Wireless sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12123782-B2
Application number	US-202117922700-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 7, 2021
Priority date	May 7, 2020
Publication date	Oct 22, 2024
Grant date	Oct 22, 2024

Abstract

A temperature sensor device measures a temperature related to a transport cart system and wirelessly transmits the measured temperature. In the transport cart system a transport cart obtains electric power from the power supply line in a non-contact manner. The temperature sensor device includes an E-shaped core, a sensor body, and a temperature sensing substrate. The E-shaped core obtains electric power from the power supply line in a non-contact manner. The sensor body operates by electric power supplied by the E-shaped core and measures the temperature in the vicinity of the terminal block of the transport cart system. The temperature sensing substrate operates by electric power supplied by the E-shaped core and wirelessly transmits the temperature measured by the sensor body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wireless sensor that a) measures a state value related to a mobility system in which a moving body obtains electric power from a power supply line in a non-contact manner, and b) wirelessly transmits the measured state value, the wireless sensor comprising:
a non-contact power receiving unit that obtains electric power from the power supply line in a non-contact manner, and is housed in a case that has at least a portion designed and configured to minimize the production of eddy currents between the non-contact power receiving unit and adjacent materials;
a measurement unit that operates by electric power supplied from the non-contact power receiving unit and measures the state value at a to-be-measured part of the mobility system; and
a wireless transmission unit that operates by electric power supplied from the non-contact power receiving unit and wirelessly transmits the state value measured by the measurement unit, wherein
the non-contact power receiving unit is an E-shaped core with one side open, and
a position of the power supply line is fixed with respect to the E-shaped core.

2. The wireless sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a temperature is measured as the state value.

3. The wireless sensor according to claim 2 , wherein in addition to the temperature, a voltage of the power supply line is measured as the state value.

4. The wireless sensor according to claim 2 , wherein the to-be-measured part is a connection part between the power supply line and a terminal block to which the power supply line is electrically connected, or a part in the vicinity of the connection part.

5. The wireless sensor according to claim 4 , wherein
the terminal block is arranged inside a casing made of metal, and
the wireless transmission unit is arranged outside of the casing.

6. The wireless sensor according to claim 1 , comprising:
a mounting unit that fixes a position of the non-contact power receiving unit, wherein
the mounting unit defines a relative position of the power supply line and the E-shaped core.

7. A mobility system comprising:
the wireless sensor according to claim 1 ;
a plurality of moving bodies that obtain electric power from the power supply line in a non-contact manner; and
a management device that collects the state value measured by the wireless sensor, wherein
the wireless sensor transmits the measured state value to the management device via wireless communications.

Assignees

• Murata Machinery Ltd

Inventors

• Nishioka Naoki

Classifications

• G01K2215/00

  Details concerning sensor power supply · CPC title

• B60M7/00

  Power lines or rails specially adapted for electrically-propelled vehicles of special types, e.g. suspension tramway, ropeway, underground railway · CPC title

• B60L53/12

  Inductive energy transfer · CPC title

• B60L5/00

  Current collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles (current collectors in general H01R41/00) · CPC title

• G08C17/02

  using a radio link · CPC title