Smart Voltage Discriminator for Multi-Voltage Sources

Abstract

The present invention relates to a voltage discriminator having three inputs. One of the three inputs is for a common signal, and the other two are signals to be discriminated. Each of the three signals is input to a three-phase rectifier bridge, and a measurement signal is obtained from the signal to be discriminated by a high-impedance measurement resistor, enabling a very low current to flow. Each high-impedance resistor is connected in series with an offset signal generator, and the output of the high-impedance resistor is compared with the other signal in a comparator without the value being reduced. The output of each comparator is a logical value "1" or "0" depending on whether the value is greater than a threshold value or not. This discriminator is suitable for a multi-voltage source, the discriminator itself automatically adapts to the input voltage, and further, it consumes less energy and is very simple and highly functional.

Description

Object of the present invention

[0001] The object of the present invention relates to a smart voltage discriminator for multi-voltage sources, which has the characteristic of adapting to the input voltage.

[0002] The present invention is characterized in that all of the elements used are specially designed and configured to realize a discriminator with high functionality, simplicity and energy saving.

[0003] Therefore, the present invention is included in the field of devices used for voltage discrimination.

Background Art

[0004] In the current technology, especially when multiple cables run in parallel over a long distance of several hundred meters, although some cables are not under voltage, in fact, due to connection or insufficient cable quality, voltage is induced, resulting in false signals that cause incorrect operations. Therefore, it is necessary to be able to discriminate which of the voltages flowing through the cables is the correct signal.

[0005] In the current technology, this signal discrimination is performed by an optocoupler and a resistor. This is one way to realize signal discrimination, but in this embodiment, significant energy consumption becomes a problem because energy is continuously consumed, and there are even situations where the correct input cannot be discriminated.

[0006] In addition, the discriminator needs to be compatible with multi-voltage sources in a high voltage range that can be in the range of 24V to 240 volts. Therefore, it is necessary to design the discriminator to adapt to the input voltage.

[0007] A discriminator that adapts to the input voltage is not known in the current technology.

[0008] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to develop a voltage discriminator suitable for a multi-voltage source, in which the discriminator itself automatically adapts to the input voltage, and further, the voltage discriminator is less energy-consuming, very simple and highly functional, and to develop a discriminator as described in the following and having the essential nature described in claim 1.

Disclosure of the Invention

[0009] The essential nature of the object of the present invention is described in the independent claims, and different embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0010] The object of the present invention relates to a smart voltage discriminator for a multi-voltage source, preferably including three series of inputs, one of which is for a common signal and the other two are signals to be discriminated. Each of the three signals is input to a three-phase rectifier bridge, and a measurement signal is obtained from the signal to be discriminated by a high-impedance measuring resistor so that a very low current can flow. Each high-impedance resistor is connected in series with an offset signal generator, and its output is compared with other signals in a comparator without the value being reduced. The output of each comparator is a logical value "1" or "0" respectively depending on whether the value is greater than a threshold value.

[0011] Each of the offset signal generators for each signal to be discriminated includes a voltage source that generates an offset value of the voltage, the output of which is connected to a resistor, and the entire assembly of the voltage source and the resistor is connected in parallel with a capacitor. A reduced signal of the signal to be analyzed is obtained from the connection point between the voltage source and the resistor and sent to the comparator.

[0012] The capacitor has a filtering function so that the comparison is made with an approximate value of the average size of the input signal rather than the peak voltage. The average voltage provided by the capacitor is more reliable than the peak voltage.

[0013] The discriminator includes two comparators, namely a first comparator and a second comparator. In the first comparator, an un-offset first signal is compared with a second signal to which an offset is applied. Meanwhile, in the second comparator, an un-offset second signal is compared with a first signal to which an offset is applied.

[0014] The output of each comparator becomes a logic signal of "1" or "0" according to whether the difference between the comparators is greater than a preset threshold value, and the output of the comparator that provides a value of "0" is discarded.

[0015] Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific elements used in this specification have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. When implementing the present invention, methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described in this specification can be used.

[0016] Throughout the specification and claims, the term "comprise" and its variations are not intended to exclude other technical features, additives, components or steps. For those skilled in the art, other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be partially inferred from the specification and partially from the implementation of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] To supplement the description and help better understand the features of the present invention according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a set of drawings is attached as an essential part of the above specification. The following is depicted in the drawings in an exemplary and non-limiting manner.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a depiction of an electrical circuit diagram of the discriminator, which is the object of the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the present invention

[0019] In Figure 1, it can be seen that the discriminator, which is the object of the present invention, has a series of inputs (1), (2), and (3) corresponding to signal (COMMON), signal (A), and signal (B) respectively. The purpose here is to be able to discriminate whether one of the signals is an incorrect signal despite having a certain voltage.

[0020] The voltage occurring in one of the cables may be the result of excessive noise, excessive length, or a combination of multiple factors, and it is necessary to be able to discriminate whether the voltage shown in one of the cables is a valid voltage.

[0021] This has important relevance, especially in the case of valve command signals and the like.

[0022] Signals (COMMON), (A), and (B) are sent to the rectifier bridge (4), where a feed signal is obtained.

[0023] Signals (A) and (B) are the signals to be discriminated, and the connection cables are led out before the input to the bridge rectifier. A high-impedance measuring resistor (5) is provided in this connection cable, and then an offset signal generator is arranged, and the output of this is connected to a comparator.

[0024] Each of the offset signal generators for both signal (A) and signal (B) includes a voltage source (6) that generates an offset value of the voltage. Its output is connected to a resistor (8), and the entire assembly of the voltage source (6) and the resistor (8) is connected in parallel with a capacitor (7). The reduced signal (10) of the signal to be analyzed is obtained from the connection point between the voltage source (6) and the resistor (8) and sent to the comparators (9), (10).

[0025] The discriminator includes a first comparator (9) and a second comparator (10). The non-offset signal (A) and the offset-applied signal (B) reach the first comparator (9) for comparison, and the non-offset signal (B) and the offset-applied signal (A) reach the second comparator for comparison.

[0026] The truth table of the discriminator is as follows:

Table 1

[0027] Therefore, as can be seen from the table, when signal (A) is greater than signal (B) to which an offset of 8 volts is applied, for example, "1" is generated by comparator (9), but when signal (B) is greater than signal (A) offset by said 8 volts, "0" is generated, and in other cases "1" is generated. On the other hand, in comparator (10), when voltage (A) is greater than signal (B) offset by more than 8 volts, for example, a value of "0" is generated, but when signal (B) is greater than signal (A) offset by these 8 volts, "1" is generated, and in other cases "1" is generated.

[0028] Also, as can be seen from the table, the discriminator can identify two signals as valid when they are separated by less than 8V.

[0029] This makes it possible to discriminate signals resulting from induction caused by excessive lengths or noise of other parallel cables, and discrimination is performed in a simple and very effective way while saving energy.

[0030] The essence of the present invention and how to implement it have been fully described. Within the scope of the essence of the present invention, the present invention can be implemented in other embodiments that differ in details from the embodiments shown as examples, and it is hereby stated that such embodiments are also within the scope of protection sought as long as the basic principles are not changed, altered, or modified.

Claims

1. A smart voltage discriminator for a multi-voltage source, comprising: a series of inputs (1), (2), (3), one of the inputs being for a common signal (COMMON), and the other two being signals to be discriminated, signal (A) and signal (B), each of the three signals being input to a three-phase rectifier bridge (4), a high-impedance measuring resistor (5) connected in series with an offset signal generator, a measurement signal being obtained from the signal to be discriminated by the high-impedance measuring resistor (5), the output of the high-impedance measuring resistor (5) being compared with other signals in a comparator without reduction in value, and the output of each comparator being a logical value "1" or "0" depending on whether the value is greater than a threshold value, a smart voltage discriminator for a multi-voltage source.

2. Each of the offset signal generators for each of the signals to be discriminated comprises a voltage source (6) for generating an offset value of voltage, the output of the voltage source (6) being connected to a resistor (8), the assembly of the voltage source (6) and the resistor (8) being connected in parallel with a capacitor (7), and a reduced signal of the signal to be analyzed being obtained from the connection point between the voltage source (6) and the resistor (8) and sent to comparators (9), (10), the smart voltage discriminator for a multi-voltage source according to Claim 1.

3. The discriminator comprises two comparators, a first comparator (9) and a second comparator (10), in the first comparator (9), a first signal (A) without offset is compared with a second signal to which an offset is applied, while in the second comparator (10), the second signal (B) without offset is compared with the first signal to which an offset is applied, the smart voltage discriminator for a multi-voltage source according to Claim 1.

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