Sensor terminal and sensor network system

• US 9,638,544 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2013
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Inventors: Kondo, Toshihiko, Harada, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, TANMAY K
• Application Number:
  US14/376,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20140375473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 3408702, 34087002
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/75 by polling or interrogating the sub-stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• 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 sensor terminal which processes a sensor signal output from at least one sensor and transmits the sensor signal being processed to a center device through a network control unit and a communication line, includes a communication interface unit capable of being connected to the network control unit, a sensor input interface unit being connected to the sensor and inputting the sensor signal, and a control unit generating sensor data from the sensor signal input through the sensor input interface unit and transmitting sensor data corresponding to a request signal of the center device which is input through the communication interface unit from the network control unit or active sensor data to the center device through the network control unit from the communication interface unit.

Claims

1. A sensor terminal which processes a sensor signal output from at least one sensor and transmits the sensor signal being processed to a center device through a network control unit and a communication line, comprising:

a communication interface unit capable of being connected to the network control unit;

a sensor input interface unit being connected to the sensor and inputting the sensor signal; and

a control unit generating sensor data from the sensor signal input through the sensor input interface unit and transmitting sensor data corresponding to a request signal of the center device and active sensor data to the center device through the network control unit from the communication interface unit, in which the request signal of the center device is input through the communication interface unit from the network control unit,

wherein the control unit includes a current/voltage conversion circuit unit that converts current signals input from a plurality of sensors into voltage signals each having a predetermined input voltage range, and

wherein the control unit is configured to input the current signals of the plurality of sensors while switching the current signals in sequence and to control the current/voltage conversion circuit unit according to the sequence so as to convert the current signals into the voltage signals each having the predetermined input voltage range.

10. A sensor network system comprising:

the sensor terminal according to claim 1;

a network control unit being connected to the sensor terminal and being connected to the center device through the communication line; and

a center device performing a remote monitoring of the sensor by collecting the sensor data corresponding to the request signal and the sensor data actively transmitted from the sensor terminal through the network control unit, in which the request signal is transmitted to the sensor terminal through the network control unit.

2. A sensor terminal which processes a sensor signal output from at least one sensor and transmits the sensor signal being processed to a center device through a network control unit and a communication line, comprising:

a communication interface unit capable of being connected to the network control Unit;

a sensor input interface unit being connected to the sensor and inputting the sensor signal; and

a control unit generating sensor data from the sensor signal input through the sensor input interface unit and transmitting sensor data corresponding to a request signal of the center device and active sensor data to the center device through the network control unit from the communication interface unit, in which the request signal of the center device is input through the communication interface unit from the network control unit,

wherein the sensor is one of a clamp-type alternating current sensor and a measurement device outputting a current signal as the sensor signal,

wherein the control unit is configured to generate the sensor data by converting the current signal input from one of the clamp-type alternating current sensor and the measurement device into a voltage signal and sampling the voltage signal, and

wherein the control unit includes a unit that sleeps when not detecting the current signal input from one of the clamp-type alternating current sensor and the measurement device and wakes up when detecting re-input of the current signal from one of the clamp-type alternating current sensor and the measurement device.

11. A sensor network system comprising:

the sensor terminal according to claim 2;

a network control unit being connected to the sensor terminal and being connected to the center device through the communication line; and

a center device performing a remote monitoring of the sensor by collecting the sensor data corresponding to the request signal and the sensor data actively transmitted from the sensor terminal through the network control unit, in which the request signal is transmitted to the sensor terminal through the network control unit.

3. A sensor terminal which processes a sensor signal output from at least one sensor and transmits the sensor signal being processed to a center device through a network control unit and a communication line, comprising:

a communication interface unit capable of being connected to the network control Unit;

a sensor input interface unit being connected to the sensor and inputting the sensor signal; and

a control unit generating sensor data from the sensor signal input through the sensor input interface unit and transmitting sensor data corresponding to a request signal of the center device and active sensor data to the center device through the network control unit from the communication interface unit, in which the request signal of the center device is input through the communication interface unit from the network control unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to compare the sensor data with at least one threshold and to average the sensor data by sampling the sensor data the number of sampling times depending on a size relationship with the threshold.

12. A sensor network system comprising:

the sensor terminal according to claim 3;

a network control unit being connected to the sensor terminal and being connected to the center device through the communication line; and

a center device performing a remote monitoring of the sensor by collecting the sensor data corresponding to the request signal and the sensor data actively transmitted from the sensor terminal through the network control unit, in which the request signal is transmitted to the sensor terminal through the network control unit.

4. A sensor terminal which processes a sensor signal output from at least one sensor and transmits the sensor signal being processed to a center device through a network control unit and a communication line, comprising:

a communication interface unit capable of being connected to the network control unit;

a sensor input interface unit being connected to the sensor and inputting the sensor signal;

a control unit generating sensor data from the sensor signal input through the sensor input interface unit and transmitting sensor data corresponding to a request signal of the center device and active sensor data to the center device through the network control unit from the communication interface unit, in which the request signal of the center device is input through the communication interface unit from the network control unit; and

a unit performing power feeding to each part of the sensor terminal from one of an AC adapter and a battery and performing power feeding to the network control unit.

13. A sensor network system comprising:

the sensor terminal according to claim 4;

a network control unit being connected to the sensor terminal and being connected to the center device through the communication line; and

a center device performing a remote monitoring of the sensor by collecting the sensor data corresponding to the request signal and the sensor data actively transmitted from the sensor terminal through the network control unit, in which the request signal is transmitted to the sensor terminal through the network control unit.

5. A sensor terminal which processes a sensor signal output from at least one sensor and transmits the sensor signal being processed to a center device through a network control unit and a communication line, comprising:

a communication interface unit capable of being connected to the network control unit;

a sensor input interface unit being connected to the sensor and inputting the sensor signal;

a control unit generating sensor data from the sensor signal input through the sensor input interface unit and transmitting sensor data corresponding to a request signal of the center device and active sensor data to the center device through the network control unit from the communication interface unit, in which the request signal of the center device is input through the communication interface unit from the network control unit; and

a unit performing power feeding to each part of the sensor terminal from one of an AC adapter and a battery and performing power feeding to the network control unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to detect a presence or absence of the power feeding from the AC adapter at a timing of sampling the voltage signal and to perform control of switching to the power feeding from the battery based on power failure detection indicating that there is no power feeding, and is configured to further detect a feeding voltage from the battery at the timing of sampling the voltage signal so as to compare the feeding voltage with a threshold and to transmit a notification signal to the center device through the network control unit when switched to the power feeding from the battery and when the feeding voltage from the battery is below the threshold.

14. A sensor network system comprising:

the sensor terminal according to claim 5;

a network control unit being connected to the sensor terminal and being connected to the center device through the communication line; and

a center device performing a remote monitoring of the sensor by collecting the sensor data corresponding to the request signal and the sensor data actively transmitted from the sensor terminal through the network control unit, in which the request signal is transmitted to the sensor terminal through the network control unit.

6. A sensor terminal which processes a sensor signal output from at least one sensor and transmits the sensor signal being processed to a center device through a network control unit and a communication line, comprising:

a communication interface unit capable of being connected to the network control unit;

a sensor input interface unit being connected to the sensor and inputting the sensor signal;

a control unit generating sensor data from the sensor signal input through the sensor input interface unit and transmitting sensor data corresponding to a request signal of the center device and active sensor data to the center device through the network control unit from the communication interface unit, in which the request signal of the center device is input through the communication interface unit from the network control unit; and

a unit performing power feeding to each part of the sensor terminal from one of an AC adapter and a battery and performing power feeding to the network control unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to detect a presence or absence of the power feeding from the AC adapter at a timing of sampling the voltage signal and to perform control of switching to the power feeding from the battery based on power failure detection indicating that there is no power feeding, and is configured to isolate a power failure range depending on the power failure detection and a presence or absence of the voltage signal and to transmit a notification signal to the center device through the network control unit.

15. A sensor network system comprising:

the sensor terminal according to claim 6;

a network control unit being connected to the sensor terminal and being connected to the center device through the communication line; and

a center device performing a remote monitoring of the sensor by collecting the sensor data corresponding to the request signal and the sensor data actively transmitted from the sensor terminal through the network control unit, in which the request signal is transmitted to the sensor terminal through the network control unit.

7. A sensor terminal which processes a sensor signal output from at least one sensor and transmits the sensor signal being processed to a center device through a network control unit and a communication line, comprising:

a communication interface unit capable of being connected to the network control unit;

a sensor input interface unit being connected to the sensor and inputting the sensor signal;

a control unit generating sensor data from the sensor signal input through the sensor input interface unit and transmitting sensor data corresponding to a request signal of the center device and active sensor data to the center device through the network control unit from the communication interface unit, in which the request signal of the center device is input through the communication interface unit from the network control unit,

wherein the sensor is one of a clamp-type alternating current sensor and a measurement device outputting a current signal as the sensor signal; and

the control unit is configured to generate the sensor data by converting the current signal input from one of the clamp-type alternating current sensor and the measurement device into a voltage signal and sampling the voltage signal, and further comprising

a unit performing power feeding from a power storage unit to each part of the sensor terminal and performing power feeding to the network control unit; and

a unit charging the power storage unit using the current signal when not generating the sensor data from the current signal input from one of the clamp-type alternating current sensor and the measurement device.

16. A sensor network system comprising:

the sensor terminal according to claim 7;

a network control unit being connected to the sensor terminal and being connected to the center device through the communication line; and

a center device performing a remote monitoring of the sensor by collecting the sensor data corresponding to the request signal and the sensor data actively transmitted from the sensor terminal through the network control unit, in which the request signal is transmitted to the sensor terminal through the network control unit.

8. A sensor network system comprising:

a sensor terminal which processes a sensor signal output from at least one sensor and transmits the sensor signal being processed to a center device through a network control unit and a communication line, comprising;

a communication interface unit capable of being connected to the network control unit;

a sensor input interface unit being connected to the sensor and inputting the sensor signal;

a control unit generating sensor data from the sensor signal input through the sensor input interface unit and transmitting sensor data corresponding to a request signal of the center device and active sensor data to the center device through the network control unit from the communication interface unit, in which the request signal of the center device is input through the communication interface unit from the network control unit,

a network control unit being connected to the sensor terminal and being connected to the center device through the communication line; and

a center device performing a remote monitoring of the sensor by collecting the sensor data corresponding to the request signal and the sensor data actively transmitted from the sensor terminal through the network control unit, in which the request signal is transmitted to the sensor terminal through the network control unit, wherein;

the sensor is one of a clamp-type alternating current sensor and a measurement device outputting a current signal as the sensor signal; and

the control unit is configured to generate the sensor data by converting the current signal input from one of the clamp-type alternating current sensor and the measurement device into a voltage signal and sampling the voltage signal.

9. A sensor network system comprising:

a sensor terminal which processes a sensor signal output from at least one sensor and transmits the sensor signal being processed to a center device through a network control unit and a communication line, comprising;

a communication interface unit capable of being connected to the network control unit;

a sensor input interface unit being connected to the sensor and inputting the sensor signal;

a control unit generating sensor data from the sensor signal input through the sensor input interface unit and transmitting sensor data corresponding to a request signal of the center device and active sensor data to the center device through the network control unit from the communication interface unit, in which the request signal of the center device is input through the communication interface unit from the network control unit;

a network control unit being connected to the sensor terminal and being connected to the center device through the communication line; and

a center device performing a remote monitoring of the sensor by collecting the sensor data corresponding to the request signal and the sensor data actively transmitted from the sensor terminal through the network control unit, in which the request signal is transmitted to the sensor terminal through the network control unit, wherein;

the sensor is one of a clamp-type alternating current sensor and a measurement device outputting a current signal as the sensor signal;

the control unit is configured to generate the sensor data by converting the current signal input from one of the clamp-type alternating current sensor and the measurement device into a voltage signal and sampling the voltage signal;

the control unit includes a current/voltage conversion circuit unit that converts current signals input from a plurality of the sensors into voltage signals each having a predetermined input voltage range.

17. A sensor network system comprising:

a sensor terminal which processes a sensor signal output from at least one sensor and transmits the sensor signal being processed to a center device through a network control unit and a communication line, comprising;

a communication interface unit capable of being connected to the network control unit;

a sensor input interface unit being connected to the sensor and inputting the sensor signal;

a control unit generating sensor data from the sensor signal input through the sensor input interface unit and transmitting sensor data corresponding to a request signal of the center device and active sensor data to the center device through the network control unit from the communication interface unit, in which the request signal of the center device is input through the communication interface unit from the network control unit;

the sensor is one of a clamp-type alternating current sensor and a measurement device outputting a current signal as the sensor signal; and

the control unit is configured to generate the sensor data by converting the current signal input from one of the clamp-type alternating current sensor and the measurement device into a voltage signal and sampling the voltage signal,

wherein the control unit is configured to store the sensor data generated from the sensor signal in a logical channel of a memory and to read the sensor data corresponding to the request signal of the center device from the logical channel of the memory so as to transmit the sensor data,

wherein the request signal includes an identifier for identifying the sensor terminal and a sensor channel for specifying the logical channel; and

wherein the network system further comprises;

a network control unit being connected to the sensor terminal and being connected to the center device through the communication line; and

a center device performing a remote monitoring of the sensor by collecting the sensor data corresponding to the request signal and the sensor data actively transmitted from the sensor terminal through the network control unit, in which the request signal is transmitted to the sensor terminal through the network control unit.