Electrical apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides an electrical device capable of inhibiting unintended switching of an operation state. The electrical device of the present disclosure includes an instruction input unit that inputs a switching instruction from the outside in a non-contact manner, switches an operation state of a circuit to a normal operation mode and a sleep mode in accordance with the input switching instruction, and further, can switch to the normal operation mode in which switching to the sleep mode is prohibited. In addition, when switching to the normal operation mode in the locked state, the input time of the switching instruction to the instruction input unit is longer than when switching to the normal operation mode in the unlocked state in which switching to the sleep mode is permitted.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electric appliance capable of switching an operation state of a circuit to a sleep mode and a normal operation mode. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the past, as such an electric appliance, an electric appliance that switches an operation state from the outside in a non-contact manner is known (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1).

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT LITERATURE

[0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-086411 (paragraph

[0008] , paragraph

[0014] , and Figure 2 and the like) SUMMARY

[0006] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] However, in the case where the operation state is switched in a non-contact manner, there is a problem that the operation state is switched against the intention due to the influence of external interference, and countermeasures therefor are being sought.

[0008] SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

[0009] An electric appliance of a first aspect of the present disclosure completed in order to solve the above problem is provided with: an instruction input section that inputs a switching instruction from the outside in a non-contact manner; and a mode switching section that switches a circuit of the electric appliance to a normal operation mode and a sleep mode in accordance with the input switching instruction, wherein the normal operation mode has: the normal operation mode in an unlocked state that allows switching to the sleep mode; and the normal operation mode in a locked state that prohibits switching to the sleep mode, the switching instruction includes: a first switching instruction that switches the normal operation mode to the sleep mode; a second switching instruction that switches the sleep mode to the normal operation mode and maintains it in the unlocked state; and a third switching instruction that switches the sleep mode to the normal operation mode and maintains it in the locked state, the third switching instruction is longer in input time or more complex in input manner to the instruction input section than the second switching instruction, the switching instruction uses any one of a magnetic wave, an optical wave, or an acoustic wave as a carrier wave, the instruction input section has a carrier wave detection sensor that detects the carrier wave, the instruction content of the switching instruction differs in accordance with a difference in a detection time length during which the carrier wave is continuously detected by the carrier wave detection sensor, the switching instruction whose detection time length is less than a predetermined reference time length is the second switching instruction, and the switching instruction whose detection time length is the reference time length or more is the third switching instruction.

[0010] The electrical apparatus of the second aspect of the present disclosure has: an instruction input unit that inputs a switching instruction from the outside in a non-contact manner; and a mode switching unit that switches a circuit of the electrical apparatus to a normal operation mode and a sleep mode in accordance with the input switching instruction, wherein the normal operation mode has: an unlocked state of the normal operation mode that allows switching to the sleep mode; and a locked state of the normal operation mode that prohibits switching to the sleep mode, wherein the switching instruction includes: a first switching instruction that switches the normal operation mode to the sleep mode; a second switching instruction that switches the sleep mode to the normal operation mode and maintains the unlocked state; and a third switching instruction that switches the sleep mode to the normal operation mode and maintains the locked state, wherein the third switching instruction is longer in input time or more complex in input method to the instruction input unit than the second switching instruction, wherein the switching instruction uses any one of a magnetic wave, an optical wave, or an acoustic wave as a carrier wave, wherein the instruction input unit has a carrier wave detection sensor that detects the carrier wave, wherein the electrical apparatus has: a wireless circuit; a channel switching unit that switches a channel of wireless communication based on the wireless circuit to a first channel or a second channel in accordance with the input switching instruction on the condition that it is not the locked state; and first and second carrier wave detection sensors as the carrier wave detection sensor, wherein the second switching instruction or the third switching instruction is discriminated in accordance with a difference in one of: a difference in time during which the carrier wave is continuously detected by the carrier wave detection sensor, that is, a detection time length, and which one of the first and second carrier wave detection sensors detects the carrier wave, and a difference in the other of: a difference in time during which the carrier wave is continuously detected by the carrier wave detection sensor, that is, a detection time length, and which one of the first and second carrier wave detection sensors detects the carrier wave, and a discrimination of which one of the first and second channels is used is made in accordance with the difference. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the overall structure of a monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical structure of a sub-terminal.

[0013] Figure 3 shows a sub-terminal, (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view, and (C) is a rear view.

[0014] Figure 4 shows a sub-terminal, (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view, and (C) is a rear view. Figure 3The diagram (B) is viewed from the direction of B. Figure 3 The diagram in (B) is, and (C) is... Figure 3 In (A), the CC section view is, and (D) is Figure 4 DD section view in (C).

[0015] Figure 5 This is a block diagram showing the control structure of the sub-terminal.

[0016] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of the mode control program. Detailed Implementation

[0017] Reference Figures 1-6 An embodiment of the monitoring system 100 disclosed herein will be described. Figure 1 The monitoring system 100 of this embodiment shown includes: multiple slave terminals 20, a master terminal 40, and a monitoring terminal 50 disposed within the stomachs 10S (specifically, the first stomach or the second stomach) of multiple cows 10, which are the objects of monitoring. They are connected via a communication network 101 including wireless base stations 400 and 401. The multiple slave terminals 20 acquire data related to the state within the stomachs 10S of the cows 10 and transmit it wirelessly. This data is received by the master terminal 40 and collected by the monitoring terminal 50. It should be noted that the slave terminals 20 are equivalent to the "electrical equipment" in the technical solution.

[0018] like Figure 2 As shown, the sub-terminal 20 includes a pressure sensor 70, a circuit board 71, and a battery 72, etc. In order to protect them from the effects of gastric acid and the like in the stomach 10S, they are sealed and enclosed inside the housing 73 in a waterproof state.

[0019] The outer casing 73 is, for example, a molded resin article, such as... Figure 3 , 4 As shown, it forms a cylindrical shape with bottoms at both ends that gradually narrows from one end to the other. Figure 3 The left side (of the image) forms a symmetrical shape along the axial direction. Additionally, as... Figure 3 As shown in (A) and (B), a pair of flat surfaces 73H, cut axially, are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 73. Although not shown, a first detection area 79A and a second detection area 79B, described later, are respectively provided on the pair of flat surfaces 73H. It should be noted that the stepped portions 73A and 73B between the outer peripheral surface of the housing 73 and the flat surfaces 73H are inclined surfaces (see Figure 1). Figure 4 (B) and (C)).

[0020] like Figure 2As shown, the pressure receiving surface 70A of the pressure sensor 70 is exposed to the outside of the housing 73, and the pressure in the rumen 10S, which is one of the states of the cow 10, is measured by the measurement unit 21 including the pressure sensor 70 and the measurement circuit 74. The pressure sensor 70 corresponds to the "monitoring sensor" of the technical solution.

[0021] The oscillation circuit 75, the radio circuit 76, the control circuit 77, and the like are mounted on the circuit board 71. The oscillation circuit 75 has an oscillator as a main part, and imparts a periodic signal, which is the basis of a carrier wave for wireless and time measurement, to the radio circuit 76 and the control circuit 77. The radio circuit 76 performs transmission and reception of wireless signals, and has, for example, a coil antenna, that is, an antenna 29, printed on the circuit board 71. In the present embodiment, a plurality of radio circuits 76 are prepared, and a channel usable at the time of communication is selected and used according to the usage status of the surroundings. In the present embodiment, one of the channels CH1 and CH2 is selected and used.

[0022] In addition, the magnetic sensors 30A and 30B are mounted on the circuit board 71. The magnetic sensors 30A and 30B are constituted by, for example, a Hall element such as a Hall IC, and in the present embodiment, a two-pole detection type Hall element that detects both S poles and N poles is used. The magnetic sensors 30A and 30B are respectively arranged at positions close to the first detection region 79A and the second detection region 79B, and detect, for example, a magnet that approaches the first detection region 79A and the second detection region 79B. The magnetic sensors 30A and 30B output the detected magnet as a magnetic detection signal to the control circuit 77. As the magnetic sensors 30A and 30B, instead of the Hall element, a reed switch, a coil, a magnetoresistance element, a superconducting quantum interference element, or the like can also be used. The magnetic sensors 30A and 30B correspond to the "instruction input unit" and the "carrier wave detection sensor" of the technical solution.

[0023] In addition, the LED elements 78A and 78B are also mounted on the circuit board 71. The LED elements 78A and 78B, as described later, notify the outside of the switching of the operation state of the sub-terminal 20 by the pattern of lighting and flickering thereof. In the present embodiment, the LED elements 78A and 78B respectively emit red and blue visible light. Here, at least a part of the housing 73 has a light-transmitting property, and the light emitted from the LED elements 78A and 78B is transmitted therethrough. Note that, instead of the LED elements 78A and 78B, organic EL elements can also be mounted. The LED elements 78A and 78B correspond to the "lighting notification unit" of the technical solution.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 6, the sub-terminal 20 has a housing 73, a measurement unit 21, a communication unit 22, a display unit 23, and a control unit 24. Figure 2As shown, the control circuit 77 has a microcomputer 22 including a CPU 22A and a memory 22B as a main part. The CPU 22A is connected to the measurement circuit 74, the oscillation circuit 75, the radio circuit 76, the LED elements 78A, 78B, and the like, and controls them to execute a prescribed transmission processing program and the like. In addition, the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B are connected to an interrupt terminal of the CPU 22A, and when the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B detect a magnetic field, the magnetic detection becomes an interrupt signal, and the CPU 22A executes a mode control program PG1 described later through interrupt processing. In the memory 22B, an identification number set for each slave terminal 20, the transmission processing program, the mode control program PG1, and the like are stored.

[0025] The control circuit 77 operates from the battery 72, and its operation state is switched between a normal operation mode and a sleep mode in which power consumption is suppressed when the CPU 22A executes the mode control program PG1 through interrupt processing. When the control circuit 77 is switched to the sleep mode, power supply to components other than the CPU 22A, the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B, and the LED elements 78A, 78B is stopped. Further, when the control circuit 77 is switched to the normal operation mode, power supply to the measurement circuit 74, the oscillation circuit 75, the radio circuit 76, and the like is started, and the CPU 22A repeatedly executes the transmission processing program at a prescribed cycle. The control circuit 77 corresponds to the "circuit" of the technical solution.

[0026] In the Figure 5 In the

[0027] Specifically, if the CPU 22A executes the transmission processing program, the slave terminal 20 operates as follows. First, the trigger generation section 23 generates a measurement trigger at a certain period (for example, 1 [minute]), and pressure measurement is performed by the pressure sensor 70 each time the measurement trigger is generated. Then, the data generation section 24 receives the measurement result of the pressure sensor 70 from the measurement circuit 74 and generates pressure data D1 by digitizing the measurement result, and supplies the pressure data D1 to the data transmission section 25.

[0028] The data transmission section 25 stores the identification number of the slave terminal 20 and the pressure data D1 in a data frame of a predetermined data length to generate transmission data D2. Here, the memory 22B temporarily accumulates the pressure data D1 generated by the data generation section 24 in the memory 22B, and the data transmission section 25 stores a plurality of pressure data D1 read from the memory 22B in the transmission data D2 (in the present embodiment, for example, ten pressure data D1 are stored). Then, the transmission trigger is generated by the trigger generation section 23 at a predetermined period (for example, 10 [minutes]), and each time the transmission trigger is generated, the data transmission section 25 wirelessly transmits the generated transmission data D2 using the radio circuit 76. Also, the transmission data D2 wirelessly transmitted by a plurality of slave terminals 20 is received by one master terminal 40. Here, the data transmission section 25 transmits the same transmission data D2 a plurality of times each time the transmission trigger is generated, whereby it is suppressed that the transmission timing of the transmission data D2 of a certain slave terminal 20 overlaps with the transmission timing of another slave terminal 20 or the like and cannot be received by the master terminal 40. In the present embodiment, for example, five times are transmitted at intervals of 0.6 [seconds]. Note that, in the slave terminal 20, in addition to the pressure sensor 70, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, or the like can be provided, and a structure in which information other than the pressure in the stomach 10S is wirelessly transmitted can be adopted as the state of the cow 10. Note that the data transmission section 25 corresponds to the "wireless control section" of the technical solution.

[0029] The master terminal 40 has a function as a relay base station and a function of protocol conversion, and is provided in a cowshed or a pasture where a plurality of cows 10 are raised, for example. Also, the master terminal 40 transmits the transmission data D2 received from the slave terminal 20 to the monitoring terminal 50 via a general communication line 300. In the present embodiment, one master terminal 40 is connected to one monitoring terminal 50, but for example, the master terminal 40 can be provided for each cowshed or pasture, and a plurality of master terminals 40 can be connected to one monitoring terminal 50.

[0030] The monitoring terminal 50 is constituted by a server computer, a personal computer, or the like, and for example, based on the pressure data D1 included in the transmission data D2 from the slave terminal 20, the slave terminal 20 of the cow 10 having an abnormality is discriminated, and the user terminal 60 is notified (see Figure 1 ). Note that the monitoring terminal 50 can also be a cloud server constituted by a plurality of servers.

[0031] As described above, the mode control program PG1 switches the operating state of the control circuit 77 between a normal operating mode that supplies power to the measurement circuit 74, oscillation circuit 75, and wireless circuit 76 that execute the transmission processing program, and a sleep mode that stops supplying power to them. Here, as described above, the casing 73 of the sub-terminal 20 is a sealed structure, but the mode control program PG1 is executed when the magnetic sensors 30A and 30B provided in the sub-terminal 20 perform magnetic detection. Therefore, the operating state of the control circuit 77 can be switched non-contactly simply by bringing a magnet or the like closer from the outside. Thus, for example, after manufacturing the sub-terminal 20, when it is not necessary to acquire or wirelessly transmit data related to the state of the cow 10, such as when the sub-terminal 20 is shipped from the factory, the operating state of the control circuit 77 is set to sleep mode, and when the cow 10 is placed in its stomach 10S, it can be switched to normal operating mode.

[0032] Specifically, the magnetic field of the magnet is input to the magnetic sensors 30A and 30B as a switching command, and the magnetic detection becomes an interrupt signal. The CPU 22A executes the mode control program PG1 through interrupt handling. In addition, in this embodiment, the interrupt signal from the magnetic sensor 30A becomes a signal to set the channel used by the wireless circuit 76 for communication as channel CH1, and the interrupt signal from the magnetic sensor 30B also becomes a signal to set the channel as channel CH2.

[0033] Furthermore, in this embodiment, even if magnetic sensors 30A and 30B detect magnetism, they can switch to a normal operating mode that prevents subsequent switching to sleep mode. Hereinafter, the normal operating mode that prevents returning to sleep mode will be referred to as the "locked state normal operating mode," and the normal operating mode that allows returning to sleep mode will be referred to as the "unlocked state normal operating mode." When switching to the locked state normal operating mode, the channel set at this time also remains in a locked state that prevents subsequent switching. It should be noted that when the control circuit 77 switches to sleep mode, power supply to magnetic sensors 30A and 30B is not stopped, but when switching to the locked state normal operating mode, power supply to magnetic sensors 30A and 30B is stopped.

[0034] When executing mode control program PG1, such as Figure 5 As shown, the CPU 22A functions as a switching determination unit 31, a mode switching unit 32, a channel switching unit 33, a lock switching unit 34, a notification control unit 35, and a status storage unit 36. The status storage unit 36 ​​stores the operating state of the control circuit 77 and the set channel. Specifically, the operating state and channel of the control circuit 77 are set by the processing performed by the switching determination unit 31, mode switching unit 32, channel switching unit 33, and lock switching unit 34 (described later), and are updated and stored each time they are set.

[0035] The switching discrimination section 31 is executed at the time of the magnetic input to the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B. The switching discrimination section 31 has a first discrimination section 31A, a second discrimination section 31B, and a third discrimination section 31C, and any discrimination result is stored in the state storage section 36.

[0036] The first discrimination section 31A discriminates the current operation state of the control circuit 77 and the set channel from the state storage section 36.

[0037] The second discrimination section 31B discriminates which of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B detects the magnet, and discriminates whether the content of the detected magnet indicates the mode switching instruction instructing the switching of the mode or the channel switching instruction instructing the switching of the channel. Specifically, the current magnetic sensor 30A, 30B in which the magnet is detected is compared with the last magnetic sensor 30A, 30B in which the magnet was detected, and in the case where they are the same, the mode switching instruction is discriminated, and in the case where they are different, the channel switching instruction is discriminated. Note that the mode switching instruction corresponds to the "first switching instruction" or the "second switching instruction" of the technical solution.

[0038] The third discrimination section 31C discriminates whether the content of the detected magnet indicates the lock switching instruction instructing the switching to the normal operation mode of the lock state. Specifically, in the case where the magnetic detection time during which the magnet is continuously detected by the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B is equal to or longer than a first reference time T1 (for example, 5 [seconds]), the lock switching instruction is discriminated, and in the case where it is shorter than the first reference time T1, the unlock instruction which is not the lock switching instruction but maintains the operation state of the control circuit 77 after the permission is discriminated. Note that the magnetic detection time corresponds to the "detection duration" of the technical solution, the first reference time T1 corresponds to the "reference duration" of the technical solution, and the lock switching instruction corresponds to the "third switching instruction" of the technical solution.

[0039] The mode switching section 32 switches the operation state of the control circuit 77 based on the discrimination results of the first discrimination section 31A and the second discrimination section 31B. Specifically, when the magnet is continuously detected by either of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B (the mode switching instruction), the normal operation mode and the sleep mode are switched. That is, for example, in the case where the current operation state of the control circuit 77 is the normal operation mode, if the last magnetic detection is the magnetic sensor 30A and the current magnetic detection is also the magnetic sensor 30A, the sleep mode is switched. At this time, in the case where the current magnetic detection is the magnetic sensor 30B, it is the channel switching instruction, and thus the switching of the mode is not performed, the normal operation mode is maintained, and the channel is switched by the channel switching section 33 described later.

[0040] However, in the present embodiment, in the case where the current operation state of the control circuit 77 is the sleep mode, either the mode switching instruction or the channel switching instruction switches to the normal operation mode.

[0041] In addition, in the case where the current operation state of the control circuit 77 is the normal operation mode in the lock state, the switching to the sleep mode is prohibited, and thus the operation state is not switched, and the normal operation mode in the lock state is maintained.

[0042] The channel switching section 33 sets the channel used by the wireless circuit 76 at the time of communication, based on the discrimination results of the first and second discrimination sections 31A and 31B. As described above, it is possible to set which wireless channel CH1, CH2 to use, depending on which of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B has detected a magnetic field. In the present embodiment, the channel CH1 is set when the magnetic sensor 30A has detected a magnetic field, and the channel CH2 is set when the magnetic sensor 30B has detected a magnetic field. Thus, when the magnetic sensor 30A, 30B that has detected a magnetic field last time is different from the magnetic sensor 30A, 30B that has detected a magnetic field this time (channel switching instruction), the switching of the channel is performed, and when a magnetic field has been continuously detected by either of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B (mode switching instruction), the channel set last time is maintained.

[0043] The lock switching section 34, after the mode switching section 32 and the channel switching section 33 have been executed, determines whether to switch to the normal operation mode in the lock state, based on the discrimination result of the third discrimination section 31C. Specifically, when the magnetic detection time is equal to or longer than the first reference time T1 (lock switching instruction), the normal operation mode in the lock state, which cannot be switched to the sleep mode thereafter, is switched to. At this time, even in the case where the sleep mode is switched by the mode switching section 32, the normal operation mode in the lock state is switched to. On the other hand, when the magnetic detection time is shorter than the first reference time T1 (unlock instruction), the operation state after the switching is maintained by the mode switching section 32.

[0044] In addition, based on the discrimination result of the third discrimination section 31C, in the case of the lock switching instruction, the channel set by the channel switching section 33 is also maintained in the lock state, which cannot be changed thereafter, and in the case of the unlock instruction, the set channel is maintained in a state where the switching of the channel can be performed by the magnetic detection of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B thereafter.

[0045] The operation state of the control circuit 77 thus set and the set channel are stored in the state storage section 36. Further, when the operation state of the control circuit 77 is switched to the normal operation mode, the power supply to the measurement circuit 74, the oscillation circuit 75, the wireless circuit 76, and the like is started, and the CPU 22A repeatedly executes the transmission processing program at a predetermined cycle.

[0046] The notification control section 35 controls the LED elements 78A, 78B to change the pattern of lighting and flickering of the LED elements 78A, 78B based on the result of the discrimination by the discrimination section 31, and to notify the outside of the switching of the operation state of the control circuit 77 and the setting of the channel.

[0047] Specifically, the notification control section 35 first causes the LED element 78A to flicker at high speed at the first interval (for example, 0.5 [sec] interval) when the magnetic sensor 30A detects a magnetic field, and causes the LED element 78B to flicker at high speed at the first interval (for example, 0.5 [sec] interval) when the magnetic sensor 30B detects a magnetic field, based on the second discrimination section 3 IB. Thereby, the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B detect a magnetic field, and notify the operator of the switching of the operation state of the control circuit 77 and / or the channel.

[0048] Next, the notification control section 35 changes the flickering state according to the magnetic detection time of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B based on the third discrimination section 31C. Specifically, in the case where the detection of a magnetic field ends in less than the first reference time Tl, when the current operation state of the control circuit 77 is the sleep mode according to the first discrimination section 31A, the LED elements 78A, 78B are caused to flicker at low speed for three times at the second interval (for example, 1.0 [sec] interval) from the high-speed flickering at the first interval, and then extinguished. On the other hand, when the current operation state of the control circuit 77 is the normal operation mode, the LED elements 78A, 78B are caused to flicker at high speed at the first interval, and then extinguished. Thereby, the operator is notified of whether the operation state of the control circuit 77 is switched from the sleep mode to the normal operation mode, or from the normal operation mode to the sleep mode.

[0049] Further, the notification control section 35 switches the LED elements 78A, 78B from the high-speed flickering state at the first interval to the lighting state when the detection of a magnetic field continues for one or more of the first reference time Tl. Furthermore, when the detection of a magnetic field ends, the LED elements 78A, 78B are caused to flicker at low speed for three times and then extinguished. Thereby, the operator is notified that the operation state of the control circuit 77 is shifted to the normal operation mode of the lock state. Further, the notification control section 35 causes the LED elements 78A, 78B to remain in the extinguished state when the current operation state of the control circuit 77 is the normal operation mode of the lock state. Thereby, the operator is notified of the normal operation mode of the lock state.

[0050] Hereinafter, Figure 6An example of the mode control program PG1 executed by the CPU 22A of the sub-machine terminal 20 is shown. As described above, the mode control program PG1 is executed when the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B detect a magnetic field and input the magnetic detection as an interrupt signal to the CPU 22A (in S12). Here, in the case where the operation state of the control circuit 77 is set to the lock state of the normal operation mode, the power supply to the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B is originally stopped without being detected by the magnetic field, and thus the mode control program PG1 is not executed (in S11). Then, it is determined which of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B detects a magnetic field (in S13), and for the magnetic detection of the magnetic sensor 30A (in S13), the LED element 78A is caused to blink at high speed (in S14), and for the magnetic detection of the magnetic sensor 30B (in S13), the LED element 78B is caused to blink at high speed (in S15), to notify the operator of the operation state of the switching control circuit 77 and / or the channel.

[0051] Next, for the magnetic detection of the magnetic sensor 30A (in S13), the channel used by the radio circuit 76 is set to the channel CH1 (in S16), and for the magnetic detection of the magnetic sensor 30B (in S13), it is set to the channel CH2 (in S17).

[0052] Then, it is determined whether the detection of the magnetic field is equal to or greater than the first reference time Tl or less than the first reference time Tl (in S18, S19), and in the case where it is equal to or greater than the first reference time Tl (in S18, No, in S19, No), for the magnetic detection of the magnetic sensor 30A (in S18, No), the LED element 78A is caused to blink at low speed three times further after being shifted to the lighted state and then extinguished, and for the magnetic detection of the magnetic sensor 30B (in S19, No), the LED element 78B is caused to blink at low speed three times further after being shifted to the lighted state and then extinguished (in S20, S21). Next, the operation state of the control circuit 77 is switched to the lock state of the normal operation mode (in S22), and the mode control program PG1 is exited.

[0053] On the other hand, in the case where the detection of the magnetic field is less than the first reference time Tl (in S18, Yes, in S19, Yes), it is determined which of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B detects a magnetic field (in S13), and in the case where the operation state of the control circuit 77 is set to the lock state of the normal operation mode (in S23, No, in S24, No), both of the LED elements 78A, 78B are caused to be instantaneously lighted and then extinguished (in S25, S27), the operation state of the control circuit 77 is switched to the sleep mode (in S26, S28), and the mode control program PG1 is exited.

[0054] Then, in a case where the current operation state of the control circuit 77 is the sleep mode (YES in S23, YES in S24), the magnetic detection of the magnetic sensor 30A (YES in S23) causes the LED element 78A to be turned off after blinking at low speed three times, and the magnetic detection of the magnetic sensor 30B (YES in S24) causes the LED element 78B to be turned off after blinking at low speed three times (S29, S31). Next, the operation state of the control circuit 77 is switched to the normal operation mode of the unlock state (S30, S32), and the mode control program PG1 is exited.

[0055] Here, the steps Sll, S23, S24 correspond to the "first discrimination section 31A" of the CPU 22A, the step S13 corresponds to the "second discrimination section 31B" of the CPU 22A, the steps S18, S19 correspond to the "third discrimination section 31C" of the CPU 22A, the steps S26, S28, S30, S32 correspond to the "mode switching section 32" of the CPU 22A, the steps S16, S17 correspond to the "channel switching section 33" of the CPU 22A, the step S22 corresponds to the "lock switching section 34" of the CPU 22A, and the steps S14, S15, S20, S21, S25, S27, S29, S31 correspond to the "notification control section 35" of the CPU 22A.

[0056] The above is the explanation related to the structure of the monitoring system 100 of the present embodiment. According to the monitoring system 100 using a plurality of the sub-terminal 20 of the present embodiment, the sub-terminal 20 acquires the data related to the state inside the stomach 10S of the cow 10 as the monitoring object and wirelessly transmits to the master terminal 40, and collects to the monitoring terminal 50 from the master terminal 40, so it is possible to monitor the change of the state of a plurality of the cow 10 collectively through the monitoring terminal 50.

[0057] The sub-terminal 20 of the present embodiment is provided with the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B, detects the magnet from the magnet approaching the first detection region 79A, the second detection region 79B provided to the outer circumferential surface of the housing 73, and switches the operation state of the control circuit 77 to the normal operation mode of supplying power to the sections performing the acquisition and wireless transmission of the data related to the state inside the stomach 10S and the sleep mode of stopping the supply of power to them. Thereby, after manufacturing the sub-terminal 20, it is possible to switch the operation state from the outside in a non-contact manner, so for example, when the sub-terminal 20 is shipped, or the like, when the acquisition and wireless transmission of the data related to the state of the cow 10 is not performed, it is possible to set the operation state of the control circuit 77 to the sleep mode, and when the cow 10 is put into the stomach 10S, it is switched to the normal operation mode.

[0058] Here, the cow 10 as a ruminant sometimes ingests metal foreign matter (nails, wire, etc.) mixed in the feed into the stomach 10S together with the feed, thereby causing a traumatic disease. In order to prevent such a disease, sometimes a magnet for metal foreign matter removal is previously put in the stomach 10S of the cow 10, and ingested metal foreign matter is adsorbed to the magnet. When the sub-terminal 20 is put into the stomach 10S of the cow 10 in which such a magnet for metal foreign matter removal is put, there is a problem that, in the stomach 10S, the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B of the sub-terminal 20 detect the magnet of the magnet for metal foreign matter removal, the action state of the control circuit 77 is against the intention, and the sub-terminal 20 is switched from the normal action mode to the sleep mode and cannot perform acquisition and wireless transmission of data related to the state in the stomach 10S. In contrast, the sub-terminal 20 of the present embodiment can be switched to the normal action mode in which the switching to the sleep mode is prohibited even if the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B detect the magnet. Thus, for the cow 10 that ingests the magnet for metal foreign matter removal, by switching the sub-terminal 20 to the normal action mode in the locked state and then putting it into the stomach 10S, even if the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B detect the magnet of the magnet for metal foreign matter removal in the stomach 10S, the switching to the sleep mode can be suppressed, and acquisition and wireless transmission of data related to the state in the stomach 10S can be stably performed.

[0059] In addition, in the present embodiment, it is also possible to switch to the normal action mode in the unlocked state that is not kept in the locked state, and thus, for example, during a period from after the sub-terminal 20 is manufactured to when it is put into the stomach 10S of the cow 10, it is possible to switch as needed between the sleep mode and the normal action mode in the unlocked state, and perform inspection such as action confirmation of wireless transmission.

[0060] In addition, in the sub-terminal 20 of the present embodiment, when switching to the normal action mode in the locked state, the detection of the magnet of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B continues for one time or more than the first reference time T1, and compared to the switching to the normal action mode in the unlocked state and the sleep mode, the magnetic detection time is longer. In this way, the switching to the normal action mode in the locked state is performed by an input method of the magnet that is less likely to occur compared to the switching to the normal action mode in the unlocked state and the sleep mode, and thus it is also possible to suppress the switching to the normal action mode in the locked state against the intention due to the influence of external interference.

[0061] In addition, in the slave terminal 20 of the present embodiment, two magnetic sensors 30A, 30B are provided, and the channel CH1, CH2 of wireless communication can be switched depending on which of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B that detects a magnetic field. The operation state of the control circuit 77 can be switched to the sleep mode and the normal operation mode by continuously detecting a magnetic field by either of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B. Also, as described above, the transition to the normal operation mode of the locked state can be performed depending on the time during which a magnetic field is continuously detected. In this way, in the present embodiment, if a plurality of magnetic sensors 30A, 30B are provided, and the combination of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B that detects a magnetic field and the time during which a magnetic field is continuously detected are changed, not only the switching of the operation state of the control circuit 77 can be performed, but also the switching of the channel can be performed at the same time.

[0062] In addition, in the slave terminal 20 of the present embodiment, the switching of the operation state of the control circuit 77 to which of the sleep mode and the normal operation mode is notified by the LED elements 78A, 78B. At the time of switching, the combination of the LED elements 78A, 78B and the lighting of each of the LED elements 78A, 78B and the lighting pattern are changed, and thus the switching between the normal operation mode of the locked state and the sleep mode can be externally notified.

[0063] [Other Embodiments]

[0064] (1) In the slave terminal 20 of the present embodiment, the time during which a magnetic field is input to the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B is common at the time of switching the operation state of the control circuit 77 from the normal operation mode of the unlocked state to the sleep mode and at the time of switching from the sleep mode to the normal operation mode of the unlocked state, but can be different.

[0065] (2) In the slave terminal 20 of the present embodiment, the time during which a magnetic field is input to the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B is made different at the time of switching to the normal operation mode of the locked state and at the time of switching to the normal operation mode of the unlocked state, but the input method of the magnetic field of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B can be made different from the time, for example, the magnetic field can be brought close to the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B a plurality of times continuously at different intervals. In this case, at the time of switching to the normal operation mode of the locked state, if a complex input method that is not normally possible is provided, the switching is performed by an input method that is less likely to occur than the switching to the normal operation mode of the unlocked state, and thus the unintended switching to the normal operation mode of the locked state can be suppressed by this configuration as well.

[0066] (3) In the slave terminal 20 of the embodiment, the configuration is such that it is not possible to switch to the sleep mode once the normal operation mode is switched to the locked state, but it is also possible to switch to the sleep mode in the case where the input time of the magnetic sensor 30A, 30B is the first reference time Tl or more, or a second reference time that is set to be longer, or a complex magnetic input method that is not normally possible, in which case the channel is switched.

[0067] (4) In the slave terminal 20 of the embodiment, the configuration is such that the channel is switched depending on which magnetic sensor 30A, 30B detects the magnetism, and the operation state of the control circuit 77 is switched to the sleep mode and the normal operation mode by continuous detection of the magnetism by either of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B, but it is also possible to configure such that the operation state of the control circuit 77 is switched depending on which magnetic sensor 30A, 30B detects the magnetism, and the channel is switched by continuous detection of the magnetism by either of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B.

[0068] In addition, the configuration in which the combination of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B that detect the magnetism and the input method of the magnetic sensor 30A, 30B are different for the switching of the operation state of the control circuit 77 and the channel is not limited to the above-described configuration, and for example, it is also possible to configure such that when the magnetism is detected by one of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B, only the operation state of the control circuit 77 is switched, and when the magnetism is detected by the other of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B, only the channel is switched. In this case, the magnetic detection method of the magnetic sensor 30A and the magnetic sensor 30B can be the same or different. In addition, when the operation state of the control circuit 77 is switched to the locked state, it is also possible to maintain the channel in the locked state, or it is also possible to switch the channel to the locked state separately from the switching of the operation state of the control circuit 77 to the locked state.

[0069] (5) The slave terminal 20 of the embodiment is configured to switch the channel CHl, CH2 used for wireless communication by the magnetic detection of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B, but it is also possible to configure such that it is switched to three or more channels.

[0070] (6) In the slave terminal 20 of the embodiment, the configuration is such that it is provided with the channel switching section 33, and the channel used for wireless communication is switched based on the magnetic detection of the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B, but it is also possible to configure such that it is not provided with the channel switching section 33, and only the operation state of the control circuit 77 is switched by the magnetic detection. In this case, the magnetic sensors 30A, 30B can be one.

[0071] (7) In the sub-terminal 20 of the embodiment, the operation state of the control circuit 77 is notified of which one of the sleep mode and the normal operation mode it is switched to by the lighting of the LED elements 78A, 78B, the change in the lighting pattern, but is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a sound. Also, it can be configured to notify only the normal operation mode set to the lock state. Also, it can be configured to also notify the set channel.

[0072] (8) In the embodiment, the sub-terminal 20 is configured to switch the operation state of the control circuit 77, the channel used for wireless communication when a magnetic field from the outside is detected, but can be configured to switch the operation state of the control circuit 77, the channel used for wireless communication when a special wavelength wave such as an electric wave, light containing visible light, infrared, or an ultrasonic wave is detected instead of a magnetic field.

[0073] Note that, in the present specification and the drawings, specific examples of the technology included in the technical solution are disclosed, but the technology described in the technical solution is not limited to these specific examples, and includes examples obtained by various modifications and changes to the specific examples, and also includes examples obtained by taking out a part from the specific examples alone.

[0074] Explanation of Reference Signs:

[0075] 10 Cow (animal)

[0076] 10 S Stomach

[0077] 20 Sub-terminal (electrical device)

[0078] 25 Data transmission section (wireless control section)

[0079] 30A, 30B Magnetic sensor (instruction input section, carrier wave detection sensor)

[0080] 32 Mode switching section

[0081] 33 Channel switching section

[0082] 70 Pressure sensor (monitoring sensor)

[0083] 73 Housing

[0084] 76 Wireless circuit

[0085] 77 Control circuit (circuit)

[0086] 78A, 78B LED element (lighting notification section)

[0087] CH1, CH2 Channel

[0088] T1 First reference time (reference time length)

Claims

1. An electric appliance provided with: an instruction input section that inputs a switching instruction from the outside in a noncontact manner; and a mode switching section that switches a circuit of the electric appliance to a normal operation mode and a sleep mode in accordance with the input switching instruction, wherein the normal operation mode has: the normal operation mode in an unlocked state that allows switching to the sleep mode; and the normal operation mode in a locked state that prohibits switching to the sleep mode, the switching instruction includes: a first switching instruction that switches the normal operation mode to the sleep mode; a second switching instruction that switches the sleep mode to the normal operation mode and holds it in the unlocked state; and a third switching instruction that switches the sleep mode to the normal operation mode and holds it in the locked state, the third switching instruction is longer in input time or more complex in input method to the instruction input section than the second switching instruction, the switching instruction uses any one of a magnetic wave, an optical wave, or an acoustic wave as a carrier wave, the instruction input section has a carrier wave detection sensor that detects the carrier wave, the instruction content of the switching instruction differs depending on a detection time length, i.e., a time during which the carrier wave is continuously detected by the carrier wave detection sensor, the switching instruction with a detection time length shorter than a predetermined reference time length is the second switching instruction, and the switching instruction with a detection time length equal to or longer than the reference time length is the third switching instruction.

2. An electric appliance provided with: an instruction input section that inputs a switching instruction from the outside in a noncontact manner; and a mode switching section that switches a circuit of the electric appliance to a normal operation mode and a sleep mode in accordance with the input switching instruction, wherein the normal operation mode has: the normal operation mode in an unlocked state that allows switching to the sleep mode; and the normal operation mode in a locked state that prohibits switching to the sleep mode, the switching instruction includes: a first switching instruction that switches the normal operation mode to the sleep mode; a second switching instruction that switches the sleep mode to the normal operation mode and holds it in the unlocked state; and a third switching instruction that switches the sleep mode to the normal operation mode and holds it in the locked state, the third switching instruction is longer in input time or more complex in input method to the instruction input section than the second switching instruction, the switching instruction uses any one of a magnetic wave, an optical wave, or an acoustic wave as a carrier wave, the instruction input section has a carrier wave detection sensor that detects the carrier wave, the electric appliance is provided with: a wireless circuit; a channel switching section that switches a channel of wireless communication based on the wireless circuit to a first channel or a second channel in accordance with the input switching instruction on the condition that it is not the locked state; and first and second carrier wave detection sensors that are the carrier wave detection sensor. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The second switching instruction or the third switching instruction is discriminated according to one of a difference in a time during which the carrier is continuously detected by the carrier detection sensor, that is, a detection time length, and a difference in which of the first carrier detection sensor and the second carrier detection sensor the carrier detection sensor that detected the carrier is, and the indication of which of the first channel and the second channel to use is discriminated according to the other of the difference in the time during which the carrier is continuously detected by the carrier detection sensor, that is, the detection time length, and the difference in which of the first carrier detection sensor and the second carrier detection sensor the carrier detection sensor that detected the carrier is.

3. The electrical device according to claim 2, wherein the electrical device includes: a housing that houses the circuit in a waterproof state; a monitoring sensor that measures a physical quantity related to an environment outside the housing; and a wireless control section that causes the wireless circuit to wirelessly transmit a measurement result of the monitoring sensor.

4. The electrical device according to claim 3, wherein the electrical device is inserted into an inside of a stomach of an animal, and the physical quantity related to the environment inside the stomach is measured by the monitoring sensor.

5. The electrical device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein instruction contents of the switching instruction differ according to a difference in a time during which the carrier is continuously detected by the carrier detection sensor, that is, a detection time length.

6. The electrical device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electrical device includes a lighting notification section that notifies which of the normal operation mode and the sleep mode the circuit is switched to, in different lighting patterns.

7. The electrical device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electrical device includes a plurality of the carrier detection sensors, instruction contents of the switching instruction differ according to which of the carrier detection sensors detects the carrier.

8. The electrical device according to claim 7, wherein the electrical device includes: a wireless circuit; and a channel switching section that switches a channel of wireless communication based on the wireless circuit according to the input switching instruction, with a condition that the lock state is not satisfied, the indication of which channel to use is discriminated according to which of the carrier detection sensors detects the carrier.

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