Buried meter and structure measurement system

• US 20060170423A1
• Filed: 12/25/2003
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Incorporated Administrative Agency National Agriculture And Food Research Organization, Sakata Denki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Incorporated Administrative Agency National Agriculture And Food Research Organization
• Inventors: Nakajima, Isamu, Yamazaki, Nobuyoshi, Tohmetsuka, Ryoichi, Endoh, Shinichi, Yano, Komci, Kakue, Toshiaki, Kohgo, Yuji, Takahashi, Akira
• Application Number:
  US10/543,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20060170423A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/323
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A buried type measuring instrument has a sensing unit 10A which is formed in part of a case 10 and senses a physical value pertaining to a change of state of a structure. This case 10 accommodates a transducer 11 for converting the physical value sensed by the sensing unit 10A; a transmission circuit unit 12 for outputting a carrier signal modulated by an output of the transducer 11; a drive unit 13 for driving the transducer 11 and the transmission circuit unit 12 with power supply from a battery 15; and a transmission coil 14 for receiving an output of the transmission circuit unit 12 and generating a low frequency magnetic field signal. This case 10 is buried in the structure. Consequently, it is possible to provide a measuring instrument which can adopt a radio communication mode to secure a sufficient cutoff function of the structure and avoid damage to the measuring sensor, allows remote data acquisition, and even has no adverse effect on strength characteristics of the structure.

Claims

1. A buried type measuring instrument, comprising at least:

a case to be buried in a structure;

a sensing unit for sensing a physical value pertaining to a change of state of the structure, the sensing unit being formed in part of the case;

a transducer for converting the physical value from the sensing unit into an electric signal;

a transmission circuit unit for outputting a carrier signal modulated by an output of the transducer; and

a transmission coil for receiving an output of the transmission circuit unit and generating a low frequency magnetic field signal, each of the transducer, the transmission circuit unit, and the transmission coil being accommodated in the case,

wherein the low frequency magnetic field signal is used to transmit measurement data outside the structure.

2. The buried type measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the case is buried in the structure as one of components for forming the structure.

3. The buried type measuring instrument according to claim 1, further comprising:

a drive unit for activating the transducer and the transmission circuit unit for a certain period of time at set time intervals; and

a battery for supplying power to each of the units, the drive unit and the battery being accommodated in the case.

4. The buried type measuring instrument according to claim 1, further comprising:

a drive control unit for storing data from the transducer at set time intervals and inputting the stored data to the transmission circuit unit at set time intervals; and

a battery for supplying power to each of the units, the drive control unit and the battery being accommodated in the case.

6. A structure measurement system using the buried type measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein:

the buried type instrument is buried in a structure; and

a reception apparatus for receiving the measurement data transmitted from the transmission coil is installed outside the structure.

8. The buried type measuring instrument according to claim 2, further comprising:

a drive unit for activating the transducer and the transmission circuit unit for a certain period of time at set time intervals; and

a battery for supplying power to each of the units, the drive unit and the battery being accommodated in the case.

9. The buried type measuring instrument according to claim 2, further comprising:

a drive control unit for storing data from the transducer at set time intervals and inputting the stored data to the transmission circuit unit at set time intervals; and

a battery for supplying power to each of the units, the drive control unit and the battery being accommodated in the case.

10. A structure measurement system using the buried type measuring instrument according to claim 2, wherein:

the buried type instrument is buried in a structure; and

a reception apparatus for receiving the measurement data transmitted from the transmission coil is installed outside the structure.

11. A structure measurement system using the buried type measuring instrument according to claim 3, wherein:

the buried type instrument is buried in a structure; and

a reception apparatus for receiving the measurement data transmitted from the transmission coil is installed outside the structure.

12. A structure measurement system using the buried type measuring instrument according to claim 8, wherein:

the buried type instrument is buried in a structure; and

a reception apparatus for receiving the measurement data transmitted from the transmission coil is installed outside the structure.

13. A structure measurement system using the buried type measuring instrument according to claim 4, wherein:

the buried type instrument is buried in a structure; and

a reception apparatus for receiving the measurement data transmitted from the transmission coil is installed outside the structure.

14. A structure measurement system using the buried type measuring instrument according to claim 9, wherein:

the buried type instrument is buried in a structure; and

a reception apparatus for receiving the measurement data transmitted from the transmission coil is installed outside the structure.

5. A buried type measuring instrument, comprising:

a case to be buried in a structure as one of components for forming the structure;

a sensing unit for sensing a physical value pertaining to a change of state of the structure, the sensing unit being formed in part of the case;

a transducer for converting the physical value from the sensing unit into an electric signal;

a transmission circuit unit for outputting a carrier signal modulated by an output of the transducer;

a transmission coil for receiving an output of the transmission circuit unit and generating a low frequency magnetic field signal, each of the transducer, the transmission circuit unit, and the transmission coil being accommodated in the case;

a reception coil for receiving a signal from an outside of the structure; and

a reception circuit unit for receiving a reception signal received by the reception coil and performing a content of the signal, the reception coil and the reception circuit unit being accommodated in the case,

wherein a control signal from the outside of the structure is received to transmit measurement data according to the content of control of the control signal outside the structure.

7. A structure measurement system using the buried type instrument according to claim 5, wherein:

the buried type instrument is buried in a structure; and

a reception and control apparatus for receiving the measurement data transmitted from the transmission coil and transmitting the control signal to the reception coil is installed outside the structure.