"physical quantity", for example, is amplitude of amplitude/pressure/flow/vibration of light quantity/electrostatic capacitance/ultrasonic wave. That is, the sensor <NUM>, for example, is a photoelectric sensor/proximity sensor/electrostatic capacitance sensor/ultrasonic sensors/pressure sensors/flow sensor/vibration sensor.

When the operator <NUM> is rotated, the resistance of the VR <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as "VR" value) changes.

The VR <NUM> acts as a sensitivity adjusting portion that adjusts sensitivity of the sensor <NUM>.

"Sensitivity" is the set value of the sensor <NUM>. Moreover, a signal corresponding to the light received by the measuring portion <NUM> is amplified to a multiple of the "sensitivity" updated by the CPU <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> judges whether amplitude of the amplified signal exceeds a threshold.

The ADC <NUM> performs analog/digital (AD) conversion on the VR value.

A numerical value of the VR value is input to the processing portion <NUM> from the ADC <NUM>. The numerical value is a value corresponding to a rotation operation performed on the operator <NUM>.

As stated above, the operator <NUM> inputs an input value corresponding to the rotation operation to the CPU <NUM>.

The upper device <NUM> sends an input value to the communication portion <NUM>.

Communication between the upper device <NUM> and the communication portion <NUM> is communication on a physical layer of an Open System Interconnection (OSI) reference model. The communication signal in the communication is transmitted in a half duplex mode.

The communication portion <NUM> detects whether there is communication between the upper device <NUM> and the communication portion <NUM>. Moreover, the communication portion <NUM> converts a level of the input value received, to enable the CPU <NUM> to perform processing.

As stated above, the communication portion <NUM> inputs the received input value to the CPU <NUM>.

The ASIC <NUM> acts as a sensitivity change portion that changes the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM>.

The processing portion <NUM> controls the ASIC <NUM>, such that the ASIC <NUM> changes the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM> to an input value of any last input one of the input value generated by the operator <NUM> and the input value received by the communication portion <NUM>.

The EEPROM <NUM> stores the sensitivity changed by the ASIC <NUM>.

<FIG> are diagrams of changes of the VR value of the VR <NUM> of the operator <NUM> of the sensor <NUM> shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a chart, and <FIG> is a table corresponding to the chart shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, in an example of the embodiment, the ADC <NUM> performs AD conversion on the VR value with a sampling cycle of <NUM>. The horizontal axis of the chart of <FIG> represents time. The vertical axis of the chart represents a VR value (volume AD value) converted by the ADC <NUM> to a digital value. The unit of the digital value is set as digit.

The processing portion <NUM> determines, based on the next starting reference, the VR value of Time a as a reference value, and starts counting the number of sampling of the VR value from Time b1 (determination starting time).

[starting reference] An absolute value of a difference between a VR value of a certain time and a VR value (reference value) prior to a sampling cycle counted from the certain time is equal to or above <NUM> digit (specified value).

As shown in <FIG>, an absolute value of a difference between the VR value of Time b1 and the VR value of Time a prior to a sampling cycle compared with Time b1 is equal to or above <NUM> digit. Hence, the processing portion <NUM> counts the VR value of Time b1 as first time.

"<NUM> digit" in the starting reference is a quantity that an absolute value of a difference between the input value and the reference value when the input value generated by the VR <NUM> of the operator <NUM> changes due to factors (e.g., electrical noise) other than the operation of the operator <NUM>.

Thus, the specified value is not limited to <NUM> digit, as long as it is set as a specified valued other than the input value not preferably updated to the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM>.

Moreover, the processing portion <NUM>, based on the next increase reference, increases the number of sampling of the VR value after Time b1.

[Increase reference] An absolute value of a difference between a VR value and a reference value is equal to or above <NUM> digit (specified value).

An absolute value of a difference between the VR value of Time b2 and the VR value of Time a set as a reference value is equal to or above <NUM> digit. So is that from Time b3 to Time b6. Therefore, the processing <NUM> counts VR values from Time b2 to Time b6 as twice to six times respectively.

When the ADC <NUM> samples the VR value an absolute value of a difference between which and the reference value is less than <NUM> digit, the processing portion <NUM> stops counting the number of sampling, and sets the number of sampling as <NUM>.

Moreover, the processing portion <NUM> updates the VR value to the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM> from the time when the number of sampling reaches <NUM> (specified number).

At this point, the number of sampling "<NUM>" is not limited to value, as long as it is the number of times the ADC <NUM> of the CPU <NUM> samples the VR value within an appropriate period of continuation of the operation of the operator <NUM>.

In an example of the embodiment, the appropriate period of continuation of the operation of the operator <NUM> as a volume is at least <NUM> milliseconds (hereinafter referred to as "ms"), and the sampling cycle of the ADC <NUM> of the CPU <NUM> is <NUM>. Thus, the number of sampling is <NUM> times (=<NUM>/<NUM>+<NUM>) including the beginning and the ending of the period.

According to the above, the processing portion <NUM> of the CPU <NUM> can be prevented from updating the input value, which is not preferably updated to the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM> in the input value generated by the VR <NUM> of the operator <NUM>, to the sensitivity.

The processing portion <NUM>, at a time after the number of sampling reaches <NUM>, when a period during which the variation amplitude of the VR value is below <NUM> digit (specified variation amplitude) lasts <NUM> or more than <NUM> (fixed period), stops updating the VR value to the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM>.

Specifically, the number of sampling reaches <NUM> at Time b6. Moreover, from Time c after Time b6 to Time f, the period during which the variation of the VR value is below <NUM> digit lasts <NUM>. Hence, from Time c after Time b6 to Time e, the period during which the variation of the VR value is below <NUM> digit lasts <NUM> or more than <NUM>.

Moreover, the processing portion <NUM> stops updating the VR value to the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM> at Time f.

The "<NUM>" is not limited to the value, as long as it is an appropriate period from when the operator <NUM> is operated till next time the operator is operated.

The "<NUM> digit" is not limited to the value, as long as it is appropriate variation amplitude of the VR value from when the operation of the operator <NUM> stops till after the VR value is converged to a fixed value.

According to the above, the processing portion <NUM> of the CPU <NUM> can be prevented from the input value which is not preferably updated to the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM> in the input value generated by the VR <NUM> of the operator <NUM> (e.g., an input value varying significantly instantly) to sensitivity.

According to this embodiment, the CPU <NUM> of the sensor <NUM> updates the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM> to a later input one of the following (<NUM>) and (<NUM>).

Therefore, the sensor <NUM> can measure physical quantity based on the sensitivity without receiving an instruction indicating that which of (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) should be adopted from the user of the sensor <NUM>.

In the sensor that measures physical quantity based on a set value such as sensitivity, sometimes the set value needs to be updated to any of multiple input values.

In such a sensor, when the sensor does not operate according to the user's assumption, preferably, the user, for example, performs an operation on an operator disposed in a frame of the sensor, so as to be able to update the set value near the sensor.

On the other hand, the sensor <NUM> of this embodiment can measure physical quantity based on the sensitivity as the set value without receiving an instruction indicating that which of the multiple input values should be adopted from the user of the sensor <NUM>.

Thus, the user of the sensor <NUM> can use the sensor more efficiently than before.

The operation accepted by the operator is a mechanical operation. The so-called "mechanical operation", for example, is the following listed.

As shown in <FIG>, the operator <NUM> may also be a button 11a that causes the CPU <NUM> to update the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM> by press-down. Specifically, the operator <NUM> may also be a teaching button 11a that causes the CPU <NUM> to automatically optimize the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM> by press-down. Moreover, the operator <NUM> may also be a button 11a that increases/decreases the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM>.

However, even if the button 11a is pressed down, the appearance may not change. Hence, the user of the sensor <NUM> cannot confirm how the CPU <NUM> updates the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM>. Moreover, for example, when the sensor <NUM> does not operate according to the user's assumption, it is difficult for the user to operate the button 11a to update the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM> near the sensor <NUM>.

At this point, preferably, the sensor <NUM> has a display device that displays the sensitivity (especially when the operator <NUM> is a button that increases/decreases the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM>).

On the other hand, if the operator <NUM> of the sensor <NUM> is the button shown in <FIG>, the operation input value can be generated from a VR value corresponding to a configuration angle of the volume by rotating the volume. Thus, after the operation of the button, the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM> is updated immediately.

At this point, the appearance of the operator <NUM> changes according to the configuration angle of the volume. Hence, the user can discriminate the sensitivity updated for the sensor <NUM>. Thus, the sensor <NUM> does not need to have a display device that displays the updated sensitivity. Therefore, the sensor <NUM> can be miniaturized.

In addition, the operator <NUM> of the sensor <NUM> can also have an operation movable portion whose configuration position changes through a user's mechanical operation. At this point, the operation input value is the configuration position of the operation movable portion.

In the structure, when the sampling cycle of the ADC <NUM> is low, even if the absolute value of the difference between the VR value and the reference value is equal to or above <NUM> digit, the ADC <NUM> sometimes may still sample a VR value an absolute value of a difference between which and a reference value is less than the specified value if the sampling cycle is increased, i.e., the VR value sampled within a fixed period is increased.

At this point, the processing portion <NUM> may not stop counting the number of sampling, but based on the increase reference, increases the number of sampling of the VR value after Time b1.

In the structure, the CPU <NUM> updates the sensitivity of the sensor <NUM>, but is not limited to this. Any parameter is ok as long as it is a parameter (set value) affecting the output value of the sensor.

Moreover, the measuring portion <NUM> of the sensor <NUM> may also be a photoelectric sensor that receives light and projects light. For example, the sensor <NUM> amplifies intensity of the light projected by the measuring portion <NUM> to a multiple of the parameter updated by the CPU <NUM>, that is, light projecting power of the sensor <NUM> is amplified. Moreover, the sensor <NUM> judges whether amplitude of a signal corresponding to light quantity of the light received by the measuring portion <NUM> exceeds a threshold.

Moreover, the sensor <NUM> may also be a photoelectric sensor that judges a distance between the object and the sensor <NUM> is closer or farther than the reference distance, a Time of Flight (TOF) measuring manner/phase difference manner/triangular ranging manner/Pseudo Noise (PN) code manner and other manners.

At this point, the sensor <NUM> receives light reflected from the object through the measuring portion <NUM>, so as to measure the distance between the object and the sensor <NUM>, and judges whether the distance exceeds a threshold (set value) updated by the CPU <NUM>.

A measuring method described as follows is also included in the present invention. The measuring method measures physical quantity based on a set value such as sensitivity, including: an operating step of, as shown by the operator <NUM> in <FIG>, accepting a mechanical operation of a user, and generating an operation input value corresponding to the operation; a communication portion of, as shown by the communication portion <NUM> in <FIG>, receiving a communication input value; and a setting step of, as shown by the CPU <NUM> in <FIG>, updating the set value of the sensor <NUM> to a later input one of the operation input value and the communication input value.

As shown in <FIG>, a sensor system having a sensor <NUM> and an upper device <NUM> connected to a communication portion <NUM> of the sensor <NUM> is also included in the present invention.

As shown in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> may also employ a structure of controlling a teaching action by making high/low inputs from the upper device <NUM>.

Moreover, in the constitutive elements of the sensor <NUM>, the CPU <NUM>, the communication portion <NUM> and the ASIC <NUM> may also be replaced with other elements having the same functions.

Moreover, the communication between the upper device <NUM> and the communication portion <NUM> may be wired communication and may also be wireless communication.

Claim 1:
A sensor (<NUM>), measuring physical quantity based on a set value affecting an output value of the sensor, wherein the sensor (<NUM>) comprises:
an operator (<NUM>) that accepts a mechanical operation of a user, and generates an operation input value corresponding to the operation;
a communication portion (<NUM>) that receives a communication input value; and
a setting portion (<NUM>) that updates the set value according to a later input one of the operation input value and the communication input value,
wherein the sensor (<NUM>) is characterized by:
further comprising a measuring portion (<NUM>) that projects and receives light, wherein the projected light or the received light is processed by according to the set value, and
wherein the setting portion (<NUM>) samples the operation input value with a fixed sampling cycle,
when an absolute value of a difference between the operation input value sampled at a determination starting time and the operation input value sampled from the determination starting time to a time prior to the sampling cycle, i.e., a reference value, is equal to or above a specified value, the setting portion (<NUM>) starts counting the number of times the absolute value of a difference between the operation input value sampled at a time after the determination starting time and the reference value is equal to or above the specified value as a number of sampling the operation input value,
the setting portion (<NUM>) updates the set value to the operation input value at a time when the number of sampling the operation input value reaches a specified number, and
the setting portion (<NUM>) stops counting the number of sampling the operation input value and sets the number of sampling the operation input value as <NUM> when the absolute value of a difference between the operation input value sampled at a time after the determination starting time and the reference value is less than the specified value.