KR102583955B1 - IOT smart trash can device with distance sensor and spring wheel rope energy harvesting function - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention uses a distance measuring sensor to accurately measure the height of trash inside a trash can, and uses a spring wheel rope energy harvesting device to eliminate the need for batteries by using the kinetic energy generated when users open and close the trash can lid. In addition, the present invention has the advantage of being easily attachable to and detachable from existing general trash cans, allowing it to be easily distributed at a low price.

Description

IOT smart trash can device with distance sensor and spring wheel rope energy harvesting function {IOT smart trash can device with distance sensor and spring wheel rope energy harvesting function}

It's about the trash can as an IOT smart device.

IOT communication-type smart trash cans, which are equipped with sensors and can optimize the cycle of emptying and managing trash cans by providing information to managers about whether the trash cans are full, have recently been popularized.

Conventional smart trash cans mainly use a method of checking the weight using a load cell, etc. as a sensor to detect whether the trash is full. In this case, the weight and volume ratio of various trash is so diverse that even though the trash can is not actually full, the standard weight is exceeded and a signal to empty the trash can is sent to the manager, causing a problem that requires unnecessary management efforts. In addition, in order to measure weight, mechanical parts for measuring weight are required inside the trash can body, so it has to be made into an integrated smart trash can with a dedicated trash can, so in this case, there is a problem of increasing the overall manufacturing cost. The IOT smart trash can function can be implemented through a floor pad scale-type IOT smart trash can device that measures the weight of the entire existing trash can, rather than an all-in-one product, by attaching it to an existing trash can. There is a possibility of change after the floor pad scale device is removed when the trash can is emptied or during maintenance work, so it is difficult to manage, and to make it a floor-type product that physically lifts the trash can, sturdy structures are required, which also increases manufacturing costs. There is a downside to this. And the biggest problem with conventional IOT smart trash cans is that the energy needed for electronic circuits that perform functions such as IOT communication functions or smart sensing is obtained from batteries. Since it is not easy to use wired electricity in a street environment where trash cans are placed, most existing IOT smart trash can products use battery-powered products, which causes management inconvenience as the batteries must be replaced when they expire.

The present invention uses a distance measuring sensor to accurately measure the height of trash inside a trash can using radar, optical, or ultrasonic signals, and uses a spring wheel rope energy harvesting device to convert the kinetic energy generated when users open and close the trash can lid into electricity. By converting and storing it before use, the need for batteries is eliminated, and it can be easily attached and detached to conventional general trash cans, so it has the advantage of being easily distributed at a low price.

Inside the trash can lid, it uses a distance measuring sensor that transmits a radar, optical or ultrasonic signal to determine how much trash is piled up inside the trash can and measures the distance using the time it takes for the transmitted signal to reflect from the surface of the object and be received again. It can detect how much trash has piled up and inform the manager of the exact time to empty the trash can. It can continuously receive the electrical energy needed for operation through the spring wheel rope kinetic energy electrical conversion unit, so there is no need to replace the battery. By attaching it to a trash can, an existing regular trash can can operate as an IOT smart trash can, providing an IOT smart trash can function at a low cost.

Through the present invention, the existing general trash can can be changed into an IOT smart trash can that accurately tells you when to empty it at a low cost. By using a distance measurement signal, you can know exactly how much trash is in the trash can, and the spring wheel rope It can be used semi-permanently without battery replacement by using the energy harvesting technology of the electric energy conversion unit.

Figure 1 shows a typical conventional trash can.
Figure 2 shows an IOT smart trash can device as a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 shows a spring wheel rope kinetic energy electrical conversion unit as a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a diagram showing an IOT smart trash can device attached to a conventional trash can as a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

First, when adding reference numerals to components of an angle surface, it should be noted that identical components are given the same reference numerals as much as possible even if they are shown in different drawings. Additionally, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing a typical conventional trash can. Recently, with the spread of IOT communication infrastructure, attempts are being made to reduce collection and management efforts by incorporating sensors into trash cans so that collection managers can collect only when the trash can is completely full. Mainly, a sensor that detects weight, such as a load cell, is used to determine whether the trash can is full. However, in this case, the volume and weight of the trash are often not proportional, so collection efforts are not effectively reduced, or the weight remains even though the trash must be collected because the volume is already full. There are problems such as not being able to properly inform the collection manager of the need for collection due to insufficient collection. Moreover, in the case of the weight type, it is difficult to make a smart device that attaches to an existing trash can due to the practical implementation problem of measuring weight, and an IOT smart device must be made as an integrated trash can, making the overall IOT smart trash can system expensive. There is also a floor pad scale-type device that provides the IOT smart trash can function by placing an existing trash can on top of the regular trash can in the shape of a floor pad. However, in this case, a plurality of existing trash cans and a plurality of IOT smart devices (floor pad-type scale) are managed. ) There is a problem that the weight can be reversed (after emptying the trash can, the trash can must be placed on the scale-type pad device where the trash can was) and a strong frame is required to make a product with a floor pad type that senses weight. There is a problem with high manufacturing costs.

In contrast, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention in Figure 2, the IOT smart trash can device 210 is attached and fixed to the inner surface of the trash can lid 101 and transmits ultrasonic, optical, or millimeter wave chirp signals in the tens of GHz band from the distance measurement sensor 212. is transmitted, and when the transmitted signal is received by being reflected from the top surface of the upper object of the garbage pile inside the trash can body 102, this signal is transmitted to the signal processing control unit 211, and the signal processing control unit 211 restores the received signal. By detecting and measuring the difference between the time the signal was transmitted and the time it was received, the distance from the trash can lid to the trash is accurately converted (201). If the converted distance value is less than the standard value, the signal processing control unit 211 sends a request for collection or emptying the garbage bin to the garbage collection manager through the communication unit 214. The communication department 214 can send a collection request directly to a terminal such as a smartphone of the collection manager through short-distance communication such as BLE or ZIGBEE, or send the request to the collection manager via the Internet through an M2M dedicated communication network such as LoRA, NB-IOT, or LTE-M. You can also send a collection or management request message. The electrical energy required for the operation of the distance measurement sensor 212, the signal processing control unit 211, and the communication unit 214 is converted into mechanical kinetic energy from the spring wheel rope kinetic energy electrical conversion unit 213 when the user opens and closes the trash can lid, using energy harvesting technology. It is converted into electrical energy and used stored in the electrical energy storage unit 217. The electrical energy storage unit 217 may be composed of components such as a high-capacity capacitor or secondary battery. The spring wheel rope kinetic energy electrical conversion unit 213 includes a spring 402 that provides elastic force to rewind the rope that has been released as shown in FIG. 3, and a rope wheel on which the rope is wound by a rotation axis coupled to the spring 402. 403), the rope wheel 403 is input to the input shaft, and the power generation unit 405 is coupled to the output shaft to rotate the output shaft at a higher rotation speed than the input shaft. In the gear portion 404, A power generation unit 405 that receives the output rotational kinetic energy and converts it into electrical energy, and a voltage conversion unit that rectifies the AC voltage generated in the power generation unit 405 into a DC voltage and converts it to the voltage required for operation of other circuit parts ( 406), and consists of a main body frame 401 in which these components are combined.

One end of the rope 214 wound around the spring wheel rope kinetic energy electrical conversion unit 213 configured as shown in Figure 3 is an inner wall rope latch fixed to the inside of the existing conventional trash can body 102 as shown in Figure 2. Caught in wealth (220). And, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the IOT smart trash can device 210, which is attached and fixed to the trash can lid, is installed on the inner surface of the existing trash can lid 101 and is connected when the user opens the trash can lid 101. As the rope 214 is released from the rope wheel 403, the rope wheel 403 rotates, and the rotation of the rope wheel 403 is transmitted to the power generation unit 405 at a higher rotation speed through the gear unit 404. The rotational kinetic energy is converted into AC voltage and transmitted to the voltage converter 406, and the voltage converter 406 rectifies this AC voltage to DC and converts it to the voltage level required for the operation of the IOT smart trash can device circuits, thereby converting it into electrical energy. It is stored in the storage unit 217. When the user closes the trash can lid 101, the rope released by the spring 402 is wound around the rope wheel 403 again.

In this way, by using energy harvesting technology using the spring wheel rope kinetic energy electricity conversion unit 213, batteries that need replacement can be removed, allowing semi-permanent use, and there is no need for a battery cover for battery replacement, so it can be used on the trash can lid. The attached and fixed IOT smart trash can device 210 can be manufactured as a sealed device, and by doing so, it can operate stably even in very harsh environments (waterproofing and flame retardant treatment are required) for electronic devices called trash cans to operate.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing an IOT smart trash can device 210 attached to a conventional trash can as a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 4, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the IOT smart trash can device 210 is fixed and attached to the inside of the trash can lid 101 with a fixed bolt, etc., and a rope latch part 220 on the inner wall of the trash can is installed at an appropriate point inside the inner wall of the trash can. After attaching it with a fixed bolt, pull the rope 214 with a ring or knot from the IOT smart trash can device 210 of the present invention and hang it on the fixed inner wall rope latch 220. In this way, it can be installed very easily in an existing general trash can. The trash can installed in this way can operate as a highly reliable IOT smart trash can at a low price every week.

(101): Lid of trash can
(102): Trash can body
(201): Distance from trash can lid to trash
(202): Garbage
(210): IOT smart trash can device that is attached and fixed to the trash can lid as a preferred embodiment of the present invention
(211): Signal processing control unit
(212): Distance measurement sensor
(213): Spring wheel rope kinetic energy electrical conversion unit
(214): A rope that has a shackle ring end and the other side is fixed to the rope wheel and then wound.
(215): Power supply flow
(216): Sensor and communication signal flow
(217): Electric energy storage unit
(220): Trash can inner wall rope latch part
(401): Spring wheel rope kinetic energy electrical conversion unit body frame
(402): spring
(403): rope wheel
(404): Gear part
(405): Power generation department
(406): Voltage conversion unit

Claims (1)

In a device that provides an IOT smart trash can function that informs the manager of the free space inside the trash can through communication,
A distance measurement sensor that transmits ultrasonic, visible, infrared, or millimeter wave radar signals and detects signals reflected from trash. Restore the received signal detected by the distance measuring sensor and use the time difference between the transmitted and received signals to calculate the distance from the distance measuring sensor transmitter to the reflected trash. If the calculated distance is less than a certain standard value, request the manager to collect and empty the trash can. A signal processing control unit that transmits through a communication unit; A communication unit that connects the signal processing control unit and the manager's terminal using standard communication technologies such as BLE, ZIGBEE, NB-IOT, LoRa or LTE-M; An electric energy storage unit that receives and stores the electrical energy required for the operation of the distance measurement sensor, signal processing control unit, and communication unit from the spring wheel rope kinetic energy electrical conversion unit, and then provides the electrical energy; A spring that provides elastic force to rewind a rope that has been released: A rope wheel in which a rope is wound by combining a rotation axis with the spring: The rope wheel is input to the input shaft and the power generation unit is coupled to the output shaft, so that the rotation speed is higher than the input input. Gear unit that rotates the output shaft with the number of revolutions: Power generation unit that receives the rotational kinetic energy output from the gear unit and converts it into electrical energy: Rectifies the AC voltage generated by the power generation unit into DC voltage and other circuit parts necessary for operation. Voltage conversion unit that converts to voltage: a spring wheel rope kinetic energy electrical conversion unit, characterized in that it consists of a frame body in which the spring, rope wheel, gear unit, power generation unit, voltage conversion unit, etc. are combined; One end is fixed and wound around the wheel rope in the spring wheel rope kinetic energy electrical conversion unit, and the other end is composed of a rope with a loop or knot that can be caught on an inner wall rope latch fixed to the inner wall of the trash can body.
IOT smart trash can device