Wireless unit and wireless method

Abstract

To prevent interruption of a communication connection between an existing sensor device installed, in particular, on a mobile machine and an external device.SOLUTION: A wireless unit includes a terminal portion connectable to a sensor device, a power supply portion having a battery and supplying power to the sensor device through the terminal portion, and a wireless communication portion having a wireless communication interface for wirelessly transmitting a detection signal received by the terminal unit from the sensor device to an external device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless communication unit and a wireless communication method for wirelessly communicating between a sensor device installed in a machine tool or the like and an external device. [Background technology]

[0002] At work sites such as factories, various sensor devices (vibration sensors, acceleration sensors, temperature sensors, etc.) are installed in machine tools such as press molding machines. The sensor devices transmit detection data to external devices (programmable logic controllers, personal computers, etc.) (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-164635 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The sensor device and the external device are typically connected by wires. In this case, the wires may be broken due to the movement of a moving part of a moving machine such as a machine tool, or the wires getting caught on a part when removing or replacing a part in the machine, etc. As a result, the communication connection between the sensor device and the external device is cut off.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to prevent interruption of communication connection between an existing sensor device, particularly installed in a mobile machine, and an external device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A wireless communication unit according to one aspect of the present invention includes: A terminal portion connectable to a sensor device; a power supply unit having a battery and supplying power to the sensor device via the terminal unit; a wireless communication unit having a wireless communication interface for wirelessly transmitting a detection signal received by the terminal unit from the sensor device to an external device; Equipped with:

[0007] Typically, when an existing sensor device and an external device are connected by wire, the sensor device receives power from the external device connected to the power source and transmits a detection signal to the external device. According to this embodiment, a wireless unit having a battery supplies power to the existing sensor device and wirelessly transmits a detection signal of the sensor device to the existing external device. In this way, the wireless unit can wirelessly communicate between the existing sensor device and the external device, thereby preventing the connection between the sensor device and the external device from being cut off.

[0008] The power supply unit may include a voltage changeover switch capable of changing the voltage of the power supply supplied to the sensor devices individually for each sensor device or collectively.

[0009] This allows the wireless unit to switch the voltage on demand, either individually or collectively, according to the specifications of the existing sensor devices.

[0010] The wireless communication interface wirelessly receives a voltage switching request from the external device; The wireless communication unit may include a processor that switches the voltage changeover switch based on the voltage changeover request.

[0011] This allows the wireless unit to switch the voltage to the existing sensor device on demand according to a voltage value that is automatically determined by the external device.

[0012] the power supply unit supplies power to the wireless communication unit; The processor, Detecting that the voltage of the power source supplied from the power supply unit is equal to or lower than a threshold value; A signal indicating that the voltage is equal to or lower than the threshold may be wirelessly transmitted to the external device via the wireless communication interface.

[0013] In an existing connection between a sensor device and an external device, the sensor device receives power from the external device connected to a power source. For this reason, cases in which the power supply voltage supplied to the sensor device is insufficient are rare. In contrast, in this embodiment, the battery voltage of the wireless unit is supplied to the sensor device. For this reason, the battery capacity decreases as it is consumed, and cases in which the power supply voltage supplied to the sensor device is insufficient occur with a certain frequency. Therefore, the wireless unit of this embodiment detects that the power supply voltage is below a threshold value and notifies the external device. This allows the battery of the wireless unit to be appropriately replaced or charged.

[0014] The processor, Detecting that the voltage of the power source supplied from the power supply unit is equal to or lower than a first threshold value or equal to or lower than a second threshold value different from the first threshold value; A different first signal or second signal indicating that the voltage is less than or equal to the first threshold or the second threshold, respectively, may be wirelessly transmitted to the external device via the wireless communication interface.

[0015] The wireless unit detects when the voltage of the power supply falls below a number of different thresholds and notifies the external device, so that the battery of the wireless unit can be replaced or charged in an appropriate triage order.

[0016] The terminal portion may be connectable to the sensor device by wire.

[0017] In the case where an existing sensor device can only be connected to an external device via a wired connection (wireless connection is not possible), the wireless unit of this embodiment can connect to the existing sensor device via a wired connection connector of the existing sensor device.

[0018] The sensor device is installed on a movable part included in a movable machine, The wireless unit may be installed at a position where a distance from the sensor device when the movable part moves is equal to or shorter than a predetermined distance.

[0019] According to this embodiment, the wireless unit is installed at a position where the distance between the sensor device installed on the movable part and the wireless unit is not large or not too large when the movable part moves, thereby preventing disconnection of the wiring between the sensor device and the wireless unit.

[0020] The wireless unit may be installed on the movable part or on another movable part that moves integrally with the movable part.

[0021] This allows the sensor device and the wireless unit to move together, so that disconnection of the wiring between the sensor device and the wireless unit is more reliably prevented.

[0022] The mobile machine may be a machine tool or a robot.

[0023] By using the wireless communication unit according to this embodiment, communication between an existing sensor device installed in a machine tool or a robot and an external device can be made wireless.

[0024] The machine tool may be a molding machine, a press machine or a die casting machine.

[0025] Typically, an existing sensor device installed in a molding machine, a press machine, or a die-casting machine is wired to an external device via wiring. Then, the wiring may be broken due to movement of a moving part (typically, a moving mold) on which the sensor device is installed, or the wiring getting caught on a part when removing or replacing a part in the machine tool. As a result, the communication connection between the sensor device and the external device is cut off. Therefore, the wireless unit according to the present embodiment can prevent the connection between the sensor device installed in the machine tool and the external device from being cut off by wirelessly communicating between the sensor device and the external device.

[0026] The battery may be a wirelessly powered secondary battery, a wired powered secondary battery, or a primary battery.

[0027] The wireless unit of this embodiment does not need to be constantly connected to a power source, and therefore can use various types of batteries.

[0028] The sensor device includes a plurality of sensor elements and a plurality of amplifiers individually connected to the plurality of sensor elements, The terminal portion may be connected to each of the amplifiers, and may be connected to each of the sensor elements via each of the amplifiers.

[0029] The sensor device includes a plurality of sensor elements and an amplifier connected to the plurality of sensor elements; The terminal portion may be connected to the one amplifier, and may be connected to each of the plurality of sensor elements via the one amplifier.

[0030] The wireless communication unit according to this embodiment can be connected to various types of existing sensor devices in a wired manner by utilizing wired connection connectors of various types of existing sensor devices.

[0031] A wireless communication method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: A method for wirelessly communicating between a sensor device and an external device, comprising: A terminal portion connectable to the sensor device; a power supply unit having a battery and supplying power to the sensor device via the terminal unit; a wireless communication unit having a wireless communication interface for wirelessly transmitting a detection signal received by the terminal unit from the sensor device to the external device; The terminal portion of the wireless unit having the above-mentioned is connected to the sensor device.

[0032] According to this embodiment, a wireless unit having a battery supplies power to an existing sensor device and wirelessly transmits a detection signal of the sensor device to an existing external device. This allows the wireless unit to wirelessly communicate between the existing sensor device and the external device, thereby preventing disconnection of the connection between the sensor device and the external device.

[0033] The wired connection between the sensor device and the external device is disconnected, and then The terminal portion of the wireless unit may be connected to the sensor device by wire.

[0034] The wireless unit of this embodiment can be connected to an existing sensor device in a wired manner by utilizing the wired connection connector of the existing sensor device (in other words, the connector used for wired connection to an external device) that was connected to an external device in a wired manner.

[0035] The sensor device is installed on a movable part included in a movable machine, The wireless unit may be installed at a position where a distance from the sensor device when the movable part moves is equal to or smaller than a predetermined distance.

[0036] According to this embodiment, the wireless unit is installed at a position where the distance between the sensor device installed on the movable part and the wireless unit is not large or not too large when the movable part moves, thereby preventing disconnection of the wiring between the sensor device and the wireless unit. Effect of the Invention

[0037] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent interruption of communication connection between an existing sensor device installed in a mobile machine and an external device.

[0038] Note that the effects described herein are not necessarily limited to those described herein, and may be any of the effects described in this disclosure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1] 1 shows an example of a sensor device installed on a machine. [Diagram 2] 1 shows another example of a sensor device installed on a machine. [Diagram 3] 2 shows the configuration of a wireless unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, which wirelessizes a sensor device. [Figure 4] 4 shows a flow of a voltage switching operation. [Diagram 5] 1 shows a flow of a low battery notification operation. [Figure 6] 1 shows a flow of a wireless method. [Figure 7] 1 shows a simplified configuration of a wireless communication unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, which wirelessizes another sensor device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0041] 1. Sensor Device

[0042] FIG. 1 shows an example of a sensor device installed on a machine.

[0043] The machine 10 is a movable machine. The movable machine 10 is, for example, a machine tool or a robot. The machine tool is, for example, a molding machine, a press machine, or a die-casting machine. In this example, the machine 10 is a press machine, and has a movable side mold 11 which is a movable part, and a fixed side mold 12 which is a fixed part.

[0044] A sensor device 100 is installed on a movable mold 11, which is a movable part included in a movable machine 10. The sensor device 100 has a plurality of sensor elements 110 and a plurality of amplifiers 120 individually connected to the plurality of sensor elements 110. The sensor elements 110 detect vibration, acceleration, temperature, humidity, etc. The amplifiers 120 amplify the detection signals of the sensor elements 110.

[0045] The sensor device 100 is connected to an external device 20 via a wiring 300. The external device 20 is, for example, a programmable logic controller, a personal computer, etc. The wiring 300 includes a data line, a power line, and a ground line. The external device 20 is connected to a power source and supplies power to the sensor device 100 via the power line in the wiring 300. The sensor device 100 transmits a detection signal (an amplified detection signal) to the external device 20 via a data line in the wiring 300.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows another example of a sensor device installed on a machine.

[0047] A plurality of sensor elements 110 and one amplifier 120 connected to the plurality of sensor elements 110 are installed in the movable mold 11 as the sensor device 100. The amplifier 120 is connected to an external device 20 by wire via a wiring 300. The amplifier 120 of the sensor device 100 transmits a detection signal (i.e., a detection signal detected by the sensor element 110 and amplified by the amplifier 120) to the external device 20 by wire via the wiring 300.

[0048] 2. Wireless unit configuration

[0049] As described above, the sensor device 100 is wired to the external device 20 via the wiring 300. Then, the wiring 300 may be broken due to the movement of the movable mold 11, which is the movable part on which the sensor device 100 is installed, or the wiring 300 getting caught on a part when removing or replacing the part in the machine 10. As a result, the communication connection between the sensor device 100 and the external device 20 is cut off.

[0050] In consideration of the above circumstances, the wireless unit 200 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure wirelessly communicates between the sensor device 100 installed on the mobile machine 10 and the external device 20, thereby preventing interruption of the connection between the sensor device 100 and the external device 20.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a wireless communication unit according to one embodiment of the present invention, which wirelessly communicates with a sensor device.

[0052] An existing sensor device 100 is installed on a movable side mold 11, which is a movable part included in a movable machine 10. The configuration of the sensor device 100 is the same as that of FIG. 1. The wireless unit 200 is installed at a position where the distance from the sensor device 100 installed on the movable side mold 11 is a predetermined distance or less when the movable side mold 11, which is a movable part, moves. In other words, the wireless unit 200 is installed at a position where the distance from the sensor device 100 installed on the movable side mold 11 does not increase or does not increase too much when the movable side mold 11, which is a movable part, moves. This prevents disconnection of the wiring 300 between the sensor device 100 and the wireless unit 200. Specifically, the wireless unit 200 is installed on the movable side mold 11 itself, which is a movable part on which the sensor device 100 is installed, or on another movable part (for example, a jig supporting the movable side mold 11) that moves integrally with the movable side mold 11, which is a movable part. For example, when the movable mold 11 moves up and down, the sensor device 100 moves up and down, and the jig on which the wireless unit 200 is installed moves up and down integrally with the sensor device 100. As a result, the sensor device 100 and the wireless unit 200 move up and down integrally, so that disconnection of the wiring 300 between the sensor device 100 and the wireless unit 200 is more reliably prevented.

[0053] The wireless communication unit 200 includes a terminal unit 210 , a power supply unit 220 , and a wireless communication unit 230 .

[0054] The terminal unit 210 can be connected to the sensor device 100 in a wired manner via wiring 300. Each terminal unit 210 has a data terminal 211, a power supply terminal 212, and a ground terminal 213. The wiring 300 includes a data line 301, a power supply line 302, and a ground line 303.

[0055] The data terminal 211 is connected via a data line 301 to a data connector 121 that is connected to the amplifier 120 of the sensor device 100. The data terminal 211 receives a detection signal from the sensor device 100 via the data line 301.

[0056] The power supply terminal 212 is connected via a power supply line 302 to a power supply connector 122 that is connected to the amplifier 120 of the sensor device 100. The power supply terminal 212 supplies power to the sensor device 100 via the power supply line 302.

[0057] The ground terminal 213 is connected via a ground line 303 to a ground connector 123 that is connected to the amplifier 120 of the sensor device 100. The ground terminal 213 is connected to the sensor device 100, and takes the ground of the sensor device 100 via the ground line 303.

[0058] In addition, when the existing sensor device 100 installed in the machine 10 has a wireless communication module, the wireless communication unit 200 may have a wireless communication module (not shown) instead of the terminal part 210 and be wirelessly connected to the sensor device 100. However, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the existing sensor device 100 installed in the machine 10 does not have a wireless communication module and can only be connected by wire. The data connector 121, the power connector 122, and the ground connector 123 of the sensor device 100 are connectors used for a wired connection with the external device 20. In this embodiment, the sensor device 100 and the wireless communication unit 200 are connected by wire via the wiring 300 using the connector of the sensor device 100 used for a wired connection with the external device 20.

[0059] The power supply unit 220 includes a battery 221 , a voltage conversion unit 222 , and a voltage changeover switch 223 .

[0060] The battery 221 is a secondary battery of a wireless power supply system (electromagnetic induction system, magnetic resonance system, electric field coupling system, radio wave reception system, etc.), a secondary battery of a wired power supply system, or a primary battery. Since the wireless unit 200 does not need to be constantly connected to a power source, various types of batteries 221 can be used.

[0061] The voltage conversion unit 222 switches the voltage of the power source output by the battery 221 (for example, 24 V, 12 V, 5 V, etc.), and supplies power to the sensor device 100 via the power terminal 212 of the terminal unit 210. The voltage conversion unit 222 further supplies a voltage (for example, 5 V) to each unit 231 to 234 of the wireless communication unit 230.

[0062] The voltage changeover switch 223 changes the power supply voltage supplied from the voltage conversion unit 222 to the sensor devices 100 individually for each sensor device 100 or collectively.

[0063] The wireless communication unit 230 includes an A / D converter 231, an encoding unit 232, a wireless communication interface 233, and a processor 234 that controls these.

[0064] The A / D converter 231 receives an analog detection signal from the sensor device 100 via the data terminal 211 of the terminal unit 210. The A / D converter 231 converts the received analog detection signal into a digital signal.

[0065] The encoder 232 encodes the detection signal digitized by the A / D converter 231 .

[0066] The wireless communication interface 233 is capable of wireless communication with the external device 20. The wireless communication interface 233 wirelessly transmits the detection signal coded by the coding unit 232 to the external device 20. Furthermore, the wireless communication interface 233 wirelessly transmits data generated by the processor 234 to the external device 20, and supplies data wirelessly received from the external device 20 to the processor 234.

[0067] The processor 234 executes a voltage switching operation for controlling the voltage changeover switch 223 to switch the converted voltage of the voltage conversion unit 222, and a low battery notification operation for detecting a low capacity of the battery 221 and notifying the external device 20 of the low battery detection operation.

[0068] 3. Voltage switching operation

[0069] FIG. 4 shows the flow of the voltage switching operation.

[0070] The wireless communication interface 233 of the wireless communication unit 230 wirelessly receives a voltage switching request from the external device 20 and supplies the received voltage switching request to the processor 234 (step S101). The voltage switching request is a request to switch the voltage of the power source supplied to the sensor devices 100 individually or collectively for each sensor device 100, and includes a target voltage value. The processor 234 controls the voltage switching switch 223 based on the voltage switching request to switch the converted voltage of the voltage conversion unit 222 (step S102). This allows the wireless unit 200 to switch the voltage on demand individually for each existing sensor device 100 specification.

[0071] The above is a case where the external device 20 automatically determines the value of the voltage after switching, or a user (such as an operator; the same applies below) inputs the value of the voltage after switching to the external device 20. This allows the wireless unit 200 to switch the voltage on demand for the existing sensor device 100 according to the voltage value automatically or manually determined by the external device 20. Furthermore, it may be possible for the user to operate the voltage changeover switch 223 to input the value of the voltage after switching, thereby switching the converted voltage of the voltage conversion unit 222.

[0072] 4.Low battery notification operation

[0073] FIG. 5 shows the flow of the low battery notification operation.

[0074] The voltage conversion unit 222 of the power supply unit 220 constantly supplies a voltage (for example, 5V) to each unit 231 to 234 of the wireless communication unit 230 (i.e., always when the wireless unit 200 is operating). The processor 234 monitors the value of the voltage supplied to the processor 234 from the voltage conversion unit 222 of the power supply unit 220 at regular intervals (step S201). When the processor 234 detects that the voltage of the power source supplied from the voltage conversion unit 222 of the power supply unit 220 is equal to or lower than a threshold value (step S202, YES), it wirelessly transmits a signal indicating that the voltage is equal to or lower than the threshold value to the external device 20 via the wireless communication interface 233 (step S203).

[0075] The processor 234 may detect that the voltage is at a plurality of different thresholds in a plurality of stages and transmit a plurality of different signals to the external device 20. Specifically, when the processor 234 detects that the voltage is equal to or lower than the first threshold (step S202, YES), the processor 234 transmits a first signal indicating that the voltage is equal to or lower than the first threshold to the external device 20 (step S203). Furthermore, when the processor 234 detects that the voltage is equal to or lower than a second threshold different from the first threshold (step S202, YES), the processor 234 transmits a second signal indicating that the voltage is equal to or lower than the second threshold, different from the first signal, to the external device 20 (step S203).

[0076] For example, if the voltage to be supplied to the processor 234 is 5V, when the processor 234 detects that the voltage is 4V (first threshold) or less (step S202, YES), it may transmit a first signal indicating a low battery to the external device 20 (step S203). Furthermore, when the processor 234 detects that the voltage is 2V (second threshold) or less (step S202, YES), it may transmit a second signal indicating an empty battery to the external device 20 (step S203).

[0077] In the existing wired connection between the sensor device 100 and the external device 20, the sensor device 100 receives power from the external device 20 connected to a power source. Therefore, cases where the voltage of the power source supplied to the sensor device 100 is insufficient are rare. In contrast, in this embodiment, the voltage of the battery 221 of the wireless unit 200 is supplied to the sensor device 100. Therefore, the capacity of the battery 221 decreases with consumption, and cases where the voltage of the power source supplied to the sensor device 100 is insufficient occur with a certain frequency. Therefore, the wireless unit 200 of this embodiment detects a low battery or an empty battery and notifies the external device 20. This allows the user to know the low battery or the empty battery, and to replace or charge the battery 221 of the wireless unit 200 in an appropriate priority order (triage).

[0078] 5.Wireless method

[0079] FIG. 6 shows a flow of the wireless method.

[0080] As a premise, the sensor device 100 is installed in a movable mold 11 which is a movable part of a movable machine 10. The existing sensor device 100 is wired connected to an external device 20 via wiring. Typically, an operator or the like performs the wireless communication method at a site such as a factory where the movable machine 10 is installed.

[0081] The existing wired connection between the sensor device 100 and the external device 20 is disconnected (step S301).

[0082] The wireless unit 200 is installed on the machine 10 (step S302). Specifically, the wireless unit 200 is installed at a position where the distance from the sensor device 100 installed on the movable side mold 11, which is a movable part, is equal to or less than a predetermined distance when the movable side mold 11, which is a movable part, moves. In other words, the wireless unit 200 is installed at a position where the distance from the sensor device 100 installed on the movable side mold 11, which is a movable part, does not increase or does not increase too much when the movable side mold 11, which is a movable part, moves. Specifically, the wireless unit 200 is installed on the movable side mold 11 itself, which is a movable part, or on another movable part that moves integrally with the movable side mold 11, which is a movable part.

[0083] The terminal section 210 of the wireless unit 200 is wired-connected to the sensor device 100 via the wiring 300 (step S303). Specifically, the sensor device 100 and the wireless unit 200 are wired-connected via the wiring 300 using connectors (the data connector 121, the power connector 122, and the ground connector 123) of the sensor device 100 used for wired connection with the external device 20. As the wiring 300, the wiring that has wired-connected the sensor device 100 and the external device 20 may be used as it is, or a new wiring may be installed.

[0084] The order of steps S301 to S303 of the wireless method is not limited to the above. After disconnecting the wired connection between the sensor device 100 and the external device 20 (step S301), the wireless unit 200 and the sensor device 100 need to be connected by wire (step S303), but the order other than this is not limited.

[0085] 6. Variations

[0086] In Fig. 3, a case has been described in which the sensor device 100 having the configuration in Fig. 1 is made wireless by using the wireless unit 200. It is also possible to make the sensor device 100 having the configuration in Fig. 2 wireless by using the wireless unit 200.

[0087] FIG. 7 shows a simplified configuration of a wireless communication unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, which wirelessly communicates with another sensor device.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 2, in the sensor device 100, one amplifier 120 is connected to a plurality of sensor elements 110. In this case, the terminal section 210 (data terminal 211, power supply terminal 212, and ground terminal 213) of the wireless unit 200 is connected to the data connector 121, power supply connector 122, and ground terminal 213 of the amplifier 120 via wiring 300 (data line 301, power supply line 302, and ground line 303). The power supply section 220 supplies a voltage to the sensor device 100 via the terminal section 210. The wireless communication interface 233 receives a detection signal from the sensor device 100 via the terminal section 210, digitizes and codes the signal, and wirelessly transmits it to the external device 20. When one amplifier 120 is connected to a plurality of sensor elements 110 as shown in FIG. 2, the wireless unit 200 may have one terminal section 210, or may have multiple terminal sections 210 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0089] 7. Conclusion

[0090] At a work site such as a factory, various sensor devices 100 are installed on movable machines such as machine tools. The sensor devices 100 are wired to an external device 20 via wiring 300. Then, the wiring 300 may be broken due to the movement of the movable mold 11, which is the movable part on which the sensor device 100 is installed, or the wiring 300 getting caught on a part when removing or replacing the part in the machine 10. As a result, the communication connection between the sensor device 100 and the external device 20 is cut off.

[0091] Therefore, the wireless unit 200 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure wirelessly communicates between an existing sensor device 100 installed on a mobile machine 10 and an existing external device 20, thereby preventing interruption of the connection between the sensor device 100 and the external device 20.

[0092] Although the embodiments and modified examples of the present technology have been described above, the present technology is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present technology. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 10 machines 100 Sensor Devices 11 Movable side mold 110 Sensor element 12 Fixed side mold 120 Amplifier 121 Data Connector 122 Power Connector 123 Ground Connector 20 External device 200 Wireless unit 210 Terminal section 211 Data terminal 212 Power terminal 213 Ground terminal 220 Power supply section 221 Battery 222 Voltage conversion unit 223 Voltage Changeover Switch 230 Wireless Communication Department 231 A / D converter 232 Coding Department 233 Wireless communication interface 234 processor 300 Wiring 301 Data Line 302 Power Line 303 Ground Line

Claims

1. A plurality of terminal parts connectable to a plurality of different types of sensor devices, a power supply unit including a battery, a voltage changeover switch, and a voltage conversion unit, and configured to supply power to the plurality of sensor devices via the plurality of terminal units; a wireless communication unit including a wireless communication interface for wirelessly transmitting detection signals received by the terminal units from the sensor devices to an external device, and a processor; Equipped with the voltage changeover switch is capable of changing a value of a power supply voltage supplied from the voltage conversion unit to the plurality of sensor devices individually for each of the plurality of sensor devices; the voltage conversion unit switches a voltage value of the power supply output by the battery for each of the plurality of sensor devices individually, and supplies the power supply having the value switched for each of the plurality of sensor devices to the plurality of sensor devices via the plurality of terminal units; The wireless communication interface wirelessly receives a voltage switching request from the external device; the voltage switching request is a request for switching a power supply voltage supplied to the plurality of sensor devices individually for each of the plurality of sensor devices, and includes a target voltage value for each of the plurality of sensor devices; The processor controls the voltage changeover switch based on the voltage changeover request to change the converted voltage of the voltage conversion unit, thereby changing the voltage for each of the plurality of sensor devices individually. Wireless unit.

2. 2. The wireless unit according to claim 1, the power supply unit supplies power to the wireless communication unit; The processor, Detecting that the voltage of the power source supplied from the power supply unit is equal to or lower than a threshold value; A signal indicating that the voltage is equal to or lower than the threshold is wirelessly transmitted to the external device via the wireless communication interface. Wireless unit.

3. 3. The wireless unit according to claim 2, The processor, Detecting that a voltage of a power source supplied from the power supply unit is equal to or lower than a first threshold value or equal to or lower than a second threshold value different from the first threshold value; wirelessly transmitting a different first signal or a second signal, indicating that the voltage is less than or equal to the first threshold or the second threshold, to the external device via the wireless communication interface; Wireless unit.

4. The wireless unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The plurality of terminal units are connectable to the plurality of sensor devices by wires, respectively. Wireless unit.

5. The wireless unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the plurality of sensor devices are installed on a movable part included in a movable machine, The wireless unit is installed at a position where a distance between the wireless unit and each of the plurality of sensor devices is equal to or shorter than a predetermined distance when the movable part moves. Wireless unit.

6. 6. The wireless unit according to claim 5, The wireless unit is installed on the movable part or another movable part that moves integrally with the movable part. Wireless unit.

7. The wireless unit according to claim 5 or 6, The movable machine is a machine tool or a robot. Wireless unit.

8. 8. The wireless unit according to claim 7, The machine tool is a molding machine, a press machine, or a die-casting machine. Wireless unit.

9. The wireless unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The battery is a wireless power supply type secondary battery, a wired power supply type secondary battery, or a primary battery. Wireless unit.

10. The wireless unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The plurality of sensor devices each include a plurality of sensor elements and a plurality of amplifiers individually connected to the plurality of sensor elements, The plurality of terminal portions are connected to the plurality of amplifiers, respectively, and are connected to the plurality of sensor elements via the plurality of amplifiers, respectively. Wireless unit.

11. A method for wirelessly communicating between a plurality of different types of sensor devices and an external device, comprising: A plurality of terminal units connectable to the plurality of different types of sensor devices, respectively; a power supply unit including a battery, a voltage changeover switch, and a voltage conversion unit, and configured to supply power to the plurality of sensor devices via the plurality of terminal units; a wireless communication unit including a wireless communication interface that wirelessly transmits detection signals received by the terminal units from the sensor devices to the external device, and a processor; having the voltage changeover switch is capable of changing a value of a power supply voltage supplied from the voltage conversion unit to the plurality of sensor devices individually for each of the plurality of sensor devices; the voltage conversion unit switches a voltage value of the power supply output by the battery for each of the plurality of sensor devices individually, and supplies the power supply having the value switched for each of the plurality of sensor devices to the plurality of sensor devices via the plurality of terminal units; The wireless communication interface wirelessly receives a voltage switching request from the external device; the voltage switching request is a request for switching a power supply voltage supplied to the plurality of sensor devices individually for each of the plurality of sensor devices, and includes a target voltage value for each of the plurality of sensor devices; The processor controls the voltage changeover switch based on the voltage changeover request to change the converted voltage of the voltage conversion unit, thereby changing the voltage for each of the plurality of sensor devices individually. The terminal portions of the wireless unit are connected to the sensor devices, respectively. Wireless method.

12. A wireless method according to claim 11, comprising the steps of: disconnecting the wired connection between the plurality of sensor devices and the external device, and then The terminal units of the wireless communication unit are connected to the sensor devices by wires. Wireless method.

13. A wireless method according to claim 11 or 12, comprising: the plurality of sensor devices are installed on a movable part included in a movable machine, The wireless unit is installed at a position where a distance between the wireless unit and the plurality of sensor devices is equal to or smaller than a predetermined distance when the movable part moves. Wireless method.

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