Industrial equipment dual-mode communication temperature sensing terminal and system based on RISC-V

Abstract

The invention discloses an industrial equipment dual-mode communication temperature sensing terminal and system based on RISC-V. The terminal takes an RISC-V kernel microcontroller as a core, an Ethernet MAC (Media Access Control) and a PHY (Physical Layer) are arranged in the terminal, and the terminal is matched with an external Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) module to form a wired / wireless dual-mode network access framework; the temperature data of the external equipment are gathered through an RS-485 serial port and a Type-C serial port; a touch screen is arranged for interaction and configuration, and an onboard TF card is integrated for local storage. According to the software process, a two-way processing mechanism of synchronously executing real-time TCP network uploading and local backup according to a preset period after data packaging is innovatively realized. All modules of the terminal are integrated in a customized metal shell which is provided with an accurate interface hole and a sealing structure. The system comprises at least one terminal, an external temperature sensor connected with the terminal and a remote server. The industrial temperature monitoring system solves the problems that an existing industrial temperature monitoring system is low in hardware integration level, single in communication mode and poor in data reliability, and has the advantages of being high in reliability, easy to deploy, high in adaptability and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the fields of industrial automation measurement and control and Internet of Things (IoT) technology, and more particularly to an industrial equipment temperature sensing terminal and system based on RISC-V architecture, possessing wired and wireless dual-mode communication capabilities, and integrating redundant data storage functions. Background Technology

[0002] Temperature monitoring of industrial equipment is a crucial technology for ensuring production safety, improving process stability, and optimizing energy efficiency. Currently, the widely adopted solutions in this field are primarily based on traditional single-chip microcontrollers or general-purpose ARM architecture microcontrollers, coupled with wired communication networks to build monitoring systems. However, these existing technologies reveal several systemic shortcomings when facing complex and harsh industrial environments: First, in terms of communication architecture, most existing terminals adopt a single communication method, such as supporting only RS-485 bus or a single Ethernet interface. This design severely limits system deployment due to on-site cabling conditions, making it difficult to implement in areas with ample space, mobile equipment, or where cabling is difficult. Although some devices have attempted to introduce wireless functionality, these are mostly simple module stacking, failing to achieve unified management and intelligent switching of wired and wireless dual-mode redundant communication at the system level. This results in insufficient network connectivity robustness of the entire system and the risk of single points of failure.

[0003] Secondly, regarding data reliability, existing solutions generally follow a single-path logic of uploading data immediately after collection. This design is highly dependent on the continuous stability of the network; once network fluctuations or interruptions occur, critical temperature data will face the risk of direct loss. Although a few devices have limited caching capabilities, they generally lack large-capacity non-volatile storage and configurable backup strategies that coordinate with remote transmission, making it impossible to fully preserve data during network outages and failing to meet the high requirements of data integrity and traceability in industrial fields.

[0004] Furthermore, in terms of hardware integration and reliability, traditional solutions often employ a multi-chip architecture consisting of a microcontroller, an external PHY chip, and a network transformer to achieve functions such as network communication. This not only increases the complexity of the circuit board, material costs, and overall power consumption, but also introduces more potential failure points due to the increased number of components, reducing the long-term operational reliability of the equipment in harsh industrial environments such as high temperatures and vibrations.

[0005] Furthermore, existing terminals often lack sufficient interface compatibility and scalability. They typically only provide a single type of data interface, making it difficult to simultaneously adapt to various types of devices and sensors with multiple communication protocols in industrial environments, thus limiting the system's application scope and flexible networking capabilities. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by proposing a dual-mode communication temperature sensing terminal and system for industrial equipment based on RISC-V.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a RISC-V-based dual-mode communication temperature sensing terminal for industrial equipment, characterized in that it comprises: The main control module uses a microcontroller based on a RISC-V core; The communication module includes an Ethernet interface consisting of an Ethernet MAC and a PHY built into the microcontroller, and a Wi-Fi module connected via a serial port, forming a wired and wireless dual-mode network access architecture. The data interface module includes an RS-485 interface and a Type-C serial port, used to receive temperature data uploaded from external industrial equipment; The local storage module is an onboard TF card used to store complete data containing device ID, timestamp, and temperature value; The human-computer interaction module is a touch screen that displays temperature and device status in real time, and allows manual configuration of server address, port and local storage frequency; The power supply module provides power to the above modules; In addition, a customized metal housing with holes that precisely correspond to the physical location and size of the Ethernet interface, Type-C serial port, and TF card slot, and an adapter interface is reserved for cable connection of RS-485 and Wi-Fi modules.

[0008] Preferably, the main control module is also connected to an internal temperature sensor for collecting the internal operating temperature of the temperature sensing terminal itself.

[0009] Preferably, the Wi-Fi module in the communication module is connected to the main control module via a UART serial port and uses the AT command set for communication and control.

[0010] Preferably, the main control module is configured to execute the following data processing flow: The data interface module polls or receives temperature data from external industrial equipment and collects data from internal temperature sensors. The received data is appended with a device ID and a timestamp to form a data packet in a uniform format; The data packets are uploaded to the configured remote server in real time using the TCP protocol through any network mode of the communication module. Synchronously, according to the time intervals preset by the human-computer interaction module, the data packets are saved to the local TF card for backup storage by appending them.

[0011] Preferably, the device ID in the data attachment device ID is used to identify the source device of the data, including external industrial equipment and the temperature sensing terminal itself.

[0012] Preferably, the local storage module stores data in .txt text file format, and the main control module determines whether to perform the operation of writing data to the TF card by checking whether an independent storage timer has expired.

[0013] A RISC-V-based dual-mode communication temperature sensing system for industrial equipment includes at least one temperature sensing terminal; at least one external temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of industrial heat treatment equipment, which is connected to the data interface module of the terminal via an RS-485 bus or a Type-C serial port; and a remote server that establishes a TCP connection with the communication module of the temperature sensing terminal to receive, store, and display temperature data from the terminal.

[0014] Preferably, the temperature sensing terminal has a built-in network status monitoring mechanism and switching logic. When the wired network connection is detected to be invalid, the Wi-Fi module is automatically activated and connected to a preset wireless network, switching the data transmission channel from wired Ethernet to wireless Wi-Fi to maintain the continuity of communication with the remote server.

[0015] Preferably, the data uploaded by the temperature sensing terminal to the remote server has the same format as the data stored in the local TF card, both including device ID, timestamp and temperature value, so that the locally stored data can serve as a complete backup of the network-transmitted data for data traceability and recovery.

[0016] The present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. This invention applies domestically produced RISC-V chips to the field of industrial temperature monitoring through industrial-grade application and highly integrated design of RISC-V core MCUs. It makes full use of the built-in Ethernet PHY to realize single-chip Ethernet driving. Compared with traditional solutions, it significantly reduces the number of components, lowers costs, power consumption and failure rate, and improves reliability in complex industrial environments.

[0017] 2. This invention solves the cabling challenges in industrial fields by providing flexible dual-mode network access and multi-interface data aggregation, offering both native Ethernet and extended Wi-Fi communication to the terminal simultaneously. Furthermore, it provides two universal industrial interfaces: RS-485 and Type-C serial ports, allowing for flexible adaptation to field devices from different manufacturers and using different protocols, demonstrating strong environmental adaptability.

[0018] 3. The data synchronization and redundant storage mechanism of this invention innovatively realizes parallel processing of "real-time network upload" and "local timed backup". This mechanism can automatically preserve data when the network is interrupted and has the potential to resume transmission after the network is restored, fundamentally solving the problem of data loss caused by network fluctuations and providing highly reliable data protection for industrial production.

[0019] 4. This invention integrates functionality and structural synergy, highly integrating data display, data communication, data storage, data access, and power management into a single terminal. In particular, the customized metal casing not only provides mechanical protection and electromagnetic shielding, but its precise interface openings and adapter provisions further demonstrate the deep synergy between structure and function, making the product a robust, user-friendly, and professional industrial-grade overall solution. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of the hardware structure of the temperature sensing terminal of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a software / data flow diagram of the present invention; Figure 3 This invention provides the complete software logic flow from data acquisition to uploading and storage. Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the temperature sensing terminal of the present invention.

[0021] Legend: 1. Screw holes; 2. Shockproof shell; 3. Power interface; 4. Metal shell; 5. Type-1; 6. Type-2; 7. USB port; 8. Adapter; 9. Debugger interface; 10. TF card slot; 11. Ethernet interface; 12. Display screen; 13. Power switch. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] Reference Figures 1-4This invention discloses a RISC-V-based dual-mode communication temperature sensing terminal for industrial equipment. Specifically, the main structure of the terminal is a metal casing 4 made of 1.5mm thick high-strength aluminum alloy, precision machined by CNC and anodized. This casing constitutes the main frame and basic electromagnetic shielding of the terminal. Screw holes 1 are machined at each of the four corners of the casing for fixing a TPU impact-resistant shell 2. This shell 2 effectively absorbs side impacts, protecting the internal core circuit board and the front display screen 12 from damage.

[0024] The power supply and core communication ports of the terminal are centrally located on one side of the metal casing 4 for convenient centralized cabling. The power interface 3 uses an industry-standard DC5521 socket, supporting a wide voltage input of 9-36V DC and compatible with common industrial 24V power supplies. The power switch 13 controls the power on / off of the entire unit. The Ethernet interface 11 is a standard RJ45 connector, which is the physical carrier of the "Ethernet interface composed of the microcontroller's built-in Ethernet MAC and PHY". Specifically, for a microcontroller based on a RISC-V core with built-in Ethernet MAC and PHY, chips with similar functions, such as the Chinheng Microelectronics CH32V307, can be selected. Its built-in PHY's differential signal lines are electrically isolated and impedance matched via an onboard network transformer before being directly connected to the RJ45 Ethernet interface 11.

[0025] To enable connectivity with diverse industrial equipment, the terminal provides comprehensive access ports. The metal casing 4 houses two dedicated data access interfaces: Type-1 5 and Type-2 6. These use USB Type-C connectors and internally connect only to the communication pins of the two independent UARTs of the main control chip, allowing direct connection to external industrial devices to receive uploaded temperature data messages. The terminal also includes a standard USB 7, primarily used for maintenance, data export, and device expansion, such as connecting a USB flash drive to copy locally stored historical data files. A multi-functional adapter 8 is crucial for connecting the fieldbus and wireless module: it internally contains terminals A, B, and GND of an RS-485 level conversion chip (model SP3485). Additionally, a debugger interface 9 is used to connect a programmer during development or deep maintenance to update the main control chip firmware.

[0026] A 5-inch capacitive touchscreen display 12 is embedded in the upper surface of the terminal. The driver board of this display is connected to the motherboard via an FPC cable. Its tempered glass cover is fully bonded to the touch sensor using optical adhesive and then fixed inside the window on the front panel of the housing with waterproof sealant, achieving clear visual display and sensitive touch operation. Users can view the temperature curves of each channel and the network status of the device in real time through this screen, and enter the settings menu to manually configure the IP address and port number of the remote server. On the side of the housing, there is a TF card slot 10 with a waterproof and dustproof cover. This card slot is a standard push-pull design and is internally connected to the SDIO controller of the main control chip. Users can insert TF cards with a maximum capacity of 128GB.

[0027] All four openings in the metal casing are designed with a tight sealing structure. Specifically, black silicone rubber sealing rings are pre-installed between the sockets of Ethernet interface 11, Type-1 5, Type-2 6, USB port 7, and debugger interface 9 and the openings in the casing. When the sockets are fixed to the PCB board with screws and finally pressed against the casing, the sealing rings are compressed to form an effective seal.

[0028] After the terminal is powered on, its main control module, the RISC-V microcontroller, will run the firmware program stored in its internal Flash memory. System initialization After the user closes the power switch 13, the main control chip powers on and resets, then begins executing the boot program. First, hardware initialization is performed: configuring the system clock, initializing GPIO, and starting the real-time clock (RTC) module to provide accurate timestamps. Next, the communication interfaces are initialized: configuring the UART serial ports connecting to the RS-485 chips in Type-1 5, Type-2 6, and adapter 8; initializing the communication link connected to the Wi-Fi module via another UART serial port and sending a series of AT commands to configure it; simultaneously, enabling the built-in Ethernet controller to obtain a network address via DHCP or static IP. Finally, the file system is initialized, checking if a usable TF card is available in the TF card slot 10 and creating or opening a log file, such as data_log.txt.

[0029] Data collection and standardized packaging After initialization, the main program enters a low-power event-driven loop.

[0030] Event triggering: The main events include: (a) a serial port receive interrupt from adapter 8, indicating that data has arrived from an external device; (b) an internal acquisition timer interrupt with a period of 2 seconds; and (c) a storage timer interrupt used to trigger local backup.

[0031] Data source identification and acquisition: When an external serial port interrupt is triggered, the main controller reads the data in the buffer, parses it into a temperature value, and marks the source as the corresponding interface or device address. When an internal acquisition timer interrupt is triggered, the main controller reads the value from an internal temperature sensor, such as the DS18B20, connected to a certain GPIO via the single-bus protocol and marks the source as "internal terminal".

[0032] Data Packaging: Regardless of the data source, the main control module performs a standardized packaging operation: A unique device ID is appended to each temperature value; for example, "JQJ-01" represents crystallizer number 1, "TERM-SELF" represents the terminal itself, and a timestamp format accurate to the second read from the RTC is included: YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS. This ultimately forms a structured data packet.

[0033] Core Dual-Path Parallel Processing Flow Path A Real-time Network Upload: Once a data packet is formed, it is immediately sent to a high-priority network transmission queue. The sending thread checks the currently active network connections. Wired Ethernet is preferred by default. The sending thread retrieves the data packet from the queue and sends it to the preset remote server via Ethernet interface 11 through the established TCP Socket connection. This process is real-time and event-driven, with virtually no delay.

[0034] Path B Local Scheduled Backup: This path runs in parallel with Path A, but with different triggering logic. An independent storage timer runs in the background. When this timer expires (e.g., every 10 seconds), the main control module checks for data packets accumulated in the memory cache since the last backup. Then, it appends these data packets as new lines of text to the data_log.txt file on the TF card in TF card slot 10. The file is stored in plain text .txt format for easy reading and parsing. This backup operation is strictly periodic, regardless of whether new data is received.

[0035] Network Status Monitoring and Automatic Switching: A low-priority monitoring task continuously pings a remote server or checks the Ethernet link status. Once a wired network times out consecutively (e.g., 3 times), the task sets a flag and attempts to restart or reconnect the Wi-Fi module via AT commands. Upon detecting this flag, the network transmission thread automatically switches the outgoing link from Ethernet interface 11 to the Wi-Fi wireless link connected via adapter 8, ensuring uninterrupted communication.

[0036] Example of application: Application scenario: Temperature monitoring system for top-blown furnace in a non-ferrous metal smelter.

[0037] In practical use, one of the terminals of this invention is installed in an explosion-proof box next to the top-blown furnace operating platform. The intelligent controller of the top-blown furnace is connected to the terminal's Type-1 port 5 via its communication port and a shielded cable. A workshop industrial Ethernet cable is inserted into the terminal's Ethernet interface 11. Through the terminal's display screen 12, the server address is configured to the cloud platform IP of the plant monitoring center, the device ID is set to "DBL-01", and the local storage interval is set to 5 seconds. A 32GB TF card is inserted into the TF card slot 10. During normal operation, the terminal periodically reads the top-blown furnace temperature through the Type-C serial port, packages it, and uploads it to the cloud server in real time via Ethernet. The operator can see the real-time curve on the monitoring screen. At the same time, every 5 seconds, data including furnace temperature and terminal internal temperature is appended and recorded to the data_log.txt file on the TF card. One day, the workshop network switch restarted due to a lightning surge, causing a wired network interruption. The terminal detected the link disconnection within 3 seconds, automatically executed the switching logic, activated the Wi-Fi module, and connected to the backup wireless network covered by the plant. Approximately 5 seconds later, temperature data resumed uploading, but this time via wireless transmission. Throughout the approximately 8-second network interruption and switchover, the temperature data from the top-blown furnace was continuously recorded without loss to the local TF card at 5-second intervals. After network recovery, maintenance personnel could compare the data from the cloud server database with the data_log.txt file exported from the TF card. Since both data formats were identical, containing the device ID "DBL-01," a timestamp, and the temperature value, verification was easy, ensuring that no critical data was lost due to network issues, perfectly achieving data backup and traceability.

[0038] Finally, it should be noted that the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preceding embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the preceding embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dual-mode communication temperature sensing terminal for industrial equipment based on RISC-V, characterized in that, include: The main control module uses a microcontroller based on a RISC-V core; The communication module includes an Ethernet interface consisting of an Ethernet MAC and a PHY built into the microcontroller, and a Wi-Fi module connected via a serial port, forming a wired and wireless dual-mode network access architecture. The data interface module includes an RS-485 interface and a Type-C serial port, used to receive temperature data uploaded from external industrial equipment; The local storage module is an onboard TF card used to store complete data containing device ID, timestamp, and temperature value; The human-computer interaction module is a touch screen that displays temperature and device status in real time, and allows manual configuration of server address, port and local storage frequency; The power supply module provides power to the above modules; In addition, a customized metal housing with holes that precisely correspond to the physical location and size of the Ethernet interface, Type-C serial port, and TF card slot, and an adapter interface is reserved for cable connection of RS-485 and Wi-Fi modules.

2. The RISC-V-based dual-mode communication temperature sensing terminal for industrial equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main control module is also connected to an internal temperature sensor, which is used to collect the internal operating temperature of the temperature sensing terminal itself.

3. The RISC-V-based dual-mode communication temperature sensing terminal for industrial equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The Wi-Fi module in the communication module is connected to the main control module via a UART serial port and uses the AT command set for communication and control.

4. The RISC-V-based dual-mode communication temperature sensing terminal for industrial equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main control module is configured to execute the following data processing flow: The data interface module polls or receives temperature data from external industrial equipment and collects data from internal temperature sensors. The received data is appended with a device ID and a timestamp to form a data packet in a uniform format; The data packets are uploaded to the configured remote server in real time using the TCP protocol through any network mode of the communication module. Synchronously, according to the time intervals preset by the human-computer interaction module, the data packets are saved to the local TF card for backup storage by appending them.

5. The RISC-V-based dual-mode communication temperature sensing terminal for industrial equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The device ID in the data attachment device ID is used to identify the source device of the data, including external industrial equipment and the terminal itself.

6. The RISC-V-based dual-mode communication temperature sensing terminal for industrial equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The local storage module stores data in .txt text file format, and the main control module determines whether to perform the operation of writing data to the TF card by checking whether an independent storage timer has expired.

7. A dual-mode communication temperature sensing system for industrial equipment based on RISC-V, characterized in that, include: At least one temperature sensing terminal as described in any one of claims 1-6; At least one external temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of industrial heat treatment equipment is connected to the data interface module of the temperature sensing terminal via an RS-485 bus or a Type-C serial port. A remote server establishes a TCP connection with the communication module of the temperature sensing terminal to receive, store, and display temperature data from the temperature sensing terminal.

8. The RISC-V-based dual-mode communication temperature sensing system for industrial equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that, The temperature sensing terminal has a built-in network status monitoring mechanism and switching logic. When the wired network connection fails, it automatically activates the Wi-Fi module and connects to the preset wireless network, switching the data transmission channel from wired Ethernet to wireless Wi-Fi to maintain the continuity of communication with the remote server.

9. The RISC-V-based dual-mode communication temperature sensing system for industrial equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that, The data uploaded by the temperature sensing terminal to the remote server has the same format as the data stored in the local TF card, both containing device ID, timestamp, and temperature value. This allows the locally stored data to serve as a complete backup of the data transmitted over the network, enabling data traceability and recovery.

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