WO2005085651A1

WO2005085651A1 - Air pressure control apparatus using a bluetooth rf module

Info

Publication number: WO2005085651A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/000447
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young-Soon Kwon; Yoon-Beom Ur
Original assignee: Wusung Mpi Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-03-03
Filing date: 2004-03-03
Publication date: 2005-09-15

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air pressure control apparatus using a bluetooth RF module capable of achieving a wireless data transmission and receiving operation between a central control apparatus of an air pressure control apparatus, a sensor that is a peripheral and a solenoid valve unit by installing a bluetooth RF module in each of the above elements.

Description

AIR PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS USING A BLUETOOTH RF MODULE

Technical Field The present invention relates to an air pressure control apparatus using

a bluetooth RF module, and more particularly to an air pressure control

apparatus using a bluetooth RF module capable of achieving a wireless

connection and a data transmitting and receiving operation between a master

and a slave in such a manner that a bluetooth RF module respectively is

installed in a central controller, a sensor and a solenoid valve unit which are

peripheral device, after the above elements are designated as a master and a

salve.

Background Art Lately many studies have been conducted for replacing a wired

communication method with a wireless communication method. Among the

above studies, there is a bluetooth method that is a local area/short distance

wireless communication method.

The above bluetooth method is one of the computer and communication

standards in which a mobile telephone, computer, PDA, etc. is easily connected with a telephone or computer used in a home or a company based on a local

area wireless connection method. In the bluetooth method, since a piconet

formed of one master and seven, in maximum, slaves is capable of achieving a

network environment, a system expansion is very easy. Namely, as one master is designated, and seven, in maximum, slaves

are designated, the piconet is capable of achieving point-to-multipoints

communication between the master and the slaves. At this time, the master

determines the time and number of communications with each slave using TDM

(Time Division Multiplexing), and adjusts to divide the entire bandwidth to each

slave.

In addition, in the case that the area of communication is increased or

the number of networks is increased, a scatternet construction connecting each

piconet is used. Therefore, the expanded network environment of the piconet is

achieved. The air pressure control apparatus is a system capable of controlling

the pressure of air by operating a solenoid valve based on a displacement of an actuator and includes a sensor for detecting a displacement of the actuator, a central controller for receiving and computing the signal detected by the sensor and outputting a control signal for operating the solenoid valve, and a solenoid

valve unit for operating the solenoid valve in accordance with the control signal outputted by the central controller. In the conventional air pressure control apparatus, a central controller is

connected with a sensor through an input line for receiving a detection signal of

the sensor and is also connected with a solenoid valve unit through an output

line for outputting a valve control signal to the solenoid valve unit. In other words, in the conventional air pressure control apparatus, the

pressure of air is controlled based on a wired communication method in which a

data is transmitted and received through a communication line corresponding to

the input and output lines.

However, in the air pressure control apparatus based on the wired

communication method, it is difficult to utilize an installation space due to the

limit in the communication lines, and a wiring work should be additionally

performed.

Disclosure of Invention Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an air

pressure control apparatus using a bluetooth RF module capable of overcoming

the problems encountered in the conventional art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an air pressure

control apparatus using a bluetooth RF module capable of achieving a wireless

communication network between a central controller and a peripheral in an air pressure control apparatus in such a manner that a bluetooth RF module that is one of a wireless communication method, is installed respectively in a central

control apparatus and a sensor and a solenoid valve unit of peripheral devices,

and the central controller having a bluetooth RF module is designated as a

master, and the sensor and the solenoid valve unit having a bluetooth RF

module is designated as a slave, so that a wireless connection and either-way

communication are achieved between the above elements, and there are

provided a piconet formed of a master and slaves, and a scatternet connecting

each piconet.

To achieve the above objects, there is provided an air pressure control

apparatus, comprising a sensor that includes a bluetooth RF module and

detects a displacement of an actuator; a central controller that includes a

bluetooth RF module and receives and computers the signal detected by the

sensor through a bluetooth RF module and outputs a control signal for

operating a solenoid valve; and a solenoid valve unit that includes a bluetooth

RF module and receives the control signal outputted by the central controller

through a bluetooth RF module and operates a solenoid valve in accordance

with the control signal, wherein a wireless connection and data transmitting and

receiving operation are performed based on each bluetooth RF module

between the sensor, the central controller and the solenoid valve unit for

thereby controlling the pressure of air. Brief Description of Drawings

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described

with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a block diagram of an air pressure control apparatus using a

bluetooth RF module according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view illustrating a wireless connection and data

transmitting and receiving method between a sensor and a central controller in

an air pressure control apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a view illustrating a solenoid valve unit of an air pressure

control apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a view illustrating a solenoid valve controller of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a view illustrating a wireless connection and data

transmitting and receiving method between a central controller (master) and a

peripheral (slave) in an air pressure controller according to the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The construction and operation of an air pressure control apparatus using a bluetooth RF module according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a block diagram of an air pressure control apparatus using a bluetooth RF module according to the present invention. The present invention comprises a sensor as a peripheral, a central controller as main apparatus and

a solenoid valve unit as a peripheral. The sensor 10 wherein it operates as a

slave includes a bluetooth RF module and detects a displacement of an

actuator. The central controller 20 (PLC or other control apparatus) wherein it

operates as a master includes a bluetooth RF module and receives and

computers the signal detected by the sensor through a bluetooth RF module

and outputs a control signal for operating a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve

unit 30 wherein it operates a slave includes a bluetooth RF module and

operates a solenoid valve in accordance with the control signal outputted by the

central controller.

At this time, one master (central controller 20) is connected with a

bluetooth wireless communication line in which a plurality of slaves (sensor 10

and solenoid valve unit 30) is constructed by a bluetooth RF module, and each

slave has an address allocated. As shown in Figure 1 , as a bluetooth wireless communication line is

constructed by a bluetooth RF module, a piconet may be formed of one master

and seven, in maximum, slaves. In addition, a scatternet connecting each

piconet may be achieved.

Namely, in the case that it is impossible to implement a piconet because

there are too many slaves for forming a network, the solenoid valve unit 30 is

programmed to have a master/slave function, so that the network is constructed based on a scatternet function capable of allocating slaves.

Figure 2 is a view of a wireless connection and a data transmitting and

receiving method between a sensor and a central controller of an air pressure

control apparatus according to the present invention. As shown therein, the

sensor 10 having a bluetooth RF module detects a displacement of an actuator,

and the detected signal is transmitted to the central controller 20 through the

bluetooth RF module.

Therefore, the central controller 20 receives a detection signal outputted

by the sensor through a bluetooth antenna 22 of a controller 21 actually having

a bluetooth RF module and transmits to the bluetooth RF module.

When the bluetooth RF module installed in the controller 21 transmits

the transmitted detection signal to a microprocessor (CPU) of the controller 21

based on the URAT or RS-232 communication method, the microprocessor

(CPU) processes and computes the transmitted detection signal as one data,

and a result is transmitted to the bluetooth RF module based on the URAT or

RS-232 method and is finally transmitted to the solenoid valve unit 30 through

the bluetooth antenna 32.

Figure 3 is a view illustrating a solenoid valve unit of an air pressure control apparatus according to the present invention. The solenoid valve unit 30 includes a solenoid valve controller 31 in which a bluetooth RF module is actually installed, and a solenoid valve 32 operated in accordance with a control signal of the solenoid valve controller 31.

Figure 4 is a view illustrating a solenoid valve controller 31 according to

the present invention. The solenoid valve controller 31 comprises a bluetooth

antenna 31-1 , an indication lamp 31-2, a power input terminal 31-3, an upper

side cover 31-4, a power output terminal 31-5, a rail groove 31-6, and a lower

side cover 31-7.

When the bluetooth RF module of the solenoid valve controller 31

receives a signal that is transmitted through the bluetooth RF module of the

central controller 20 through the bluetooth antenna 31-1 of the solenoid valve

controller 31 , the bluetooth RF module transmits the received signal to the

microprocessor (CPU) of the solenoid valve controller 31 based on the UART or

RS-232 method and transmits a response signal that the receiving of the signal

is completed to the central controller 20.

At this time, the indication lamp 31-2 indicates a wireless connection

state with the central controller 20.

The microprocessor (CPU) of the solenoid valve controller 31 computes

the received signal and outputs a solenoid valve control signal to the solenoid

valve 32 through the power output terminal 31-5.

The solenoid valve 32 operates in accordance with the solenoid valve

controller and controls the pressure of air.

Figure 5 is a view of a wireless connection and a data transmitting and receiving method between a central controller (master) and a peripheral (slave)

of an air pressure control apparatus according to the present invention. The

central controller 20 having a bluetooth RF module is designated as a master

(A), and the peripheral of the sensor 10 and the solenoid valve unit 30 each

having the bluetooth RF module are designated as a slave (B). The master (A)

and the slave (B) are connected based in a standby state like (a).

At this time, it should be checked whether the bluetooth RF module

installed in each main apparatus and peripheral can communicate the data so

that the master (A) starts the control program. Namely, the master (A) inquires the address to the slave (B) like (b) in

order to search the designated address of the slave (B) (sensor 10 or solenoid

valve unit 30), and the response is performed in the sequence of (c) inquiry

scan, (d) inquiry response, (e) page, (f) page scan, and (g) page response, so

that the address of a corresponding slave (B) is searched in the master (A). As the master (A) outputs a response confirmation of (h) response,

when the address of a corresponding slave (B) is searched, the wireless connection state like (i) is performed. If the address is not searched, or there is not such an address, it is processed as a connection failure. The address confirmation request process is repeatedly performed. When the address of a corresponding slave (B) is searched by the master (A), and the wireless connection state like (i) is performed, each bluetooth RF module installed in the central controller 20 (master), the sensor

10 (slave) and the solenoid valve unit 30 (slave) is connected based on the

wireless connection method, so that a wireless data transmitting and receiving

like (j) (transmit data) is performed between each main apparatus and a

peripheral through the bluetooth RF module.

Namely, when the connection state is achieved like (i), the

microprocessor (CPU) computes the data based on the control program stored

in the master (A), and a result of the computation is transmitted to the bluetooth

RF module based on the URAT or RS-232 method. Thereafter, when the

bluetooth RF module of the master (A) like (j) transmits a result of the

computation to the bluetooth RF module of a corresponding slave (B), the

bluetooth RF module transmits the result to the microprocessor (CPU) of a

corresponding slave (B) based on the URAT or RS-232 method, so that a

desired operation is performed in series.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the bluetooth RF module is installed in the central

controller of the air pressure control apparatus according to the present invention and is designated as a master, and then the bluetooth RF module is installed in the sensor and the solenoid valve unit that are the peripheral and is designated as a slave. Therefore, both either-way communication and a wireless data transmitting and receiving line are achieved between the central

controller and the peripheral using the bluetooth RF module.

Therefore, in the present invention, the installation space of the air

pressure control apparatus is not limited based on the construction of the

wireless data transmitting and receiving line, and the installation process is

simple without an additional wiring work. In addition, the installation time is

significantly decreased for thereby achieving a desired effect. In particular, a

piconet formed of the master and slaves is achieved, and a scatternet

connecting each piconet is achieved. Therefore, it is possible to easily achieve

the wireless network system, of the air pressure control apparatus.

In addition, since the air pressure control apparatus according to the

present invention uses the bluetooth RF module, it is possible to achieve a

wireless connection and data transmitting and receiving operation with another

apparatus having a bluetooth RF module. Therefore, an applicable range is

significantly increased.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without

departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds

are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. An air pressure control apparatus, comprising: a sensor that includes a bluetooth RF module and detects a

displacement of an actuator; a central controller that includes a bluetooth RF module and receives

and computers the signal detected by the sensor through a bluetooth RF

module and outputs a control signal for operating a solenoid valve; and a solenoid valve unit that includes a bluetooth RF module and receives

the control signal outputted by the central controller through a bluetooth RF

module and operates a solenoid valve in accordance with the control signal, wherein a wireless connection and data transmitting and receiving

operation are performed based on each bluetooth RF module between the

sensor, the central controller and the solenoid valve unit for thereby controlling

the pressure of air.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said central controller includes a

controller for receiving a signal detected by the sensor through a bluetooth RF

module, computing the same using a microprocessor (CPU) and outputting the

control signal for operating a solenoid valve.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a data transmitting and receiving operation between the bluetooth RF module of the central controller and the

microprocessor (CPU) is performed based on URAT or RS-232 communication

method.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said solenoid valve unit, comprising: a solenoid valve controller that receives a control signal outputted by

the central controller through the bluetooth RF module and outputs a solenoid

valve control signal in the microprocessor (CPU) in accordance with the control

signal; and a solenoid valve operated in accordance with the solenoid valve control

signal of the solenoid valve controller.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a data transmitting and receiving

operation between the bluetooth RF module of the solenoid valve controller of

the solenoid valve unit and the microprocessor (CPU) is performed based on

URAT or RS-232 communication method.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a central controller having a

bluetooth RF module is designated as a master, and a peripheral of a sensor

and a solenoid valve unit having a bluetooth RF module is designated as a slave, so that a wireless data transmitting and receiving is performed between the sensor, the central controller and the solenoid valve unit.

7. The apparatus of either claim 1 or claim 6, wherein as a bluetooth

wireless communication line is constructed based on the bluetooth RF module,

a piconet formed of the central controller (master), the sensor (slave), and the

solenoid valve unit (slave) is achieved.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a scatternet is achieved in such a

manner that said solenoid valve unit is programmed to have a master/slave

function for thereby connecting each piconet.