JPH11126293A - Control system and sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To delay battery consumption inside a sensor in a control system which communicates a result that is measured by the sensor to an entire controlling part by radio communication. SOLUTION: An organism information measuring part 15 measures organism information, a sensor operates by power supply from a battery 1 for a while the information is transmitted from a transmitting part 14 to the outside, the power supply from the battery 11 is stopped for a while except the time so that the sensor does not operate and the battery is prevented from being unnecessarily consumed inside the sensor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control system for performing control using information, for example, information on a living body such as a human or an animal, and a sensor for measuring information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It has long been required to detect information (hereinafter, referred to as biological information) on living bodies such as humans and animals, such as sweating state and skin temperature, and to utilize the information for various controls. As an example, detecting biological information in order to perform temperature adjustment control of a device called an air conditioner or an air conditioner (hereinafter, referred to as an air conditioner) can be cited.

For example, when the skin temperature of a living body is higher than a predetermined temperature, the cooling is increased (the temperature of the air sent from the air conditioner is lowered).
By automatically performing the feedback control such as weakening the cooling (raising the temperature of the air sent from the air conditioner), it is possible to make the outside temperature comfortable for the living body.

A sensor for detecting biological information (hereinafter referred to as a biological sensor) is installed on the skin of a living body (for example, a human), and the biological information detected by the biological sensor is subjected to various controls such as feedback control. There have been several methods for transmitting the information to the control unit. These can be broadly classified into wired communication that requires physical connection using a cable or the like and wireless communication that does not require physical connection.

[0005] Here, in wired communication, a living body can only act within the length of a cable or the like.
There is a problem in that the freedom of action is lost and the living body becomes mentally uncomfortable. Therefore, it is effective to transmit the biological information to the control unit by wireless communication that does not hinder freedom of action only by installing the biological sensor on the skin of the living body.

[0006]

However, the transmission of biological information by wireless communication has the following problems.

[0007] In order to perform wireless communication, a battery for driving itself must be built in the biometric sensor. However, if the biometric sensor detects the biometric information and constantly transmits the biometric information to the control unit, the battery is consumed in a short time. Then, in order to continue the control using the biological information for a long time, it is necessary to frequently replace the battery, and this troublesomeness has hindered the control for a long time.

[0008]

In order to solve these problems, the present invention operates by supplying power from a power supply until a sensor measures information and sends the information to the outside. It is not operated (claims 1 and 5)
Therefore, when using batteries (a variety of batteries such as storage batteries and dry batteries) can be used as a power source, battery consumption is delayed,
Long-term control can be performed without battery replacement.

Further, when the sensor stops operating, it is based on a stop instruction from the overall control unit.
Then, the control of stopping the operation of the sensor after the overall control unit receives the information and succeeds in performing the predetermined control can be performed, so that the convenience in controlling the entire system is improved.

Further, when the sensor is started to operate, it is based on a start instruction from the general control unit (claim 3), so that the sensor is only used when the general control unit needs to obtain biological information. Since it is possible to control the system to operate, the convenience in controlling the entire system is further improved.

Then, when it is confirmed that the communication between the sensor and the overall control unit has been completed or that the communication cannot be performed, the sensor stops operating.
This greatly reduces the risk of wasting the battery inside the sensor.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the general control section according to the present invention.

The electromagnetic wave supply unit 1 supplies an electromagnetic wave serving as a trigger for activating a biological sensor to be described later to the biological sensor. It should be noted that the technology for transmitting electromagnetic waves wirelessly is
A known technology of contactless transmission called a D system or a data carrier system can be used. The supply of the electromagnetic wave corresponds to the “start instruction” in claim 3.

The transmitting section 2 transmits an electromagnetic wave generated by the electromagnetic wave supplying section 1 and an instruction from a CPU 4 to be described later to the biological sensor. For transmission, the transmitting unit 2 has a built-in antenna (not shown).

The receiving section 3 receives the biological information from the biological sensor and transmits it to the CPU 4. For receiving, the receiving unit 3 has a built-in antenna (not shown).

The CPU 4 controls the electromagnetic wave supply unit 1, the transmission unit 2, and the reception unit 3 described above. In addition, the biological information from the biological sensor received from the receiving unit 3 is reflected in feedback control and the like.

For example, when the overall control unit of this embodiment is used for an air conditioner, the skin temperature is received as biological information, and the temperature of the air sent from the air conditioner is appropriately adjusted according to the skin temperature. Perform feedback control. The air conditioner may be installed indoors, or may be installed on a car, a train, or the like.

Further, the CPU 4 issues a stop instruction for stopping the operation of the biological sensor in the form of an end signal. Specifically, it instructs the transmitting unit 2 to transmit an end signal to the biological sensor.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the sensor according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, a biological sensor for measuring biological information (such as skin temperature or sweating state of a living body) is illustrated, but it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to other sensors (such as a general temperature sensor). Nor.

The battery 11 sends electric power for driving a CPU 16 described later. This corresponds to the “power source” in the claims.

The switch unit 12 changes from an open state to a closed state by an electromagnetic wave sent from the general control unit, and changes from a closed state to an open state by an end signal sent from the general control unit, which will be described later. In the closed state, the power of the battery 11 can be sent to the CPU 16 described later, but in the open state, no power is sent.

The receiving section 13 receives the electromagnetic wave and the signal transmitted from the general control section. The received electromagnetic waves and signals are sent to the switch unit 12. Receiving unit 13 for receiving
Has a built-in antenna (not shown).

The transmitting unit 14 includes a biological information measuring unit 15 described later.
Sends the measured biological information to the overall control unit. For transmission, the transmitting unit 14 has a built-in antenna (not shown).

The biological information measuring section 15 measures biological information. For example, there is an example in which a temperature sensor is brought into contact with the skin of a living body to obtain the skin temperature of the living body as living body information. However, not only the skin temperature but also a sweating state and the like can be obtained as living body information.

While power is being supplied from the battery 11, the CPU 16 controls the switch unit 12, the receiving unit 13, and the transmitting unit 1.
4. Control the biological information measuring unit 15. The content of the control includes control of an action of transmitting the biological information obtained by the biological information measuring unit 15 from the transmitting unit 14.

The arrows connecting the functional blocks in FIG. 2 indicate the flow of various signals, and the thick lines indicate the power supply paths.

By the way, as long as each function described above is held, the biological sensor can take various forms. For example, if the living body is a human, a living body sensor in the form of a wristwatch is wrapped around the arm, a living body sensor in the form of a necklace is put on the neck, or a living body sensor in the form of glasses is attached to the face. .

As a more specific example, an example in which the present invention is applied to an automobile will be described. In this case, an embodiment is considered in which a biosensor in the form of a wristwatch or a necklace is attached to a driver of a car or a person riding the car, and the overall control unit is installed inside the car.

In this case, the overall control unit plays a role of, for example, automatically controlling an air conditioner mounted on the vehicle to make the temperature inside the vehicle appropriate. For that purpose, the biological sensor detects the human body temperature and transmits it to the overall control unit.

At this time, the transmission unit 2 and the reception unit 3 of the overall control unit may be built in the interior of a car seat or the interior of a driver's steering wheel.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the overall control unit 4 issues an end signal may be set appropriately when the ignition switch of the car is turned off (when the engine is turned off) or when the air conditioner is turned off. can do.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention.
It is a flowchart showing the flow of the process of the general control unit and the biological sensor. Steps S1, S2, and steps S9 to S12 are processes performed by the overall control unit, and steps S3 to S8, and step S1
3. S14 is a process performed by the biological sensor.

In step S1, the electromagnetic wave supply unit 1 of the overall control unit supplies an electromagnetic wave for activating the biological sensor. In step S2, the transmission unit 2 transmits the electromagnetic wave supplied by the electromagnetic wave supply unit 1 to the biological sensor.

Now, a description will be given of the processing in the biological sensor. In step S3, the receiving unit 13 of the biological sensor receives the electromagnetic wave and transmits the electromagnetic wave to the switch unit 12. Step S4
Then, the switch unit 12 changes from the open state to the closed state, and supplies the power in the battery 11 to the CPU 16.

Next, in step S5, the CPU 16 instructs the biological information measuring unit 15 to measure the biological information.
Then, in step S6, the biological information measuring unit 15 measures the biological information and sends the biological information to the CPU 16.

In step S7, the CPU 16 transmits the biological information to the transmitting unit 14, and instructs the transmitting unit 14 to transmit the biological information to the overall control unit. Step S
At 8, the transmitting unit 14 transmits the biological information to the overall control unit as instructed by the CPU 16.

Returning to the description of the processing in the general control section, again. In step S9, the receiving unit 3 receives the biological information sent from the biological sensor and transmits it to the CPU 4. In step S10, the CPU 4 executes overall control based on the biological information. For example, if the overall control unit is used for an air conditioner as described above, the temperature may be adjusted according to the skin temperature obtained as biological information.

In step S11, the CPU 4 instructs the transmitting section 2 to send an end signal for ending the operation of the biological sensor to the biological sensor. In step S12, the transmitting unit 2
Sends an end signal to the biometric sensor.

Returning to the description of the processing in the biological sensor, again. In step S13, the receiving unit 13 receives the end signal from the overall control unit and transmits it to the switch unit 12. In step S14, the switch unit 12 receives the end signal and changes from the closed state to the open state. Then, from the battery 11 to the CPU 16
The power supply to is stopped.

The above is the embodiment in which the overall control unit initiatively controls when the biological sensor operates and stops operating. However, conversely, the timing at which the biological sensor operates or stops can also be controlled.

For example, it is assumed that the electromagnetic wave supply unit 1 is not provided in the overall control unit, and a timer is built in the switch unit 12 in the biological sensor. In this case, when the timer inside the switch unit 12 performs control of “changing the switch unit from the open state to the closed state” and “changing the switch unit from the closed state to the open state” at predetermined time intervals, Similarly, the power consumed by the battery 11 can be saved. More specifically, the switch unit 12 is changed from the open state to the closed state by the timer, and the biological information is measured by the biological information measuring unit 15 for a certain period of time after power is supplied to the CPU 16,
A control that transmits the signal from the transmitting unit 14 to the outside and opens the switch unit 12 again may be considered.

When the switch unit 12 is finally opened, the transmission by the transmission unit 14 is terminated by the CPU.
After the confirmation by 16, an instruction to open the switch unit 12 may be issued. For example, a living body sensor is incorporated in a wristwatch, and an overall control unit is incorporated in a car. When a person wearing the wristwatch leaves the car, the biological sensor and the overall control unit cannot communicate with each other. At this time, if the biometric sensor itself detects that communication is not possible and has a function of opening the switch unit 12 by itself, it is useful for saving power consumed by the battery 11.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the switch unit 12 may be configured to include a timer 41 and relays 42 and 43. Of course, one relay may be used.

When the switch section 12 has the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the relay 42 is open and the relay 43 is closed in the initial state. When the control signal "close relay 42" is received from the timer 41, the relay 42 is closed, the entire switch unit is closed, and power supply is started. Then, when the CPU 16 confirms the end of transmission (including a state in which communication with the overall control unit is not possible) and sends a control signal to “open the relay 43” to the switch unit 12, the relay 43 is opened, Power supply stops.

Then, the relay 42 is set in advance to "if it is confirmed that the relay 43 has been opened, the relay 42 itself will be opened."
If the relay 43 is set to the specification "the relay 43 itself closes after a certain period of time after being opened", it automatically returns to the initial state.

Further, only when the switch unit 12 is finally opened, the end signal from the general control unit may be used. In this case, the relay 43 receives the control signal from the overall control unit from the receiving unit 13 instead of the control signal from the CPU 16 and stops supplying power when it is opened.

It is also conceivable that the biometric information measurement is started according to an instruction from the overall control unit, and the biometric information measurement is terminated by the biometric sensor itself. In this case, the switch unit 12 is configured by relays 61 and 62 as shown in FIG.

At this time, in the initial state, the relay 61 is open and the relay 62 is closed. Then, the electromagnetic wave from the overall control unit is received from the receiving unit 13, whereby the relay 61 is closed, the switch unit is closed as a whole, and power supply is started. Then, the CPU 16 confirms the end of the transmission (including the state in which communication with the overall control unit is impossible),
When the control signal "open 2" is sent to the switch section 12, the relay 62 is opened and the power supply is stopped.

Then, the relay 61 is set in advance to "if it is confirmed that the relay 62 has been opened, the relay itself will be opened".
If the relay is set to the specification and the relay 62 is set to "close itself after a lapse of a predetermined time after being opened", the state automatically returns to the initial state.

[0050]

As described above, the present invention is characterized in that the sensor does not operate except when the information is measured and transmitted to the outside, so that no extra power is consumed.
The sensor can be operated for a longer time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing one embodiment of an overall control unit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing one embodiment of the sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing one mode of a switch unit.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing another form of the switch unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 electromagnetic wave supply unit 2 transmission unit 3 reception unit 4 CPU 11 battery 12 switch unit 13 reception unit 14 transmission unit 15 biological information measurement unit 16 CPU

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A control system comprising: a sensor for measuring information; and an overall control unit for performing control based on information obtained by wireless communication from the sensor, wherein the sensor has a power supply therein. And a control system that operates by supplying power from the power supply until the information is measured and transmitted to the overall control unit, and does not operate during other times. 2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the sensor is stopped by a stop instruction from the general control unit. 3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the sensor is started in response to a start instruction from the general control unit. 4. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein when it is confirmed that the communication with the general control unit has been completed or the communication with the general control unit has been disabled, the sensor stops operating. 3. The control system according to any one of 3. 5. A sensor for measuring information, which includes a power supply therein, operates by supplying power from the power supply until the information is measured and transmitted to the outside, and operates during the other times. A sensor characterized by not performing.