Multi-channel and multi-protocol data acquisition instrument

Abstract

The invention discloses a multi-channel and multi-protocol data acquisition instrument, which comprises a hardware layer and a software layer, and is characterized in that the hardware layer comprises a multi-type interface module, a processing module and a storage module which are connected in sequence, and the multi-type interface module is connected with data of a plurality of external geological monitoring devices for processing by the processing module; the processing module calls the data of the storage module or stores the processed monitoring information in the storage module; data of the software layer is stored in the storage module and called by the processing module for dynamic operation, and the software layer is provided with an automatic identification module and a dynamic address distribution module which serve as functional parts for loading operation, and a protocol library and an equipment feature library which serve as databases and are called; and the automatic identification module broadcasts and queries the geological monitoring equipment accessed to the multi-type interface module through a plurality of protocols to obtain corresponding feature information of the geological monitoring equipment. The method is suitable for collection and acquisition of temporary geological monitoring data, and can automatically identify and debug connection equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of data collection, and in particular relates to a multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument. Background Art

[0002] A data acquisition instrument is a general-purpose device used for centralized access, conversion, processing, and transmission of data from multiple types of devices. Its hardware typically includes a processing module, multiple types of interface modules, a storage module, a power management module, and a communication module. The interface module can integrate multiple interfaces such as 485, Ethernet, USB, and wireless. The storage module is used to store protocol data and acquisition results. The power management module supports wide-voltage input and low-power control. It can adapt to multiple data sources such as industrial equipment, sensors, and smart terminals to achieve unified conversion and integration of data from different protocols. In the field of geological monitoring, due to the diverse types of monitoring equipment, including inclinometers, rain gauges, piezometers, and other instruments, and the differences in communication protocols and interface types between different devices, as well as the need to meet the centralized data collection needs in outdoor temporary deployment scenarios, the data acquisition instrument has become the core device for integrating various types of geological monitoring data. Through unified access and processing, it provides basic data support for disaster warning.

[0003] Current data acquisition instruments used in geological monitoring still have significant limitations. Traditional devices have fixed interface types and limited protocol support. To meet the access requirements of different types of equipment in each temporary monitoring mission, manual configuration of parameters such as communication addresses and baud rates is required. Furthermore, in complex outdoor weather conditions, on-site debugging is susceptible to interference from rain and dust, which is not only time-consuming but can also lead to data collection interruptions due to configuration errors. Furthermore, geological monitoring equipment often suffers from inconsistent protocols and default address conflicts, further increasing the difficulty of manual debugging. This makes it difficult to meet the requirements of temporary monitoring missions for rapid deployment and efficient data collection, thus affecting the timeliness and accuracy of geological disaster warnings. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to solve the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument, which mainly solves the problem that the existing ordinary data acquisition instrument needs to be installed and debugged on-site each time according to the different equipment connected and is not suitable for the rapid sampling and feedback of multiple devices in the temporary geological monitoring process. Through the automatic identification module and the built-in protocol library, different devices can be quickly connected and identified and debugged.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in the present invention is: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument as a data carrier connecting a plurality of geological monitoring devices, comprising a hardware layer and a software layer, wherein: The hardware layer includes multiple interface modules, processing modules, and storage modules that are connected in sequence. The multiple interface modules connect to data from several external geological monitoring devices for processing by the processing modules. The processing modules call data from the storage modules or store the processed monitoring information in the storage modules. The data of the software layer is stored in the storage module and is called by the processing module for dynamic operation. The software layer has an automatic identification module and a dynamic address allocation module that are loaded and operated as functional parts, as well as a protocol library and a device feature library that are called as databases; the automatic identification module broadcasts queries on geological monitoring equipment connected to the multi-type interface modules using several protocols to obtain the corresponding feature information of the geological monitoring equipment, and the dynamic address allocation module reallocates addresses of several geological monitoring equipment with conflicting addresses that are connected in series on the same interface of the multi-type interface modules.

[0006] In combination with the first aspect, the present invention provides a first implementation method of the first aspect, wherein the protocol library includes a general device query broadcast instruction set, and the automatic identification module calls the query broadcast instruction broadcast in the device query broadcast instruction set that matches the interface type according to the interface type to obtain the identity frame information preset by the geological monitoring equipment. The identity frame includes a frame header, device type code, default address, protocol identifier, firmware version and CRC check code arranged in sequence.

[0007] In combination with the first aspect, the present invention provides a second implementation of the first aspect, wherein the protocol library includes one or more of the Modbus RTU protocol, the Modbus TCP protocol, the vibrating string sensor custom binary protocol, the inclinometer serial port protocol, the MQTT protocol, the RS232 ASCII text protocol, the CANopen protocol, the SEG-Y protocol, the LAS protocol, the HTTP / HTTPS protocol, and the LoRaWAN wireless protocol.

[0008] In combination with the first embodiment of the first aspect, the present invention provides a third embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the software layer also includes a communication parameter adaptation module. When several geological monitoring devices are connected, the communication parameter adaptation module sends several protocol trial instructions to the unmatched geological monitoring devices in sequence. The communication parameter adaptation module analyzes the reply frame characteristics to determine the communication parameters, and then the automatic identification module sends a query broadcast instruction.

[0009] In combination with the first aspect or several embodiments of the first aspect, the present invention provides a fourth embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the multi-type interface module includes one or more of a 232 interface, a 485 interface, an Ethernet interface, a USB interface, a fiber optic interface, and a CAN interface.

[0010] In combination with the first aspect or several embodiments of the first aspect, the present invention provides a fifth embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the hardware layer also includes a power management module and a communication module, wherein the hardware layer is distributed on at least two independent PCB boards connected by cables, wherein the processing module is an STM32 microcontroller, the storage module is an EEPROM memory chip, an SPI flash memory chip and a plug-in TF memory card, and the communication module adopts a 4G network module with a SIM card structure.

[0011] In combination with the fifth embodiment of the first aspect, the present invention provides a sixth embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the PCB board is overlapped and arranged in a housing of the data acquisition instrument, the housing has an opening for arranging the PCB board inwardly, the housing opening is covered with a cover plate for sealing, and the cover plate has a display screen connected to the PCB board; The multi-type interface module is a plurality of wiring ports arranged on one edge of the PCB board. The bottom of the housing has wiring ports corresponding to the wiring ports. The wiring harness of the external geological monitoring equipment enters the housing through the wiring ports and is connected to the wiring ports. The wiring port is covered with an interface waterproof cover, and a gap is provided in the middle of the interface waterproof cover. The connected wiring harness passes through the housing through the gap and is sealed by the inner wall of the gap fitting against the surface of the wiring harness.

[0012] In combination with the sixth embodiment of the first aspect, the present invention provides a seventh embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the power management module also includes a solar charging management unit, a solar panel connected to the solar charging management unit is provided on the outside of the shell, and a battery connected to the power management module is also provided inside the shell.

[0013] In combination with the seventh implementation of the first aspect, the present invention provides an eighth implementation of the first aspect, wherein an antenna is movably connected to the outside of the shell, and the antenna is connected to the PCB board in the shell through a coaxial line.

[0014] In conjunction with the eighth embodiment of the first aspect, the present invention provides a ninth embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the solar panels include three panels that are hingedly connected to each other and folded, and a panel rotation axis is provided on one edge of the middle solar panel, which is hingedly connected to an axis seat provided on the housing; The antenna includes a main antenna arranged on the edge of the central solar panel with the panel rotation axis, and side antennas arranged on the edges of the two solar panels on both sides. When the three solar panels are fully unfolded to form the same plane, the side antennas on both sides are snap-connected to the main antenna to form a straight rod-shaped structure. A feeder wire connected to the PCB board in the shell is provided in the middle of the main antenna, and the feeder wire is located in the shaft seat; The antenna further comprises branch antennas arranged on two sides of the middle solar panel that are perpendicular to the main antenna.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the present invention are: (1) The present invention supports multiple types of interfaces and protocols, can adapt to different manufacturers and different types of geological monitoring equipment, has strong compatibility, and can meet the needs of flexible equipment access in temporary monitoring tasks; (2) The present invention has the functions of automatic device identification, dynamic address allocation and communication parameter adaptation, which does not require manual configuration, greatly reduces on-site debugging time, improves deployment efficiency, and is particularly suitable for rapid deployment in harsh outdoor environments; (3) In the specific solution of the present invention, the data acquisition instrument has strong data acquisition and transmission capabilities, integrates multiple interfaces such as RS485, RS232, Ethernet, supports mainstream protocols such as Modbus and NMEA, is compatible with multiple types of monitoring equipment such as crack meters, inclinometers, GNSS receivers, etc., and realizes multi-parameter synchronous acquisition; equipped with a 4G mobile communication module, supports local storage and remote real-time reporting, ensures that data is not lost when communication is interrupted, and automatically retransmitted after recovery; (4) In the present invention, the solar panels and antennas are integrated according to the actual outdoor needs, thereby forming an integrated special structure, which can adjust the direction of the solar panels according to the angle of sunlight. At the same time, due to the insulation characteristics of the solar panels themselves, an antenna structure is set in the gap between them, and when unfolded, a wide-beam weakly directional antenna structure with a high gain effect for outdoor 4G cellular networks is formed, especially adapted to the frequency and coverage mode of the 4G cellular network, utilizing the characteristics of the vertical polarization of the existing base station and combining the situation of the oblique setting of the solar panels to improve its integrity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 1 is a hardware layer architecture diagram of a multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 1 is a software layer architecture diagram of a multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 1 is a flow chart of an automatic device identification process performed by a multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a first isometric diagram of an implementation of a multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 It is a top view of an implementation of a multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a second isometric diagram of an implementation of a multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7is a third isometric diagram of an implementation of a multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a fourth isometric diagram of an implementation of a multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a design diagram of the top PCB board in a multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a design diagram of the bottom PCB board in the multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] In the figure: 1- shell, 2- cover, 3- display screen, 4- panel shaft, 5- solar panel, 6- shaft seat, 7- pin fixing seat, 8- branch antenna, 9- side antenna, 10- main antenna, 11- base, 12- interface waterproof cover. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The present invention will be further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present application more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the present application described and shown in the drawings herein can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0020] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the present application for protection, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present application. All other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments in the present application without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0021] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following drawings, and therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further defined or explained in subsequent drawings.

[0022] In the description of this application, it should be noted that if the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc. appear, the orientation or position relationship indicated is based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or position relationship in which the product of the application is usually placed when in use. It is only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, it cannot be understood as a limitation on this application. In addition, if the terms "first", "second", etc. appear in the description of this application, they are only used to distinguish the description and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0023] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "horizontal" and "vertical" in the description of this application does not necessarily imply that a component must be absolutely horizontal or suspended, but rather that it can be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" simply means that its direction is more horizontal than "vertical" and does not mean that the structure must be completely horizontal, but rather that it can be slightly tilted.

[0024] It should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "disposed," "installed," "connected," and "connected" should be understood broadly. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and internal connections between two components. A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0025] Example 1: This embodiment discloses a multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument, which is mainly used in the data acquisition work of geological monitoring equipment. The specific usage scenario is to temporarily conduct real-time monitoring of the geological layer structure in a specific area in multiple ways, and collect data through a data acquisition instrument corresponding to multiple geological monitoring equipment, and store or send several data after the synchronization time to a remote end, so as to judge whether a disaster has occurred or is likely to occur in the geological layer structure of the area based on these synchronized data.

[0026] It is worth noting that the data acquisition instrument in this embodiment is different from the existing equipment. It is a data acquisition instrument that needs to be temporarily arranged to meet the needs of short-term and high-frequency data acquisition. For example, in an area where special meteorological weather may occur, it is necessary to determine the areas in the area where geological disasters frequently occur or areas where safety hazards exist, and use rainfall as a reference indicator for starting the monitoring mechanism. Once the rainfall exceeds the set threshold, it is necessary to conduct temporary monitoring of areas in the area where there may be geological disaster risks to obtain data for analysis. This temporary task will select the type and quantity of geological monitoring equipment to be carried according to the terrain conditions, and determine the time period required for monitoring, so as to determine the data acquisition instrument and other equipment that need to be carried.

[0027] In this application scenario, the demand for data acquisition instruments is different from that of the existing technology. It is not a fixed setting scenario, but is sudden, and the number and model of connected devices are not fixed. The outdoor setting scenario is complex and there are many deployment areas. A single monitoring task may require the rapid establishment of a monitoring network for different regions. Therefore, this application provides a specially designed data acquisition instrument for this purpose.

[0028] Specifically, this embodiment provides a multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument, including a shell 1 and a PCB board arranged in the shell 1. The shell 1 has a plurality of openings for exposing the wiring terminals of multiple specifications of wiring ports provided on the PCB board, so as to facilitate the connection of various types of external geological monitoring equipment for data collection.

[0029] Further, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The data acquisition instrument is mainly divided into a hardware layer and a software layer. The hardware layer is an electronic component set on a PCB board, and is defined in a modular manner to include multiple types of interface modules, processing modules and storage modules connected in sequence. The multiple types of interface modules are connected to several external geological monitoring equipment data for processing by the processing module. The processing module calls the storage module data or stores the processed monitoring information in the storage module.

[0030] The software layer stores data in the storage module and is called by the processing module for dynamic operation. The software layer has an automatic identification module and a dynamic address allocation module that are loaded and operated as functional parts, as well as a protocol library and a device feature library that are called as databases. The automatic identification module broadcasts queries on geological monitoring equipment connected to the multi-type interface module using several protocols to obtain corresponding feature information of the geological monitoring equipment, and the dynamic address allocation module reallocates addresses of several geological monitoring equipment with conflicting addresses that are connected in series on the same interface of the multi-type interface module.

[0031] The protocol library includes a general device query broadcast instruction set. The automatic identification module calls the query broadcast instruction set of the device query broadcast instruction set that matches the interface type according to the interface type to obtain the preset identity frame information of the geological monitoring device. The identity frame includes a frame header, device type code, default address, protocol identifier, firmware version, and CRC checksum arranged in sequence. For example: Frame header|Device type|Code default address|Protocol identifier|Firmware version|CRC check 0xAA|0x0103 (inclinometer)|0x01|0x02 (Modbus RTU)|0x0205 (V2.05)|0x1234 The software layer also includes a communication parameter adaptation module. When several geological monitoring devices are connected, the communication parameter adaptation module sends several protocol trial instructions to the unmatched geological monitoring devices in sequence. The communication parameter adaptation module analyzes the reply frame characteristics to determine the communication parameters, and then the automatic identification module sends a query broadcast instruction.

[0032] The data acquisition instrument in this embodiment relies on the automatic identification module and dynamic address allocation module in the software layer to realize the identification and address allocation of several geological monitoring devices connected to the data acquisition instrument. For a temporary short-term geological condition monitoring task, multiple types of geological monitoring equipment are carried, and each geological monitoring equipment has a signal port. When arranging, different types of geological monitoring equipment are arranged at corresponding positions on the site, and the signal port is connected to the connection port of the data acquisition instrument through a wiring harness. Among them, the geological monitoring equipment used in a single task includes different types, and the number of each type varies. The geological monitoring equipment of the same type is mostly connected in series, with the maximum number of connections that can be satisfied by a single interface of the data acquisition instrument as the upper limit, and is connected in series to the same connection port of the data acquisition instrument.

[0033] The device feature library and protocol library of the data acquisition instrument in this embodiment will preset the information of the geological monitoring equipment corresponding to all the equipment libraries. Therefore, each data acquisition instrument can identify any device in the equipment library, and only needs to rely on the automatic identification module to start self-test after connecting all the devices.

[0034] The process of automatic identification and automatic debugging is as follows: First, make sure all geological monitoring equipment is connected to the data acquisition instrument through a wire harness. The wireless device completes the initial connection through a pre-configured wireless protocol, and the automatic identification module performs the same authentication process as the wired device. Then turn on the data acquisition instrument, and the processing module of the data acquisition instrument will start self-test. After determining the wiring port where the device is connected, it will send out a trial instruction using the communication protocol that matches the corresponding wiring port, and determine the communication parameters based on the response frame characteristics of each wiring harness, such as the frame length, starting byte, etc.

[0035] After determining the communication parameters, the query frame is broadcast to all devices connected to the wiring ports. The corresponding feature information of the geological monitoring equipment is obtained based on the reply data. The corresponding device model is matched in the device feature library based on the feature information. Then, the mapping table of the physical device ID-assigned address-device type of all connected devices is stored in the storage module in a locally saved form.

[0036] Finally, automatic debugging is performed based on the mapping table information. The processing module sends self-test instructions to each device, including battery voltage query, clock calibration, and sensor calibration values, to determine the device's operating status. Default collection parameters are then automatically issued to each device based on the device type. After collecting initial data three times, the data in the device signature database is used to verify that the values ​​are within a reasonable range, filtering out abnormal devices.

[0037] After the automatic debugging is completed, the data logger generates a device access summary report, which includes the total number of connected devices, the type and ID of each device, the assigned communication address, the protocol type used, the communication parameters, the device status and the initialization result. The report is stored in the local storage module and sent to the remote platform through the communication module, so that users can quickly understand the device access status.

[0038] Furthermore, the protocol library of the data acquisition instrument in this embodiment includes one or more of ModbusRTU protocol, ModbusTCP protocol, vibrating string sensor custom binary protocol, inclinometer serial port protocol, MQTT protocol, RS232ASCII text protocol, CANopen protocol, SEG-Y protocol, LAS protocol, HTTP / HTTPS protocol, and LoRaWAN wireless protocol.

[0039] The multi-type interface module includes one or more of a 232 interface, a 485 interface, an Ethernet interface, a USB interface, a fiber optic interface, and a CAN interface. The data acquisition instrument in this embodiment is primarily targeted at geological monitoring equipment, which often uses 485 communication for data transmission. The data acquisition instrument is equipped with several independent 485 interfaces, each of which can connect to 32 identical devices in series.

[0040] As an embodiment, referring to Figure 3 In this embodiment, several geological monitoring devices of the same type connected by a 485 bus are used for illustration.

[0041] Under the 485 bus architecture, the core of the data logger's automatic device identification, address configuration, and debugging control lies in solving the three major issues of device identification, address conflict avoidance, and communication parameter adaptation through standardized device discovery protocols, dynamic address allocation mechanisms, and protocol feature matching. To meet the needs of mixed connection of multiple types of devices and short-term deployment in outdoor temporary monitoring scenarios, the specific implementation plan is as follows: The 485 bus adopts a one-master-multiple-slave architecture, with the data logger as the master device. Automatic debugging is completed through a four-step process of broadcast query - device response - feature analysis - configuration validation.

[0042] First, the data logger starts up, initializes the 485 bus, and adjusts the baud rate adaptively. Then, it sends a broadcast query frame.

[0043] If the device does not respond, it retransmits after a three-second interval. If the device responds, the device reply frame is parsed based on the information returned, extracting the device type, default address, and protocol identifier. A default address conflict is detected. If a conflict is detected, the dynamic address allocation module automatically assigns a new address and sends an address change instruction. The device confirms the new address and sends a response frame. The device information, including the device type, address, and protocol information, is then recorded.

[0044] Among them, the data logger pre-allocates the 485 bus address pool, for example, 0x01-0xF0, with a total of 240 available addresses, which are partitioned by device type, such as 0x01-0x30 allocated to inclinometers and 0x31-0x60 allocated to rain gauges, to avoid cross-type address conflicts.

[0045] At this point, the processing module loads the corresponding protocol plug-in and sends standard test commands to check whether communication is normal. If communication is normal, the device is added to the device list and timed data collection is started. If communication is abnormal, the fault information is decoded and recorded in the fault log. After the address is changed, communication must be verified with the new address to prevent the device from losing connection due to a failed change.

[0046] In the above method, if there are devices of the same type connected to the same 485 interface in series, the key is to resolve the contradiction between default address conflicts and automated conflict handling. In actual scenarios, the setting of the device's initial address, the conflict detection mechanism, and whether to preset the address need to be comprehensively designed based on the device characteristics and usage scenarios. The following details the device's initial address characteristics, conflict handling solution, and preset address strategy from three dimensions: It is worth mentioning that there are two main reasons for the conflict: The first type is devices of the same model from the same manufacturer. The factory default address is usually uniform, such as 0x01 or 0x00. This simplifies factory testing and initial user configuration. For example, Genan Industrial's VWP piezometers all have a default address of 0x01, and Xiangxin Measurement & Control's inclinometers all have a default address of 0x02.

[0047] Another reason is that different manufacturers have no unified standard for defining 485 addresses. Even the default addresses of different batches of devices from the same manufacturer may be the same. For example, to reduce production complexity, 0x01 is fixed.

[0048] Therefore, when devices of the same type are connected in series to the same 485 interface, it is very likely that multiple devices will use the same address in the initial state, resulting in multiple devices responding at the same time when the data collector broadcasts a query, causing confusion in the bus data.

[0049] For address conflicts of the same type of devices connected in series with the same interface, there is no need to rely on manual disconnection and debugging. The data logger can automatically resolve the problem through a closed-loop process of conflict detection, dynamic allocation, and confirmation of effectiveness. The specific methods are as follows: After the data logger sends a broadcast query frame, it determines whether there is an address conflict based on the number and content of responses. This process involves checking the number of responses: the data logger sends a unicast query command to a specific address. If it receives two or more different response frames containing a unique device identifier, it determines that there is a conflict between multiple devices at that address. It also includes checking the characteristics of the response content. If a device lacks a unique serial number, subtle differences in the response frames can be used to distinguish it. For example, if two inclinometers both have the address 0x01 but the firmware versions in their response frames are V2.0 and V3.0, respectively, they can be identified as different devices.

[0050] After detecting an address conflict, the data logger assigns a unique address to each device by waking up and configuring each device individually.

[0051] In some implementations, the data acquisition device detects two devices at address 0x01 and sends a global sleep command, silencing all devices. It then sends a wakeup command at address 0x01, activating only the device originally at address 0x01. A configuration command using temporary addresses 0xF1-0xFF is sent to the activated device. The device responds with an acknowledgment, communicating using the temporary addresses 0xF1-0xFF, recording the device's unique identifier, assigning a new address, 0x02, and sending the configuration command. This process is repeated, assigning a new address, such as 0x03, to the next awakened device, completing the automatic allocation process.

[0052] It should be noted that because the wake-up command at address 0x01 is sent, both devices at the original address 0x01 are activated. However, the 485 bus only allows one device to send data at the same time. The two devices will have a microsecond transmission time difference due to hardware response delay.

[0053] After waking up, the data collector immediately sends a unique identification query command, such as requesting the device serial number. The first device will respond with a frame containing the unique identification first. After receiving the frame, the collector immediately sends a temporary address 0xF1-0xFF configuration command to the device and attaches its unique identification as verification. After the device switches to 0xF0, it responds with a confirmation frame. The collector uses the temporary address 0xF1-0xFF to communicate again to confirm, completing the address configuration of the first device.

[0054] Subsequently, the data collector sends a unique identification query command to the original address 0x01 again. At this time, only the second unconfigured device responds and replies with a unique identification. The data collector assigns it a temporary address 0xF1-0xFF according to the same logic, and finally completes the configuration of the new address 0x03.

[0055] Through unique identification binding and timing isolation, the two devices with the original address 0x01 are distinguished and configured one by one to avoid conflicts caused by simultaneous responses. The core is to use the half-duplex characteristics of the 485 bus and the unique identification of the device to achieve one-to-one configuration.

[0056] In this method, the global sleep command is an address-independent sleep command supported by the device, ensuring that other devices other than the conflicting device do not interfere. The temporary address transition avoids communication interruptions caused by directly modifying the original address. After completing the configuration using the temporary address, the switch is switched to the official address.

[0057] The newly assigned address must be written to the device's non-volatile storage, such as EEPROM, to ensure that the device retains the new address after a power cycle, preventing repeated conflicts. When the data logger sends an address configuration command, it appends a persistence flag. Upon receipt, the device stores the new address in EEPROM and responds with a confirmation frame indicating successful storage. If the device does not support address persistence, the logger must locally store a mapping table between the device's unique identifier and the temporary address, reassigning the same address each time it is powered on.

[0058] Furthermore, in order to improve the allocation and recognition efficiency, this embodiment also performs preliminary settings for the device library and the data acquisition instrument.

[0059] Users organize existing geological monitoring equipment and create a device database. When purchasing new equipment, they assign unique addresses to each device using the manufacturer's configuration software. This creates a mapping table between device model and address segment to avoid address overlap across different types. This approach is ideal for quick startup during temporary deployments and reduces energy consumption for data collectors.

[0060] If the device sources are complex, such as those from multiple manufacturers, leased equipment, or older devices, pre-set addresses are difficult to implement and the data collector's automatic allocation mechanism must be relied upon. For devices with fixed addresses, the data collector locally establishes a mapping table between fixed addresses and device unique identifiers, distinguishing them by unique identifiers. For example, two devices with the same address of 0x01 can be distinguished by serial numbers SN123 and SN456, respectively. The unique identifier is then added to the filter during polling.

[0061] For devices that don't support address modification, time-division multiplexing (TDM) communication is used. Devices with the same address send data in shifts, based on time slots. For example, device A sends between 0 and 500 ms, and device B sends between 500 ms and 1 second. The data collector receives data based on these time windows. For complex device deployments, a combination of the two approaches—preset and automatic identification—is used.

[0062] Furthermore, this embodiment provides an implementation method for the specific configuration of the hardware layer.

[0063] Among them, the data acquisition instrument includes a hardware layer and a software layer. The hardware layer includes a processing module, a multi-type interface module, a storage module, a power management module and a communication module.

[0064] The processing module uses an STM32F407VGT6 microprocessor, the multi-type interface module includes at least two 485 interfaces, one Ethernet interface, two USB interfaces and one LoRa wireless interface, the storage module contains 128MB of SPIFlash and a 64GB TF card, the power management module supports wide voltage input (9-36V) and integrates a solar charging management unit, and the communication module integrates a Beidou timing module and a 4GCat.1 module.

[0065] The software layer includes a protocol library, a device feature library, an automatic identification module, a dynamic address allocation module, a communication parameter adaptation module and an edge processing module. The protocol library stores 12 protocol plug-ins such as ModbusRTU / TCP and custom binary and corresponding parsing functions. The device feature library pre-stores the type code, default address, protocol identifier and instruction set of geological monitoring equipment. The automatic identification module is used to execute the device identity confirmation process. The dynamic address allocation module is used to detect and handle address conflicts. The communication parameter adaptation module is used to match parameters such as baud rate and check bit. The edge processing module is used for local data verification and correlation analysis.

[0066] The edge processing module algorithm adopted by the edge processing module uses the sliding window mean method to perform data verification and realizes local early warning through the rainfall-displacement correlation model.

[0067] Among them, after the data acquisition instrument is powered on, it first initializes each interface module and loads the protocol library and device feature library, and sends a broadcast query frame to the access device through the 485 interface, Ethernet interface and USB interface. The broadcast query frame contains the acquisition instrument ID, UTC timestamp and check code; the identity frame returned by the receiving device contains the frame header, device type code, default address, protocol identifier, firmware version and CRC check.

[0068] The automatic identification module extracts the identity frame information and matches it with the device feature library, determines the device type and corresponding protocol, and loads the corresponding plug-in from the protocol library; for 485 bus devices, the dynamic address allocation module sends a unicast query command to detect address conflicts. If a conflict exists, it sends a global sleep command to silence all devices, and then sends a wake-up command to the conflicting device. It allocates temporary addresses in turn to record the unique identification of the device, and allocates a new address based on the preset address pool (0x01-0xF0) and writes it into the device EEPROM.

[0069] The communication parameter adaptation module sends multi-protocol probe commands to unmatched devices in sequence, analyzes the reply frame characteristics (frame length, start byte) to determine the communication parameters; after completing identification and configuration, it automatically sends self-test commands to each device, collects initial data three times to verify rationality, adds normal devices to the monitoring list and starts data collection at the default frequency, and records abnormal devices in the fault log.

[0070] For example, for temporary monitoring of landslides after rain, the deployment time is 7 days. The connected devices include three XXCK-CXY inclinometers (485 interface, default address 0x01), two RS-YL-PL-2 rain gauges (485 interface, default address 0x02), and one EN300-GNA tilt sensor (Ethernet interface).

[0071] The data collector is equipped with one 485 interface for serial connection between the inclinometer and rain gauge, and one Ethernet interface for connection to the tilt sensor. After the dynamic address allocation module detects a conflict in the inclinometer address, it assigns new addresses 0x03, 0x04, and 0x05 and the rain gauge addresses 0x06 and 0x07 in sequence. Device identification and configuration takes 28 seconds. Using a 10W flexible solar panel, the collector has an average power consumption of 1.2W, and an average daily sunlight of 4 hours can meet the battery life. During the monitoring period, displacement acceleration data after three rainfall events were successfully captured.

[0072] Reference Figure 9 and Figure 10 , which shows the circuit design of the two PCB boards integrated in the hardware layer of this embodiment.

[0073] The PCBs are equipped with a large number of capacitors of varying values, such as 100nF, 1uF, and 10uF, distributed across both boards. Capacitors are primarily used for power filtering and decoupling, ensuring a stable, clean power supply to various chips and circuit modules. For example, 100nF capacitors are typically used to filter high-frequency noise, while larger capacitors like 10uF can be used for low-frequency filtering and energy storage to mitigate transient power fluctuations.

[0074] Power conversion chips such as the ME6211C33M5G-N low-voltage dropout linear regulator and DC-DC, 12-5DC-DC converter are also provided, which are responsible for converting the input voltage into the stable voltage required by different modules.

[0075] The PCB board is also equipped with fuse protection, such as RUEF135 (F1), SMD1812-260C-24V (F2, F3), etc., which are used to cut off the circuit when an abnormal situation such as overcurrent occurs in the circuit, protect other components from damage, and improve the reliability and safety of the entire data collector.

[0076] The wiring ports feature serial communication interfaces, including the SP485EEN-L / TR and SP3232EEN chips for RS485 and RS232 serial communications, respectively. A variety of connectors, such as the DB2ERC-3.81 series (CN2, CN3, CN5, CN7, etc.), PM2.54-YP1D-12A (CN10), and WJ15EDGVC-3.81-4P (CN11-CN18), are used to connect external devices such as sensors and other circuit boards.

[0077] The storage chips specifically include T24C256C-SSHL-T (U26), which is an EEPROM storage chip that can be used to store some configuration information, calibration data, etc.; W25Q64JVSSIQ (U39) is an SPI flash memory chip that may be used to store collected data, providing a certain degree of local data storage capability to prevent data loss during communication interruptions.

[0078] The main controller uses STM32F407VGT6, which has strong computing and processing capabilities. It can serve as the main controller of the data acquisition instrument, responsible for controlling the operation of each module, data collection, processing and storage, as well as communication and coordination with external devices.

[0079] At the same time, there are LED indicator lights on the outside, including multiple LEDs of different colors, such as XL-1608SURC-06 (LED1), NCD0603R1 (LED3, LED4), XL-1608UGC-04 (LED10, LED11, LED12), etc., which can be used to indicate the working status of the collector, such as power status, communication status, data collection status, etc., so that users can intuitively understand the operation status of the equipment.

[0080] The OLED display 3 is a 28×128 (U20) display 3, which can be used to display more detailed data information and device status, such as collected data values, device parameter settings, etc., providing a more friendly human-computer interaction interface.

[0081] The PCB also houses a real-time clock chip, the DS1302Z (U28), which provides accurate time information and precisely timestamps collected data, facilitating subsequent time series analysis and understanding the chronological order and trends of data changes. A 32.768kHz (X1) and 8MHz (X2) crystal oscillator provide a stable clock signal for the chip, ensuring synchronized and stable operation of all circuit modules.

[0082] Furthermore, this embodiment also optimizes and limits the entire external structure of the data acquisition instrument.

[0083] Reference Figure 4-Figure 8 The data logger consists of a metal housing 1 with a built-in cushion to insulate and secure a two-layer PCB. One side of the housing has an opening, through which the PCB, battery, and cables are placed. A cover 2, secured with bolts, seals the opening. A rubber gasket is placed around the edge of the opening to provide a degree of sealing.

[0084] The connection ports of the PCB boards are all arranged on the same side. A number of connection ports can be arranged on both PCB boards to facilitate the entry of wires on one side of the housing 1 .

[0085] Reference Figure 8 Several openings are provided at the bottom of the housing 1 to allow access to the internal PCB board's wiring ports. In this embodiment, the wiring ports primarily utilize a terminal structure compatible with 485 bus specifications, and external connectors utilize a flat cable insertion method. Several waterproof connector covers 12 are located at the bottom of the housing 1 to seal the openings.

[0086] In this application, the interface waterproof cover 12 is a rectangular rubber structure with an outer ring structure that wraps around the edge of each opening to achieve a sealed and fixed connection. The interface waterproof cover 12 is used to provide good waterproof and dustproof performance when the opening is not connected to the external wiring harness. It has a cutout slit in the middle. Once wiring is required, the slit is opened and the wiring harness is passed through and connected to the internal wiring port. Due to the rubber material characteristics of the interface waterproof cover 12, the slit completely encloses the passing wiring harness, which means that a good sealing effect can be achieved while ensuring the insertion of wires.

[0087] Furthermore, the data collector in this embodiment requires a temporary outdoor setup and is typically secured to the ground using pins. Two pin holders 7 are located on either side of the housing 1. By inserting pins of a certain length through the pin holders 7 and into the ground, the data collector can be secured to the ground at a certain distance. An annular base 11 is also located at the bottom of the housing 1. Made of hard plastic, the base 11 offers excellent scratch and wear resistance, protecting the lower opening.

[0088] Although the data acquisition instrument in this embodiment is deployed for a short period of time, the 4G communication method used requires real-time data transmission and reception. Therefore, a solar charge and discharge control module is provided as a power supply module, and the solar panel provided outside the shell 1 is used to charge the battery during the day.

[0089] Preferably, in this embodiment, the characteristics of the solar panel 5 are combined with the antenna structure. While ensuring that the solar panel 5 has a sufficient area for function, it can also adapt to the antenna arrangement of the 4G communication frequency and has better integrity.

[0090] Specifically, refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 In this embodiment, the housing 1 has a display screen 3 mounted on the front cover 2, with operating buttons (not shown) located below. The rear of the housing 1 is rotatably connected to a deployable solar panel 5 structure. Specifically, the structure comprises three solar panels 5 of equal size, hinged in pairs to form a three-fold storage arrangement. When deployed, they form a uniform planar structure, as shown in the figure.

[0091] Among them, the middle solar panel 5 serves as the main force-bearing structure, and a metal strip structure is set on its top and two side edges as a fixed frame. The metal strip on the top is the main antenna 10, and the ones on both sides are branch antennas 8.

[0092] In some embodiments, the solar panel 5 is completely wrapped around to form a metal frame, which is used as an antenna and fed from one side. This antenna has a good gain effect, but its directionality is average, which conflicts with the need for the solar panel 5 itself to be placed horizontally or diagonally.

[0093] The main antenna 10 also features a polymer plate shaft 4, which rotates with the shaft seat 6 located at the top of the housing 1. A circular damping structure at the rotational connection provides a certain degree of rotational limit. A feed port is located in the center of the main antenna 10, which is connected to the PCB via a feed line that penetrates the shaft seat 6. Two branch antennas 8 are perpendicular to the main antenna 10 and are electrically connected. After being fed from the center of the main antenna 10, they extend toward the branch antennas 8, forming an open metal strip array antenna. Radiation is generated through the current distribution of the metal strips, and the open structure is more suitable for the broadband characteristics of 4G signals.

[0094] In order to enhance the antenna gain effect, a metal strip is also provided at the top edge of the solar panels 5 on both sides, serving as the side antenna 9 structure. The length and specifications are the same as those of the main antenna 10. After unfolding, the side antenna 9 is conductively connected to the main antenna 10 through a retractable metal tube, or is hinged to the main antenna 10 through a hinged axis.

[0095] Because the three solar panels 5 remain horizontal when deployed, the side antennas 9 and main antenna 10 form an elongated straight metal strip, serving as the backbone of the entire antenna. This long, branching structure, similar to the backbone and the two branch antennas 8, is a non-enclosed frame with no enclosed area. The center is filled with insulating solar panels 5, which do not conduct electricity but serve only as mechanical support.

[0096] This structure is essentially a deformation of the multi-branch monopole antenna. The main metal strip is the main radiation unit, and the branch antenna 8 acts as a parasitic unit to adjust the current distribution through electromagnetic coupling, widen the bandwidth or optimize the radiation pattern, which is very suitable for the wide frequency band 800-2600MHz requirements of 4G.

[0097] This embodiment uses 4G communication. The core requirements for a 4G antenna are that it can generate a standing current wave in the target frequency band of 800-2600 MHz, and that its radiation pattern covers the multipath of the base station signal. The wavelength range of the 4G band is 11cm-37cm. The antenna structure dimensions are 50cm for the trunk and 10-20cm for the branches, which are in reasonable proportion to the wavelength.

[0098] Specifically, at 800MHz and a wavelength of 37cm, the length is approximately 1.35λ; at 1800MHz and a wavelength of 16.7cm, the length is approximately 3λ; and at 2600MHz, the length is approximately 4.35λ. This multi-wavelength length creates multiple resonance points, covering the full 4G frequency band. The current standing wave modes corresponding to different wavelengths are used to match the low, medium, and high frequency bands.

[0099] The length of the branch antenna 8 is 0.27-0.54λ at 800MHz and 0.87-1.74λ at 2600MHz. It can be used as a tuning branch to compensate for the impedance mismatch in different frequency bands through electromagnetic coupling with the trunk, thereby avoiding the problem of a single resonance point being too narrow.

[0100] This open structure of a long trunk and branch antennas 8 produces a wide, weakly directional radiation pattern. The current in the trunk metal strips is primarily distributed along its length, concentrating the radiated energy in a plane perpendicular to the trunk. The branch antennas 8 break the symmetry of the trunk, distributing energy both horizontally and diagonally, broadening the sidelobes. This setup eliminates the need for strict alignment with the base station, perfectly aligning with the multipath propagation characteristics of 4G signals, which rely on reflection and scattering. This makes it particularly well-suited for the complex environments of field data collection.

[0101] Solar panel 5, made of silicon-based cells and glass-encapsulated insulating material, has no conductive connection to the metal strips. Instead, it is connected to the power supply module on the PCB via an insulating wiring harness, thus neither absorbing nor shielding electromagnetic waves. The metal strips are completely exposed to the air, ensuring an unobstructed radiation path.

[0102] To demonstrate the antenna's gain, simulation tests were conducted using a 50cm trunk and 815cm branch antenna configuration. In simulations conducted in the 4G mid- and high-frequency bands (1800-2600MHz), the gain was approximately 3-5dBi. In the low-frequency band (800-1000MHz), the gain was slightly higher, approximately 4-6dBi, due to the longer wavelength. While this gain level is lower than the 6-10dBi achieved with previous frame antennas, it is significantly higher than internal patch antennas. Furthermore, 4G data loggers require lower data rates, requiring only a signal strength below -110dBm for stable communication. This external antenna's gain fully meets this requirement, exceeding the internal antenna by 3-5dB, meaning the signal coverage distance can be increased by over 50%.

[0103] The feeding point is set at the midpoint of the trunk, or at the connection between the two branch antennas 8 and the main antenna 10. One end is connected to the signal line and the other end is grounded through the shell 1. The impedance is adjusted by the coupling effect of the vertical branch.

[0104] Simulations show that by optimizing the vertical branch length and feed point position, the VSWR can be controlled within 1.5-2.0 in the 800-2600MHz frequency band. A standing wave ratio of ≤2 is the qualified standard for 4G antennas, ensuring signal reflection loss of <1dB.

[0105] In this setup, the connection between the three folded metal strips only needs to ensure single-point conductive contact, such as a metal shaft and spring contact, allowing current to flow continuously along the main trunk. A frame structure, on the other hand, requires conductivity along the entire closed edge, which is more challenging. This structure offers improved mechanical and electrical compatibility and reduces the risk of signal interruption during folding and unfolding.

[0106] The metal strips are linear rather than planar structures, and the overlapping area with the solar panels 5 is small, only the width of the metal strips themselves, usually 1-2 cm. The solar panels 5 can be laid in a large area between the metal strips, and the loss of photoelectric conversion efficiency is less than 3%.

[0107] When unfolded, the solar panel 5 is usually tilted 30° toward the south. At this time, the main metal bar forms an angle of 30°-60° with the ground, and the vertical branches naturally spread out to both sides. The wide beam pattern of the antenna can still cover the base station signal in the horizontal direction, with the main lobe facing diagonally upward and the side lobes covering the horizontal direction, without the need for additional posture adjustment.

[0108] The present invention is not limited to the above optional embodiments. Anyone can derive various other forms of products based on the teachings of the present invention. The above specific embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be based on the scope defined in the claims, and the description can be used to interpret the claims.

Claims

1. A multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument, characterized by: It includes hardware layer and software layer, including: The hardware layer includes multiple interface modules, processing modules, and storage modules that are connected in sequence. The multiple interface modules connect to data from several external geological monitoring devices for processing by the processing modules. The processing modules call data from the storage modules or store the processed monitoring information in the storage modules. The data of the software layer is stored in the storage module and is called by the processing module for dynamic operation. The software layer has an automatic identification module and a dynamic address allocation module that are loaded and operated as functional parts, as well as a protocol library and a device feature library that are called as databases; the automatic identification module broadcasts queries on geological monitoring equipment connected to the multi-type interface modules using several protocols to obtain the corresponding feature information of the geological monitoring equipment, and the dynamic address allocation module reallocates addresses of several geological monitoring equipment with conflicting addresses that are connected in series on the same interface of the multi-type interface modules.

2. The multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that: The protocol library includes a general device query broadcast instruction set. The automatic identification module calls the query broadcast instruction in the device query broadcast instruction set that matches the interface type according to the interface type to broadcast and obtain the preset identity frame information of the geological monitoring equipment. The identity frame includes a frame header, device type code, default address, protocol identifier, firmware version and CRC check code arranged in sequence.

3. The multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that: The protocol library includes one or more of ModbusRTU protocol, ModbusTCP protocol, vibrating string sensor custom binary protocol, inclinometer serial port protocol, MQTT protocol, RS232ASCII text protocol, CANopen protocol, SEG-Y protocol, LAS protocol, HTTP / HTTPS protocol, and LoRaWAN wireless protocol.

4. The multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to claim 2, characterized in that: The software layer also includes a communication parameter adaptation module. When several geological monitoring devices are connected, the communication parameter adaptation module sends several protocol trial instructions to the unmatched geological monitoring devices in sequence. The communication parameter adaptation module analyzes the reply frame characteristics to determine the communication parameters, and then the automatic identification module sends a query broadcast instruction.

5. A multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The multi-type interface module includes one or more of a 232 interface, a 485 interface, an Ethernet interface, a USB interface, a fiber optic interface, and a CAN interface.

6. A multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The hardware layer also includes a power management module and a communication module, wherein the hardware layer is distributed on at least two independent PCB boards connected by cables. The processing module is an STM32 microcontroller, the storage module is an EEPROM memory chip, an SPI flash memory chip and a plug-in TF memory card, and the communication module adopts a 4G network module with a SIM card structure.

7. The multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to claim 6, characterized in that: The PCB board is overlapped and arranged in a housing (1) of the data acquisition instrument. The housing (1) has an opening for arranging the PCB board inwardly. The opening of the housing (1) is covered with a cover plate (2) for sealing. The cover plate (2) has a display screen (3) connected to the PCB board. The multi-type interface module is a plurality of wiring ports arranged at an edge of one side of the PCB board, the bottom of the housing (1) has wiring ports corresponding to the wiring ports, and the wiring harness of the external geological monitoring equipment enters the housing (1) through the wiring ports and is connected to the wiring ports; The wiring port is covered with an interface waterproof cover (12), and a gap is provided in the middle of the interface waterproof cover (12). The connected wiring harness passes through the gap into the housing (1) and is sealed by the inner wall of the gap adhering to the surface of the wiring harness.

8. The multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to claim 7, characterized in that: The power management module further comprises a solar charging management unit. A solar panel (5) connected to the solar charging management unit is provided outside the housing (1), and a storage battery connected to the power management module is also provided inside the housing (1).

9. The multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to claim 8, characterized in that: An antenna is movably connected to the outside of the housing (1), and the antenna is connected to the PCB board inside the housing (1) via a coaxial line.

10. The multi-channel, multi-protocol data acquisition instrument according to claim 9, characterized in that: The solar panels (5) include three panels that are hinged to each other and folded. A panel rotation shaft (4) is provided on one side edge of the middle solar panel (5) and is hinged to a shaft seat (6) provided on the housing (1). The antenna comprises a main antenna (10) arranged on the edge of the middle solar panel (5) having a panel rotation axis (4), and side antennas (9) arranged on the edges of two solar panels (5) on both sides. When the three solar panels (5) are fully unfolded to form the same plane, the side antennas (9) on both sides are snap-connected with the main antenna (10) to form a straight rod-shaped structure. A feeder wire connected to a PCB board in the housing (1) is provided in the middle of the main antenna (10), and the feeder wire is located in the shaft seat (6); The antenna further comprises branch antennas (8) arranged on two sides of the middle solar panel (5) that are perpendicular to the main antenna (10).

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