Industrial sensor with position detection unit

Abstract

Industrial sensor (100) comprising a sensor unit 112, configured to acquire sensor measurement data and provide the sensor measurement data together with position data of the sensor (100) to a communication device (102) of the sensor (100); a position determination unit (106) configured to detect a position of the sensor (100) in an area where the sensor (100) is located; an area determination unit (104), set up to record an area ID of the area; a position memory (110), set up to store a position and assign the position to the area ID determined at that position; a control device (108) that is set up, to check whether the area ID is already stored in the position memory (110), If not, the positioning unit (106) controls the acquisition of the position, and the subsequently acquired position and the acquired area ID are stored together and the acquired position is made available, If so, to retrieve and provide the position assigned to the stored area ID from the position memory (110).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an industrial sensor, a method for determining a position of an industrial sensor, a container comprising an industrial sensor, a program element and a use of a sensor for determining a position of a container. Background of the invention

[0002] Self-contained sensors, such as self-contained level sensors, are typically used on mobile containers (building material silos, IBC containers, etc.). Such containers are located, for example, at the operator's premises or on a construction site. To determine the location of the container, an approximate position determination is sufficient. However, position determination is energy-intensive for a self-contained sensor.

[0003] US 2021 / 0124056 A1 describes a container tracking arrangement that can remain in a low-power and / or off state until one or more sensors and / or timers are activated. For tracking, a transceiver receives signals from cellular towers, allowing the sensor to determine its precise position and store the signals. Summary of the invention

[0004] An object of the invention could therefore be to provide an improved sensor.

[0005] The object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the following description, and the figures.

[0006] The described embodiments similarly relate to the method for determining a position of an industrial sensor, the container comprising an industrial sensor, the program element, and the use of a sensor for determining a position of a container. Synergy effects may arise from various combinations of the embodiments, although they may not be described in detail.

[0007] Other variations of the disclosed embodiments may be understood and practiced by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention by studying the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may perform the functions of multiple items or steps recited in the claims. The mere fact that particular measures are recited in dependent claims does not mean that a combination of those measures cannot be advantageously utilized.

[0008] According to a first aspect, an industrial sensor is provided, comprising a sensor unit configured to acquire sensor measurement data and to provide the sensor measurement data together with position data of the sensor to a communication unit of the sensor. The sensor further comprises a position detection unit configured to detect a position of the sensor in an area in which the sensor is located, and an area detection unit configured to detect an area ID of the area.Furthermore, the industrial sensor has a position memory configured to store a position and an assignment of the position to the area ID determined at this position, as well as a control unit configured to check whether the area ID is already stored in the position memory. If the area ID is not stored in the position memory, to control the position determination unit to detect a position, and to store the subsequently detected position and the detected area ID in association with one another, as well as to provide the detected position. If the area ID is already stored in the position memory, the control unit is configured to retrieve the position assigned to the stored area ID from the position memory and provide it, for example, to the communication unit.

[0009] The term “area” refers to a demarcated region, although the boundaries may be fluid. For example, an area may be defined by a received signal. However, signal reception may vary depending on receiver sensitivity, antenna shadowing, interference, etc. The area determination unit determines an area, or an identifier (“ID”) of the area, in which the industrial sensor is currently located. The area is thus identified by an area ID, so that the area determination unit outputs the area ID as the result of its detection. Alternatively, the area determination unit can assign an ID to an area that it can distinguish from other areas, for example based on radio properties. The position determination unit determines the current position of the industrial sensor, e.g. in coordinates of a coordinate system.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the sensor comprises a communication device, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit sensor data and the position via a communication connection. Furthermore, the area determination unit is configured to access connection data of the communication device of the connection or area-specific properties of the connection in order to detect the area ID.

[0011] The communication device is configured, for example, to establish a connection according to a communication protocol and to transmit the sensor data to a network according to this protocol. The connection data can be area-specific data, such as access data, or a preamble specific to this area in a data control message. In this example, the area is defined by the coverage area of ​​the network-side communication device.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the control unit is configured to check whether the area ID has changed, and only then check whether the area ID is already stored in the position memory if it has changed. This eliminates the step of performing a further check if the area ID has not changed. The position can then either be taken directly from the position memory or the position can be stored, for example, in a register or volatile memory, which can be accessed more quickly and with less energy consumption.

[0013] A change in the area or the area ID means that the boundary of a first area has been exceeded and the industrial sensor is located in a second area with an area ID that is different from the first area. The ID can be obtained, for example, when the connection is established by the communication device and checked accordingly after the ID has been received. Alternatively, the area determination unit can also constantly check the area ID and thus the area in which the industrial sensor is located. The area determination unit therefore immediately recognizes when the area or the area ID changes. “Constantly” can mean that the area determination unit is aware of a status that contains an area ID and that only changes when the area is left. Such a status can be given, for example, by a current communication connection that exists for this area or that defines the area.The term can also mean that a query is made at regular intervals as to whether the industrial sensor is still in a first area.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the communication device is a mobile radio device of a cellular mobile radio system, such as GSM, UMTS, LTE, 5G, etc., and the area ID is a mobile radio cell ID of the cellular mobile radio system.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the control unit controls the position detecting unit to detect the position only if the area ID has not changed for a predetermined period of time.

[0016] This prevents the area ID from being checked each time the sensor is transported through different areas. This avoids unnecessary access to the position memory and also prevents any position determinations when the area ID is not present in the position memory, thus saving additional energy. However, if the sensor is located in one area for an extended period, such as at a company where it is being serviced or temporarily stored, or at the site where the container on which it is mounted is being assembled, the area ID is still determined. The time period can be selected depending on the requirement for rapid availability or a common transport route.

[0017] In one example, the assignment of the area ID to a position is stored in a table. The table can be, for example, an ASCII table that the control device has easy access to and edit. The table can also be, for example, an XML file, a binary file, or a memory area that is structured or interpretable in a table-like manner. The control device has read and write access to the table. When the control device determines that the area ID is present, it reads the coordinates of the assigned position and passes them on to the communication device in a specific format so that they can, for example, be transferred to a server and / or are available on the network.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the table contains pre-stored area IDs and positions. For example, if area IDs and associated positions are already known during sensor setup, they can be preconfigured at the factory. This is an additional measure for saving energy, since no position needs to be recorded for these pre-stored area IDs.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the communication device is configured to communicate with another sensor and receive the area IDs and associated positions from the other sensor. The control device is configured to store the area IDs and associated positions in the position memory. If the sensor receives data from another sensor, it can thus adopt its area IDs and associated positions.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the communication device is configured to communicate with a server and receive the area IDs and associated positions from the server. The control device is configured to store the area IDs and associated positions in the position memory. The server, for example, has a connection to various other sensors. This allows it to collect the entries from these sensors and thus create a comprehensive list of area IDs. The communication device receives the list and stores it in the position memory.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the communication device is configured to transmit the area IDs and associated positions to a network. Thus, it can support other sensors located in the network.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the position detection device is a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the industrial sensor is a level sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, a limit level sensor, a density sensor or a sensor for object detection.

[0024] According to a further aspect, a method for determining a position of an industrial sensor is provided, wherein the sensor has a position detection unit configured to detect a position of the sensor in an area in which the sensor is located, as well as an area detection unit configured to detect a current area ID of the area, a position memory configured to store a position and an assignment of the position to the area ID determined at this position; and a control unit. The method comprises the following steps: checking whether the current area ID is already stored in the position memory. If not, controlling the position detection unit to detect a position, storing the subsequently detected position and the detected area ID, wherein the detected position and the detected area ID are assigned to one another, and providing the detected position.If the area ID is already stored, the position assigned to the stored area ID is taken from the position memory and provided, for example, to the communication unit.

[0025] According to another aspect, a container is provided having an industrial sensor described herein.

[0026] According to a further aspect, a program element is provided which, when executed on a control unit of a sensor, instructs the sensor to perform the steps of the method described above.

[0027] According to a further aspect, a use of the industrial sensor described herein for determining a position of a container is provided.

[0028] The control unit (108) can be implemented at least partially as software, a program or computer program, a program element, and / or hard-wired logic. The program element can be part of a computer program, but it can also be an entire program in itself. For example, the program element can be used to update an existing computer program to achieve the present invention. The programmed logic can be stored on a computer-readable medium, which can be considered a storage medium.To implement the programmed or hard-wired logic, the adaptation module may comprise a processor, a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microcontroller, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), a reduced instruction set processor (RISC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processing device (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and / or other programmable circuits or processing devices. Short description of the characters

[0029] In the following, embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the enclosed Figures are described in detail. Neither the description nor the figures should be interpreted as limiting the invention. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an industrial sensor according to an embodiment; Fig. 2 a sketch of a region with demarcated areas and locations of the industrial sensor; Fig. 3 a sketch with changes of location; Fig. 4 a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment.

[0030] The drawings are merely schematic and not to scale. Identical or similar parts are generally designated by the same reference numerals. Detailed description of the characters

[0031] Fig. 1 shows an industrial sensor 100 with a sensor unit 112, a communication unit 102, an area detection unit 104, a position determination unit 106, e.g., a GNSS receiver module, a control unit 108, and a position memory 110. The essential functions of these components are explained below. Further embodiments are described below with reference to the Fig. The procedure shown in Figure 4 is explained.

[0032] The sensor unit acquires sensor measurement data and provides it together with position data of the sensor 100 to the communication unit 102 of the sensor.

[0033] The position detection unit 106 detects a position of the sensor 100. The area detection unit 104 detects an area ID of an area in which the sensor 100 is currently located. The position memory 110 stores a position and an area ID, wherein the position is a position in the area with the detected area ID.

[0034] The control unit 108 checks whether the current area ID of the area in which the sensor is currently located is already stored in the position memory 110. If the area ID is not stored in the position memory 110, it instructs the position determination unit to acquire the current position. It stores the subsequently acquired position and the associated area ID in the position memory 110 and forwards the current position to the communication unit 102, which transmits the measurement data and the current position. If the area ID is already stored in the position memory 110, the control unit 108 provides the position associated with the stored area ID to the communication unit 102 in order to transmit the measurement data and the current position.

[0035] In the Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 3 shows the radio cells of a region 200, each representing an area. The radio cells are assigned the area IDs or cell IDs 20 to 27. Additionally, locations #1 to #4 are entered in the radio cells. The different locations are located in different radio cells. Location #1 could, for example, represent a company site. Locations #2 to #4 could represent different construction sites. Fig. 3 also shows location changes, which an IBC container, for example, performs. The IBC container is transported from the construction site to the company premises every 2 weeks, resulting in 26 location changes per year. The sensor has a GNSS module as a position determination unit. Assuming that the IBC container is used on 3 different construction sites, a sensor that determines a GNSS location at each cell change would require the GNSS module to determine the location 26 times. However, with the sensor 100 presented, a GNSS position is only determined upon first entering a radio cell. The control unit 108 creates a corresponding list in the sensor with radio cell IDs and the corresponding GNSS positions x1 to x4 in latitude (Lat) and longitude (Long), which are also stored in Fig. 3. If the sensor 100 enters a known radio cell, the known GNSS position from the position memory 110 is used. Using this method, the number of GNSS position determinations in a year can be reduced from 26 to 4 in the example shown.

[0036] Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of a method 400 according to an embodiment.

[0037] The method 400 starts in 402. In 404, the industrial sensor 100 performs a fill level measurement and records the measurement data. In 406, the sensor connects to the mobile network to transmit the data. In 408, the control unit 108 checks whether the cell ID of the mobile network cell is known. To do so, the control unit 108 accesses the sensor's position memory 110. If the cell, i.e., the cell ID, is unknown or is not stored in the position memory 110, the control unit 108 instructs the position determination unit 106 to determine the position. In 410, the position determination unit 106 determines the sensor's position. In 412, the control unit 108 enters the determined position into a table 202 of the position memory 110.If the cell ID is known, i.e., already stored in the sensor's position memory 110, the control unit 108 accesses the position memory 110 in 414 and extracts the position assigned to the radio cell from it. Since the position is now known, the control unit 108 can forward the measured fill level value and the position to the communication unit 102 in 416, which then transmits the values ​​wirelessly. This completes the steps of the method (418).

[0038] In the case of a standalone sensor, it is possible that the sensor will measure a fill level even when it is not on the construction site, but rather en route to transport or on the company premises. Since a position would still be determined in this case, it is important to avoid unnecessary position recordings. For example, it is possible that the sensor located at location #2 and being transported back to the company at location #1 would measure the fill level in area 102 and would determine a position according to the procedure described above because the position is not entered in table 202. This can be prevented by defining a time interval that specifies how long the sensor 100 must have been in the radio cell before a position determination takes place.Therefore, if a radio cell, such as cell 102, is only passed through for a relatively short time for transport, no position is determined for this radio cell.

[0039] Instead of a radio cell, an ID or access data of a WLAN or a hotspot can also be used.

[0040] The control unit 108 can also provide all table entries to the communication unit 102, allowing it to transmit the table entries to other sensors. Conversely, other sensors can also transmit their table entries to the sensor 100. The position memory 110 can also be preconfigured with table entries or receive table entries via a server.

Claims

[1] Industrial sensor (100), comprising a sensor unit 112, configured to acquire sensor measurement data and provide the sensor measurement data together with position data of the sensor (100) to a communication device (102) of the sensor (100); a position detection unit (106) configured to detect a position of the sensor (100) in an area in which the sensor (100) is located; an area detection unit (104) configured to detect an area ID of the area; a position memory (110) configured to store a position and an assignment of the position to the area ID determined at this position; a control device (108) which is arranged to check whether the area ID is already stored in the position memory (110), if not, the position detection unit (106) controls the detection of the position, the subsequently detected position and the detected area ID to be stored in association with each other and the detected position to be provided, if so, to retrieve the position assigned to the stored area ID from the position memory (110) and make it available. [2] Industrial sensor (100) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (100) further comprises a communication device (102), wherein the communication device (102) is configured to transmit the measurement data of the sensor (100) together with a position of the sensor (100) via a communication connection; and wherein the area determination unit (104) is configured to access data of the communication device (102) in order to detect the area ID. [3] Industrial sensor (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control device (108) is arranged to check whether the area ID has changed and to check whether the area ID is already stored in the position memory (110) only if it has changed. [4] Industrial sensor (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (108) is arranged to control the position detection unit (106) to detect the position only if the area ID has not changed over a predetermined period of time. [5] Industrial sensor (100) according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the communication device (102) is a mobile radio device of a cellular mobile radio system and the area ID is a mobile radio cell ID. [6] Industrial sensor (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the position memory (110) contains pre-stored area ID positions. [7] Industrial sensor (100) according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the communication device (102) is arranged to communicate with another sensor and to receive the area IDs and associated positions from the other sensor, and wherein the control device (108) is arranged to store the area IDs and associated positions received from the other sensor in the position memory (110). [8] Industrial sensor (100) according to one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the communication device (102) is arranged to communicate with a server and to receive the area IDs and associated positions from the server, and wherein the control device (108) is arranged to store the area IDs and associated positions received from the server in the position memory (110). [9] Industrial sensor (100) according to one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the communication device (102) is arranged to transmit the area IDs and associated positions into a network in order to make them available to other sensors. [10] Industrial sensor (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the position determination unit (106) is a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver. [11] Industrial sensor (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the industrial sensor (100) is a level sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, a limit level sensor, a density sensor or a sensor for object detection. [12] Method (400) for determining a position of an industrial sensor (100), the sensor (100) comprising: a position detection unit (106) configured to detect a position of the sensor (100) in an area; an area detection unit (104) configured to detect a current area ID of an area in which the sensor (100) is located; a position memory (110) configured to store a position and an assignment of the position to the area ID determined at this position; and a control device (108); comprising the steps Check (406) whether the current area ID is already stored in the position memory (110), if not, controlling (408) the position determination unit (106) to detect a position, Storing (410) the subsequently detected position and the detected area ID, wherein the detected position and the detected area ID are associated with each other, and Providing the recorded position; if so, removing (412) the stored position from the position memory (110) and providing the position associated with the stored area ID. [13] Container comprising an industrial sensor (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11. [14] Program element which, when executed on a control device (108) of a sensor (100), instructs the sensor (100) to perform the steps of the method according to claim 12. [15] Use of a sensor (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11 for determining a position of a container.

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