JP2008131467A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain communication equipment which enables power consumption thereof to be reduced by preventing unnecessary transmitting operation from being performed, and performing receiving operation only during a determined time when the communication equipment has a receiving function. <P>SOLUTION: A timer circuit 7 has received a control signal output from a transmission control circuit 4 to a transmission circuit 3 and the timer circuit 7 uses the control signal to measure the lapse of time from the last transmission. When a first timer judgment circuit 8 judges that the time measured by the timer circuit 7 is less than or equal with a first predetermined value, the transmission control circuit 4 prohibits the transmission circuit 3 from performing transmitting operation regardless of a result of judgment made by a data judgment circuit 6. When the first timer circuit 8 judges that the time measured by the timer circuit 7 exceeds the first predetermined value, the transmission control circuit 4 causes the transmission circuit 3 to perform transmitting operation in accordance with the result of the judgment made by the data judgment circuit 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device such as a sensor network system, and more particularly to a battery-driven wireless communication device that needs to reduce power consumption.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of a conventional communication apparatus.
In FIG. 4, the communication device 100 wirelessly transmits data obtained from an element, circuit, or device having a predetermined function such as a sensor. For example, data obtained from a sensor is transmitted to the data holding circuit 101. The data written and written in the data holding circuit 101 is transmitted from the antenna 103 by the transmission circuit 102.

Although different from the present invention, in the intermittent reception standby device, the communication efficiency is improved by switching so that the cycle of the standby time is shortened until a certain time when a message is transmitted (for example, Patent Document 1). And the time from the start of power supply to carrier sensing is shortened by loosening the frequency judgment criteria, and the average consumption is made stricter so that the frequency judgment criteria can be accurately demodulated at the time of data demodulation. There was one that reduced the current (for example, see Patent Document 2). Also, using a plurality of channels, enabling intermittent operation, and even when other systems are using radio waves during intermittent operation, the synchronization signal is automatically transmitted from the transmission device via an empty channel, and the synchronization signal is received at the reception device. Has been detected, and the timing of intermittent operation can be adjusted (for example, see Patent Document 3).
JP 2005-115901 A Japanese Patent No. 3430590 Japanese Patent No. 3351004

  However, in the configuration as shown in FIG. 4, since the data written in the data holding circuit 101 is continuously transmitted as it is, unnecessary data is also transmitted, and wasteful power is consumed. In particular, when the communication device is driven by a battery, there is a problem that the battery is consumed quickly.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. The present invention has been made to prevent unnecessary transmission operation and to perform reception operation only for a predetermined time when a reception function is provided. An object of the present invention is to obtain a communication device capable of reducing power consumption.

A communication apparatus according to the present invention is a communication apparatus for transmitting data obtained from an element, circuit or apparatus having a predetermined function such as a sensor.
A data holding circuit unit for holding the data;
A transmission circuit unit for transmitting data held in the data holding circuit unit according to the input control signal;
A data determination circuit unit that determines whether it is necessary to transmit the data held in the data holding circuit unit using a predetermined determination criterion;
A timer circuit unit for measuring an elapsed time after the transmission operation by the transmission circuit unit is started; and
A first timer determination circuit unit that determines whether or not the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is equal to or less than a first predetermined value;
A transmission control circuit unit that performs transmission operation control of the transmission circuit unit according to each determination result of the data determination circuit unit and the first timer determination circuit unit;
Is provided.

  Specifically, the transmission control circuit unit relates to a determination result of the data determination circuit unit when the first timer determination circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is equal to or less than a first predetermined value. Instead, the transmission circuit unit is prohibited from transmitting data held in the data holding circuit unit.

  In addition, when the transmission control circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit exceeds the first predetermined value by the first timer determination circuit unit, the data determination circuit unit becomes the data holding circuit unit. When it is determined that it is necessary to transmit the held data, the transmission circuit unit is caused to transmit the data held in the data holding circuit unit.

Further, according to the input control signal, a receiving circuit unit that receives data transmitted from the outside,
A storage circuit unit for storing data received by the reception circuit unit;
A second timer determination circuit unit for determining whether the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is equal to or less than a second predetermined value;
A reception control circuit unit that performs reception operation control of the reception circuit unit in accordance with a determination result of the second timer determination circuit unit;
You may make it provide.

  In this case, when the second timer determination circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is equal to or less than a second predetermined value, the reception control circuit unit receives data from the reception circuit unit. It was banned.

  In addition, when the second timer determination circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit exceeds a second predetermined value, the reception control circuit unit receives a third predetermined value time, and the reception circuit unit To receive data.

  Further, the receiving circuit unit receives data indicating the determination criterion of the data determination circuit unit, the first predetermined value, the second predetermined value, and the third predetermined value, and stores the data in the storage circuit unit, The data determination circuit unit is a determination reference stored in the storage circuit unit, the first timer determination circuit unit is a first predetermined value stored in the storage circuit unit, and the second timer determination circuit unit is the storage circuit. The second predetermined value and the third predetermined value stored in the section are used for determination.

Further, the communication device according to the present invention is a communication device for transmitting data obtained from an element, circuit or device having a predetermined function such as a sensor.
A data holding circuit unit for holding the data;
A transmission circuit unit for transmitting data held in the data holding circuit unit according to the input control signal;
A timer circuit unit for measuring an elapsed time after the transmission operation by the transmission circuit unit is started; and
A first timer determination circuit unit that determines whether or not the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is equal to or less than a first predetermined value;
A transmission control circuit unit that performs transmission operation control of the transmission circuit unit according to a determination result of the first timer determination circuit unit;
In accordance with the input control signal, a receiving circuit unit that receives data transmitted from the outside,
A storage circuit unit for storing data received by the reception circuit unit;
A second timer determination circuit unit for determining whether the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is equal to or less than a second predetermined value;
A reception control circuit unit that performs reception operation control of the reception circuit unit in accordance with a determination result of the second timer determination circuit unit;
Is provided.

  The receiving circuit unit receives data indicating the first predetermined value and the second predetermined value and stores the data in the storage circuit unit, and the first timer determination circuit unit stores the first timer determination circuit unit stored in the storage circuit unit. The first predetermined value is used by the second timer determination circuit unit using the second predetermined value stored in the storage circuit unit.

  In addition, when the transmission time of the timer circuit unit is determined to be less than or equal to the first predetermined value by the first timer determination circuit unit, the transmission control circuit unit is connected to the data holding circuit unit with respect to the transmission circuit unit. The transmission of the retained data was prohibited.

  Further, when the transmission control circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit exceeds a first predetermined value by the first timer determination circuit unit, the data holding circuit unit with respect to the transmission circuit unit The data held in is sent.

  The reception control circuit unit prohibits the reception circuit unit from receiving data when the second timer determination circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is equal to or less than a second predetermined value. I tried to do it.

  In addition, when the second timer determination circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit exceeds a second predetermined value, the reception control circuit unit receives a third predetermined value time, and the reception circuit unit To receive data.

  The receiving circuit unit receives data indicating the first predetermined value, the second predetermined value, and the third predetermined value and stores the data in the storage circuit unit, and the first timer determination circuit unit stores the memory The first predetermined value stored in the circuit unit is used, and the second timer determination circuit unit uses the second predetermined value and the third predetermined value stored in the storage circuit unit.

  According to the communication device of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the data held in the data holding circuit unit needs to be transmitted, and the elapsed time after the transmission operation by the transmission circuit unit is started. It is determined whether or not it is equal to or less than the first predetermined value, and the transmission operation control of the transmission circuit unit is performed according to each determination result. For this reason, it is possible to reduce power consumption without performing unnecessary transmission operations.

  In addition, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time since the transmission operation by the transmission circuit unit is less than or equal to the second predetermined value, and the reception operation control of the reception circuit unit is performed according to the determination result. . Specifically, the reception operation is performed at a preset time after data transmission, and then the reception operation is stopped at the preset time so that the intermittent operation is performed to perform the reception operation only for a predetermined time. , Low power consumption can be achieved. In addition, when setting each judgment criterion from an external device, the external device side knows in which time zone the reception circuit unit performs a reception operation. Can be received reliably.

Next, the present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.
First embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration example of a communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a communication device 1 wirelessly transmits data obtained from an element, circuit, or device having a predetermined function such as a sensor. Hereinafter, data obtained from a sensor having a predetermined function will be described. An example of wireless transmission will be described.

  The communication device 1 captures data from an antenna 2, a transmission circuit 3 that transmits a data signal using the antenna 2, a transmission control circuit 4 that controls transmission operation of the transmission circuit 3, and a sensor. A data holding circuit 5 to hold, a data determination circuit 6 for determining whether or not the data held in the data holding circuit 5 should be transmitted, a timer circuit 7 for measuring an elapsed time from the previous transmission, and the timer And a first timer determination circuit 8 that determines whether or not the time measured by the circuit 7 is equal to or less than a first predetermined value. The transmission circuit 3 is a transmission circuit unit, the transmission control circuit 4 is a transmission control circuit unit, the data holding circuit 5 is a data holding circuit unit, the data determining circuit 6 is a data determining circuit unit, and the timer circuit 7 is a timer circuit. The first timer determination circuit 8 forms a first timer determination circuit unit.

  The transmission circuit 3 performs signal transmission via the antenna 2 in accordance with a control signal from the transmission control circuit 4. The data held in the data holding circuit 5 is output to the transmission circuit 3 and the data determination circuit 6, respectively, and the determination result of the data determination circuit 6 is output to the transmission control circuit 4. The timer circuit 7 receives the control signal output from the transmission control circuit 4 to the transmission circuit 3, and uses the control signal to measure an elapsed time from the previous transmission, and the first timer determination circuit 8 outputs to the transmission control circuit 4 a determination result as to whether or not the measurement time of the timer circuit 7 is equal to or less than the first predetermined value. The transmission control circuit 4 controls the operation of the transmission circuit 3 according to each determination result from the data determination circuit 6 and the first timer determination circuit 8. When it is determined by the first timer determination circuit 8 that the measurement time of the timer circuit 7 is equal to or less than the first predetermined value, the transmission control circuit 4 sends the transmission control circuit 4 to the transmission circuit 3 regardless of the determination result of the data determination circuit 6. When the transmission operation is prohibited and the first timer determination circuit 8 determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit 7 exceeds the first predetermined value, the transmission circuit 3 is instructed according to the determination result of the data determination circuit 6. To perform the transmission operation.

  In such a configuration, the data determination circuit 6 determines whether or not the data fetched from the sensor to the data holding circuit 5 should be transmitted using a predetermined determination criterion. For example, if it is recognized that the currently acquired data has changed by a predetermined value or more with respect to the previously transmitted data, the data determination circuit 6 determines that the data should be transmitted and indicates the determination result. The signal is output to the transmission control circuit 4. When the sensor is a temperature sensor, the data determination circuit 6 is 25 ° C. when the data from the temperature sensor was transmitted last time, but the current data is 27 ° C. and corresponds to the determination criterion “difference> 1 ° C.” Therefore, a determination signal indicating that transmission is to be performed is output to the transmission control circuit 4. Another example of criteria for data determination by the data determination circuit 6 is a comparison between the moving average for the previous five times and the moving average for the previous five times when the sensor is a sensor for measuring the movement amount. It can be applied to various data determinations depending on the nature of the data, such as outputting a determination signal indicating that transmission should occur if the reference is exceeded.

Further, for example, when the first timer determination circuit 8 determines that the transmission control circuit 4 is within one minute from the previous data transmission, the data determination circuit 6 determines that the current data should be transmitted. It is possible to provide a restriction such that transmission is not performed. That is, the transmission control circuit 4 determines that the data determination circuit 6 is to transmit, and the first timer determination circuit 8 determines that the elapsed time from the previous transmission exceeds the first predetermined value. Then, the transmission circuit 3 is permitted to transmit the data held in the data holding circuit 5. In addition, the transmission control circuit 4 determines that the data determination circuit 6 is not to transmit, and / or the first timer determination circuit 8 determines that the elapsed time from the previous transmission is within the first predetermined value. Then, the transmission circuit 3 is prohibited from transmitting the data held in the data holding circuit 5.
By doing so, the communication apparatus according to the first embodiment can eliminate the transmission of unnecessary data, and can perform a transmission operation only at an interval of a predetermined time or more. Can be reduced.

Second embodiment.
The communication device according to the first embodiment may be provided with a receiving circuit, and such a configuration is referred to as a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration example of a communication apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 2 that are the same as or similar to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted here, and only differences from FIG. 1 will be described.
The difference between FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 is measured by a reception circuit 11 that receives data using the antenna 2, a reception control circuit 12 that controls the reception operation of the reception circuit 11, and a timer circuit 7. 1 is provided with a second timer determination circuit 13 for determining whether or not the time is equal to or less than a second predetermined value, and a register 14 into which received data is written. 1 is the communication device 1a.

In FIG. 2, a communication device 1a wirelessly transmits data obtained from an element, circuit or device having a predetermined function such as a sensor, and receives data wirelessly transmitted from the outside. A case where data obtained from a sensor having a predetermined function is wirelessly transmitted will be described as an example.
The communication device 1a uses an antenna 2, a transmission circuit 3, a transmission control circuit 4, a data holding circuit 5, a data determination circuit 6, a timer circuit 7, a first timer determination circuit 8, and the antenna 2. A receiving circuit 11 for receiving data, a receiving control circuit 12 for controlling the receiving operation of the receiving circuit 11, and a determination as to whether or not the time measured by the timer circuit 7 is equal to or less than a second predetermined value. A second timer determination circuit 13 is provided, and a register 14 into which data received by the reception circuit 11 is written. The reception circuit 11 is a reception circuit unit, the reception control circuit 12 is a reception control circuit unit, the second timer determination circuit 13 is a second timer determination circuit unit, and the register 14 is a storage circuit unit.

The reception circuit 11 performs data reception via the antenna 2 in accordance with a control signal from the reception control circuit 12. The second timer determination circuit 13 outputs a determination result as to whether or not the measurement time of the timer circuit 7 is equal to or less than the second predetermined value to the reception control circuit 12. The reception control circuit 12 controls the operation of the reception circuit 11 according to the determination result from the second timer determination circuit 13. When the second timer determination circuit 13 determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit 7 is equal to or less than the second predetermined value, the reception control circuit 12 prohibits the reception operation for the reception circuit 11 and determines the second timer determination. When it is determined by the circuit 13 that the measurement time of the timer circuit 7 has exceeded the second predetermined value, the reception circuit 11 is caused to perform a reception operation for the time of the third predetermined value.
In such a configuration, the communication device 1 a is a slave unit, and the reception circuit 11 receives data transmitted from the master unit and writes the received data in the register 14. The received data is a parameter for setting the operation mode of the communication device 1a, and each circuit of the communication device 1a operates based on the data written in the register 14.

For example, the register 14 is written with data for setting the first predetermined value, the second predetermined value, and the third predetermined value, and data for setting the determination criteria of the data determination circuit 6. Parameters for determining the operation mode of the slave unit, such as the period at which the receiver circuit 11 performs the transmission operation and how many seconds after the data transmission the reception circuit 11 performs the reception operation and after which the reception circuit 11 stops the reception operation Is set.
For this reason, when it is desired to frequently capture data obtained from the sensor based on the data transmitted from the communication device 1a, the master unit shortens the transmission cycle of the communication device 1a. The transmission cycle of the device 1a can be set long. Further, since the parent device controls the operation state of the communication device 1a which is a child device, even when there are a plurality of child devices, transmission and reception can be performed with each child device at a convenient timing of the parent device. In addition, since the transmission circuit 3 and the reception circuit 11 can be kept in a stopped state except when necessary, if the application does not need to exchange data frequently, the power consumption can be further reduced. Can be planned.

  As described above, in the communication device according to the second embodiment, the transmission circuit 3 is activated only when it is determined that the data obtained from the sensor should be transmitted, and the operation is stopped after the data transmission is completed. The power consumption is reduced, and after the data is transmitted by the transmission circuit 3, the reception circuit 11 is activated after a time set by the parent device before that, and the operation is stopped after receiving a new setting from the parent device. Reduced power consumption. For this reason, the power consumption can be reduced by performing only the minimum necessary operation.

In the second embodiment, even if there are a plurality of slave units, all of them are managed by the master unit. Basically, it is assumed that the receiver circuit of the master unit is always in an operating state. Since the parent device does not necessarily need to be driven by a battery, the power consumption of the parent device does not have to be considered.
In each of the first and second embodiments, the power consumption can be reduced as compared with the prior art without the data determination circuit 6. In this case, for example, FIG. 2 is as shown in FIG. 3, the transmission control circuit 4 is the same as FIG. 2 except that the operation control of the transmission circuit 3 is performed according to the determination result from the first timer determination circuit 8, and the description thereof is omitted. Since the same applies to the case of FIG. 1, the description thereof is omitted. In the above description, the case of performing wireless communication has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to communication using a signal line.

It is the schematic block diagram which showed the structural example of the communication apparatus in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic block diagram which showed the structural example of the communication apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic block diagram which showed the other structural example of the communication apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic block diagram which showed the structural example of the conventional communication apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication apparatus 2 Antenna 3 Transmission circuit 4 Transmission control circuit 5 Data holding circuit 6 Data determination circuit 7 Timer circuit 8 First timer determination circuit 11 Reception circuit 12 Reception control circuit 13 Second timer determination circuit 14 Register

Claims (14)

In a communication device that transmits data obtained from an element, circuit, or device having a predetermined function such as a sensor,
A data holding circuit unit for holding the data;
A transmission circuit unit for transmitting data held in the data holding circuit unit according to the input control signal;
A data determination circuit unit that determines whether it is necessary to transmit the data held in the data holding circuit unit using a predetermined determination criterion;
A timer circuit unit for measuring an elapsed time after the transmission operation by the transmission circuit unit is started; and
A first timer determination circuit unit that determines whether or not the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is equal to or less than a first predetermined value;
A transmission control circuit unit that performs transmission operation control of the transmission circuit unit according to each determination result of the data determination circuit unit and the first timer determination circuit unit;
A communication apparatus comprising:   The transmission control circuit unit, when the first timer determination circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is equal to or less than a first predetermined value, the transmission circuit regardless of the determination result of the data determination circuit unit 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein transmission of data held in the data holding circuit unit is prohibited to a unit.   When the transmission control circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit exceeds the first predetermined value by the first timer determination circuit unit, the data determination circuit unit is held in the data holding circuit unit 3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that it is necessary to transmit data, the transmission circuit unit causes the data held in the data holding circuit unit to be transmitted. In accordance with the input control signal, a receiving circuit unit that receives data transmitted from the outside,
A storage circuit unit for storing data received by the reception circuit unit;
A second timer determination circuit unit for determining whether the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is equal to or less than a second predetermined value;
A reception control circuit unit that performs reception operation control of the reception circuit unit in accordance with a determination result of the second timer determination circuit unit;
The communication device according to claim 1, 2, or 3.   The reception control circuit unit prohibits the reception circuit unit from receiving data when the second timer determination circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is a second predetermined value or less. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein:   When the second timer determination circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit exceeds the second predetermined value, the reception control circuit unit performs a third predetermined value time for the reception circuit unit. 6. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the communication apparatus receives data.   The reception circuit unit receives data indicating the determination criterion of the data determination circuit unit, the first predetermined value, the second predetermined value, and the third predetermined value, stores the data in the storage circuit unit, and performs the data determination The circuit unit includes a determination criterion stored in the storage circuit unit, the first timer determination circuit unit includes a first predetermined value stored in the storage circuit unit, and the second timer determination circuit unit includes the storage circuit unit. 7. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the stored second predetermined value and third predetermined value are used. In a communication device that transmits data obtained from an element, circuit, or device having a predetermined function such as a sensor,
A data holding circuit unit for holding the data;
A transmission circuit unit for transmitting data held in the data holding circuit unit according to the input control signal;
A timer circuit unit for measuring an elapsed time after the transmission operation by the transmission circuit unit is started; and
A first timer determination circuit unit that determines whether or not the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is equal to or less than a first predetermined value;
A transmission control circuit unit that performs transmission operation control of the transmission circuit unit according to a determination result of the first timer determination circuit unit;
In accordance with the input control signal, a receiving circuit unit that receives data transmitted from the outside,
A storage circuit unit for storing data received by the reception circuit unit;
A second timer determination circuit unit for determining whether the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is equal to or less than a second predetermined value;
A reception control circuit unit that performs reception operation control of the reception circuit unit in accordance with a determination result of the second timer determination circuit unit;
A communication apparatus comprising:   The receiving circuit unit receives data indicating the first predetermined value and the second predetermined value and stores the data in the storage circuit unit, and the first timer determination circuit unit stores the first predetermined value stored in the storage circuit unit. 9. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second timer determination circuit unit uses a second predetermined value stored in the storage circuit unit.   The transmission control circuit unit holds the transmission circuit unit in the data holding circuit unit when the first timer determination circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is equal to or less than a first predetermined value. 10. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein transmission of the transmitted data is prohibited.   When the first timer determination circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit exceeds a first predetermined value, the transmission control circuit unit sets the data holding circuit unit to the transmission circuit unit. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the held data is transmitted.   The reception control circuit unit prohibits the reception circuit unit from receiving data when the second timer determination circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit is a second predetermined value or less. 12. The communication device according to claim 8, 9, 10 or 11.   When the second timer determination circuit unit determines that the measurement time of the timer circuit unit exceeds the second predetermined value, the reception control circuit unit performs a third predetermined value time for the reception circuit unit. 13. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein data is received.   The receiving circuit unit receives data indicating the first predetermined value, the second predetermined value, and the third predetermined value and stores the data in the storage circuit unit, and the first timer determination circuit unit is the storage circuit unit 14. The communication according to claim 13, wherein the second predetermined value stored in the storage circuit unit is used for the second predetermined value stored in the storage circuit unit, and the second predetermined value stored in the storage circuit unit. apparatus.

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