Data acquisition system for object in transit

The present invention relates to a data acquisition system for goods in transit. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system for recording various environmental conditions surrounding an article in transit.

Various consumer and industrial products are frequently distributed around the world to reach end users. More specifically, the distribution network includes air, sea and land flights. The forms of transportation used include aircraft, freighters, trucks and railroads. In this distribution network, products are exposed to various environmental conditions such as vibration, shock, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure (or water pressure). The products are carried by different types of transportation and are subject to different environmental conditions, but most importantly, they reach the end users in good condition.

One way to ensure good delivery is to properly package the product. In some companies, one department or other functional entity is dedicated to the effective functioning of product packaging. To successfully accomplish this, we need information about the extent and category of environmental conditions that acted on the product. One of the methods for collecting such information is a general-purpose data collection device bundled with a product, which is also called a data recorder, a data saver, a data logger, or the like. This type of device typically collects environmental data in transit. Upon arriving at the destination, the data is retrieved and analyzed. Once acquired, the data is used not only to improve the packaging design, but also to improve the design of the product itself as needed.

<p> Here, general purpose recording devices are not preferred because they are usually expensive and the results can only be used on a sample basis. Further, since the general-purpose recording device is bulky, it may be difficult to incorporate it into the packaging design, and even a change in the packaging may be required. If a company uses multiple packaging designs, it may be necessary to incorporate the recording device into the packaging or change the packaging for each design. In addition, extracting data from the recording device will require special interfaces and software.</p><p> The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a problem, and can be easily incorporated (integrated) into an inexpensive data collection system, particularly an existing product, and a large number of samples are reached to end users via a distribution network. Provide a data collection system that can track (ideally all products). Furthermore, we provide a data collection system that does not require modification of existing packaging, and a data collection system that can easily retrieve data in available formats.</p>

<p> The present invention is a product having a data acquisition function to be transported to a terminal user, a sensor system that detects an amount of environmental conditions indicating the environmental conditions of the product, a microcontroller that controls the sensor system, and the like. A communication port for connecting a computing device to the product,<u style="single">A power source that supplies power to the sensor system and the microcontroller,</u>With<u style="single">The sensor system includes a memory for storing the amount of environmental conditions.</u>The microcontroller has restrictions on power supply conditions.<u style="single">, Some of the microcontrollers do not work</u>If an interrupt command is acquired while operating in the labor-saving mode, the operation in the labor-saving mode is canceled.<u style="single">, When the operation in the labor saving mode is canceled</u>The environmental condition amount is read from the sensor system,<u style="single">The read environmental condition amount is stored in the memory, and</u>The sensor system gives the interrupt command to the microcontroller according to the comparison between the detected environmental condition amount and the predetermined threshold value, and the computing device uses the communication port.<u style="single">From the memory</u>It is characterized in that the amount of the environmental condition is ordered.</p><p> Further, the product according to the present invention is preferably provided in the microcontroller at a predetermined cycle separately from the sensor system.<u style="single">Said</u>It is equipped with an interrupt controller that generates an interrupt command. Further, the data acquisition system according to the present invention is characterized by including the product and the computing device.</p><p> Further, the present invention is a sensor system that is detachably provided on a product to be transported to a terminal user, and is a sensor that detects an amount of environmental conditions indicating the environmental conditions of the product.<u style="single">A memory that stores the amount of environmental conditions and</u>It is a microcontroller provided in the product, and the power supply conditions are restricted.<u style="single">, Some of the microcontrollers do not work</u>If an interrupt command is acquired while operating in the labor-saving mode, the operation in the labor-saving mode is canceled and the operation is canceled.<u style="single">When the operation in the labor saving mode is canceled</u>Read the environmental condition amount from the sensor<u style="single">Only, the read environmental condition amount is stored in the memory.</u>An interrupt command generating means that gives an interrupt command to the microcontroller via the interface according to a comparison between the interface to the microcontroller and the environmental condition amount detected by the sensor and a predetermined threshold value. When,<u style="single">A power source that supplies power to the sensor system and the microcontroller,</u>It is characterized by having.</p>

<p> The data acquisition system provided by the present invention can be easily and inexpensively integrated into an existing product, allowing for large sample tracking and tracing its distribution path for each individual product. ing. The present invention can be practiced without altering the existing packaging for the product and allows for data reproduction in more advanced formats.</p>

FIG. 1 shows a data acquisition system 100 incorporating the characteristic configuration of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is merely illustrated here and that the present invention can be implemented in various other forms. In addition, as for the dimensions, shape, element type and material, preferably preferred ones can be used.

The data acquisition system 100 usually has a data recording function. This function is realized by the parts in the product 105. The data acquisition system 100 further has a data reproduction analysis function. This function is realized by communication between the company 140 and the product 105 via the network 145.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the product 105 is generally carried by one distribution channel. The product 105 generally has a microcontroller 110, which typically has a microprocessor 115, an onboard memory 120, an analog digital converter (A / D) 125, and a real-time clock interrupt controller (RTC) 130. And a universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter (UART) 135. The microcontroller 110 can be connected to the communication network 145. As the communication network 145, any network suitable for communication can be used, and examples thereof include the Internet, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a wireless network, a wired network, and a virtual private network (VPN). be able to. Communication can be appropriately carried out by a preferred protocol such as X.25, ATM, TCP / IP and the like.

The microcontroller 110 can be connected to the enterprise 140 via the network 145. The term "company" 140 as used herein refers to the office of the trader who produced the product 105, the provider of goods and services related to the product 105, and the like. The company 140 is preferably provided with a computer 150, which communicates with the microcontroller 110. The company 140 may be further provided with another computer 155 to connect to the computer 150 via the internal network 160.

Product 105 also has a sensor system 165. The sensor system 165 is according to the teachings of the present invention and is connected to a microcontroller 110. In the embodiment, a program 170 that controls and interacts with the sensor system 165 is implemented on the onboard memory 120 on the microcontroller 110.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor system 165 has a shape that can be easily integrated with the product 105 without changing the packaging or operating conditions of the product 105. The sensor system 165 also includes a microcontroller interface 205, a control circuit 220, a memory 215, a power supply 225, one or more sensors 230, a sensor interface 260 (for accommodating additional sensors), a communication port 265 and It has a power switch 270.

The microcontroller interface 205 is generally the interface between the circuitry in the sensor system 165 and the microcontroller 110. The microcontroller interface 205 includes an analog-to-digital converter and a digital-to-digital converter, a level shifter, a multiplexer, a demultiplexer, and other circuits, by which circuit between the microcontroller 110 and the circuits in the sensor system 165. It provides a signal path.

The control circuit 220 has, for example, a logic circuit for controlling the general operation of the sensor system 165, and cooperates with the memory 215. For example, the control circuit 220 has a processor, which operates according to a program in memory 215. The memory 215 provides a space for storing the measurement results obtained by one or more sensors 230. The memory 215 is, for example, a 128k × 8.1Mbit flash memory, which has a serial address and a data bus. The memory 215 can also be a non-volatile memory that retains its contents even when the power supply is reduced. In embodiments, the program 170 described above, i.e., a program accessed by the microcontroller 110 to control and interact with (communicate) with the sensor system 165, is in addition to or replaces the onboard memory 120. It is stored in the memory 215.

The power supply 225 is composed of, for example, a lithium cell, for example, a 2000 mAH lithium battery pack. In this embodiment, the power supply 225 supplies power not only to the components constituting the sensor system 165 but also to the microcontroller 110. In other embodiments, the power source 225 is a conventional power source or a battery power source configured as part of the microcontroller 110.

One or more sensors 230 include various sensors that detect various conditions such as environmental conditions, position, time cycle, and the like. More specifically, the sensor 230 includes, for example, a humidity sensor 235, a temperature sensor 240, an accelerometer 245, a timer 250, a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor 255, and the like. Each sensor 230 has a suitable circuit configuration, for example, a circuit configuration including an amplifier, a filter, a converter, etc., and supplies an analog or digital output when required. Each sensor 230 is connected to another circuit, either directly or via a bus, and crosses (or thresholds) one or more specific context changes or some thresholds. When the value condition is violated), an interrupt, alarm or other type of warning can be issued. Some of the sensors 230 have a "sample and hold" function, and can latch or the like until a specific measurement result by a specific sensor is read. Some of the sensors 230 also have an identification circuit, whereby other devices can know the existence, position, type, performance / capacity, etc. of each sensor 230 having the identification circuit.

The humidity sensor 235 is, for example, a capacitive humidity sensor with an appropriate circuit, an analog output humidity module, or a digital output humidity module. In embodiments, the humidity sensor 235 can detect in a relative humidity range ranging from about 0% to about 100%.

The temperature sensor 240 is, for example, a thermistor, thermocouple or resistance temperature device (RTD) with a suitable circuit. The temperature sensor 240 can measure temperatures ranging from about -55 degrees Celsius to about +125 degrees Celsius and can supply analog or digital outputs.

The accelerometer 245 is multi-axis type, that is, it can measure acceleration in two or three phase orthogonal directions at the same time. The accelerometer 245 can measure acceleration in the range of approximately 0G to 100G.

The timer 250 can measure the elapsed time or a specific time cycle. The timer 250 is, for example, a programmable device that starts or stops timing in response to the reception of a trigger and generates a signal when the timing of a specific cycle is completed. The timer 250 can receive triggers from other sensors that make up the sensor system 165. For example, the timer 250 is used to measure the total time elapsed in the distribution system, or to measure the time elapsed at a particular humidity level, or to measure the time elapsed below a particular temperature threshold. Can be used.

The GPS sensor 255 can receive signals from the global positioning system to provide information about the global position of the sensor system 165. The GPS sensor 255 has a circuit for converting the coordinates of the received signal, another circuit in the sensor system 165, and a circuit for supplying the result to the microcontroller 110.

The sensor interface 260 is a connection point for adding sensors as needed. The sensor interface 260 provides electrical contacts for the sensor to the sensor system 165 through one or more connectors, clips, pads and other devices. In addition, the sensor interface 260 may have through holes, pins, standoffs, etc. to physically support additional sensors.

Communication port 265 provides a communication interface to an external device, such as a computer (not shown). The communication port 265 is, for example, an RS232, RS422 or universal serial bus (USB) serial port and has a connector 275 for connection with an external device.

The power switch 270 is connected to the communication port 265 and operates to apply power to the communication port 265 when an external device or the like is connected to the connector 275.

An operation example of the data acquisition system 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In an embodiment, the sensor system 165 is connected to a microcontroller 110 and a power source 225 powers the microcontroller 110. The microcontroller 110 recognizes that the sensor system 165 is connected, accesses the onboard memory 120 or the memory 215, and operates the sensor system 165 according to the program 170. The microcontroller 110 is dedicated to controlling the sensor system 165 or controls the sensor system 165 while performing other operations with respect to the product 105.

After reaching the recognition that the sensor system 165 is connected, the microcontroller 110 initializes itself and the components that make up the sensor system 165 under the control according to program 170. The program 170 then causes the microcontroller 110 to determine the type and capacity of the sensor 230 and sets thresholds and warning parameters so that the specific conditions through which the product 105 passes are adequately measured. The individual sensors 230 are also configured to generate an interrupt when a predetermined threshold is reached (or not reached) or when a predetermined measurement is obtained. The RTC130 is also programmed to generate an interrupt to the microcontroller 110, which is generated periodically or according to other rules.

After completing the initialization and configuration operations described above, the microcontroller 110 enters a "sleep" mode in which functional and power conditions are constrained. For example, the microcontroller 110 renders the A / D 125, UART 135, and part of the onboard memory 120 inoperable, and operates the microprocessor 115 in a labor-saving mode that does not respond to anything other than interrupts from the RTC 130, sensor system 165, and so on. ..

Upon receiving an interrupt from the RTC 130 or sensor system 165, the microprocessor 115 puts the entire circuit of the microcontroller 110 operational, and the microcontroller 110 identifies the service routine to be executed in response to the interrupt. For example, for interrupts generated by RTC130, the current humidity is read by the humidity sensor 235, the current temperature is read by the temperature sensor 240, the position information is read by the GPS sensor 255, and the time is read by the RTC130. .. Then, the data and the time stamp are generated from the time and the temperature, humidity and position measurement result at this time, and the measurement result, the time stamp and the data stamp are stored in the memory 215.

As another example, consider an example in which the accelerometer 245 generates an interrupt when a specific acceleration value, for example, 5G, is exceeded. An interrupt occurs when the applied acceleration exceeds this threshold, and the microcontroller 110 identifies the type of interrupt service routine required and provides accelerometer 245, GPS sensor 255 and RTC 130 for acceleration values, location information and time. Read from. These values are stored in memory 215.

The contents of the memory 215 are retained until the product 105 reaches a particular arrangement, eg, the final destination, or is obtained by the end user. When requested, the contents of memory 215 are read and used to analyze the conditions under which product 105 has been exposed.

In an embodiment, the contents of memory 215 are read by connecting an appropriate connector connected to an external computer or other device to connector 275 on communication port 265. For example, by connecting to the connector 275, the power switch 270 turns on the communication port 265 and the connector 275 to generate an interrupt to the microcontroller 110. Upon receiving this interrupt, the microcontroller 110 processes the interrupt, identifies what kind of service routine is appropriate, and executes the process of sending the measured value stored in the memory 215 to the communication port 265 and the connector 275. To do.

In other embodiments, the contents of memory 215 are acquired, for example, by request or communication from company 140 over network 145. First, if there is a data entry that the product 105 has reached the destination user, one of the users of computer 155 will make a request over network 145, or that kind of request will be one of multiple computers 155. Is automatically issued from. The request is routed from the internal network 160 to the computer 150 and then through the network 145 to the microcontroller. Upon receiving this request, the microcontroller 110 returns the measurement result in the memory 215 to the requesting computer 155. Alternatively, or together with this, the request identifies another destination and the microcontroller 110 transmits the measurement result to that other destination.

The present invention has been described above in the context of recording transport conditions. One thing to be understood is that the present invention can also be used for condition monitoring in each phase of the product life cycle. For example, by using the system 100, it is possible to detect an unreasonable stored content or operating temperature and abolish or reduce the guarantee of a sensitive device. System 100 can also be used to detect misuse / abuse of product 105, use outside specified conditions, or anomalous situations that occur intermittently in a normal user environment.

The present invention provides a data acquisition system that is relatively inexpensive and can be easily integrated into existing products. This makes it possible to collect data from products that are widely dispersed, or to collect data at each moment of a particular product. The present invention also provides a data acquisition system that does not require modification of the shape of existing packaging or existing products. Further, the present invention has an advantage that data can be acquired directly from a communication port or via a network.

<figref num="1">It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the data acquisition system by the teaching of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the sensor system incorporated as a part of a data acquisition system.</figref>

Code description

100 Data Acquisition System, 105 Product, 110 Microcontroller, 115 Microprocessor, 120 Onboard Memory, 125 Analog Digital Converter (A / D), 130 Real Time Clock Interrupt Controller (RTC), 135 Universal Asynchronous Receiver (UART) ), 140 Enterprise, 145 Network, 150,155 Computer, 160 Internal Network, 165 Sensor System, 170 Program, 205 Microcontroller Interface, 215 Memory, 220 Control Circuit, 225 Power Supply, 230 Sensor, 235 Humidity Sensor, 240 Temperature Sensor, 245 Acceleration Total, 250 timers, 255 GPS sensors, 260 sensor interfaces, 265 communication ports, 270 power switches, 275 connectors.