KR100831840B1 - Zigbee tag and method for operating the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A zigbee tag and a method of operating the zigbee tag are provided to attach a zigbee tag including an acceleration sensor to an object so as to easily check the position of the object and whether or not the object exists and monitor whether not the object is moved in real time. A zigbee tag includes an acceleration sensor(21), an RF(Radio Frequency) antenna(24), an RF circuit(23), a battery(25), a control logic(22) and a DC-DC converter(26). The acceleration sensor senses the motion of an object. The RF antenna performs zigbee radio communication. The RF circuit amplifies, modulates and demodulates RF signals transmitted and received through the RF antenna. The battery provides driving power to the respective components. The control logic controls the zigbee radio communication and the acceleration sensor. The control logic has an algorithm which transmits an identification number of the zigbee tag attached to the object and an identification number of a router located in a corresponding region to an upper network when a motion sensing interrupt is generated or at a predetermined period. The power of the batter is converted into specific type power at the DC-DC converter, and then is supplied to each parts as driving voltage.

Description

ZigBee tag and method for operating the same}

1 is a diagram illustrating a product position detection system using a Zigbee tag.

2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a Zigbee tag according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a mode conversion operation algorithm of a control logic unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

13: Router 20: Zigbee Tag

21: acceleration sensor 22: control logic

23: RF circuitry 24: RF antenna

25: Battery 26: DC-DC Converter

The present invention relates to a Zigbee tag equipped with an acceleration sensor and a method of operating the same.

In general, in managing goods such as products or equipment, it is difficult to effectively manage by creating and storing product information of each asset through manual labor, and to use the goods because the movement history of the goods is not checked in real time. It will cause a problem, and the progress of whether or not the movement of the article is coming and missing occurs that there is a problem that it is not easy to obtain accurate data about the article. In order to improve this problem, conventionally, a method of attaching and managing barcodes directly on each article has been proposed. The information of barcodes attached to the articles is read through a scanner to be transmitted to a host computer, thereby realizing the location of each article in real time. Real Time).

However, when using a barcode, infrared rays or lasers can be used to recognize them only in a straight line, and barcode labels can only be recognized when the administrator manually touches them one at a time through the scanner. Not only that, there was a problem in that it is not possible to determine the location of the goods in real time.

In order to solve the problems described above, a method for tracking the location of articles using RF ID tags has been proposed. However, when RF ID tags are used, a lot of power is consumed. It is inconvenient to go through a procedure such as receiving a.

To solve the above problems, the present invention proposes a structure and an operation method of a Zigbee tag attached to an article to detect and grasp the position of the article in real time.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, the acceleration sensor for detecting the movement of the article, the RF antenna for performing Zigbee wireless communication, the RF circuit unit for amplifying and demodulating the high frequency transmitted and received from the RF antenna, driving each component And a battery for supplying power, and a control logic unit for controlling the Zigbee wireless communication and the acceleration sensor. The control logic unit performs a communication with an upper network when the motion detection interrupt occurs or when a predetermined period of time arrives while operating in a sleep mode that minimizes the driving power consumption of the battery. It converts into a Zigbee tag attached to the article and the algorithm for transmitting the router's unique number in the location area to the upper network.

In addition, the ZigBee tag further includes a DC-DC converter for converting the driving power output from the battery to a predetermined voltage level, the acceleration sensor, piezoelectric, coin type, thermo-type, strain gauge type Characterized in that it is implemented.

In addition, the present invention, the first step of operating in the sleep mode to minimize the drive power consumption of the battery after the power is applied and the initialization is completed, the motion detection interrupt of the article during the operation in the sleep mode, or When a predetermined period of time arrives, a second step of switching to a wake-up mode for communicating with a higher network; and when operating in a wake-up mode by the motion detection interrupt generation, Step 3-1 of transmitting the unique number of the Zigbee tag and the unique number of the router in the corresponding location area to the upper network, and when the predetermined cycle time arrives and operates in the wake-up mode, a predetermined event from the upper network is determined. Step 3-2 of receiving the signal and transmitting the information data according to the event request to the upper network, and the Zigbee tag After the successful transmission of a unique number, a unique number, the information data from the router to the upper network is again a fourth step of switching to the sleep mode.

As is known, ZigBee technology is a low-speed, low-power, wireless personal area communication technology that uses the IEEE 802.15.4 standard as a lower standard (PHY & MAC), standardizes NTW and APL, and adds security to the ZigBee alliance. As an international standard specification established by the company, the frequency band is 2.4GHz and 868 / 915MHz in the form of dual PHY, the modem method is the direct sequence spread spectrum (DS-SS), and the data transmission speed is 20-250kbps. ZigBee has the features of being able to transmit with less power and enabling home automation. Normally, ZigBee consists of 254 secondary nodes around a manager that can do all the work for itself. Using small, long-lasting devices to use the wireless Internet, ZigBee can configure its data network with simple operations. ZigBee also excels at home automation, allowing users to turn on and off lights, temperature control, methods, and VCR management from anywhere in the house. ZigBee is therefore ideal for homes, businesses and industrial automation where controllers and sensors are used.

Therefore, the ZigBee technology has recently been used in the automation of home networks, building and industrial devices, connection of computer peripherals, home appliance control, environmental monitoring, military, security, animal management, natural disaster management, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), and telematics ( It is expected to be widely applied in various ubiquitous computing environments such as Telematics, Human Care and Human Interface such as Patient Care.

The present invention proposes a structure of a ZigBee tag attached to an article and an operation algorithm of the ZigBee tag to detect an article position using the ZigBee technique operated by a small amount of power.

Hereinafter, the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the reference numerals to the components of the drawings it should be noted that the same reference numerals as possible even if displayed on different drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a product position detection system using a Zigbee tag according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The article 14 is attached to the article 14, such as a product, equipment, etc., each ZigBee tag 20 can transmit the unique number of the corresponding ZigBee tag to the nearest router (13). The router 13 serves as a ZigBee communication reader for detecting a high frequency signal transmitted from a ZigBee tag, which is typically a ZigBee tag 20 of an article 14 within a 5-10 m radius. Detects the Zigbee tags in their RF radius and transmits their unique number to the repeater (12; coordinator). The router 13 and the repeater 12 may be implemented by a wireless LAN or a wired LAN.

Each of the routers 13 has a unique number. When the router 13 receives a unique number of the Zigbee tag 20 attached to the article 14 within the radius area of each router 13, the router 13 has a unique number and a Zigbee. The unique number of the tag is transmitted to the relay 12 located above, and the main server 10 finally determines that the article with the Zigbee tag is in the corresponding router area.

The repeater 12 transmits the unique number of the Zigbee tag and the corresponding router unique number received from each router to the control computer 11, and the control computer 11 transmits it to the main server 10 again. The unique number of the router 13 may be transmitted by the Zigbee tag 20. When the Zigbee tag 20 receives the unique number of the nearby router, the unique number of the router 13 and the Zigbee 20 may be transmitted. It transmits its own unique number to the upper network. The upper network is a communication upper layer of Zigbee communication, and in physical view, the upper network may be a communication network formed by the router 13, the repeater 12, the control computer 11, and the main server 10.

By having the structure as shown in FIG. 1, the main server 10 can determine the location of the goods (the router location where the goods are located) in real time, and if the administrator wants to find a particular goods, the user can easily search for the location of the goods. I can make it.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, the ZigBee tag 20 attached to each of the articles 14 is usually operated in a sleep mode to reduce power consumption, and then wakes up when a predetermined condition is satisfied. mode) to send its own unique number to a nearby router.

The sleep mode refers to a state in which each of the component circuits in the Zigbee tag does not perform an operation such as communication with an upper network, but only a mode conversion process that performs a function of converting to a wake-up mode. . Therefore, in the sleep mode state, no driving power is required to communicate with the higher level network, so only the minimum power for operating the mode conversion process is consumed. In addition, the wake up mode is a mode in which a Zigbee tag communicates with an upper network, and activates an RF circuit unit, an antenna, and the like in the Zigbee tag to perform data transmission and reception with the upper network.

There are two conditions under which the Zigbee tag enters the wake-up mode from the sleep mode. One of the conditions is that when the movement of the corresponding Zigbee-tagged article is detected by an accelerator sensor in the Zigbee tag. The Zigbee tag wakes up from sleep mode and goes into wake-up mode. When the switch is made to the wake-up mode, the unique number of the corresponding Zigbee tag and the current location (that is, the unique number of the currently located router) are transmitted to the upper network. The router receiving the signal transmits the unique number of the received Zigbee tag and the unique number of the router to the relay so that the main server can finally detect the movement of the article.

On the other hand, the other condition for the Zigbee tag to enter the wakeup mode from the sleep mode is to switch from the sleep mode to the wakeup mode at regular intervals. That is, even if there is no interruption from the acceleration sensor due to no movement of goods, the event signal generated from the upper network (control computer, main server) is automatically switched from sleep mode to wake-up mode at regular intervals. If there is an event signal from the upper network, information data corresponding thereto is transmitted to the upper network.

By receiving a signal from the ZigBee tag attached to the article as described above, it is possible to easily move or determine the location of the article, as described above with reference to Figure 2 with respect to the internal block of the ZigBee tag attached to the article do.

2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a Zigbee tag according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The Zigbee tag 20 according to the present invention includes an RF antenna 24, a control logic unit 22, an RF circuit unit 23, an acceleration sensor 21, a battery 25, and a DC-DC converter 26. . The RF antenna 24 is a dual dipole antenna capable of transmitting and receiving high frequency signals with a router, and uses frequency bands of 2. GHz (World Wide), 868 MHz (Europe), and 915 MHz (Americas). The RF circuit unit 23 amplifies, modulates and demodulates a high frequency signal transmitted and received by the RF antenna 24 and transmits (or receives) the control logic unit 22.

The mall acceleration sensor 21 is a sensor for detecting the movement of the article attached with the Zigbee tag, and generates a motion detection interrupt to the control logic unit 22 when the movement of the object is detected. Conventional ZigBee tags do not implement an acceleration sensor, but in the present invention, the acceleration sensor 21 is newly implemented in the ZigBee tag 20 in order to detect movement of an article. The acceleration sensor 21 detects dynamic forces such as acceleration, vibration, shock, and the like, and uses the application principle of inertial force, electric deformation, and gyro, and may instantaneously detect a motion state of an object. The article motion detection method of the acceleration sensor 21 implemented in the Zigbee tag is not limited to the implementation manner such as piezoelectric, coin, thermo, strain gauge.

The Zigbee tag is implemented as an active element, and the acceleration sensor 21, the control logic unit 22, and the RF circuit unit 23 receive driving power from the battery 25. The power of the battery 25 is converted to a predetermined power in the DC-DC converter 26 and then the necessary driving power is supplied to each component. The control logic unit 22 switches from the sleep mode to the wake-up mode and transmits information such as its own unique number to the upper network. An operation algorithm of the control logic unit will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a mode conversion operation algorithm of a control logic unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

After power is applied to the ZigBee tag to initialize each program function and each driver (S30), the ZigBee tag operates in a sleep mode (S31). The reason for operating in the sleep mode is to minimize power consumption by operating in a sleep mode in order to operate a Zigbee tag without charging for a long time. That is, in the sleep mode, only the mode conversion process for converting to the wake-up mode without performing communication with the upper network is operated. Therefore, only minimal power is required.

When the acceleration sensor 21 detects the movement of the article (S32) during the sleep mode operation (S31), the acceleration sensor 21 generates a motion detection interrupt, and when such a motion detection interruption occurs, Zigbee The tag is switched from the sleep mode to the wakeup mode (S33). When switching to the wake-up mode (S33), the control logic unit transmits a signal for requesting a unique number of the router and receives the unique number of the corresponding router from the received router, thereby receiving the received router unique number (ID) and the Zigbee tag. It transmits its own ID (ID) to the upper network (S35). The upper network is a communication upper layer of Zigbee communication, and in physical view, the upper network may be a communication network formed by a router, a repeater, a control computer, and a main server.

On the other hand, according to another embodiment of the present invention, when the switch to the wake-up mode (S33) due to the motion detection interrupt generation (S32) without receiving the unique number of the router, the Zigbee tag 20 immediately sends the unique number of the Zigbee tag router ( 13), the router 13 may be implemented to transmit its own number and the unique number of the received Zigbee tag 20 to the upper level. By transmitting the unique number of the Zigbee tag 20 and the unique number of the router 13 to the upper network as described above, the control computer 11 or the main server 10 in the higher network transmits the goods. And it is possible to determine the current location in real time.

When the unique number of the Zigbee tag and the unique number of the router are successfully transmitted to the upper network (S35) and receive an ACK signal from the upper network, the Zigbee tag switches to the sleep mode again (S41) to consume power. Minimize.

On the other hand, during the operation in the sleep mode after the initialization (S30) (S31), when a predetermined predetermined cycle time comes (S36), the Zigbee tag is similarly switched from the sleep mode to the wake-up mode (S37). This is a wake-up to check whether a predetermined event signal is transmitted from the upper network (S38). For example, when the administrator requests tracking of a specific item location through the main server 10, the control computer is attached to the item. This is because the unique identification number and the current location report message of the Zigbee tag can be transmitted through each router 13 as an event signal.

In order to check whether there is an event signal, the Zigbee tag periodically wakes up to check whether there is an event signal even if there is no movement of the article (S38). As a result of checking the event signal (S38), when a predetermined event signal is received, information data according to the request of the event signal is transmitted to the upper network (S39). The information data includes information according to a request of an event signal. As other information, the battery state is sensed. When the battery is low battery, the information data is transmitted to the upper network by including the information on when the battery is being charged or replaced. Can be.

When the information requested by the event signal is successfully transmitted (S39) to the upper network to receive an ACK signal from the upper network, the Zigbee tag switches back to the sleep mode (S41) to minimize power consumption.

Meanwhile, as a result of checking whether the event signal is received by switching to the wake-up mode (S38), when only a simple ACK signal is received without any event signal or when no signal is received for a predetermined time (S40). It returns to sleep mode again to minimize battery power consumption.

In the foregoing description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not to be determined by the embodiments described above, but will be apparent in the claims as well as equivalent scope.

As described above, the present invention, by attaching a ZigBee tag containing an acceleration sensor to each article, there is an effect that can easily grasp the position of the article and the presence or absence of the article at the time of article management, such as asset physical inspection. In addition, there is an effect that can be monitored in real time whether the movement of the article during the movement of the article.

Claims (13)

An acceleration sensor for detecting the movement of the article, RF antenna for performing Zigbee wireless communication, An RF circuit unit for amplifying and demodulating high frequency signals transmitted and received by the RF antenna; A battery for supplying driving power to each component; Control logic unit for controlling the Zigbee wireless communication and acceleration sensor Zigbee tags, including. The method of claim 1, The control logic unit performs a communication with an upper network when the motion detection interrupt occurs or when a predetermined period of time arrives while operating in a sleep mode that minimizes the driving power consumption of the battery. A Zigbee tag having an algorithm for transmitting a unique number of a Zigbee tag attached to the article and a router's unique number in a corresponding location area to a higher network. The ZigBee tag of claim 1, wherein the ZigBee tag further includes a DC-DC converter configured to convert driving power output from the battery into a predetermined voltage. The ZigBee tag of claim 1, wherein the acceleration sensor is implemented in a piezoelectric, coin, thermo, and strain gauge type. The ZigBee tag of claim 2, wherein the sleep mode requires only power for operating only a process that is in charge of switching to the wake-up mode while stopping a process for data communication with a higher-level network. The algorithm of claim 2, wherein the control logic unit checks whether there is a specific event signal from an upper network in the wake-up mode, and transmits the information data requested by the corresponding event signal to the upper network when a predetermined event signal is detected. Zigbee tag with more. The method of claim 6, wherein the information data includes information indicating that the battery is charged or replaced when the battery is in a low battery state, a unique number of a Zigbee tag attached to the corresponding article, and a unique number of a router in a corresponding location area. Zigbee tag to include. A first step of operating in a sleep mode to minimize driving power consumption of the battery after power is applied and initialization is completed; A second step of detecting a motion detection interrupt of the article during operation in the sleep mode or switching to a wake-up mode in which communication with an upper network is performed when a predetermined period of time arrives; When operating in the wake-up mode due to the motion detection interrupt, step 3-1 of transmitting the unique number of the Zigbee tag attached to the article and the unique number of the router in the location area to the upper network; When the predetermined cycle time arrives and operates in the wake-up mode, step 3-2 of receiving a predetermined event signal from an upper network and transmitting information data according to the corresponding event request to the upper network; A fourth step of switching back to the sleep mode after successfully transmitting the unique number of the Zigbee tag, the unique number of the router, and the information data to the upper network Zigbee tag operation method comprising a. The method of claim 8, wherein the motion detection interrupt is generated by an acceleration sensor provided in a Zigbee tag. The method according to claim 8, wherein the unique number of the router transmitted to the upper network in step 3-1 is a unique number received from the router to which the Zigbee tag belongs. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the unique number of the router transmitted to the upper network in the step 3-1, the router receiving the unique number of the Zigbee tag is transmitted to the upper network by including its own unique number together Zigbee tag operation method. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein when a predetermined time elapses without any event signal during the wake-up mode operation in step 3-2, or when a predetermined ACK signal is received, no information data is transmitted to the upper network. How to operate Zigbee tag to sleep mode. The method of claim 8, wherein in the fourth step, when receiving an ACK signal indicating that the Zigbee tag unique number, the unique number of the router, and the information data are correctly received from an upper network, the mobile station switches to the sleep mode. How Zigbee tags work.

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