Low-power-consumption pressure detection system

Abstract

The invention provides a low-power-consumption pressure detection system, and belongs to the technical field of pressure detection. The system comprises a switch pressure unit which is used for generating a starting signal when a pressure greater than a first pressure threshold is received; the pressure array sensing unit is used for detecting the pressure at a plurality of detection points and generating an analog electric signal when the pressure in a preset pressure range is detected; the signal processing unit is used for carrying out first data processing on the starting signal when the starting signal is received and generating a first signal, and carrying out second data processing when the analog electric signal is received and generating a second signal, and the signal processing unit comprises an analog-to-digital conversion unit for carrying out analog-to-digital conversion; the control unit is connected with the signal processing unit; in an initial state, the pressure array sensing unit, the analog-to-digital conversion unit and the control unit are all in a dormant state, and the control unit keeps an external interruption detection function for monitoring a first signal. The pressure detection precision and low power consumption requirements can be considered.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of pressure detection technology, and in particular to a low-power pressure detection system. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, membrane pressure detection systems are widely used in various fields due to their advantages such as high flexibility, small size, and low cost. However, traditional membrane pressure detection systems have significant power consumption drawbacks. To achieve real-time pressure detection, all pressure sensing units and related circuits within the system need to be in continuous operation. Even during idle periods without pressure application, they continue to consume power, resulting in a significant reduction in the device's battery life. This problem is particularly pronounced for portable devices that rely on battery power.

[0003] Some existing technologies attempt to reduce power consumption by simplifying the detection function, such as designing all detection points as switch-type structures. These only determine the presence of pressure, failing to acquire information on pressure magnitude and distribution, making them unsuitable for scenarios requiring both detection accuracy and functional diversity. Other technologies employ periodic wake-up detection, which can reduce power consumption to some extent, but the wake-up period presents a dilemma—an excessively long period leads to detection delays and decreased accuracy, while a too-short period has limited power reduction. Therefore, existing pressure detection technologies struggle to simultaneously meet the requirements of both detection accuracy and low power consumption. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One objective of this invention is to provide a low-power pressure detection system that can balance pressure detection accuracy and low power consumption requirements.

[0005] Another objective of this invention is to adapt to various application scenarios.

[0006] A further objective of this invention is to improve product integration.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide an energy storage device including the above-described heat dissipation system.

[0008] Specifically, according to one aspect of this application, a low-power stress detection system is provided, comprising: A switching pressure unit is used to generate an opening signal when a pressure greater than a first pressure threshold is received; The pressure array sensing unit is used to detect the pressure at multiple detection points within the target area, and generates a corresponding interrupt signal or analog electrical signal when the pressure within a preset pressure range is detected. The signal processing unit is connected to both the switch pressure unit and the pressure array sensing unit. The signal processing unit is used to perform first data processing on the opening signal when the opening signal is received and generate a corresponding first signal. The signal processing unit is also used to perform second data processing on the analog electrical signal when the analog electrical signal is received and generate a corresponding second signal. The second data processing includes analog-to-digital conversion. The signal processing unit includes an analog-to-digital conversion unit for performing analog-to-digital conversion. The control unit is connected to the signal processing unit; In the initial state, the pressure array sensing unit, the analog-to-digital conversion unit, and the control unit are all in a sleep state, and the control unit retains the external interruption detection function for monitoring the first signal; The control unit is configured to enter an active state upon receiving a first signal. In the active state, the control unit activates the pressure sensor and the analog-to-digital converter so that the control unit can acquire the second signal and generate corresponding instructions based on the second signal.

[0009] Optionally, the low-power pressure detection system further includes a power management module to power the switching pressure unit, the pressure array sensing unit, the signal processing unit, and the control unit. In the initial state, the power management module supplies power only to the interrupt detection circuit of the control unit and the switching pressure unit, and the interrupt detection circuit is used to implement the interrupt detection function.

[0010] Optionally, when in the activated state, the control unit controls the power management module to supply power to the pressure array sensing unit and the analog-to-digital conversion unit.

[0011] Optionally, when the time during which the control unit fails to detect the first signal and the second signal reaches a time threshold, the control unit controls the power management module to stop supplying power to the pressure array sensing unit and the analog-to-digital conversion unit.

[0012] Optionally, the signal processing unit further includes a conditioning module, which is used to filter and level-shape the turn-on signal to obtain the first signal.

[0013] Optionally, the conditioning module is further configured to amplify, filter, and denoise the analog electrical signal before analog-to-digital conversion.

[0014] Optionally, the switching pressure unit, the pressure array sensing unit, and the control unit are integrated into a thin-film pressure sensor.

[0015] Optionally, the low-power pressure detection system includes multiple sensing units, each of which includes a switching pressure unit and a pressure array sensing unit. The pressure sensing structures of the switching pressure unit and the pressure array sensing unit within the sensing unit are arranged sequentially in the same direction.

[0016] Optionally, the control unit is configured to generate a corresponding actual pressure value based on the second signal, and generate corresponding instructions based on the magnitude and location of the actual pressure value.

[0017] Optionally, the low-power pressure detection system also includes a communication module connected to the control unit for uploading instructions from the control unit to an external device.

[0018] According to one aspect of the present invention, the low-power pressure detection system is in a standby state when it does not receive the first signal from the switching pressure unit. In the standby state, the pressure array sensing unit, the analog-to-digital conversion unit, and the control unit are all in a dormant state. The control unit only retains the external interrupt detection function for monitoring the first signal. Therefore, the overall standby power consumption of the system is extremely low, thus avoiding unnecessary energy consumption and significantly extending the system's battery life. Furthermore, the low-power pressure detection system includes a pressure array sensing unit for precise pressure testing, enabling accurate pressure detection at multiple detection points. Therefore, this system is particularly suitable for various scenarios requiring both long battery life and accurate detection, possessing high practical value and promising prospects for widespread application.

[0019] Furthermore, since the control unit only retains the external interrupt detection function for monitoring the first signal in standby mode, and the pressure array sensing unit is in sleep mode at this time, the signal processing unit only needs to perform simple first data processing, thus further reducing power consumption.

[0020] Furthermore, by controlling the power management module through the control unit, the sleep and active states of the pressure array sensing unit and the analog-to-digital conversion unit are switched, thus conveniently achieving low-power control.

[0021] Furthermore, the thin-film pressure sensor includes a flexible upper base membrane and a lower base membrane, enabling the sensor to adapt to detection surfaces of different shapes, making it suitable for various application scenarios such as wearable devices, smart seats, and medical monitoring.

[0022] Furthermore, by integrating the switching pressure unit, pressure array sensing unit, and control unit into a thin-film pressure sensor, the product's integration level can be improved. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a structural connection block diagram of a low-power pressure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a structural connection block diagram of a low-power pressure detection system according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a thin-film pressure sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is an exploded view of a thin-film pressure sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure label: 100-Low power pressure detection system, 10-Switch pressure unit, 20-Pressure array sensing unit, 30-Signal processing unit, 31-Analog-to-digital conversion unit, 32-Conditioning module, 40-Control unit, 50-Power management module, 60-Communication module, 110-Thin film pressure sensor, 101-Upper base film, 102-Silver paste contact, 103-Carbon paste contact, 104-Insulating adhesive layer, 105-Underlying circuit, 106-Lower base film. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to this application are shown in the accompanying drawings, not the entire structure. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0025] The term “exemplary” as used herein means “serving as an example, embodiment, or illustration.” Any embodiment illustrated herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as superior to or better than other embodiments.

[0026] Furthermore, to better illustrate this application, numerous specific details are provided in the following detailed description. Those skilled in the art should understand that this application can be implemented without certain specific details. In some instances, methods, means, components, and circuits well known to those skilled in the art have not been described in detail in order to highlight the spirit of this disclosure.

[0027] It should be understood that the term "and / or" in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this article indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0028] In this application's embodiments, "multiple" refers to two or more. The descriptions of "first," "second," etc., appearing in this application's embodiments are merely illustrative and for distinguishing the described objects; they have no order and do not indicate a specific limitation on the number in this application's embodiments, nor do they constitute any limitation on the embodiments of this application.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a structural connection block diagram of a low-power pressure detection system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the low-power pressure detection system 100 includes a switching pressure unit 10, a pressure array sensing unit 20, a signal processing unit 30, and a control unit 40. The switching pressure unit 10 generates an activation signal when it receives pressure greater than a first pressure threshold. The pressure array sensing unit 20 detects pressure at multiple detection points within a target area and generates a corresponding interrupt signal or analog electrical signal when pressure within a preset pressure range is detected. In one embodiment, the first pressure threshold is 5N, and the preset pressure range is 0.1N-500N. The signal processing unit 30 is connected to both the switching pressure unit 10 and the pressure array sensing unit 20. The signal processing unit 30 performs first data processing on the activation signal upon receiving it and generates a corresponding first signal. The signal processing unit 30 also performs second data processing on the received analog electrical signal and generates a corresponding second signal. The second data processing includes analog-to-digital conversion, and the signal processing unit 30 includes an analog-to-digital conversion unit 31 for performing analog-to-digital conversion. The control unit 40 is connected to the signal processing unit 30, and the control unit 40 may be an MCU (Microcontroller Unit). In the initial state, the pressure array sensing unit 20, the analog-to-digital converter unit 31, and the control unit 40 are all in a dormant state, and the control unit 40 retains the external interrupt detection function for monitoring the first signal. For example, the external interrupt pin of the control unit 40 can acquire the first signal in real time. The control unit 40 is used to enter an active state when it receives the first signal. When in the active state, the control unit 40 activates the pressure sensor and the analog-to-digital converter unit 31 so that the control unit 40 can acquire the second signal and generate corresponding instructions based on the second signal.

[0030] The low-power pressure detection system 100 of this embodiment is in standby mode when it does not receive the first signal from the switching pressure unit 10. In standby mode, the pressure array sensing unit 20, the analog-to-digital conversion unit 31, and the control unit 40 are all in sleep mode. The control unit 40 only retains the external interrupt detection function for monitoring the first signal. Therefore, the overall standby power consumption of the system is extremely low, thus avoiding unnecessary energy consumption and significantly extending the system's battery life. In one embodiment, compared with a system without the switching pressure unit 10, the standby power consumption can be less than 10μA, and the battery life can be increased by more than 50%. Furthermore, the low-power pressure detection system 100 includes a pressure array sensing unit 20 for accurate pressure testing, which can realize accurate pressure detection at multiple detection points. Therefore, this system is particularly suitable for various scenarios with requirements for battery life and accuracy detection, and has high practical value and promotion prospects.

[0031] In one embodiment, the first data processing may be a simple data processing to ensure signal stability and reliability, such as simple filtering and level shaping of the turn-on signal; the second data processing may include amplification, filtering, and noise reduction processing of the analog electrical signal to eliminate environmental interference, and the second data processing may also include analog-to-digital conversion processing performed by the analog-to-digital conversion unit 31. The signal processing unit 30 further includes a conditioning module 32, which performs the amplification, filtering, and noise reduction processing of the analog electrical signal in the first data processing and the second data processing described above.

[0032] Since the control unit 40 only retains the external interrupt detection function for monitoring the first signal in the standby state, the pressure array sensing unit 20 is in a dormant state at this time. Therefore, the signal processing unit 30 only needs to perform simple first data processing, which can further reduce power consumption.

[0033] Figure 2 This is a structural connection block diagram of a low-power pressure detection system 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In a further embodiment, the low-power pressure detection system 100 further includes a power management module 50 and a communication module 60. The communication module 60 is connected to the control unit 40 and is used to upload the instructions of the control unit 40 to an external device. The communication module 60 can be Bluetooth or UART, etc., and the external device can be a host computer. The communication interface between the control unit 40 and the host computer can be a common serial communication protocol such as IIC, SPI, UART, or CAN. The power management module 50 is used to supply power to the switching pressure unit 10, the pressure array sensing unit 20, the signal processing unit 30, and the control unit 40.

[0034] In the initial state, the power management module 50 only supplies power to the interrupt detection circuit of the control unit 40 and the switching pressure unit 10. The interrupt detection circuit is used to implement the interrupt detection function.

[0035] When in the active state, the control unit 40 controls the power management module 50 to supply power to the pressure array sensing unit 20 and the analog-to-digital conversion unit 31.

[0036] When the time during which the control unit 40 does not detect the first signal and the second signal reaches the time threshold, the control unit 40 controls the power management module 50 to stop supplying power to the pressure array sensor unit 20 and the analog-to-digital converter unit 31, so that the pressure array sensor and the analog-to-digital converter unit 31 enter the sleep state again.

[0037] In this embodiment, the control unit 40 controls the power management module 50, thereby switching between the sleep and active states of the pressure array sensing unit 20 and the analog-to-digital conversion unit 31, which conveniently achieves low-power control.

[0038] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a thin-film pressure sensor 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is an exploded view of a thin-film pressure sensor 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment, the switching pressure unit 10, the pressure array sensing unit 20, and the control unit 40 are integrated into a thin-film pressure sensor 110. In this embodiment, as... Figure 4 As shown, the thin-film pressure sensor 110 includes an upper base membrane 101, multiple pressure sensing structures, an insulating adhesive layer 104, a bottom circuit 105, and a lower base membrane 106 arranged sequentially. The upper base membrane 101 and the lower base membrane 106 can be made of flexible thin-film materials such as polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate, or polyurethane. In this embodiment, the upper base membrane 101 and the lower base membrane 106 have the same dimensions. A rectangular thin film. Multiple pressure-sensing structures, including silver paste contacts 102 and multiple carbon paste contacts 103, are arranged sequentially at intervals along the length of the upper substrate. The silver paste contacts 102 are printed at the ends onto the upper substrate film 101. The bottom circuit 105 includes sensing areas corresponding one-to-one with the silver paste contacts 102 and carbon paste contacts 103. It generates an electrical signal when the silver paste contacts 102 and carbon paste contacts 103 contact the corresponding sensing area, i.e., a piezoresistive principle. The silver paste contacts 102 form a switching pressure unit 10, and the multiple carbon paste contacts form a pressure array sensing unit 20. In this embodiment, the spacing between the contacts is 2.5 cm, and the pressure detection range of each pressure-sensing structure in the pressure array sensing unit 20 is 0.5 N-500 N, with a resolution of 1 N. The signal processing unit 30 and the power management module 50 can be integrated on a separate PCB board, which is connected to the aforementioned thin-film pressure sensor 110 via leads for data transmission.

[0039] Depending on the detection area, the low-power pressure detection system 100 may include multiple sensing units. Each sensing unit includes a switching pressure unit 10 and a pressure array sensing unit 20. The pressure sensing structures of the switching pressure unit 10 and the pressure array sensing unit 20 within the sensing unit are arranged sequentially in the same direction. Each sensing unit may correspond to a thin-film pressure sensor 110, but only one thin-film pressure sensor 110 needs to be equipped with an MCU for overall control. Of course, in other embodiments, multiple sensing units may be integrated into one thin-film pressure sensor 110, that is, multiple rows of pressure sensing structures and corresponding underlying circuits 105 may be arranged between the upper base film 101 and the lower base film 106, which is not limited here.

[0040] The thin-film pressure sensor 110 in this embodiment includes a flexible upper base membrane 101 and a lower base membrane 106, which enables the sensor to adapt to detection surfaces of different shapes and is suitable for various application scenarios such as wearable devices, smart seats, and medical monitoring.

[0041] Furthermore, by integrating the switching pressure unit 10, the pressure array sensing unit 20, and the control unit 40 into a thin-film pressure sensor 110, the product's integration level can be improved.

[0042] In one embodiment, the control module can use a low-power MCU, such as an MCU with an operating voltage of 3.3V. The PA0 pin of the MCU serves as an external interrupt pin for acquiring a first signal. The PB0-PB3 pins are connected to the output of the analog-to-digital converter unit 31 via an I2C bus for acquiring a second signal. The PC1 pin is connected to the control terminal of the power management module 50 for power switching. This MCU consumes only 2μA in a sleep state where only the external interrupt detection function for monitoring the first signal is retained. The analog-to-digital converter unit 31 can use a 12-bit precision ADC chip. The conditioning module 32 uses an operational amplifier capable of amplifying the signal by 200 times. The power management module 50 includes an LDO regulator chip for outputting a stable 3.3V voltage. The power switching circuit of the power management module 50 uses a MOSFET connected to the PC1 pin of the MCU, and the MCU controls whether the power management module 50 supplies power to the switching pressure unit 10 and the pressure array sensing unit 20.

[0043] In one embodiment, the control unit 40 is used to generate a corresponding actual pressure value based on the second signal, and to generate a corresponding instruction based on the magnitude and location of the actual pressure value. Depending on the application scenario, the corresponding instructions will also differ. For example, when the system is applied to a smart mattress, the magnitude and location of each actual pressure value can determine whether someone is lying down and their position. When the system is applied to an industrial button scenario, combinations of actual pressure values ​​at different locations can form different operation instructions.

[0044] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A low-power pressure detection system, characterized in that, include: A switching pressure unit is used to generate an opening signal when a pressure greater than a first pressure threshold is received; The pressure array sensing unit is used to detect the pressure at multiple detection points within the target area, and generates a corresponding interrupt signal or analog electrical signal when the pressure within a preset pressure range is detected. The signal processing unit is connected to both the switch pressure unit and the pressure array sensing unit. The signal processing unit is used to perform first data processing on the opening signal when the opening signal is received and generate a corresponding first signal. The signal processing unit is also used to perform second data processing on the analog electrical signal when the analog electrical signal is received and generate a corresponding second signal. The second data processing includes analog-to-digital conversion. The signal processing unit includes an analog-to-digital conversion unit for performing analog-to-digital conversion. The control unit is connected to the signal processing unit; In the initial state, the pressure array sensing unit, the analog-to-digital conversion unit, and the control unit are all in a sleep state, and the control unit retains the external interruption detection function for monitoring the first signal; The control unit is configured to enter an active state upon receiving a first signal. In the active state, the control unit activates the pressure sensor and the analog-to-digital converter so that the control unit can acquire the second signal and generate corresponding instructions based on the second signal.

2. The low-power pressure detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a power management module to supply power to the switching pressure unit, the pressure array sensing unit, the signal processing unit and the control unit; In the initial state, the power management module supplies power only to the interrupt detection circuit of the control unit and the switching pressure unit, and the interrupt detection circuit is used to implement the interrupt detection function.

3. The low-power pressure detection system according to claim 2, characterized in that, When in the activated state, the control unit controls the power management module to supply power to the pressure array sensing unit and the analog-to-digital conversion unit.

4. The low-power pressure detection system according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the time during which the control unit fails to detect the first signal and the second signal reaches a time threshold, the control unit controls the power management module to stop supplying power to the pressure array sensing unit and the analog-to-digital conversion unit.

5. The low-power pressure detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The signal processing unit further includes a conditioning module, which is used to filter and level-shape the turn-on signal to obtain the first signal.

6. The low-power pressure detection system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The conditioning module is also used to amplify, filter, and denoise the analog electrical signal before analog-to-digital conversion.

7. The low-power pressure detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The switching pressure unit, the pressure array sensing unit, and the control unit are integrated into a thin-film pressure sensor.

8. The low-power pressure detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It includes multiple sensing units, each of which includes a switching pressure unit and a pressure array sensing unit. The pressure sensing structures of the switching pressure unit and the pressure array sensing unit within the sensing unit are arranged sequentially in the same direction.

9. The low-power pressure detection system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The control unit is used to generate a corresponding actual pressure value based on the second signal, and to generate corresponding instructions based on the magnitude and location of the actual pressure value.

10. The low-power pressure detection system according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, It also includes a communication module, which is connected to the control unit and is used to upload the instructions of the control unit to an external device.

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