JP4762713B2 - Wireless sensor network system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention constructs a wireless sensor network by interspersing a plurality of wireless sensors and performing wireless communication between these wireless sensors, and various devices are arranged within the wireless communication area formed by the wireless sensor network. The present invention relates to a wireless sensor network system that can perform wireless communication via a wireless sensor network.

  Conventionally, as a device corresponding to the wireless sensor, for example, there is a wireless LAN centralized control device that is attached to a fluorescent tube of a ceiling lighting device and centrally controls a plurality of control objects by wireless communication. This centralized control device has a housing in which a mounting hole that can penetrate the fluorescent tube is formed, whereby the fluorescent tube is passed through the mounting hole, and this fluorescent tube is attached to the bracket to be placed on the ceiling. A solar cell is mounted on the surface to obtain power from the solar cell. In addition, power supply terminals (lines) for taking out power from the power supply sockets of the brackets at both ends of the fluorescent tube are provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-23335

  The wireless sensor of the conventional wireless sensor network as described above has a problem in reliability because there is no mechanism for monitoring the power generation pattern of the solar cell and the power supply state from the solar cell. In addition, for example, since the solar cell is mounted on the surface of the housing, there is a distance between the fluorescent tube and the solar cell, so it is necessary to increase the area of the solar cell, and the entire wireless sensor becomes large. In addition, when power is supplied from the power supply socket for power supply of the fluorescent tube via the power supply terminal, there is a problem that the power supply structure becomes complicated, for example, the power supply terminal extends along the fluorescent tube.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless sensor network system in which the reliability of power feeding by a solar cell in a wireless sensor is improved and the wireless sensor has a smaller and simple structure.

The present invention is a wireless communication network for a centralized management system in which managed terminals are centrally managed by a management device. The wireless communication network is interspersed with a plurality of wireless sensors to perform wireless communication between the wireless sensors. A wireless sensor network system constituting a wireless communication network, wherein each of the wireless sensors is attached to a lighting device that is the managed terminal, and is connected in parallel to a solar cell that generates power by the light of the lighting device The power supply unit including the power storage element, the power generation pattern of the solar cell, and the voltage of the power supply unit are monitored to detect the state of the installed lighting equipment, and the wireless communication network is connected to the management device in the transmission / reception unit. Power supply control means for transmitting a control request signal via the power supply means, wherein the power supply control means detects the output voltage of the power supply section with a voltage detection section, and the solar cell A first predetermined value indicating a decrease in illuminance of the lighting device in a current detection unit that monitors a current value from the solar cell as a power generation pattern that is equal to or less than a predetermined power generation value indicating normal power generation. In the wireless sensor network system, when the value is equal to or less than the value, the transmitting / receiving unit is caused to transmit a lighting device ball break warning signal as the control request signal.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wireless sensor network system in which the reliability of power feeding by solar cells in a wireless sensor is improved.

  The present invention can be applied to any wireless sensor network system in which a plurality of wireless sensors are arranged in a communication area to construct a wireless sensor network. Preferably, the wireless sensor operates according to the ZigBee (registered trademark) standard. Applies to network systems. ZigBee is one of the standards of WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network), which is a wireless network used in a narrower range (several meters to several tens of meters) than wireless LAN, like brute woos. Compared to other standards such as Wooth, it has features such as easy use, small size, low cost, and low power consumption (energy saving).

  Also, in the following, as an example, various equipment related to lighting, air conditioning, electricity, water, security, etc. installed in a building are managed terminals, and these are centrally managed by a building automation system (BAS) management device that is a management device. Although the case where the wireless sensor network system according to the present invention is used as a wireless communication network of a building automation system (BAS) which is a centralized management system will be described, the present invention can also be applied to other types of wireless communication networks.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of the arrangement of components in a building of a wireless sensor network system according to the present invention. On each floor of the building BL, for example, a wireless sensor 10 including a main body unit that performs wireless communication, which will be described later, which is a ZigBee terminal, is provided on the ceiling side at intervals at which a wireless communication area can be formed on each floor. These wireless sensors 10 construct a wireless sensor network WSN as shown in FIG. 2 by performing wireless communication with each other. The building automation system (BAS) terminal in the building BL, for example, entrance security equipment SE1, electric / water control equipment EW, various system management equipment MA, air conditioning equipment AR, entrance / exit security of the room in the building The device SE2, the lighting device LI, and the BAS management device 20 that manages these BAS terminals perform wireless communication with each other via a wireless sensor network WSN that is a wireless communication network.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the wireless sensor network WSN is configured by the wireless sensor 10 for each floor (F1, F2, F3,...) And wireless networks NT1, NT2, NT3,. The wireless networks NT1, NT2, NT3,... Are configured to be connected to the wireless network as indicated by NTC. Then, each BAS terminal and the BAS management apparatus 20 perform wireless communication with the wireless sensor network WSN, collect information at each BAS terminal with the BAS management apparatus 20, and the BAS management apparatus 20 further selects each BAS terminal as necessary. Control. For communication between floors, for example, a hoistway of an elevator EL may be used, and a part thereof may be wired (not shown) if necessary. The network topology of the wireless sensor network WSN can be a star type, a bus type, a tree type, a mesh type, or a desired combination thereof.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, each of these wireless sensors 10 is integrally provided with a clip 11 with a solar cell, which is an attachment mechanism, in a main body 10 a that performs wireless communication having a ZigBee terminal function. 11 is detachably attached to the fluorescent tube LT of the ceiling lighting device LI.

  An example of the preferable structure of the clip 11 with a solar cell is shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the main body 10a is not shown. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are supported when the clip 11 with the solar cell is opened as viewed from the longitudinal direction of the fluorescent tube LT and by sandwiching the fluorescent tube LT (hereinafter referred to as holding). (C) is a partial view seen from the direction of arrow C in (b). The clip with solar cell 11 is configured by a pair of sandwiching members 11a and 11b that are rotatably supported by a shaft portion 11c (for example, one supports the other). For example, the holding members 11a and 11b hold the side surfaces (circumferential surfaces) formed of the curved surface of the cylindrical fluorescent tube LT from the opposite sides (both sides) in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fluorescent tube LT. The arc-shaped portions 11aa, 11ba having a shape extending along the width of the side surface of the fluorescent tube LT to a nearly semicircle, and extending to the opposite side of the arc-shaped portions 11aa, 11ba in the shaft portion 11c; The holding members 11a and 11b are formed of elongated clip portions 11ab and 11bb extending in a direction intersecting with the shaft portion 11c.

  For example, film-shaped thin solar cells 12a and 12b are respectively fixed along the inner arc surface on the inner arc surface on the fluorescent tube LT side of the arc-shaped portions 11aa and 11ba. 4B, when the clip portions 11ab and 11bb are moved in the closing direction, the arc-shaped portions 11aa and 11ba are closed, and the thin solar cells 12a and 12b are connected to the fluorescent tube LT. The curved surface of the fluorescent tube LT is covered from both sides. The thin solar cells 12a and 12b are preferably provided over the entire arc surface inside the arc-shaped portions 11aa and 11ba in order to increase the area. Further, by bringing the thin solar cells 12a and 12b as close as possible to the curved surface of the fluorescent tube LT, and by bringing them into close contact, more efficient power generation can be performed (the intensity of light is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the light source). The entire wireless sensor 10 provided with the solar cells 12a and 12b, the arc-shaped portions 11aa and 11ba, and the solar cell clip 11 as an attachment mechanism can be reduced in size.

  The clip portions 11ab and 11bb have elasticity, and projecting portions 11ac and 11bc are formed at the tips so as to protrude from each other. 4 (b), the clip portions 11ab and 11bb are joined together and moved to a position where the positions of the clip portions 11ab and 11bb are interchanged. The portions 11aa and 11ba are pressed against the fluorescent tube LT, and the protrusions 11ac and 11bc are engaged with each other so as to maintain this state, so that the clip portions 11ab and 11bb are not returned to the original positions. . And if the engagement state of protrusion part 11ac, 11bc is released, it will return to the state at the time of opening | release shown to (a) of FIG. 4 with the restoring force by the elasticity of clip part 11ab, 11bb.

  The main body part 10a is fixed to the lower part of the outer surface of either one of the arc-shaped parts 11aa and 11ba by shifting the shaft part 11c, and is electrically connected to both thin solar cells 12a and 12b by connection lines (not shown). Has been.

  In addition, when the influence of the heat of the fluorescent tube LT on the thin solar cells 12a and 12b is strong, a transparent film having heat resistance and heat insulation, for example, a mesh that does not block the light from the fluorescent tube LT as much as possible A film formed of a heat insulating material such as a shape may be formed on the surfaces of the thin solar cells 12a and 12b. Further, the holding members 11a and 11b are made of arc-shaped portions 11aa and 11ba and clip portions 11ab and 11bb made of a material having heat resistance and elasticity (a heat-resistant and elastic synthetic resin, plastic, etc., particularly preferably heat-resistant polypropylene). It may be formed integrally. Furthermore, it may be integrally formed including the main body 10a.

  A wireless sensor 10 having a structure in which a main body 10a that performs wireless communication is provided with a clip 11 with a solar battery that attaches the main body 10a to a fluorescent tube LT, for example, as compared to a conventional sensor as shown in FIG. Since it is lightweight and small and can be easily attached and detached, taking advantage of this feature, for example, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), it is easy to install a plurality in one fluorescent tube LT. The reliability of the network system can be greatly improved. This is particularly effective because communication can be double-tracked in passages and corridors.

  In FIG. 6, the electrical schematic block diagram of the main-body part 10a of each wireless sensor 10 and solar cell 12a, 12b is shown. The main body 10a of the wireless sensor 10 transmits / receives a wireless signal in the wireless sensor network WSN according to control by the wireless sensor network communication control unit 101 including a computer or the like that performs communication control of the wireless sensor network WSN. A transmission / reception unit 103 and a power supply unit 105 for supplying power to these units are included. The power source unit 105 uses the above-described thin solar cell 12 (12a, 12b) as a power source. Accordingly, the thin solar cell 12 is not provided in the main body portion 10 a, and a portion provided in the main body portion 10 a (a portion excluding the thin solar cell 12 in FIG. 6) is used as a basic portion of the wireless sensor 10.

  In the power supply unit 105, the thin solar cell 12 collectively shows the thin solar cells 12 a and 12 b, and a power storage element 107 is connected in parallel to the thin solar cell 12 through backflow preventing diodes 109 and 111. Yes. The storage element 107 is a secondary battery made of a lithium battery or the like or a capacitor having a large capacitance, and is charged by the thin solar battery 12. The transistor 113 is a switch that performs on / off control of power supply from the power supply unit 105. The current detection unit 115 detects the current supplied from the thin solar cell 12, and the voltage detection unit 117 detects the voltage of the power storage element 107, that is, the output voltage of the power supply unit 105. The current detection unit 115 and the voltage detection unit 117 monitor the power generation pattern of the thin solar cell 12 and the state of the power supply unit 105 in order to detect the state of the lighting device LI to which the wireless sensor 10 is attached, for example. is there.

  FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the wireless sensor network communication control unit 101 of FIG. 6 configured by a computer. The communication control unit 101a performs wireless communication using the wireless sensor network WSN so that each of the BAS terminals and the BAS management apparatus 20 described above is generally performed by each wireless sensor of the wireless sensor network WSN. Information at the terminal is collected by the BAS management apparatus 20, and the BAS management apparatus 20 controls wireless communication in the wireless sensor network WSN for controlling each BAS terminal as necessary. The power supply control unit 101 b performs control related to its own power supply unit 105.

  In the wireless sensor network system according to the present invention, since each wireless sensor 10 communicates with the BAS management device 20 similar to the BAS terminal, the address in the BAS similar to the BAS terminal necessary for the BAS management control, etc. An ID is assigned and an operation equivalent to that of a BAS terminal is performed.

  FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the BAS management apparatus 20 that performs wireless communication by the wireless sensor network WSN, the wireless sensor 10, and the lighting device LI that is an example of the BAS terminal to which the wireless sensor 10 is attached. The BAS management apparatus 20 configured by is shown in schematic functional blocks. The BAS management unit 201 performs management control of the BAS terminal based on the signal from each BAS terminal, which is generally performed using the wireless sensor network WSN. The wireless sensor management unit 203 compulsorily controls the BAS terminal such as the lighting device LI in response to the request signal from the wireless sensor 10.

  FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the characteristic operation of the wireless sensor network system according to the present invention, and the operation will be described in accordance with this flowchart. As shown in FIG. 6, the thin solar cell 12 that is the power source of the power supply unit 105 of each wireless sensor 10 generates electric power in the thin solar cell 12 when the fluorescent tube LT is extinguished or blown out, as described above. The storage element 107 is connected in parallel as a backup when not performed.

  The power supply control means 101b in the wireless sensor network communication control unit 101 of the main body 10a of the wireless sensor 10 is based on a signal from the current detection unit 115 that monitors the current value from the thin solar cell 12 as a power generation pattern, for example, the current is predetermined. Since it is less than the value (value for judging the extinguished state), it is detected that the fluorescent tube LT, that is, the illumination device LI is in the extinguished state (step S1), and this extinction continuation time is further measured (using a timer or the like by a program) ) When the turn-off duration time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time (step S2), an illumination turn-on request signal (control request signal) is transmitted to the BAS management device 20 via the wireless sensor network WSN (step S3).

  When the wireless sensor management unit 203 of the BAS management device 20 receives the illumination lighting request signal (step S11), for example, based on the transmission source address of the wireless sensor 10 attached to the received illumination lighting request signal, the wireless sensor 10 A lighting instruction signal is transmitted to the lighting device LI to which the lighting device LI is attached via the wireless sensor network WSN and the wireless sensor 10 (operation by the communication control means 101a) (step S12). Thereby, the illumination device LI is forcibly turned on. The BAS management device 20 has a correspondence table between the wireless sensor 10 and the lighting device LI to which the wireless sensor 10 is attached.

  In the wireless sensor 10, the lighting device LI is turned on, so that the thin solar cell 12 generates power, thereby increasing the voltage of the power supply unit 105 that is the voltage of the power storage element 107. Then, based on the output of the voltage detection unit 117 that detects the output voltage of the power supply unit 105, the power supply control unit 101b becomes equal to or higher than an upper limit value (voltage value that can ensure stable operation of the wireless sensor 10) (step S4). An illumination extinction request signal is transmitted to the BAS management device 20 via the wireless sensor network WSN (step S5).

  When the wireless sensor management unit 203 of the BAS management apparatus 20 receives the illumination turn-off request signal (step S13), for example, based on the transmission source address of the wireless sensor 10 attached to the received illumination turn-off request signal, the wireless sensor 10 Is transmitted to the lighting device LI to which the LED is attached via the wireless sensor network WSN and the wireless sensor 10 (operation by the communication control means 101a) (step S14). This forcibly turns off the lighting device LI.

  That is, when the lighting device LI is turned off for a long time, the lighting device LI is turned on via the wireless sensor network WSN, and the lighting device LI is turned off when the power supply unit 105 of the wireless sensor 10 replenishes power. . As a result, the power supplied from the power supply unit 105 of the main body 10a of the wireless sensor 10 can be ensured more reliably, and as a result, the reliability of the wireless sensor network system is improved.

  FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of another characteristic operation of the wireless sensor network system according to the present invention, and the operation will be described below. The power supply control means 101b in the wireless sensor network communication control unit 101 of the main body unit 10a of the wireless sensor 10 is based on the output of the voltage detection unit 117 that detects the output voltage of the power supply unit 105, and the output voltage of the power supply unit 105 is a predetermined value ( If the solar cell 12 is generating electricity normally, the current value from the thin solar cell 12 is less than (a value at which a current equal to or greater than a predetermined value always flows to the storage element 107 side and is charged) (step S1). Based on the signal from the current detection unit 115 to be monitored, the current from the thin solar cell 12 is equal to or less than a predetermined value (a value for determining that the fluorescent tube LT of the lighting device LI is close to a bulb and the illuminance is low). (Step S2), the lighting device sphere indicating that the lighting device is almost out of the ball or is out of the ball to the BAS management device 20 via the wireless sensor network WSN. It is to send a warning signal (control request signal) (Step S3).

  When the wireless sensor management means 203 of the BAS management apparatus 20 receives the lighting equipment ball-out warning signal (step S11), it is attached to the occurrence of a bulb-out in the lighting equipment and, for example, the received lighting equipment ball-out warning signal. In order to notify the corresponding lighting device based on the transmission source address of the wireless sensor 10, the BAS management device 20 notifies the administrator. This notification is made, for example, to an administrator's personal computer (not shown), which is a BAS terminal that can communicate with the BAS management apparatus 20. Alternatively, the information may be displayed on a display device (not shown) connected to the BAS management device 20 to notify the administrator.

  In other words, when the lighting device LI is close to running out of sphere and the illuminance is low, and the solar battery 12 cannot perform normal power generation, the administrator is notified of running out of the sphere. As a result, the manager can take a recovery measure as soon as the backup of the power storage element 107 stops and if a ball break has occurred. Thereby, the electric power of the power supply unit 105 of the wireless sensor 10 can be ensured more reliably, and as a result, the reliability of the wireless sensor network system is improved.

  In step S4 of the operation of FIG. 9 described above, when the voltage of the power supply unit 105 does not reach the upper limit value even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the lighting device LI is nearly out of sphere and the illuminance is reduced or Similarly, it is assumed that a break has occurred, and a lighting device ball break warning signal (control request signal) is transmitted to the BAS management apparatus 20 through the wireless sensor network WSN in the same manner, whereby the BAS management apparatus 20 notifies the administrator. You may do it.

It is a figure which shows an example of arrangement | positioning of each component apparatus in the building of the wireless sensor network system by this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the wireless sensor network (wireless communication network) of the wireless sensor network system by this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the wireless sensor of the wireless sensor network system by this invention, and its attachment state. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the part of the clip with a solar cell of the radio | wireless sensor of FIG. 3 in detail. It is a figure for demonstrating the characteristic of the attachment arrangement | positioning of the wireless sensor of the wireless sensor network system by this invention. It is a figure which shows the electrical schematic structure of the wireless sensor of the wireless sensor network system by this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the wireless sensor network communication control part of FIG. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the BAS management apparatus of the wireless sensor network system by this invention, a wireless sensor, and the illuminating device which is a BAS terminal to which this wireless sensor is attached. 5 is a flowchart of characteristic operations of the wireless sensor network system according to the present invention. It is a flowchart of another characteristic operation | movement of the wireless sensor network system by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Wireless sensor, 10a Main part, 11 Solar cell clip (attachment mechanism), 11a, 11b Nipping member, 11aa, 11ba Arc-shaped part, 11ab, 11bb Clip part, 11c Shaft part, 11ac, 11bc Protrusion part, 12 ( (Thin) solar cell, 12a, 12b (thin) solar cell, 20 BAS management device, 101 wireless sensor network communication control unit, 101a communication control unit, 101b power supply control unit, 103 transmission / reception unit, 105 power supply unit, 107 power storage element, 109 , 111 diode, 113 transistor, 115 current detection unit, 117 voltage detection unit, 201 BAS management unit, 203 wireless sensor management unit, AR air conditioner, BL building, EL elevator, EW electric / water control device, LI lighting device, LT Fluorescent tube, MA management equipment, NT1 T3 wireless network, NTC wireless network connection, SE1 security equipment, SE2 entry and exit security devices, WSN wireless sensor network (wireless communication network).

Claims (4)

A wireless communication network for a centralized management system that centrally manages managed terminals with a management device. The wireless communication network is configured by interspersing a plurality of wireless sensors and performing wireless communication between these wireless sensors. A wireless sensor network system to be configured, wherein each of the wireless sensors is attached to a lighting device that is the managed terminal, and includes a solar cell that generates power by the light of the lighting device and a power storage element connected in parallel thereto. The power supply unit, the power generation pattern of the solar cell, and the voltage of the power supply unit are monitored to detect the state of the installed lighting equipment, and the control request is sent to the management unit via the wireless communication network to the management device Power control means for transmitting a signal,
The power supply control means detects the output voltage of the power supply unit with a voltage detection unit and monitors the current value from the solar cell as a power generation pattern that is equal to or less than a predetermined power generation value indicating normal power generation of the solar cell. When the current value from the solar cell is equal to or less than a first predetermined value indicating a decrease in illuminance of the lighting device in the current detection unit, the transmission / reception unit transmits a lighting device bulb out warning signal as the control request signal,
A wireless sensor network system.   When the power control means monitors the current value from the solar cell as a power generation pattern by a current detection unit and the state that is equal to or less than a second predetermined value for determining the extinguishing state is a predetermined time or more, the transmission / reception unit The wireless sensor network system according to claim 1, wherein the control request signal for turning on the illumination is transmitted to a wireless sensor network system. Each of the wireless sensors is attached to the lighting device by a mounting mechanism having a pair of clamping members that clamp the peripheral surface of the fluorescent tube of the lighting device from both sides, and the solar cell is a surface on the fluorescent tube side of each of the clamping members The wireless sensor network system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless sensor network system is a thin solar cell that is fixed to each of the solar cells and is sandwiched between the sandwiching member and the fluorescent tube. The wireless sensor network system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wireless communication network is a WPAN composed of the plurality of wireless sensors.

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