Traffic volume measurement sensor

Abstract

To provide a traffic volume measurement sensor capable of accurately measuring the number of pedestrians passing by even with a sensor capable of generating power.SOLUTION: A traffic volume measurement sensor 10 comprises: a power generation unit 100 in which a plurality of power generation elements 50 are arrayed on a plane and which is laid on a floor; a rectification unit 120 which rectifies voltage generated from the power generation unit 100; a transmission unit 140 which transmits a signal indicating whether or not the power generation unit generates power based on the voltage rectified by the rectification unit 120. The rectification unit 120 comprises a voltage doubler rectifier circuit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a traffic counting sensor, and more particularly to a sensor for counting pedestrian traffic. [Background technology]

[0002] When planning urban development or opening a new store, surveys are conducted to determine the number of pedestrians passing through a certain area. Methods for measuring the number of pedestrians passing through include placing people to visually count the number of people passing through, as well as monitoring with infrared sensors and cameras. However, infrared sensors cannot measure when multiple people pass through at the same time, and there are some locations where camera monitoring is not suitable due to privacy concerns (such as restrooms and changing rooms), making it difficult to install cameras.

[0003] In response to this, in recent years, flooring materials equipped with sensors have been developed that incorporate piezoelectric sensors into the floor and transmit wireless communications using the electricity generated when stepped on, thereby detecting whether or not pedestrians are passing by (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-014711 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, with the technology described in the above document, power is generated twice, when the foot steps in (when the foot is placed on the floor) and when the foot steps out (when the foot is taken off the floor), and measurement errors occur because wireless communication is transmitted twice per step, making it difficult to accurately count the number of pedestrians passing by. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a traffic volume measurement sensor that can accurately measure the number of passing pedestrians while using a sensor that can generate electricity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In view of the above problems, the inventors of the present application have arrived at the following invention.

[0007] That is, the traffic volume measurement sensor of the present invention comprises a power generation unit in which a plurality of power generation elements are arranged on a plane and laid on the floor, a rectification unit that rectifies the voltage generated by the power generation unit, and a transmission unit that transmits a signal indicating whether or not power is being generated in the power generation unit based on the voltage rectified by the rectification unit, and is characterized in that the rectification unit comprises a voltage doubler rectification circuit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] With the above-described configuration of the traffic volume measurement sensor of the present invention, when a pedestrian steps on the power generation unit installed on the floor, electricity is generated, and a signal indicating that the pedestrian has passed is transmitted from the transmitter. At this time, the voltage generated by the power generation unit is transmitted to the transmitter via a voltage doubler rectifier circuit, so even if electricity is generated twice, when the foot steps in and out, the sum of the voltage generated twice is applied to the transmitter all at once, and the transmitter only transmits a single signal. In other words, because information about each step of the pedestrian is transmitted, the number of pedestrians passing by can be accurately measured. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a traffic volume measurement sensor according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a circuit diagram of a conventional traffic volume measurement sensor. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a circuit diagram of a traffic volume measurement sensor according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a power generating element according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses. For the sake of simplicity, components having substantially the same functions will be designated by the same reference numerals.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, a traffic measurement sensor 10 of the present invention includes a power generation unit 100 in which a plurality of power generation elements 50 are arranged on a plane and laid on a floor surface, a rectification unit 120 that rectifies the voltage generated by the power generation unit 100, and a transmission unit 140 that transmits a signal indicating whether or not power is being generated in the power generation unit 100 based on the voltage rectified by the rectification unit 120, and the rectification unit includes a voltage doubler rectification circuit.

[0012] The transmitting unit 140 preferably includes a computing device that can be operated by the voltage supplied from the power generating unit 100 via the rectifying unit 120 .

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the traffic measurement sensor 10 preferably further includes a power storage unit 110 that stores the voltage generated by the power generation unit 100.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 4, the power generating element 50 is preferably configured such that an electrode 70 and a substrate 60 are laminated in this order on a charged film 80 made of different materials that are charged positively or negatively by contact electrification, with the charged film 80 sides of the two types of members facing each other.

[0015] The area of ​​one of the power generating elements is 9 cm 2 More than 10000cm 2 It is preferable that:

[0016] It is preferable that the surface of at least one of the substrate 60, the electrode 70, and the charging film 80 has irregularities with a roughness of 0.5 mm or more.

[0017] The size of each charged film is 9cm 2 More than 100cm 2 It is preferable that: (Embodiment 1) Each component will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings as appropriate. <Power Generation Division>

[0018] In the present invention, the power generating unit 100 is a unit in which a plurality of power generating elements 50 are arranged on a plane and laid on the floor. That is, when a pedestrian steps on the power generating unit 100 laid on the floor, electricity is generated, and this electricity can be used to detect the number of steps of the pedestrian. The power generating unit 100 is equipped with a plurality of power generating elements 50, but the type, shape, and number of the power generating elements 50 are not particularly limited, and any known power generating element 50 can be used, such as a piezoelectric element containing ceramics, a friction power generating element in which an electrostatically charged material is laminated on an elastomer, or a power generating rubber. It is more preferable to use a friction power generating element. The use of a friction power generating element increases the power generation per area, allowing for more accurate measurement of pedestrian traffic volume.

[0019] The shape of the arrangement of the power generating elements is not limited, and they may be arranged in a line, or may be arranged randomly lengthwise and widthwise on a plane, or a plurality of power generating elements may be arranged lengthwise and widthwise in a matrix (grid or checkerboard pattern) or honeycomb pattern. It is preferable that the power generating elements are arranged lengthwise and widthwise in a matrix pattern, which increases the probability that a pedestrian will step on at least one of the plurality of arranged power generating elements when passing by, thereby making it possible to more reliably measure the amount of pedestrian traffic.

[0020] Furthermore, the power generating elements may be arranged in an exposed state, or may be spaced apart and each power generating element may be placed on its surface with a known flooring member such as a plate or tile. If each power generating element is large, the power generating elements may be arranged closely together, while if each power generating element is small, flooring members may be placed on each power generating element and arranged closely together, thereby enabling pedestrian steps to be detected without gaps. Alternatively, the power generating elements may be arranged and then covered with any flexible sheet made of rubber, silicone, or the like. In this case, the following explanation will treat it as being the same as when the power generating elements are arranged in an exposed state.

[0021] The size of each power generating element when the power generating elements are arranged in an exposed state, or the size of each floor board when the power generating elements are arranged with floor board members on top of them, is not limited, but is limited to 9 cm 2 More than 10000cm 2 The size of one power generating element is preferably 9 cm or less. 2 If the distance is less than 10,000 cm, it will be necessary to arrange many power generating elements in order to measure pedestrian traffic, which will require a very precise structure, and there is a risk that the strength against pedestrian traffic will not be guaranteed. Also, if the size of one power generating element (or the floor board member if a power generating element is placed on the floor board member) is less than 10,000 cm, 2 If the distance is more than 900cm, there is a high possibility that multiple pedestrians will step on one floorboard member at the same time or at nearly the same time, which may make it impossible to accurately count the number of pedestrians. 2 More than 10000cm 2 It is preferable that:

[0022] Furthermore, if the power generating element is equipped with a floorboard member, it is preferable that the length of at least one side of the floorboard member be in the range of 30 cm to 100 cm. A person's stride length is simply calculated by multiplying their height in cm by 0.45, and the stride length of one step is approximately 30 cm to 80 cm for children and adults alike. That is, to detect a step by any pedestrian, it is preferable to have a power generating element with at least one side of 30 cm or more (if a floorboard member is placed on the power generating element, it is the length of the side of the floorboard member; the same applies below). To detect a step by only adult pedestrians, it is preferable to have a power generating element with at least one side of 80 cm or more. On the other hand, if at least one side of the power generating element exceeds 100 cm, there is a higher possibility that multiple pedestrians will step on one floorboard member simultaneously or at approximately the same time, which may make it difficult to accurately count the number of pedestrians.

[0023] Furthermore, when collecting detailed information such as the direction and number of pedestrians walking, and whether they are adults or children, it is preferable to arrange the power generating elements vertically and horizontally in a matrix. By arranging the power generating elements vertically and horizontally in a matrix or honeycomb pattern, it becomes possible to measure the steps from the first to the second, and estimate the approximate height of the pedestrian from the stride length. Furthermore, the more elements arranged vertically and horizontally, the more information can be estimated, including not only the volume of pedestrians passing by, but also the direction the pedestrians are heading, their approximate height based on their stride length, and their walking speed. It also becomes possible to distinguish between the noise of bicycles, carts, hand trucks, etc. and the volume of pedestrians passing by.

[0024] Furthermore, the shape of the power generating element itself and the shape of the floor plate member when placed on the power generating element are not particularly limited, but it is preferable that each power generating element or the floor plate member placed on the power generating element is approximately square or approximately circular in plan view. Note that the approximately square referred to here may be a square with all sides the same length and each interior angle being 90 degrees, or may be a square with rounded corners or a square with curved edges on each side. Furthermore, the approximately circular shape referred to here may be a perfect circle, an ellipse, or a circle with a straight line added to a portion of the circle. Preferably, the power generating elements are arranged so that the gaps between them are narrow, making them suitable for use by children with small legs, and animals such as dogs, cats, etc. There are no particular limitations on the shape as long as they are arranged without gaps, but a lattice or honeycomb shape can be preferably used.

[0025] The number of power generating elements arranged is not limited, but when the power generating elements and the floorboard members placed on the power generating elements are packed and laid out, for example, the power generating elements are 1 m on a flat surface. 2 For example, when a floor plate member is placed on the power generating element, the size of each floor plate member is 2500 cm. 2 If it is about 1m 2 Maximum 4 pieces per 25cm 2 If it is about 1m 2 In addition, when arranging the power generating elements without placing floorboard materials on them, depending on the type of power generating element, 2 Although it is possible to arrange 400 or more per unit area, providing a resolution greater than this would be excessive in terms of accuracy for measuring pedestrian traffic volume and would also pose the risk of malfunctions and manufacturing defects, so it is preferable to keep the number within the above range. The number (density) of such power generating elements can be determined by installing many small power generating elements to increase the accuracy of measuring pedestrian traffic volume, or by installing fewer power generating elements when lower accuracy is acceptable and a simpler structure is desired.

[0026] Furthermore, apart from being arranged on a plane, multiple power generating elements may be stacked in the height direction. That is, two or more power generating elements may be stacked to form a single power generating element. In this case, by electrically connecting the stacked power generating elements in parallel, a more stable and high power generation can be obtained. That is, the transmitter unit described below can be started stably. When power generating elements are stacked, the number of power generating elements is not particularly limited, but is preferably between 2 and 10, for example, and preferably between 2 and 4 in consideration of the possibility of pedestrians tripping over steps. The number can be set appropriately depending on the start-up power of the transmitter unit. <Friction power generation element>

[0027] When a frictional power generation element is used as the power generation element of the power generation unit 100, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a charged film 80 made of two different materials, which is charged positively and negatively by contact charging, can be stacked in this order, with an electrode 70 and a substrate 60 facing each other. When this frictional power generation element is stepped on, the charged films 80 become charged with opposite polarities, positive and negative, respectively, and power is extracted from the electrodes. In this frictional power generation element, it is preferable that at least one of the substrate 60, electrode 70, and charged film 80 has a surface roughness of 0.5 mm or more. Here, surface roughness refers to the ten-point average roughness according to JIS B 0601:2001. Having at least one of the substrate 60, electrode 70, and charged film 80 have an uneven surface shape increases the amount of power generated compared to a flat surface. In other words, even if the size is similar, an uneven surface increases the amount of power generated by an uneven surface, which allows for fewer stacked frictional power generation elements and reduces the risk of tripping over uneven surfaces. Preferably, at least the substrate 60 has a textured surface, and more preferably, all layers of the substrate 60, electrode 70, and charged film 80 have a textured surface. Furthermore, if the charged film 80 has a textured surface, it is preferable that the two opposing charged films 80 have different textured patterns (embossed surfaces). If the two charged films 80 have the same textured surface, the textured surfaces interlock, making the contact area less likely to change under load, potentially resulting in a reduced amount of power generation. While the material for the substrate 60 is not particularly limited, flexible materials such as resin films (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate film) and silicone rubber are suitable. In particular, polyethylene terephthalate film is preferred as the substrate, as it allows for easy formation of a textured embossed surface by molding. Furthermore, when a metal foil, as described below, is used for the electrode 70, forming a textured surface on the metal foil is preferable because it increases the strength of the textured surface. Furthermore, although the thickness of the substrate is not particularly limited, it is preferably 50 μm to 10 mm, and more preferably 80 μm to 200 μm.

[0028] Furthermore, the size of each charged film that makes up the friction power generation element is 9cm 2 More than 100cm 2 It is preferable that the area of ​​the charged film constituting the friction power generation element is 100 cm or less. 2 If the pressure is larger than 9cm, the pressure will not be applied evenly to the charged film, and the amount of charge induced in the electrode may be averaged out, resulting in a smaller total amount. 2 If the frictional power generation element is less than this, the area of ​​the power generation portion that contributes to power generation will be too small to generate sufficient power, and many frictional power generation elements will need to be stacked, which may cause pedestrians to trip over them. Preferably, when a frictional power generation element is used as the power generation element, the size of each charged film constituting the frictional power generation element is 9 cm. 2 More than 100cm 2 Each friction generating element has a side length of 30cm to 100cm and an area of ​​900cm. 2 More than 10000cm 2 It is preferable to provide the following floor panel members: This allows for accurate measurement of pedestrian traffic volume without the need for an external power source.

[0029] The electrode 70 may be made of any material capable of extracting power from the charged film, and known conductive materials such as aluminum, iron, copper, silver, and gold can be used. There are no particular limitations on its shape; conductive pastes such as silver paste and copper paste, as well as metal foils such as copper foil or aluminum foil, can be used. Aluminum foil is more preferable because it is inexpensive and flexible. There are also no limitations on its thickness, but it is preferably between 10 μm and 200 μm. The electrode 70 and the charged film 80 are preferably laminated together using a conductive adhesive.

[0030] The charged film 80 may be made of different materials, one of which is positively charged and the other negatively charged, and may be made of one or more films selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyimide, polyamide, and polyvinyl chloride. <Rectification section>

[0031] In the present invention, the rectifier unit rectifies the voltage generated by the power generation unit and transmits the rectified voltage to the transmitter unit. More specifically, the rectifier unit includes a voltage doubler rectifier circuit, and examples of the voltage doubler rectifier circuit include a half-wave voltage doubler rectifier circuit and a Bennett voltage doubler rectifier circuit.

[0032] Typically, a circuit for rectifying the voltage generated by a power generating element uses a rectifier unit 130 equipped with a bridge rectifier circuit combining four diodes, as illustrated in the conventional traffic volume measurement sensor 20 of FIG. 2. However, when two power generation events occur, one at the time of stepping in and one at the time of stepping out, two voltage peaks are generated. If this were detected as a single step by a pedestrian, it could be interpreted as counting two people or two steps, even though there is only one step per person. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, rectification using a rectifier unit 120 equipped with a voltage doubler rectifier circuit can process the two power generation events, one at the time of stepping in and one at the time of stepping out, into a single voltage peak. In other words, a single step by a pedestrian can be detected with high accuracy. More preferably, a half-wave voltage doubler rectifier circuit is used for the rectifier unit. The rectifying section 120 may also include a bypass capacitor to reduce noise from the power generating section 100 . <Transmitter>

[0033] In the present invention, the transmitter transmits a signal indicating whether or not the power generation unit is generating electricity based on the voltage rectified by the rectifier unit. In other words, it converts the voltage generated by a step by a pedestrian into a signal. The transmitter can suitably be a processing device such as a microcomputer. This processing device measures the number of steps by a pedestrian based on the voltage received from the power generation unit via the rectifier unit. The measured information may be transmitted as a signal to a display unit (described later), or may be transmitted to another processing device via wired or wireless communication. The transmitter may be composed of a single processing device, or multiple processing devices. For example, a plurality of pairs of one power generation element and one processing device may be combined, or multiple power generation elements may be connected together to a single processing device. The configuration can be selected appropriately depending on the intended use.

[0034] Furthermore, it is preferable that the transmitter is configured to be able to transmit signals to another arithmetic processing device, i.e., a receiver, via wireless communication, which allows the display unit, such as a liquid crystal display, to be separated from the traffic volume measurement sensor of the present invention, preventing pedestrians from stepping on and damaging the display unit, etc.

[0035] Furthermore, it is preferable that the transmitter unit is configured to be activated using the voltage supplied from the power generation unit via the rectifier unit as its power source. The transmitter unit may be connected to a power source (e.g., a battery) different from the power generation unit and be activated intermittently or constantly, and be able to read the voltage flowing from the power generation unit; however, if a power source is provided other than the power generation unit, there is a risk that the unit may be stepped on and damaged by pedestrians. Therefore, it is preferable that the transmitter unit does not have a power source different from the power generation unit, but rather generates electricity when pedestrians step on the power generation unit, and activates the transmitter unit using the generated voltage. Since the transmitter unit does not have a power source different from the power generation unit and can be activated by a voltage signal generated by the power generation unit, a simple circuit is achieved, there is no need for the hassle of battery replacement, and since no power source is required, it can be easily installed and removed.

[0036] The content of the signal transmitted by the transmitter is not particularly limited. For example, in the case where multiple power generating elements are arranged, the signal may include information on the identification number of each traffic measurement sensor, address information specifying the position of each power generating element in the arrangement, and information on the voltage from the power generating element via the rectifier. In particular, to enable signal transmission in a short time even with a small amount of power generation, it is preferable to use a signal that digitizes the information on the identification number of each traffic measurement sensor and the address information specifying the position of each power generating element in the arrangement. The communication method is also not particularly limited. However, it is preferable to use UDP (User Datagram Protocol) communication to transmit the information on the identification number of each traffic measurement sensor and the address information specifying the position of each power generating element in the arrangement in JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format, as this allows for high-speed communication even with a small amount of power generation. For example, if a JSON format is created using binary numbers representing positive decimal integers between 0 and 255 as identification numbers, a comma (,), and binary numbers representing positive decimal integers between 0 and 255 as address information identifying the position of each power generating element in the array, any combination of "0,0", "0,1", ..., "0,255", "1,0", "1,1", ..., "1,255", ... "255,255" fits within three bytes, shortening communication time. Furthermore, for arrays with 256 or more arrays, even if the address information is binary numbers between 0 and 65535, only one additional byte is required. Furthermore, even when combining voltage-related information (described below), the data communication volume is extremely small, less than 10 bytes, allowing the power generating elements to be used alone.

[0037] Furthermore, the transmitter may be configured to not only activate and transmit a signal based on the voltage rectified by the rectifier, but also read the voltage value and transmit this value as a signal. That is, the transmitter includes a processing unit, which may include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to read the voltage value rectified by the rectifier. By transmitting this voltage value as a signal, the amount of power generated by the power generation unit 100 can be calculated, and from this information, information such as the pedestrian's weight, i.e., whether they are a child or an adult, can be collected. In this case, it is preferable to provide a power source separate from the power generation unit 100 to drive the processing unit; for example, a known dry cell battery or button cell battery can be used.

[0038] Furthermore, the type of signal processed by the processing device is not particularly limited, and can be any signal such as the volume of pedestrian traffic (number of people) within a specified period of time, the number of steps, the direction of pedestrian traffic, the volume of traffic distinguishing between adults and children, the volume of pedestrian traffic (number of people) by time of day, the presence or absence of pedestrians (intruders), the degree of congestion in passageways or facilities estimated from the volume of pedestrian traffic, etc.

[0039] Furthermore, when wireless communication is used, known communication means in the 800 MHz band (710 to 960 MHz), 2.4 GHz band, and 5 GHz band can be used, and it is more preferable to use communication means in the 800 MHz band, where research, development, and practical application of low-power-consumption communication technology (LPWA) are active. <Other configurations>

[0040] As shown in Fig. 3, the traffic volume measurement sensor 10 preferably further includes a power storage unit 110 that stores the voltage generated by the power generation unit 100. Any known power storage device such as a capacitor or condenser can be used as the power storage unit. In particular, it is preferable to provide the power storage unit 110 between the power generation unit 100 and the rectification unit 120. By providing the power storage unit 110, it is possible to store the power required to start the transmission unit 140 before outputting the power.

[0041] The traffic volume measurement sensor 10 may further include a housing that hermetically houses the power generation unit 100. Because the output voltage of the power generation unit 100 may fluctuate due to moisture, it is preferable to house and seal the power generation unit 100 in a housing to block out atmospheric moisture. While the material and shape of the housing are not critical as long as they can block atmospheric moisture and enable the power generation unit 100 to generate electricity, the housing is preferably made of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of resin films, metal foils, and resin films with metal deposition. More preferably, a laminate is used in which a resin layer is provided on at least the surface of the metal foil that contacts the power generation unit 100. Even more preferably, an aluminum laminate film in which a resin layer is provided on both sides of the aluminum foil is preferably used. The aluminum foil provides high moisture resistance, and the resin layers on both sides make it tear-resistant and easily deform when stepped on, so as not to interfere with the power generation of the power generation unit 100. Furthermore, the resin layer on the surface of the aluminum foil reduces the risk of a short circuit due to direct contact between the power generation unit 100 and the aluminum.

[0042] The traffic volume measurement sensor of the present invention can be used not only to count the number of pedestrians but also to detect the presence or absence of pedestrians. That is, the traffic volume measurement sensor of the present invention can be installed in locations with few pedestrians or where pedestrian traffic is undesirable, and detect pedestrians passing by. For example, if the traffic volume measurement sensor of the present invention is installed in an outdoor passageway or a passageway within a facility and the result indicates a low number of pedestrians, this can be used as information to decide whether to close the passageway or take measures to increase pedestrian traffic. Furthermore, the traffic volume measurement sensor of the present invention can be installed in an employee-only passageway in a facility such as a store, or in a garden or hallway in a residence, to detect pedestrian intrusion. In such applications, rather than counting the number of pedestrians, it is sufficient to detect even one pedestrian. Therefore, the transmitter is preferably configured to activate an alarm or notify a security guard when even one pedestrian is detected. [Example]

[0043] Example 1 A frictional power generation element was prepared as the power generation element. An embossed polyethylene terephthalate film (100 μm thick) was cut into a 5 cm × 5 cm piece, and a conductive nonwoven fabric and a charged film were adhered to the film in that order to create a single-layer frictional power generation element. Lead wires were then connected to each conductive nonwoven fabric. Polyamide film and polyimide film were used for the charged film, respectively. Four such frictional power generation elements were prepared and stacked, and the lead wires connected to each frictional power generation element were connected in parallel (four stacked frictional power generation elements electrically connected in parallel are hereafter referred to as a "laminate frictional power generation element"). Six such laminated frictional power generation elements were prepared and arranged in a 2 × 3 matrix, spaced 1 cm apart, near the center of a 30 cm × 40 cm × 100 μm thick polyethylene terephthalate film, and attached with double-sided tape. The lead wires extending from these laminated friction power generating elements were connected together for each positive and negative terminal, and the outputs were connected to a half-wave voltage doubler rectifier circuit shown as 120 in Figures 1 and 3, and the output of the half-wave voltage doubler rectifier circuit was connected to a 928 MHz wireless communication unit (EnOcean PTM430J) which served as the transmitter. In this case, the output from the laminated friction power generating element was used as the power source for the wireless communication unit, and no other power source such as a battery was connected. In this way, a traffic volume measurement sensor was obtained.

[0044] A receiver for the wireless communication unit (EnOcean USB400J) was also prepared, and the receiver's output terminal was connected to the computer's USB port. A program was installed in the computer that counted the number of times the receiver received a signal from the wireless communication unit each time, converting this into the number of steps and displaying it. Furthermore, as a performance evaluation test, a person placed their foot on the laminated friction power generation element, stepped down, and then removed their foot again (one step), and when the number of steps displayed on the computer was checked, it was displayed as one step.

[0045] Example 2 A traffic volume measurement sensor was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the size of the embossed polyethylene terephthalate film (thickness 100 μm) was 7 cm × 7 cm. A performance evaluation test was carried out, and the sensor displayed 1 step.

[0046] Example 3 A traffic volume measurement sensor was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the size of the embossed polyethylene terephthalate film (thickness 100 μm) was 10 cm × 10 cm. A performance evaluation test was carried out, and the sensor displayed 1 step.

[0047] Example 4 As in Example 1, six laminated friction power generation elements were arranged on a polyethylene terephthalate film, which was then wrapped in a commercially available aluminum laminate film made by laminating both sides of aluminum foil with polyethylene terephthalate. The edges of the aluminum laminate film were sealed with a heat sealer while removing air. The lead wires extending from the laminated friction power generation elements were all routed outside, and the gaps were sealed with silicone putty. The positive and negative leads from the same laminated friction power generation element were paired and connected to a half-wave voltage doubler rectifier circuit for each laminated friction power generation element. Furthermore, a 928 MHz wireless communication unit (PTM430J manufactured by EnOcean) serving as a transmitter was individually connected to the output of each half-wave voltage doubler rectifier circuit for each laminated friction power generation element. That is, six laminated friction power generation elements, six half-wave voltage doubler rectifier circuits, and six transmitters were connected, with one half-wave voltage doubler rectifier circuit and one transmitter for each laminated friction power generation element. At this time, the output from the frictional power generating element was used as the power source for the wireless communication unit, and no other power source such as a battery was connected.

[0048] Furthermore, similar to Example 1, a wireless communication unit receiver (EnOcean USB400J) was prepared, and a program was installed in the computer that counted the number of times a signal was received from the wireless communication unit each time it was received, converted it into the number of steps, and displayed it, as well as displaying the module ID assigned as a unique value to each of the six transmitters. Furthermore, as a performance evaluation test, a person placed their foot on the multilayer friction power generation element, stepped down, and then removed their foot again (one step). When the number of steps displayed on the computer was checked, it displayed one step, and also displayed the module ID of the transmitter connected to the multilayer friction power generation element where the foot was placed. This made it possible to identify which part had been stepped on.

[0049] Example 5 The frictional power generation element was prepared by laminating aluminum foil (30 μm thick) and a charging film on a PET film (100 μm thick), embossing the laminate, and cutting it into a 5 cm × 5 cm piece to create a single-layer frictional power generation element. Lead wires were then connected to each aluminum foil. Polyamide film and polyimide film were used for the charging film, respectively. Four such frictional power generation elements were prepared and stacked, and the lead wires connected to each frictional power generation element were connected in parallel to obtain a multilayer frictional power generation element. Six of these multilayer frictional power generation elements were arranged on a polyethylene terephthalate film in the same manner as in Example 1, and the resulting laminate was wrapped in a commercially available aluminum laminate film in which both sides of the aluminum foil were laminated with polyethylene terephthalate. The edges of the aluminum laminate film were sealed with a heat sealer while removing air. The lead wires extending from the multilayer frictional power generation element were all removed and the gaps were sealed with silicone putty. The positive and negative leads from the same multilayer frictional power generation element were paired, and each multilayer frictional power generation element was individually connected to a half-wave voltage doubler rectifier circuit. Furthermore, a 928MHz wireless communication unit (PTM430J manufactured by EnOcean) acting as a transmitter was connected to the output of each half-wave voltage doubler rectifier circuit, individually for each laminated friction power generating element. That is, six laminated friction power generating elements, six half-wave voltage doubler rectifier circuits, and six transmitters were individually connected, with one half-wave voltage doubler rectifier circuit and one transmitter connected to each laminated friction power generating element. In this case, the output from the friction power generating elements was used as the power source for the wireless communication unit, and no other power source such as a battery was connected.

[0050] Furthermore, similar to Example 1, a wireless communication unit receiver (EnOcean USB400J) was prepared, and a program was installed in the computer that counted the number of times a signal was received from the wireless communication unit each time this signal was received, converted it into the number of steps, and displayed it, as well as displaying the module ID assigned as a unique value to each of the six transmitters. Furthermore, as a performance evaluation test, a person placed their foot on this multilayer friction power generation element, stepped down, and then took their foot off again (one step). When the number of steps displayed on the computer was checked, it displayed one step, and also displayed the module ID of the transmitter connected to the multilayer friction power generation element where the foot was placed. This made it possible to identify which part had been stepped on.

[0051] (Comparative Example 1) A traffic volume measurement sensor was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the half-wave voltage doubler rectifier circuit in the rectifier section was changed to a bridge rectifier circuit shown in Figure 2. A performance evaluation test was carried out, and the sensor displayed 2 steps.

[0052] The results are shown in Table 1. The number of steps displayed on the computer was checked, and those that were counted as one step were evaluated as ◯, and those that were not counted and remained displayed as 0 steps or were counted as two or more steps were evaluated as ×. In addition, those who were able to identify the step position were evaluated as ◯, and those who could not were evaluated as ×.

[0053] [Table 1]

[0054] As shown by the above results, the traffic volume measurement sensor of the present invention can accurately measure the number of passing pedestrians even though it uses a sensor that can generate electricity. In particular, the sensor that can generate electricity itself serves as the power source, and a separate power source such as a battery is not necessarily required, making it easy to install and remove. (Other embodiments)

[0055] The above-described embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these examples. These examples may be combined with or partially replaced by well-known, commonly used, or publicly known techniques. Modified inventions that would be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art are also included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 10 Traffic volume measurement sensor 20 Traffic volume measurement sensor 50 power generating element 60 Base material 70 electrodes 80 Charging Film 100 Power Generation Unit 110 Power storage unit 120 Rectification section (half-wave voltage doubler rectification circuit) 130 Rectification section (bridge rectification circuit) 140 Transmitter

Claims

1. a power generation unit in which a plurality of power generation elements are arranged on a plane and laid on a floor; a rectification unit that rectifies the voltage generated by the power generation unit; a transmitter that transmits a signal indicating whether or not power is being generated in the power generation unit based on the voltage rectified by the rectifier, the rectification unit includes a voltage doubler rectification circuit, The power generating element is a traffic volume measurement sensor characterized in that the power generating element is made of two types of members, each of which has an electrode and a base material laminated in order on a charged film made of different materials that are charged to positive and negative charges by contact electrification, with the charged film sides facing each other.

2. The traffic measurement sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission unit includes a calculation unit operable by the voltage supplied from the power generation unit via the rectification unit.

3. 3. The traffic measurement sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a power storage unit that stores the voltage generated by the power generation unit.

4. The area of ​​one power generating element is 9 cm ２ More than 10000cm ２ 4. The traffic volume measurement sensor according to claim 1, wherein:

5. 2. The traffic volume measurement sensor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the substrate, the electrode and the charged film has a surface roughness of 0.5 mm or more.

6. The size of each charging film is 9 cm ２ More than 100cm ２ 6. The traffic volume measurement sensor according to claim 1 or 5, wherein:

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