Multifunctional industrial remote controller

By designing a multifunctional industrial remote control that supports regional master-slave control, and using regional selection switches and Bluetooth modules to enable multiple remote controls to control one device, the problem of multi-point control in existing technologies is solved, and construction efficiency and safety are improved.

CN223333421UActive Publication Date: 2025-09-12CHINA RAILWAY ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT GROUP CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202422749040.8
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-11-12
Publication Date
2025-09-12
Estimated Expiration
2034-11-12

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing industrial remote controls cannot simultaneously control a device with multiple remote controls, causing inconvenience and construction risks for operators in a multi-point control environment.

Method used

A multifunctional industrial remote control is designed to support regional master-slave control. Multiple remote controls can simultaneously control the same device through a regional selection switch, a master-slave selection module, and a slave enable switch. The Bluetooth module is used for data communication and control rights distribution.

Benefits of technology

It achieves efficient operation of equipment in a multi-point control environment, improves construction efficiency and safety, reduces transmitter pickup time, and reduces construction risks.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The utility model provides a multifunctional industrial remote controller which is used for solving the technical problem that in the prior art, a plurality of remote controllers cannot control one device at the same time. The device comprises a shell, a single chip microcomputer is arranged in the shell, a key area, an area selection switch, a master-slave selection module and a slave enable switch are arranged on the shell, the key area, the area selection switch, the master-slave selection module and the slave enable switch are all connected with the single chip microcomputer, the area selection switch is connected with the key area, and the slave enable switch is connected with the master-slave selection module. The single-chip microcomputer is connected with the communication module. According to the utility model, the reusability of the remote controller transmitter can be obviously improved, the taking time of different transmitters is reduced, and the construction efficiency is improved; multi-point control of the same equipment can be achieved, the problem that large equipment cannot be controlled at the same position can be solved, and construction safety is improved.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of tunnel construction, in particular to a multifunctional industrial remote controller. Background Art

[0002] An industrial remote control consists of a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter typically consists of several physical buttons and is operated by a human operator. The receiver is typically fixed in a specific location and connected to a programmable logic controller (PLC) or other device. The transmitter and receiver exchange data one-to-one via wireless communication (433 MHz) for control and feedback.

[0003] Tunnel boring machines are large-scale engineering machinery that integrates excavation and support. The equipment controlled by the remote control may be as high as 10 meters. Some operations require observation and operation from multiple positions. The current remote control only supports one transmitter to control the corresponding equipment, and it is impossible to realize the situation where multiple transmitters can control a single equipment at the same time. This brings great inconvenience to operators and increases construction risks.

[0004] In recent years, there has been a surge in research on function reuse, such as patent application number 202210453168.2, which describes a method for reusing functions in an in-vehicle microphone, and patent application number 202011587057.8, which describes a multifunctional multiplexing communication module and its control method and MCU. These patents primarily address the internal circuitry of electronic devices, reusing portions of circuits or functional modules. For example, patent application number 202122274413.7 describes a multiplexing remote control, where a single transmitter corresponds to multiple receivers, enabling control of multiple controlled devices. This patented method and structure are simple and are limited to controlling household appliances such as televisions. Patent application number 202010528900.9 describes a method for configuring a multifunctional universal controller. This patent integrates multiple functional modules into a controller, assigns hardwired addresses based on demand, and then programs and downloads the controller. However, since multiple remote controls share the same hardware, as many remote controls with the same hardware are required as the number of systems. This reduces the number of controller types, but not the number of controllers. Therefore, the design of a multifunctional industrial remote control capable of simultaneous multi-point control is crucial. Utility Model Content

[0005] In response to the technical problem in the existing technology that multiple remote controls cannot control a device at the same time, the utility model proposes a multifunctional industrial remote control that supports regional master-slave control and can enable multiple remote controls to control the same device at the same time. It is suitable for operating environments that require multi-point simultaneous control.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the technical solution of the present invention is implemented as follows: a multifunctional industrial remote control includes a shell, a single-chip microcomputer is provided in the shell, and a key area, a zone selection switch, a master-slave selection module and a slave enable switch are provided on the shell. The key area, the zone selection switch, the master-slave selection module and the slave enable switch are all connected to the single-chip microcomputer, the zone selection switch is connected to the key area, and the single-chip microcomputer is connected to the communication module.

[0007] Preferably, the key area includes a plurality of areas, each area is provided with a different area ID, and the area ID is used to transfer the corresponding control right of the master to the corresponding key area of ​​the slave.

[0008] Preferably, different types and numbers of buttons are provided in each area, and areas with the same number of buttons of the same type have the same area ID, so that corresponding control can be performed.

[0009] Preferably, there are at least two slave enabling switches for controlling whether to perform a pairing connection and whether to control a corresponding device.

[0010] Preferably, a status indication module is provided on the housing, and the status indication module is connected to the single chip microcomputer.

[0011] Preferably, the state indication module includes LED lights connected to the single chip microcomputer, and the number of the LED lights is the same as the number of the slave enable switches. Different states are indicated according to different slave enable switches.

[0012] Preferably, the LED light has four states: flashing at 0.5s intervals, flashing at 1s intervals, always on, and off.

[0013] Preferably, the master-slave selection module is a master-slave selection switch, and the master-slave selection switch is a single-pole double-position switch, which can select whether the corresponding industrial remote control is a master or a slave.

[0014] Preferably, the communication module includes an antenna communication module and a wireless communication module, both of which are connected to the single-chip microcomputer, an antenna is provided on the shell, the antenna communication module is connected to the antenna, and the wireless communication module is used for data communication between the host and the slave.

[0015] Preferably, the single chip microcomputer is connected to a battery management module, and the battery management module is connected to the battery.

[0016] Compared to existing industrial remote controls in tunnel construction, this new device offers the following advantages: the master can assign control of multiple control zones to slaves. Once the slaves complete control, the master reclaims control and resumes control. This allows for equipment operation in environments requiring simultaneous observation from multiple locations, enabling the same device to be controlled by multiple remote controls, improving construction efficiency and ensuring safety. This new device significantly increases the reusability of remote control transmitters, reducing the time required to retrieve different transmitters and improving construction efficiency. It also enables multi-point control of the same device, addressing the challenge of large equipment being unable to be controlled from a single location and enhancing construction safety. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0018] Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of the present utility model.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the search and pairing process of the master and slave devices of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the pairing process of the present invention.

[0021] In the figure, 1 is the housing, 2 is the single chip microcomputer, 3 is the key area, 4 is the area selection switch, 5 is the master-slave selection module, 6 is the slave enable switch, and 7 is the status indication module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, a multifunctional industrial remote control includes a housing 1, in which a single-chip microcomputer 2 is disposed. The housing 1 is provided with a key area 3, a region selection switch 4, a master-slave selection module 5, and a slave enable switch 6. The key area 3, the region selection switch 4, the master-slave selection module 5, and the slave enable switch 6 are all connected to the single-chip microcomputer 2, the region selection switch 4 is connected to the key area 3, and the single-chip microcomputer 2 is connected to the wireless communication module.

[0024] Furthermore, the single-chip microcomputer 2 is connected to a battery management module, which is in turn connected to a battery. The battery is used to power the remote control, and the power management module is used to manage the power supply to the entire remote control. The power management module is a TPS5430 power chip. The communication module includes an antenna communication module and a wireless communication module, both of which are connected to the single-chip microcomputer. The housing is provided with an antenna, and the antenna communication module is connected to the antenna. The wireless communication module is used for data communication between the master and slave devices. In this embodiment, the wireless communication module is preferably a Bluetooth module. The single-chip microcomputer 2 is used to run the control and data transmission and reception logic of the remote control. The single-chip microcomputer 2 is an STM32F103VFT6. The control of the single-chip microcomputer 2 includes processing key events, master-slave control logic, and status display logic. The master-slave selection module 5 is used to select whether the remote control functions as a master or slave during multi-point control, and is used to configure the remote control in master or slave mode. The master-slave selection module 5 is a master-slave selection switch, a single-pole double-position switch, that switches between master and slave modes. The zone selector switch 4 is used to select the zone requiring multi-point control. Each zone in the key area 3 is preset with a fixed zone number (different from the zone ID, which is used to match two devices to the same zone during wireless communication). The zone selector switch 4 is rotated to the corresponding number to select the key area with the corresponding zone number. The slave enable switch 6 is a combination of multiple buttons that controls the pairing and disconnection between the master and slave devices. The slave enable switch 6 is connected to the microcontroller, which activates and deactivates the Bluetooth module after recognizing the key signal from the slave enable switch 6. The slave enable switch 6 can also activate and deactivate the Bluetooth module. The antenna communication module transmits remote control data and communicates with the control device. The Bluetooth module is used for data communication and interaction between the master and slave remote controls. The antenna communication module is SX1268, and the Bluetooth module is a BLE-CC2541 Bluetooth chip. The status indicator module indicates the master-slave communication status.

[0025] As an optional implementation of the present invention, the Bluetooth module can also use WiFi or wired methods to transmit signals. However, due to the characteristics of many obstacles and complex construction conditions at the construction site, it is more practical to use wireless transmission signals such as Bluetooth / WiFi.

[0026] Furthermore, the button area 3 includes multiple areas, such as Figure 1Areas 1, 2, 3, and so on, each have a different area ID. Each area has different button types and numbers. Areas with the same number of buttons and combinations of the same type have the same area ID. Conventional industrial remote controls consist of a number of buttons, dials, knobs, joysticks, and other components. This utility model divides the buttons in area 3 into different areas (1-n) based on functional requirements. Different areas have different button types and numbers, and these areas are distinguished by area IDs. Areas with the same number of buttons and combinations of the same type have the same ID. Remote controls in this utility model can be paired for multi-point control as long as their area IDs are the same.

[0027] The housing 1 is provided with a status indicator module 7, which is connected to the single-chip microcomputer 2 and is used to indicate the communication status between the master and slave devices. The number of slave enable switches 6 is set to at least two. The status indicator module 7 includes LED lights, which are connected to the single-chip microcomputer 2. The number of LED lights is the same as the number of slave enable switches 6. The LED lights have four states: flashing at intervals of 0.5s, flashing at intervals of 1s, constantly on, and off. They are used to indicate the operating status of the antenna and Bluetooth (searching (0.5s interval flashing quickly), pairing (1s interval flashing), working (constantly on), disconnecting (off)). Each slave enable switch 6 has a corresponding LED light in the status indicator module 7, which is used to display the slave enable status, including searching, pairing, connecting, and disconnecting. The searching state LED light flashes at intervals of 0.5s, the pairing state LED light flashes at intervals of 1s, the connecting state LED light is constantly on, and the disconnecting state LED light is off. The initial state of slave enable switch 6 is disconnected. If a paired device already exists, it enters the pairing state. A long press (5 seconds) of slave enable switch 6 clears the currently paired device and enters the search state. A short press of slave enable switch 6 establishes a connection with the paired device. If the connection is successful, it enters the connected state; otherwise, the pairing state remains unchanged. In the connected state, a short press of slave enable switch 6 disconnects the device and enters the pairing state. The disconnected state indicates that the device has no paired device. The paired state indicates that a paired device exists but a connection has not been established. The connected state indicates that a connection has been established with the paired device and normal data communication is occurring. When the slave enable switch is in the connected state, control of the corresponding zone is controlled by the slave; otherwise, control is controlled by the master. The master can actively disconnect or connect a slave using slave enable switch 6. A slave can only passively connect and disconnect actively or passively.

[0028] In the multifunctional remote control of the present invention, as described above, one remote control is configured as the master and one remote control as the first slave. The master selects zone 101 requiring multi-point control via zone selector switch 4. At this time, the master's slave enable switch 6 is long-pressed. The master enters search and pairing mode for zone 101 via the Bluetooth module. The first slave selects zone 201, the same as the master, via zone selector switch 4. The slave enable switch 6 on the first slave is long-pressed. At this time, the first slave enters pairing mode for zone 201 via the Bluetooth module, sending the pairing zone ID and device ID. When the master's Bluetooth module finds a matching zone ID, it records the device ID, completing the master-slave pairing. Repeating this process completes multi-zone configuration. After configuration is complete, the host selects the area 101 that requires multi-point control through the area selection switch 4. At this time, the LED light of the status indicator module 7 corresponding to the slave enable switch 6 that has completed the pairing of the slave in this area will enter the pairing success state. The host actively establishes a connection with the slave and clicks the host's slave enable switch 6. At this time, the host's single-chip microcomputer controls the Bluetooth module to try to connect with the Bluetooth module of the paired slave. After the connection is successful, the status indicator module 7 enters the connection state. At this time, the control right of the host's area 101 is controlled by the first slave. When the first slave control is no longer needed, the host clicks the corresponding slave enable switch 6 again. At this time, the connection is disconnected and area 101 is controlled by the host. Multiple slaves can be paired with the same area at the same time, but only one slave can have control at the same time (only one can be enabled at the same time).

[0029] This multifunctional industrial remote control communicates data with the controlled device via an antenna communication module. Microcontroller 2 processes and transmits data, which it then packages and sends control commands for different zones to the antenna communication module. The received status data is then processed and distributed to the corresponding zones. When regional control is split between a master and a slave, the master sends regional control commands. The master responds to all status commands, and the slave responds to status commands from the master, effectively controlling the controlled device.

[0030] The power management module is connected to the microcontroller, buttons, etc. to power the system. The microcontroller is used to organize the system logic control. The antenna is used for communication between the remote control and the controlled device. The Bluetooth module is used for communication between the host and slave of the remote control.

[0031] like Figure 2As shown, one remote control switches to host mode and acts as the master. It selects the area requiring multi-point control and uses the LED on the status indicator module 7 to determine whether a slave has been paired. If so, the master's slave enable switch 6 is pressed, and the master's Bluetooth module begins searching for the slave's Bluetooth module and attempts to establish a connection for communication. If the slave is not paired, long-press the master's slave enable switch 6 to enter the search and pairing state. Another remote control switches to slave mode and acts as a slave. It selects the area requiring multi-point control and determines whether it has been paired with the master. If so, it enters the connectable state and pairing mode. If not, long-press the slave's slave enable switch 6 to search for the paired master.

[0032] like Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the pairing logic of the host and the slave is as follows: after the host receives the pairing data through the Bluetooth module, it determines whether the area ID is the same as the area ID currently required to be controlled. If they are the same, the device ID of the slave is saved and the pairing is completed. Otherwise, the search continues.

[0033] Therefore, the present invention enables the same device to be controlled by multiple remote controllers. The master can assign control rights to multiple control areas to slaves. After the slaves complete control, the master reclaims control rights and continues control. This allows for the operation of equipment in environments requiring simultaneous observation from multiple locations, improving construction efficiency and ensuring safety.

[0034] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multifunctional industrial remote control, comprising a housing (1), wherein a single chip microcomputer (2) is provided in the housing (1), characterized in that: The housing (1) is provided with a key area (3), an area selection switch (4), a master-slave selection module (5) and a slave enabling switch (6); the key area (3), the area selection switch (4), the master-slave selection module (5) and the slave enabling switch (6) are all connected to the single-chip microcomputer (2); the area selection switch (4) is connected to the key area (3); and the single-chip microcomputer (2) is connected to the communication module.

2. The multifunctional industrial remote control according to claim 1, characterized in that: The key area (3) includes multiple areas, each area is provided with a different area ID.

3. The multifunctional industrial remote controller according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each area is provided with different button types and button quantities, and areas with the same number of button combinations have the same area ID.

4. The multifunctional industrial remote controller according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The number of the slave enabling switches (6) is set to at least two.

5. The multifunctional industrial remote controller according to claim 4, characterized in that: A status indication module (7) is provided on the housing (1), and the status indication module (7) is connected to the single chip computer (2).

6. The multifunctional industrial remote controller according to claim 5, characterized in that: The state indication module (7) comprises an LED lamp, which is connected to the single chip computer (2), and the number of the LED lamps is the same as the number of the slave enabling switches (6).

7. The multifunctional industrial remote controller according to claim 6, characterized in that: The LED lamp has four states: flashing at 0.5s intervals, flashing at 1s intervals, always on, and off.

8. The multifunctional industrial remote controller according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that: The master-slave selection module (5) is a master-slave selection switch, and the master-slave selection switch is a single-pole double-position switch.

9. The multifunctional industrial remote controller according to claim 8, characterized in that: The communication module includes an antenna communication module and a wireless communication module. Both the antenna communication module and the wireless communication module are connected to the single-chip microcomputer. An antenna is provided on the shell. The antenna communication module is connected to the antenna. The wireless communication module is used for data communication between the host and the slave.

10. The multifunctional industrial remote controller according to claim 9, characterized in that: The single chip computer (2) is connected to a battery management module, and the battery management module is connected to a battery.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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