JP2008211919A - Battery exhaustion detection system and wireless communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a battery exhaustion detecting system effectively estimating and detecting the exhaustion of a battery in a battery-driven radio communication apparatus without requiring manual operation by a human operator. <P>SOLUTION: The battery exhaustion detecting system for detecting the exhaustion of a battery of one or more radio communication apparatus(es) 1 having a battery as a driving power source includes a centralized controller 11 having a radio communication unit 13 for receiving a signal including data of a voltage value of the battery transmitted from the radio communication apparatus(es) 1; a storage unit 15 for storing data indicating the relation between a battery voltage and battery capacity; and a central processing unit 14 for estimating the battery capacity on the basis of the data of the battery voltage of the radio communication apparatus(es) 1 and the data stored in the storage unit 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a system and the like for detecting battery exhaustion in a wireless communication apparatus that receives power from a battery or the like.

  For example, in a conventional remote control transmitter that performs signal transmission wirelessly, a voltage limiting element is provided in a series circuit in which a power supply voltage is applied by a battery or the like of the remote control transmitter, in which a light emitting element, a switching element, and a resistor are connected in series. A power supply voltage detection circuit is provided. For example, when a predetermined operation is performed using a value determined by the voltage limiting element as a threshold value, the light emitting element emits light when a power supply voltage higher than the threshold value is applied. Conversely, when only a power supply voltage smaller than the threshold value is applied, the light emitting element does not emit light. Thereby, it can be confirmed whether it is what is called a battery dead state.

At this time, normal key operation performs normal remote control operation, and it is possible to check if the battery has run out only when a specific key is operated by a person, so if you operate a specific key only when necessary, you can check if the battery has run out. Power consumption can be suppressed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-136874 (FIG. 1)

  In the conventional remote control transmitter as described above, it is not possible to check whether the battery has run out unless a human performs any operation, such as performing input to a key of the remote control transmitter. Here, for example, consider a case where a wireless communication device that wirelessly transmits a signal based on a temperature value when the temperature changes is installed as a building facility or a housing facility. Considering the installation location, the number of installations, etc., it is difficult for a person to operate each wireless communication device to check if the battery is dead. However, in the wireless communication device, the battery may be consumed due to, for example, power consumption in operations other than communication, battery self-discharge, or the like.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, such as a battery exhaustion detection system that can effectively estimate and detect battery exhaustion in a battery-driven wireless communication device without manual operation by a human. The purpose is to obtain.

  The battery exhaustion detection system according to the present invention is a battery exhaustion detection system that detects battery exhaustion of one or a plurality of wireless communication devices using a battery as a driving power source, and is transmitted from the wireless communication device together with data based on detection by a detection means. Wireless communication means for receiving a signal including battery voltage value data, storage means for storing data representing the relationship between battery voltage and battery capacity, and battery voltage value data and storage means for the wireless communication device A centralized controller having processing means for estimating the remaining battery capacity based on the stored data;

  According to the present invention, the remaining battery level is estimated based on the data based on the detection by the detection unit and the voltage value data of the battery included in the wireless signal from the wireless communication device and the data stored in the storage unit. Therefore, the remaining battery level can be estimated in the central processing unit. Therefore, it is possible to automatically estimate the time when the battery runs out, the time when the battery runs out, and the like.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration for detecting battery exhaustion in a wireless communication device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The system of the present embodiment has one or a plurality of wireless communication devices 1 (representing one wireless communication device 1 in FIG. 1). In addition, it receives a radio signal from each radio communication device 1 and processes data included in the radio signal. For example, a signal including data is transmitted to the control processing device 20 provided in the management center via the external network 100. It has a centralized controller 11 for transmission.

  First, the wireless communication device 1 will be described. The wireless communication device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a power supply unit 2, a wireless communication unit 3, a device control unit 4, an input device 5, and an antenna 7 connected to the wireless communication unit 3. For example, an input signal transmitted from sensors (detection means) such as a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a human sensor is input to the input device 5. However, the contents of the means connected to the input device 5 for transmitting the input signal and the data included in the input signal are not limited. For example, the input device 5 converts an input signal into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal. Here, it is assumed that, for example, a temperature sensor is connected to the input device 5, and an input signal related to temperature is input.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the wireless communication device 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the device control unit 4 includes delay circuits 4B and 4C and a latch circuit 4D with a processing device 4A as a center. For example, the processing device 4A including a microcomputer performs processing based on an input signal. Further, each device (means) of the wireless communication device 1 is controlled. Here, it is assumed that the processing device 4A includes an A / D converter (not shown) that converts the battery voltage monitoring signal into a digital signal in order to detect the voltage value of the battery 2A. The processing device 4A of the present embodiment mainly detects and determines a temperature value and the like based on data included in various input signals. In addition, a process of causing the wireless communication unit 3 to transmit a wireless signal including at least the temperature value data, the voltage value data of the battery 2A, and the ID data for identifying each wireless communication device 1 is performed.

  The delay circuits 4B and 4C are circuits for delaying and outputting signals. The delay circuit 4B is provided to delay the input of the signal from the input device 5 to the processing device 4A. The delay circuit 4C is provided to delay the input of the signal from the processing device 4A to the latch circuit 4D. The latch circuit 4D serves as a switch here, and when the signal from the input device 5 is transmitted, for example, the held data content is cleared. This becomes a signal for the power supply device 2B, and causes the power supply device 2B to perform an operation corresponding to a “normal operation mode” to be described later. Based on an instruction signal from the processing device 4A via the delay circuit 4B, the power supply device 2B will be described later. The operation corresponding to the “low power consumption mode” is performed.

  The power supply unit 2 includes a battery 2A and a power supply device 2B that serve as a power source and supply power. The battery capacity and the like of the battery 2A are not particularly limited as long as the object can be achieved. The power supply device 2B determines whether to operate in the “low power consumption mode” or “normal operation mode” based on the signal from the latch circuit 4D, and based on the determination, the power supplied by the battery 2A Control. Further, the wireless communication unit 3 processes data generated by the processing device 4 </ b> A and transmits a wireless signal including the data to the centralized controller 11 through the antenna 7. The radio communication unit 3 of the present embodiment does not need to receive a radio signal in particular, but may be a radio communication unit that receives a radio signal.

  Next, the operation of radio communication apparatus 1 in the present embodiment will be described. If there is no input signal from the temperature sensor, the wireless communication device 1 operates in the “low power consumption mode” state in order to reduce the power consumption of the entire wireless communication device 1 and the consumption of the battery 2A. In the “low power consumption mode”, for example, the power supply device 2B supplies power that allows the input device 5 to perform processing based on the input signal, and other devices stop power supply or perform a minimum operation. Control to supply only power.

  When an input signal is input from the temperature sensor, the input device 5 converts, for example, the input signal into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal. When this signal is input to the latch circuit 4D and the data content is cleared, this becomes a signal, and the power supply device 2B boosts the voltage of the battery 2A to a constant power supply voltage corresponding to the “normal operation mode”. As a result, the wireless communication device 1 is activated (waked up) and can perform the original functional operation.

  The signal output from the input device 5 is also input to the delay circuit 4B. The delay circuit 4B delays the signal and outputs it as an interrupt signal after the processing device 4A is ready to process the signal in the “normal operation mode”.

  The processing device 4A determines the temperature detected by the temperature sensor based on the interrupt signal from the delay circuit 4B (input device 5). Further, the wireless communication unit 3 is caused to transmit a wireless signal including the determined temperature data via the antenna 7.

  Here, when wireless signal transmission is performed by the wireless communication unit 3 in the “normal operation mode”, the power consumption of the wireless communication device 1 is high (the load current of the wireless communication unit 3 is generated). Therefore, the input current supplied from the battery 2A to the power supply device 2B is also increased. At this time, the remaining battery level of the battery 2A appears in the voltage of the battery 2A (generally, when the load is small, the voltage hardly changes even if the remaining battery level decreases).

  Therefore, when the wireless signal is transmitted by the wireless communication unit 3, the processing device 4A converts the digital signal into a digital signal by the built-in A / D converter based on the battery voltage monitoring signal, and the voltage value of the battery 2A. Is detected. Then, following the radio signal transmission including the temperature data, a radio signal including the voltage value data of the battery 2 </ b> A and the ID data of the radio communication device 1 is transmitted to the radio communication unit 3 via the antenna 7. The centralized controller 11 receives the radio signal. Then, when the wireless signal transmission is completed and it is determined that the operation in the “normal operation mode” is not necessary, the processing device 4A transmits a signal to the power supply device 2B via the delay circuit 4C and the latch circuit 4D. The operation is shifted to the “low power consumption mode”.

  On the other hand, the centralized controller 11 includes a centralized processing device 14, a wireless communication unit 13, a storage device 15, a timing device 18, an antenna 17, and external communication means 16. The centralized controller 11 is not supplied with battery power and can always receive and process a radio signal from the radio communication device 1. The wireless communication unit 13 receives the wireless signal transmitted from each wireless communication device 1 via the antenna 17, converts the signal into a signal that can be processed by the central processing device 14, for example, and transmits the signal to the central processing device 14. To do.

  The central processing unit 14 processes data included in the signal transmitted from the wireless communication unit 13. In particular, in the present embodiment, a process for predicting and estimating the remaining time from the voltage value data of the wireless communication device 1 until the battery 2A of the wireless communication device 1 runs out of battery (hereinafter, this time is referred to as the estimated time of battery exhaustion). I do. Further, the processed data is stored in the storage device 15. In the present embodiment, the ID data of the wireless communication device 1 and the estimated battery exhaustion time data are stored in association with each other. When it is further determined that the estimated time of battery exhaustion has come, the external communication means 16 is caused to transmit a signal notifying that the battery is exhausted, including the ID data of the wireless communication device 1. This signal is transmitted to the control processing device 20 provided in the management center via the external network 100 which is, for example, an electric communication line.

  The storage device 15 is a device for temporarily or long-term storing data necessary for the central processing unit 14 to perform processing and data processed by the central processing unit 14. In particular, in the present embodiment, data relating to the discharge characteristics of the battery described later is stored. Further, as described above, the ID data of the wireless communication device 1 and the data of the estimated battery exhaustion time are stored in association with each other. The external communication unit 16 is connected to the external network 100 and performs processing for transmitting a signal to notify the control processing device 20 that the battery including the ID data of the wireless communication device 1 is exhausted. And the time measuring device 18 which consists of a timer etc., for example, is provided in order for the central processing unit 14 to judge whether the wireless communication apparatus 1 reached the estimated time of battery exhaustion.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of discharge characteristics of the battery 2A. FIG. 3 shows the discharge characteristics of the battery 2A at the discharge current (about 6 μA) in the low power consumption mode. The voltage of the battery 2A is highest in the initial stage where the remaining battery capacity is large. When the remaining battery level is reduced due to power consumption due to operation, the voltage decreases. However, even if the wireless communication device 1 is not operated, the remaining battery level decreases due to self-discharge, etc., and the voltage gradually increases with time. Go down. The end voltage (discharge end voltage) is a voltage (for example, about 0.9 V) at which the operation of the wireless communication apparatus 1 cannot be continued. Thus, when the end voltage becomes lower than the end voltage, the battery runs out. . The storage device 15 stores, for example, the relationship between the voltage value of the battery and the time as data in a table format for the discharge characteristics. Here, there is a one-to-one relationship between the voltage value and time.

  Based on the voltage value data from the wireless communication device 1, the central processing unit 14 searches the data related to the discharge characteristics stored in the storage device 15 for a time that matches the voltage value. On the other hand, the time to reach the end voltage is determined from the discharge characteristics. The difference between the time when the final voltage is reached and the time determined based on the voltage value data is calculated. The time obtained by the calculation is the estimated battery exhaustion time. When a wireless signal is transmitted from each wireless communication device 1, the central processing unit 14 performs the above-described processing based on the voltage value data included in the signal, and determines the ID data and the estimated battery dead time. The data is stored in the storage device 15 in association with the data. Here, as described above, the wireless communication device 1 transmits the wireless signal including the temperature value data together with the battery voltage value data every time. Therefore, each time a radio signal is transmitted, the central processing unit 14 calculates the battery dead time estimated based on the latest voltage value data included in the signal, and stores the latest battery dead time estimated data. It is made to memorize | store in the apparatus 15.

  The central processing unit 14 determines whether or not the wireless communication device 1 has reached the estimated battery exhaustion time based on the data on the estimated battery exhaustion time stored in the storage device 15 and the time measured by the timing device 18. If it is determined that a certain wireless communication device 1 has reached the estimated battery exhaustion time, a signal notifying that the battery has been exhausted is transmitted via the external communication means 16, including the ID data of the wireless communication device 1. The control processing device 20 of the management center that has received the signal performs a process of displaying, for example, a message indicating that the battery has run out and an ID number for identifying the wireless communication device 1 on a display means (not shown). Then, the manager of the management center takes measures such as battery replacement based on the display. Here, the centralized controller 11 transmits a signal when the estimated battery exhaustion time is reached. However, in order to take early measures such as battery replacement for battery consumption on the management center side, A signal may be transmitted a certain time before.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, when an input signal is input from the sensor or the like to the input device 5 in the wireless communication device 1, the mode shifts from the “low power consumption mode” to the “normal operation mode” and the processing device 4A. Detects the voltage value of the battery 2A when wireless signal transmission is performed by the wireless communication unit 3, and transmits a wireless signal including voltage value data from the wireless communication unit 3. It is possible to transmit a signal including voltage value data necessary for determining the estimated battery exhaustion time.

  In the centralized controller 11, the central processing unit 14 determines and stores the remaining battery level or estimated battery exhaustion time based on the voltage value data of each wireless communication device 1 based on the data stored in the storage device 15. Data is stored in the means. When it is determined that the estimated time of battery exhaustion has been reached, a signal for notifying that the battery is exhausted including the ID data of the wireless communication device 1 is transmitted to the external communication means 16 and received by the control processing device 20 of the management center. As a result, it is not necessary to manually check battery consumption, and the management center can take measures such as battery replacement based on the received signal.

  In the centralized controller 11 described above, when it is determined that the estimated battery exhaustion time has been reached, the external communication means 16 transmits a signal for notifying the control processing device 20 of the management center of the battery exhaustion. However, every time the estimated battery exhaustion time is calculated, the battery exhausted estimated time data is stored in the storage device 15, and a signal including the ID data of the wireless communication device 1 and the estimated battery exhaustion time data is transmitted. It may be. The storage device 15 stores data on the relationship between the battery voltage value and the time. However, the storage device 15 stores data on the relationship between the battery voltage value and the remaining battery level so that the central processing unit 14 can store the data. However, the remaining battery level can also be determined based on the voltage value.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the centralized controller 11A according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 4 having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 and FIG. The display device 19 in FIG. 5 is a device for displaying the ID and “battery exhausted” indication of the wireless communication device 1 related to “battery exhausted” based on the display signal from the central processing unit 14. .

  In the centralized controller 11 of the above-described first embodiment, when the time measuring device 18 determines that the estimated time of battery exhaustion has been reached, a signal to notify the control processing device 20 of the management center that the battery has been exhausted is transmitted. did. The centralized controller 11A according to the present embodiment includes a display device 19 instead of the external communication unit 16 that transmits a signal to notify the control processing device 20 of the management center that the battery has run out.

  Then, as in the first embodiment, the central processing unit 14 determines the estimated battery exhaustion time based on the voltage value data of each wireless communication device 1 based on the discharge characteristic data stored in the storage device 15. The data is stored in the storage means. When it is determined that the wireless communication device 1 has reached the estimated battery dead time based on the time measured by the time measuring device 18, a display signal is transmitted to the display device 19 and the wireless communication device 1 related to “battery exhaustion”. ID and “battery exhausted” are displayed.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the central controller 11 </ b> A can display “battery exhausted” of the wireless communication device 1. For example, an administrator can display on the display device 19 of the central controller 11. By confirming, it is possible to take measures such as battery replacement. Of course, the centralized controller 11A may include both the external communication unit 16 and the display device 19 of the first embodiment described above.

  Here, as described in the above-described embodiment, every time a radio signal is transmitted, the central processing unit 14 calculates the estimated battery dead time based on the latest voltage value data included in the signal. However, a display signal may be transmitted each time, and the latest estimated battery exhaustion time may be displayed on the display device 19.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The centralized controller 11A of the second embodiment described above includes the display device 19, and displays the ID of the wireless communication device 1 related to “battery exhaustion” and “battery exhausted”. For example, a sounding device or the like may be provided instead of the display device 19, and the sound of a voice may be generated to notify the ID of the wireless communication device 1 and “battery exhausted”. For example, a voice notification such as “ID1 is out of battery” can be output to achieve the purpose of notifying the battery.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
When the centralized controller 11 of the first embodiment described above determines that the estimated time of battery exhaustion has been reached, the external communication means 16 sends a signal to notify that the battery including the ID data of the wireless communication device 1 is exhausted to the external network. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an inquiry request signal may be transmitted from the control processing device 20 side of the management center periodically or based on an instruction from an administrator of the management center. As a result, it is possible to actively respond to battery replacement or the like from the management center side. On the central controller 11 side that has received the request signal via the external network 100, the control processing device 20 is transmitted to the control processing device 20 including the presence / absence of the wireless communication device 1 that is out of battery and the battery state data of each wireless communication device 1. .

Embodiment 5. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of discharge characteristics of battery 2A according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. Depending on the type of battery 2A mounted on the wireless communication device 1, the usage environment (temperature, etc.), etc., the discharge characteristics of the battery 2A may differ.

  Therefore, in the centralized controller 11 of the present embodiment, when a wireless signal is transmitted from the wireless communication device 1, the central processing unit 14 determines the voltage of the battery 2A included in the signal based on the time measured by the time measuring device 18. The time difference in the voltage value is calculated from the value data and the past voltage value data of the battery 2A. For example, since the shape of the discharge characteristic is determined, a graph of the discharge characteristic is estimated from the change rate of the voltage value based on the time difference, and data is generated. Based on the data of this graph, it is possible to predict battery exhaustion of the wireless communication device 1.

Embodiment 6 FIG.
In the first embodiment described above, the central processing unit 14 of the centralized controller 11 determines the estimated battery dead time based on the voltage value data of the battery 2 </ b> A from each wireless communication device 1. In the present embodiment, the central processing unit 14 determines the estimated battery exhaustion time of each wireless communication device 1 from the number of receptions of wireless signals from each wireless communication device 1 (the number of wireless signal transmissions of each wireless communication device 1). Is.

For example, the current consumption when the wireless communication apparatus 1 is in the low power consumption mode is A (for example, about 5 μA). Further, the current at the time of transmission of the wireless communication apparatus 1 is assumed to be B (for example, about 20000 μA). The self-discharge current of the battery 2A is C (for example, about 1 μA), and the battery capacity of the battery 2A (= the remaining battery capacity of the battery 2A at time 0) is D (μAh). If the number of times of reception of the wireless signal from the wireless communication device 1 is n, the estimated battery exhaustion time E (h) is obtained by the following equation (1).
E = D / (A + (B × n) + C) (1)

  As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, the central processing unit 14 of the centralized controller 11 determines the battery of each wireless communication device 1 based on the expression (1) based on the number of times wireless signals are received from each wireless communication device 1. Since the estimated cut-off time is determined, the wireless communication device 1 does not need to detect a voltage value.

Embodiment 7 FIG.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the wireless communication device 1A. 6 that have the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 perform the same operations as those described in the above-described embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted. The timing device 6 is a device that plays the same role as the timing device 18 of the centralized controller 11 in the first embodiment. The storage means 9 also plays the same role as the storage means 15 and stores data relating to the discharge characteristics of the battery.

  In the above-described embodiment, the centralized controller 11 predicts and estimates the battery exhaustion estimated time based on the voltage value data from the wireless communication device 1. In the present embodiment, when the wireless communication device 1A includes the timing device 6 and the storage unit 9, when the wireless communication device 1A itself estimates and estimates the battery exhaustion estimated time, and determines that the battery exhaustion estimated time has been reached, A radio signal for notifying the central controller 11 that the battery has run out is transmitted. Here, in the above-described embodiment, the transition to the operation in the “normal operation mode” causes the power supply apparatus 2B to perform an operation corresponding to the “normal operation mode” with the input signal as a trigger. In this embodiment, since a wireless signal is transmitted when it is determined that the estimated battery dead time has been reached, the processing device 4A also instructs the power supply device 2B to perform an operation corresponding to the “normal operation mode”. Shall be able to.

  In the wireless communication device 1A, as in the first embodiment, the processing device 4A detects the voltage value of the battery 2A from the battery voltage monitoring signal when the wireless communication unit 3 is communicating in the “normal operation mode”.

  The processing device 4 </ b> A further predicts and estimates the battery exhaustion estimated time based on the data relating to the discharge characteristics stored in the storage unit 9, and stores it in the storage unit 9. Then, it is determined whether or not the estimated battery dead time has been reached based on the estimated battery dead time data stored in the storage unit 9 and the time measured by the time measuring device 18. Then, if it is determined that the estimated battery exhaustion time has been reached, the power supply device 2B is instructed to perform an operation corresponding to the “normal operation mode”. In addition, a wireless signal notifying that the battery is exhausted, including data of its own ID, is transmitted via the wireless communication unit 3. Here, for example, a radio signal may be transmitted a certain time before the estimated battery exhaustion time, for example, in order to allow an administrator to take early measures such as battery replacement.

  When the centralized controller 11 receives the wireless signal, the centralized controller 11 transmits a signal indicating that the battery including the ID data of the wireless communication device 1 is exhausted to the control processing device 20 of the management center via the external network 100. Here, in the present embodiment, since the wireless communication device 1A itself can predict and estimate the battery exhaustion estimation time, for example, the wireless communication device 1A is provided with teaching means such as a display means and a sound generation means, You may make it teach.

  As described above, according to the seventh embodiment, the wireless communication device 1A includes the time measuring device 6 and the storage unit 9, and the wireless communication device 1A predicts and estimates the dead battery time, and reaches the dead battery time. Therefore, the central controller 11 transmits a wireless signal notifying that the battery has run out, so that it is not necessary for the central controller 11 to manage the estimated battery exhaust time of each wireless communication device 1, and the signal relay means. Thus, the cost of the centralized controller 11 can be reduced.

Embodiment 8 FIG.
For example, in the first embodiment, the processing device 4A of the wireless communication device 1 detects the voltage value of the battery 2A when the wireless communication unit 3 is communicating in the “normal operation mode”. Here, for example, in the case of the wireless communication device 1 in which the current load during communication changes depending on the communication distance, if the distance between the wireless communication device 1 and the centralized controller 11 is short, the load current is very high even during wireless communication. Smaller (smaller wireless output). Therefore, even if wireless signal transmission is performed by the wireless communication unit 3 in the “normal operation mode”, the load is too small, and the accuracy of the voltage value of the battery 2A detected in this state may be lowered.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 1 is provided with a simulated load means (not shown) that consumes a constant current. In the “normal operation mode”, a current is supplied to the simulated load means. The processing device 4A detects the voltage value of the battery 2A based on the battery voltage monitoring signal at this time.

  As described above, according to the eighth embodiment, by providing the simulated load means, it is possible to generate a load greater than a certain current load, and therefore it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of the voltage value of the battery 2A. It is possible to improve the estimation accuracy of the battery exhaustion estimation time.

Embodiment 9 FIG.
For example, the wireless communication device 1 according to the above-described first embodiment shifts to the “normal operation mode” triggered by the input of the input signal, and transmits the wireless signal to the centralized controller 11. Here, if the input signal is never input after the insertion of the new battery 2A, a wireless signal including voltage value data is not transmitted to the centralized controller 11, so the centralized processing device of the centralized controller 11 No. 14, for the wireless communication device 1, it becomes impossible to determine the estimated battery exhaustion time. And in the radio | wireless communication apparatus 1, it will reach a final voltage by the self-discharge of the battery 2A, and operation | movement cannot be performed.

  Therefore, in the wireless communication device 1 of the present embodiment, when the battery is replaced, the power supply device 2B is caused to perform an operation corresponding to the “normal operation mode”. The processing device 4 detects the voltage value of the battery 2A from the battery voltage monitoring signal when the wireless communication unit 3 is communicating in the “normal operation mode”. Further, a wireless signal including voltage value data and ID data of the wireless communication device 1 is transmitted to the wireless communication unit 3 via the antenna 7. Therefore, each wireless communication device 1 side can transmit a wireless signal including voltage value data at least once, and the central controller 11 side predicts and estimates the estimated battery exhaustion time of all wireless communication devices 1. Can be managed.

  Further, when the wireless communication device 1 is provided with a timing device such as a timer, the wireless communication device 1 periodically shifts to the “normal operation mode” and wirelessly communicates with the voltage value data based on the time measured by the timing device. A wireless signal including the ID data of the device 1 may be transmitted to the wireless communication unit 3 via the antenna 7.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, a wireless communication device that performs wireless communication based on data obtained by processing an input signal from a temperature sensor, a human sensor, or the like has been described, but the data content of the signal for wireless communication is not particularly limited, The present invention can be applied to a wireless communication apparatus that supplies power using a battery or the like.

1 is a configuration diagram of a system for detecting battery exhaustion according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a wireless communication device 1 according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the discharge characteristic of the battery 2A which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a centralized controller 11A according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of discharge characteristics of the battery in the fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a wireless communication device 1A in a sixth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  1, 1A wireless communication device, 2 power supply unit, 2A battery, 2B power supply device, 3 wireless communication unit, 4 device control unit, 4A processing device, 4B, 4C delay circuit, 4D latch circuit, 5 input device, 6 timing device, 7 antenna, 9 storage means, 11, 11A centralized controller, 13 wireless communication unit, 14 central processing unit, 15 storage unit, 16 external communication unit, 17 antenna, 18 timing unit, 20 control processing unit.

Claims (14)

In a battery exhaustion detection system for detecting battery exhaustion of one or a plurality of wireless communication devices using a battery as a driving power source,
A wireless communication means for receiving a signal including data on a voltage value of a battery transmitted together with data based on detection by the detection means from the wireless communication device;
Storage means for storing data representing the relationship between battery voltage and battery capacity;
An out-of-battery detection system comprising: a centralized controller having a battery voltage value data of the wireless communication device and processing means for estimating the remaining battery capacity based on data stored in a storage means. In a battery exhaustion detection system for detecting battery exhaustion of one or a plurality of wireless communication devices using a battery as a driving power source,
A wireless communication means for receiving a signal including data on a voltage value of a battery transmitted together with data based on detection by the detection means from the wireless communication device;
Storage means for storing data relating to discharge characteristics representing the relationship between battery voltage and time;
A battery exhaustion detection comprising a centralized controller having processing means for estimating a time until the battery runs out based on data on a voltage value of a battery of the wireless communication device and data on discharge characteristics of the battery. system. In a battery exhaustion detection system for detecting battery exhaustion of one or a plurality of wireless communication devices using a battery as a driving power source,
A wireless communication means for receiving a signal including data on a voltage value of a battery transmitted together with data based on detection by the detection means from the wireless communication device;
Storage means for storing voltage value data transmitted from the wireless communication device in time series;
Concentration comprising: processing means for estimating the characteristics of the battery based on the data of each voltage value and the time when the voltage value data was transmitted, and estimating the time until the battery runs out based on the estimated characteristics of the battery A battery exhaustion detection system comprising a controller. The centralized controller further includes a time measuring unit for measuring time, and an external communication unit for performing signal communication with an external device other than the wireless communication device,
When the processing means determines that the time until the battery runs out or a predetermined time before the battery runs out based on the timing of the timing means, the external communication means determines that the battery is dead. 4. The battery exhaustion detection system according to claim 2, wherein data related to the wireless communication device and a signal indicating battery exhaustion are transmitted. 5. The centralized controller further comprises external communication means for performing signal communication with an external device other than the wireless communication device,
The processing means, based on the inquiry signal received by the external communication means, outputs a signal including presence / absence of a wireless communication apparatus related to battery exhaustion and / or data related to a wireless communication apparatus related to battery exhaustion. 4. The battery exhaustion detection system according to claim 2, wherein the battery is transmitted to a means. The centralized controller further includes a time measuring means for measuring time, and a display means for performing display based on a display signal,
If the processing means determines that the time until the battery has run out or a predetermined time before the battery has expired based on the time measured by the timing means, the data relating to the wireless communication device that has determined that the battery has run out A battery exhaustion detection system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a display signal indicating that the battery has run out is transmitted to and displayed on the display means. The centralized controller further includes a time measuring means for measuring time, and a sound generating means for generating a sound based on the audio signal,
If the processing means determines that the time until the battery has run out or a predetermined time before the battery has expired based on the time measured by the timing means, the data relating to the wireless communication device that has determined that the battery has run out The battery exhaustion detection system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein a sound signal indicating that the battery is exhausted is transmitted to the sounding means to teach the sound. In a battery exhaustion detection system for detecting battery exhaustion of one or a plurality of wireless communication devices using a battery as a driving power source,
Wireless communication means for receiving a signal transmitted from the wireless communication device;
Counting means for counting the number of receptions of wireless signals from the wireless communication device;
A battery exhaustion detection system comprising: a centralized controller having processing means for calculating a battery duration based on the number of times a wireless signal is received from the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device
A wireless communication unit for transmitting wireless signals;
An input device to which a signal from the detection means is input;
A processing device for performing a process of detecting a voltage value of the battery;
A power supply device that selects a low power consumption mode for operating the device with low power consumption and a normal mode for normal operation, and controls power supply from the battery;
Have
The power supply device controls power supply in a normal mode when a signal from the detection means is input, and the processing device is a wireless communication unit that includes data based on the signal from the detection means in the normal mode. A voltage value of the battery is detected during signal transmission, and a signal including ID data for identifying a wireless communication device and data of the voltage value is transmitted to the wireless communication unit. The battery exhaustion detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The wireless communication device
A wireless communication unit for transmitting wireless signals;
A processing device for performing a process of detecting a voltage value of the battery, and a simulated load means for flowing a load current of a predetermined value or more,
The processing device detects a voltage value of the battery while the simulated load means current is flowing in the normal mode, and includes a signal including ID data for identifying a wireless communication device and data of the voltage value. The battery exhaustion detection system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is transmitted.   11. The battery exhaustion detection according to claim 9, wherein, when it is determined that the battery has been replaced, the processing device causes the power supply device to perform control in the normal mode to detect a voltage value of the battery. system. The wireless communication device further has a time measuring means for measuring time,
The said processing apparatus makes the said power supply device perform control by the said normal mode regularly based on the time of the said time measuring means, The voltage value of the said battery is detected. Low battery detection system. Instead of estimating the time until the battery runs out of the one or more wireless communication devices in the centralized controller,
In the processing device of each wireless communication device, based on the detected voltage value, the time until the battery runs out is estimated, and based on the time measured by the time measuring means, the time until the battery runs out or the time until the battery runs out The wireless communication unit transmits a signal including ID data for identifying the wireless communication device and data indicating that the battery has run out when it is determined that the predetermined time has passed. 12. The battery exhaustion detection system according to 12. In a wireless communication device using a battery as a driving power source,
A wireless communication unit for transmitting wireless signals;
A time measuring means for measuring time;
Storage means for storing data relating to discharge characteristics representing the relationship between battery voltage and time;
A power supply device that selects a low power consumption mode for operating the device with low power consumption and a normal mode for normal operation, and controls power supply from the battery;
Teaching means for teaching that the battery has run out;
In the normal mode, the wireless communication unit detects a voltage value of the battery while transmitting a wireless signal, and based on the voltage value and data relating to the discharge characteristics of the battery, the time until the battery runs out is determined. And a processing means for causing the teaching means to perform teaching when it is determined that the time until the battery has expired or a predetermined time before the time until the battery has expired is determined based on the timing of the timing means. A wireless communication device.

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