A low power consumption control method for a wireless sensor and a system thereof

Abstract

The application provides a low-power consumption control method and system of a wireless sensor, and comprises the following steps: S1: after power-on, the wireless sensor is initialized, and the wireless sensor enters a normal working mode; after receiving a collection instruction of a terminal device, data collection is performed; S2: in the normal working mode, if the wireless sensor does not receive the collection instruction of the terminal device within a first preset time, the wireless sensor enters a periodic sleep mode from the normal working mode; S3: in the periodic sleep mode, whether the collection instruction of the terminal device is received is periodically detected; if the collection instruction of the terminal device is received, the wireless sensor enters the normal working mode from the periodic sleep mode. In the periodic sleep mode, whether the collection instruction of the terminal device is received is periodically detected, so that the wireless sensor can be woken up by the terminal device at any time and switched to the normal working mode while ensuring ultra-low power consumption.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of low-power control technology, and in particular to a low-power control method and system for wireless sensors. Background Technology

[0002] As a type of building foundation structure, pile foundations are buried underground and belong to concealed works. Accurately determining the quality of pile foundation engineering is crucial for ensuring the overall quality and safety of the building. According to the "Technical Specification for Testing of Building Pile Foundations JGJ106-2014," the main methods for pile foundation testing include static load testing, core drilling, low-strain method, high-strain method, and sonic logging. Among these, static load testing typically uses a static load testing instrument, which includes the following components: static load tester, displacement sensor, hydraulic sensor, data acquisition base station, and hydraulic pump controller. Currently, most displacement and pressure sensors used in static load testing are wired, which is time-consuming and cumbersome for on-site installation and disassembly. Furthermore, the complex on-site conditions for static load testing present significant risks of knots or damage to multiple cables, greatly impacting on-site testing efficiency.

[0003] While the problems arising from wired connections for displacement and pressure sensors can be mitigated by wireless solutions, static load testing differs from other pile foundation testing methods. It involves long continuous operating times and carries a high risk factor; typical tonnage tests require 36-48 hours of continuous operation. The entire process demands high real-time performance and accuracy of displacement and pressure sensor data. Furthermore, the static load testing system must be able to provide precise early warnings and control in the event of abnormal settlement. Therefore, using wireless displacement and pressure sensors in practical applications of static load testing presents several technical challenges that need to be overcome, such as the real-time performance and stability of wireless communication, and the comprehensive bottlenecks of power consumption, size, cost, and communication distance in high-frequency wireless data communication scenarios. For example, Chinese patent CN108475100B discloses a working mode switching method, a wireless sensor and a system. In the low-power mode, the wireless sensor determines whether it detects at least one physiological parameter every second preset time period, and automatically enters the normal working mode from the low-power mode when the at least one physiological parameter is detected. In other words, the wireless sensor enters the normal working mode from the low-power mode as long as it detects the physiological parameter, instead of being woken up only according to the actual test needs, which still has the problem of unnecessary power waste. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention proposes a low-power control method and system for wireless sensors to solve the problem that existing wireless sensors are not woken up only according to actual testing needs, and there is still unnecessary power waste.

[0005] The technical solution of the present invention is implemented as follows: On one hand, the present invention provides a low-power control method for wireless sensors, comprising the following steps:

[0006] S1: After power-on, the wireless sensor is initialized and enters normal working mode. After receiving the data acquisition command from the terminal device, the wireless sensor performs data acquisition.

[0007] S2: In normal working mode, if no data collection instruction is received from the terminal device within the first preset time, the wireless sensor will enter periodic sleep mode from normal working mode.

[0008] S3: In periodic sleep mode, periodically check whether a data acquisition command is received from the terminal device. If a data acquisition command is received from the terminal device, the wireless sensor enters normal working mode from periodic sleep mode.

[0009] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, in step S3, the periodic sleep mode includes N large cycles, where N is a positive integer;

[0010] Each major cycle comprises several minor cycles;

[0011] Each small cycle includes a receiving state and a sleep state. The wireless sensor switches between the receiving and sleep states. When in the receiving state, if it receives a collection command or data from a terminal device or a wireless sensor on the same channel, it exits the periodic sleep mode.

[0012] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, the receiving state time and the sleep state time are different under the same large cycle.

[0013] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, when the terminal device simultaneously connects to multiple wireless sensors:

[0014] Based on the different internal network addresses of the sensors, each wireless sensor is configured to enter a periodic sleep mode according to a different initial sleep time.

[0015] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, in step S2, the normal working mode includes several cycles;

[0016] Each cycle includes a receiving state, a transmitting state, and a standby state in sequence. When the wireless sensor is in the receiving state, if it receives a collection command from the terminal device, it enters the transmitting state and sends the collected data back to the terminal device. Then it enters the standby state, and so on.

[0017] When the wireless sensor is in receiving mode, if it does not receive a data acquisition command from the terminal device within a first preset time, it will enter a periodic sleep mode.

[0018] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, the first preset time is 1 minute.

[0019] On the other hand, the present invention provides a system that employs the low-power control method for wireless sensors as described above, wherein the system includes:

[0020] Microcontroller module, data acquisition module, wireless transmission module, LCD display module, power supply module, and GPS module;

[0021] The data acquisition module is electrically connected to the microcontroller module and is used to acquire experimental data in real time and send it to the microcontroller module for processing.

[0022] The wireless transmission module is communicatively connected to the microcontroller module and is used to transmit data processed by the microcontroller module to the terminal device and receive acquisition instructions sent by the terminal device.

[0023] The liquid crystal display module is electrically connected to the microcontroller module and is used to display experimental data processed by the microcontroller module;

[0024] The GPS module is electrically connected to the microcontroller module and is used to locate the wireless sensor and send the location data to the microcontroller module for processing.

[0025] The microcontroller module is used to switch between the normal working mode and the periodic sleep mode of the wireless sensor according to the received acquisition command.

[0026] The power supply module is electrically connected to the microcontroller module, the data acquisition module, and the wireless transmission module, respectively, and is used to supply power to the microcontroller module, the data acquisition module, and the wireless transmission module.

[0027] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, the wireless transmission module uses Lora for wireless transmission.

[0028] The low-power control method and system for wireless sensors of the present invention have the following advantages over the prior art:

[0029] Beneficial effects:

[0030] (1) In the periodic sleep mode, periodically check whether the acquisition command of the terminal device is received, so as to ensure ultra-low power consumption while being able to be woken up by the terminal device at any time and switch to normal working mode.

[0031] (2) Increasing the time of receiving state and sleep state can effectively ensure low power consumption, while also achieving a high data reception success rate;

[0032] (3) Adopting periodic sleep mode and normal working mode (periodic standby working mode), the standby power consumption is greatly reduced when the device is not communicating. Even when the device is idle, it can ensure that communication with the terminal device is restored after suddenly entering the experiment. Attached Figure Description

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the low-power control method for the wireless sensor of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the low-power control process of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 3 This is a timing diagram of the periodic sleep mode of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a timing diagram of the normal operating mode of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 5 This is a block diagram of the low-power control system for the wireless sensor of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0039] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0040] Example 1

[0041] like Figure 1-4 As shown, a low-power control method for a wireless sensor according to the present invention includes the following steps:

[0042] S1: After power-on, the wireless sensor is initialized and enters normal working mode. After receiving the data acquisition command from the terminal device, the wireless sensor performs data acquisition.

[0043] S2: In normal working mode, if no data collection instruction is received from the terminal device within the first preset time, the wireless sensor will enter periodic sleep mode from normal working mode.

[0044] S3: In periodic sleep mode, periodically check whether a data acquisition command is received from the terminal device. If a data acquisition command is received from the terminal device, the wireless sensor enters normal working mode from periodic sleep mode.

[0045] This method has two operating modes: normal operating mode and periodic sleep mode. Upon power-up, the system initializes and determines the appropriate operating mode based on the currently received data (collection commands from the terminal device): In normal operating mode, if the wireless sensor does not receive a collection command from the terminal device within a certain time, it enters periodic sleep mode. In periodic sleep mode, it periodically checks for received collection commands from the terminal device, ensuring ultra-low power consumption while being able to be woken up by the terminal device at any time and switch back to normal operating mode. This method ensures that during field operations, after static load experiments are completed, even without shutting down the wireless sensor, it will enter sleep mode after a period of time, saving energy. When experiments resume, the wireless sensor can enter normal operating mode upon detecting a collection command, eliminating the need for tedious manual operations such as reinstallation or configuration.

[0046] In step S3, the periodic sleep mode includes N large cycles, where N is a positive integer;

[0047] Each major cycle comprises several minor cycles;

[0048] Each small cycle includes a receiving state and a sleep state. The wireless sensor switches between the receiving and sleep states. When in the receiving state, if it receives a collection command or data from a terminal device or a wireless sensor on the same channel, it exits the periodic sleep mode.

[0049] The following example illustrates the periodic hibernation pattern, such as... Figure 3 As shown, when the wireless sensor does not receive a data acquisition command from the terminal device (controller), the wireless sensor will enter a periodic sleep mode. One large cycle includes five small cycles (the five small cycles are just an example and can be increased or decreased according to the actual situation). Each small cycle includes two states: receiving and sleep. The wireless sensor switches between receiving and sleep states. When it is in the receiving state, if it receives a data acquisition command or data from the terminal device or a wireless sensor on the same channel, it will exit the periodic sleep mode.

[0050] The receiving state time and the sleep state time are different within the same large cycle.

[0051] like Figure 3As shown in Table 1, the durations of the five receiving states and the sleep state are different under one large cycle. The durations of the five receiving states and the sleep state increase sequentially under one large cycle. Increasing the durations of the receiving state and the sleep state can effectively ensure low power consumption while maintaining a high data reception success rate.

[0052] Table 1. Receive state time and sleep state time schedule under periodic sleep mode.

[0053]

[0054] When a terminal device connects to multiple wireless sensors simultaneously:

[0055] Based on the different internal network addresses of the sensors, each wireless sensor is configured to enter a periodic sleep mode according to a different initial sleep time.

[0056] As shown in Table 1, Addr is the sensor's internal network address, used when a terminal device connects to multiple wireless sensors to receive data separately, ensuring a high success rate for data reception. The wireless sensor internal network addresses are numbered 1-4 (four wireless sensors are just an example; the number can be increased or decreased according to actual needs). The time when multiple sensors enter periodic sleep mode varies and is related to their internal network addresses. Table 1, combined with... Figure 3 As shown, the dotted line on the left indicates that after the wireless sensor does not receive data within the first preset time (e.g., 60 seconds) of normal operation mode, it enters the periodic sleep mode, which is the first major cycle. The initial sleep time for each wireless sensor to enter the periodic sleep mode is (21+100-Addr-1)x10 ms. The second major cycle begins to sleep according to the reception state time and sleep state time in Table 1.

[0057] In step S2, the normal working mode includes several cycles;

[0058] Each cycle includes a receiving state, a transmitting state, and a standby state in sequence. When the wireless sensor is in the receiving state, if it receives a collection command from the terminal device, it enters the transmitting state and sends the collected data back to the terminal device. Then it enters the standby state, and so on.

[0059] When the wireless sensor is in receiving mode, if it does not receive a data acquisition command from the terminal device within a first preset time, it will enter a periodic sleep mode.

[0060] In the on-site environment, after the equipment (wireless sensor) is installed, it is not used for experiments 24 / 7. The equipment is idle for a period of time. If the equipment is always in receiving mode when idle, the power consumption will be very high. If the equipment is put into sleep mode directly, it will be unable to wake up and communicate when it receives a data acquisition command and needs to start working immediately. This method uses a periodic sleep mode and a normal working mode (periodic standby mode). When the equipment is not communicating, the standby power consumption is greatly reduced. Even when the equipment is idle, it can ensure that communication with the terminal device is restored when suddenly entering the experiment. By adopting a control method that seamlessly switches between periodic sleep and periodic standby, ultra-low power consumption of the wireless sensor is achieved, greatly improving the battery life of the wireless sensor.

[0061] The first preset time is 1 minute.

[0062] The following example illustrates the normal working mode, such as Figure 4 As shown, to ensure both ultra-low power consumption and high data transmission success rate, after the wireless sensor is woken up, the RF module enters standby mode and records the current time after transmitting data once, with a cycle of 1 second. When the terminal device sends a data acquisition command, the terminal device is in a command transmission gap. After the wireless sensor transmits data back, it enters standby mode. 30ms-50ms before the next command is sent, it is woken up to enter receiving mode. If the wireless sensor does not receive a command within 1 minute after entering receiving mode, it enters periodic sleep mode. Using this normal operating mode, the wireless sensor's state is divided into three states within 1 second: receive (RX), transmit (TX), and standby. The standby time is 970ms, the receiving time is 20ms, and the data transmission time is <10ms. During standby, the wireless sensor operates in low-power mode and can enter receiving mode earlier to ensure normal data reception, thus achieving both ultra-low power consumption and normal data transmission.

[0063] Thus, the method in this embodiment ensures that during field work, after the static load test is completed, even if the wireless sensor is not turned off, it can enter a sleep state after being left for a period of time, saving power. When the experiment continues, the wireless sensor can enter the normal working mode as soon as it detects the acquisition command, without the need for tedious manual operations such as reinstallation or configuration.

[0064] Example 2

[0065] A system is provided that employs the low-power control method for wireless sensors as described in Embodiment 1, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the system includes:

[0066] Microcontroller module, data acquisition module, wireless transmission module, LCD display module, power supply module, and GPS module;

[0067] The data acquisition module is electrically connected to the microcontroller module and is used to acquire experimental data in real time and send it to the microcontroller module for processing.

[0068] The wireless transmission module is communicatively connected to the microcontroller module and is used to transmit data processed by the microcontroller module to the terminal device and receive acquisition instructions sent by the terminal device.

[0069] The liquid crystal display module is electrically connected to the microcontroller module and is used to display experimental data processed by the microcontroller module;

[0070] The GPS module is electrically connected to the microcontroller module and is used to locate the wireless sensor and send the location data to the microcontroller module for processing.

[0071] The microcontroller module is used to switch between the normal working mode and the periodic sleep mode of the wireless sensor according to the received acquisition command.

[0072] The power supply module is electrically connected to the microcontroller module, the data acquisition module, and the wireless transmission module, respectively, and is used to supply power to the microcontroller module, the data acquisition module, and the wireless transmission module.

[0073] This wireless sensor features a waterproof and dustproof design. It detects displacement changes via an extended self-resetting lever, and current values ​​can be viewed on a screen or by uploading data to a device. It includes a sleep switch, manual zeroing, manual setting of the wireless communication channel, and channel adaptive functions. The channel range is 1-8, and the sensor supports multiple channels, allowing multiple devices to conduct experiments simultaneously without interference. It can automatically network and configure channels, or manually change the communication channel by adjusting the lever to a specified position and pressing the power button. When using the device to network sensors, manual channel setting is unnecessary; the device will search for sensors within a fixed channel range. Once a sensor is found on a channel, its channel will be changed to the channel set by the device. The sensor's full-scale range is 50mm. Compared to traditional wired sensors, it is adaptable to various working environments, with a communication distance of up to 100 meters between the sensor and the device. This operating mode offers advantages such as ultra-low power consumption and ultra-long standby time: sleep power consumption <0.095uA, standby power consumption <7mA, and transmission power consumption <11mA. It has an IP68 protection rating.

[0074] The wireless transmission module uses Lora for wireless transmission.

[0075] All wireless sensors use the ultra-low power LoRa wireless transmission solution.

[0076] Thus, the system in this embodiment can ensure that when working on-site, after the static load test is completed, even if the wireless sensor is not turned off, it can enter a sleep state after being placed for a period of time, saving power; when continuing the experiment, the wireless sensor can enter the normal working mode as soon as it detects the acquisition command, without the need for tedious manual operations such as reinstallation or configuration.

[0077] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A low-power control method for a wireless sensor, characterized in that: Includes the following steps: S1: After power-on, the wireless sensor is initialized and enters normal working mode. After receiving the data acquisition command from the terminal device, the wireless sensor performs data acquisition. S2: In normal working mode, if no acquisition command is received from the terminal device within a first preset time, the wireless sensor will enter a periodic sleep mode from the normal working mode. The normal working mode includes several cycles. Each cycle includes a receiving state, a transmitting state, and a standby state in sequence. When the wireless sensor is in the receiving state, if it receives an acquisition command from the terminal device, it will enter the transmitting state and send the acquired data back to the terminal device, and then enter the standby state, and so on. When the wireless sensor is in the receiving state, if it does not receive an acquisition command from the terminal device within a first preset time, it will enter a periodic sleep mode. S3: In periodic sleep mode, the sensor periodically checks whether it receives a data acquisition command from the terminal device. If a data acquisition command is received, the wireless sensor transitions from periodic sleep mode to normal operation mode. The periodic sleep mode consists of N large cycles, where N is a positive integer. Each large cycle includes several small cycles. Each small cycle includes a receiving state and a sleep state. The wireless sensor switches between receiving and sleep states. When in the receiving state, if it receives a data acquisition command or data from the terminal device or a wireless sensor on the same channel, it exits the periodic sleep mode. The receiving state time and sleep state time within the same large cycle increase sequentially with the time sequence of the small cycles, with the initial small cycle having the shortest receiving state time and sleep state time. When the terminal device connects to multiple wireless sensors simultaneously: based on the different internal network addresses of the sensors, each wireless sensor is set to enter the periodic sleep mode with a different initial sleep time.

2. The low-power control method for wireless sensors as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The first preset time is 1 minute.

3. A system employing a low-power control method for a wireless sensor as described in any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: The system includes: Microcontroller module, data acquisition module, wireless transmission module, LCD display module, power supply module, and GPS module; The data acquisition module is electrically connected to the microcontroller module and is used to acquire experimental data in real time and send it to the microcontroller module for processing. The wireless transmission module is communicatively connected to the microcontroller module and is used to transmit data processed by the microcontroller module to the terminal device and receive acquisition instructions sent by the terminal device. The liquid crystal display module is electrically connected to the microcontroller module and is used to display experimental data processed by the microcontroller module; The GPS module is electrically connected to the microcontroller module and is used to locate the wireless sensor and send the location data to the microcontroller module for processing. The microcontroller module is used to switch between the normal working mode and the periodic sleep mode of the wireless sensor according to the received acquisition command. The power supply module is electrically connected to the microcontroller module, the data acquisition module, and the wireless transmission module, respectively, and is used to supply power to the microcontroller module, the data acquisition module, and the wireless transmission module.

4. The system as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The wireless transmission module uses Lora for wireless transmission.

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