Self-contained tide gauge with positioning and data remote transmission function

Abstract

A self-contained tide gauge with positioning and data remote transmission function, including shell and pressure sensor, data acquisition and processing unit, storage unit, Beidou positioning communication unit and power supply unit arranged in the shell, the data acquisition and processing unit includes signal conversion device and signal amplifier, the signal conversion device is electrically connected with the pressure sensor, the signal amplifier is electrically connected with the signal conversion device, the storage unit is electrically connected with the signal amplifier, the Beidou positioning communication unit receives Beidou navigation satellite signal to realize positioning, and transmits positioning data and pressure data to the onshore control end through Beidou short message service, and the power supply unit is electrically connected with other components.The utility model discloses through increasing Beidou communication module, through Beidou short message to the onshore control end position information of self-contained tide gauge is sent in time and the tide level data of continuous back transmission acquisition is guaranteed, and the abnormality such as the instrument can be timely and effectively recovered after being fished out of water by fishing net and so on the tide data of acquisition is verified.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of tide gauge technology, and in particular to a self-contained tide gauge with positioning and remote data transmission functions. Background Technology

[0002] In marine engineering development and nautical chart surveying, synchronous or fixed-point tide gauges are necessary for effective tide level control. The common practice is to set up a fixed-point tide gauge station at a flat location in a selected sea area, and then deploy a self-contained tide gauge on the seabed, fixed to a base. After a month or longer of data collection, the base and the tide gauge equipment are retrieved together. However, during data collection, the seabed base and tide gauge equipment are susceptible to trawling operations by passing fishing vessels, causing the equipment to shift underwater or be brought to the surface, resulting in its loss. More importantly, the collected tide level data cannot be retrieved on time. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention aims to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing a self-contained tide gauge with positioning and remote data transmission functions.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] A self-contained tide gauge with positioning and remote data transmission functions includes a shell and a pressure sensor, a data acquisition and processing unit, a storage unit, a Beidou positioning and communication unit, and a power supply unit disposed within the shell. The data acquisition and processing unit includes a signal conversion device and a signal amplifier. The signal conversion device is electrically connected to the pressure sensor, the signal amplifier is electrically connected to the signal conversion device, and the storage unit is electrically connected to the signal amplifier. The Beidou positioning and communication unit receives Beidou navigation satellite signals to achieve positioning and transmits positioning data and pressure data to the shore control terminal through the Beidou short message service. The power supply unit is electrically connected to the pressure sensor, the signal conversion device, the signal amplifier, the storage unit, and the Beidou positioning and communication unit.

[0006] The pressure sensor is a high-precision quartz crystal sensor or a strain gauge sensor, and it has a temperature compensation function.

[0007] The pressure sensor includes a silicon diaphragm or a metal strain gauge, and the surface of the silicon diaphragm or metal strain gauge is provided with a piezoresistive resistor of a Wheatstone bridge structure.

[0008] The signal conversion device is used to convert the resistance change caused by the pressure deformation of the piezoresistor into an unbalanced voltage signal.

[0009] The aforementioned signal amplifier amplifies, compensates for, and calibrates the unbalanced voltage signal, outputting a standard electrical signal.

[0010] The storage unit is used to store pressure data corresponding to standard electrical signals, and the storage unit stores pressure data at preset time intervals.

[0011] The outer shell is made of corrosion-resistant titanium alloy or 316 stainless steel.

[0012] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: By adding a Beidou communication module, after the tide gauge is retrieved from the water, the Beidou communication module is activated based on the sensing of its own pressure sensor. The self-contained tide gauge location information is sent to the shore control terminal in a timely manner through Beidou short messages, and the collected tide level data is continuously transmitted back. This ensures that the collected tide data can be retrieved in a timely and effective manner after the instrument is accidentally retrieved from the water by fishing nets or other abnormalities. The instrument can even be found by the location data sent back by the tide gauge, thus reducing losses. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structural framework of this utility model;

[0014] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the workflow of this utility model;

[0015] In the diagram: 1-Pressure sensor; 2-Signal conversion device; 3-Signal amplifier; 4-Storage unit; 5-BeiDou positioning and communication unit; 6-Power supply unit; 7-Housing casing;

[0016] The following will describe in detail the embodiments of this utility model with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments:

[0018] A self-contained tide gauge with positioning and remote data transmission functions includes a housing 7 and a pressure sensor 1, a data acquisition and processing unit, a storage unit 4, a Beidou positioning and communication unit 5, and a power supply unit 6 disposed within the housing 7. The data acquisition and processing unit includes a signal conversion device 2 and a signal amplifier 3. The signal conversion device 2 is electrically connected to the pressure sensor 1, the signal amplifier 3 is electrically connected to the signal conversion device 2, and the storage unit 4 is electrically connected to the signal amplifier 3. The Beidou positioning and communication unit 5 receives Beidou navigation satellite signals to achieve positioning and transmits positioning data and pressure data to the shore control terminal through the Beidou short message service. The power supply unit 6 is electrically connected to the pressure sensor 1, the signal conversion device 2, the signal amplifier 3, the storage unit 4, and the Beidou positioning and communication unit 5.

[0019] The pressure sensor 1 is a high-precision quartz crystal sensor or strain gauge sensor with temperature compensation function. The pressure sensor is the core measuring component. It is a device that converts pressure (force on a unit area) into a measurable electrical signal (usually voltage, current or frequency). Its working principle is mainly based on physical effects. By sensing a certain physical deformation or change caused by pressure, it converts the water pressure signal into an electrical signal. Its output is a voltage, current or digital signal that is proportional to the water depth.

[0020] The pressure sensor 1 includes a silicon diaphragm or a metal strain gauge, and the surface of the silicon diaphragm or the metal strain gauge is provided with a piezoresistive resistor with a Wheatstone bridge structure.

[0021] The signal conversion device 2 is used to convert the resistance change caused by the pressure deformation of the piezoresistor into an unbalanced voltage signal.

[0022] The signal amplifier 3 amplifies, compensates, and calibrates the unbalanced voltage signal, and outputs a standard electrical signal. The signal conditioning circuit in the data acquisition and processing unit amplifies and filters the weak signal output by the sensor, and uses analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to convert the analog signal into a digital signal for the processor to analyze. The microprocessor performs smoothing algorithms and other processing on the acquired pressure data.

[0023] Storage unit 4 is used to store pressure data corresponding to standard electrical signals. Storage unit 4 stores pressure data at preset time intervals.

[0024] The outer shell 7 is made of corrosion-resistant titanium alloy or 316 stainless steel.

[0025] When this invention is in operation, the silicon diaphragm or metal strain gauge of the pressure sensor 1 undergoes slight elastic deformation (bending or stretching / compression) when subjected to mechanical stress or pressure. In a specific area on the surface of the diaphragm, a Wheatstone bridge structure piezoresistor is fabricated using micromachining technology. The deformation of the diaphragm causes these piezoresistors to strain, thereby changing their resistance value. The signal converter 2 converts the slight change in resistance into an unbalanced change in voltage output. The weak voltage signal is amplified, compensated, and calibrated by the subsequent signal amplifier 3 before outputting a standard electrical signal. The standard electrical signal is then converted into pressure data and stored in the storage unit 4 at certain time intervals. When the self-contained tide gauge is below the water surface, the Beidou positioning and communication unit 5 will not be activated. When the pressure data of the pressure sensor 1 is close to the standard atmospheric pressure (a threshold is set to determine if the instrument has emerged from the water), the power supply system 6 uses a lithium battery to provide power. At this time, the power supply unit 6 starts to supply power to the Beidou positioning and communication unit 5, which then begins to search for Beidou satellite signals and perform positioning. The location information and the acquired pressure data are remotely transmitted to the shore control terminal via Beidou short messages. The time interval for transmitting back tide data can be set, such as one data point every half hour, to ensure that the collected tide data can be retrieved in a timely and effective manner if the instrument is accidentally pulled out of the water by fishing nets or other abnormalities. The instrument can even be located using the location data sent back by the tide gauge, thus reducing losses.

[0026] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0027] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0028] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0029] The present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the specific implementation of the present invention is not limited to the above-described manner. Any improvements made using the inventive concept and technical solution of the present invention, or direct application to other situations without modification, are all within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A self-contained tide gauge with positioning and remote data transmission functions, characterized in that, The system includes a housing (7) and a pressure sensor (1), a data acquisition and processing unit, a storage unit (4), a Beidou positioning and communication unit (5), and a power supply unit (6) installed inside the housing (7). The data acquisition and processing unit includes a signal conversion device (2) and a signal amplifier (3). The signal conversion device (2) is electrically connected to the pressure sensor (1), the signal amplifier (3) is electrically connected to the signal conversion device (2), and the storage unit (4) is electrically connected to the signal amplifier (3). The Beidou positioning and communication unit (5) receives Beidou navigation satellite signals to achieve positioning and transmits positioning data and pressure data to the shore control terminal through the Beidou short message service. The power supply unit (6) is electrically connected to the pressure sensor (1), the signal conversion device (2), the signal amplifier (3), the storage unit (4), and the Beidou positioning and communication unit (5), respectively.

2. The self-contained tide gauge with positioning and remote data transmission functions according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure sensor (1) is a high-precision quartz crystal sensor or a strain gauge sensor, and has a temperature compensation function.

3. A self-contained tide gauge with positioning and remote data transmission functions according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pressure sensor (1) includes a silicon diaphragm or a metal strain gauge, and the surface of the silicon diaphragm or the metal strain gauge is provided with a piezoresistive resistor of a Wheatstone bridge structure.

4. A self-contained tide gauge with positioning and remote data transmission functions according to claim 3, characterized in that, The signal conversion device (2) is used to convert the resistance change generated by the pressure deformation of the pressure-sensitive resistor into an unbalanced voltage signal.

5. A self-contained tide gauge with positioning and remote data transmission functions according to claim 4, characterized in that, The signal amplifier (3) amplifies, compensates and calibrates the unbalanced voltage signal and outputs a standard electrical signal.

6. A self-contained tide gauge with positioning and remote data transmission functions according to claim 5, characterized in that, The storage unit (4) is used to store pressure data corresponding to the standard electrical signal. The storage unit (4) stores the pressure data at a preset time interval.

7. A self-contained tide gauge with positioning and remote data transmission functions according to claim 6, characterized in that, The outer shell (7) is made of titanium alloy or 316 stainless steel.

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