Systems and methods for sensor spatial distribution mapping using assigned sensor regions

• US 9,071,889 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nakaya, Shogo
• Primary Examiner(s): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US13/637,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20130009753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/081 Touching devices, e.g. pressure-sensitive
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• 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

Abstract

A radio tag sensor system includes a plurality of radio tag sensor chips, which incorporate respective sensors, store unique identification numbers, a plurality of micro base stations, and a central processing unit which perform communications with the micro base stations via a connection network. Each of the micro base stations performs wireless communications with and wirelessly supplies electric power to only those of the radio tag sensor chips which are disposed in an assigned region thereof. Each of the assigned regions includes at least one radio tag sensor chip which is not included in the other assigned regions. The central processing unit controls the communications via the connection network. The central processing unit collects the sensed values from sensors of the radio tag sensor chips through the micro base stations, generates a spatial distribution map of the sensed values, and updates the spatial distribution map with time.

Claims

1. A radio tag sensor system comprising:

a plurality of radio tag sensor chips which incorporate respective sensors, store unique identification numbers, perform wireless communications and which are wirelessly supplied with electric power;

a plurality of micro base stations which perform wireless communications with the radio tag sensor chips and wirelessly supply electric power to the radio tag sensor chips; and

a central processing unit which performs communications with the micro base stations via a connection network;

wherein each of the micro base stations performs wireless communications with and wirelessly supplies electric power to only those of the radio tag sensor chips which are disposed in an assigned region thereof;

wherein each of the assigned regions includes at least one of the radio tag sensor chips which is not included in the other assigned regions;

wherein the central processing unit controls the communications via the connection network;

wherein the central processing unit sends a sensed value collection command via the connection network to the micro base stations to which indicated addresses are allocated;

wherein only the micro base stations to which the indicated addresses are allocated wirelessly send identification numbers;

wherein only the radio tag sensor chips that store one of the unique identification numbers matching any of the wirelessly sent identification numbers wirelessly send sensed values from the sensors thereof; and

wherein the central processing unit collects the sensed values from the sensors of the radio tag sensor chips through the micro base stations, generates a spatial distribution map of the sensed values, and updates the spatial distribution map with time.

2. The radio tag sensor system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an elastic member, the radio tag sensor chips and the micro base stations being disposed on a surface of the elastic member or in the elastic member.

3. The radio tag sensor system according to claim 2, wherein each of the micro base stations has two antennas, the two antennas having respective loop planes lying perpendicularly to each other.

4. The radio tag sensor system according to claim 2, wherein the connection network comprises a serial bus.

5. The radio tag sensor system according to claim 4, wherein the connection network supplies electric power to the micro base stations.

6. The radio tag sensor system according to claim 2, wherein each of the sensors comprises a pressure sensor or a strain sensor.

7. A method of calibrating a radio tag sensor system according to claim 6, comprising:

pressing one or more regions of the elastic member by a calibration apparatus;

wherein a number of the pressed regions is smaller than a number of the radio tag sensor chips disposed on or in the elastic member.

8. A method of calibrating a radio tag sensor system according to claim 6, comprising:

pressing one or more regions of the elastic member by a calibration apparatus;

wherein a total area of the pressed regions is smaller than a surface area of the elastic member.

9. The radio tag sensor system according to claim 1, wherein

the micro base stations to which the indicated addresses are allocated receive the wirelessly sent sensed values and send the received sensed values via the connection network to the central processing unit.

10. The radio tag sensor system according to claim 9, wherein only one of the radio tag sensor chips wirelessly sends the sensed value from the sensor thereof in a single period.