Master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system and method for same strain resistor

Abstract

The invention discloses a master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system and method for the same strain resistor, and the system comprises a main processing unit and at least two sensing units, and the at least two sensing units are electrically connected to the same strain resistor. The sensing unit is used for applying constant current excitation to the strain resistor and collecting a voltage signal generated by the strain resistor; and the main processing unit is used for providing a working power supply for each sensing unit, processing the measurement signals from the plurality of sensing units, and sending the processed measurement data to an external terminal. According to the invention, the same strain resistor is measured synchronously through at least two measurement channels, and comparison, verification or joint processing of measurement results is realized, so that the stability and reliability in a continuous measurement process are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of strain measurement and wireless data acquisition technology, specifically to a master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system and method for the same strain resistor. Background Technology

[0002] Existing wireless strain measurement systems mostly employ a distributed architecture, where each strain sensor integrates independent signal conditioning, power supply, and wireless communication modules, and measures different strain gauges. While this approach enables multi-point measurements, it cannot be used for multi-channel synchronous measurement and consistency verification of the same strain gauge. During continuous measurement, it is susceptible to the effects of wire resistance, temperature drift, and power supply noise, resulting in insufficient accuracy for measuring minute resistance changes. Furthermore, distributed wireless sensors are complex in structure and consume significant power, hindering miniaturization and long-term continuous monitoring. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the shortcomings of the prior art, this invention provides a master-slave multi-channel continuous measurement system and method for the same strain gauge. By using at least two measurement channels to simultaneously measure the same strain gauge, the system enables comparison, verification, or joint processing of measurement results, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the continuous measurement process.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system for the same strain gauge includes a main processing unit and at least two sensing units, wherein the at least two sensing units are electrically connected to the same strain gauge sensor. The sensing units are used to apply constant current excitation to the strain gauge and acquire the voltage signal generated therefrom. The main processing unit is used to provide operating power to each sensing unit, process the measurement signals from multiple sensing units, and send the processed measurement data to an external terminal.

[0005] Furthermore, the main processing unit includes a power supply module, an analog-to-digital converter module, and a main control processing and wireless communication module; the power supply module provides a stable operating voltage for each module of the system, the analog-to-digital converter module is used to sample the analog voltage signal output by the sensing unit and digitize the analog signal; the main control processing and wireless communication module is used to filter, convert and manage the sampled data, and transmit the processed data to an external terminal via wireless communication.

[0006] Furthermore, the sensing unit includes a constant current source module, a strain gauge sensor, and a signal amplification module. The constant current source module is used to apply a stable micro-current excitation to the strain gauge; the strain gauge sensor is used to sense external deformation and generate a resistance change; and the signal amplification module is used to amplify the weak voltage signal generated by the strain gauge.

[0007] Preferably, the analog-to-digital conversion module uses a high-precision analog-to-digital converter, and the main control processing and wireless communication module is implemented based on a microcontroller with wireless communication capabilities, wherein the wireless communication method is Bluetooth communication.

[0008] Preferably, the power module supports external power supply or portable power supply input.

[0009] Preferably, the constant current source module is implemented based on an adjustable constant current source device, and the signal amplification module adopts an instrumentation amplifier structure.

[0010] Furthermore, the main processing unit is centrally located in the non-sensing parts of the system; each sensing unit is connected to the main processing unit via wires or cables to enable power supply and analog signal transmission.

[0011] Preferably, the system is a headphone structure, including a headband and left and right ear cups respectively disposed at both ends of the headband; the main processing unit is disposed in the headband, and the sensing units are respectively disposed in the left and right ear cups.

[0012] The master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement method for the same strain gauge, using the aforementioned master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system for the same strain gauge, includes the following steps: S1: Constant current excitation, a preset micro current is applied to the same strain resistor through at least two sensing units; S2: Signal acquisition, acquiring the voltage signal generated by the strain gauge under constant current excitation; S3: Signal amplification, the voltage signal across the strain gauge is amplified by the signal amplification module of each sensing unit; S4: Analog-to-digital conversion, the amplified voltage signal is sampled with high precision and converted from analog to digital by the analog-to-digital conversion module of the main processing unit; S5: Data processing and transmission. The main processing unit's main control processing and wireless communication module filters and converts the sampled data to obtain the real-time resistance value. At the same time, it performs consistency analysis, difference calculation, or joint processing on the sampled data from multiple sensing units. The processed measurement data is then sent to an external terminal via wireless communication.

[0013] Furthermore, the preset microcurrent in step S1 is 0.9μA; the resolution of the analog-to-digital conversion in step S4 is 24 bits; the sampling data processing in step S5 uses a multiple averaging filtering method; and the wireless communication method uses Bluetooth Low Energy communication.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this invention are: The measurement system and method of this invention, because at least two measurement channels act on the same strain gauge, theoretically should have a high degree of consistency in the acquired signals. Therefore, noise, temperature drift, or channel anomalies can be identified by the differences between channels. Continuous measurement of the same strain gauge through multiple measurement channels enables mutual verification of measurement results, improving measurement reliability. Compared to schemes using multiple strain gauges for measurement, this structure avoids the influence of installation errors, differences in bonding conditions, and inconsistent stress on different strain gauges, which is a prerequisite for accurate verification of the same strained object. This invention is suitable for continuous monitoring scenarios, reducing the impact of single-channel drift or failure on strain measurement results.

[0015] The measurement system and method of the present invention have a centrally located main processing unit arranged in the non-sensoring part of the system, which simplifies the sensor end structure, reduces system power consumption and size, and improves system wearing comfort; the system structure is modular, which facilitates expansion and maintenance; the present invention achieves real-time data transmission through wireless communication, which is suitable for wearable medical devices. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this application and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of the overall structure of the system of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the layout of a headset-style system; Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the method of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of this application described and shown in the accompanying drawings can be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of this application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed application, but merely represents selected embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0019] A master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system for the same strain gauge, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a main processing unit and at least two sensing units, with the at least two sensing units being electrically connected to the same strain gauge sensor; the sensing units are used to apply constant current excitation to the strain gauge and acquire the voltage signal generated therefrom; the main processing unit is used to provide operating power to each sensing unit, process the measurement signals from multiple sensing units, and send the processed measurement data to an external terminal.

[0020] The main processing unit includes a power supply module, an analog-to-digital converter module, a main control processing and wireless communication module. The power supply module provides a stable operating voltage for each module of the system. The analog-to-digital converter module is used to perform high-precision sampling of the analog voltage signal output by the sensing unit and digitize the analog signal. The main control processing and wireless communication module is used to filter, convert and manage the sampled data, and transmit the processed data to an external terminal wirelessly.

[0021] The sensing unit includes a constant current source module, a strain gauge sensor, and a signal amplification module. The constant current source module is used to apply a stable micro-current excitation to the strain gauge; the strain gauge sensor is used to sense external deformation and generate a resistance change; and the signal amplification module is used to amplify the weak voltage signal generated by the strain gauge.

[0022] The present invention will be described in detail below using a specific embodiment.

[0023] The power supply module provides stable operating voltage and current to the various functional modules of the system, ensuring normal system operation. This module supports external power supply or portable power input and regulates and distributes the input power to meet the power supply requirements of the constant current source module, signal amplification module, analog-to-digital conversion module, and main control processing module. In one embodiment of the invention, the power supply module can be implemented using an integrated power management module, such as a power supply module based on MB-102.

[0024] The analog-to-digital converter (ADC) module converts the amplified analog voltage signal into a digital signal for subsequent digital processing. The ADC module possesses high-resolution and high-precision sampling capabilities, meeting the accuracy and stability requirements of continuous strain gauge measurement. In one embodiment of the invention, the ADC module can be implemented using a high-precision analog-to-digital converter, such as an ADS1256-based ADC circuit.

[0025] The main control processing and wireless communication module is used to process the digital signal output by the analog-to-digital converter module, including data filtering, conversion, and management. This module integrates a processing unit and wireless communication functions, enabling centralized control and data transmission of the system. In one embodiment of the invention, the main control processing and wireless communication module can be implemented based on a microcontroller with wireless communication capabilities, such as a control and communication module based on ESP32.

[0026] The constant current source module is used to apply a stable constant current excitation to the strain gauge to ensure that the strain gauge generates a voltage signal proportional to the change in resistance during deformation. The constant current source module can maintain the stability of the output current within a certain range of power supply voltage variations, thereby reducing the impact of power supply fluctuations on the strain measurement results. In one embodiment of the invention, the constant current source module is implemented based on an adjustable constant current source device, such as a constant current source circuit based on an LM134.

[0027] The signal amplification module amplifies the weak voltage signal generated by the strain gauge under constant current excitation, thereby increasing the signal amplitude and improving the signal-to-noise ratio. The signal amplification module features high input impedance and high common-mode rejection capability, effectively suppressing external interference and common-mode noise, making it suitable for weak signal measurement scenarios. In one embodiment of the invention, the signal amplification module can employ an instrumentation amplifier structure, for example, based on the AD8421.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the main processing unit is centrally located in a non-sensoring area of ​​the system, reducing the size of the sensing units and improving the wearing comfort of the system. Each sensing unit is connected to the main processing unit via wires or cables for power supply and analog signal transmission. Specifically, as shown... Figure 2 As shown, the system has a headphone-like structure, including a headband and left and right earcups respectively located at both ends of the headband; the main processing unit is located on the headband, and the sensing units are respectively located inside the left and right earcups. The sensing units are connected to the same strain gauge sensor to achieve multi-channel measurement of the strain gauge.

[0029] This invention also provides a master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement method for the same strain gauge, employing the aforementioned master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement method for the same strain gauge, such as... Figure 3 As shown, it includes the following steps: S1: Constant current excitation, a preset micro current is applied to the same strain resistor through at least two sensing units; S2: Signal acquisition, acquiring the voltage signal generated by the strain gauge under constant current excitation; S3: Signal amplification, the voltage signal across the strain gauge is amplified by the signal amplification module of each sensing unit; S4: Analog-to-digital conversion, the amplified voltage signal is sampled with high precision and converted from analog to digital by the analog-to-digital conversion module of the main processing unit; S5: Data processing and transmission. The main processing unit's main control processing and wireless communication module filters and converts the sampled data to obtain the real-time resistance value. At the same time, it performs consistency analysis, difference calculation, or joint processing on the sampled data from multiple sensing units. The processed measurement data is then sent to an external terminal via wireless communication.

[0030] In one experimental example, the preset microcurrent in step S1 is 0.9μA; the resolution of the analog-to-digital conversion in step S4 is 24 bits; the sampling data processing in step S5 uses multiple averaging filtering; and the wireless communication method uses Bluetooth Low Energy communication.

[0031] The system and method of the present invention measure the same strain resistance synchronously through two or more channels, and achieve mutual verification by using data consistency analysis and difference calculation between channels, thereby avoiding the risk of single-channel drift or failure.

[0032] This invention features a centralized main processing unit located in a non-sensing area, reducing the size and power consumption of the sensing unit while improving wearing comfort. Real-time data transmission is achieved via wireless communication, adapting to wearable and mobile medical device scenarios and eliminating reliance on wires.

[0033] Of course, the present invention may have other various embodiments. Without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various corresponding changes and modifications according to the present invention, but these corresponding changes and modifications should all fall within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system for the same strain gauge, characterized in that: It includes a main processing unit and at least two sensing units, with the at least two sensing units being electrically connected to the same strain gauge sensor; the sensing units are used to apply constant current excitation to the strain gauge and acquire the voltage signal generated therefrom; the main processing unit is used to provide operating power to each sensing unit, process the measurement signals from multiple sensing units, and send the processed measurement data to an external terminal.

2. The master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system for the same strain gauge as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The main processing unit includes a power supply module, an analog-to-digital converter module, a main control processing module, and a wireless communication module. The power supply module provides a stable operating voltage for each module of the system. The analog-to-digital converter module is used to sample the analog voltage signal output by the sensing unit and digitize the analog signal. The main control processing module is used to filter, convert, and manage the sampled data, and transmit the processed data to an external terminal via wireless communication.

3. The master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system for the same strain gauge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sensing unit includes a constant current source module, a strain gauge sensor, and a signal amplification module. The constant current source module is used to apply a stable micro-current excitation to the strain gauge; the strain gauge sensor is used to sense external deformation and generate a resistance change; and the signal amplification module is used to amplify the weak voltage signal generated by the strain gauge.

4. The master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system for the same strain gauge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The analog-to-digital conversion module uses a high-precision analog-to-digital converter, and the main control processing and wireless communication module is implemented based on a microcontroller with wireless communication capabilities. The wireless communication method is Bluetooth communication.

5. The master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system for the same strain gauge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The power module supports external power supply or portable power input.

6. The master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system for the same strain gauge according to claim 3, characterized in that: The constant current source module is based on an adjustable constant current source device, and the signal amplification module adopts an instrumentation amplifier structure.

7. The master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system for the same strain gauge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main processing unit is centrally located in the non-sensing parts of the system; each sensing unit is connected to the main processing unit via wires or cables to enable power supply and analog signal transmission.

8. The master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system for the same strain gauge according to claim 7, characterized in that: The system has a headphone-like structure, including a headband and left and right ear cups respectively located at both ends of the headband; the main processing unit is located in the headband, and the sensing units are respectively located in the left and right ear cups.

9. A master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement method for the same strain gauge, employing the master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement system for the same strain gauge as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: Includes the following steps: S1: Constant current excitation, a preset micro current is applied to the same strain resistor through at least two sensing units; S2: Signal acquisition, acquiring the voltage signal generated by the strain gauge under constant current excitation; S3: Signal amplification, the voltage signal across the strain gauge is amplified by the signal amplification module of each sensing unit; S4: Analog-to-digital conversion, the amplified voltage signal is sampled with high precision and converted from analog to digital by the analog-to-digital conversion module of the main processing unit; S5: Data processing and transmission. The main processing unit's main control processing and wireless communication module filters and converts the sampled data to obtain the real-time resistance value. At the same time, it performs consistency analysis, difference calculation, or joint processing on the sampled data from multiple sensing units. The processed measurement data is then sent to an external terminal via wireless communication.

10. The master-slave dual-channel continuous measurement method for the same strain gauge according to claim 9, characterized in that: The preset microcurrent in step S1 is 0.9μA; the resolution of the analog-to-digital conversion in step S4 is 24 bits; the sampling data processing in step S5 uses multiple averaging filtering; and the wireless communication method uses Bluetooth Low Energy communication.

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