WO2019203340A1

WO2019203340A1 - Sensor device and battery device

Info

Publication number: WO2019203340A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/016794
Authority: WO
Inventors: 小山　和宏; 正浩鈴鹿; 翔佐賀; 俊隆福嶋; 雄太笠間; 顕宏岡部
Original assignee: ノバルス株式会社
Priority date: 2018-04-20
Filing date: 2019-04-19
Publication date: 2019-10-24
Also published as: JPWO2019203340A1

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sensor device and a power source device that are capable of facilitating introduction of a system which uses sensor data. A sensor device 4 has: an outer positive electrode terminal 43 and an outer negative electrode terminal 44 respectively attached to the front and rear end surfaces of a case 41 that has a shape and size compliant with a battery standard so as to enable mounting to a battery box of a battery-driven device 6; and an inner positive electrode terminal 45 and an inner negative electrode terminal 46 that are located inside the case 41 and that are respectively connected to the outer positive electrode terminal 43 and the outer negative electrode terminal 44. The sensor device 4 is provided with: a battery storage part 42 that stores a battery 48; a wireless communication antenna 58; an acceleration sensor 49; and a transmission part that transmits data measured by the acceleration sensor 49 to an external information processing device 3 via the antenna 58.

Description

Sensor device and battery device

The present invention relates to a sensor device and a battery device.

Technology against so-called IoT (Internet of Things), where everything around us is connected to the Internet, is rapidly developing against the background of the evolution of Internet technology and various sensor technologies. In IoT, a sensor device having a communication function is often used. A sensor device used in IoT is also referred to as an IoT device. Currently, introduction of systems using sensing data collected from IoT devices is progressing in various fields. For example, temperature and humidity data can be collected with an IoT device installed on a farm, and the frequency and amount of watering can be managed using the collected data. Moreover, it can detect that the electric pot was used with the IoT device with which the electric pot was mounted | worn, and can utilize for the elderly person living alone using the detected data.

However, in order to introduce a system using an IoT device, it is necessary to secure an installation place of the IoT device and perform installation work. In particular, an IoT device equipped with an acceleration sensor needs to be attached to a moving body. The smaller the moving body, the more the IoT device can be made into a moving body without impairing its appearance and without interfering with movement. It is difficult to wear. Therefore, it has become a barrier to the introduction of a system using an IoT device.

The purpose is to provide a sensor device and a battery device that facilitate the introduction of a system utilizing sensor data.

In the sensor device according to the present embodiment, an outer positive terminal and an outer negative terminal are respectively attached to front and rear end surfaces of a case configured in a shape and size conforming to a battery standard that can be mounted on a battery box of a battery-driven device. The inside of the case has an inner positive terminal and an inner negative terminal connected to the outer positive terminal and the outer negative terminal, respectively, and a battery accommodating portion for accommodating a battery, and for wireless communication An antenna, an acceleration sensor that measures acceleration, and a transmission unit that transmits data measured by the acceleration sensor to an external information processing apparatus via the antenna are provided.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a bicycle management system using the sensor device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the sensor device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a view showing a cross section of the sensor device of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the sensor device of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the on-linked mode of the sensor device of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the off-linked mode of the sensor device of FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an indoor control system using the sensor device according to the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, the sensor device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be given only when necessary.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sensor device 4 according to the present embodiment has a shape conforming to the battery standard or another shape. The sensor device 4 typically has an AA shape. Of course, the shape, size, and the like of the sensor device 4 are arbitrary depending on the battery used in the battery-driven device 6, and may be configured as a single shape, for example. The sensor device 4 is attached to a battery box of the battery-driven device 6. The sensor device 4 includes an acceleration sensor and can be used for a bicycle management system in a bicycle sharing system. The sensor device 4 is mounted on, for example, a battery-powered bicycle light 61. The sensor device 4 is typically connected to the Internet 1 according to a long-distance communication standard such as LPWA (Low Power Wide Area). The sensor device 4 transmits the acceleration data measured by the acceleration sensor to the server device 3 as an external information processing device via the Internet 1. The server device 3 analyzes the acceleration data, identifies the behavior of the bicycle, for example, when the bicycle is tilted or the bicycle is rough, and imposes a warning, a charge, etc. on the user who uses the bicycle according to the identified information. Can do. Further, the travel distance of the bicycle can be specified based on the acceleration data, and the travel distance information can be used for maintenance such as tire replacement and brake replacement of the bicycle.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sensor device 4 is configured as an AA shape, for example. Of course, the shape, size, and the like of the sensor device 4 are arbitrary depending on the battery used in the battery-driven device 6, and may be configured as a single shape, for example. Here, the sensor device 4 will be described as an AA.

The sensor device 4 has a cylindrical case 41 having a height and a diameter in accordance with the AA battery standard. An outer positive terminal 43 and an outer negative terminal 44 are attached to the front and rear end faces of the case 41 in accordance with the AA battery standard. Inside the case 41, a battery accommodating portion 42 having a shape and size conforming to the smaller standard AAA battery standard is provided. An inner positive terminal 45 and an inner negative terminal 46 that are in contact with the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the AAA battery 48 accommodated therein are respectively attached to the front and rear end faces of the battery accommodating portion 42. The inner positive terminal 45 and the inner negative terminal 46 attached to the battery housing part 42 are connected to the outer positive terminal 43 and the outer negative terminal 44, respectively.

The battery housing part 42 is offset in the radial direction with respect to the cylindrical central axis of the case 41 with respect to the cylindrical central axis. Due to this offset, a small space is secured inside the case 41. An electronic circuit board 47 that realizes various functions of the sensor device 4 is accommodated in this small space. In the present embodiment, a triaxial acceleration sensor 49 is typically mounted on the electronic circuit board 47. The peripheral surface portion of the case 41 opposite to the electronic circuit board 47 is cut out in an oval shape. The length of the notch is equal to or slightly shorter than that of the AAA battery, and the width is slightly wider than that of the AAA battery. Thereby, the AAA internal battery 48 can be inserted into and removed from the battery accommodating portion 42 through the notch.

The sensor device 4 is mounted on a battery box of a battery-driven device 6 having a power switch 7, measures the acceleration of the battery-driven device 6, and transmits the measured acceleration data to the server device 3 wirelessly. And also functions as a power source for the battery-powered device 6. The battery 48 accommodated in the battery accommodating portion 42 is a power source for the acceleration sensor 49 and the like mounted on the electronic circuit board 47 and also a power source for the battery-driven device 6.

As shown in FIG. 4, a DCDC converter 59, a comparator 57, an output transistor 55, an RFIC (high frequency integrated circuit) 56, and the like are mounted on an electronic circuit board 47 that realizes the function of the sensor device 4. The DCDC converter 59 generates the power supply voltage Vdd of the comparator 57 and the RFIC 56 using the battery voltage of the internal battery 48 accommodated in the battery accommodating portion 42. The RFIC is simply referred to as a processing unit as appropriate.

The comparator 57 detects the on / off of the power switch 7 of the battery-powered device 6 based on the internal current value of the electronic circuit board 47, here the current value between the inner negative terminal 46 and the outer negative terminal 44. Specifically, the detection resistor 51 is interposed between the inner negative terminal 46 and the outer negative terminal 44. The current between the inner negative terminal 46 and the outer negative terminal 44 is converted into a voltage by the detection resistor 51, and the voltage across the detection resistor 51 (detection voltage) is applied to the input terminal (inverted input terminal) of the comparator 57. The battery voltage of the internal battery 48 is divided by the voltage dividing resistors 52 and 53 and applied as a reference voltage to the other input terminal (non-inverting input terminal) of the comparator 57. The comparator 57 compares the detection voltage with the reference voltage. The detection voltage varies according to the on / off state of the power switch 7. In order to change the comparison result of the comparator 57 in accordance with the change in the detection voltage, the resistance values of the voltage dividing resistors 52 and 53 are adjusted.

The output transistor 55 functions as a switching element that switches the output of the internal battery 48 on and off. The output transistor 55 is controlled to be turned on and off by a gate voltage applied by a gate control signal from the RFIC 56. Specifically, the output transistor 55 is typically a P-channel MOSFET, and is interposed between the inner positive terminal 45 and the outer positive terminal 43. The source terminal is connected to the inner positive terminal 45, the drain terminal is connected to the outer positive terminal 43, and the gate terminal is connected to the OUT terminal of the RFIC 56. When the gate voltage is lower than the threshold voltage (when the PWM signal is at a low level), the output transistor 55 is turned on. On the other hand, when the gate voltage is higher than the threshold voltage (when the PWM signal is at a high level), the output transistor 55 is turned off. Therefore, the output of the internal battery 48 can be substantially adjusted by changing the duty ratio of the PWM signal. Of course, by changing the circuit configuration, the output transistor 55 may be an N-channel MOSFET or a bipolar transistor.

The RFIC 56 controls the sensor device 4 in an integrated manner. An antenna 58 for wireless communication is connected to the ANT terminal of the RFIC 56. The GND terminal is connected to the GND of the electronic circuit board 47. The output terminal of the acceleration sensor 49 is connected to the SENSOR terminal. A power supply terminal of the acceleration sensor 49 is connected to the Vs terminal. The gate terminal of the output transistor 55 is connected to the OUT terminal. The output terminal of the comparator 57 is connected to the IN terminal. The RFIC 56 detects acceleration via the acceleration sensor 49. Typically, the antenna 58 is accommodated in the case 41. However, the antenna 58 may be attached to the outer surface of the case 41.

The RFIC 56 functionally includes a wireless communication unit, a PWM signal generation unit, and a control unit. Here, the sensor device 4 includes an acceleration sensor 49. However, in place of the acceleration sensor 49, a position sensor that measures the position information of the sensor, an angular velocity sensor that detects rotation of the sensor, and the like. The structure provided with a sensor may be sufficient and the structure provided with multiple types of sensors may be sufficient.

The wireless communication unit transmits the acceleration data to the server device 3 registered in advance as the output destination of the sensor data according to the control of the control unit. In addition, the wireless communication unit receives a control signal instructing opening / closing of the output transistor 55 from a portable information processing terminal registered in advance as a user terminal for changing various settings of the sensor device 4 according to control of the control unit. When two external devices cannot be connected to the sensor device 4 at the same time, the control unit controls the wireless communication unit, allows the sensor device 4 to connect one external device, and connects the other external device. Ban. For example, in the regular mode described later, the control unit controls the wireless communication unit in order to connect the server device 3 to the sensor device 4 and not connect the portable information processing terminal. In the interlock mode described later, the control unit controls the wireless communication unit to connect the server device 3 to the sensor device 4 and not to connect the portable information processing terminal while the acceleration sensor 49 is driven, While the acceleration sensor 49 is not driven, the wireless communication unit is controlled so that the portable information processing terminal is connected to the sensor device 4 and the server device 3 is not connected. The mode is initialized to, for example, the on-linked mode by restarting the RFIC 56 by inserting / removing the battery 48 from / into the battery accommodating portion 42. Thereby, even if the mode is always selected, the mode can be selected by restarting the RFIC 56.

The PWM signal generator generates a PWM signal (pulse width signal modulation) with a duty ratio corresponding to the control signal received from the portable information processing terminal. The PWM signal generated by the PWM signal generator is supplied to the gate of the output transistor 55. When the output command value is 0%, the PWM signal generator generates a PWM signal with a duty ratio of 0% (only high level). When the output command value is 100%, a PWM signal having a duty ratio of 100% (low level only) is generated. When the output command value is 50%, the PWM signal generator generates a PWM signal with a duty ratio of 50% (the ratio between the low level and the high level is half).

The control unit includes a normal mode in which the acceleration sensor 49 is always operated, and an interlocking mode in which the on / off of the acceleration sensor 49 is interlocked with the on / off of the power switch 7 of the battery-powered device 6. Of course, if the power switch 7 is not provided, on / off of the power switch 7 is replaced with insertion / extraction of the sensor device to / from the battery box of the battery-driven device 6, and on / off of the acceleration sensor 49 is battery-driven. This is linked to the on / off of the operation of the device 6. Further, in the interlock mode, the acceleration sensor 49 is operated when the battery-driven device 6 is in the on state, and the on-interaction mode in which the acceleration sensor 49 is stopped when the battery-driven device 6 is in the off state, and the battery-driven device 6 is And an off-linked mode in which the acceleration sensor 49 is operated in the off state and the acceleration sensor 49 is stopped when the battery-powered device 6 is in the on state. These modes are selected according to an instruction from a specific portable information processing terminal connected to the sensor device 4. The mode can be selected during a period in which the acceleration sensor 49 is in an off state or a predetermined period after the battery 48 is attached to the battery housing part 42. As a result, even when the normal mode is selected, the acceleration sensor 49 is driven for a predetermined period after the battery 48 is mounted in the battery housing portion 42, and the mode can be selected during that period. .

The always mode is a mode in which the sensor device 4 always functions as an IoT device. By selecting the constant mode, the sensor device 4 can be specialized as an original IoT device. When the constant mode is selected, the control unit is configured to cause the PWM signal generating unit to supply a PWM signal having a predetermined duty ratio to the output transistor 55 in order to intentionally reduce the power output to the battery-powered device 6. May be controlled. Thereby, the function as a power supply of the battery-powered apparatus 6 can be reduced, and the time during which the sensor device 4 functions as an IoT device can be lengthened.

The interlocking mode is a mode in which the period during which the sensor device 4 functions as an IoT device is limited to a period in which the battery-driven device 6 is in an on state or an off state. By selecting the interlock mode, the driving time of the acceleration sensor 49 can be shortened compared to the normal mode, the consumption of the battery 48 can be suppressed, and the function as the power source of the battery-driven device 6 can be secured for as long as possible. it can. In particular, it is assumed that the sensor device 4 including the acceleration sensor 49 is attached to a battery-driven device 6 such as a radio control that moves according to the on / off of the power switch 7. In addition, it does not move in accordance with the on / off of the power switch 7, but when the bicycle is moving like a bicycle light, it is assumed that it is attached to the battery-powered device 6 that is always operating. The By selecting the on-linked mode, the acceleration sensor 49 can be driven only during the period in which the battery-powered device 6 is in the on-state, and the sensor device 4 only receives the acceleration data related to the running of the bicycle. There is also an effect that can be transmitted to

FIG. 5 shows an operation procedure in the on-linked mode of the sensor device 4 according to the present embodiment. In the initial state, the power switch 7 is off. When the battery 48 is accommodated in the battery accommodating portion 42, the RFIC 56 is activated. When the power switch 7 is turned on (step S11, ON), the acceleration sensor 49 is driven by the RFIC 56 (step S12), and acceleration data measured by the acceleration sensor 49 is input to the RFIC 56 (step S13). The acceleration data is transmitted to the server device 3 by the RFIC 56 (step S14). Step S13 and step S14 are repeatedly executed at a preset period until the power switch 7 is turned off (step S15, ON). When the power switch 7 is turned off (step S15, OFF), the driving of the acceleration sensor 49 is stopped by the RFIC 56, and data transmission to the server device 3 is stopped (step S16). When the power switch 7 is turned on, the process starts again from step S11.

FIG. 6 shows an operation procedure in the off-linked mode of the sensor device 4 according to the present embodiment. In the initial state, the power switch 7 is off. When the internal battery 48 is accommodated in the battery accommodating portion 42, the RFIC 56 is activated and the sensor device 4 is wirelessly connected to the server device 3. The acceleration sensor 49 is driven by the RFIC 56 (step S21), and the acceleration data measured by the acceleration sensor 49 is input to the RFIC 56 (step S22). The acceleration data is transmitted to the server device 3 by the RFIC 56 (step S23). Step S2 and step S3 are repeatedly executed at a preset period until the power switch 7 is turned on (step S24, OFF). When the power switch 7 is turned on (step S24, ON), the driving of the acceleration sensor 49 is stopped by the RFIC 56, and the data transmission to the server device 3 is stopped (step S25). When the power switch 7 is turned off (step S26, OFF), the process returns to step S21, the acceleration sensor 49 is driven again, and measurement of acceleration data is resumed.

The sensor device 4 according to the present embodiment has a battery shape defined in the AA battery standard, and can be attached to the battery box of the battery-driven device 6. The sensor device 4 has a battery accommodating portion 42 that accommodates the AAA battery 48, and also functions as a power source for the battery-driven device 6. As a result, the acceleration data can be collected from the sensor device 4 simply by mounting the sensor device 4 on the battery box of the existing battery-powered device 6, and the user needs to secure the installation location of the sensor device 4. Otherwise, there is no need to perform a special installation work for installing the sensor device 4. That is, by using the sensor device 4 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to easily introduce a system that uses acceleration data, angular velocity data, and position data, and to reduce a system introduction barrier.

In the present embodiment, the bicycle management system using the sensor device 4 has been described, but the system using the sensor device 4 is not limited to this. For example, the sensor device 4 can be used in an indoor control system. As shown in FIG. 7, the sensor device 4 is accommodated in a battery-driven smart lock 9 mounted on a door of the house. The smart lock 9 is a device that unlocks the door key in accordance with a signal indicating unlocking from the smartphone 2. When returning home, the user operates the smart lock 9 using the smartphone 2, and after the key is unlocked by the smart lock 9, the user opens the door and enters the house. On the other hand, when going out, the user opens the door and goes outside, then operates the smart lock using the smartphone 2 and locks the key. The sensor device 4 can detect the operation of the smart lock 9. The sensor device 4 transmits an operation detection signal indicating that the operation of the smart lock 9 has been detected to a programmable logic controller (hereinafter simply referred to as PLC) 10. Further, the sensor device 4 transmits the acceleration data measured by the acceleration sensor to the PLC 10. The PLC 10 controls the indoor light 62 according to an indoor control program held in advance. Specifically, the PLC 10 detects that the resident has come home in accordance with detection of a change in acceleration data after receiving the motion detection signal, and controls the light 62 to turn on the indoor light 62. Further, the PLC 10 detects that the resident has gone out according to the detection of the change in the acceleration data before receiving the motion detection signal, and controls the light 62 to turn off the indoor light 62. This prevents forgetting to turn off the light 62 when going out and eliminates the light operation by the resident when returning home.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... Sensor apparatus, 6 ... Battery drive type device, 7 ... Power switch, 41 ... Case, 42 ... Battery accommodating part, 43 ... Outer positive terminal, 44 ... Outer negative terminal, 45 ... Inner positive terminal, 46 ... Inner negative terminal , 47 ... an electronic circuit board, 48 ... a battery, 49 ... an acceleration sensor, 56 ... an RFIC, 58 ... an antenna.

Claims

The outer positive terminal and the outer negative terminal are respectively exposed and attached to a case having a shape conforming to an electrical standard that can be mounted on a battery box of a battery-driven device or another shape,
The case has an inner positive terminal and an inner negative terminal connected to the outer positive terminal and the outer negative terminal, respectively, a battery accommodating portion for accommodating a battery, an antenna for wireless communication, A sensor device in which an acceleration sensor and a transmission unit that transmits data measured by the acceleration sensor to an external information processing device via the antenna are accommodated.
Inside the case, a switch detection unit that detects on / off of a power switch of the battery-driven device, and transmission of the data when the power switch is off, and transmission of the data when the power switch is on. The sensor device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that controls the acceleration sensor in accordance with a detection result of the switch detection unit in order to stop transmission.
Inside the case, a switch detection unit that detects on / off of a power switch of the battery-powered device, and transmission of the data when the power switch is on, and transmission of the data when the power switch is off. The sensor device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that controls the acceleration sensor in accordance with a detection result of the switch detection unit in order to stop transmission.
The switch detector is configured to detect a current value between the inner positive terminal and the outer positive terminal or between the inner negative terminal and the outer negative terminal, and based on the detected current value. The sensor device according to claim 2, further comprising: a determination unit that determines whether the power switch is on or off.
Inside the case is an output transistor interposed between the inner negative terminal and the outer negative terminal or between the inner positive terminal and the outer positive terminal, and from an external information processing terminal via the antenna. The receiving part which receives the control signal which instruct | indicates opening and closing of the said output transistor, and the PWM signal generation part which generate | occur | produces the PWM signal which controls opening and closing of the said output transistor with the duty ratio according to the said control signal are further provided. The sensor device according to claim 2 or claim 3.
A case having a shape conforming to electrical standards or other shapes;
A battery housed in the case;
An external terminal connected to the electrode of the battery exposed to the outside of the case;
An acceleration sensor housed in the case;
An antenna for wireless communication housed in the case;
A processing unit that detects acceleration via the acceleration sensor and transmits data relating to the detected acceleration to an external information processing device via the antenna;
A battery device comprising: a conversion unit that converts the voltage of the battery into a power supply voltage of the processing unit.