SENSOR INFORMATION COLLECTING APPARATUS

• US 20170059423A1
• Filed: 08/30/2016
• Published: 03/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Inventors: SUZUKI, Shinichi
• Application Number:
  US15/251,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20170059423A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/225 Measuring circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0052 measuring forces due to impact G01L5/0061, G01L5/14 take precedence; impact testing of structures G01M7/08; impact testing of material G01N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration

Abstract

A sensor information collecting apparatus includes: a sensor module; a sensor amplifier that is configured to be in an operation stop mode in a static state; an acceleration sensor that outputs a first start signal; a controller that is configured to be in a sleep mode in the static state, and operates, when the first start signal is received from the acceleration sensor or when an interrupt signal is received from a realtime clock, to output a second start signal to allow the sensor amplifier to start to operate, control reading of the detection data of the sensor module, and store the read detection data in a memory; a power supply unit that is configured to be in the operation stop mode in the static state, and starts to operate by receiving the second start signal from the controller to supply the power supply voltage to the sensor amplifier; and a battery that supplies a battery voltage to the acceleration sensor, the controller, and the power supply unit.

Claims

1. A sensor information collecting apparatus comprising:

a sensor module including a sensor;

a sensor amplifier that is configured to be in an operation stop mode in a static state, and starts to operate by receiving a power supply voltage to output detection data detected by the sensor as sensor information;

an acceleration sensor that outputs a first start signal when acceleration equal to or more than a first threshold value is detected;

a controller that is configured to be in a sleep mode in the static state, and operates, when the first start signal is received from the acceleration sensor or when an interrupt signal is received from a realtime clock, to output a second start signal to allow the sensor amplifier to start to operate, control reading of the detection data of the sensor module, and store the read detection data in a memory;

a power supply unit that is configured to be in the operation stop mode in the static state, and starts to operate by receiving the second start signal from the controller to supply the power supply voltage to the sensor amplifier; and

a battery that supplies a battery voltage to the acceleration sensor, the controller, and the power supply unit.

2. The sensor information collecting apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless communication module that is configured to be in the operation stop mode in the static state,

wherein, when acceleration equal to or more than a second threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value is detected by external impact, the acceleration sensor outputs the first start signal,

wherein, when the first start signal is received, the controller outputs the second start signal to allow the power supply unit to start to operate, and wherein the wireless communication module starts to operate by receiving the power supply voltage from the power supply unit, and transmits the detection data stored in the memory based on an instruction of the controller.

3. The sensor information collecting apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless communication module that is configured to be in the operation stop mode in the static state,

wherein, when a value of the detection data stored in the memory exceeds a predetermined value, the controller supplies the power supply voltage from the power supply unit to allow the wireless communication module to start to operate, and

wherein the wireless communication module starts to operate by receiving the power supply voltage from the power supply unit, and transmits the detection data based on the instruction of the controller.

4. The sensor information collecting apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

an indicator; and

an indicator driver that is configured to be in the operation stop mode in the static state and controls the indicator,

wherein, when the value of the detection data stored in the memory exceeds the predetermined value, the controller supplies the power supply voltage from the power supply unit to allow the indicator driver to start to operate, and

wherein the indicator driver starts to operate by receiving the power supply voltage from the power supply unit, and controls the indicator to perform indication for notifying that the value of the detection data is equal to or more than the predetermined value, based on a control signal of the controller.

5. The sensor information collecting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor module includes a strain sensor that detects strain which is a measurement target and generates the detection data.