JP2008292318A - Temperature sensor system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a temperature sensor system, transmitting a measured environmental temperature to the externals by a radio transmitting means even in the case of an environmental temperature below a threshold temperature to generate enough power for operating the radio transmitting means by a thermionic element, and observing the dynamic status such as how the environmental temperature is rising even after the environmental temperature exceeds the threshold temperature. <P>SOLUTION: In this temperature sensor system, a thermionic module 12 as a power supply source of a radio transmitting module 18, a temperature sensor module 14, and a control module 17 is installed in the same environment as the temperature sensor module 14, and the temperature measuring frequency per unit time by the temperature sensor module 14 and the temperature data transmitting frequency per unit time by the radio transmitting module 18 are increased as the temperature detected by the temperature sensor module 14 becomes higher. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a temperature sensor system that wirelessly transmits environmental temperature data detected by a temperature sensor to an external device.

In a temperature sensor system in which environmental temperature data detected by a temperature sensor can be transmitted to the outside by a wireless transmitter and environmental temperature information at the location where the temperature sensor is installed can be grasped externally, a thermoelectric element (thermoelectric module) is used as the temperature sensor. ing.
According to such a temperature sensor system, environmental temperature data is transmitted to the outside wirelessly, so no communication wiring is required, and power generated by the thermoelectric element is used as power for operating the wireless transmitter. Since it can be used, no external power supply is required, and power supply wiring and battery replacement work are not required.

Since the electric power generated by the thermoelectric element increases as the ambient temperature of the thermoelectric element increases, the temperature sensor system using the thermoelectric element seems to generate sufficient electric power to operate the radio transmitter by the thermoelectric element. Furthermore, it is applied to temperature detection in a high temperature plant (for example, Patent Document 1).
In another example using a temperature sensor system using a thermoelectric element, the room temperature becomes abnormally high due to a fire or the like, and sufficient electric power is generated by the thermoelectric element to operate the radio transmitter. In some cases, a wireless transmitter is activated to report an abnormality (for example, Patent Document 2).
JP-A-63-238436 JP-A-3-240198

However, according to the temperature sensor using the thermoelectric element, for example, the environmental temperature is periodically transmitted to the outside, and no special processing is performed even when the temperature becomes extremely high. , It lacked the ability to notify outsiders of urgency due to abnormally high temperatures.
In addition, in the above-described conventional technique that transmits to the outside when the environmental temperature simply exceeds a certain threshold value, the user cannot know that the environmental temperature is gradually increasing because it does not operate at an environmental temperature that is lower than the threshold value. . Moreover, even after the threshold temperature was exceeded, dynamic observations such as how much the ambient temperature was rising could not be performed.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to achieve a power below a threshold temperature at which sufficient power for operating a wireless transmission means such as a wireless transmitter is generated by a thermoelectric element. Even if it is the environmental temperature, the measured environmental temperature can be transmitted to the outside by the wireless transmission means, and the dynamic temperature such as how much the environmental temperature is rising after the environmental temperature exceeds the threshold temperature. It is to provide a temperature sensor system capable of observing various situations.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a temperature sensor system for transmitting environmental temperature data detected by a temperature sensor to an external device by wireless transmission means, and has the following components (1) and (2). is doing.
(1) A thermoelectric element that is installed in the same environment as the temperature sensor and serves as a power supply source for the wireless transmission means, the temperature sensor, and the control means.
(2) Control means for changing the number of times of temperature measurement by the temperature sensor per unit time and the number of times of environmental temperature data transmission by the wireless transmission means in accordance with a change in the environmental temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

According to the temperature sensor system of the present invention described above, when the temperature (environment temperature) of the object to be measured detected by the temperature sensor is low, that is, in normal time, the electric power generated by the thermoelectric element is small, but the temperature by the temperature sensor is low. The power consumed by the temperature sensor and the wireless transmission means is reduced by reducing the number of times of measurement and the number of times of environmental temperature data transmission by the wireless transmission means.
On the other hand, if the environmental temperature rises and the temperature change needs to be observed in more detail, the electric power generated by the thermoelectric element increases compared to the normal time, so temperature measurement and environmental temperature data transmission compared to the normal time. Do it frequently.
In this way, when the environmental temperature is low, the number of temperature measurements and the number of environmental temperature data transmissions are reduced according to the situation, and when the environmental temperature rises from the normal time, the number of temperature measurements and the environment are sent according to the situation. By increasing the number of temperature data transmissions, it is possible to observe a dynamic situation in which the ambient temperature rises from normal time.

  And a table that defines the number of times of temperature measurement corresponding to the environmental temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the number of times of environmental temperature data transmission, and the control means counts the number of temperature measurements by the temperature sensor per unit time based on the table. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the number of times of environmental temperature data transmission by the wireless transmission means is changed.

In a specific configuration, a plurality of the temperature sensors are provided, and the wireless transmission means, the control means, and the thermoelectric element are provided for each temperature sensor.
Furthermore, each temperature sensor is provided with a storage means for storing and storing environmental temperature data measured by the temperature sensor, and a storage element for storing the electric power generated by the thermoelectric element.

By providing the storage means, a plurality of environmental temperature data obtained by a plurality of temperature measurements are stored in the storage means, and the plurality of environmental temperature data stored in the storage means are wirelessly stored. The data can be transmitted to the external device by one transmission of data by the transmission means. As a result, the power consumption can be suppressed compared to the case where one environmental temperature data is transmitted to the external device by one data transmission of the wireless transmission means for each temperature measurement.
In addition, since the power storage element is provided, the temperature sensor and the wireless transmission means can use not only the power generated by the thermoelectric element at the present time but also the power stored in the power storage element.

On the other hand, when a plurality of the temperature sensors are provided, one wireless transmission means and one control means are provided for each group of temperature sensors, and one thermoelectric element is provided in the group. The temperature sensor is installed in the same environment as at least one temperature sensor in the group, or a plurality of the thermoelectric elements are installed in the same environment as the temperature sensor for each temperature sensor in the group. A configuration is also possible.
Furthermore, for each group of temperature sensors, there is provided a storage means for storing / accumulating environmental temperature data measured by the temperature sensor, and a storage element for storing electric power generated by the thermoelectric element, and It is also possible to do.

  Storage means for storing and accumulating environmental temperature data detected by the temperature sensor is provided, and the control means includes the number of times of temperature measurement by the temperature sensor per unit time and the environmental temperature data by the wireless transmission means. A configuration in which the number of transmissions is set independently is also possible.

  According to such a configuration, for example, when the power consumed by the wireless transmission means is larger than the power consumed by the temperature sensor, the storage means stores a plurality of environmental temperature data obtained by a plurality of temperature measurements. The plurality of stored environmental temperature data can be transmitted to the external device by one data transmission by the wireless transmission means. As a result, power consumption can be reduced compared to the case where one temperature data is transmitted to the external device by one data transmission of the wireless transmission means for each temperature measurement.

  Furthermore, the thermoelectric element can also be used as the temperature sensor.

  According to the present invention, even if sufficient power for operating a wireless transmission means such as a wireless transmitter is an environmental temperature below a threshold temperature generated by a thermoelectric element, the measured environmental temperature is transmitted by the wireless transmission means. It can be transmitted to the outside, and even after the ambient temperature exceeds the threshold temperature, a dynamic situation such as how much the ambient temperature is rising can be observed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
Here, FIG. 1 is a perspective view using the temperature sensor system of the present invention for wall surface temperature measurement in a building, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the invention, FIG. 4 is a table showing the number of times of measurement and the number of data transmissions corresponding to the detected temperature, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the processing procedure by the control module of the temperature sensor terminal. It is a flowchart for doing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in a building such as a factory, a device 3 that generates heat by its operation is installed. In order to perform such temperature management in the building, the temperature sensor terminals 1 are installed at a plurality of locations on the wall surface 2 in the building, and the wall surface (environment) temperature data at each location on the wall surface 2 is used as the temperature sensor terminal 1. The wall surface temperature data transmitted wirelessly from each temperature sensor terminal 1 is received by the log server 42 (an example of an external device) via the wireless LAN access point 41, and the wall surface temperature data is received by the log server 42. A centralized temperature sensor system is used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each temperature sensor terminal 1 includes a temperature sensor module 14 provided in contact with the wall surface 2 in order to detect the temperature of the wall surface 2, and wall surface temperature data detected by the temperature sensor module 14. The storage module 16 for storing the data, the wireless transmission module 18 for transmitting the data stored in the storage module 16 to the wireless LAN access point 41, and the temperature sensor module 14, the storage module 16, and the wireless transmission module 18 are controlled. And a control module 17 for this purpose.

Each temperature sensor terminal 1 further includes a thermoelectric module 12 that generates power to be supplied to the temperature sensor module 14, the storage module 16, the wireless transmission module 18, and the control module 17. The thermoelectric module 12 is provided adjacent to the temperature sensor module 14 and in contact with the wall surface 2. The electric power generated by the thermoelectric module 12 is accumulated in the electric storage module 13 so that electric power can be individually supplied from the electric storage module 13 to the temperature sensor module 14, the storage module 16, the control module 17, and the wireless transmission module 18. It has become.
In FIG. 2, the solid line arrows indicate the signal flow, and the broken line arrows indicate the power flow.
The power required to operate the temperature sensor module 14, the storage module 16, the control module 17, and the wireless transmission module 18 of each temperature sensor terminal 1 at the same time is IEEE802. When using the one defined by 11 standards, it is about several watts.

The electric power generated by the thermoelectric module 12 of each temperature sensor terminal 1 increases as the difference between the room temperature (cold site) in the building and the wall surface temperature (hot side) increases.
For example, when the room temperature in a normal building is about 30 ° C. and the wall surface temperature is 40 ° C. to 50 ° C., the electric power generated by the thermoelectric module 12 of about 5 cm square is about 100 mW to 500 mW.

  Thus, in the temperature sensor terminal 1 installed on the wall surface 2 of normal temperature, the electric power generated by the thermoelectric module 12 is the temperature sensor module 14, the storage module 16, the control module 17, and the wireless of each temperature sensor terminal 1. Less power is required to operate the transmitter modules 18 simultaneously.

However, as long as the wall surface 2 is at a normal temperature, it is not necessary to frequently monitor the wall surface temperature at the location by the temperature sensor system, and it is only necessary to confirm that the temperature of the wall surface 2 is a normal value.
At this time, the electric power generated by the thermoelectric module 12 of the temperature sensor terminal 1 is accumulated in the power storage module 13 of the temperature sensor terminal 1, and from the power storage module 13 to the temperature sensor module 14 and the storage module of the temperature sensor terminal 1. 16, the control module 17, and the wireless transmission module 18, and the power that is not consumed by these modules 14, 16, 17, 18 is stored in the power storage module 13.

  When the wall surface temperature detected by the temperature sensor module 14 included in the temperature sensor terminal 1 is a normal value, the control module 17 of each temperature sensor terminal 1 has the temperature sensor module 14 and the storage module 16 of the temperature sensor terminal 1. , The control module 17 and the wireless transmission module 18 so that the temperature sensor can operate within the range of the power generated by the thermoelectric module 12 of the temperature sensor terminal 1 and the power stored in the power storage module 13. The number of times per unit time at which the wall surface temperature is measured by the module 14 and the number of times per unit time at which the wall surface temperature data is transmitted by the wireless transmission module 18 are limited.

Further, as described above, the temperature sensor module 14 and the wireless transmission module 18 of each temperature sensor terminal 1 are individually supplied with electric power from the power storage module 13 of the temperature sensor terminal 1, and thus can operate independently of each other. Is possible.
As an example, when the wall surface temperature detected by the temperature sensor module 14 is a normal value (30 ° C. to 50 ° C.), the temperature sensor terminal 1 measures the wall surface temperature every minute, and uses the wall surface temperature data. The wall surface temperature data stored in the storage module 16 and stored in the storage module 16 is transmitted from the wireless transmission module 18 to the log server 42 every 10 minutes.
As the storage module 16, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory can be used.

  As described above, transmitting a plurality of wall surface temperature data obtained by a plurality of measurements (in this case, 10 times) by the temperature sensor module 14 by one operation of the wireless transmission module 18 is particularly wireless. When the power consumption by the transmission module 18 is larger than the power consumption by the temperature sensor module 14, it is effective for suppressing the power consumption by the temperature sensor module 14 and the wireless transmission module 18. For example, when the wireless transmission module 18 defined by the IEEE 802.11 standard is used, the power consumption by the wireless transmission module 18 is relatively large.

  Further, in this case, when the power accumulated in the power storage module 13 becomes more than the power necessary for operating the wireless transmission module 18 without making the time interval for operating the wireless transmission module 18 constant, It is also possible to activate the transmission module 18.

  On the other hand, if the temperature of the wall surface 2 rises above the normal value for some reason, the power generated by the thermoelectric module 12 included in the temperature sensor terminal 1 installed on the wall surface 2 increases. For example, when the wall surface temperature exceeds 50 ° C. and less than 100 ° C., the electric power generated by the thermoelectric module 12 is about 100 mW to 500 mW, and when the wall surface temperature is about 100 ° C. to 200 ° C., the thermoelectric module 12 The electric power generated is about 3000 mW to 7000 mW. When the temperature of the wall surface 2 further rises to 200 ° C. or higher, the electric power generated by the thermoelectric module 12 may be 7000 mW or higher.

When the temperature of the wall surface 2 is higher than the normal value, there is a possibility that an abnormality has occurred in the vicinity of the wall surface 2, so how much the temperature change of the wall surface 2 is being increased by the temperature sensor system. Make dynamic observations.
Therefore, when the wall surface temperature detected by the temperature sensor module 14 included in the temperature sensor terminal 1 is higher than the normal value, the control module 17 of each temperature sensor terminal 1 measures the wall surface temperature by the temperature sensor module 14. The number of times per unit time and the number of times per unit time at which the wall temperature data is transmitted by the wireless transmission module 18 are independently changed from the normal time.
For example, only the number of wall temperature measurements per unit time, or only the number of wall temperature data transmissions per unit time may be increased from the normal time, or both may be increased from the normal time.

  Also at this time, the control module 17 of the temperature sensor terminal 1 replaces the temperature sensor module 14, the storage module 16, the control module 17, and the wireless transmission module 18 of the temperature sensor terminal 1 with the thermoelectric module 12 of the temperature sensor terminal 1. The number of times per unit time at which the wall surface temperature is measured by the temperature sensor module 14 and the wireless transmission module 18 so that the temperature sensor module 14 can be operated within the range of the power generated by the power storage and the power stored in the power storage module 13. The number of times per unit time for transmitting wall surface temperature data is limited.

As the temperature of the wall surface 2 increases, in the temperature sensor terminal 1 installed on the wall surface 2, the electric power generated by the thermoelectric module 12 and the thermoelectric module 12 are supplied to the power storage module 13 and stored in the power storage module 13. Power to increase. Thus, power that can be supplied from the power storage module 13 of the temperature sensor terminal 1 to the temperature sensor module 14, the storage module 16, the control module 17, and the wireless transmission module 18 of the temperature sensor terminal 1, that is, the temperature sensor. The power that can be consumed by these modules 14, 16, 17, 18 of the terminal 1 increases.
At this time, the control module 17 of the temperature sensor terminal 1 counts the number of times per unit time for measuring the temperature of the wall surface 2 by the temperature sensor module 14 as the temperature of the wall surface 2 detected by the temperature sensor module 14 increases. And the frequency | count per unit time which transmits wall surface temperature data by the said radio | wireless transmission module 18 is increased.
In this way, there is a possibility that an abnormality has occurred as the temperature of the wall surface 2 detected by the temperature sensor module 14 of the temperature sensor terminal 1 increases, that is, in the vicinity of the wall surface 2 where the temperature sensor terminal 1 is installed. As the number of wall surfaces increases, the number of wall temperature measurements per unit time by the temperature sensor terminal 1 and the number of wall surface temperature data transmissions increase, and as a result, how much the temperature of the wall surface 2 is increasing. Observations can be made.

As an example, the control module 17 has a table as shown in FIG. 4 in which the number of times of temperature measurement corresponding to the wall surface temperature detected by the temperature sensor module 14 (or the power generated by the thermoelectric module 12) and the number of times of wall surface temperature data transmission are determined. Have.
When the wall surface temperature detected by the temperature sensor module 14 is 50 ° C. to 100 ° C. based on the table, the temperature sensor terminal 1 shown in FIG. Similarly, the wall surface temperature is measured at intervals of 1 minute, the wall surface temperature data is stored in the storage module 16, and the wall surface temperature data stored in the storage module 16 at intervals of 5 minutes shorter than normal is transmitted from the wireless transmission module 18. Transmit to the log server 42.

  In this example, when the wall surface temperature detected by the temperature sensor module 14 is 100 ° C. to 200 ° C., the temperature sensor terminal 1 measures the wall surface temperature at intervals of 30 seconds and stores the wall surface temperature data. The wall surface temperature data stored in the module 16 and stored in the storage module 16 at intervals of 1 minute is transmitted from the wireless transmission module 18 to the log server 42.

  Furthermore, when the wall surface temperature detected by the temperature sensor module 14 becomes 200 ° C. or higher, the temperature sensor terminal 1 measures the wall surface temperature at intervals of 10 seconds, and each time the wall surface temperature is measured, the wall surface temperature data is obtained. The data is transmitted from the wireless transmission module 18 to the log server 42.

In the above embodiment, the temperature sensor module 14 and the thermoelectric module 12 are provided separately, but the wall surface temperature may be detected from the electric power generated by the thermoelectric module 12. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, it is not necessary to provide the temperature sensor module 14, and instead, a voltage sensor module 15 for detecting the electric power generated by the thermoelectric module 12 is provided.
In FIG. 3, the solid line arrows indicate the signal flow, and the broken line arrows indicate the power flow.

  Next, the processing procedure by the control module 17 in each temperature sensor terminal 1 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 5 with reference to the block diagram of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In addition, S1-S9 shown below represents the identification code of the processing procedure (step).

The control module 17 of each temperature sensor terminal 1 uses the temperature detected by the temperature sensor module 14 (or the time interval for measuring the temperature by the temperature sensor module 14 and the time interval for transmitting the wall temperature data by the wireless transmission module 18). , The power generated by the thermoelectric module 12).
When each temperature sensor terminal 1 is activated, the control module 17 measures the wall surface temperature by the temperature sensor module 14 according to the initial setting (S1).

  Next, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor module 14 and the table, the control module 17 sets a time interval for measuring the temperature by the temperature sensor module 14 and a time interval for transmitting the wall temperature data by the wireless transmission module 18. decide. And the measurement timer corresponding to the time interval which performs temperature measurement, and the transmission timer corresponding to the time interval which transmits wall surface temperature data are set (S2).

  When the remaining time of the measurement timer runs out (NO in S3), the wall surface temperature is measured by the temperature sensor module 14 (S4), and the wall surface temperature data and the time data about the time when the measurement is performed are stored in the storage module 16. (S5).

  When the remaining time of the transmission timer runs out (NO in S6), the wireless transmission module 18 transmits the wall temperature data and the time data associated therewith from the storage module 16, and then the transmitted wall temperature data and this Is deleted from the storage module 16 (S7).

  Set the sleep time as the shorter of the time from the end of wall temperature measurement and wall temperature data transmission until the next wall temperature measurement and the next wall temperature data transmission. (S8) During the sleep time, the control module 17 is caused to sleep, and the temperature sensor module 14 and the wireless transmission module 18 are stopped (S9). After the sleep time elapses, the temperature sensor module 14 and the wireless transmission module 18 are activated again. At this time, based on the temperature detected by the previous temperature measurement, the time interval for measuring the temperature by the temperature sensor module 14 and the time interval for transmitting the wall surface temperature data by the wireless transmission module 18 are determined.

  In the above embodiment, the control module 17, the storage module 16, the wireless transmission module 18, and the power storage module 13 are provided for each temperature sensor module 14. A configuration in which one control module 17, one storage module 16, one wireless transmission module 18, and one power storage module 13 is also possible. Furthermore, a configuration in which one thermoelectric module 12 is provided for a plurality of temperature sensor modules 14 is possible. In this case, the thermoelectric module 12 is in the same environment as at least one temperature sensor sensor module 14. Installed.

Further, a configuration in which the storage module 16 is not provided is also possible. In this case, every time the temperature sensor module 14 measures the wall surface temperature, the wall surface temperature data is transmitted from the wireless transmission module 18.
Furthermore, a configuration in which the power storage module 13 is not provided is also possible. In this case, only the power generated by the thermoelectric module 12 at the present time is supplied to the control module 17, the temperature sensor module 14, the storage module 16, the control module 17, and the wireless transmission module 18 of the temperature sensor terminal 1. .

  The present invention can be used in a temperature sensor network system for installing temperature sensors at a plurality of locations on a production site such as a factory and centralizing and managing data from these temperature sensors.

The perspective view which used the temperature sensor system of this invention for the wall surface temperature measurement in a building. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the table which defined the frequency | count of measurement corresponding to detection temperature, and the frequency | count of data transmission. The flowchart for demonstrating the process sequence by the control module of a temperature sensor terminal.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Temperature sensor terminal 2 ... Wall surface 3 ... Apparatus 12 ... Thermoelectric module 13 ... Power storage module 14 ... Temperature sensor module 15 ... Voltage sensor module 16 ... Memory module 17 ... Control module 18 ... Wireless transmission module 41 ... Wireless LAN access point 42 ... Log server

Claims (10)

A temperature sensor system for transmitting environmental temperature data detected by a temperature sensor to an external device by wireless transmission means,
A thermoelectric element installed in the same environment as the temperature sensor, as a power supply source of the wireless transmission means, the temperature sensor, and the control means;
Control means for changing the number of times of temperature measurement by the temperature sensor per unit time and the number of times of environmental temperature data transmission by the wireless transmission means according to a change in the environmental temperature detected by the temperature sensor;
A temperature sensor system comprising:   A table that defines the number of times of temperature measurement corresponding to the environmental temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the number of times of environmental temperature data transmission, and the control means counts the number of temperature measurements by the temperature sensor per unit time based on the table; The temperature sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the number of times the environmental temperature data is transmitted by the wireless transmission unit is changed.   The temperature sensor system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the temperature sensors are provided, and the wireless transmission unit, the control unit, and the thermoelectric element are provided for each temperature sensor.   4. The temperature sensor system according to claim 3, wherein storage means for storing and accumulating environmental temperature data measured by the temperature sensor is provided for each temperature sensor.   5. The temperature sensor system according to claim 3, wherein a storage element that stores electric power generated by the thermoelectric element is provided for each temperature sensor.   A plurality of the temperature sensors are provided, and one wireless transmission means and one control means are provided for each group of the temperature sensors, and one thermoelectric element is provided in the group. The at least one temperature sensor is installed in the same environment, or a plurality of the thermoelectric elements are installed in the same environment as the temperature sensor for each of the temperature sensors in the group. The temperature sensor system according to claim 2.   7. The temperature sensor system according to claim 6, wherein storage means for storing and accumulating environmental temperature data measured by the temperature sensor is provided for each group of temperature sensors.   8. The temperature sensor system according to claim 6, wherein a storage element for storing electric power generated by the thermoelectric element is provided for each group of temperature sensors. 9.   Storage means for storing and accumulating environmental temperature data measured by the temperature sensor is provided, and the control means performs the number of temperature measurements by the temperature sensor per unit time and the number of environmental temperature data transmissions by the wireless transmission means. The temperature sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each is set independently.   The temperature sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the thermoelectric element is also used as the temperature sensor.

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