JP2022177767A - Water supply use detection wireless communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a water supply use detection wireless communication device capable of performing good communication by preventing deterioration of radio wave intensity during wireless communication due to water when water supply is used.SOLUTION: A water supply use detection wireless communication device 10 includes: a first housing 1 having a water inlet 1a and a water outlet 1b formed; and a second housing 2 installed inside the first housing 1. The second housing 2 includes: a water flow control mechanism 3 that determines a direction of water flow and increases flow velocity; an impeller 4 that rotates by receiving water; a shaft 5 connected to the impeller 4; a magnet 6 to which rotation of the impeller 4 is transmitted by the shaft 5; a coil 7 wound so that magnetic flux of the magnet 6 interlinks; and a wireless communication circuit 20 that starts operating when an AC voltage generated in the coil 7 due to changes in the magnetic flux is applied. The water supply use detection wireless communication device further includes a water flow region limiting mechanism 8 that limits a region where water flows so that a radio wave for wireless communication between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 is not blocked.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a water supply usage detection wireless device suitable for confirming the safety of an elderly person living alone from the water usage status.

In recent years, the number of elderly people living alone has increased, and it has become important to confirm the safety of the elderly people. As a device for confirming safety, a device that detects the use of water, which is indispensable for life, has been devised. For example, as a wireless communication device for detecting the use of tap water, there is a hydroelectric wireless water sensor disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-287818. However, although this device does not require electrical wiring work, it does require water pipe work for installation, which is troublesome and costly.

Therefore, as a wireless communication device for detecting use of water supply, an example of a prototype of a wireless communication device for detecting use of water supply by hydroelectric power generation will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the tap water use detection wireless communication device 10 prototyped by the present inventor and the area through which water flows. This tap water detection wireless communication device 10 comprises a first housing 1 having a water inlet 1a and a water outlet 1b, and a second housing 2 installed inside the first housing 1. The second housing 2 includes a water flow control mechanism 3 that determines the direction of water flow and increases the flow velocity, an impeller 4 that receives water and rotates, and a shaft 5 connected to the impeller 4. A magnet 6 to which the rotation of the impeller 4 is transmitted by a shaft 5, a coil 7 wound so that the magnetic flux of the magnet 6 interlinks, and an AC voltage generated in the coil 7 by a change in the magnetic flux is applied to operate. It has a wireless communication circuit 20 that initiates.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the wireless communication circuit 20. As shown in FIG. The wireless communication circuit 20 includes a rectifying circuit 21 that rectifies the AC voltage generated between both terminals of the coil 7, a voltage limiting circuit 22 that limits the level of the rectified voltage, and the output voltage of the voltage limiting circuit 22 is applied. It has a wireless module 23 that initiates wireless communication when received, and an antenna 24 that transmits and receives wireless communication.

The operation of the water use detection wireless communication device 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b).

FIG. 5(a) is a side cross-sectional view of the tap water usage detection wireless communication device 10 prototyped by the inventors, and FIG. 5(b) is a top view of the tap water usage detection wireless communication device 10 prototyped by the inventors. It is a diagram. When the inflow port 1a is attached to the water faucet and the faucet is opened, water flows in the same rotational direction from the three notches of the water flow control mechanism 3. - 特許庁The impeller 4 rotates by receiving the water flowing in the same direction of rotation, and the magnet 6 rotates along the shaft 5 . As the magnet 6 rotates, the magnetic flux interlinking with the coil 7 changes, and an AC voltage is generated at the terminals of the coil 7 . This AC voltage is rectified by the rectifier circuit 21 . A rectified voltage is input to the voltage limiting circuit 22, and a voltage that does not exceed the limit level is output. The wireless module 23 starts operating when the output voltage of the voltage limiting circuit 22 is applied, and performs wireless communication through the antenna 24 to notify that the tap water has been used.

Next, the influence of water during wireless communication of the tap water usage detection wireless communication device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5(c), 5(d), 5(e) and 5(f).

FIG. 5(c) is a bottom view of the tap water use detecting wireless communication device 10 prototyped by the present inventor, in which water flows in the shaded area between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2. FIG. FIG. 5(d) is a side view of the tap water usage detection wireless communication device 1 prototyped by the present inventors, in which a region through which water flows is indicated by diagonal lines. As shown in FIGS. 5( c ) and 5 ( d ), water surrounds the antenna 24 of the wireless communication circuit 20 built in the second housing 2 .

FIG. 5(e) is a side view of the tap water usage detection wireless communication device 10 prototyped by the present inventor, and arrows indicate the flow of water. Water flows into the inflow port 1a from the faucet, and when the water passes through the notch of the water flow control mechanism 3, the flow speed increases and flows in the same rotational direction. This water flows out from the gap between the water flow control mechanism 3 and the second housing 2 and passes between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 . FIG. 5(f) is a top view of the tap water usage detection wireless communication device 10 prototyped by the present inventors, and arrows indicate how water flows into the water flow control mechanism 3 in the same rotational direction.

The radio wave intensity was measured in the presence and absence of water around the antenna 24 of the wireless communication circuit 20 . When the water supply use detection wireless communication device 1 was attached to a water faucet and running water, the radio wave intensity was -90 dBm or less. Also, the radio wave intensity when a battery was connected to the wireless communication circuit 20 was about -70 dBm. If the wireless module 23 is Bluetooth or the like, the frequency of the radio waves is in the 2.4 GHz band, and the attenuation of the energy of the radio waves due to water is considered to be particularly large.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-287818

In the above water supply use detection wireless communication device 10 prototyped by the present inventor, since the antenna 24 is surrounded by water during wireless communication, the strength of the radio waves for transmission and reception is weakened, the communication distance is shortened, or the communication success rate is reduced. There is a problem that the

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to suppress a decrease in radio wave intensity due to water and to enable good communication.

The solution taken by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems is a water supply use detection wireless communication device 10, which includes a first housing in which a water inlet and a water outlet are formed; The second housing includes a water flow control mechanism that determines the direction of water flow and increases the flow velocity, and an impeller that rotates in response to water. a shaft connected to the impeller; a magnet to which the rotation of the impeller is transmitted by the shaft; a coil wound so that the magnetic flux of the magnet interlinks; a wireless communication circuit that starts operating when an AC voltage is applied thereto, and restricts an area through which water flows so that radio waves for wireless communication are not blocked between the first housing and the second housing. A water flow area limiting mechanism shall be provided.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the area 9 in which water does not flow can be provided around the antenna 24 for transmission and reception in wireless communication, the radio wave is not blocked and the decrease in radio wave intensity is suppressed, and good communication can be performed. can be done.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in radio wave intensity due to water during wireless communication, and to realize good communication.

1] is a diagram showing the configuration of a tap water use detection wireless communication device 10 and a region through which water flows, which is an embodiment of the present invention. [Fig. 4] is a view of the water flow area limiting mechanism 8 of the tap water use detection wireless communication device 10, which is an embodiment of the present invention, divided into eight horizontal directions. [Fig. These are diagrams showing another example of the shape of the water flow region limiting mechanism 8 of the tap water usage detection wireless communication device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. 4] is a view showing an example in which a region 9 through which water does not flow is filled with resin or rubber by a water flow region limiting mechanism 8 of the wireless communication device 10 for detecting use of the tap water according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1] is a diagram showing the configuration of a water supply use detection wireless communication device 10 prototyped by the inventor and the area through which water flows. [Fig. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a wireless communication circuit 20 of the tap water usage detection wireless communication device 10 of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; FIG. 1] is a diagram showing a state in which the water supply use detection wireless communication device water supply 10 is installed in the faucet 100. [FIG.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a tap water usage detection wireless communication device 10 that is an embodiment of the present invention. The tap water use detection wireless communication device 10 of this embodiment includes a first housing 1 in which a water inlet 1a and a water outlet 1b are formed, and a second housing 1 installed in the first housing 1. It is composed of a housing 2, and the second housing 2 includes a water flow control mechanism 3 that determines the direction of water flow and increases the flow velocity, an impeller 4 that receives water and rotates, and is connected to the impeller 4. A shaft 5, a magnet 6 to which the rotation of the impeller 4 is transmitted by the shaft 5, a coil 7 wound so that the magnetic flux of the magnet 6 interlinks, and an AC voltage generated in the coil 7 by a change in the magnetic flux is applied. A water flow area limiting mechanism 8 that includes a wireless communication circuit 20 that starts operating by pressing the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 and limits the area where water flows so that radio waves for wireless communication are not blocked. It has

The operation of the tap water use detection wireless communication device 10 configured as described above is the same as that of the conventional embodiment except that the area where water flows is limited, so the explanation is omitted.

Next, the influence of water during wireless communication of the tap water use detection wireless communication device 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. do.

FIG. 1(c) is a bottom view of the wireless communication device 10 for detecting use of tap water, which is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(d) is a side view of the tap water use detection wireless communication device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which a region through which water flows is indicated by oblique lines. As shown in FIGS. 1(c) and 1(d), water does not flow in two of the four horizontal directions around the antenna 24 of the wireless communication circuit 20 built in the second housing 2. A region 9 is provided.

FIG. 1(e) is a side view of the tap water use detection wireless communication device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and arrows indicate the flow of water. Water flows into the inflow port 1a from the faucet, and when the water passes through the notch of the water flow control mechanism 3, the flow speed increases and flows in the same rotational direction. This water flows out from the gap between the water flow restricting mechanism 3 and the second housing 2 and passes between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 . A water flow region limiting mechanism 8 creates a region 9 where this water does not flow. FIG. 1(f) is a top view of the tap water usage detection wireless communication device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and arrows indicate how the water flows into the water flow control mechanism 3 in the same rotational direction.

The intensity of radio waves when the wireless communication device 10 for detecting the use of tap water was attached to a faucet and running water was about -70 dBm. This was a radio wave intensity equivalent to about -70 dBm when a battery was connected to the wireless communication circuit 20 .

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, by providing the water flow region limiting mechanism 8, it is possible to provide the region 9 around the antenna 24 where the water does not flow, thereby suppressing a decrease in radio wave intensity.

In the above-described embodiment, the water flow area limiting mechanism 8 is installed in two of the four horizontal divisions, but the number of divisions is not limited as eight divisions as shown in FIG. 2 can be considered. The configuration and operation of the tap water usage detection wireless communication device 10 shown in FIG. 2 are the same as those of the embodiment of the present invention except for the shape of the water flow region limiting mechanism 8, so description thereof will be omitted.

Also, the same effect can be obtained even if the water flow region limiting mechanism 8 has a shape as shown in FIG. The configuration and operation of the tap water usage detection wireless communication device 10 shown in FIG. 3 are the same as those of the present embodiment except for the shape of the water flow region limiting mechanism 8, so description thereof will be omitted.

The water flow area limiting mechanism 8 is a mechanism for limiting the area through which water flows so that radio waves for wireless communication are not blocked, and may be integrally formed in the first housing 1 or the second housing 2. Moreover, the shape is not limited to the examples of the above embodiments.

Furthermore, the water flow region limiting mechanism 8 may be made of resin, rubber, or the like, which has a small attenuation of the passage of radio waves.

Although FIG. 6 shows an example in which the antenna 24 is built in the wireless communication circuit 20 , it may be built in the wireless module 23 . Also, the antenna 24 may be provided outside the wireless communication circuit 20 without any problem.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the water supply use detection wireless communication device water supply 10 is installed in the faucet 100. As shown in FIG. FIG. 7(a) shows an example in which the tap water use detecting wireless communication device water tap 10 is attached to a faucet 100 having a threaded portion. Also, the attachment of the tap 10 to the faucet 100 may use an attachment as shown in FIG. 7(b).

1 First housing 1a First housing inlet 1b First housing outlet 2 Second housing 3 Water flow control mechanism 4 Impeller 5 Shaft 6 Magnet 7 Coil 8 Water flow region limiting mechanism 9 Water area 10 where water does not flow wireless communication device 20 wireless communication circuit 21 rectifier circuit 22 voltage control circuit 23 wireless module 24 antenna 100 tap 101 tap lever 102 tap handle 103 mounting attachment

Claims (3)

A first housing having a water inlet and a water outlet, and a second housing installed within the first housing, wherein the second housing is provided with water. A water flow control mechanism that determines the direction of flow and increases the flow velocity, an impeller that receives water and rotates, a shaft connected to the impeller, a magnet that transmits the rotation of the impeller through the shaft, and the magnet. and a wireless communication circuit that starts operating when an AC voltage generated in the coil due to a change in the magnetic flux is applied, the first housing and the second housing. A wireless communication device for detecting the use of tap water, comprising a water flow region limiting mechanism for limiting a region in which water flows so that radio waves for wireless communication are not blocked between housings. 2. The water service use detection wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein said water flow region limiting mechanism forms a space in which water does not flow with resin or rubber. 2. The wireless communication device for detecting use of tap water according to claim 1, wherein said water flow region limiting mechanism has a region in which water does not flow is filled with resin or rubber.

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