JP7628279B2 - Wireless unit and wireless method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wireless unit and a wireless method for wirelessly communicating between a sensor device installed in a machine tool or the like and an external device.

At work sites such as factories, various sensor devices (vibration sensors, acceleration sensors, temperature sensors, etc.) are installed on machine tools such as press molding machines. The sensor devices transmit detection data to external devices (programmable logic controllers, personal computers, etc.) (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-164635 A

The sensor device and the external device are typically connected by wire. This can cause the wiring to break due to the movement of the moving parts of a moving machine such as a machine tool, or the wiring getting caught on a part when removing or replacing a part inside the machine. As a result, the communication connection between the sensor device and the external device is cut off.

In view of the above circumstances, the object of the present invention is to prevent interruption of communication connections between existing sensor devices, particularly those installed on mobile machines, and external devices.

A wireless communication unit according to one aspect of the present invention includes:
A terminal portion connectable to a sensor device;
a power supply unit having a battery and supplying power to the sensor device via the terminal unit;
a wireless communication unit having a wireless communication interface for wirelessly transmitting a detection signal received by the terminal unit from the sensor device to an external device;
Equipped with:

Typically, when an existing sensor device and an external device are connected by a wire, the sensor device receives power from the external device connected to the power source and transmits a detection signal to the external device. According to this embodiment, a wireless unit having a battery supplies power to the existing sensor device and wirelessly transmits the detection signal of the sensor device to the existing external device. In this way, the wireless unit can wirelessly communicate between the existing sensor device and the external device, thereby preventing the connection between the sensor device and the external device from being interrupted.

The power supply unit may have a voltage changeover switch that can change the voltage of the power supply supplied to the sensor devices individually or collectively for each sensor device.

This allows the wireless unit to switch voltage on demand, either individually or collectively, according to the specifications of existing sensor devices.

The wireless communication interface wirelessly receives a voltage switching request from the external device;
The wireless communication unit may include a processor that switches the voltage changeover switch based on the voltage changeover request.

This allows the wireless unit to switch voltage on demand for existing sensor devices according to a voltage value automatically determined by an external device.

the power supply unit supplies power to the wireless communication unit;
The processor,
Detecting that the voltage of the power source supplied from the power supply unit is equal to or lower than a threshold value;
A signal indicating that the voltage is equal to or lower than the threshold may be wirelessly transmitted to the external device via the wireless communication interface.

In existing connections between sensor devices and external devices, the sensor device receives power from the external device connected to a power source. For this reason, cases where the power supply voltage supplied to the sensor device is insufficient are rare. In contrast, in this embodiment, the battery voltage of the wireless unit is supplied to the sensor device. For this reason, the battery capacity decreases as it is consumed, and cases where the power supply voltage supplied to the sensor device is insufficient occur with a certain frequency. Therefore, the wireless unit of this embodiment detects that the power supply voltage is below a threshold value and notifies the external device. This allows the battery of the wireless unit to be appropriately replaced or charged.

The processor,
Detecting that a voltage of a power source supplied from the power supply unit is equal to or lower than a first threshold value or equal to or lower than a second threshold value different from the first threshold value;
A different first signal or second signal indicating that the voltage is less than or equal to the first threshold or the second threshold, respectively, may be wirelessly transmitted to the external device via the wireless communication interface.

The wireless unit detects when the power supply voltage falls below multiple different thresholds and notifies the external device. This allows the wireless unit's battery to be replaced or charged with appropriate priority (triage).

The terminal portion may be connectable to the sensor device via a wire.

If an existing sensor device can only be connected to an external device via a wired connection (wireless connection is not possible), the wireless unit of this embodiment can connect to the existing sensor device via a wired connection connector of the existing sensor device.

The sensor device is installed on a movable part included in a movable machine,
The wireless unit may be installed at a position where a distance from the sensor device when the movable part moves is equal to or shorter than a predetermined distance.

According to this embodiment, the wireless unit is installed in a position where the distance between the sensor device installed on the movable part and the wireless unit is not large or not too large when the movable part moves. This prevents the wiring between the sensor device and the wireless unit from being broken.

The wireless unit may be installed on the moving part or on another moving part that moves integrally with the moving part.

This allows the sensor device and the wireless unit to move together, more reliably preventing disconnection of the wiring between the sensor device and the wireless unit.

The movable machine may be a machine tool or a robot.

By using the wireless unit according to this embodiment, communication between an existing sensor device installed in a machine tool or robot and an external device can be made wireless.

The machine tool may be a molding machine, a press machine, or a die-casting machine.

Typically, an existing sensor device installed in a molding machine, a press machine, or a die-casting machine is wired to an external device via wiring. This can cause the wiring to break due to movement of the moving part (typically the moving mold) on which the sensor device is installed, or the wiring getting caught on a part when removing or replacing a part in the machine tool. As a result, the communication connection between the sensor device and the external device is cut off. Therefore, the wireless unit of this embodiment can prevent the connection between the sensor device and the external device from being cut off by wirelessly communicating between the sensor device installed in the machine tool and the external device.

The battery may be a wirelessly powered secondary battery, a wired powered secondary battery, or a primary battery.

The wireless unit of this embodiment does not need to be constantly connected to a power source, so various types of batteries can be used.

The sensor device includes a plurality of sensor elements and a plurality of amplifiers individually connected to the plurality of sensor elements,
The terminal portion may be connected to each of the amplifiers, and may be connected to each of the sensor elements via each of the amplifiers.

The sensor device includes a plurality of sensor elements and an amplifier connected to the plurality of sensor elements;
The terminal portion may be connected to the one amplifier and connected to each of the plurality of sensor elements via the one amplifier.

The wireless unit according to this embodiment can be wired to various types of existing sensor devices by utilizing the wired connectors of the various types of existing sensor devices.

A wireless communication method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of:
A method for wirelessly communicating between a sensor device and an external device, comprising:
A terminal portion connectable to the sensor device;
a power supply unit having a battery and supplying power to the sensor device via the terminal unit;
a wireless communication unit having a wireless communication interface for wirelessly transmitting a detection signal received by the terminal unit from the sensor device to the external device;
The terminal portion of the wireless unit is connected to the sensor device.

According to this embodiment, a wireless unit having a battery supplies power to an existing sensor device and wirelessly transmits the detection signal of the sensor device to an existing external device. This allows the wireless unit to wirelessly communicate between the existing sensor device and the external device, thereby preventing the connection between the sensor device and the external device from being cut off.

The wired connection between the sensor device and the external device is disconnected, and then
The terminal portion of the wireless unit may be connected to the sensor device by wire.

The wireless unit according to this embodiment can be connected to an existing sensor device via a wired connection connector (in other words, a connector used for a wired connection to an external device) of the existing sensor device that was previously connected to an external device via a wired connection.

The sensor device is installed on a movable part included in a movable machine,
The wireless unit may be installed at a position where a distance from the sensor device when the movable part moves is equal to or smaller than a predetermined distance.

According to this embodiment, the wireless unit is installed in a position where the distance between the sensor device installed on the movable part and the wireless unit is not large or not too large when the movable part moves. This prevents the wiring between the sensor device and the wireless unit from being broken.

The present invention makes it possible to prevent interruption of communication connections between existing sensor devices, particularly those installed on mobile machines, and external devices.

Note that the effects described here are not necessarily limited to those described herein and may be any of the effects described in this disclosure.

1 shows an example of a sensor device installed on a machine. 1 shows another example of a sensor device installed on a machine. 2 shows the configuration of a wireless unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, which wirelessizes a sensor device. 4 shows a flow of a voltage switching operation. 1 shows a flow of a low battery notification operation. 1 shows a flow of a wireless method. 1 shows a simplified configuration of a wireless communication unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, which wirelessizes another sensor device.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

1. Sensor device

Figure 1 shows an example of a sensor device installed on a machine.

The machine 10 is a movable machine. The movable machine 10 is, for example, a machine tool or a robot. The machine tool is, for example, a molding machine, a press machine, or a die-casting machine. In this example, the machine 10 is a press machine, and has a movable side mold 11, which is a movable part, and a fixed side mold 12, which is a fixed part.

A sensor device 100 is installed on a movable mold 11, which is a movable part included in a movable machine 10. The sensor device 100 has a plurality of sensor elements 110 and a plurality of amplifiers 120 individually connected to the plurality of sensor elements 110. The sensor elements 110 detect vibration, acceleration, temperature, humidity, etc. The amplifiers 120 amplify the detection signals of the sensor elements 110.

The sensor device 100 is connected to the external device 20 via a wiring 300. The external device 20 is, for example, a programmable logic controller, a personal computer, etc. The wiring 300 includes a data line, a power line, and a ground line. The external device 20 is connected to a power source and supplies power to the sensor device 100 via the power line in the wiring 300. The sensor device 100 transmits a detection signal (amplified detection signal) via a data line in the wiring 300 to the external device 20 via a wired connection.

Figure 2 shows another example of a sensor device installed on a machine.

The movable mold 11 is provided with a sensor device 100, which includes a plurality of sensor elements 110 and one amplifier 120 connected to the plurality of sensor elements 110. The amplifier 120 is connected to an external device 20 via wiring 300. The amplifier 120 of the sensor device 100 transmits a detection signal (i.e., a detection signal detected by the sensor element 110 and amplified by the amplifier 120) via wiring 300 to the external device 20.

2. Configuration of the wireless unit

As described above, the sensor device 100 is wired to the external device 20 via the wiring 300. Then, the wiring 300 may be broken due to the movement of the movable mold 11, which is the moving part on which the sensor device 100 is installed, or the wiring 300 getting caught on a part when removing or replacing the part inside the machine 10. As a result, the communication connection between the sensor device 100 and the external device 20 is cut off.

In consideration of the above circumstances, the wireless unit 200 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure wirelessly communicates between the sensor device 100 installed on the mobile machine 10 and the external device 20, thereby preventing interruption of the connection between the sensor device 100 and the external device 20.

Figure 3 shows the configuration of a wireless unit for one embodiment of the present invention that wirelessizes a sensor device.

An existing sensor device 100 is installed on the movable side mold 11, which is a movable part included in the movable machine 10. The configuration of the sensor device 100 is the same as that of FIG. 1. The wireless unit 200 is installed at a position where the distance from the sensor device 100 installed on the movable side mold 11 is a predetermined distance or less when the movable side mold 11, which is a movable part, moves. In other words, the wireless unit 200 is installed at a position where the distance from the sensor device 100 installed on the movable side mold 11 does not increase or does not increase too much when the movable side mold 11, which is a movable part, moves. This prevents the wiring 300 between the sensor device 100 and the wireless unit 200 from being broken. Specifically, the wireless unit 200 is installed on the movable side mold 11 itself, which is a movable part on which the sensor device 100 is installed, or on another movable part (for example, a jig supporting the movable side mold 11) that moves integrally with the movable side mold 11, which is a movable part. For example, when the movable mold 11 moves up and down, the sensor device 100 moves up and down, and the jig on which the wireless unit 200 is installed moves up and down integrally with the sensor device 100. As a result, the sensor device 100 and the wireless unit 200 move up and down integrally, so that disconnection of the wiring 300 between the sensor device 100 and the wireless unit 200 is more reliably prevented.

The wireless unit 200 has a terminal section 210, a power supply section 220, and a wireless communication section 230.

The terminal section 210 can be connected to the sensor device 100 by wire via wiring 300. Each terminal section 210 has a data terminal 211, a power supply terminal 212, and a ground terminal 213. The wiring 300 includes a data line 301, a power supply line 302, and a ground line 303.

The data terminal 211 is connected to a data connector 121 connected to the amplifier 120 of the sensor device 100 via a data line 301. The data terminal 211 receives a detection signal from the sensor device 100 via the data line 301.

The power supply terminal 212 is connected to the power supply connector 122, which is connected to the amplifier 120 of the sensor device 100, via the power supply line 302. The power supply terminal 212 supplies power to the sensor device 100 via the power supply line 302.

The ground terminal 213 is connected to a ground connector 123 that is connected to the amplifier 120 of the sensor device 100 via a ground line 303. The ground terminal 213 is connected to the sensor device 100 and takes the ground of the sensor device 100 via the ground line 303.

If the existing sensor device 100 installed in the machine 10 has a wireless communication module, the wireless unit 200 may have a wireless communication module (not shown) instead of the terminal portion 210 and be wirelessly connected to the sensor device 100. However, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the existing sensor device 100 installed in the machine 10 does not have a wireless communication module and can only be connected via a wire. The data connector 121, power connector 122, and ground connector 123 of the sensor device 100 are connectors used for a wired connection to the external device 20. In this embodiment, the sensor device 100 and the wireless unit 200 are connected via a wire 300 using the connector of the sensor device 100 used for a wired connection to the external device 20.

The power supply unit 220 has a battery 221, a voltage conversion unit 222, and a voltage changeover switch 223.

The battery 221 is a secondary battery using a wireless power supply method (electromagnetic induction method, magnetic field resonance method, electric field coupling method, radio wave reception method, etc.), a secondary battery using a wired power supply method, or a primary battery. Since the wireless unit 200 does not need to be constantly connected to a power source, various types of batteries 221 can be used.

The voltage conversion unit 222 switches the voltage of the power source output by the battery 221 (e.g., 24 V, 12 V, 5 V, etc.) and supplies power to the sensor device 100 via the power terminal 212 of the terminal unit 210. The voltage conversion unit 222 further supplies a voltage (e.g., 5 V) to each unit 231 to 234 of the wireless communication unit 230.

The voltage changeover switch 223 changes the power supply voltage supplied from the voltage conversion unit 222 to the sensor devices 100 individually or collectively for each sensor device 100.

The wireless communication unit 230 has an A/D converter 231, an encoding unit 232, a wireless communication interface 233, and a processor 234 that controls these.

The A/D converter 231 receives an analog detection signal from the sensor device 100 via the data terminal 211 of the terminal unit 210. The A/D converter 231 converts the received analog detection signal into a digital signal.

The encoding unit 232 encodes the detection signal digitized by the A/D converter 231.

The wireless communication interface 233 is capable of wireless communication with the external device 20. The wireless communication interface 233 wirelessly transmits the detection signal coded by the coding unit 232 to the external device 20. Furthermore, the wireless communication interface 233 wirelessly transmits data generated by the processor 234 to the external device 20, and supplies data wirelessly received from the external device 20 to the processor 234.

The processor 234 performs a voltage switching operation to control the voltage switching switch 223 to switch the conversion voltage of the voltage conversion unit 222, and a low battery notification operation to detect low capacity of the battery 221 and notify the external device 20.

3. Voltage switching operation

Figure 4 shows the flow of the voltage switching operation.

The wireless communication interface 233 of the wireless communication unit 230 wirelessly receives a voltage switching request from the external device 20 and supplies the received voltage switching request to the processor 234 (step S101). The voltage switching request is a request to switch the voltage of the power supply supplied to the sensor devices 100 individually or collectively for each sensor device 100, and includes a target voltage value. The processor 234 controls the voltage switching switch 223 based on the voltage switching request to switch the conversion voltage of the voltage conversion unit 222 (step S102). This allows the wireless unit 200 to switch the voltage on demand individually for each existing sensor device 100 specification.

The above is a case where the external device 20 automatically determines the post-switching voltage value, or a user (such as an operator; the same applies below) inputs the post-switching voltage value to the external device 20. This allows the wireless unit 200 to switch the voltage on demand for the existing sensor device 100 according to the voltage value determined automatically or manually by the external device 20. Furthermore, it may be possible for the user to operate the voltage changeover switch 223 to input the post-switching voltage value, thereby switching the conversion voltage of the voltage conversion unit 222.

4. Low battery notification operation

Figure 5 shows the flow of low battery notification operations.

The voltage conversion unit 222 of the power supply unit 220 constantly supplies a voltage (e.g., 5V) to each unit 231 to 234 of the wireless communication unit 230 (i.e., always when the wireless unit 200 is operating). The processor 234 monitors the value of the voltage supplied to the processor 234 from the voltage conversion unit 222 of the power supply unit 220 at regular intervals (step S201). When the processor 234 detects that the power supply voltage supplied from the voltage conversion unit 222 of the power supply unit 220 is below a threshold value (step S202, YES), it wirelessly transmits a signal indicating that the voltage is below the threshold value to the external device 20 via the wireless communication interface 233 (step S203).

The processor 234 may detect that the voltage is at a plurality of different thresholds in a plurality of stages and transmit a plurality of different signals to the external device 20. Specifically, when the processor 234 detects that the voltage is equal to or lower than the first threshold (step S202, YES), the processor 234 transmits a first signal indicating that the voltage is equal to or lower than the first threshold to the external device 20 (step S203). Furthermore, when the processor 234 detects that the voltage is equal to or lower than a second threshold different from the first threshold (step S202, YES), the processor 234 transmits a second signal indicating that the voltage is equal to or lower than the second threshold, different from the first signal, to the external device 20 (step S203).

For example, if the voltage to be supplied to the processor 234 is 5V, when the processor 234 detects that the voltage is 4V (first threshold) or less (step S202, YES), it transmits a first signal indicating a low battery to the external device 20 (step S203). Furthermore, when the processor 234 detects that the voltage is 2V (second threshold) or less (step S202, YES), it transmits a second signal indicating an empty battery to the external device 20 (step S203).

In the existing wired connection between the sensor device 100 and the external device 20, the sensor device 100 receives power from the external device 20 connected to a power source. For this reason, cases where the voltage of the power source supplied to the sensor device 100 is insufficient are rare. In contrast, in this embodiment, the voltage of the battery 221 of the wireless unit 200 is supplied to the sensor device 100. For this reason, the capacity of the battery 221 decreases as it is consumed, and cases where the voltage of the power source supplied to the sensor device 100 is insufficient occur with a certain frequency. Therefore, the wireless unit 200 of this embodiment detects a low battery or an empty battery and notifies the external device 20. This allows the user to know when the battery is low or empty, and to replace or charge the battery 221 of the wireless unit 200 in an appropriate priority order (triage).

5. How to make it wireless

Figure 6 shows the flow of the wireless method.

As a premise, the sensor device 100 is installed on the movable mold 11, which is the moving part of the movable machine 10. The existing sensor device 100 is wired to the external device 20 via wiring. Typically, a worker or the like performs the wireless method at the site, such as a factory, where the movable machine 10 is installed.

Disconnect the existing wired connection between the sensor device 100 and the external device 20 (step S301).

The wireless unit 200 is installed on the machine 10 (step S302). Specifically, the wireless unit 200 is installed at a position where the distance from the sensor device 100 installed on the movable side mold 11, which is the moving part, is less than a predetermined distance when the movable side mold 11 moves. In other words, the wireless unit 200 is installed at a position where the distance from the sensor device 100 installed on the movable side mold 11, which is the moving part, does not increase or does not increase too much when the movable side mold 11, which is the moving part, moves. Specifically, the wireless unit 200 is installed on the movable side mold 11 itself, which is the moving part, or on another moving part that moves integrally with the movable side mold 11, which is the moving part.

The terminal portion 210 of the wireless unit 200 is wired-connected to the sensor device 100 via the wiring 300 (step S303). Specifically, the connectors (data connector 121, power connector 122, and ground connector 123) of the sensor device 100 used for wired connection with the external device 20 are used to wire-connect the sensor device 100 and the wireless unit 200 via the wiring 300. As the wiring 300, the wiring that wired the sensor device 100 and the external device 20 may be used as it is, or a new wiring may be installed.

The order of steps S301 to S303 of the wireless method is not limited to the above. After disconnecting the wired connection between the sensor device 100 and the external device 20 (step S301), it is necessary to connect the wireless unit 200 and the sensor device 100 by wire (step S303), but other than that, the order is not limited.

6. Modifications

In FIG. 3, a case where the sensor device 100 having the configuration in FIG. 1 is made wireless using the wireless unit 200 is described. It is also possible to make the sensor device 100 having the configuration in FIG. 2 wireless using the wireless unit 200.

Figure 7 shows a simplified configuration of a wireless unit according to one embodiment of the present invention, which wirelessizes another sensor device.

2, in the sensor device 100, one amplifier 120 is connected to multiple sensor elements 110. In this case, the terminal section 210 (data terminal 211, power terminal 212, and ground terminal 213) of the wireless unit 200 is connected to the data connector 121, power connector 122, and ground terminal 213 of the amplifier 120 via wiring 300 (data line 301, power line 302, and ground line 303). The power supply section 220 supplies voltage to the sensor device 100 via the terminal section 210. The wireless communication interface 233 receives a detection signal from the sensor device 100 via the terminal section 210, digitizes and codes the signal, and wirelessly transmits it to the external device 20. Note that when one amplifier 120 is connected to multiple sensor elements 110 as in FIG. 2, the wireless unit 200 may have one terminal section 210, or may have multiple terminal sections 210 as in FIG. 3.

7. Conclusion

At a factory or other site, various sensor devices 100 are installed on movable machines such as machine tools. The sensor devices 100 are wired to an external device 20 via wiring 300. The wiring 300 may then be broken due to the movement of the movable mold 11, which is the movable part on which the sensor devices 100 are installed, or the wiring 300 getting caught on a part when removing or replacing a part inside the machine 10. As a result, the communication connection between the sensor devices 100 and the external device 20 is cut off.

The wireless unit 200 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure wirelessly communicates between an existing sensor device 100 installed on a mobile machine 10 and an existing external device 20, thereby preventing interruption of the connection between the sensor device 100 and the external device 20.

Although the embodiments and variations of the present technology have been described above, the present technology is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can of course be made without departing from the spirit of the present technology.

LIST OF SYMBOLS 10 Machine 100 Sensor device 11 Movable mold 110 Sensor element 12 Fixed mold 120 Amplifier 121 Data connector 122 Power connector 123 Ground connector 20 External device 200 Wireless unit 210 Terminal section 211 Data terminal 212 Power terminal 213 Ground terminal 220 Power supply section 221 Battery 222 Voltage conversion section 223 Voltage changeover switch 230 Wireless communication section 231 A/D converter 232 Encoding section 233 Wireless communication interface 234 Processor 300 Wiring 301 Data line 302 Power line 303 Ground line

Claims (13)

A plurality of terminals connectable to a plurality of different types of sensor devices, respectively;
a power supply unit including a battery, a voltage changeover switch, and a voltage conversion unit , and configured to supply power to the plurality of sensor devices via the plurality of terminal units;
a wireless communication unit including a wireless communication interface for wirelessly transmitting detection signals received by the terminal units from the sensor devices to an external device , and a processor ;
Equipped with
the voltage changeover switch is capable of changing a value of a power supply voltage supplied from the voltage conversion unit to the plurality of sensor devices individually for each of the plurality of sensor devices;
the voltage conversion unit switches a voltage value of the power supply output by the battery for each of the plurality of sensor devices individually, and supplies the power supply having the value switched for each of the plurality of sensor devices to the plurality of sensor devices via the plurality of terminal units;
The wireless communication interface wirelessly receives a voltage switching request from the external device;
the voltage switching request is a request for switching a power supply voltage supplied to the plurality of sensor devices individually for each of the plurality of sensor devices, and includes a target voltage value for each of the plurality of sensor devices;
The processor controls the voltage changeover switch based on the voltage changeover request to change the converted voltage of the voltage conversion unit, thereby changing the voltage for each of the plurality of sensor devices individually.
Wireless unit. 2. The wireless unit according to claim 1 ,
the power supply unit supplies power to the wireless communication unit;
The processor,
Detecting that the voltage of the power source supplied from the power supply unit is equal to or lower than a threshold value;
A wireless unit wirelessly transmits a signal indicating that the voltage is equal to or lower than the threshold value to the external device via the wireless communication interface. 3. The wireless unit according to claim 2 ,
The processor,
Detecting that a voltage of a power source supplied from the power supply unit is equal to or lower than a first threshold value or equal to or lower than a second threshold value different from the first threshold value;
a wireless unit that wirelessly transmits a different first signal or a second signal indicating that the voltage is equal to or lower than the first threshold or the second threshold, respectively, to the external device via the wireless communication interface. The wireless unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The plurality of terminal portions are connectable to the plurality of sensor devices via wires, respectively . The wireless unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
the plurality of sensor devices are installed on a movable part included in a movable machine,
The wireless unit is installed at a position where a distance from each of the plurality of sensor devices is equal to or shorter than a predetermined distance when the movable part moves. 6. The wireless unit according to claim 5 ,
The wireless unit is installed on the movable part or another movable part that moves integrally with the movable part. The wireless unit according to claim 5 or 6 ,
The movable machine is a machine tool or a robot. Wireless unit. 8. The wireless unit according to claim 7 ,
The machine tool is a molding machine, a press machine, or a die-casting machine. The wireless unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ,
The battery is a wireless power supply type secondary battery, a wired power supply type secondary battery, or a primary battery. The wireless unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9 ,
The plurality of sensor devices each include a plurality of sensor elements and a plurality of amplifiers individually connected to the plurality of sensor elements,
the plurality of terminal portions are connected to the plurality of amplifiers respectively, and connected to the plurality of sensor elements respectively via the plurality of amplifiers. A method for wirelessly communicating between a plurality of different types of sensor devices and an external device, comprising:
A plurality of terminal units connectable to the plurality of different types of sensor devices, respectively;
a power supply unit including a battery, a voltage changeover switch, and a voltage conversion unit , and configured to supply power to the plurality of sensor devices via the plurality of terminal units;
a wireless communication unit including a wireless communication interface that wirelessly transmits detection signals received by the terminal units from the sensor devices to the external device , and a processor ;
having
the voltage changeover switch is capable of changing a value of a power supply voltage supplied from the voltage conversion unit to the plurality of sensor devices individually for each of the plurality of sensor devices;
the voltage conversion unit switches a voltage value of the power supply output by the battery for each of the plurality of sensor devices individually, and supplies the power supply having the value switched for each of the plurality of sensor devices to the plurality of sensor devices via the plurality of terminal units;
The wireless communication interface wirelessly receives a voltage switching request from the external device;
the voltage switching request is a request for switching a power supply voltage supplied to the plurality of sensor devices individually for each of the plurality of sensor devices, and includes a target voltage value for each of the plurality of sensor devices;
The processor controls the voltage changeover switch based on the voltage changeover request to change the converted voltage of the voltage conversion unit, thereby changing the voltage for each of the plurality of sensor devices individually.
a wireless communication method comprising: connecting the plurality of terminal portions of the wireless communication unit to the plurality of sensor devices, respectively . A wireless method according to claim 11 , comprising the steps of:
disconnecting the wired connection between the plurality of sensor devices and the external device, and then
The wireless communication method further comprises connecting the terminal portions of the wireless communication unit to the sensor devices by wires . A wireless method according to claim 11 or 12 , comprising:
the plurality of sensor devices are installed on a movable part included in a movable machine,
the wireless unit is installed at a position where a distance from the wireless unit to the plurality of sensor devices becomes equal to or shorter than a predetermined distance when the movable part moves.

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