Low-power-consumption combustible gas detector

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of gas detection, and discloses a low-power-consumption combustible gas detector. The objective of the utility model is to solve the technical problems of overhigh power consumption and difficulty in giving consideration to response speed and low power consumption due to the adoption of a continuous power supply mode in a traditional detector in the prior art. The detector comprises a detector main control board, the detector main control board is in communication connection with a sensor module, the sensor module comprises a main control MCU, and the input end of the main control MCU is connected with a gas detection unit and a temperature detection unit; the output end of the power supply unit is respectively connected with the detector main control board and the main control MCU; the master control MCU is an HC32L110 chip, and a PB1 pin of the HC32L110 chip is connected with the power supply unit so as to realize intermittent power supply control of the combustible gas sensor. According to the combustible gas detector, the power consumption of the sensor part is greatly reduced, and the modular sensor structure is convenient to maintain and replace; the differential operational amplifier circuit of the gas sensor has high-precision reference voltage, and reduces the error of gas detection, acquisition and conversion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of gas detection technology, and in particular to a low-power combustible gas detector. Background Technology

[0002] In many factories and hazardous locations, numerous fixed gas detectors are installed, with combustible gas detectors being the most common. These detectors detect combustible gases to prevent combustion and explosion accidents. However, combustible gas detection differs from other toxic gas detection methods, often requiring significant power consumption. Since detectors are typically powered by gas alarm controllers, a single alarm controller can power far fewer combustible gas detectors than other gas detectors. Furthermore, if the connection is bus-type, high power consumption leads to significant voltage drops in the wiring, limiting wiring distance. The high power consumption is primarily due to the high power consumption of the sensor's acquisition and detection section; common combustible gas sensors and circuits consume approximately 380mW. While some infrared and semiconductor sensors have lower power consumption, they are expensive or unstable and cannot replace ordinary combustible gas sensors. Some detectors have large error rates in their sensor signal processing circuits, making them susceptible to interference. In some detectors, the MCU responsible for concentration calculation uses only one power supply, making analog-to-digital conversion prone to errors. To address these issues, we have designed a new technology to target and solve them.

[0003] Chinese patent document 202210354299.5 discloses a combustible gas detector, which includes a valve body, an electromagnetic coil, and a main valve core. The upper end face of the valve body is surrounded by several sets of electromagnetic coils. The upper end face of the inner cavity of the valve body is provided with the main valve core. The inner cavity of the valve body is provided with a pressure relief hole. The top of the pressure relief hole is connected to the moving iron core by a blocking block.

[0004] However, the above solutions have at least the following technical problems during implementation: traditional detectors use continuous power supply, resulting in excessive power consumption, making it difficult to simultaneously achieve both response speed and low power consumption. Therefore, there is an urgent need to propose a low-power combustible gas detector. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above technical problems, this disclosure provides a low-power combustible gas detector, which solves the technical problem that the traditional detectors in the prior art use a continuous power supply method, resulting in excessive power consumption and difficulty in simultaneously achieving response speed and low power consumption.

[0006] This technical solution effectively solves the high power consumption problem of existing combustible gas detectors. Through intermittent power supply technology controlled by MCU, the power consumption is reduced to below 110mW. It adopts a TLV70230 high-efficiency voltage regulator. Traditional solutions start the signal directly from 0V, resulting in large ADC conversion errors. This solution innovatively adopts a differential amplifier circuit with a 0.4V bias, so that the signal always works in the optimal conversion range of 0.4-1.2V. This solution has a built-in calibration parameter memory, realizing plug-and-play functionality and near-zero replacement time. The PB0 pin status detection ensures connection reliability.

[0007] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a low-power combustible gas detector is provided, including a detector main control board. The detector main control board is communicatively connected to at least one sensor module. The sensor module includes a main control MCU. The input terminal of the main control MCU is connected to a gas detection unit and a temperature detection unit. The gas detection unit includes a combustible gas sensor for detecting ambient gas concentration. The combustible gas sensor is connected to a signal amplification and sampling circuit for amplifying the detection signal and converting it into an analog signal within a set voltage range. The temperature detection unit includes a temperature sensor for collecting ambient temperature data. The detector also includes a power supply unit, the output of which is connected to the detector main control board and the main control MCU, respectively.

[0008] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the main control MCU is an HC32L110 chip, and the PB1 pin of the HC32L110 chip is connected to the power supply unit to realize intermittent power supply control for the combustible gas sensor.

[0009] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the power supply unit includes a TLV70230 regulator to convert a 3.3V voltage to a 3.0V voltage.

[0010] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the combustible gas sensor includes a VQ548 sensor.

[0011] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the temperature sensor includes a TC1047 sensor.

[0012] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the signal amplification and sampling circuit includes a bias voltage circuit and a differential amplifier circuit to suppress common-mode interference signals and amplify and output the voltage change signal of the combustible gas sensor. The bias voltage circuit includes a voltage divider circuit, which includes resistors R2, R3, and R4 connected to the input terminal of the AD8607 amplifier and a voltage reference diode U8. The output terminal of the voltage divider circuit is connected to a voltage follower, and the output terminal of the voltage follower is connected to the differential amplifier circuit. The differential amplifier circuit includes resistors R5, R6, R9, and R10 connected to the AD8607 amplifier. The output terminal of the differential amplifier circuit is connected to the analog input terminal of the main control MCU.

[0013] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the main control MCU is connected to the detector main control board via serial communication, and the main control MCU is connected to the in-place status signal via the PB0 network label output module to detect the insertion or removal status of the module.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0015] The power consumption of the combustible gas detector sensor is greatly reduced, which in turn reduces the overall power consumption of the detector. The same power supply system, such as the gas alarm controller, can power more detectors. If a 485 bus connection is used, the bus voltage drop is relatively small, and the wiring distance is longer. The modular sensor structure facilitates maintenance and replacement. The differential operational amplifier circuit of the gas sensor and the high-precision reference voltage reduce the error of gas detection, acquisition and conversion.

[0016] Employing an intermittent power supply control scheme, the main control MCU precisely controls the power supply timing of the combustible gas sensor, significantly reducing the overall system power consumption to below 110mW. An innovative differential amplifier circuit design, coupled with a 0.4V bias voltage, effectively suppresses common-mode interference, ensuring the gas concentration detection signal remains within the optimal conversion range of 0.4V-1.2V, thus improving ADC sampling accuracy. The modular design enables plug-and-play functionality; the sensor module has a built-in calibration parameter memory, automatically adapting upon replacement without manual recalibration. An independent 3.0V high-precision reference voltage design reduces ADC conversion errors and improves detection accuracy. A comprehensive communication protocol and status indication mechanism support hot-swapping, facilitating system maintenance and expansion. An optimized power management architecture, through multi-stage voltage regulation and filtering, ensures stable operation of each functional unit. A high-performance, cost-effective combination of dedicated chips is used, ensuring performance while controlling costs. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 Block diagram of a low-power combustible gas detector;

[0018] Figure 2 This is the circuit schematic of the main control board for the sensor module.

[0019] Figure 3 This is the circuit schematic of the sensor module; Detailed Implementation

[0020] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit the present invention. Example 1

[0021] This example discloses a low-power combustible gas detector; see [link to relevant documentation]. Figures 1 to 3The system includes a detector main control board, which is communicatively connected to at least one sensor module. Each sensor module includes a main control MCU. The input terminals of the main control MCU are connected to a gas detection unit and a temperature detection unit. The gas detection unit includes a combustible gas sensor for detecting ambient gas concentration. The combustible gas sensor is connected to a signal amplification and sampling circuit for amplifying the detection signal and converting it into an analog signal within a set voltage range. The temperature detection unit includes a temperature sensor for collecting ambient temperature data. The system also includes a power supply unit, whose output terminals are connected to both the detector main control board and the main control MCU.

[0022] The main control MCU is an HC32L110 chip. The PB1 pin of the HC32L110 chip is connected to the power supply unit to realize intermittent power supply control for the combustible gas sensor.

[0023] The power supply unit includes a TLV70230 voltage regulator to convert 3.3V voltage to 3.0V voltage.

[0024] The combustible gas sensor includes the VQ548 sensor.

[0025] The temperature sensor includes a TC1047 sensor.

[0026] The signal amplification and sampling circuit includes a bias voltage circuit and a differential amplifier circuit to suppress common-mode interference signals and amplify and output the voltage change signal of the combustible gas sensor. The bias voltage circuit includes a voltage divider circuit, which includes resistors R2, R3, and R4 connected to the input terminal of the AD8607 amplifier and a voltage reference diode U8. The output terminal of the voltage divider circuit is connected to a voltage follower, and the output terminal of the voltage follower is connected to the differential amplifier circuit. The differential amplifier circuit includes resistors R5, R6, R9, and R10 connected to the AD8607 amplifier. The output terminal of the differential amplifier circuit is connected to the analog input terminal of the main control MCU.

[0027] The main control MCU is connected to the detector main control board via serial communication. The main control MCU is connected to the positioning status signal through the PB0 network label output module to detect the insertion or removal status of the module.

[0028] During operation, all components work together to achieve efficient detection and monitoring of ambient combustible gas concentration and temperature. The following is a detailed description of its operation: The TLV70230 regulator in the power supply unit converts the input 3.3V voltage to 3.0V, providing a stable power supply to the sensor module. The main control MCU (HC32L110 chip) controls the power supply to the combustible gas sensor (VQ548) through its PB1 pin. Intermittent power supply control significantly reduces the sensor's power consumption in non-operating states, extending the device's lifespan. The combustible gas sensor (VQ548) detects the concentration of combustible gas in the environment and converts the detected gas concentration signal into an electrical signal. A voltage divider circuit (composed of resistors R2, R3, R4 and voltage reference diode U8) provides a stable bias voltage to the combustible gas sensor, ensuring that the sensor operates under optimal conditions. A voltage follower buffers the output signal of the voltage divider circuit to prevent signal interference during transmission. A differential amplifier circuit (composed of an AD8607 amplifier and resistors R5, R6, R9, and R10) amplifies the voltage change signal from the sensor and effectively suppresses common-mode interference, thereby improving signal quality and stability. The amplified and processed signal is converted into an analog signal within a set voltage range and output to the analog input of the main control MCU. A temperature sensor (TC1047) collects ambient temperature data and converts it into an electrical signal. The output signal of the temperature sensor is input to the analog input of the main control MCU for further processing and analysis. The main control MCU (HC32L110 chip) receives analog signals from the gas detection unit and the temperature detection unit and converts these analog signals into digital signals using its internal analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The main control MCU processes and analyzes the converted digital signals to determine whether the concentration and temperature of combustible gas in the environment exceed preset safety thresholds. The main control MCU outputs a module connection status signal through the PB0 network label to detect the insertion or removal status of the sensor module, ensuring proper module connection.

[0029] The functional structure of the low-power combustible gas detector sensor module circuit of this invention is shown in the system block diagram. The 3.3V power supply from the gas detector main control board directly powers the sensor module MCU, temperature sensor, etc. The reference voltage regulator circuit converts it to 3.0V to provide a high-precision voltage reference for the MCU. The gas sensor power conversion control circuit provides the sensor with a 3.0V power supply voltage. The gas sensor module MCU, as the control center, is responsible for data acquisition and calculation. It transmits gas concentration and status information to the detector main control board through the serial port, outputs voltage signals through the I / O port to transmit the module connection status information, and controls the gas sensor power conversion through the I / O port to achieve power supply control and power consumption control. The gas sensor amplification and sampling circuit is responsible for amplifying and processing the small signal from the combustible gas sensor into a voltage signal within a suitable range.

[0030] 1. This invention selects the SS1 combustible gas sensor, which has a low inherent current. The PB1 network label of the MCU controls the converter U5 on the sensor module's small board to supply power to the gas sensor in a pulse manner. The turn-on time and cycle meet the sensor's detection requirements, maintain detection stability, and reduce the module's power consumption to approximately 110mW. The time parameter is adjustable, and other power consumption can be configured, but stability and response speed must be tested to ensure their effectiveness.

[0031] 2. The sensor amplification circuit of this invention employs a differential amplifier circuit with a bias voltage, ensuring the output voltage is within a suitable range of 0.4V-1.2V, rather than starting from 0V. This is suitable for analog-to-digital conversion by the MCU (where conversion errors are generally large at the zero point). On the sensor module's small board, R2, R3, R4, and U8 provide a voltage of 0.4V through voltage regulation and division. This voltage is then passed through operational amplifier U6 and fed to the VER network label as the bias voltage, which is the starting point of the output voltage at 0.4V. R5, R6, R9, R10, and U6 form a differential operational amplifier circuit, which effectively suppresses common-mode interference signals and amplifies the voltage change signal from the gas sensor for output.

[0032] 3. This invention employs a modular sensor structure, allowing for interchangeability. Each module comes with its own set of gas parameters and calibration information, enabling installation on different detectors without the need for parameter readjustment or calibration. The MCU establishes a communication connection with the detector's main control board via the serial port's TX and RX pins to send and receive data. The MCU outputs a module connection status signal via the PB0 network label, enabling hot-swapping of the modules.

[0033] 4. This invention employs an independent analog reference voltage, resulting in smaller MCU analog-to-digital conversion errors. On the sensor module's main control board, high-precision voltage regulators R1, C1, and U3 output a 3.0V voltage to the MCU's analog reference voltage port.

[0034] Although some preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and modifications falling within the scope of the present invention.

[0035] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, if these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this utility model also intends to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A low-power combustible gas detector, characterized in that: The system includes a detector main control board, which is communicatively connected to at least one sensor module. Each sensor module includes a main control MCU. The input terminals of the main control MCU are connected to a gas detection unit and a temperature detection unit. The gas detection unit includes a combustible gas sensor for detecting ambient gas concentration. The combustible gas sensor is connected to a signal amplification and sampling circuit to amplify the detected signal and convert it into an analog signal within a set voltage range. The temperature detection unit includes a temperature sensor for collecting ambient temperature data. The system also includes a power supply unit, whose output terminals are connected to both the detector main control board and the main control MCU. The main control MCU is an HC32L110 chip, and the PB1 pin of the HC32L110 chip is connected to the power supply unit to achieve intermittent power supply control for the combustible gas sensor.

2. The low-power combustible gas detector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The power supply unit includes a TLV70230 voltage regulator to convert 3.3V voltage to 3.0V voltage.

3. The low-power combustible gas detector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The combustible gas sensor includes the VQ548 sensor.

4. The low-power combustible gas detector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The temperature sensor includes a TC1047 sensor.

5. The low-power combustible gas detector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The signal amplification and sampling circuit includes a bias voltage circuit and a differential amplifier circuit to suppress common-mode interference signals and amplify and output the voltage change signal of the combustible gas sensor. The bias voltage circuit includes a voltage divider circuit, which includes resistors R2, R3, and R4 connected to the input terminal of the AD8607 amplifier and a voltage reference diode U8. The output terminal of the voltage divider circuit is connected to a voltage follower, and the output terminal of the voltage follower is connected to the differential amplifier circuit. The differential amplifier circuit includes resistors R5, R6, R9, and R10 connected to the AD8607 amplifier. The output terminal of the differential amplifier circuit is connected to the analog input terminal of the main control MCU.

6. The low-power combustible gas detector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The main control MCU is connected to the detector main control board via serial communication. The main control MCU is connected to the positioning status signal through the PB0 network label output module to detect the insertion or removal status of the module.

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