JPH0754559B2 - Sensor system with alarm test function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of use] The present invention relates to a sensor system with a warning test function, and is used for an automatic fire alarm system and the like.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a pseudo alarm element is attached to a sensor, and the sensor element of the sensor is forcibly changed to the state at the time of alarm by driving the pseudo alarm element under the control of the master unit. Therefore, a warning test method for checking the operation of the sensor has been proposed.
Here, the sensor to be inspected is classified into two types depending on its sensitivity.
There are three types, such as species. However, this classification is divided by the sensitivity test of the sensor, and each type of sensor is structurally the same, and conventionally, a means for discriminating the type of sensor is added to the sensor. Was not done. For this reason, in the conventional alarm test, the pseudo alarm element is driven by the same output regardless of the type of the sensor to generate the alarm state.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, since the sensitivities of the sensors are different depending on the types of the sensors, in order to carry out the alarm test of all the sensors with the same pseudo alarm output, the sensitivity is the highest. It is necessary to drive the pseudo-reporting element with a large output that will cause the low-sensitivity sensor to trigger, and it is not possible to test whether a sensor with higher sensitivity will trigger at a lower level. Can not. Also,
It will also take a long time for the sensor element of the sensor to recover from the state when the alarm was issued to the state when the alarm was not issued after the drive of the pseudo alarm element was stopped. It is extremely inconvenient.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sensor system with a reporting test function capable of performing a reporting test according to the type.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In the invention according to claim 1, in order to solve the above problems, as shown in FIG. 1, the sensor element 4 and the output of the sensor element 4 are set to predetermined values. The alerting circuit 5 that issues an alerting signal when the alerting level is exceeded, the pseudo alerting element 7 that changes the physical quantity detected by the sensor element 4, and the pseudo alerting element 7 when the alerting test signal is received are predetermined. The sensor 3 including the alarm test control unit 6 driven by the output of the sensor 3 and the presence or absence of the alarm signal from the sensor 3 are monitored, and the alarm test signal can be transmitted to the sensor 3. In the sensor system in which the main unit 1 is connected via the transmission line 2, the type setting switch 8 for setting the type of the sensor 3 and the pseudo alarm element 7 according to the type set by the type setting switch 8 A first memory table 9 for determining the output, The sensor 3 is provided with a second memory table 10 for determining the alerting level of the alerting circuit 5 according to the type set by the type setting switch 8.

In order to solve the same problem, according to the invention of claim 2, as shown in FIG. 2, a sensor element 14 and a transmission circuit 15 for transmitting an analog data signal according to the output of the sensor element 14. A sensor 13 including a pseudo reporting element 17 for changing a physical quantity detected by the sensor element 14, and a reporting test control section 16 for driving the pseudo reporting element 17 with a predetermined output when receiving the reporting test signal, , A sensor system in which an analog data signal from the sensor 13 is monitored and a master device 11 capable of transmitting an alarm test signal to the sensor 13 is connected via a transmission line 12 Reference numeral 11 is provided with means for transmitting a type setting signal to the sensor 13 when the system is started up, and the sensor 13 stores a type memory 18 for storing a type according to the received type setting signal and a type memory 18 for storing the type. Output of the pseudo alarm element 17 according to the type It is characterized in the provision of the memory table 19 to determine.

In order to solve the same problem, according to the third aspect of the invention, as shown in FIG. 3, a warning signal is issued when the output of the sensor element 14 is above a predetermined warning level. The sensor 13 is provided with a circuit 21 and a second memory table 20 for determining the alerting level of the alerting circuit 21 according to the type stored in the type memory 18, and the master unit 11 sends the signal from the sensor 13 to the master unit 11. It is characterized by comprising means for monitoring the presence or absence of a report signal. Other configurations are the same as the invention according to claim 2 shown in FIG.

In order to solve the same problem, in the invention according to claim 4, as shown in FIG. 4, a sensor element 14 and a transmission circuit 15 for transmitting an analog data signal according to the output of the sensor element 14. A sensor 13 including a pseudo reporting element 17 for changing a physical quantity detected by the sensor element 14, and a reporting test control section 16 for driving the pseudo reporting element 14 with a predetermined output when receiving the reporting test signal, , A sensor system in which an analog data signal from the sensor 13 is monitored and a master device 11 capable of transmitting an alarm test signal to the sensor 13 is connected via a transmission line 12 11 is provided with means for transmitting the alarm test level to the sensor 13 as an alarm test signal,
The alarm test control section 16 of the sensor 13 is provided with means for driving the pseudo alarm element 17 with an output according to the received alarm test level.

[Operation] In the invention according to claim 1, since the sensor 3 is provided with the type setting switch 8 for setting the type of the sensor 3, the sensor 3 can determine its own type. The output of the pseudo alarm element 7 is determined by the first memory table 9 according to the type set by the type setting switch 8, and the alarm level of the alarm circuit 5 is determined by the second memory table 10. Therefore, it is possible to perform the alarm test according to the type of the sensor 3.

In the invention according to claim 2, the type setting signal is transmitted from the base unit 11 to the sensor 13 when the system is activated, and the type is stored in the type memory 18 of the sensor 13. The type setting work for the container 13 is unnecessary. Also,
Memory table according to the type stored in the type memory 18
Since the output of the pseudo reporting element 17 is determined by 19, it is possible to perform a reporting test according to the type of the sensor 13.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the second aspect of the invention, an analog output type sensor 13 and a sensor element 14 are provided.
Is provided with a warning signal 21 for outputting a warning signal when the output of is higher than a predetermined warning level, and the second memory table 20 is used to notify the warning circuit 21 according to the type stored in the type memory 18. Since the level is decided, the base unit 11 is the detector 13
There is no need to compare the analog data signal from the alarm level with the alarm level, only the presence or absence of the alarm signal from the sensor 13 needs to be monitored, and the load on the base unit 11 is reduced.

In the invention according to claim 4, the type memory 18 and the memory table 19 in the invention according to claim 2 are omitted,
The alarm test level is transmitted from 11 to the sensor 13, and the alarm test control unit 16 of the sensor 13 drives the pseudo alarm element 17 with an output according to the received alarm test level. While the structure of the sensor 13 is simple, it is possible to perform an alarm test according to the type of the sensor 13.

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1. The parent device 1 constantly monitors the presence or absence of an alarm signal transmitted from the sensor 3 via the transmission line 2, and is further capable of transmitting an alarm test signal to the sensor 3.
The detector 3 is a contact-type fire detector, and when a fire is detected, it is notified to the master unit 1 by an ON / OFF contact signal. The sensor 3 comprises a sensor element 4. The sensor element 4 is composed of a temperature sensitive element such as a thermistor. The output of the sensor element 4 is input to the alarm circuit 5,
It is compared with a predetermined notification level. If the output of the sensor element 4 is equal to or higher than a predetermined alarm level, the alarm circuit 5 transmits an alarm signal to the master unit 1, and if it is lower than the predetermined alarm level, the alarm circuit 5 does not transmit the alarm signal. When the alarm test control unit 6 receives the alarm test signal from the base unit 1, it drives the pseudo alarm element 7 with a predetermined output. The pseudo reporting element 7 is a reporting element such as a heater. When the pseudo reporting element 7 is driven, the output of the sensor element 4 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined reporting level, and a reporting signal is transmitted from the reporting circuit 5. Thereby, the alarm test can be conducted. The above configuration is common to the conventional example.

In this embodiment, the type setting switch 8 and the first
And second memory tables 9 and 10 are added. The type setting switch 8 is a switch for setting the type of the sensor such as 1, 2, or 3. Also, the first
The memory table 9 of FIG. 1 stores pseudo alert output according to each type. The second memory table 10 stores the alert level according to each type. When the type is set by the type setting switch 8, the alarm circuit 5 reads out the alarm level corresponding to the set type from the second memory table 10, and compares the alarm level with the output of the sensor element 4. If the output of the sensor element 4 is equal to or higher than the alarm level, the alarm signal is transmitted, and if the output is lower than the alarm level, the alarm signal is not transmitted. Further, when the alarm test control unit 6 receives the alarm test signal from the base unit 1, the type setting switch 8
The pseudo alarm output corresponding to the type set in step 1 is read from the first memory table 9, and the pseudo alarm element 7 is driven by this output. Therefore, in this embodiment, the pseudo alarm element 7 is driven by the output according to the type of the sensor 3, and the alarm test according to the type of the sensor 3 can be performed.

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention described in claim 2. In the figure, the parent device 11 constantly monitors the analog data signal transmitted from the sensor 13 via the transmission line 12,
Further, the alarm test signal and the type setting signal can be transmitted to the sensor 13. The sensor 13 is an analog type fire sensor, which detects analog information (for example, the room temperature and the amount of infrared rays) used for determining the presence / absence of a fire and informs the master unit 11 of this using analog data signals. As in the case of the first embodiment, the sensor 13 has one kind of sensor, 2
Although there are types such as three types, the structure of the sensor 13 is exactly the same. The sensor 13 includes a sensor element 14 for detecting analog information used for determining the presence or absence of a fire. Further, a transmission circuit 15 that transmits the analog information detected by the sensor element 14 to the parent device 11 as an analog data signal is provided. Here, the analog data signal is A / D
It is also possible to convert and send out to the transmission line 12, and the master unit 11 D / A converts and restores the original analog information. Alarm test control unit
Upon receiving the alarm test signal from the base unit 11, the 16 drives the pseudo alarm element 17 with a predetermined output. The pseudo alarm element 17 is a physical quantity detected by the sensor element 14 (indoor temperature or infrared amount).
When the pseudo alarm element 17 is driven, the output of the sensor element 14 rises, and the analog value of the analog data signal transmitted from the transmission circuit 15 to the parent device 11 becomes high. The base unit 11 compares the analog value of the received analog data signal with a predetermined alarming level, generates an alarming signal if the analog value is equal to or higher than the predetermined alarming level, and outputs an alarming signal if it is less than the predetermined alarming level. Does not generate a report signal.

In this embodiment, the type memory 18 and the memory table 19
Is equipped with. The type memory 18 is a rewritable memory, and when the transmission circuit 15 receives a type setting signal from the parent device 11, its type is set according to the type setting signal. The type setting signal is transmitted from the base unit 11 to the sensor 13 when the system is activated. The memory table 19 stores pseudo alert output according to each type. When the alarm test signal from the base unit 11 is received by the transmission circuit 15, the alarm test control unit 16 reads a pseudo alarm output corresponding to the type set in the type memory 18 from the memory table 19, The pseudo alarm element 17 is driven by the output. Therefore, also in the present embodiment, the pseudo alarm element 17 is driven by the output according to the type of the sensor 13, and the alarm test according to the type of the sensor 13 can be performed. Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration of the sensor 13 is the same regardless of the type, but the type is set by being informed of its own type by the master unit 11 when the system is started. Therefore, when a large number of sensors 13 are connected to the transmission line 12, it is not necessary to perform classification setting at the installation location of each sensor 13, and the master device 11 can collectively perform classification setting. .

[Embodiment 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention described in claim 3. In the present embodiment, in the analog output type sensor 13 shown in the second embodiment, the second memory table 20 is used.
It is characterized in that a reporting circuit 21 is added.
The second memory table 20 stores the alert level according to each type. Further, the reporting circuit 21 compares the output of the sensor element 4 with the reporting level according to the type. That is, when the type of the sensor 13 is set in the type memory 18 by the type setting signal transmitted from the base unit 11 when the system is activated, the alarm circuit 21 sets the alarm level corresponding to the set type to the second alarm level.
Read from the memory table 20 and compare the alarm level with the output of the sensor element 14.If the output of the sensor element 14 is equal to or higher than the alarm level, an alarm signal is generated and if the output is lower than the alarm level. If it does not generate a warning signal. The transmission circuit 15 transmits the analog data signal obtained by the sensor element 14 to the parent device 11 and the alarm signal obtained by the alarm circuit 21. Therefore, in the present embodiment, there is an advantage that the load on the main device 11 can be less than that in the second embodiment.

Since the multiplex transmission system used for the sensor system is well known, it is possible to use, for example, a time division multiplex transmission system, although not particularly shown. In this method, one master unit and a plurality of transmission circuits are connected via a two-wire transmission line such as a coaxial cable or a twisted pair line, and a start signal indicating the start of signal transmission from the master unit. ,
An address signal for designating a transmission circuit to communicate with,
A time division multiplex transmission signal including at least a control signal for controlling the operation of the transmission circuit, a reply time zone for receiving a reply signal from the transmission circuit, and an end signal indicating the end of signal transmission is sent to the transmission line. To do. The address signal and the control signal are, for example, a plurality of bits of serial signals meaning that the long voltage pulse is “1” and the short voltage pulse is “0”. In the reply time zone, for example, by applying a voltage between the transmission lines on the master unit side and shorting the lines between the transmission lines on the transmission circuit side via a resistor, for example, a long current pulse becomes “1”. , Return a multi-bit serial signal, which means that the short current pulse is “0”, to the master unit. Address signals and control signals are sent from the master unit as low impedance voltage signals, and in each transmission circuit, connect a rectifier and a smoothing capacitor between the transmission lines,
Get operating power. The address signal included in the time-division multiplex transmission signal sent from the parent device has changed so as to cyclically poll each transmission circuit, and only one transmission circuit whose address signal matches responds to the control signal. The control operation and the reply operation are performed. When the start signal is received from the transmission line, the transmission circuit receives the address signal that follows the start signal and compares it with its own address signal. If the address signals do not match, it waits for the next start signal to be received. If the address signals match, the control signal that follows them is received, and either the type setting operation at system startup, the normal fire monitoring operation, or the alarm test operation is selectively executed according to the control signal. . That is, the type setting signal and the alarm test signal described above are transmitted as control signals from the master unit. Further, in the reply time zone, the alarm signal (1 bit) and the analog data signal (plural bits) are returned.

If such a multiplex transmission system is used, a contact type sensor as shown in the first embodiment and an analog output type sensor as shown in the second and subsequent embodiments can be mixed in the same sensor system. .

[Embodiment 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention described in claim 4. In this embodiment, the type memory 18 and the memory table 19 are omitted from the second embodiment. Base unit 11
Constantly monitors the analog data signal transmitted from the sensor 13 via the transmission line 12, and can transmit the alarm test level to the sensor 13. This alarm test level is set by the base unit 11 according to the type of the sensor 13, and is transmitted by a plurality of bits. When the transmission circuit 15 receives the alarm test level from the base unit 11, the alarm test controller 16 drives the pseudo alarm element 17 according to the received alarm test level. That is, in the above-described second embodiment, the type setting signal is transmitted from the master unit 11 at the time of system startup, the type is stored in the type memory 18 of the sensor 13, and the alarm test signal is transmitted from the master unit 11 at the time of the alarm test. Although transmitted, the pseudo alarm output corresponding to the type is read from the memory table 19 of the sensor 13, but in the present embodiment, analog data of the alarm test level corresponding to this pseudo alarm output is issued as the alarm test. It is sometimes transmitted from the base unit 11. Therefore, the type memory 18 and the memory table 19
Is unnecessary, and the configuration of the sensor 13 is simplified. Moreover, since the alarm test level can be freely changed from the base unit 11, the sensor element 14 at any alarm test level can be changed.
You can inspect the output of. In this way, by collecting data at many alarm test levels, it is possible to detect the deterioration of the sensor element 14 at an early stage.

[Effect of the Invention] In the invention according to claim 1, in the sensor system with the alarm test function using the method of changing the physical quantity detected by the sensor element of the sensor by the pseudo alarm element,
The type setting switch for setting the type of the sensor, the first memory table for determining the output of the pseudo alarm element according to the type set by the type setting switch, and the type set by the type setting switch Since the sensor is provided with the second memory table for determining the alarm level of the alarm circuit accordingly, there is an effect that the alarm test according to the type of the sensor can be performed.

According to another aspect of the invention, the type setting signal is transmitted from the base unit to the sensor when the system is activated, and the sensor stores the memory according to the type stored in the type memory according to the type setting signal. Since the output of the pseudo reporting element is determined by the table, there is an effect that the trouble of setting the type of the sensor is unnecessary.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the invention of the second aspect, the alarm circuit is configured to transmit an alarm signal when the output of the sensor element is equal to or higher than a predetermined alarm level, and is stored in the type memory. The second memory table for determining the alarm level of the alarm circuit according to the type of the sensor is provided in the sensor, and the master unit is provided with means for monitoring the presence or absence of the alarm signal from the sensor. The base unit does not need a process of comparing the analog data signal from the analog output type sensor with the alarming level, which has the effect of reducing the load on the base unit.

In the invention according to claim 4, the alarm test level is transmitted from the master unit to the sensor, and the alarm test control unit of the sensor outputs a pseudo alarm with an output according to the received alarm test level. Since the elements are driven, there is an effect that the alarm test according to the type of the sensor can be performed while the structure of the sensor is simple.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1,
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention described in claim 2,
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention described in claim 3,
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention described in claim 4. 1,11 is a master unit, 2,12 is a transmission line, 3,13 is a sensor, 4,14 is a sensor element, 5 is a reporting circuit, 15 is a transmission circuit, 6 and 16 are reporting test control units, 7 , 17 is a pseudo alarm element, 8 is a type setting switch, 18 is a type memory, 9 and 19 are the first memory table, 1
Reference numerals 0 and 20 are the second memory table, and 21 is a reporting circuit.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sensor element, an alarm circuit for transmitting an alarm signal when the output of the sensor element is above a predetermined alarm level, and a pseudo alarm element for changing a physical quantity detected by the sensor element. A sensor equipped with a reporting test control unit that drives a pseudo reporting element with a predetermined output when a report test signal is received, and monitors the presence or absence of a reporting signal from this sensor and issues a signal to the sensor. In a sensor system in which a base unit that can transmit a test signal is connected via a transmission line,
The type setting switch for setting the type of the sensor, the first memory table for determining the output of the pseudo alarm element according to the type set by the type setting switch, and the type set by the type setting switch A sensor system with a reporting test function, characterized in that the sensor is provided with a second memory table for determining the reporting level of the reporting circuit accordingly. 2. A sensor element, a transmission circuit for transmitting an analog data signal according to the output of the sensor element, and a pseudo alarm element for changing a physical quantity detected by the sensor element.
A sensor provided with a report test control unit that drives a pseudo report element with a predetermined output when a report test signal is received, and monitors an analog data signal from this sensor and reports to the above sensor. In a sensor system in which a master device capable of transmitting a test signal is connected via a transmission line, the master device has means for transmitting a type setting signal to the sensor when the system starts up, and the sensor receives the type setting signal. And a memory table for determining the output of the pseudo alarm element according to the type stored in the type memory. Sensor system with functions. 3. An alarm circuit for transmitting an alarm signal when the output of the sensor element is equal to or higher than a predetermined alarm level, and the alarm level of the alarm circuit is determined according to the type stored in the type memory. 3. The sensor system with the alarm test function according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is provided with a second memory table, and the master unit is provided with means for monitoring the presence or absence of an alarm signal from the sensor. 4. A sensor element, a transmission circuit for transmitting an analog data signal according to the output of the sensor element, and a pseudo alarm element for changing a physical quantity detected by the sensor element.
A sensor provided with a report test control unit that drives a pseudo report element with a predetermined output when a report test signal is received, and monitors an analog data signal from this sensor and reports to the above sensor. In a sensor system in which a master unit capable of transmitting a test signal is connected via a transmission line, the master unit is equipped with means for transmitting a test level as a test test signal to the sensor. The test control unit comprises means for driving the pseudo alarm element with an output according to the received alarm test level, and a sensor system with an alarm test function.