Sensor systems and detection systems

Abstract

The aim is to improve the detection accuracy of targets that emit light and odor. [Solution] The sensor system 10 according to this disclosure comprises a photodetection sensor 11 that detects light generated by the object to be detected, and an odor sensor 13 that detects odor generated by the object to be detected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sensor system and a detection system.

Background Art

[0002] Corona discharge may occur in locations handling high power such as high voltage equipment, substations, transmission lines, and pantographs. Corona discharge generates electromagnetic waves and sound waves in a wide frequency band, which may have adverse effects such as radio interference and noise on the surrounding living environment. Therefore, a technology for detecting the occurrence of corona discharge is required.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a technology for detecting corona discharge by detecting ultraviolet light generated by corona discharge.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, since corona discharge is detected only by light (ultraviolet light), there is a possibility of detection error or malfunction, and there is room for improvement in detection accuracy.

[0006] In view of the above problems, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a sensor system and a detection system capable of improving the detection accuracy of a detection target that generates light and odor.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] (1) The sensor system according to the present disclosure is a light detection sensor that detects light generated by a detection target, The system includes an odor sensor that detects odors generated by the object being detected.

[0008] (2) In the sensor system described in (1), The detection target is corona discharge. The aforementioned light detection sensor detects ultraviolet light generated by the corona discharge, The odor sensor detects the ozone odor generated by the corona discharge.

[0009] (3) In the sensor system described in (2), The aforementioned light detection sensor further detects ultraviolet light corresponding to the absorption wavelength of ozone generated by the corona discharge.

[0010] (4) In the sensor system described in (1), The aforementioned light detection sensor detects infrared radiation generated by the object being detected.

[0011] (5) In the sensor system described in (1), The aforementioned light detection sensor outputs a current corresponding to the intensity of the detected light. The odor sensor outputs a voltage corresponding to the detected odor. A transimpedance amplifier that converts the current output from the light detection sensor into a voltage and outputs it, A filter circuit that removes noise from the voltage output from the odor sensor and outputs it, The system further includes a control unit that determines the presence or absence of the object to be detected based on the output voltage of the transimpedance amplifier and the output voltage of the filter circuit.

[0012] (6) The detection system relating to this disclosure is A sensor system as described in any of (1) to (5), The system includes a collection device for collecting detection results from the aforementioned sensor system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present disclosure, there is provided a sensor system and a detection system capable of improving the detection accuracy of a detection target that emits light and odor.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a sensor system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the spectral sensitivity spectrum of the photodiode shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the sensor system shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a sensor system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the absorption cross-section spectra of ozone and oxygen molecules. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the photodetection sensor shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a detection system according to the present disclosure.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent components.

[0016] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a sensor system 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The sensor system 10 according to the present disclosure detects a detection target that emits light and odor. Examples of the detection target that emits light and odor include corona discharge. When corona discharge occurs, ultraviolet rays are output and ozone that emits an odor (ozone odor) is generated. Hereinafter, an example in which the detection target is corona discharge will be used for description, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto and is applicable to the detection of any detection target that emits light and odor.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, the sensor system 10 according to this embodiment comprises a photodiode 11, a transimpedance amplifier 12, an odor sensor 13, a filter circuit 14, a control unit 15, and a communication unit 16. The photodiode 11 constitutes a light detection sensor 17.

[0018] The light detection sensor 17 detects light generated by the object being detected. In this embodiment, the photodiode 11, which serves as the light detection sensor 17, detects ultraviolet light generated by corona discharge. Figure 2 shows an example of the spectral sensitivity spectrum of the photodiode 11. As shown in Figure 2, the photodiode 11 has spectral sensitivity from 230 nm to 270 nm. Corona discharge generally generates light with a wide range of wavelengths, from ultraviolet to visible light. The photodiode 11 detects, for example, ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 230 nm to 270 nm.

[0019] The technology described in Patent Document 1 uses diamond as the detection unit for detecting ultraviolet light. In contrast, this embodiment uses a photodiode 11, which is less expensive than a diamond detection unit, as the light detection sensor 17. Therefore, costs can be reduced.

[0020] Referring again to Figure 1, the photodiode 11 outputs a current to the transimpedance amplifier 12 that corresponds to the intensity of the detected (received) light (ultraviolet light).

[0021] The transimpedance amplifier 12 converts the current output from the photodiode 11 into a voltage and outputs it to the control unit 15.

[0022] The odor sensor 13 detects odors generated by the object being detected. As described above, ozone is generated when corona discharge occurs. In this embodiment, the odor sensor 13 detects the odor (ozone odor) emitted by the ozone generated by corona discharge. The odor sensor 13 outputs a voltage corresponding to the detected odor to the filter circuit 14.

[0023] The filter circuit 14 removes noise from the voltage output from the odor sensor 13 and outputs it to the control unit 15.

[0024] The control unit 15 determines the presence or absence of a detection target based on the output voltage of the transimpedance amplifier 12 (detection result of the photodetection sensor 11) and the output voltage of the filter circuit 14 (detection result of the odor sensor 13). For example, the control unit 15 detects that a corona discharge has occurred when ultraviolet light generated by corona discharge is detected by the photodiode 11 and ozone odor is detected by the odor sensor 13.

[0025] The control unit 15 includes at least one processor, at least one programmable circuit, at least one dedicated circuit, or any combination thereof. The processor is a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process. The programmable circuit is, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). The dedicated circuit is, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0026] The communication unit 16 transmits the detection result from the control unit 15 to an external device (for example, a control device that generates an alarm in response to the occurrence of corona discharge). The communication unit 16 includes at least one communication module that communicates with the external device via wired or wireless communication. The communication module is, for example, a module compatible with LAN communication standards such as Ethernet® or Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, a mobile phone communication network, or LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network).

[0027] Figure 3 shows an example of the external appearance of the sensor system 10 according to this embodiment. The parts of the sensor system 10 described with reference to Figure 1 are housed in a housing 18, and the photodiode 11 and odor sensor 13 are arranged exposed on one surface 18a of the housing. For example, the housing 18 is installed so that the surface 18a on which the photodiode 11 and odor sensor 13 are arranged faces the corona discharge detection range.

[0028] In this embodiment, the sensor system 10 has been described using an example in which a control unit 15 detects corona discharge based on the detection result of the photodetection sensor 17 (photodiode 11) and the detection result of the odor sensor 13, but it is not limited to this. The detection result of the photodetection sensor 17 (photodiode 11) and the detection result of the odor sensor 13 may be transmitted to an external device by the communication unit 16, and the external device may detect corona discharge based on the detection result of the photodetection sensor 17 (photodiode 11) and the detection result of the odor sensor 13.

[0029] As described above, the sensor system 10 according to this embodiment includes a light detection sensor 17 and an odor sensor 13. The light detection sensor 17 detects light generated by the object to be detected. The odor sensor 13 detects odors generated by the object to be detected.

[0030] By detecting the light and odor generated by the target object, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of targets that generate light and odor, such as corona discharge.

[0031] (Second embodiment) Figure 4 shows an example of the configuration of a sensor system 10A according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. In Figure 4, components similar to those in Figure 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4, the sensor system 10A according to this embodiment includes a photodiode 11, a transimpedance amplifier 12, an odor sensor 13, a filter circuit 14, a control unit 15A, a communication unit 16, a photodiode 21, and a transimpedance amplifier 22. The photodiodes 11 and 21 constitute a light detection sensor 17A. The sensor system 10A according to this embodiment differs from the sensor system 10 according to the first embodiment in that it adds a photodiode 21 and a transimpedance amplifier 22, and the control unit 15 and light detection sensor 17 are changed to a control unit 15A and a light detection sensor 17A, respectively.

[0033] The photodiode 21 detects ultraviolet light corresponding to the absorption wavelength of ozone generated by corona discharge. As shown in Figure 5, ozone generated by corona discharge has an absorption wavelength between 270 nm and 300 nm. Furthermore, this range does not overlap with the absorption wavelength of oxygen molecules. Therefore, the photodiode 21 can detect ozone generation by detecting ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 270 nm to 300 nm, which corresponds to the absorption wavelength of ozone.

[0034] As described above, the photodiode 11 and the photodiode 21 constitute the light detection sensor 17A. Therefore, in this embodiment, the light detection sensor 17A detects ultraviolet light generated by corona discharge using the photodiode 11, and further detects ultraviolet light corresponding to the absorption wavelength of ozone generated by corona discharge using the photodiode 21.

[0035] Figure 6 shows an example of the configuration of the light detection sensor 17A.

[0036] As shown in Figure 6, photodiodes 11 and 21 are arranged in an array. A bandpass filter 23 that transmits only ultraviolet light in the ozone absorption wavelength range of 270 nm to 300 nm is positioned so as to overlap with the light-receiving surface of photodiode 21. With this configuration, the photodetector 17A can detect ultraviolet light generated by corona discharge and further detect ultraviolet light corresponding to the absorption wavelength of ozone generated by corona discharge.

[0037] Referring again to Figure 4, the transimpedance amplifier 22 converts the current output from the photodiode 21 into a voltage and outputs it to the control unit 15A.

[0038] The control unit 15A determines the presence or absence of the object to be detected based on the output voltage of the transimpedance amplifier 12, the output voltage of the transimpedance amplifier 22, and the output voltage of the filter circuit 14. For example, the control unit 15 may detect that a corona discharge has occurred if ultraviolet light generated by corona discharge is detected by the photodiode 11, and the presence of ozone is detected by at least one of the odor sensor 13 and the photodiode 21.

[0039] In this embodiment, the light detection sensor 17A detects ultraviolet light generated by corona discharge and further detects ultraviolet light corresponding to the absorption wavelength of ozone generated by corona discharge.

[0040] By absorbing ultraviolet light generated by corona discharge and ultraviolet light corresponding to the absorption wavelength of ozone produced by corona discharge, the detection accuracy of corona discharge can be improved. Furthermore, even if, for example, one of the odor sensor 13 or the photodiode 21 malfunctions, the possibility of missing corona discharge detection can be reduced.

[0041] In the embodiments described above, an example of detecting corona discharge was used as the detection target that emits light and odor, but this disclosure is not limited to this. For example, when a lithium-ion battery malfunctions, flames or sparks are generated, along with a burning smell. In this case, the sensor system 10 may detect infrared radiation emitted by the flames or sparks using the photodiode 11 (i.e., the light detection sensors 17, 17A detect infrared radiation generated by the detection target), and detect the burning smell using the odor sensor 11. By doing so, for example, the generation of flames or sparks due to a lithium-ion battery malfunction can be detected with higher accuracy.

[0042] Figure 7 shows an example of the configuration of detection system 1, including sensor systems 10 and 10A according to this disclosure. Detection system 1 is used, for example, to monitor the occurrence of corona discharge in high-voltage equipment, substations, etc.

[0043] As shown in Figure 7, the detection system 1 comprises the sensor systems 10 and 10A according to the above-described embodiment, and a collection device 2.

[0044] The data collection device 2 collects the detection results of the sensor systems 10 and 10A by wired or wireless communication with the communication unit 16 provided by the sensor systems 10 and 10A. The data collection device 2 may operate as a control device that issues a warning or the like when a corona discharge is detected by the sensor systems 10 and 10A. Alternatively, the data collection device 2 may operate as a relay device that relays the collected detection results of the sensor systems 10 and 10A to a control device that issues a warning or the like in response to the detection of a corona discharge.

[0045] This disclosure is not limited to the configurations described in the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention as described in the claims. For example, the functions included in each configuration can be rearranged in a logically consistent manner, and multiple configurations can be combined into one or divided. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 1. Detection System 2. Collection device 10 Sensor Systems 11,21 Photodiode 12,22 Transimpedance Amplifier 13 Odor Sensor 14 Filter Circuits 15 Control Unit 16 Communications Department 17 Light detection sensor 18 cabinets 23 Bandpass filter

Claims

1. A light detection sensor that detects light generated by the object being detected, A sensor system comprising an odor sensor that detects odors generated by the aforementioned target.

2. In the sensor system according to claim 1, The detection target is corona discharge. The aforementioned light detection sensor detects ultraviolet light generated by the corona discharge, The odor sensor is a sensor system that detects the ozone odor generated by the corona discharge.

3. In the sensor system according to claim 2, The aforementioned light detection sensor is a sensor system that further detects ultraviolet light corresponding to the absorption wavelength of ozone generated by the corona discharge.

4. In the sensor system according to claim 1, The aforementioned light detection sensor is a sensor system that detects infrared radiation generated by the object to be detected.

5. In the sensor system according to claim 1, The aforementioned light detection sensor outputs a current corresponding to the intensity of the detected light. The odor sensor outputs a voltage corresponding to the detected odor. A transimpedance amplifier that converts the current output from the light detection sensor into a voltage and outputs it, A filter circuit that removes noise from the voltage output from the odor sensor and outputs it, A sensor system further comprising a control unit that determines the presence or absence of the object to be detected based on the output voltage of the transimpedance amplifier and the output voltage of the filter circuit.

6. A sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A detection system comprising a collection device for collecting detection results from the aforementioned sensor system.

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