JP2007014471A - Wireless sensor terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a using ratio by improving usability of a terminal in the case of obtaining health information of an individual at a wireless sensor terminal used for automatic construction of a wireless sensor network by a multihop. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless sensor terminal is a watch type to be worn on the arm of a user. A sensor 40 for collecting information is provided at a belt 20 etc. A main body 11 consists of a terminal part 12 and a watch part 13 being an information display part. The terminal part 12 incorporates a processor substrate 30 being a core device as a terminal. The wireless sensor terminal becomes necessary for a user by display of the information, and its using ratio is improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an autonomous wireless sensor terminal having a wireless relay function used for automatic construction of a wireless sensor network by multi-hop, and more particularly to a wristwatch type small wireless sensor terminal worn on a user's arm. .

  Conventionally, there is a desire to acquire the status of a remote place without helping a person. For example, it is a request for obtaining information such as the state of a store or building owned, the home during travel, the temperature of a vegetable garden, the looseness of the ground. In response to such demands, the Internet has been used so far. That is, such information can be obtained even today by connecting a sensor to a personal computer and always connecting to the Internet.

  However, the personal computer is large, and there are limits to increasing the number of observation points. Further, when the observation point moves, for example, when monitoring the health condition of a person remotely, a large personal computer has a problem in portability. Furthermore, there is a problem that the Internet connection needs to be set or the coverage area of the wireless LAN is narrow, which also makes it difficult to cope with an increase in the number of observation points and movement. Under such circumstances, a recently developed technology is a wireless sensor network system using a small and autonomous wireless sensor terminal called “MOTE” (registered trademark) (for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

Nikkei Science September 2004 P66-75

  In this MOTE system, as shown in FIG. 6, a wireless sensor terminal 1 is installed at a location where information is to be collected. In addition to sensors for collecting information, the wireless sensor terminal 1 includes a processing unit that processes collected data, a communication unit that has a wireless communication function that transmits the data, and a wireless relay function. “M” in the wireless sensor terminal 1 is a MOTE main body, which represents a processor board on which a data processing unit and a data communication unit are mounted, and “S” represents a sensor board combined therewith.

  A distinctive feature is a communication unit having a wireless relay function, and a plurality of wireless sensor terminals 1 automatically constructs a large-scale wireless mesh network by the multi-hop of information. That is, even if the individual wireless sensor terminals 1 have low processing capabilities and low wireless capabilities, a system having a capability that far exceeds the individual capabilities is constructed by the above-described wireless relay function and multihop by this. For this reason, each wireless sensor terminal 1 is very small, inexpensive and has low power consumption, and can easily cope with an increase or movement of observation points. Because of this feature, this system has begun to be used for research on the ecology of seabirds.

  Individual terminal information, that is, MOTE terminal information is sent to a host computer or the like via an interface 2 called a gateway, and is centrally managed. Further, when the host computer is connected to a LAN or the Internet, the MOTE terminal information can be obtained virtually anywhere in the world.

  One possible application of such a MOTE system is to continuously manage the health status of many people continuously. That is, since the wireless sensor terminal 1 is small and light, it is excellent in portability and can be worn on the user's arm like a wristwatch. For this reason, it becomes possible to continuously manage the health condition of many people continuously, and as the number of people to be managed increases, the communication function of the network improves. Various types of single-hop type wristwatch type health information sensors that exchange information with a host computer on a one-to-one basis have been developed.

  However, in the MOTE system, the wireless sensor terminal 1 is not taken into consideration until the individual uses it for health information acquisition because the function as a data acquisition and wireless relay node is emphasized. Was very bad. Specifically, it is merely a terminal device that is not convenient and uninteresting even if the individual wears it, and the wearer cannot even recognize the acquired data. For this reason, it cannot be expected that many people wear it for a long time, and this is considered to cause a great adverse effect on the construction of the system.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless sensor terminal for a MOTE system that is excellent in usability when worn and used by an individual and contributes to the construction of an effective system by increasing the usage rate and usage time.

  To achieve the above object, a wireless sensor terminal of the present invention is a wireless sensor terminal having a wireless relay function used for construction of a multi-hop wireless sensor network, and is a wristwatch type worn on a user's arm. And has an information display unit together with a sensor for collecting information.

  Multi-hop refers to data relay in which data transmitted from a terminal is transferred to a mouse formula via other terminals. This allows a large-scale mesh network to be connected to a small-scale terminal. As described above, it can be constructed.

  The information display unit is a clock that displays time, for example. Or it is the structure which displays the information collected with the sensor, and may serve as both. The display can be either analog or digital, and both can be used together.

  One or a plurality of sensors may be used. Examples of the type include a pulse sensor, a body temperature sensor, a blood pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, and the like, and any type can be used as long as it can collect data effective for grasping a health condition.

  The wireless sensor terminal of the present invention is in the form of a wristwatch worn on the user's arm and has an information display unit such as a watch together with a sensor for collecting information. It can be used for a long time, and it does not feel burdensome to wear, and depending on the type of information displayed, it is even a necessity. As a result, the usage rate is remarkably improved and the daily usage time is also increased, so that an effective MOTE system can be constructed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a wireless sensor terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a clock unit of the wireless sensor terminal is opened, and FIG. 3 is built in the wireless sensor terminal. FIG.

  The wireless sensor terminal of the present embodiment is a wristwatch that is worn on the wrist of a user, and has a structure in which the main body 10 is fixed to the wrist with a belt 20. The main body 10 of the wireless sensor terminal includes a circular terminal portion 12 having belt hooks 11 and 11 at both ends sandwiching the center, and a clock portion 13 attached to the surface side thereof.

  The terminal unit 12 includes a circular shallow container and a processor board 30 accommodated therein. The processor board 30 is a device that forms the core of the MOTE. On the front side of the circular board, a microchip as a data processing unit, a radio circuit as a communication unit having a radio communication function and a radio relay function, and the like are mounted. It has a configuration that holds batteries and the like.

  The clock unit 13 is an information display unit, and displays time as information. A clock unit 13 formed of a circular analog clock also serves as a lid for a circular shallow container in the terminal unit 12 and is supported on one side of the container by a hinge unit 14 so that it can be opened and closed. The lock portion 15 provided on the side is held in a closed state (use state).

  The belt 20 has a basic configuration similar to that of a normal wristwatch belt, and as a unique configuration, a pulse sensor 40 is provided on a portion of the belt 20 that contacts the inner side of the wrist when worn. The pulse sensor 40 is a well-known photoelectric sensor using a light emitting diode and a phototransistor, and is connected to the processor board 30 through a cable (not shown) embedded in a rubber belt to exchange signals and supply power.

  The wireless sensor terminal of this embodiment is worn by a user as a wristwatch. A wristwatch is an essential item, and the user does not feel that he / she wears an extra item, and can attach the wireless sensor terminal with a daily and natural feeling. In short, there is no sense of incongruity due to wearing. Therefore, the wearing rate is increased, and naturally, the use time of the day is extended. In addition, the burden on the user due to wearing is drastically reduced.

  During use, the pulse of the user is detected by the pulse sensor 40, and the data is transmitted from a wireless circuit on the processor board 30. This wireless circuit has not only a communication function but also a wireless relay function, and as described above, a multi-hop wireless sensor network system (MOTE system) is constructed. Thus, the user's pulse is continuously and centrally managed remotely by the host computer.

  The wireless sensor terminal of this embodiment can also exchange information with the host computer via this network system. The wireless sensor terminal functions as a mobile terminal by being worn by a user as a wristwatch and can be used in combination with a fixed terminal.

  When the first hop destination from the wireless sensor terminal that is the transmission source is a fixed terminal installed in a known nearby location, the current position of the user wearing the wireless sensor terminal is within the range where radio waves reach the fixed terminal. The approximate location of the user can be detected from the fact that it is within. For this reason, when the sensor value is abnormal and the user needs to be rescued, the user can be protected at an early stage.

  In addition, when the first hop destination from the wireless sensor terminal that is the transmission source is a nearby mobile terminal, in the case where the user's health condition requires emergency protection, the sensor abnormal value at the transmission source or the neighboring terminal By recognizing the situation and transmitting the urgency to the wearer of the neighboring terminal, early protection becomes possible.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a wireless sensor terminal showing another embodiment of the present invention.

  The wireless sensor terminal of the present embodiment is different in the structure of the clock unit 13 from the wireless sensor terminal shown in FIGS. The clock unit 13 as an information display unit is a digital clock here, and displays the time and date digitally on the liquid crystal display unit 16 in the same manner as a normal digital clock, and also outputs the pulse sensor 40 (pulse rate BP). Digital display. Further, here, the warning level (WARNING) of the pulse is also digitally displayed. Instead of displaying the pulse rate, or together with displaying the pulse rate, the pulse can be displayed in pulses.

  If such a wireless sensor terminal is used, the user can know his / her pulse in real time, and the user can find great value, meaning and interest by wearing the wireless sensor terminal. Therefore, it can be expected that the wearing rate and the daily usage time will further increase.

  In these embodiments, only the pulse sensor 40 is used as a sensor for collecting information, but more types of sensors can be mounted. Specifically, for example, the sensor substrate 50 shown in FIG. Here, the sensor substrate 50 is mounted with a triaxial acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, and the like, and various types of sensors can be efficiently incorporated into the main body 10. A three-axis acceleration sensor, or a one-axis or two-axis acceleration sensor, can detect a user's momentum, and a temperature sensor can detect a user's environment. The temperature sensor can be used for body temperature detection or the like.

  These detection data are also transmitted to the host computer through a mesh network having wireless sensor terminals as nodes. Further, the information is displayed on the digital clock unit 13 as an information display unit, and the user can receive more interesting information.

  Although two embodiments have been described above, it is a typical embodiment, and it is needless to say that the timepiece format is not limited to these embodiments. Of course, the sensor type and mounting position are not limited to these embodiments. Further, as described above, the display can be performed in one or both of analog and digital.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the wireless sensor terminal which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the timepiece part of the same wireless sensor terminal. It is a perspective view of the processor board built in the wireless sensor terminal. It is a perspective view of the sensor board | substrate incorporated in the same wireless sensor terminal. It is a perspective view of the wireless sensor terminal which shows another embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the wireless sensor network by multihop.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main body 11 Belt hook 12 Terminal part 13 Clock part 14 Hinge part 15 Lock part 16 Liquid crystal display part 20 Belt 30 Processor board 40 Pulse sensor 50 Sensor board

Claims (3)

  A wireless sensor terminal having a wireless relay function used for constructing a multi-hop wireless sensor network, which is a wristwatch type worn on a user's arm and has an information display unit together with a sensor for collecting information Wireless sensor terminal.   The wireless sensor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the information display unit is a clock that displays time.   The wireless sensor terminal according to claim 1, wherein the information display unit displays information collected by the sensor.

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