JP7514208B2 - How to configure seismometers for redundancy - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a method for operating a seismometer.

Traditionally, in order to determine whether to implement train operation restrictions and facility inspections in the event of an earthquake, seismometers are installed at regular intervals along railway lines, and each seismometer is responsible for a specific section (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 5690249

However, in the conventional technology, the calculation processing unit of each seismometer observes seismic motion and determines whether to restrict train operation based on its own observations and external information. Therefore, if a failure occurs in the calculation processing unit, it could have a significant impact on train safety.

The objective here is to provide a method for operating a seismometer that solves the problems of the conventional technology, improves the reliability of the calculation processing unit, prevents malfunctions, and extends the operating time.

To this end, the method of operating a seismometer includes a sensor block having a sensor for detecting seismic motion, a calculation block for performing calculations, a communication block for performing communication, and a control block having a control system, and the method operates in a first operation mode in which the sensor block and calculation block stop operating and the communication block and control block operate by remote control, operates in a second operation mode in which the calculation block, communication block, and control block operate when a fault occurs in the sensor block, operates in a third operation mode in which the sensor block, communication block, and control block operate when a fault occurs in the calculation block, operates in a fourth operation mode in which the sensor block, calculation block, and control block operate when a fault occurs in the communication block, and operates in a fifth operation mode in which the sensor block, calculation block, and communication block operate when a fault occurs in the control block.

In another method of operating the seismometer, it can be further operated in an operational mode in which the sensor block, calculation block, communication block, and control block are operating, and in a non-operational mode in which the sensor block, calculation block, and communication block are operating and the control block is stopped.

In yet another method of operating a seismometer, the earthquake observation function is further disabled in the first operating mode.

In yet another method of operating a seismometer, when the second and third operating modes are reached, the operation mode is transitioned to the first operating mode.

In yet another method of operating a seismometer, in the fourth operating mode, information transmission and remote monitoring via communication lines are further disabled.

In yet another method of operating a seismometer, in the fifth operating mode, the seismometer cannot be controlled by itself, but can transmit information and perform remote monitoring via a communication line.

This disclosure provides a method for operating a seismometer that can improve the reliability of calculation processing, prevent malfunctions, and extend operating time.

1 is a conceptual diagram of an earthquake early disaster prevention system including a seismometer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a seismometer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an FS board included in the seismometer of the present embodiment. FIG. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation mode of a conventional seismometer. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first operation mode of the seismometer in the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a second operation mode of the seismometer in the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a third operation mode of the seismometer in the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a fourth operation mode of the seismometer in the present embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a fifth operation mode of the seismometer in the present embodiment. 4 is a table for explaining each operation mode of the seismometer in the present embodiment.

The following describes the embodiment in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram of an early earthquake disaster prevention system including a seismometer in this embodiment, Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the seismometer in this embodiment, and Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the FS board that the seismometer in this embodiment has.

Figure 1 shows the concept of an early earthquake disaster prevention system used on bullet trains and the like. This early earthquake disaster prevention system is composed of a seismometer layer including a seismometer 10 that observes earthquakes, a server layer including a relay server 20 that consolidates and records data from the seismometers 10 and distributes information on observed earthquakes to other seismometers 10, and a monitoring layer including a monitoring terminal 30 that centrally displays the occurrence status of earthquakes and the operating status of the seismometers 10 and the relay server 20.

In the earthquake early disaster prevention system, the seismometer 10 has the function of observing earthquakes and deciding whether to stop trains. While the seismometer 10 has the advantage of having a fast response speed when an earthquake occurs, if the seismometer 10 itself stops, it will lose the function to decide whether to stop trains, which will cause problems with the safety of train operations.

Therefore, the seismometer 10 in this embodiment is designed to prevent the entire system from stopping functioning. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the seismometer 10 is divided into four blocks: a sensor block 11 that has a sensor 15, a calculation block 12 that performs calculations, a communication block 13 that performs communication, and a control block 14 that has a control system 17. Even if a failure occurs in one of the blocks, it does not affect the operation of the other blocks.

The sensor block 11 has a sensor 15 that detects seismic motion. The calculation block 12 has an FS board 16 that receives the output signal of the sensor 15, and performs P wave detection, S wave detection, earthquake volume calculation, M-Δ determination of the local station (seismometer 10), etc. The M-Δ determination is a method of determining whether to stop a train based on the magnitude (M) and distance (Δ) to the epicenter calculated by the calculation block 12 when an earthquake is detected.

The FS board 16 is a type of computer having a configuration as shown in Fig. 3, and has a fail-safe function for improving reliability, which compares the results of calculations of two computers (computers A and B) including CPUs via a bus, confirms that the results match, outputs them, and immediately stops processing if the results do not match (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The FS board 16 of the operation block 12 may be a single board or a plurality of boards, but in this embodiment, two boards are arranged in parallel as shown in Fig. 2.
JP 2011-095837 A

The communication block 13 further includes an FS board 16 that receives the output signal of the FS board 16 of the calculation block 12, and a communication interface 18, and performs message creation, M-Δ determination of other stations (other seismometers 10), adjacent control, etc. The communication interface 18 is communicatively connected to the relay server 20 via a communication line 21. The relay server 20 is communicatively connected to other seismometers 10, and is communicatively connected to external information sources 22 such as the Japan Meteorological Agency's Earthquake Early Warning and the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience's K-NET observation data. The communication block 13 may have a single FS board 16 or multiple FS boards 16, but in this embodiment, two are arranged in parallel as shown in FIG. 2.

Furthermore, the control block 14 has a control system 17, which is a computer system that receives the output signals of the FS board 16 of the calculation block 12 and the communication block 13, and performs 24V output, BCD (binary-coded-decimal) output, fault signal output, etc.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the arrows indicate information transmission routes. The information transmission route from the sensor 15 to the calculation block 12 branches into two, the information transmission route from each FS board 16 of the calculation block 12 to the FS board 16 of the communication block 13 and the control system 17 of the control block 14 each branches into three, the information transmission route from each FS board 16 of the communication block 13 to the communication interface 18 and the control system 17 of the control block 14 each branches into two, and the information transmission route from the communication interface 18 to the FS board 16 of the communication block 13 branches into two. In this way, in this embodiment, a redundant configuration in which the information transmission route is doubled or tripled is adopted.

When a controlled system, such as a railway train operation system, is connected to a seismometer 10, the function of determining whether or not to stop the controlled system is called operation control. There are two types of operation control: one that uses an earthquake observation function using the sensor block 11 and the calculation block 12, and one that uses external information (e.g., emergency earthquake alerts) from other seismometers 10 or external information sources 22 via the communication line 21 and relay server 20.

In this embodiment, a new operation mode is set in which the sensor block 11 and the calculation block 12, which are earthquake observation functions, are temporarily disabled. The new operation mode can be set by local operation or remote operation. When the new operation mode is set, operation control can be performed using only external information. The new operation mode can also be used when construction work is performed at a location adjacent to the seismometer 10. Conventionally, when construction work is performed at a location adjacent to the seismometer 10, the seismometer 10 cannot be stopped during hours when trains are running, so the work had to be performed at night. However, by setting the new operation mode, the restriction of nighttime construction work at a location adjacent to the seismometer 10 is no longer necessary.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the operation control decision function to stop the train is not performed only by the calculation block 12, but is distributed to the calculation block 12 and the communication block 13. As a result, even if the calculation block 12 is stopped, the operation control process can be performed in the communication block 13 based on external information.

Next, the operating modes of the seismometer 10 in this embodiment will be described in detail.

Figure 4 is a conceptual diagram explaining the operating modes of a conventional seismometer, Figure 5 is a diagram showing a first operating mode of the seismometer in this embodiment, Figure 6 is a diagram showing a second operating mode of the seismometer in this embodiment, Figure 7 is a diagram showing a third operating mode of the seismometer in this embodiment, Figure 8 is a diagram showing a fourth operating mode of the seismometer in this embodiment, Figure 9 is a diagram showing a fifth operating mode of the seismometer in this embodiment, and Figure 10 is a table explaining each operating mode of the seismometer in this embodiment. In Figure 4, (a) is a diagram showing the operational mode, and (b) is a diagram showing the non-operational mode.

Conventionally, the seismometer 10 has two operating modes: an operational mode as shown in FIG. 4(a) and a non-operational mode as shown in FIG. 4(b).

In operation mode, when seismometer 10A performs P-wave estimation and the damage estimation circle includes seismometer 10B, both seismometers 10A and 10B issue an alarm. Also, when seismometer 10A exceeds the specified value, only seismometer 10A issues an alarm.

On the other hand, in non-operational mode, if seismometer 10A performs P-wave estimation and the damage estimation circle includes seismometer 10B, seismometers 10A and 10B do not issue an alarm. Also, if seismometer 10A exceeds a specified value, seismometer 10A does not issue an alarm. However, all P-wave and S-wave information from seismometer 10A is displayed on monitoring terminal 30.

In the seismometer 10 of this embodiment, the FS board 16 having a fail-safe function is adopted, so that as shown in FIG. 5, the sensor block 11 and the calculation block 12 can be set to FT1 as a first operation mode, which is a new operation mode in which the sensor block 11 and the calculation block 12 are temporarily disabled (stopped) by remote control or the like. When the operation mode of the seismometer 10 is set to FT1, only the earthquake observation function is stopped, so that, for example, even if construction is being carried out at a location adjacent to the seismometer 10, the train is not affected by the vibrations of the construction, and it is possible to stop the train only based on external information. Conventionally, when construction is being carried out at a location adjacent to the seismometer 10, the use of the seismometer 10 was suspended, but in the seismometer 10 of this embodiment, the use suspension is not required by setting the operation mode to FT1, which contributes to train safety. Note that FIG. 5 shows a state in which the earthquake observation function is turned off, but the same applies when a fault occurs.

In addition to FT1, the seismometer 10 in this embodiment can be set to new operating modes FT2 to FT5.

As shown in FIG. 6, FT2 as the second operating mode is a state in which only the sensor 15 has failed, earthquake observation is disabled, but alarm determination (other stations only) is enabled, communication is enabled, and the control system 17 is enabled. In this case, data from the sensor 15 does not reach the calculation block 12, so it immediately transitions to FT1.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, FT3 as the third operating mode is a state in which the calculation block 12 has failed, earthquake observation is disabled, but alarm judgment (other stations only) is enabled, communication is enabled, and the control system 17 is enabled. In this case, data from the sensor 15 does not reach the calculation block 12, so the system immediately transitions to FT1. Note that operation control from the outside becomes possible. In this case, the operation control decision is made by the communication block 13.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, FT4 as the fourth operating mode is a state in which the communication block 13 has failed, i.e., both FS boards 16, which are communication boards, have failed, and communication is disabled, but earthquake observation is enabled, alarm determination (other stations only) is enabled, and the control system 17 is enabled. In this case, earthquake detection and operation control decisions are made based only on the observation data of the local station. Note that the operation control decisions are made by the calculation block 12.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, in the fifth operating mode, FT5 is in a state where the control block 14, which stops trains using control signals, etc., has failed, earthquake observation is enabled, but warning judgment is partially disabled (only information can be provided to other stations), communications are enabled, and the control system 17 is disabled. In this case, operation control of the own station is not possible, so earthquake observation information is provided to other stations.

In other words, as shown in FIG. 10, the seismometer 10 in this embodiment has operation modes FT1 to FT5 in addition to the operation mode and non-operation mode, so the operating time can be significantly increased.

Thus, according to this embodiment, the seismometer 10, which includes a sensor block 11 having a sensor 15 for detecting seismic motion, a calculation block 12 for performing calculations, a communication block 13 for performing communication, and a control block 14 having a control system 17, is operated in an operation mode FT1 in which the sensor block 11 and the calculation block 12 stop operating and the communication block 13 and the control block 14 operate by remote control, and when a fault occurs in the sensor block 11, it operates in an operation mode FT2 in which the calculation block 12, the communication block 13, and the control block 14 operate, when a fault occurs in the calculation block 12, it operates in an operation mode FT3 in which the sensor block 11, the communication block 13, and the control block 14 operate, when a fault occurs in the communication block 13, it operates in an operation mode FT4 in which the sensor block 11, the calculation block 12, and the control block 14 operate, and when a fault occurs in the control block 14, it operates in an operation mode FT5 in which the sensor block 11, the calculation block 12, and the communication block 13 operate.

This provides a fault tolerance function, allowing the faulty part to be isolated and the seismometer 10 to continue operating. This increases the reliability of the calculation processing of the seismometer 10, prevents malfunctions, and extends the operating time.

The disclosure of this specification describes features of preferred and exemplary embodiments. Various other embodiments, modifications, and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occur to those skilled in the art upon review of the disclosure of this specification.

This disclosure can be applied to a method of operating a seismometer.

10 Seismometer 11 Sensor block 12 Calculation block 13 Communication block 14 Control block 15 Sensor 17 Control system

Claims (6)

a sensor block having a sensor for detecting seismic motion;
A calculation block that performs calculations;
A communication block for performing communication;
A method for operating a seismometer comprising:
operating in a first operation mode in which the sensor block and the calculation block stop operating and the communication block and the control block operate by remote control;
When a failure occurs in the sensor block, the operation block, the communication block, and the control block are operated in a second operation mode;
When a failure occurs in the calculation block, the sensor block, the communication block, and the control block operate in a third operation mode;
When a failure occurs in the communication block, the sensor block, the calculation block, and the control block operate in a fourth operation mode;
A method for operating a seismometer, comprising the steps of: operating the seismometer in a fifth operating mode in which the sensor block, the calculation block and the communication block are operational when a fault occurs in the control block. A method for operating a seismometer as described in claim 1, which can be operated in an operational mode in which the sensor block, calculation block, communication block, and control block are operating, and in a non-operational mode in which the sensor block, calculation block, and communication block are operating and the control block is stopped. The method for operating a seismometer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the earthquake observation function is disabled in the first operating mode. The method for operating a seismometer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the second operation mode and the third operation mode are entered, the method transitions to the first operation mode. The method for operating a seismometer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein remote monitoring is disabled in the fourth operating mode. The method for operating a seismometer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein in the fifth operating mode, the seismometer is unable to control itself.