JP4826148B2 - Sensor device and sensor system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensor device having a sensor for measuring a measurement object such as food and detecting a measurement value, and in particular, how long the measurement object has been placed in an environment outside a predetermined safe range. The present invention relates to a sensor device that can be stored in a memory and checked.

Conventionally, various sensor devices capable of measuring temperature, humidity, illuminance, pressure, impact force and the like have been used for quality control of foods and products in the physical distribution and distribution fields.
In addition, by providing a sensor device to a data carrier that has been used in recent years, measurement value information obtained by measurement by the sensor device is stored together with distribution history information of each article so that the measurement value of the sensor can be confirmed. A method for quality control has also been developed.
One of the purposes of use of these sensor devices is, for example, to collect quality information and perform quality control on what kind of environment or state a measurement object such as food is placed.

These sensor devices include a sensor that measures a measurement object and detects measurement value information, and a time measurement unit that measures the time measured by the sensor, thereby measuring the measurement value information measured by the sensor. Is stored in the memory together with the time information measured in step (b), and quality control or the like can be performed based on the measured value information. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
JP 2000-302111 A

In particular, when the object to be measured is frozen food, the storage temperature conditions and temperature range required for maintaining the quality are determined for each food. For example, frozen food that is required to be refrigerated In this case, it is necessary to always store in a refrigerator having a predetermined freezing capacity so as to be in an environment that satisfies the storage conditions for frozen food.
In addition, when performing quality control, it is necessary to check whether the inside of the refrigerator is definitely maintained at a predetermined temperature. Therefore, a sensor device is provided in the refrigerator, or a small sensor device is attached to each food. For example, the temperature can be measured to check the storage status.
However, even if the measurement value information is stored in the memory of the sensor device, it can be said that the measurement object is stored in a temperature state within the safe range for the measurement object, or an abnormal environment outside the safe range. There is a problem that it is not easy to determine whether it has been stored in the state, and it is troublesome for the person in charge of quality control to frequently check the measured temperature.

For example, if the refrigerator's freezing function is insufficient, or the user frequently opens and closes the refrigerator door, the temperature in the refrigerator temporarily rises, and the safety range necessary for storing frozen foods is exceeded. The frozen food may be stored at a temperature higher than the temperature.
Even in such a case, there is a problem that it is not possible to easily grasp how long the food stored in the refrigerator has been stored in an abnormal temperature environment, and accurate quality control cannot be performed.

The present invention provides a sensor device and sensor system having a sensor that measures a measurement object and detects a measurement value, and puts the measurement object measured by the sensor in a state in which the measurement value is abnormal for the measurement object for how long. Provided is a sensor device and a sensor system that can easily grasp whether or not the information is necessary and can efficiently check information necessary for quality control in a short time.

The sensor device of the present invention is a sensor device that is connected to an external device having a display unit so as to be able to transmit and receive information. The sensor device measures a measurement object at regular time intervals according to a measurement start signal from the external device. Measured value to be written to the memory in association with the sensor for detecting the time, the time measuring unit for measuring the measurement time when measured by the sensor, the measurement value information measured by the sensor, and the measurement time measured by the time measuring unit A measurement time information writing unit, a memory in which safe value information for which a safe range for a measured value is set in advance is stored, and a range in which the measured value measured by the sensor is within the safe range in the safe value information A measurement value determination unit for determining whether the measurement value is outside, and when the determination result in the measurement value determination unit is determined to be out of the safe range, from the previous measurement determined to be out of the safe range, Judgment result is As a safety range information all measurements and the measurement time between until it is determined that the time safe range, the safety range information writing section to be stored in the memory, based on the measurement time stored in said memory A time interval calculation unit for calculating a time interval from the previous measurement when the determination result is determined to be out of the safe range until the determination result is determined as being within the safe range again; and the time interval Time interval information calculated by the calculation unit is written in the memory, and when time interval information is already stored in the memory, a new time interval information is added and written as accumulated time information comprising an information writing section, and a transmission unit for transmitting the cumulative time information stored in said memory to said external device, a display unit of the external device displays the cumulative time information received from the sensor device It is characterized in.

In the sensor device of the present invention, the internal battery, the battery remaining amount measuring unit for measuring the battery remaining amount of the built-in battery, and the measured battery remaining amount in the battery remaining amount measuring unit become a predetermined predetermined remaining amount. In addition, a sensor measurement interruption unit for interrupting measurement by the sensor is further provided.

The sensor system of the present invention is a sensor system in which a sensor device and an external device are connected so as to be able to transmit and receive information, and the sensor device measures a measurement target at regular time intervals according to a measurement start signal from the external device. A memory that associates the sensor that detects the measured value, the time measurement unit that measures the measurement time when measured by the sensor, the measurement value information measured by the sensor, and the measurement time measured by the time measurement unit The measured value measurement time information writing unit for writing to the memory, the memory storing the safe value information for which the safe range for the measured value is determined in advance, and the measured value measured by the sensor are within the safe range in the safe value information. A measurement value determination unit that determines whether the measurement value is out of the range or the measurement value determination unit, and when the determination result in the measurement value determination unit is determined to be out of the safe range, From the time until the determination result is again determined to be within the safe range, all measured values and measurement times are stored in the memory as out-of-safety-range information, and in the memory Based on the stored measurement time, a time interval for calculating a time interval from the previous measurement when the determination result is determined to be out of the safe range until the determination result is determined as being within the safe range again. The time interval information obtained by the calculation unit and the time interval calculation unit is written in the memory, and when the time interval information is already stored in the memory, new time interval information is added. A time interval information writing unit that writes the accumulated time information, and a transmission unit that transmits the accumulated time information stored in the memory to the external device, wherein the external device starts measurement with respect to the sensor device. Trust A transmitter for transmitting, characterized by comprising a display unit for displaying the cumulative time information received from the sensor device.

The sensor device and system of the present invention can store the time information when the abnormal value is measured in the memory of the sensor device when the measured value in the memory becomes an abnormal value outside the safe range. There is an effect that information necessary for management can be efficiently examined in a short time.

In the sensor device and system of the present invention, when an abnormal value is outside the safe range, how long the abnormal value is in the state is stored as time information in the memory of the sensor device. By checking the information stored in the memory of the device, it is possible to grasp the time during which the abnormal state has continued, and the information necessary for quality control of the measurement target such as frozen food can be efficiently and quickly obtained. There is an effect of being able to investigate.

In the sensor device and system of the present invention, the accumulated time in the state where the abnormal value is out of the safe range is stored in the memory. Therefore, by checking the accumulated time information stored in the memory of the sensor device, quality control can be performed. There is an effect that necessary information can be efficiently examined in a short time.

Hereinafter, a sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an example of a usage state using the sensor device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of the sensor device and an external device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a temperature change graph measured by the sensor device, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a temperature measurement graph measured by the sensor device of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a memory of the sensor device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram related to the memory of the sensor device of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a processing procedure using the sensor device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart to explain.

First, FIG. 1 shows a measurement object to which a sensor device 1 is attached and a refrigerator 4 provided with an external device 3.
As the measurement object, for example, there are various objects to be measured such as food products. In the description of this embodiment, the frozen food 2 will be described as the measurement object.
The sensor device 1 has a configuration in which a sensor unit and an IC tag are integrated, and is attached to a predetermined portion of the frozen food 2 to measure the temperature environment in which the food is stored and quality control. Can be done.
The internal temperature of the refrigerator 4 can be changed by changing the temperature setting. However, the individual frozen foods 2 stored in the refrigerator are not necessarily all at the same environmental temperature, and are stored in the refrigerator. There is a temperature difference depending on the position.
Therefore, in order to check the temperature of each food, the sensor device 1 is attached to each food so that the accurate temperature related to each food can be checked.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor device 1 includes a transmission / reception unit 5, a timing unit 6, a battery unit 7, a remaining battery level measurement unit 8, a sensor measurement interruption unit 9, an abnormal value information writing unit 10, a control unit 11, A memory 12, a sensor 13, a measurement value determination unit 14, a measurement value measurement time information writing unit 15, a time interval calculation unit 16, a time interval information writing unit 17, an abnormal value information writing unit 18, and the like are provided.
The transmission / reception unit 5 transmits / receives information to / from the transmission / reception unit of the external device 3.
The time measuring unit 6 has a function of measuring the time when measured by the sensor 13, and in particular, the time measuring unit 6 measures what time the measured value information of the temperature measured by the sensor 13 is measured. The measured time can be confirmed by writing it in the memory 12.

The battery remaining amount measuring unit 8 has a function of measuring the remaining amount of the battery unit 7.
The sensor measurement interruption unit 9 has a function of interrupting the measurement by the sensor 13 when the battery remaining amount in the battery unit 7 reaches a predetermined remaining amount.
This is because if there is no remaining battery level during measurement by the sensor 13, there is a risk that accurate measurement cannot be performed or trouble may occur, so the sensor 13 is in a stage before the remaining battery level is completely exhausted. Measurement is stopped, and only accurate measurement value information is stored in the memory 12.

The memory 12 stores safety value information in which a safety range for the measurement value is determined in advance.
The safety value information sets whether or not the measured value by the sensor 13 is within a predetermined safe range by setting a safe range for each measurement target to be measured by the sensor device 1 and storing it in the memory 12. It is possible to make such a determination.

Further, the measurement value measurement time information writing unit 15 has a function of correlating the measurement value information measured by the sensor 13 with the measurement time information measured by the time measurement unit when the measurement is performed, and writing it in the memory 12. Have.
The measurement value determination unit 14 compares the measurement value obtained by the sensor 13 with the safety value information stored in the memory 12 in advance, and the measurement value obtained by the sensor 13 is within the safe range or It has a function of determining whether it is out of range.

  Further, when the determination result by the measurement value determination unit 14 is determined to be out of the safe range, the abnormal value information writing unit 18 starts again with the determination result from the previous measurement determined to be out of the safe range. The memory 12 has a function of storing all measured values and measurement times as abnormal value information until it is determined to be within the safe range.

In addition, the time interval calculation unit 16 determines that the determination result is again within the safe range from the previous measurement when the determination result is determined to be out of the safe range based on the measurement time information stored in the memory 12. It has a function to calculate the time interval between.
Further, the time interval information writing unit 17 has a function of writing and storing the interval time information calculated by the time interval calculation unit 16 in the memory 12.
Thus, it is possible to confirm how long the frozen food to be measured has been kept in a state other than the temperature defined as the storage condition for the frozen food.

Next, the external device 3 includes a transmission / reception unit 19, a display unit 20, an input unit 21, a control unit 22, a memory 23, a time measuring unit 24, and the like.
The external device 3 transmits a measurement start signal for instructing the sensor device 1 to start measurement for causing the sensor to perform measurement at regular time intervals. The sensor device 1 receives this signal, thereby The temperature is measured at 13 at a constant time interval.
Further, the external device 3 can store the information stored in the memory 12 of the sensor device 1 by the transmission / reception unit 19 to store the information in the memory 23 of the external device 3.

Next, based on the examples shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a case where temperature is measured by the sensor device of the present invention and temperature measurement value information is collected will be described.
FIG. 3 shows an example of a temperature change graph 25 related to the internal temperature in a certain refrigerator 4.
In this example, in order to check the storage temperature state of the frozen food stored in the refrigerator by the sensor device 1, the temperature is measured every 10 minutes by the sensor device having the temperature sensor.
When the safe range of the storage temperature of this frozen food is set to 0 ° C. to −10 ° C., in the example shown in FIG. 3, among the measured values measured multiple times by the sensor device, The case where an abnormal value outside the safe range at a temperature exceeding 0 ° C. is measured several times.
In addition, when abnormal values outside the safe range are continuously measured in time series, the quality of frozen food may be hindered.
Therefore, it is necessary to be able to easily check the accumulated time such as how long the abnormal value outside the safe range has continued.

  Therefore, in the sensor device 1 of the present invention, as shown in the sensor measurement value graph 26 of FIG. 4, when the sensor measurement value is determined to be out of the safe range, the previous one determined to be out of the safe range. All measurement values and measurement times from 9:00 at the time of measurement to 9:50 at the time of measurement at which the determination result is determined to be within the safe range are stored in the memory 12 as abnormal value information. Thus, it is possible to determine whether or not the storage temperature state of the frozen food is in an appropriate state only by examining the abnormal value information stored in the memory when quality control is performed.

FIG. 5 shows an example of abnormal value information stored in the memory 12 of the sensor device 1.
As shown in FIG. 5, the determination result is again stored in the memory 12 of the sensor device 1 from the measurement value at 9:00, which is the previous measurement time when the measurement value of the sensor is determined to be out of the safe range. A total of six pieces of measurement value information up to a measurement value of 9:50, which is a measurement time determined to be within, and measurement time information thereof are stored.
Furthermore, in the memory 12 of the sensor device 1, time information from the time of the previous measurement when the determination result is determined to be out of the safe range until the determination result is determined to be within the safe range again. The accumulated abnormal time of 50 minutes is stored.
As a result, it is possible to confirm that the frozen food to be measured has been placed in an environment having a temperature other than the preset storage temperature for a total of 50 minutes.

As shown in FIG. 6, the memory 12 stores a temperature history management area 27 in which the measured temperature measurement value and measurement time are stored, and information when the measurement value falls outside the safe range. There are provided a temperature management area 28, a storage area in which safe value information in which a safe range for a measured value is defined in advance is stored, and the like.
The safety value information sets whether or not the measured value by the sensor 13 is within a predetermined safe range by setting a safe range for each measurement target to be measured by the sensor device 1 and storing it in the memory 12. It is possible to make such a determination.
The measurement value determination unit 14 compares the measurement value obtained by the sensor 13 with the safe value information stored in advance in the memory 12 and determines whether the measurement value obtained by the sensor 13 is within the safe range. The determination result by the measurement value determination unit 14 is also written and stored in the memory 12.
The determination process by the measurement value determination unit 14 is performed for each measurement value information stored in the memory 12 in one measurement, and it is determined whether or not the measurement value is within the safe range, and the determination result is written in the memory 12. It is.

Next, a description will be given according to the flowchart of FIG. 7 based on the processing procedure of the sensor device according to the embodiment of the invention.
First, a signal instructing to temporarily delete the information in the storage area for writing in the memory 12 of the sensor device 1 is transmitted from the external device 3 to the sensor device 1. (Step 1)
Next, a measurement start signal is transmitted from the external device 3 to the sensor device 1 instructing to start measurement by the sensor 13 at a constant time interval that is a sampling cycle. (Step 2)
The signal transmitted from the external device 3 to the sensor device 1 may be various signals depending on the purpose. For example, the signal from the measurement start time at the sensor is transmitted to the end time, or the measurement from the sensor is started. It is possible to select freely by transmitting only the time or the elapsed time measured by the sensor.

Next, the sensor device 1 performs measurement at regular time intervals by the sensor 13 based on the measurement start signal from the external device 3. (Step 3)
Then, the measurement value information of the sensor 13 and the measurement time information measured by the timekeeping unit 6 in the sensor device 1 are related to each other and sequentially written in the memory 12 in the sensor device 1. (Step 4)
Next, the measurement value determination unit 14 determines whether or not the measurement value of the measurement value information stored in the memory 12 is within the safe range in the safety value information registered in the memory 12 in advance. . (Step 5)

Then, when the determination result is determined to be an abnormal value outside the safe range, the measurement value information and the measurement time information at the time of the previous measurement determined to be out of the safe range are related to each other in the memory 12. Store in the abnormal value information storage area. (Step 6)
Subsequently, the measurement value information at the time of measurement determined as an abnormal value outside the safe range and the measurement time information are related to each other and stored in the abnormal value information storage area of the memory 12. (Step 7)

Further, the measurement value determination unit 14 determines whether or not the measurement value of the next measurement value information is within the safe range in the safety value information registered in the memory 12 in advance. (Step 8)
When it is determined that the determination result is an abnormal value outside the safe range, the measurement value information and the measurement time information are related and stored in the abnormal value information storage area of the memory 12. (Step 7)
As described above, when the determination process in the measurement value determination unit 14 is repeated and it is continuously determined that the abnormal value is out of the safe range, the measurement value information and the measurement time information are related to each other, and the abnormality of the memory 12 is detected. The process of storing in the value information storage area is repeated.

  If the determination result of the determination process in step 8 determines that the value is within the safe range, the measurement value information and the measurement time information at the time of the measurement in which the determination process is performed are related to each other, and an abnormality in the memory 12 occurs. Store in the value information storage area.

By the above processing, the measurement value information and the measurement time information from when the determination result is determined to be within the safe range again to outside the safe range are related and stored in the abnormal value information storage area of the memory 12. Become.
In this manner, the abnormal value information stored in the abnormal value information storage area of the memory 12 is subjected to the same process every time it is determined to be out of the safe range in the determination process.

Further, the determination result from the previous measurement time when the determination result is determined to be out of the safe range based on the measurement time information stored in the abnormal value information storage area of the memory 12 by the time interval calculation unit 16. The time interval until it is determined again to be within the safe range is calculated.
The time interval information calculated by the time interval calculation unit 16 is stored in the abnormal value information storage area of the memory 12.
The time interval information is written to the memory 12 when the time interval information is already stored in the memory 12 and is added and stored as accumulated time information by adding new time interval information.

  Through the above processing, the accumulated time information when the measured value measured by the sensor 13 becomes an abnormal value outside the safe range is written in the memory 12 of the sensor device 1, and therefore stored in the memory 12 of the sensor device 1. By simply looking at the total accumulated time record, you can easily find out how much time the frozen foods to be measured have been stored in a temperature environment outside the safe range. It can be used for quality control of the subject.

Further, when examining the record of the accumulated time stored in the memory 12 of the sensor device 1, an instruction signal is transmitted from the external device 3 to the sensor device 1, and the accumulated time information is transmitted from the sensor device 1 to the external device 3. By being transmitted, it can be confirmed by displaying the accumulated time information on the display unit 20 of the external device 3.
As a result, when a measurement object such as frozen food is stored in an environment with a temperature higher than a predetermined temperature, appropriate quality control can be performed, such as taking measures such as selling or stopping shipment. It is.

  In the above embodiment, the case of the sensor device 1 provided with the temperature sensor has been described. However, the sensor device of the present invention can measure, for example, humidity, illuminance, pressure, impact force, etc. other than the temperature sensor. Even if a sensor device is equipped with various types of sensors that can be used, it is safe for the measured value of the sensor by storing in advance the safe value information that can specify the safe range for the measured value in the memory of the sensor device. The determination result information is written and stored in a memory, and information necessary for quality control can be efficiently examined in a short time.

It is a perspective view explaining an example of the utilization state using the sensor apparatus of this invention. 1 is a system block diagram of a sensor device and an external device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the temperature change graph measured with the sensor apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the temperature measurement graph measured with the sensor apparatus of this invention. It is a figure explaining the information memorized by the abnormal value information storage area of the memory of the sensor device concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing regarding the memory of the sensor apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process sequence using the sensor apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Sensor device
2 Frozen food
3 External devices
4 Refrigerator
5,18 Transceiver
6 Timekeeping Department
7 Battery part
8 Battery level measuring part
9 Sensor measurement interruption part
10 Abnormal value information writing part
11, 21 Control unit
12,22 memory
13 Sensor
14 Measurement value judgment part
15 Measurement value measurement time information writing unit
16 time interval calculator
17 Time interval information writing part
18 Abnormal value information writing part
20 display
21 Input section
25 Temperature change graph
26 Sensor measurement graph
27 Temperature history management area
28 Temperature control area

Claims (3)

A sensor device connected to an external device having a display unit so as to be able to transmit and receive information,
A sensor for measuring a measurement object at a predetermined time interval according to a measurement start signal from the external device and detecting a measurement value;
A time measuring unit for measuring a measurement time when measured by the sensor;
A measurement value measurement time information writing unit that writes the measurement value information measured by the sensor and the measurement time measured by the time measurement unit in association with each other;
A memory in which safe value information that predetermines a safe range for the measured value is stored;
A measurement value determination unit that determines whether the measurement value measured by the sensor is within or out of the safe range in the safe value information;
When the determination result in the measurement value determination unit is determined to be outside the safe range, from the previous measurement determined to be out of the safe range, until the determination result is determined to be within the safe range again. All the measured values and the measurement time between them as out-of-safety-range information, and stored in the memory out-of-safety-range information writing unit,
Based on the measurement time stored in the memory, a time interval from the previous measurement when the determination result is determined to be out of the safe range until the determination result is determined as being within the safe range is calculated. A time interval calculator to perform,
The time interval information obtained by the time interval calculation unit is written in the memory, and when the time interval information is already stored in the memory, new time interval information is added to obtain cumulative time information. A writing time interval information writing unit;
A transmission unit that transmits the accumulated time information stored in the memory to the external device ;
The display unit of the external device, a sensor device according to claim you to view the cumulative time information received from the sensor device. Built-in battery,
A battery level measuring unit for measuring the battery level of the internal battery;
A sensor measurement interrupting unit for interrupting measurement by the sensor when the remaining battery level measured by the remaining battery level measuring unit reaches a predetermined remaining level;
The sensor device according to claim 1, further comprising: A sensor system in which a sensor device and an external device are connected so as to be able to transmit and receive information,
  The sensor device includes:
A sensor for measuring a measurement object at a predetermined time interval according to a measurement start signal from the external device and detecting a measurement value;
A time measuring unit for measuring a measurement time when measured by the sensor;
A measurement value measurement time information writing unit that writes the measurement value information measured by the sensor and the measurement time measured by the time measurement unit in association with each other;
A memory in which safe value information that predetermines a safe range for the measured value is stored;
A measurement value determination unit that determines whether the measurement value measured by the sensor is within or out of the safe range in the safe value information;
When the determination result in the measurement value determination unit is determined to be outside the safe range, from the previous measurement determined to be out of the safe range, until the determination result is determined to be within the safe range again. All the measured values and the measurement time between them as out-of-safety-range information, and stored in the memory out-of-safety-range information writing unit,
Based on the measurement time stored in the memory, a time interval from the previous measurement when the determination result is determined to be out of the safe range until the determination result is determined as being within the safe range is calculated. A time interval calculator to perform,
The time interval information obtained by the time interval calculation unit is written in the memory, and when the time interval information is already stored in the memory, new time interval information is added to obtain cumulative time information. A writing time interval information writing unit;
A transmission unit that transmits the accumulated time information stored in the memory to the external device;
  The external device is
A transmitter for transmitting a measurement start signal to the sensor device;
A display unit for displaying the accumulated time information received from the sensor device;
A sensor system comprising:

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