Relay device for marine container monitoring system

Abstract

The utility model provides a relay device for a marine container monitoring system, relates to the field of container monitoring, and aims to solve the problems that in an existing marine container monitoring system, data transmission adopts an RS485 wired communication mode, the RS485 bus load is large, the anti-interference performance is poor, the communication reliability is poor, meanwhile, electrical isolation is not adopted, and the communication reliability is poor. Serial ports in the RS485 chip are in multi-path intercommunication, and when any sub-device breaks down, the whole system cannot work normally; comprising a main path and a plurality of branch paths, the plurality of branches are connected to the first serial port conversion module, and the first serial port conversion module is connected to the main path through the first isolation chip; the main circuit transmits the collected signals of the data concentrators in all the marine containers to main equipment in a cab; according to the RS485 communication device, the communication requirement between the sub-devices and the main device can be met, the sub-devices can be isolated, the mutual influence between the sub-devices is reduced, and a good RS485 communication effect is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of container monitoring, and particularly relates to a relay device for a marine container monitoring system. Background Technique

[0002] The statements in this part only provide background technical information related to the utility model, and do not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0003] In recent years, affected by operating costs, container ships have been developing towards the trend of large-scale. Currently, the world's largest container ship can load nearly 24,000 standard containers. Large-scale container ships are also equipped with more refrigerated container holds to meet the demand for loading more refrigerated containers. However, currently, the on-board guardianship of most refrigerated containers still adopts the traditional manual method of taking readings twice a day.

[0004] With the substantial increase in the number of refrigerated containers loaded on large-scale ships, the method of crew manual reading has been unable to meet the actual monitoring requirements of on-board refrigerated containers. At the same time, manual reading is affected by the climate conditions during ship navigation. In case of bad weather, the crew cannot leave the cabin to monitor the refrigerated containers. In addition to refrigerated containers, there are also general monitoring requirements for dry containers. For example, when loading some dangerous goods, it is necessary to monitor the temperature, vibration, smoke, etc. inside the container, so as to know the dangerous situation in advance and take preventive measures in advance to avoid major ship safety problems. All these alarm messages need to be transmitted to the bridge immediately and remind the crew through audible and visual alarms.

[0005] Currently, more and more containers can collect the temperature, humidity, salt spray, fire alarm, water leakage, etc. inside the container by installing Internet of Things devices and become intelligent containers. And such container Internet of Things devices are generally equipped with wireless communication methods such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, RFID, ZigBee, LoRa, etc., and can transmit the collected container data to a nearby fixedly installed data collector in a short distance. Therefore, in recent years, container ships have gradually installed data concentration devices to monitor the status of loaded containers and transmit the centrally collected container data back to the cab through the wired RS485 cable arranged on the ship.

[0006] The inventors found that the existing RS485 data transmission equipment deployed on container ships has to be deployed throughout the entire container ship, and the wiring distance will be as long as several kilometers, which will greatly affect the transmission effect of the transmission signal on the RS485 cable, and it is necessary to install an RS485 relay device. Moreover, the traditional RS485 relay device basically amplifies the transmission signal one-to-one. Although it can increase the driving capacity of the system, it has the following shortcomings in adapting to the use of the ship container monitoring system:

[0007] (1) A large number of sub-devices are directly mounted on the RS485 bus, which creates a load on the bus. The increase in load will lead to a decrease in the device driving ability, causing transmission signal attenuation, increased interference, and reduced communication reliability.

[0008] (2) After all sub-devices are directly mounted on the RS485 bus, if any of the sub-devices has a problem, it will affect the RS485 bus and cause the entire system to fail to work properly.

[0009] (3) Traditional RS485 relay devices are not electrically isolated, which can easily cause equipment damage, increase noise interference, and affect system reliability. Utility Model Content

[0010] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the utility model provides a relay device for a ship container monitoring system, which adopts an RS485 line-collecting relay device and separately sets a main line and a branch line for it, which can not only meet the communication needs between sub-devices and the main device, but also isolate the sub-devices, reduce the mutual influence between the sub-devices, and achieve a good RS485 communication effect.

[0011] In order to achieve the above purpose, the utility model adopts the following technical solutions:

[0012] In a first aspect, a relay device for a ship container monitoring system is disclosed, comprising:

[0013] A main road and several branch roads;

[0014] The plurality of branch paths are all connected to a first serial port conversion module, and the first serial port conversion module is connected to the main path via a first isolation chip;

[0015] The main path transmits the collected signals of the data concentrators in all the ship containers to the main equipment in the driving cab;

[0016] Each branch includes a second isolation chip, one end of the second isolation chip is connected to a data concentrator arranged in a shipping container, and the other end of the first isolation chip is connected to the first serial port conversion module.

[0017] As a further technical solution, the main path includes a third isolation chip, a second serial port conversion module, and a fourth isolation chip that are connected in sequence.

[0018] As a further technical solution, the first serial port conversion module is the serial port conversion module between the main path and the branch paths;

[0019] The second serial port conversion module is the serial port conversion module between the main paths.

[0020] As a further technical solution, the first isolation chip is connected to the third isolation chip or the fourth isolation chip of the main path.

[0021] As a further technical solution, the first isolation chip, the second isolation chip, the third isolation chip, and the fourth isolation chip all adopt RS485 isolation chips.

[0022] As a further technical solution, the data concentrator in the marine container is an RS485 sub-device;

[0023] The second isolation chip of each branch path communicates with the remote RS485 sub-device in a point-to-point communication mode.

[0024] As a further technical solution, the first serial port conversion module includes a first driver and a third driver. The TX pin of the main path is connected to the first driver. After enhancing the driving ability through the driver, it is sent to the serial port RX pins of all the branch paths it drives. At the same time, the TX signal of the main path is used as the enable control signal. After passing through the third driver, all the second isolation chips of the branch paths are enabled to perform transmission from the main path to the branch paths for reception.

[0025] As a further technical solution, the first serial port conversion module further includes a second driver. The TX pin of the second isolation chip of the branch path is sent to the serial port RX pin of the first isolation chip of the main path after enhancing the driving ability through the second driver. At the same time, the RX signal of the main path is used as the enable control signal. After passing through the third driver, the first isolation chip of the main path is enabled to perform transmission from the branch paths to the main path for reception.

[0026] As a further technical solution, the second serial port conversion module includes a fourth driver. The signal of the main path is sent from the TX pin of the third isolation chip to the RX pin of the fourth isolation chip of the main path. At the same time, the TX signal of the main path is used as the enable control signal. After passing through the fourth driver, the fourth isolation chip of the main path is enabled to perform communication between the main paths.

[0027] In a second aspect, a marine container monitoring system is disclosed, which includes a relay device, a data concentrator arranged in the cargo hold of a container ship, and a main device arranged in the cab;

[0028] The relay device adopts the relay device described above.

[0029] One or more technical solutions of the utility model have the following beneficial effects:

[0030] (1) In the present embodiment, an RS485 line concentrator and relay device is used in the ship container monitoring system. In the RS485 line concentrator and relay device, a main line and a branch line are separately set. Each concentrator of the ship container monitoring system serves as a sub-device and communicates with the main device arranged in the cab through the RS485 bus. There is no need for each concentrator to communicate with each other. This can not only meet the communication requirements between the sub-device and the main device, but also isolate the sub-devices, reduce the mutual influence between the sub-devices, and achieve a good RS485 communication effect.

[0031] (2) In this embodiment, in the ship container monitoring system, an RS485 line hub relay device is used, and a large number of sub-devices are not directly mounted on the RS485 bus, which reduces the load on the bus, thereby avoiding the decrease in device driving ability due to increased load, avoiding the attenuation of transmission signals and increased interference, and greatly improving the reliability of communication.

[0032] (3) In this embodiment, the RS485 line hub is connected to each sub-device separately, and the main line and the branch line are set separately. If any sub-device has a problem, only this sub-device cannot work normally, which will not affect the RS485 bus and the normal operation of the entire system.

[0033] (4) In this embodiment, the main circuit and the branch circuit are separately set in the RS485 line-collecting and repeating device, and the RS485 line-collecting and repeating device is electrically isolated through a plurality of RS485 isolation chips, thereby reducing noise interference and improving the reliability of the system.

[0034] Advantages of additional aspects of the present invention will be partially given in the following description, and partially become apparent from the following description, or be learned through the practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The drawings in the specification, which constitute a part of the present invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The illustrative embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present invention.

[0036] Figure 1 This is a circuit diagram of an RS485 line-collecting relay device used in a ship container monitoring system in this embodiment;

[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the main transmission and branch reception of the RS485 line-collecting relay device of this embodiment;

[0038] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the RS485 line-collecting relay device of this embodiment, which sends and receives signals in a branch route;

[0039] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the RS485 chip main and branch enabling control for this embodiment;

[0040] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of RS485 main-to-main communication in this example;

[0041] Figure 6 This is the RS485 main communication control diagram for this example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] It should be noted that the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and are intended to provide further description of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs.

[0043] It should be noted that the terms used herein are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present invention.

[0044] In the absence of conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0045] Embodiment 1

[0046] like Figure 1 As shown, the utility model provides a relay device for a ship container monitoring system, comprising:

[0047] A main road and several branch roads;

[0048] The plurality of branch paths are all connected to a first serial port conversion module, and the first serial port conversion module is connected to the main path via a first isolation chip;

[0049] The main line transmits the collected signals from the data concentrators in all the ship containers to the main equipment in the wheelhouse;

[0050] Each branch includes a second isolation chip, one end of the second isolation chip is connected to a data concentrator arranged in a shipping container, and the other end of the first isolation chip is connected to a first serial port conversion module.

[0051] In this implementation example, in order to realize multi-channel intercommunication in the RS485 line-collecting relay device, it is necessary to solve the problem of multi-channel intercommunication between serial ports inside the RS485 relay, and several implementation schemes are considered:

[0052] The first method is to use the single-chip microcomputer as the communication medium of each RS485 serial port, and use the hardware serial port and logic operation ability of the single-chip microcomputer itself to realize the intercommunication of multiple serial ports. However, this method is limited by the number of hardware serial ports of the single-chip microcomputer itself, and generally can only provide 6 to 8 serial ports. The RS485 line relay device used in the ship container monitoring system needs to load a large number of sub-devices and requires more serial ports. This solution cannot meet the use requirements.

[0053] The second method is to use a programmable logic device FPGA to implement monitoring processing of multiple serial ports. In theory, the parallel execution of FPGA chips has the advantages of fast processing speed and no mutual interference between serial ports. However, the implementation of FPGA requires the purchase and development of FPGA chips, which has a high threshold and is expensive, and cannot meet the large demand for ship containers.

[0054] Both of the above solutions cannot economically and effectively solve the problem of multi-channel intercommunication between serial ports inside the RS485 relay.

[0055] This embodiment is intended to improve the traditional RS485 line relay device, and the specific technical ideas are as follows:

[0056] The relay device includes a main circuit and several branch circuits;

[0057] like Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, in the ship container monitoring system, the hardware circuit of the logic chip is used to build an RS485 main and branch interface, which is divided into a main and a plurality of branches. The RS485 main can communicate with the main, and can also communicate with the branch. Not only does it realize the traditional one-to-one RS485 relay function; at the same time, the RS485 branch can communicate with the RS485 main, but each RS485 branch cannot communicate with each other, isolating each sub-device (each concentrator in the ship container monitoring system), avoiding the influence between each device, and meeting the need for multiple sub-devices mounted on the RS485 bus to be connected and the bus communication to be relayed in the ship container monitoring system.

[0058] Several branch roads are connected to the first serial port conversion module, and the first serial port conversion module is connected to the main road through the first isolation chip; the main road transmits the signals of all data concentrators to the main equipment in the cab; each branch road includes a second isolation chip, one end of the second isolation chip is connected to the data concentrator arranged in the ship container, and the other end of the first isolation chip is connected to the first serial port conversion module; the main road includes a third isolation chip, a second serial port conversion module and a fourth isolation chip connected in sequence.

[0059] Furthermore, the first serial port conversion module is a serial port conversion module between the main path and the branch path; the second serial port conversion module is a serial port conversion module between the main path and the branch path.

[0060] like Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, when the RS485 main road entrance in the ship container monitoring system is connected to the line collection and relay device. First, it is directly connected to the third isolation chip of the main road, and is also connected to the first isolation chip. After the signal accessing the main road passes through the third isolation chip, it is connected to the fourth isolation chip at the main road outlet through the serial port conversion module between the main road and the main road. After accessing the first isolation chip, the serial port conversion module between the main road and the branch road is used to realize the serial port communication between the main road and each branch road, and then the second isolation chip of each branch road is used to realize the communication function between the main road RS485 signal and the RS485 signal of each branch road.

[0061] The first isolation chip is connected to the third isolation chip or the fourth isolation chip of the main circuit; the data concentrator in the ship container is an RS485 sub-device, and the main device in the ship container is an RS485 chip main device; the second isolation chip of each branch circuit and the remote RS485 sub-device adopt a point-to-point communication method.

[0062] In this embodiment, each bus section of the main road is connected, and a total of three RS485 isolation chips are mounted before and after. In this embodiment, the first isolation chip, the third isolation chip and the RS485 chip master device are mounted, and the load on the entire bus section is small, the interference is small, and the communication effect is good. At the same time, each branch RS485 isolation chip and the remote RS485 sub-device (each concentrator in the ship container monitoring system) are point-to-point communication methods, with small load, less interference, and good communication effect.

[0063] Furthermore, the first isolation chip, the second isolation chip, the third isolation chip and the fourth isolation chip are all RS485 isolation chips.

[0064] Furthermore, each bus section of the main road is connected, and three isolation chips are mounted in front and behind, which can be mounted with the first isolation chip, the third isolation chip and the RS485 isolation chip (fourth isolation chip) of the relay device of the front section of the main road.

[0065] The first serial port conversion module includes a first driver, a second driver and a third driver;

[0066] The TX pin of the main circuit is connected to the first driver. After the driver enhances the driving capability, it is sent to the serial port RX pins of all the branches. At the same time, the TX signal of the main circuit is used as the enable control signal. After passing through the third driver, the second isolation chip of all the branches is enabled to perform main circuit transmission and branch reception.

[0067] likeFigure 2 , Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment, in the serial port conversion module between the main path and the branch path, the main path sends and the branch path receives communication:

[0068] When the RS485 main line of the relay device of the ship container monitoring system initiates a signal, the RS485 branch line automatically switches to the receiving mode through the serial port conversion module between the main line and the branch line.

[0069] The RS485 main line initiates a signal, which passes through the TX pin of the RS485 main line, through the first driver pin 2, and after the driving capability is enhanced in the first driver, the enhanced signal is sent to the serial port RX pins of all the branch lines through the first driver pin 4; at the same time, the TX signal of the main line is used as an enable control signal, and after entering the third driver through a pin of the third driver, all the second isolation chips of the branch lines are enabled, realizing the function of the main line sending and the branch line receiving;

[0070] The power supply is input into the first driver through pin 5 to supply power to the first driver. A filter capacitor is connected in parallel next to pin 5 to filter out the AC signal and retain the DC signal.

[0071] The power supply is input to the third driver through the pin to supply power to the third driver. A filter capacitor is connected in parallel beside the pin to filter the AC signal and retain the DC signal.

[0072] After the above steps, the communication between the main line sending and the branch line receiving is realized.

[0073] The TX pin of the second isolation chip of the branch is sent to the serial port RX pin of the first isolation chip of the main path after the driving capability is enhanced by the second driver. At the same time, the RX signal of the main path is used as the enable control signal. After passing through the third driver, the first isolation chip of the main path is enabled to perform branch transmission and main path reception.

[0074] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment, in the serial port conversion module between the main line and the branch line, the branch line sends and receives the main line:

[0075] When the RS485 branch of the relay device of the ship container monitoring system initiates a signal, the RS485 main line automatically switches to the receiving mode.

[0076] The RS485 shunt initiates a signal, which passes through the TX pin of the RS485 shunt, and the corresponding pins 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the second driver. After the driving capability is enhanced in the second driver, the signal is sent to the serial port RX pin of the main road through the corresponding pins 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 19 of the second driver; at the same time, the RX signal of the main road is used as the enable control signal. After the signal passes through the pin of the third driver and enters the third driver, the first isolation chip of the main road is enabled to realize the function of sending from the shunt and receiving from the main road;

[0077] The power supply is introduced into the second driver through pin 1 to supply power to the second driver. A filter capacitor is connected in parallel next to pin 1 to filter out the AC signal and retain the DC signal.

[0078] Through the above steps, the communication between the branch and the main line is realized. At the same time, the RS485 isolation chip is used to isolate each sub-device, so that each sub-device cannot communicate. When a sub-device fails, it will not affect the normal operation of other devices.

[0079] The second serial port conversion module includes a fourth driver. The signal of the main path is sent to the RX pin of the fourth isolation chip of the main path through the TX pin of the third isolation chip. At the same time, the TX signal of the main path is used as an enable control signal. After passing through the fourth driver, the fourth isolation chip of the main path is enabled to communicate between the main paths.

[0080] like Figure 5 , Figure 6 In this embodiment, the serial port conversion module between the main roads performs communication between the main roads:

[0081] The main devices of the two ship container systems can communicate with each other through the RS485 line relay device.

[0082] The signal initiated by the main device of the main path is sent to the RX pin of the fourth isolation chip through the TX pin of the third isolation chip. At the same time, the TX signal of the main path is used as an enable control signal, enters the fourth driver through pin 2, and enters the fourth isolation chip through pin 4, enabling the fourth isolation chip to realize communication between the main paths.

[0083] The power supply is introduced through the fourth driver pin 5 to supply power to the fourth driver. A filter capacitor is connected in parallel next to the pin to filter out the AC signal and retain the DC signal.

[0084] Furthermore, another master device initiates a signal, which is sent to the RX pin of the third isolation chip through the TX pin of the fourth isolation chip. At the same time, the TX signal of the main path is enabled as an enable control signal, enters the fourth driver through pin 3, and enters the fourth isolation chip through pin 1, enabling the third isolation chip to achieve communication between the main paths.

[0085] Further, all RS485 isolation chips are powered by introducing power through pins, and a filter capacitor is connected in parallel beside the pins to filter out AC signals and retain DC signals.

[0086] Through the above steps, communication between the main circuits of the device is achieved.

[0087] Further, the relay device can not only achieve communication between the main circuits of RS485 devices, but also achieve communication between relay devices.

[0088] In this embodiment, when a fault occurs in the RS485 sub-device part, the serial port conversion circuit in the device can cut off the connection between the faulty part and other parts within 5 seconds, so that the lines and devices without faults can still operate normally.

[0089] Embodiment 2

[0090] As Figure 1 shown, the present utility model provides a marine container monitoring system, including a relay device, a data concentrator arranged in the cargo hold of a container ship, and a main device arranged in the cab; the relay device adopts the relay device in Embodiment 1.

[0091] The detailed steps are the same as those of the relay device for a marine container monitoring system provided in Embodiment 1, and will not be described in detail here.

[0092] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present utility model and are not used to limit the present utility model. For those skilled in the art, the present utility model can have various changes and modifications. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present utility model shall be included in the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A relay device for a ship container monitoring system, characterized in that: include: A main road and several branch roads; The plurality of branch paths are all connected to a first serial port conversion module, and the first serial port conversion module is connected to the main path via a first isolation chip; The main path transmits the collected signals of the data concentrators of all ship container systems to the main equipment in the driving cab; Each branch includes a second isolation chip, one end of the second isolation chip is connected to a data concentrator arranged in a shipping container, and the other end of the first isolation chip is connected to the first serial port conversion module.

2. A relay device for a ship container monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main circuit includes a third isolation chip, a second serial port conversion module and a fourth isolation chip which are connected in sequence.

3. A relay device for a ship container monitoring system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The first serial port conversion module is a serial port conversion module between the main path and the branch path; The second serial port conversion module is a serial port conversion module between the main path and the main path.

4. A relay device for a ship container monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first isolation chip is connected to the third isolation chip or the fourth isolation chip of the main circuit.

5. A relay device for a ship container monitoring system as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: The first isolation chip, the second isolation chip, the third isolation chip and the fourth isolation chip all adopt RS485 isolation chips.

6. A relay device for a ship container monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The data concentrator in the ship container is an RS485 sub-device; The second isolation chip of each branch adopts a point-to-point communication mode with the RS485 sub-device at the remote end.

7. A relay device for a ship container monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first serial port conversion module includes a first driver and a third driver. The TX pin of the main path is connected to the first driver. After the driving capability is enhanced by the driver, it is sent to the serial port RX pins of all the branches. At the same time, the TX signal of the main path is used as an enable control signal. After passing through the third driver, the second isolation chips of all the branches are enabled to perform main path transmission and branch path reception.

8. A relay device for a ship container monitoring system as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that: The first serial port conversion module also includes a second driver. The TX pin of the second isolation chip of the branch is sent to the serial port RX pin of the first isolation chip of the main road after the driving capability is enhanced by the second driver. At the same time, the RX signal of the main road is used as an enable control signal. After passing through the third driver, the first isolation chip of the main road is enabled to perform branch transmission and main road reception.

9. A relay device for a ship container monitoring system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The second serial port conversion module includes a fourth driver. The signal of the main path is sent to the RX pin of the fourth isolation chip of the main path through the TX pin of the third isolation chip. At the same time, the TX signal of the main path is used as an enable control signal. After passing through the fourth driver, the fourth isolation chip of the main path is enabled to communicate between the main paths.

10. A ship container monitoring system, characterized in that: It includes a relay device, a data concentrator arranged in the cargo hold of a container ship, and a main device arranged in the cab; The relay device adopts the relay device described in any one of claims 1-9.

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