JP2020531832A - Mobile device with sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile phone capable of detecting weak vibration activity or seismic activity. A mobile device 1, 7, 9, 11 includes a sensor housed in a housing 2. The sensor is realized as a strain and / or bending sensor 3, and in cooperation with the vibration mass, forms an acceleration sensor that detects solid sound waves and / or acceleration. At least a part of the mass of the mobile devices 1, 7, 9 and 11 forms the vibration mass. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to a mobile device comprising a sensor housed in a housing.

Today's mobile devices (mobile communication devices) such as smartphones, tablet computers, and notebook computers are equipped with sensor units such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). These sensor units or MEMS are required in various applications. Examples of this include detection of the position of a mobile device, detection of user movement, and the like. It has already been proposed to perform seismic observations using sensors that already exist in mobile devices (particularly acceleration sensors).

For example, Patent Document 1 proposes to use a mobile phone as an early warning system for detecting an earthquake. For this purpose, acceleration data is detected by an acceleration sensor built into the mobile phone. By comparing these acceleration data with empirical values, it is determined whether or not the detected acceleration is an earthquake event. If it is determined that this is an earthquake event, a communication link with the server is established. The server can communicate with multiple such mobile phones and perform validation (Plausibilisierung) to infer whether an earthquake has actually occurred. If the result of the confirmation is affirmative, an earthquake warning is issued to the mobile phone existing in the vicinity of the earthquake event so that the recipient can ensure safety (bringen).

Patent Document 2 also describes a similar early warning system that detects an earthquake event.

International Publication No. 2017/083556 Pamphlet U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0195693

These known systems and methods are based on detecting seismic events using conventional sensors present in mobile phones. In order to ensure a sufficient warning period before an earthquake begins, it is necessary to detect an approaching earthquake that has caused a microtremor, vibration wave, or seismic wave on the ground as soon as possible. However, conventional sensors mounted on mobile devices are not provided for this purpose. Specifically, it is not possible to detect weak vibrational activity or seismic activity early enough. However, early detection is required for a sufficient alarm period. Therefore, in order to improve safety (Schutz) and enable a sufficient warning period, it is necessary to be able to detect even weak seismic activity in a timely manner.

Therefore, an underlying object of the present invention is to provide a mobile phone capable of detecting weak vibrational activity or seismic activity.

In the present invention, in order to achieve this object, the above-mentioned type of mobile device is used.
The sensor is realized as a strain and / or bending sensor, and in cooperation with the vibration mass (sizemic mass), forms an acceleration sensor that detects solid-state sound waves (or solid-borne sound waves) and / or acceleration. And
A mobile device is provided in which at least a portion of the mass of the mobile device forms the vibration mass.

The present invention is based on the recognition that a special arrangement of strain and / or bending sensors in the housing of a mobile device can significantly increase sensitivity to acceleration, especially to microearthquakes. This effect is achieved by the strain and / or bending sensor working with a vibrating mass that is excited and vibrates under the influence of acceleration. These vibrations can be detected by the strain and / or bending sensor. The strain and / or bending sensor can significantly amplify the acceleration acting on the vibration mass. This makes it possible to detect even the minimum acceleration that occurs in the early stages of an earthquake before it arrives. As described above, since the mobile device according to the present invention can detect vibrations such as earthquakes and solid sound waves at an early stage, the warning period before the occurrence of an earthquake event can be significantly longer than that of the conventional system. This extended warning period increases the probability that people in areas of impending danger from an earthquake will be able to bringn safety in time.

Preferably, the strain and / or bend sensor is attached to an elastically supported portion of the vibration mass. The portion of the mobile device on which the strain and / or bending sensor is located can be elastically supported, such as a flex spring, and most of the mass of the mobile device functions as vibration mass.

In the mobile device according to the present invention, the strain and / or bending sensor is preferably a piezoelectric sensor. Such sensors are characterized by high accuracy, small mass and economical formula (zeichnet sich). As a result, such piezoelectric sensors can be relatively easily incorporated into mobile devices. For example, the strain and / or bending sensor proposed in German Patent Application Publication No. 102012222239 by the same applicant as in the present application may be used. The entire contents of German Patent Application Publication No. 102012222239 shall be included in this application by reference.

In the mobile device according to the present invention, it is very preferably realized that the strain and / or bending sensor measures at least indirectly a minimum acceleration of less than 1 mG, preferably less than 100 μG. The strain and / or bending sensor supplies measured values of strain and / or bending, and acceleration can be derived and calculated from the measured values. In contrast, conventional mobile device accelerometers are typically implemented to detect greater accelerations from 10 mG to 100 mG. That is, the sensitivity of the strain and / or bending sensor used in the mobile device according to the present invention is one order or more higher than the sensitivity of the conventional acceleration sensor incorporated in the mobile device.

In the mobile device according to the present invention, the acceleration sensor is extremely advantageously arranged on or on a component realized as a plate-shaped member or a rod-shaped member in the mobile device. With such an arrangement configuration, the component realized as a plate-shaped member or a rod-shaped member functions as a vibration mass in which vibration can be caused by acceleration. The plate-shaped member can be supported by a plurality of points (bearing points) or straight lines. The rod-shaped member can be supported on one side or two sides.

In an improved form of the mobile device according to the present invention, the housing may include two, three, four or five or more bearing points for placement on a support (Untergrund). When the mobile device according to the present invention is placed on some base (Unterlage), the mobile device has minimal vibration (particularly vibration in the form of solid sound) and acceleration (particularly minimal vibration). Can also be recorded. Vibration waves or seismic waves (seismic waves) can be detected separately from vibrations from other sources on the entkoppelten Fundament or the entkoppelten Unterlage.

As for the bearing location, the bearing location may be provided in the corner region of the housing or in the edge region of the housing. Preferably, a plurality of bearing points are dispersedly arranged in a surface region (particularly, a lower surface) of the housing.

The bearing points of the mobile device according to the present invention can be realized in the shape of points, straight lines or curves, or can be realized as a planar body. Preferably, the bearings project from the underside of the housing. By providing a plurality of bearing points, a predetermined contact is established between the mobile device according to the present invention and the support, and accurate detection of solid sound waves becomes possible.

In the mobile device according to the present invention, the strain and / or bending sensor is very preferably provided at least near the center of the mobile device. With such an arrangement configuration, the substantially total mass of the mobile device functions as the vibration mass.

The mobile device according to the present invention may further include a control device. The control device is realized so as to evaluate the vibration detected by the strain and / or the bending sensor, and to transmit a signal to an external device when it is determined that the event is a predetermined event. In particular, the control device is realized to determine whether or not it is an earthquake event by evaluating the vibration.

In particular, the mobile device according to the present invention can be a smartphone, a tablet computer, or a notebook computer.

In one variant of the invention, the mobile device can be realized as an early warning system for detecting earthquakes or as a component of such an early warning system. Such an early warning system may include a plurality of such mobile devices capable of establishing a communication link with a central server.

In an alternative embodiment of the mobile device according to the present invention, the mobile device is realized as a pulse rate monitor. When the user touches or fixes the mobile device to the arm or neck, the pulse of the user (that is, the heartbeat of the user) can be detected.

In another alternative embodiment of the mobile device according to the present invention, the mobile device is realized as a monitoring device capable of detecting a human fall in space. A fall produces a solid sound that can be detected by the mobile device. In this way, the mobile device can be used, for example, to monitor space or monitor the elderly. If the mobile device determines that a human has fallen, an alarm may be triggered automatically or help may be called.

Surprisingly, the mobile device according to the present invention can also be used as a directional microphone for air sound. The mobile device can determine the direction of the sound source of the received acoustic signal. This can improve the quality of telephone calls, for example, in noisy environments.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings using exemplary embodiments. The drawing is a schematic view as shown below.

It is a perspective view of the mobile device which concerns on this invention. It is a side view of the mobile device of FIG. It is a side view which shows the example other embodiment of the mobile device which concerns on this invention. FIG. 5 is a side view showing still another exemplary embodiment of the mobile device according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side view showing still another exemplary embodiment of the mobile device according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mobile device 1 including a housing 2 containing a strain and / or bending sensor 3. In FIG. 1, the strain and / or bending sensor 3 housed inside the housing 2 is drawn with a broken line. FIG. 1 shows the mobile device 1 in an upside-down position, i.e., with the bottom surface 4 facing up. A total of four bearing points 5 realized in a cylindrical shape are provided at the corners and project from the lower surface 4 of the housing 2.

The strain and / or bending sensor 3 is realized as a piezoelectric sensor and is capable of detecting elongation and / or acceleration. From these detected measurements, it is possible to derive and determine accelerations of less than 100 μG by calculation. The mobile device 1 in the exemplary embodiment is realized as a smartphone and is a component of an early warning system for detecting an earthquake.

When the mobile device 1 is placed on the base (Unterlage) at the bearing point 5, the strain and / or bending sensor 3 can be excited and vibrated by a seismic wave or a vibrating wave. Since the mass of the mobile device 1 functions as the vibration mass, the acceleration from the outside (particularly, the seismic wave) is amplified, and the acceleration can be detected by the distortion and / bending sensor 3 with high accuracy. The mobile device 1 further includes a control device 6 schematically shown in FIG. The control device 6 is connected to the strain and / or bending sensor 3 and evaluates the acceleration data detected by the strain and / or bending sensor 3. Using this assessment, it is possible to determine whether the detected vibrations and / or accelerations are caused by seismic events or by another source. Since seismic events are characterized by typical low-frequency acceleration (zeichnen sich), it is possible to determine whether or not the source of acceleration is an earthquake by using evaluations and classifications.

When the control device 6 determines that the event is an earthquake event, the control device 6 transmits an alarm signal to another device (for example, a central server or the like). The alarm signal is transmitted via a general mobile communication link. The central server may evaluate a plurality of such messages and validate the alarm signal at the same time. By confirming the validity, false alarms can be prevented. By also transmitting the position of each mobile device to the server, additional information about the seismic event (eg, the epicenter where the seismic event started, the propagation direction, the propagation speed, etc.) can be found.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the distortion and / or bending sensor 3 is arranged inside the mobile device 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the strain and / or bending sensor 3 is located away from the bottom surface 4 and the opposite top surface 12.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary (second) embodiment of the mobile device 7. The mobile device 7 is shown in cross section. Inside the housing 2, a plate-shaped member 8 provided with an electronic component (not shown) is arranged. A strain and / or bending sensor 3 is arranged on the plate-shaped member 8. When acceleration acts, the plate-shaped member 8 can be elastically deformed at least slightly. In FIG. 3, since the plate-shaped member 8 is supported on the left side and the right side in the drawing of the mobile device 7, it can be seen that the plate-shaped member 8 can move at least at least in the vertical direction. That is, the strain and / or bend sensor 3 is flexibly or stretchably supported and records even the slightest tremors (eg, microtremors) that can typically occur during a vibration or seismic event.

FIG. 4 is a diagram similar to FIG. 3, showing yet still other exemplary embodiments of the mobile device 9. The strain and / or bend sensor 3 is arranged in the housing 2 on a pedestal (Unterlage) realized as a rod-like member (10 with cantilever support). The (cantilevered) rod-shaped member 10 that supports the strain and / or bending sensor 3 is attached to the right side in FIG. The left end of the (cantilevered) rod-shaped member 10 can be vibrated by a microtremor, acceleration or vibration wave (or vibration wave), which vibration is detected by the strain and / or bending sensor 3. The mass of the mobile device 9 functions as a vibration mass and amplifies the acceleration acting on the mobile device 9.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of yet another exemplary embodiment of the mobile device 11. In this exemplary embodiment, the strain and / or bending sensor 3 is disposed inside the housing 2 on the top surface 12 of the housing 2. When acceleration occurs, the flat (platten-) shaped upper surface 12 vibrates, and the distortion and / or bending sensor 3 can detect the vibration. The mass of an additional component 13 not shown in detail inside the mobile device 11 functions as the vibration mass, thereby amplifying the motion acting on the strain and / or bending sensor 3.

The mobile devices 1, 7, 9 and 11 may also be used, in particular as a pulse rate monitor. For this purpose, the user applies or secures the mobile device to a part of the body where the pulse is easily detected. For this, for example, arms, neck and the like are suitable. The pulse generated by the heartbeat produces a solid sound that can be detected and measured by the strain and / or bending sensor 3 of the mobile device. The measured value may be displayed on the display surface of the mobile device and stored using the corresponding software application (app).

The mobile devices 1, 7, 9, and 11 described are also suitable for spatial monitoring. Mobile devices may be used to monitor space and can trigger an alarm if a person falls in the room. When a person falls, a solid sound is generated, and the solid sound is transmitted to the mobile device located in the same space via a floor or another object. Solid sound waves generated by a fall are characteristic and the controller 6 can distinguish them from those of other sources (eg, due to vibrational acceleration or seismic acceleration). The mobile device may initiate an alarm when a human fall is detected.

As a further variant, mobile devices 1, 7, 9, and 11 may also be used as directional microphones for air noise. When the sound source passes through the mobile device, strong characteristics occur depending on the direction. Surprisingly, the distortion and / bending sensor 3 can detect not only direct acceleration and / or solid sound, but also indirect air sound. This makes it possible, for example, to improve the quality of telephone calls in noisy environments.

As described above, the present invention has been specifically illustrated and described with reference to each of the above exemplary embodiments, but those skilled in the art can describe the scope of the present invention included in the appended claims. You will understand that various changes may be made to the form and details, without deviation.

1 Mobile device 2 Housing 3 Distortion and / or bending sensor 4 Bottom surface 5 Bearing point 6 Control device 7 Mobile device 8 Plate-shaped member 9 Mobile device 10 (cantilevered) rod-shaped member 11 Mobile device 12 Top surface 13 Component

As described above, the present invention has been specifically illustrated and described with reference to each of the above exemplary embodiments, but those skilled in the art can describe the scope of the present invention included in the appended claims. You will understand that various changes may be made to the form and details, without deviation.
In addition, the present invention includes the following contents as an embodiment.
[Aspect 1]
In a mobile device (1,7,9,11) including a sensor housed in a housing (2).
The sensor is realized as a strain and / or bending sensor (3) and, in cooperation with the vibration mass, forms an acceleration sensor that detects solid sound waves and / or acceleration.
A mobile device, characterized in that at least a part of the mass of the mobile device (1,7,9,11) forms the vibration mass.
[Aspect 2]
The mobile device according to aspect 1, wherein the strain and / or bending sensor (3) is attached to an elastically supported portion of the vibration mass.
[Aspect 3]
The mobile device according to aspect 1 or 2, wherein the strain and / or bending sensor (3) is a piezoelectric sensor.
[Aspect 4]
In the mobile device according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, the strain and / or bending sensor (3) is realized to measure an acceleration of less than 1 mG, preferably less than 100 μG. Mobile device.
[Aspect 5]
In the mobile device according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, the strain and / or bending sensor (3) is a plate-shaped member (8) or a plate-shaped member (8) of the mobile device (1, 7, 9, 11). A mobile device, characterized in that it is located on or on a component realized as a rod-shaped member (10).
[Aspect 6]
In the mobile device according to any one of aspects 1 to 5, the housing (2) includes two, three, four, or five or more bearing points (5) for placing on a support. A mobile device that features a housing.
[Aspect 7]
The mobile device according to aspect 6, wherein the support portion (5) is provided in the corner region of the housing (2) or in the edge region of the housing (2).
[Aspect 8]
In the mobile device according to aspect 6 or 7, the bearing location (5) can be realized in the shape of a point, straight line or curve, or as a planar body, and preferably of the housing (2). A mobile device characterized by protruding from the bottom surface.
[Aspect 9]
In the mobile device according to any one of aspects 1 to 8, the strain and / or bending sensor (3) is provided at least near the center of the mobile device (1,7,9,11). A mobile device that features.
[Aspect 10]
In the mobile device according to any one of aspects 1 to 9, further
Control device (6),
When the control device (6) evaluates the vibration detected by the strain and / or the bending sensor (3) and determines that it is a predetermined event, it is particularly considered to be an earthquake event. A mobile device, characterized in that it is implemented to transmit a signal to an external device when determined.
[Aspect 11]
The mobile device according to any one of aspects 1 to 10, wherein the mobile device is realized as a smartphone, a tablet computer, or a notebook computer.
[Aspect 12]
The mobile device according to any one of aspects 1 to 11, wherein the mobile device is realized as an early warning system for detecting an earthquake.
[Aspect 13]
The mobile device according to any one of aspects 1 to 12, wherein the mobile device is realized as a pulse rate monitor.
[Aspect 14]
The mobile device according to any one of aspects 1 to 13, wherein the mobile device is realized as a monitoring device capable of detecting a human fall in space. ..
[Aspect 15]
The mobile device according to any one of aspects 1 to 14, wherein the mobile device is realized as a directional microphone for air sound.

Claims (15)

In a mobile device (1,7,9,11) including a sensor housed in a housing (2).
The sensor is realized as a strain and / or bending sensor (3) and, in cooperation with the vibration mass, forms an acceleration sensor that detects solid sound waves and / or acceleration.
A mobile device, characterized in that at least a part of the mass of the mobile device (1,7,9,11) forms the vibration mass. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the strain and / or bending sensor (3) is attached to an elastically supported portion of the vibration mass. The mobile device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the strain and / or bending sensor (3) is a piezoelectric sensor. The mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is characterized in that the strain and / or bending sensor (3) is realized to measure an acceleration of less than 1 mG, preferably less than 100 μG. Mobile device. In the mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the strain and / or bending sensor (3) is a plate-shaped member (8) of the mobile device (1, 7, 9, 11). Alternatively, a mobile device, characterized in that it is located on or on a component realized as a rod-shaped member (10). In the mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the housing (2) has two, three, four, or five or more bearing points (5) for placing on a support. A mobile device characterized by being equipped. The mobile device according to claim 6, wherein the support portion (5) is provided in the corner region of the housing (2) or in the edge region of the housing (2). .. In the mobile device according to claim 6 or 7, the bearing location (5) can be realized in the shape of a point, straight line or curve, or as a planar body, and preferably the housing (2). A mobile device characterized by protruding from the underside of the housing. In the mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the strain and / or bending sensor (3) is provided at least near the center of the mobile device (1,7,9,11). A mobile device that features that. In the mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further
Control device (6),
When the control device (6) evaluates the vibration detected by the strain and / or the bending sensor (3) and determines that it is a predetermined event, it is particularly considered to be an earthquake event. A mobile device, characterized in that it is implemented to transmit a signal to an external device when determined. The mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the mobile device is realized as a smartphone, a tablet computer, or a notebook computer. The mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the mobile device is realized as an early warning system for detecting an earthquake. The mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the mobile device is realized as a pulse rate monitor. The mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the mobile device is realized as a monitoring device capable of detecting a human fall in space. apparatus. The mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the mobile device is realized as a directional microphone for air sound.

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