CN114730985A - Wireless sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a wireless sensor capable of bearing pressure, wherein the wireless sensor (10) comprises: an antenna (1) which is flexible and can be extended and retracted; and a measurement unit (2) that is electrically connected to the antenna (1) and measures the measurement object.

Description

Wireless sensor

Technical Field

The invention relates to a wireless sensor.

Background

Conventionally, a sensor is supplied with power by a wire, and data is transmitted and received by a wire. However, in recent years, wireless sensors that transmit and receive data wirelessly have become widespread (see, for example, patent documents 1 and 2). The wireless sensor has advantages that it can be disposed in a place where wiring is physically difficult without requiring wiring work, and that wiring failure due to contact between wiring and an object or the like does not occur.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: international publication No. 2016/123062

Patent document 2: international publication No. 2018/179327

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The inventors have found that flexible wireless sensors are useful for pressure. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wireless sensor that can withstand pressure.

Means for solving the problems

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless sensor including an antenna that is flexible and can be extended and retracted; and a measurement unit electrically connected to the antenna and measuring the measurement object.

In the above wireless sensor, the diameter of the antenna may be configured such that a small-diameter portion is accommodated in an adjacent large-diameter portion when the antenna is contracted.

The wireless sensor may further include a wire connecting the antenna and the measurement unit, and a container cover enclosing the wire.

In the above wireless sensor, the maximum diameter of the antenna may be set to be equal to or less than the width of a conveying path for conveying the container with the container lid inserted therein.

In the wireless sensor, the antenna may be configured to receive power by electromagnetic waves.

In the above wireless sensor, the antenna may emit radio waves of information of the measurement target measured by the measurement unit.

In the above wireless sensor, the measurement target may be temperature.

Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for measuring an object to be measured in a container, including the steps of: preparing a wireless sensor having a helical, flexible, and stretchable antenna, a measurement section electrically connected to the antenna and measuring an object to be measured, an electric wire connecting the antenna and the measurement section, and a container cover enclosing the electric wire; placing the measuring part of the wireless sensor into the container in a mode that the antenna becomes the outer side of the container, and semi-pressing the container through the container cover; measuring the measurement object in the container by the measurement unit; and pressing down the antenna and the container cover from above the antenna, and pressing the container cover into the container while shrinking the antenna, thereby corking the container.

In the above method of measuring a measurement target in a container, the diameter of the antenna may be configured such that a portion having a smaller diameter is accommodated in an adjacent portion having a larger diameter when the antenna is contracted.

In the method of measuring a measurement target in a container, the maximum diameter of the antenna may be set to be equal to or smaller than the width of a transport path for transporting the container with the container lid inserted therein.

The method of measuring the measurement target in the container may further include receiving power by an antenna through electromagnetic waves.

The method of measuring the measurement target in the container may further include an antenna that emits a radio wave indicating information on the measurement target measured by the measurement unit.

In the method of measuring a measurement target in the container, the measurement target may be a temperature.

In addition, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid processing method including the steps of: preparing a wireless sensor having a helical, flexible, and stretchable antenna, a measurement section electrically connected to the antenna and measuring an object to be measured, an electric wire connecting the antenna and the measurement section, and a container cover enclosing the electric wire; preparing a container containing a liquid; placing the measuring part of the wireless sensor into the container in a mode that the antenna becomes the outer side of the container, and semi-pressing the container through the container cover; measuring the measurement object in the container by the measuring unit while processing the liquid in the container; and pressing down the antenna and the container cover from above the antenna, and pressing the container cover into the container while shrinking the antenna, thereby corking the container.

In the liquid processing method, the diameter of the antenna may be configured such that a small-diameter portion is accommodated in an adjacent large-diameter portion when the antenna is contracted.

In the liquid processing method, the maximum diameter of the antenna may be set to be equal to or less than the width of a transport path for transporting the container with the container lid inserted therein.

The method of treating a liquid may further include receiving power by an antenna through electromagnetic waves.

The liquid processing method may further include an antenna that emits a radio wave indicating information on the measurement target measured by the measurement unit.

In the liquid processing method, the measurement target may be a temperature.

In the above liquid treatment method, the treatment may be freeze-drying.

In addition, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a freeze-dried product, including the steps of: preparing a wireless sensor having a helical, flexible, and stretchable antenna, a measurement section electrically connected to the antenna and measuring an object to be measured, an electric wire connecting the antenna and the measurement section, and a container cover enclosing the electric wire; preparing a container containing a liquid; placing the measuring part of the wireless sensor into the container in a mode that the antenna becomes the outer side of the container, and semi-pressing the container through the container cover; measuring the temperature in the container by a measuring part while freeze-drying the liquid in the container; and after the freeze-drying is finished, pressing down the antenna and the container cover from above the antenna, pressing the container cover into the container while shrinking the antenna, and pressing the container into a stopper.

In the method of manufacturing a freeze-dried product, the diameter of the antenna may be configured such that a portion having a smaller diameter is accommodated in an adjacent portion having a larger diameter when the antenna is contracted.

In the method of manufacturing a freeze-dried product, the maximum diameter of the antenna may be set to be equal to or smaller than the width of a conveying path for conveying the container with the container lid inserted therein.

The method for producing a freeze-dried product may further comprise receiving power by an antenna through electromagnetic waves.

The method of producing a freeze-dried product may further include an antenna for emitting a radio wave for measuring information of the measurement target measured by the measurement unit.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, a wireless sensor capable of withstanding pressure can be provided.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a wireless sensor of embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the wireless sensor of embodiment 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the wireless sensor of embodiment 1.

Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of the wireless sensor of embodiment 1.

Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of a container into which the wireless sensor of embodiment 1 is inserted.

Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of a container into which the wireless sensor of embodiment 1 is inserted.

Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of a container into which a wireless sensor of the reference example is inserted.

Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view of a container into which the wireless sensor of embodiment 2 is inserted.

Fig. 9 is a schematic side view of a container into which the wireless sensor of embodiment 2 is inserted.

Fig. 10 is a schematic side view of a container into which the wireless sensor of embodiment 2 is inserted.

Fig. 11 is a schematic plan view of a container into which the wireless sensor of embodiment 2 is inserted.

Fig. 12 is a schematic plan view of a container into which the wireless sensor of embodiment 2 is inserted.

Fig. 13 is a schematic plan view of a container into which the wireless sensor of embodiment 2 is inserted.

Detailed Description

The following describes embodiments of the present invention. In the description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, the drawings are schematic. Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be determined in accordance with the following description. It is to be noted that the drawings naturally include portions having different dimensional relationships or ratios from each other.

(embodiment 1)

As shown in fig. 1 (a), the wireless sensor 10 according to embodiment 1 includes: a helical, flexible and retractable antenna 1; and a measurement unit 2 electrically connected to the antenna 1 and measuring the measurement object.

The material of the antenna 1 is not particularly limited, and is, for example, metal. As shown in fig. 1 (b), if the helical antenna 1 receives a pressure from the axial direction, the antenna 1 contracts while reducing the pitch of the helix. As shown in fig. 1 (c), when the pressure from the axial direction is released, the antenna 1 may be extended while the pitch is increased, and may return to the original free length.

As shown in fig. 2 (a), the helical antenna 1 may be conical. The conical antenna 1 may be connected to the measurement section 2 on the vertex side, or may be connected to the measurement section 2 on the opposite side to the vertex side. The diameter of the conical antenna 1 is configured such that when the antenna 1 is contracted, a small-diameter portion is accommodated in an adjacent large-diameter portion. As a result, as shown in fig. 2 (b) and 2 (c), when the antenna 1 is contracted, the contact length of the antenna 1 is substantially the same as the diameter of one wire of the antenna 1.

The measurement target of the measurement unit 2 is arbitrary, and is, for example, the temperature, humidity, dryness, pressure, flow velocity, and flow rate around the wireless sensor 10. Alternatively, the measurement target may be a substance.

As shown in fig. 3, the antenna 1 and the measuring unit 2 are connected by a wire 3. For example, the antenna 1 receives electric power by electromagnetic waves such as microwaves and supplies the electric power to the measurement unit 2. For example, the measurement unit 2 outputs a current signal including information of the measured measurement target to the antenna 1, and the antenna 1 emits a radio wave of the information of the measurement target. The antenna 1 does not necessarily supply power to the measurement unit 2. For example, when the measuring unit 2 is battery-driven, the antenna 1 may not supply power to the measuring unit 2. Alternatively, the measurement unit 2 includes an oscillator such as a crystal, for example, and measures the ambient temperature by oscillating an electromagnetic wave oscillator such as a microwave to be irradiated at a frequency depending on the temperature, thereby emitting a radio wave indicating the temperature measured by the antenna 1.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the wireless sensor 10 may include a container cover 4 for closing the container 20, and the container cover 4 may include the electric wire 3. The electric wire 3 passes through the container lid 4. The antenna 1 is disposed above the container cover 4. The measuring portion 2 is disposed below the container lid 4. The container lid is made of an elastic material such as a polymer. The wireless sensor 10 is configured such that, for example, when the container cover 4 of the wireless sensor 10 is inserted into the opening of the container 20, the measuring unit 2 is disposed inside the container 20, and the antenna 1 is disposed outside the container 20. The container lid 4 may be provided with a recess 41, and the recess 41 may allow fluid such as gas to flow between the inside and outside of the container 20 when the container 20 is half-stoppered by the container lid 4. The semi-press stopper is a stopper to which a container lid is lightly inserted into an opening of a container to allow fluid communication between the inside and the outside of the container. The measuring unit 2 may measure the measurement target in the container 20 in a state where the container 20 is half-pressed by the container lid 4.

When the container 20 is caulked by the container lid 4, as shown in fig. 6 (a), the antenna 1 is pressed by the pressing member 6 from above the antenna 1 on the container lid 4 inserted into the opening of the container 20. As shown in fig. 6 (b), the antenna 1 receiving pressure from the pressing member 6 contracts and transmits the pressure to the container lid 4. The pressurized container lid 4 from the antenna 1 is pressed into the opening of the container 20. As shown in fig. 6 (c), the antenna 1 and the container lid 4 are pushed by the pressing member 6 until the length of the antenna 1 reaches the contact length, and the container lid 4 moves toward the inside of the opening of the container 20, whereby the container 20 is caulked and sealed.

If the antenna 101 is not helical as shown in fig. 7 (a), if the antenna 101 that is not helical is subjected to pressure, the antenna 101 may be bent as shown in fig. 7 (b), or the bent antenna 101 may be cut and broken as shown in fig. 7 (c). On the other hand, the helical antenna 1 of the wireless sensor 10 according to embodiment 1 shown in fig. 1 to 6 is not easily bent, cut, or broken. Therefore, the wireless sensor 10 according to embodiment 1 can be reused, for example, even after receiving a pressure.

(embodiment 2)

The liquid treatment method according to embodiment 2 includes the steps of: preparing a wireless sensor 10, the wireless sensor 10 having a helical, flexible and stretchable antenna 1 shown in fig. 1 to 6, a measurement section 2 electrically connected to the antenna 1 and measuring an object to be measured, an electric wire 3 connecting the antenna 1 and the measurement section 2, and a container cover 4 enclosing the electric wire 3; preparing a container 20 containing a liquid; placing the measuring part 2 of the wireless sensor 10 into the container 20 so that the antenna 1 becomes the outer side of the container 20, and half-pressing the container 20 through the container cover 4; measuring the measurement object in the container 20 by the measuring unit 2 while processing the liquid in the container 20 in a state where the container 20 is half-corked; after the liquid in the container 20 is processed, the antenna 1 and the container lid 4 are pressed down from above the antenna 1, and the container lid 4 is pressed into the container 20 while the antenna 1 is contracted, thereby pressing and plugging the container 20.

Hereinafter, an example will be described in which the container 20 is a vial, the liquid contained in the container 20 is a drug, the process to be applied to the liquid is freeze-dried, and the measurement target measured by the measurement unit 2 is a temperature, but the container 20, the liquid, the process, and the measurement target are not limited to these examples.

As shown in fig. 8, a plurality of containers 20 each filled with a liquid and half-stoppered by the container lid 4 of the wireless sensor 10 are arranged on a plate 110 of a closed space 100 provided by a furnace, a tank, a storage, and the like. The enclosed space 100 may be opened by a door or the like. Each of the plurality of containers 20 includes, for example, a cylindrical shape. The plurality of containers 20 may be in a Staggered arrangement (stacked arrangement) such that more containers 20 are arranged on the plate 110.

After the plurality of containers 20 are arranged on the plate 110 in the closed space 100, the closed space 100 is closed, and the environment in the closed space 100 becomes an environment suitable for freeze-drying the liquid in the containers 20. Since the container 20 is half-stoppered by the container lid 4 and the inside and outside of the container 20 can be communicated with each other, the gas suitable for freeze-drying in the closed space 100 enters the container 20, and the liquid in the container 20 is freeze-dried. While the liquid in the container 20 is freeze-dried, the measuring unit 2 of the wireless sensor 10 measures the temperature in the container 20, and the antenna 1 transmits the measurement result of the measuring unit 2. The antenna 1 may receive power by electromagnetic waves as needed and supply power to the measurement unit 2. For example, in the case where the temperature measured by the wireless sensor 10 is abnormal, the freeze-drying may be stopped.

When the medicine inside the container 20 is freeze-dried, as shown in fig. 9 (a), the upper plate 111 disposed above the plate 110 is lowered in the closed space 100 of the freeze-drying oven or the like, and the container lid 4 half-pressed on the container 20 is pressed while the antenna 1 of the wireless sensor 10 is contracted, and as shown in fig. 9 (c), the container 20 is pressed. Alternatively, the plate 110 is raised toward the upper plate 111, and the upper portion of the antenna 1 is brought into contact with the upper plate 111, thereby caulking the container 20. Then, as shown in fig. 10, the upper plate 111 is raised so that the container 20 can be carried out of the closed space 100. Alternatively, the plate 110 may be lowered to enable the container 20 to be carried out of the enclosed space 100.

As shown in fig. 11, a conveyance path 40 such as a conveyor is disposed in front of the closed space 100. A bridge 50 may be provided between the plate 110 and the conveying path 40. After the completion of the corking, when the plurality of containers 20 are taken out from the closed space 100, a door of a furnace or the like providing the closed space 100 is opened, and the carry-out tool 30 pushes out the plurality of containers 20 on the plate 110 toward the conveying path 40 via the bridge 50. The carrying-out tool 30 has a shape capable of contacting with the innermost row of the plurality of containers 20 in the closed space 100, for example. In other words, the carry-out tool 30 has a shape that can be brought into contact with one row of the containers 20 on the opposite side of the conveyance path 40 among the plurality of containers 20 on the plate 110. The carrying-out tool 30 is shaped like a rod, for example. The traveling direction of the carry-out tool 30 is, for example, parallel to the upper surfaces of the plate 110 and the bridge 50 and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying path 40. In the vicinity of the plate 110 and the bridge 50, a guide 70 may be provided, which guide 70 prevents the container 20 pressed by the carry-out implement 30 from spreading out laterally with respect to the direction of travel of the carry-out implement 30.

Then, as shown in fig. 12, the conveyance path 40 is driven to convey the container 20. As shown in fig. 13, a separation guide 91 may be disposed in the traveling direction of the conveyance path 40, and the separation guide 91 may guide the traveling direction of the fallen container 20Z to a direction different from the traveling direction of the non-fallen container 20A. The separation guide 91 is disposed on the conveyance path 40 at a position where the container 20Z that has fallen down is conveyed. The fallen container 20Z contacts the separation guide 91 and drops into the collection container 92 from the conveyance path 40, for example. The separation guide 91 may support the non-toppled container 20A from both sides, and change the traveling direction of the non-toppled container 20A while holding the column.

The maximum diameter of the antenna 1 of the wireless sensor 10 may be set to be equal to or less than the width of the conveyance path 40 for conveying the container 20 into which the container lid 4 is inserted. For example, if the width of the conveying path 40 is equal to or less than the width of the container 20 passing through one line or less, if the maximum diameter of the antenna 1 of the wireless sensor 10 is equal to or less than the width of the conveying path 40, the antenna 1 does not interfere with the conveyance of the container 20 by the conveying path 40.

As shown in fig. 7, if the antenna 101 is not helical, if the container 20 is plugged by the container lid 4 via the antenna 101 that is not helical, the antenna 101 may be bent or broken. However, a bent antenna 101 may damage an adjacent container 20 or tamper with an adjacent container 20. Further, if the curved antenna 101 extends from the conveyance path of the container 20, the curved antenna 101 may interfere with conveyance of the container 20. Further, if the damaged antenna 101 falls, the container 20 may be caught on the antenna, which falls, and the container 20 may fall over. In addition, fragments of the damaged antenna 101 and the like enter the inside of the container 20, and cause contamination. In contrast, since the helical antenna 1 of the wireless sensor 10 according to embodiment 2 is not easily bent, cut, or broken, these problems that may occur in the antenna 101 that is not helical are not easily generated.

(other embodiments)

As described above, the present invention is described by the embodiments, but the description and drawings forming a part of the disclosure should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Various alternative embodiments, examples, and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. For example, the liquid put into the container 20 is not limited to the medicine, but may be food, beverage, chemicals, and the like. The furnace is not limited to the freeze-drying furnace, but may be a fermentation furnace, or any furnace including those in which suppression of the internal temperature unevenness is desired. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention encompasses various embodiments not described herein.

Description of the symbols

1 … antenna, 2 … measuring part, 3 … wire, 4 … container cover, 6 … pressing member, 10 … wireless sensor, 20 … container, 30 … carrying-out device, 40 … conveying path, 41 … concave part, 50 … bridge, 70 … guide, 91 … separation guide, 92 … recovery container, 100 … enclosed space, 101 … antenna, 110 … plate, 111 … upper plate.

Claims (10)

1. A wireless sensor is characterized by comprising:

an antenna which is flexible and can be extended and retracted; and

and a measurement unit electrically connected to the antenna and configured to measure a measurement target.

2. The wireless sensor of claim 1,

the diameter of the antenna is configured such that when the antenna is contracted, a small-diameter portion is accommodated in an adjacent large-diameter portion.

3. The wireless sensor of claim 1 or 2,

further provided with: a wire connecting the antenna and the measurement unit; and

and a container cover enclosing the electric wire.

4. The wireless sensor of claim 3,

the maximum diameter of the antenna is set to be equal to or less than the width of a conveying path for conveying the container with the container lid inserted therein.

5. The wireless sensor of claim 1,

the antenna is configured to receive power by electromagnetic waves.

6. The wireless sensor of claim 1,

the antenna emits radio waves of the information of the measurement target measured by the measurement unit.

7. The wireless sensor of claim 1,

the measurement object is a temperature.

8. A method of treating a liquid, comprising the steps of:

preparing a wireless sensor having a helical, flexible, and stretchable antenna, a measurement section electrically connected to the antenna and measuring an object to be measured, an electric wire connecting the antenna and the measurement section, and a container cover enclosing the electric wire;

preparing a container containing a liquid;

placing the measuring portion of the wireless sensor in the container so that the antenna is outside the container, and semi-corking the container through the container cover;

measuring the measurement object in the container by the measurement unit while processing the liquid in the container; and

the antenna and the container lid are pressed from above the antenna, and the container lid is pressed into the container while the antenna is contracted, thereby pressing the container.

9. The method of treating a liquid according to claim 8,

the diameter of the antenna is configured such that when the antenna is contracted, a small-diameter portion is accommodated in an adjacent large-diameter portion.

10. The liquid treatment method according to claim 8 or 9,

the treatment is freeze drying.

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