Hydrological telemetry commissioning system

Abstract

A hydrological telemetry debugging system comprises an interface board, a logic switching board and an upper computer. The interface board is provided with a sensor side and a telemetry terminal side, and the sensor side and the telemetry terminal side are provided with corresponding matching interfaces. Six interfaces are arranged on the sensor side. The hydrological telemetry debugging system can realize no need for disconnection and connection operation during later debugging after one-time installation, and can be matched with a wireless debugging module to realize wireless debugging.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of hydrological telemetry system debugging technology, and specifically relates to a hydrological telemetry debugging system. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrological instruments, such as flow meters and water level gauges, are devices used to measure hydrological data. The sensors in these instruments communicate with the telemetry terminal to transmit data. There are many types of sensors used for hydrological measurement, but common hydrological instruments usually communicate based on RS232 / RS485 / RS422 interfaces.

[0003] In hydrological telemetry, communication is usually based on the standard Modbus protocol or the proprietary protocols of various manufacturers. During the communication process, there are usually two ways for the sensor and the telemetry terminal to communicate: (1) Query type, in which the telemetry terminal first issues a query command, and the sensor responds after receiving the query command; (2) Sensor active reporting type.

[0004] In existing technologies, complex sensors such as flow meters require setting numerous parameters during installation or commissioning. For example, RDI and SonTek flow meters require setting cross-sectional shape, acquisition frequency, and stratification parameters. However, when communicating with the telemetry terminal, the flow meter only needs to report calculated average flow velocity and flow rate information. This means that complex sensors like RDI and SonTek flow meters require a separate connection to a dedicated host computer for debugging and parameter setting during installation, configuration, and commissioning, necessitating disconnection from the telemetry terminal. Furthermore, hydrological instruments are typically installed in equipment boxes on poles along riverbanks, which are usually located high up, making operation inconvenient for commissioning personnel.

[0005] In general, the current hydrological instrument commissioning operations still have the following problems: hydrological instrument commissioning requires carrying a lot of tools; when troubleshooting equipment failures at hydrological monitoring stations, multiple disconnections and reconnections are required, which is cumbersome and prone to errors; some sensors require disconnection and separate connection to a dedicated host computer during routine maintenance; and equipment boxes are usually located at a high position, which poses a higher safety risk during operation.

[0006] Based on the above situation, this application designs a hydrological telemetry debugging system. Utility Model Content

[0007] To address the shortcomings of the existing technology, this utility model provides a hydrological telemetry and commissioning system that allows for wireless commissioning without the need for reconnection or disconnection during subsequent commissioning after initial installation. Furthermore, it can connect to a mobile phone via Bluetooth and a WeChat mini-program for wireless commissioning.

[0008] The present invention is solved by the following technical solution.

[0009] A hydrological telemetry commissioning system includes an interface board, a logic switching board, and a host computer. The interface board has a sensor side and a telemetry terminal side, each with corresponding matching interfaces. The sensor side has six interfaces: sensor side interface 2.1, sensor side interface 2.2, sensor side interface 2.3, sensor side interface 2.4, sensor side interface 2.5, and sensor side interface 2.6. The telemetry terminal side has six corresponding interfaces: telemetry terminal side interface 1.1, telemetry terminal side interface 1.2, telemetry terminal side interface 1.3, and telemetry terminal side interface 14. 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 of the telemetry terminal side interface; the corresponding interfaces of the sensor side and the telemetry terminal side are connected using normally closed contacts of relays, wherein: the sensor side interface 2.1, 2.2 and the telemetry terminal side interface 1.1, 1.2 are connected using power relays; the sensor side interface 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 and the telemetry terminal side interface 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 are connected using normally closed contacts of signal relays.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, sensor-side interface 2.1 and sensor-side interface 2.2 are respectively the positive and negative power supply interfaces; telemetry terminal-side interfaces 1.1 and 1.2 are respectively the positive and negative power supply interfaces; sensor-side interface 2.3 is the Tx signal line of the RS232 signal, or the A signal line of the RS485 signal, or the A signal line of the RS422 signal transmitter of the sensor; telemetry terminal-side interface 1.3 is the Rx signal line of the RS232 signal, or the A signal line of the RS485 signal, or the A signal line of the RS422 signal receiver of the telemetry terminal; sensor-side interface 2.4 is... The remote telemetry terminal interface 1.4 is the Rx signal line for connecting the RS232 signal of the sensor, or the B signal line for the RS485 signal, or the B signal line for the RS422 signal transmitter; the remote telemetry terminal side interface 1.4 is the Tx signal line for connecting the RS232 signal of the remote telemetry terminal, or the B signal line for the RS485 signal, or the B signal line for the RS422 signal receiver; the sensor side interface 2.5 is the A signal for the RS422 signal receiver; the remote telemetry terminal side interface 1.5 is the A signal for the RS422 signal transmitter; the sensor side interface 2.6 is the B signal for the RS422 signal receiver; and the remote telemetry terminal side interface 1.6 is the B signal for the RS422 signal transmitter.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, a current sampling resistor is connected in series in the path of the sensor-side interface 2.1 and / or the telemetry terminal-side interface 1.1 for measuring the current of the power supply.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the logic switching board includes a microcontroller section, which includes a microcontroller chip and a peripheral clock circuit; the relay driving circuit section includes a relay driving circuit on the interface board and a relay and its driving circuit on the logic switching board; the interface circuit section is an RS232 / RS485 / RS422 interface circuit section, which includes an RS232 to TTL chip and peripheral circuit, and an RS485 to TTL chip and peripheral circuit.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the logic switching board includes a voltage and current measurement section for measuring the voltage between the positive and negative power supply interfaces; it also includes a USB-to-dual-serial-port and dual-power-supply circuit section, which employs a converter chip that converts one USB interface to two serial ports. Serial port 1 is connected to a microcontroller and is responsible for receiving instructions sent to the logic switching board from the host computer and reporting various data from the logic switching board to the host computer. Serial port 2 is directly connected to the signal interface of the sensor side or telemetry terminal side on the interface board via one of RS232, RS485, or RS422 conversion circuits, providing a direct serial port path for debugging personnel.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the logic switching board uses a total of nine magnetic latching relays, wherein: two magnetic latching relays are used to enable COM2 to directly connect to a telemetry terminal or sensor via RS232 signal; four magnetic latching relays are used to enable COM2 to directly connect to a telemetry terminal or sensor via RS485 or RS422 signal; one magnetic latching relay is used to enable COM1 to monitor a telemetry terminal or sensor via RS232 signal; and two magnetic latching relays are used to enable COM1 to monitor a telemetry terminal or sensor via RS485 or RS422 signal.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the host computer is a serial port-based host computer on a computer, or a Bluetooth-based mini-program host computer on a mobile phone; the interface board and the logic switching board are connected by a ribbon cable.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: it provides a hydrological telemetry and debugging system that can achieve the operation of disconnecting and reconnecting the wires during subsequent debugging after one installation, and can be equipped with a wireless debugging module to achieve wireless debugging. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection relationship of the various modules in this utility model.

[0018] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the interface board in this utility model.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection relationship of the modules in the logic switching board of this utility model.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the USB to dual serial port and dual power supply circuit section of this utility model.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the voltage and current measurement section in the logic switching board of this utility model.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a circuit diagram of the voltage, current, and power consumption monitoring chip in this utility model.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the design of the microcontroller and the voltage, current and power consumption monitoring chip in this utility model.

[0024] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the indicator lights and interfaces on the logic switching board housing of this utility model.

[0025] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the design of the microcontroller part and peripheral circuits in this utility model.

[0026] Figure 10 This is a partial design diagram of the relay drive circuit in the logic switching board of this utility model. Figure 1 .

[0027] Figure 11 This is a partial design diagram of the relay drive circuit in the logic switching board of this utility model. Figure 2 .

[0028] Figure 12 This is a partial design diagram of the relay drive circuit in the logic switching board of this utility model. Figure 3 .

[0029] Figure 13 This is a partial design diagram of the relay drive circuit in the logic switching board of this utility model. Figure 4 .

[0030] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of an interface for a computer-based host computer.

[0031] Figure 15 A schematic diagram of the interface for a mobile Bluetooth WeChat mini-program host computer. Figure 1 .

[0032] Figure 16 A schematic diagram of the interface for a mobile Bluetooth WeChat mini-program host computer. Figure 2 .

[0033] Figure 17 A schematic diagram of the interface for a mobile Bluetooth WeChat mini-program host computer. Figure 3 .

[0034] Figure 18 A schematic diagram of the interface for a mobile Bluetooth WeChat mini-program host computer. Figure 4 .

[0035] Figure 19 This is a circuit diagram of a traditional radar level gauge station in the existing technology.

[0036] Figure 20 This is a circuit diagram of a radar level gauge station in a specific embodiment of this application.

[0037] Figure 21 This is a control page of a WeChat mini-program on a mobile device in a specific embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0039] In the following embodiments, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0040] See Figures 1 to 21 The present application relates to a hydrological telemetry debugging system, wherein the debugging tool consists of three parts: an interface board, a logic switching board, and a host computer.

[0041] The interface board connects the telemetry terminal and the sensor. It can be installed in a field equipment enclosure. The telemetry terminal side interface connects to the telemetry terminal's output power or system power supply, as well as the communication interface between the telemetry terminal and the sensor. The communication interface supports one of RS232, RS485, or RS422. The sensor side of the interface board connects to the sensor's power supply and communication interface. The communication interface must be the same type as the communication interface connected to the telemetry terminal; that is, if the telemetry terminal uses RS232, the sensor must also use RS232.

[0042] The logic switching board is the core of the entire debugging tool. It is carried by the installation and debugging personnel and connects to the interface board using a 20-pin ribbon cable during debugging. The logic switching board can be debugged using a USB wired connection to a computer or a wireless connection via a WeChat Bluetooth mini-program. Internally, the logic switching board contains a microcontroller and various chips such as RS232 / RS485. Under the control of the host computer, the internal circuitry can be switched to achieve switching and communication between the RS232 / RS485 / RS422 interfaces.

[0043] Both the PC-based host computer and the WeChat mini-program host computer can perform the same debugging functions, but only one of the host computer programs can be used during debugging. The host computer can control the logic switching board to switch between different interfaces and display the voltage and current information of the power supply on the interface board. It can also monitor the communication between the devices on both sides of the interface board or communicate independently with the telemetry terminal or sensor.

[0044] from Figure 2 As can be seen, in this application, the interface board has three types of interfaces: the sensor side connects to sensors (such as flow meters and water level gauges), and the telemetry terminal side connects to telemetry terminals (or PLCs, etc.); six symmetrical interfaces are set on both sides; at the same time, the interface board also has a 20-pin ribbon cable interface, which connects to the logic switching board. In its natural state, that is, when the logic switching board is not connected, the sensor side and the telemetry terminal side are in a direct communication state; in use, it supports the use of one of the following signals: RS232 signal, RS485 signal, and RS422 signal. That is, the communication signal on the telemetry terminal side must be consistent with the signal interface on the sensor side. That is, if the telemetry terminal uses an RS232 signal, the sensor must also use an RS232 signal.

[0045] Specifically, the sensor side is equipped with six interfaces: sensor side interface 2.1, sensor side interface 2.2, sensor side interface 2.3, sensor side interface 2.4, sensor side interface 2.5, and sensor side interface 2.6; the telemetry terminal side is equipped with six corresponding interfaces: telemetry terminal side interface 1.1, telemetry terminal side interface 1.2, telemetry terminal side interface 1.3, telemetry terminal side interface 1.4, telemetry terminal side interface 1.5, and telemetry terminal side interface 1.6.

[0046] The specific settings for the interface are as follows.

[0047] In the interfaces on the telemetry terminal side: Telemetry terminal side interface 1.1 is the positive power supply interface, and telemetry terminal side interface 1.2 is the negative power supply interface. It connects to the output power supply of the telemetry terminal or the system power supply of the telemetry station. Telemetry terminal side interfaces 1.3~1.6 are signal interfaces. Telemetry terminal side interface 1.3 is defined as the Rx signal line connecting to the telemetry terminal's RS232 signal, or the A signal line connecting to the RS485 signal, or the A signal line connecting to the RS422 signal receiver. Telemetry terminal side interface 1.4 is defined as the Tx signal line connecting to the telemetry terminal's RS232 signal, or the B signal line connecting to the RS485 signal, or the B signal line connecting to the RS422 signal receiver. Telemetry terminal side interface 1.5 is defined as the A signal connecting to the RS422 signal transmitter; telemetry terminal side interface 1.6 is defined as the B signal connecting to the RS422 signal transmitter.

[0048] In the sensor-side interfaces: Sensor-side interface 2.1 is the positive power supply interface, and sensor-side interface 2.2 is the negative power supply interface. This connects to the sensor's input power supply. Sensor-side interface 2.3 is defined as the Tx signal line for connecting the sensor's RS232 signal, or the A signal line for connecting the RS485 signal, or the A signal line for connecting the RS422 signal transmitter. Sensor-side interface 2.4 is defined as the Rx signal line for connecting the sensor's RS232 signal, or the B signal line for connecting the RS485 signal, or the B signal line for connecting the RS422 signal transmitter. Sensor-side interface 2.5 is defined as the A signal line for connecting the RS422 signal receiver; sensor-side interface 2.6 is defined as the B signal line for connecting the RS422 signal receiver.

[0049] In this application, within the interface board, the corresponding interfaces on the sensor side and the telemetry terminal side are connected using normally closed contacts of relays. Specifically: Sensor-side interfaces 2.1 and 2.2 are connected to telemetry terminal-side interfaces 1.1 and 1.2 using power relays, which can accommodate switching between 60V DC voltage and 10A current. A 10mΩ current sampling resistor is connected in series in the path between telemetry terminal-side interface 1.1 and sensor-side interface 2.1, which can be used to measure the current at the positive terminal of the power supply. Telemetry terminal-side interfaces 1.3~1.6 are connected to sensor-side interfaces 2.3~2.6 using normally closed contacts of signal relays, which can accommodate switching between 30V voltage and 1A current.

[0050] In this application, all relays use a 5V DC drive voltage, and an LED is connected in parallel at the coil position. When the relay is energized, the LED lights up, indicating that the circuit between the sensor side and the telemetry terminal side has been disconnected and is in an open-circuit state. The interface board consists only of connector terminals and relays, making it extremely low-cost and compact. It can be installed on rails or with mounting ears, and can be installed and configured at each hydrological monitoring station that requires commissioning.

[0051] In addition, in this application, the interface board also has a 20-pin ribbon cable socket. The telemetry terminal side interfaces 1.1 to 1.6 are respectively connected to pins 3.1 to 3.6 of the 20-pin ribbon cable socket, the sensor side interfaces 2.1 to 2.6 are respectively connected to pins 3.7 to 3.12 of the 20-pin ribbon cable socket, and the coils of the three relays are respectively connected to the 20-pin ribbon cable socket, that is, pins 4.1 to 4.6 are respectively connected to pins 3.13 to 3.18.

[0052] The 20-pin ribbon cable between the interface board and the logic switching board has a foolproof design at both ends to prevent reverse insertion, and it also has clips to prevent it from falling off during debugging. On the sensor side of the interface board, there is an optional 120-ohm terminating resistor, which can be enabled or disabled via a jumper cap. The terminating resistor in the communication line matches the characteristic impedance, eliminates signal reflections to improve signal quality, provides a discharge path for parasitic capacitance, and stabilizes the bus idle state.

[0053] In this application, such as Figure 3 As shown, the logic switching board consists of a microcontroller section, a relay drive circuit section, an RS232 / RS485 / RS422 interface circuit section, a voltage and current measurement section, a USB to dual serial port and dual power supply circuit section, a Bluetooth circuit section, and an indicator light module.

[0054] The logic switching board connects to the interface board via a 20-pin ribbon cable interface. The relay drive circuit, RS232 / RS485 / RS422 interface circuit, and voltage / current measurement sections within the logic switching board are internally connected to the pins of the 20-pin ribbon cable interface, allowing control of the relays and monitoring or communication via the communication lines. Furthermore, the logic switching board includes a USB-to-dual serial port chip, enabling wired connection to a host computer via USB. One serial port connects to the microcontroller for command transmission, while the other, switched by a relay, connects to the interface on the interface board for direct communication with sensors or telemetry terminals. The RS232 / RS485 / RS422 circuits on the logic switching board are independent circuits, switchable between microcontroller and serial port modes.

[0055] The logic switching board is also equipped with a Bluetooth chip, which can connect to the WeChat Bluetooth mini-program on the mobile phone via Bluetooth wireless communication.

[0056] like Figure 4As shown, the dual power supply design in this application is as follows: Within the logic switching board, the USB interface power supply is the primary power supply. The 5V+ and 5V- inputs from the USB interface first pass through a 5V isolation power supply chip, converting them into ISO-5V and ISO-GND. ISO-5V and ISO-GND are directly connected to the 5V power supply and GND of the logic switching board. A 9V rechargeable square battery (6F22 type) serves as a backup power supply. After the 9V output passes through a switch, it enters the step-down circuit ASM1117 chip and is converted into 5V. The 5V is connected to the Vin of an ideal diode.

[0057] Without an external USB cable, the 5V level of the USB interface is 0V. When the 9V switch is on, the 9V is stepped down to 5V by the step-down circuit ASM1117. The ideal diode conducts by default between the Vin and OUT pins. The OUT pin is directly connected to the 5V power supply of the logic switching board, that is, the 9V battery powers the logic switching board.

[0058] When the USB port is plugged into the computer's USB port and powered on, the CTRL pin of the ideal diode is at a high level, disconnecting the connection between Vin and OUT, and the logic switching board is powered by the USB's 5V power supply.

[0059] When not in use, the logic switching board can be turned off to save 9V battery power.

[0060] The signal isolation design in this application is as follows: a power and signal isolation scheme is adopted at the USB input end to protect the computer connected to the USB from damage to field equipment during debugging. A 5V isolation power supply chip is used at the 5V power supply end, and the ADUM4160 USB signal isolation chip is used for USB signal display.

[0061] The dual serial port design in this application is as follows: A converter chip, such as the CH342 chip, is used to convert one USB interface to two serial ports. Serial port 1 connects to the microcontroller, responsible for receiving instructions sent from the host computer to the logic switching board and reporting various data from the logic switching board to the host computer. Serial port 2, after passing through various switching circuits, is directly connected to the signal interface on the sensor side or telemetry terminal side of the interface board via one of the RS232, RS485, or RS422 conversion circuits, providing a direct serial port path for debugging personnel.

[0062] like Figure 5 To be continued Figure 7As shown, in the voltage and current measurement section of this application: the voltage, current, and power consumption monitoring chip INA226 communicates with the microcontroller via the IIC bus. The chip's measurement pins are connected to the signal input of the interface board via a 20-pin ribbon cable interface. Specifically, the Vin+ pin of the INA226 chip is connected to pin 3.1 of the 20-pin ribbon cable socket, i.e., connected to the telemetry terminal side 1.1 of the interface board; the Vin- pin of the INA226 chip is connected to pin 3.7 of the 20-pin ribbon cable socket, i.e., connected to the sensor side 2.1 of the interface board; the VBUS pin of the INA226 chip is connected to pin 3.7 of the 20-pin ribbon cable socket, i.e., connected to the sensor side 2.1 of the interface board; and the GND pin of the INA226 chip is connected to pin 3.2 of the 20-pin ribbon cable socket, i.e., connected to the sensor side 1.2 of the interface board.

[0063] The complete circuit diagram of INA226 is attached. Figure 6 As shown in the diagram, resistor R4 is the 10 milliohm resistor between pins 1.1 and 2.1 on the interface board. The INA226 chip measures the voltage difference between VIN+ and VIN-. Using Ohm's law V = I*R, the current through the current sampling resistor R4 can be calculated, which is the current flowing from the positive terminal of the telemetry terminal to the positive terminal of the sensor. The voltage difference between VBUS and GND, i.e., the voltage input to the sensor power supply, is measured. The sensor power is then calculated using the formula P = U*I.

[0064] In this application, the Bluetooth part adopts a low-power Bluetooth to serial port module. Through the Bluetooth module, the WeChat mini program on the mobile phone can directly connect to the logic switching board for control and data communication on the WeChat mini program.

[0065] In this application, the indicator lights and interfaces on the logic switching board housing are shown in the attached diagram. Figure 8 As shown, the indicator module displays the overall system connectivity status through the on / off state of LEDs. The built-in power switch indicator light is on when the built-in power is on; the USB connection indicator light indicates a normal USB connection, flashing indicates a connection error, and being off indicates no USB connection. The Bluetooth connection indicator light is on when the Bluetooth connection is normal, flashing indicates waiting to connect, and being off indicates no connection. The RS232 / RS485 / RS422 communication signal type indicator light has only one indicator light that can be on at any time, indicating the type of communication signal currently being used.

[0066] like Figure 8 As shown, the indicator lights on the telemetry terminal side indicate the communication status of the interface boards currently connected to the logic switching board. For example, if the direct connection mode indicator light is on, it means that serial port 2 of the logic switching board is directly connected to the telemetry terminal side. If the monitoring mode indicator light is on, it means that serial port 1 is working in non-command mode and can be used to monitor data communication on the telemetry terminal side. The sensor-side indicator lights are used similarly to those on the telemetry terminal side.

[0067] like Figure 9 As shown in the attached diagram, in this application, the logic switching board includes a microcontroller section comprising a microcontroller chip and peripheral clock circuits, which can be understood as a minimum microcontroller system. As can be seen from the attached diagram, the microcontroller uses five serial ports: one IIC interface and several GPIO interfaces. Serial port 1 is connected to serial port 1 of the USB-to-serial chip; serial port 2 is connected to the serial port of the low-power Bluetooth-to-serial chip; serial port 3 is used when using a Bluetooth-connected WeChat mini-program host computer. Serial port 3 shares a single serial port signal with serial port 2 of the USB-to-dual-serial chip, and signal switching is performed as needed. Serial port 4 is a monitoring serial port, connected to the TTL-TX pin of the RS232-to-TTL chip 2 or the TTL-TX pin of the RS485-to-TTL chip 2 via an analog switch 6 for monitoring functionality. The microcontroller's serial port 5 is a two-channel monitoring port, connected to the TTL-TX pin of the RS232 to TTL chip 3 or the TTL-TX pin of the RS485 to TTL chip 3 via analog switch 7 for monitoring purposes. The IIC interface is used to connect voltage and current monitoring circuits.

[0068] In this application, a total of three RS232 to TTL chips are used in the logic switching board, numbered RS232 to TTL chip 1, RS232 to TTL chip 2, and RS232 to TTL chip 3. RS232 to TTL chip 1 is responsible for direct pass-through, while RS232 to TTL chip 2 and RS232 to TTL chip 3 are responsible for monitoring. A total of four RS485 to TTL chips are used in the logic switching board, numbered RS485 to TTL chip 1, RS485 to TTL chip 1-1, RS485 to TTL chip 2, and RS485 to TTL chip 3. RS485 to TTL chip 1 is responsible for direct pass-through and, together with RS485 to TTL chip 1-1, achieves RS422 direct pass-through compatibility. RS485 to TTL chip 2 and RS485 to TTL chip 3 are responsible for monitoring.

[0069] In this application, the relays used in the logic switching board are magnetic latching relays, which use pulse-driven operation and do not require holding current, thus achieving energy saving. Specifically, a total of 9 magnetic latching relays are used in the logic switching board, numbered magnetic latching relay 1 to magnetic latching relay 9, as follows: Figures 10 to 13As shown, magnetic latching relays 1 and 2 are responsible for switching the RS232-TX and RS232-RX pins of RS232-to-TTL chip 1 to the sensor side or telemetry terminal side of the interface board, enabling COM2 to directly connect to the telemetry terminal or sensor via RS232 signals. Magnetic latching relays 3-6 are responsible for switching the RS485-A and RS485-B pins of RS485-to-TTL chip 1 and RS485-to-TTL chip 1-1 to the sensor side or telemetry terminal side of the interface board, enabling COM2 to directly connect to the telemetry terminal or sensor via RS485 or RS422 signals. Magnetic latching relay 7 is responsible for switching the RS232-TX and RS232-RX pins of RS232-to-TTL chip 2 and RS232-to-TTL chip 3 to the sensor side or telemetry terminal side of the interface board, enabling COM1 to monitor the telemetry terminal or sensor via RS232 signals. The magnetic latching relays 8 and 9 are responsible for switching the RS485-A and RS485-B pins of the R485 to TTL chip 2 and RS485 to TTL chip 3 to the sensor side or telemetry terminal side of the interface board, so as to realize the function of COM1 listening to the telemetry terminal or sensor with RS485 or RS422 signals.

[0070] There are two types of host computers in this application. The two host computers perform similar functions. One is a serial port-based host computer on a computer, and the other is a WeChat mini-program-based host computer on a mobile phone via Bluetooth.

[0071] The computer-side serial port host computer: After connecting to the computer via USB, two COM port devices can be identified in the Device Manager. The serial port with the smaller COM number is the control serial port (e.g., COM1), whose main function is to send commands from the host computer to the microcontroller in the logic switching board to control relay switching, and to receive various data reported by the logic switching board. COM1's auxiliary function is data monitoring, allowing simultaneous monitoring of both received and transmitted data on the communication bus. The serial port with the larger COM number is the pass-through serial port (e.g., COM2), which can be used as a data pass-through serial port. A dedicated host computer can be used to connect to sensors or telemetry terminals to send or receive data, facilitating debugging and operation.

[0072] The host computer communicates with the logic switching board via COM1, and can configure the switching of the RS232 / RS485 / RS422 interface on the logic switching board. Alternatively, the telemetry terminal or sensor side can be connected separately to COM2. The host computer can read the voltage, current, and power data measured by the sensor on the logic switching board through COM1. After COM1 is configured, COM2 can be used as a regular serial port for other host computers to communicate with sensors or telemetry terminals, such as for communication between a flowmeter host computer and the flowmeter to modify parameters.

[0073] The host computer supports importing and exporting configuration information, and exporting and saving the display of listening information to a file.

[0074] In one specific embodiment, as shown in the appendix Figure 14 As shown: The top row is the menu bar, with "Serial Port Settings", "Import", "Export", "Save", and "HEX / ASCII" function buttons. Among them, "Serial Port Settings" is used to set the port number after the USB is connected to the computer. It is necessary to select the COM connection with a smaller port number. "Import", "Export", and "Save" can be used to import and export the contents of the four function windows below, which makes it convenient for debugging personnel to record the parameter configuration in different environments. When using it again next time, the previous configuration file can be directly imported to restore the previous debugging wiring state.

[0075] "HEX / ASCII" is used to set the format of the characters displayed in "Listen Data Window 1" and "Listen Data Window 2". The characters can be displayed in HEX (hexadecimal) format or ASCII string format.

[0076] Direct Serial Port Settings Window: The "Direct Serial Port Settings" function window is used to set the direct connection method between COM2 and the corresponding device on the interface board. You can choose one of RS232 / RS485 / RS422, and you can choose to connect the device on the sensor side or the telemetry terminal side. At the same time, you can control the power supply status on the interface board and monitor voltage and current data.

[0077] The Serial Port Monitoring Settings window is used to configure the interfaces and connection directions of the two monitoring serial ports on the logic switch board. The monitoring serial ports can only receive data from other devices on the data bus; they cannot send data to the bus. Using the monitoring function allows you to observe the communication status connected to the data bus without affecting the bus's communication.

[0078] Listening data windows 1 and 2: The listening data windows are used to display the data monitored by the serial port. By viewing the data monitored on the bus, it can be determined whether the telemetry terminal and sensors in the hydrological station are working properly.

[0079] Direct connection data receiving and sending window: The direct connection data receiving and sending window can realize the sending and receiving of HEX or ASCII format data, which can be used for simple debugging.

[0080] A specific implementation method for a mobile Bluetooth WeChat mini-program host computer is shown in the attached figure. Figure 15 To be continued Figure 18 As shown, the Bluetooth mini-program has 4 pages: Figure 15 Page 1 is the Bluetooth connection page. Select the corresponding Bluetooth name to connect via Bluetooth. Once the connection is successful, you will enter the control page. Figure 16Page 2 is the control page, where you can click buttons to control and read the connection status on the controllable logic switching board. Its function is similar to the "Direct Serial Port Settings Window" and "Monitoring Serial Port Settings Window" on the computer. Figure 17 Page 3 is the serial port monitoring page, which has the same function as the serial port monitoring settings window in the computer's serial port host computer. Figure 18 Page 4 is the serial communication page, which realizes the data pass-through function with sensors or telemetry terminals. It has the same function as the direct data receiving and sending window of the computer host computer, and supports the import and export of configuration information, as well as the function of exporting the display of listening information to a file for saving.

[0081] The following is a specific implementation: the debugging process of a radar water level station based on an RS485 interface using a WeChat mini-program host computer.

[0082] The circuit diagram of a traditional radar level gauge station is shown in the attached figure. Figure 19 As shown, the battery supplies power to the telemetry terminal and the radar level gauge, and the RS485 signal line of the telemetry terminal is directly connected to the RS485 signal line of the level gauge.

[0083] The installation relationship of the interface board in section 4.3.1 of this application is as follows: Figure 20 As shown, the power supply of the telemetry terminal and the power interfaces (1.1 and 1.2) on the telemetry terminal side of the interface board are connected to the positive and negative terminals (V+ and V-) of the battery via "Power 12V+" and "Power GND". The RS485 communication line of the telemetry terminal is directly connected to the RS485 interfaces (1.3 and 1.4) on the telemetry terminal side of the interface board via "Communication RS485A" and "Communication RS485B". The power input of the radar level gauge is directly connected to the power supply (2.1 and 2.2) on the sensor side of the interface board, and the RS485 communication interface of the radar level gauge is directly connected to the communication interfaces (2.3 and 2.4) on the sensor side of the interface board. At this time, all relays on the interface board are normally closed, that is, the sensor side and the telemetry terminal side are in a direct connection state, and the indicator lights are all off. Supplement: In the wiring of hydrological telemetry stations using sensors with RS232 or RS422 interfaces, the wiring method is similar to that of the radar water level station with RS485, that is, the power supply and communication signals are connected to the telemetry terminal and the sensor through the interface board.

[0084] After the interface board is installed, it can be connected to the logic switching board. As shown in the attached diagram, use a 20-pin ribbon cable to connect the interface board and the logic switching board.

[0085] In this embodiment, Bluetooth wireless debugging is performed using a WeChat mini-program on a mobile phone, therefore the battery power on the logic switching board needs to be turned on. Among the indicator lights on the logic switching board, the built-in power indicator light illuminates when the switch is turned on, the USB connection indicator light is off, and the Bluetooth connection indicator light flashes.

[0086] Open the Bluetooth mini-program on your phone and go to page one, the Bluetooth connection page. Search for nearby Bluetooth devices; "Hydrological Debugging Tool" will appear. Click to connect. After a successful connection, the mini-program will enter the second page, the control page. At this time, the Bluetooth connection indicator light on the logic switching board will be in a constant state.

[0087] After a successful Bluetooth connection, the logic switching board will automatically adjust the circuit data flow of its microcontroller serial ports 1 and 3. The P1 and COM of the microcontroller control module switch 1 will be turned on, and the P1 and COM of the analog switch 2 will be turned on, preparing for the direct serial port to connect to the host computer via Bluetooth. At this time, the analog switches 3, 4, and 5 and the 74HC08D chip 1 will not be activated. This will be further explained when setting RS232 / RS485 / RS422 later.

[0088] The communication direction selection in the direct serial port settings of the mini-program is not set, the relays on the interface board remain in the normally closed state, and the indicator lights on the interface board are all off.

[0089] At this point, the voltage and current values ​​can be directly observed on the mini-program page, as shown in the attached image. Figure 21 As shown, this displays the voltage and current of the power supply line from the telemetry terminal side to the sensor side in the interface board, which represents the current input voltage and operating current of the radar level gauge. The voltage and current readings can be used to initially determine if the radar level gauge's power consumption is normal. For example, if the radar level gauge's rated power is 12V 30mA, and the current program displays a voltage of 12.4V and a current of 200mA, the actual measured voltage is close to the rated voltage, but the actual measured current of 200mA is much greater than the rated current of 30mA. This suggests a preliminary diagnosis of a fault in the radar level gauge.

[0090] During debugging, power control can be set to control the power-on and power-off of the sensor. After modifying the settings in the mini-program, the mini-program sends commands to the logic switching board via Bluetooth. The microcontroller in the logic switching board controls the monostable power relay 1 in the interface board to operate or reset. When the relay operates, the indicator light is on, and the circuit from the telemetry terminal side to the sensor side in the interface board is cut off. When the relay is reset, the indicator light is off, and the circuit from the telemetry terminal side to the sensor side in the interface board is open.

[0091] In this embodiment, serial port operations can be configured in the control page to perform debugging and monitoring tasks. The specific operations are as follows.

[0092] Data monitoring operation: During troubleshooting at hydrological stations, the first step is to determine if the communication between the telemetry terminal and the sensor is normal, typically using a monitoring method. The serial port baud rate is set in the monitoring serial port, such as 9600bps, 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit. After modifying the settings in the mini-program, it will automatically send a command to the logic switching board via Bluetooth. Upon receiving the baud rate setting command from Bluetooth, the microcontroller's serial port 2 on the logic switching board will reinitialize other serial ports, setting them to the corresponding configurations.

[0093] Communication type selection: In this embodiment, the radar level gauge interface is RS485. After the applet is selected, it automatically sends commands to the logic switching board via Bluetooth.

[0094] The logic switching board operates as follows: When switch 6 of the microcontroller control module on the logic switching board is connected to COM, it controls switch 7 to connect to COM. At this time, the receiving pin of the microcontroller's serial port 4 is connected to the TTL-TX pin of the RS485-to-TTL chip 2, meaning the microcontroller's serial port 4 is connected to an RS485 interface signal. The receiving pin of the microcontroller's serial port 5 is connected to the TTL-TX pin of the RS485-to-TTL chip 3, meaning the microcontroller's serial port 5 is connected to an RS485 interface signal.

[0095] On the mini-program side, the communication direction needs to be further selected. In the communication direction selection, either the sensor side or the telemetry terminal side can be chosen. When the sensor side is selected, the microcontroller controls the magnetic latching relay 8 to operate, that is, the RS485-A pin of the RS485 to TTL chip 2 is connected to the RS485-A interface on the sensor side of the interface board, i.e., interface board (2.3); the RS485-B pin of the RS485 to TTL chip 2 is connected to the RS485-B interface on the sensor side of the interface board, i.e., interface board (2.4). If the communication direction is selected as the telemetry terminal side, the microcontroller controls the magnetic latching relay 8 to reset, that is, the RS485-A pin of the RS485 to TTL chip 2 is connected to the RS485-A interface on the telemetry terminal side of the interface board, i.e., interface board (1.3); the RS485-B pin of the RS485 to TTL chip 2 is connected to the RS485-B interface on the telemetry terminal side of the interface board, i.e., interface board (1.4).

[0096] Since the communication direction selection in the direct serial port settings is not configured, the relays in the interface board remain normally closed, and the telemetry terminal side and the sensor side are in a direct-through state. Therefore, the monitoring effect is the same whether the telemetry terminal side or the sensor side is selected. In this embodiment, interfaces 1.5, 1.6, 2.5, and 2.6 in the interface board are not used, so the switching of related circuits will not be described.

[0097] At this point, the monitoring link switch is complete. The serial port 4 of the microcontroller in the logic switching board is connected to the communication bus between the telemetry terminal and the radar level gauge via the RS485 interface. When the telemetry terminal communicates with the radar level gauge, the serial port 4 receives the communication data, which is then packaged by the microcontroller and transmitted to the mini-program by the Bluetooth chip. After receiving the data packet, the mini-program unpacks it and displays it on the monitoring data serial port 1 on page 3.

[0098] For example, in a radar level station, when the telemetry terminal sends a HEX format query command "01 03 00 00 00 01 840A", the radar level gauge will normally return a HEX format response "01 03 02 0A 6F FE C8". After selecting HEX format display in the menu bar of the monitoring window, "01 03 00 00 00 01 84 0A" and "01 03 02 0A 6FFE C8" will be displayed sequentially, indicating that the telemetry terminal and the radar level gauge are communicating normally.

[0099] During debugging, you can check whether the equipment in the hydrological station is working properly by switching the baud rate to see if it matches the expected baud rate, check whether the data in the monitoring serial port matches the expected data read and response commands, and check whether the data update frequency in the monitoring window matches the expected communication frequency.

[0100] When monitoring fails to pinpoint the fault location, a direct connection is required. In the direct connection serial port settings on the mini-program control page, the device baud rate should match the baud rate of the telemetry terminal or sensor. After the parameters in the mini-program are modified, the baud rate setting is automatically sent to the microcontroller on the logic switching board, and the microcontroller then modifies the baud rate of serial port 3.

[0101] In the mini-program, the communication type in the direct serial port settings is set to RS485. The mini-program sends the setting command to the logic switching board via Bluetooth. In the logic switching board, the P2 and COM ports of the microcontroller control module switch 4, the P2 and COM ports of the control module switch 3, and the P2 and COM ports of the control analog switch 5 are all connected. At this time, the TX port of the microcontroller's serial port 3 is connected to the TTL-RX port of the RS485 to TTL chip 1, and the RX port of the microcontroller's serial port 3 is connected to the TTL-TX port of the RS485 to TTL chip 1.

[0102] In the communication direction selection of the direct serial port settings in the mini-program, the sensor side is selected. The mini-program sends a command to the logic switching board. The microcontroller in the logic switching board controls the holding relay 3 to operate, that is, the RS485-A of the RS485 to TTL chip 1 is connected to the RS485-A of the sensor side in the interface board, that is, the interface board 2.3 is connected; the RS485-B of the RS485 to TTL chip 1 is connected to the RS485-B of the sensor side in the interface board, that is, the interface board 2.4 is connected. At the same time, the monostable signal relay 1 in the logic switching board is controlled to operate, and its circuit breaker indicator light is lit, indicating that the connection between 2.3 and 1.3, and between 2.4 and 1.4 of the interface board is broken. At this time, in page 4 of the mini-program, data is written to the direct data sending window and sent to the sensor. The data sent by the sensor will be displayed in the direct data receiving window.

[0103] It enables direct communication with the sensor. After direct connection, parameters such as the acquisition frequency can be set according to the instruction manual of the radar water level gauge.

[0104] After debugging, the ribbon cable between the interface board and the logic switching board can be directly disconnected. All relays on the interface board will return to their normally closed state, meaning the telemetry terminal side and the sensor side are directly connected. The mobile app can save the content displayed in the current monitoring window and direct connection window for future analysis, and can also save the parameter settings of the current settings page for easy restoration during the next maintenance. Afterwards, exit the mini-program.

[0105] When leaving the debugging site, simply take the logic switching board with you and leave the interface board in the equipment box. During the next debugging session, you only need to use a ribbon cable to connect the interface board and the logic switching board. There is no need to carry tools such as wire strippers.

[0106] Currently, in existing hydrological telemetry systems, common sensors such as flow meters and water level gauges are connected to the telemetry terminal via RS232 / RS485 / RS422 interfaces, and communicate based on the Modbus-RTU protocol or proprietary protocols such as PD23 and PD0 for TRDI flow meters. Communication methods include sensors actively reporting data to the telemetry terminal, and sensors reporting data only after the telemetry terminal issues a query command.

[0107] When troubleshooting telemetry station malfunctions, the traditional approach is to disconnect the telemetry terminal from the sensor and use an RS232 / RS485 / RS422 to USB debugging cable to connect to a host computer to monitor data or perform command debugging on both devices. However, this process requires multiple rewiring attempts, and due to the presence of power and signal cables, repeated rewiring is prone to errors, severely impacting the debugging progress.

[0108] In order to handle on-site debugging problems, debugging personnel usually need to carry three types of debugging cables: RS232 to USB debugging cable, RS485 to USB debugging cable, and RS422 to USB debugging cable. With so many tools, it is easy to forget to bring them when going to the site, and it is easy to leave the debugging cables in the equipment box when leaving the site after debugging.

[0109] In order to check whether the equipment is working properly, in addition to debugging the communication line connection, monitoring the power consumption of the sensor, that is, the magnitude of the operating current, is also a common method. In traditional debugging, it is usually necessary to connect an ammeter in series in the power supply circuit to measure the current, and repeated wiring is also required.

[0110] Traditional on-site debugging requires carrying a laptop and connecting it to an RS232 / RS485 / RS422 to USB debugging cable. Equipping all personnel with laptops is costly, and using laptops for debugging on-site with telemetry equipment is extremely inconvenient. This is especially true during typhoon and flood control periods, when telemetry systems require emergency debugging and maintenance, and face complex weather conditions such as rain, making the use of laptops extremely difficult.

[0111] Compared to existing technologies, the technical solution in this application employs a unique collaborative design of interface board, logic switching board, and host computer, eliminating the need for repeated wiring during debugging and avoiding the problem of low debugging efficiency caused by wiring errors. The interface board is low-cost and versatile in installation, and features normally closed relays to ensure convenient switching of the connection status between the sensor and the telemetry terminal before and after debugging.

[0112] In this application, the ingenious design of the logic switching board, through relay switching of serial port connection, flexibly realizes different communication connection methods with sensors and telemetry terminals, improving the convenience and accuracy of debugging.

[0113] The technical solution of this application can significantly improve debugging efficiency, reduce time wasted due to wiring errors, and make the debugging process smoother and more efficient. After debugging, only the interface board is kept in the equipment box, which facilitates future troubleshooting. The logic switching board can be used for debugging by simply connecting the ribbon cable.

[0114] The interface board reduces debugging complexity, eliminating the need for operators to perform frequent complex wiring operations and minimizing the risks associated with working at heights (especially when debugging sensors and telemetry terminals installed in high-position equipment enclosures), thus improving debugging safety and reliability. Furthermore, the low cost of the interface board helps reduce the overall cost of debugging tools.

[0115] The scope of protection of this utility model includes, but is not limited to, the above embodiments. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the claims. Any substitutions, modifications, or improvements to this technology that are easily conceived by those skilled in the art shall fall within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A hydrological telemetry and commissioning system, characterized in that, Includes interface board, logic switching board, and host computer; The interface board has a sensor side and a telemetry terminal side, and the sensor side and the telemetry terminal side are provided with corresponding matching interfaces. The sensor side is provided with six interfaces, namely: sensor side interface 2.1, sensor side interface 2.2, sensor side interface 2.3, sensor side interface 2.4, sensor side interface 2.5, and sensor side interface 2.6; The telemetry terminal side is equipped with six corresponding interfaces, namely: telemetry terminal side interface 1.1, telemetry terminal side interface 1.2, telemetry terminal side interface 1.3, telemetry terminal side interface 1.4, telemetry terminal side interface 1.5, and telemetry terminal side interface 1.

6. The corresponding interfaces on the sensor side and the telemetry terminal side are connected using normally closed contacts of relays, wherein: The sensor-side interface 2.1, sensor-side interface 2.2 and telemetry terminal-side interface 1.1, telemetry terminal-side interface 1.2 are connected by a power relay; The sensor-side interfaces 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, and 2.6 are connected to the telemetry terminal-side interfaces 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, and 1.6 using normally closed contacts of signal relays.

2. The hydrological telemetry debugging system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensor-side interface 2.1 and sensor-side interface 2.2 are the positive power supply interface and the negative power supply interface, respectively; The telemetry terminal side interface 1.1 and the telemetry terminal side interface 1.2 are the positive power supply interface and the negative power supply interface, respectively. The sensor-side interface 2.3 is a Tx signal line for connecting the sensor's RS232 signal, or an A signal line for connecting the RS485 signal, or an A signal line for connecting the RS422 signal transmitter. The telemetry terminal side interface 1.3 is the Rx signal line of the RS232 signal or the A signal line of the RS485 signal or the A signal line of the RS422 signal receiver of the telemetry terminal; The sensor-side interface 2.4 is the Rx signal line for connecting the sensor's RS232 signal, or the B signal line for connecting the RS485 signal, or the B signal line for connecting the RS422 signal transmitter. The telemetry terminal side interface 1.4 is a Tx signal line for connecting the telemetry terminal to the RS232 signal, or a B signal line for the RS485 signal, or a B signal line for the RS422 signal receiver. The sensor-side interface 2.5 is the A signal of the RS422 signal receiver; The telemetry terminal side interface 1.5 is the A signal of the RS422 signal transmitter; The sensor-side interface 2.6 is the B signal of the RS422 signal receiver; The telemetry terminal side interface 1.6 is the B signal of the RS422 signal transmitter.

3. The hydrological telemetry debugging system according to claim 2, characterized in that, A current sampling resistor is connected in series in the path of the sensor-side interface 2.1 and / or the telemetry terminal-side interface 1.1 to measure the current of the power supply.

4. The hydrological telemetry debugging system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The logic switching board includes a microcontroller section, which includes a microcontroller chip and a peripheral clock circuit; the relay drive circuit section includes the relay drive circuit on the interface board and the relay and its drive circuit on the logic switching board; the system also has an interface circuit section, which is an RS232 / RS485 / RS422 interface circuit section, which includes an RS232 to TTL chip and peripheral circuit, and an RS485 to TTL chip and peripheral circuit.

5. A hydrological telemetry commissioning system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The logic switching board includes a voltage and current measurement section, which is used to measure the voltage between the positive power supply interface and the negative power supply interface. It also includes a USB-to-dual-serial-port and dual-power-supply circuit section. The USB-to-dual-serial-port and dual-power-supply circuit section uses a converter chip that converts one USB interface to two serial ports. Serial port 1 is connected to the microcontroller and is responsible for receiving instructions sent from the host computer to the logic switching board and reporting various data from the logic switching board to the host computer. Serial port 2 is directly connected to the signal interface of the sensor side or telemetry terminal side in the interface board through one of the RS232, RS485 or RS422 conversion circuits, providing a direct serial port path for debugging personnel.

6. The hydrological telemetry debugging system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The logic switching board uses a total of 9 magnetic latching relays, of which: Two magnetic latching relays are used to enable COM2 to be directly connected to a telemetry terminal or sensor via an RS232 signal; Four magnetic latching relays are used to enable COM2 to be directly connected to a telemetry terminal or sensor via RS485 or RS422 signals; A magnetic latching relay is used to enable COM1 to listen to the telemetry terminal or sensor via an RS232 signal; Two magnetic latching relays are used to enable COM1 to listen to telemetry terminals or sensors via RS485 or RS422 signals.

7. The hydrological telemetry and commissioning system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The host computer is either a serial-port-based host computer on a computer or a Bluetooth-connected mini-program host computer on a mobile phone; the interface board and the logic switching board are connected by a ribbon cable.

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