WIRELESS SENSOR MODULE, METHOD FOR PROCESSING MEASUREMENT DATA THEREBY, AND RECORDING MEDIUM

• US 20140148103A1
• Filed: 01/31/2012
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Honda, Masahito, Matsuura, Keiki, Doi, Masashi
• Granted Patent: US 9,247,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless sensor module has a sensor that measures a measuring object to generate measured data, a wireless communication section that wirelessly transmits the measured data to an external device and receives a radio signal from the external device, a control section that controls the sensor and the wireless communication section, and an electric power storage device that serves as an electric power supply. The control section secures an idle period of time in a series of operations for processing the measured data so that the series of operations are not carried out consecutively. The series of operations includes an operation in which the sensor generates the measured data, and an operation in which the wireless communication section wirelessly transmits the measured data to the external device.

Claims

1. A wireless sensor module, comprising:

a sensor that measures a measuring object to generate measured data;

a wireless communication section that wirelessly transmits the measured data to an external device and receives a radio signal from the external device;

a control section that controls the sensor and the wireless communication section; and

an electric power storage device that serves as an electric power supply,

wherein the control section secures an idle period of time in a series of operations for processing the measured data so that the series of operations are not carried out consecutively, and

wherein the series of operations comprises;

an operation in which the sensor generates the measured data, and

an operation in which the wireless communication section wirelessly transmits the measured data to the external device.

2. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the idle period of time is secured before or after a heavy load operation in which a relatively heavy load is applied to the electric power storage device, and

wherein the heavy load operation is included in the series of operations.

3. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the idle period of time is set to a first length,

wherein the first length allows an increase in output voltage of the electric power storage device, the output voltage having been reduced due to an operation which is included in the series of operations and has been carried out before the idle period of time, and (ii)

wherein the first length does not cause the output voltage to become less than an operable minimum voltage of a device that carries out an operation which is included in the series of operations even when the control section, which is on standby, consumes electric power during the idle period of time.

4. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the electric power storage device is a capacitor, a solid-state battery, or a lithium ion second battery.

5. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 1, further comprising

a vibration power generator module that generates electric power from vibrations, and supplies the electric power to the electric power storage device.

9. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 2,

wherein the idle period of time is set to a first length,

wherein the first length allows an increase in output voltage of the electric power storage device, the output voltage having been reduced due to an operation which is included in the series of operations and has been carried out before the idle period of time, and

wherein the first length does not cause the output voltage to become less than an operable minimum voltage of a device that carries out an operation which is included in the series of operations even when the control section, which is on standby, consumes electric power during the idle period of time.

10. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 2,

wherein the electric power storage device is a capacitor, a solid-state battery, or a lithium ion second battery.

11. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 3,

wherein the electric power storage device is a capacitor, a solid-state battery, or a lithium ion second battery.

12. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 9,

wherein the electric power storage device is a capacitor, a solid-state battery, or a lithium ion second battery.

13. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 2, further comprising

a vibration power generator module that generates electric power from vibrations, and supplies the electric power to the electric power storage device.

14. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 3, further comprising

a vibration power generator module that generates electric power from vibrations, and supplies the electric power to the electric power storage device.

15. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 4, further comprising

a vibration power generator module that generates electric power from vibrations, and supplies the electric power to the electric power storage device.

16. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 9, further comprising

a vibration power generator module that generates electric power from vibrations, and supplies the electric power to the electric power storage device.

17. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 10, further comprising

a vibration power generator module that generates electric power from vibrations, and supplies the electric power to the electric power storage device.

18. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 11, further comprising

a vibration power generator module that generates electric power from vibrations, and supplies the electric power to the electric power storage device.

19. The wireless sensor module as set forth in claim 12, further comprising

a vibration power generator module that generates electric power from vibrations, and supplies the electric power to the electric power storage device.

6. A method of processing measured data by use of a wireless sensor module,

wherein the wireless sensor module comprises:

a sensor that measures a measuring object so as to generate measured data;

a wireless communication section that wirelessly transmits the measured data to an external device and receives a radio signal from the external device; and

an electric power storage device that serves as an electric power supply,

wherein the method comprises;

securing an idle period of time in a series of operations for processing the measured data so that the series of operations are not carried out consecutively, and

wherein the series of operations comprises;

an operation in which the sensor generates the measured data, and

an operation in which the wireless communication section wirelessly transmits the measured data to the external device.

7. (canceled)

8. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, in which a program for causing a computer to control a wireless sensor module is recorded,

wherein the wireless sensor module comprises:

a sensor that measures a measuring object so as to generate measured data;

a wireless communication section that wirelessly transmits the measured data to an external device and receives a radio signal from the external device; and

an electric power storage device that serves as an electric power supply,

wherein the program causes to computer to carry out a control in which an idle period of time is secured in a series of operations for processing the measured data so that the series of operations are not carried out consecutively,

wherein the series of operations comprises;

an operation in which the sensor generates the measured data, and

an operation in which the wireless communication section wirelessly transmits the measured data to the external device.