Seat monitoring system

Abstract

This seat monitoring system comprises: a plurality of seats; a first RFID sensor tag that is provided to each of the plurality of seats and that detects the wetness of a seat using wireless-communication radio waves as a power source; and a reader that reads, from the first RFID sensor tag by wireless communication, a detection result of the first RFID sensor tag and first tag identification information for identifying the first RFID sensor tag. The first tag identification information is associated with seat identification information for identifying a seat on which the first RFID sensor tag is disposed.

Description

Seat Monitoring System

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat monitoring system that monitors the status of a seat in which a person is seated.

[0002] In the past, when different people sat on seats one after another, for example, the person sitting in front of them could spill a drink on the seat, making it wet, and the next person could sit down without noticing that the seat was wet. Because it was sometimes difficult to determine whether a seat was wet from its appearance, cleaners had to touch each seat one by one to check for wetness.

[0003] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 proposes acquiring a thermographic image showing the temperature distribution in a space including a sheet, and detecting the wetness of the sheet based on the temperature distribution in the sheet area.

[0004] JP 2022-135498 A

[0005] It is cumbersome for cleaners to touch each seat to check whether it is wet. Furthermore, even with the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, thermographic images of seats must be acquired every two or three seats, which is cumbersome when there are a large number of seats. When cleaning train seats, the trains turn around, so cleaning must be completed in a short time, placing a heavy burden on cleaners.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a seat monitoring system that can efficiently detect the wetness of a seat.

[0007] A sheet monitoring system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of sheets, a first RFID sensor tag disposed on each of the plurality of sheets and configured to detect wetness of the sheet using radio waves from wireless communication as a power source, and a reader configured to wirelessly read from the first RFID sensor tag a detection result of the first RFID sensor tag and first tag identification information identifying the first RFID sensor tag, the first tag identification information being linked to sheet identification information identifying the sheet on which the first RFID sensor tag is disposed.

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a seat monitoring system that can efficiently detect the wetness of a seat.

[0009] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a seat monitoring system according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a first RFID sensor tag on a seat; FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of a seat monitoring system; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the circuit configuration of a first RFID sensor tag in a modified example of the seat monitoring system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a first RFID sensor tag on a seat in a modified example of the seat monitoring system according to the first embodiment;

[0010] Each of the embodiments described below shows a specific example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Furthermore, the numerical values, shapes, configurations, steps, and step orders specifically shown in the following embodiments are examples and do not limit the present invention. Among the components in the following embodiments, components that are not described in the independent claims that represent the highest concepts are described as optional components. Furthermore, in all embodiments, the configurations in each modification are the same, and the configurations described in each modification may be combined with each other.

[0011] (Embodiment 1) Next, a schematic configuration of a seat monitoring system 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of RFID sensor tags and readers in the seat monitoring system 1 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of RFID sensor tags on a sheet.

[0012] In the first embodiment, the seat monitoring system 1 detects wetness of a plurality of seats 7 arranged in an interior space 5 of a train 3, which is an example of a moving body. In addition to the train 3, the moving body may be, for example, a bus, a ship, or an airplane. The seat monitoring system 1 is not limited to detecting wetness on seats in a moving body, but may also detect wetness on seats installed in a hall. The seats 7 are not limited to fixed seats, but may also be portable, movable seats. Examples of movable seats include office chairs and folding chairs.

[0013] The seat 7 has a cushion portion 9 that supports the person's buttocks, a seat back portion 11 that supports the person's back, and armrests 13 that support the person's hands. A plurality of seats 7 may be arranged horizontally within the space 5, or a plurality of seats 7 may be arranged with steps in the vertical direction. Figure 2 shows an example in which wetness 14 has occurred on the cushion portion 9. In the first embodiment, the cushion portion 9 is replaceable, but it may also be a stationary type.

[0014] The seat monitoring system 1 comprises a first RFID sensor tag 15 and a reader 17 .

[0015] The first RFID sensor tag 15 detects wetness of the seat 7 using radio waves from the reader 17 as a power source. The first RFID sensor tag 15 is an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag equipped with a sensor for measuring physical parameters. At least one first RFID sensor tag 15 is disposed on each of the plurality of seats 7. The first RFID sensor tag 15 is disposed, for example, in an upper portion of the cushion portion 9 of the seat 7.

[0016] The reader 17 reads the detection result of the first RFID sensor tag 15 and first tag identification information that identifies the first RFID sensor tag 15 from the first RFID sensor tag 15 via wireless communication. The reader 17 is placed above the seats 7, for example, on the ceiling of the train 3, and is capable of communicating with a plurality of first RFID sensor tags 15 that are placed on a plurality of seats 7, respectively. The reader 17 periodically communicates with each of the first RFID sensor tags 15 and obtains the detection result of each of the first RFID sensor tags 15.

[0017] The first tag identification information is linked to seat identification information that identifies the seat 7 on which the first RFID sensor tag is placed. The reader 17 may be a reader / writer that has a writing function for writing information to the first RFID sensor tag 15. In this case, the reader 17 may store the seat identification information linked to each of the first tag identification information in each of the first RFID sensor tags 15. Alternatively, the in-vehicle management device 19, which will be described later, may perform this linking.

[0018] Next, the seat monitoring system 1 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the seat monitoring system 1.

[0019] The seat monitoring system 1 further includes an in-car management device 19 , a terminal device 21 , a portable terminal device 23 , a communication unit 25 , and an antenna 27 as components arranged inside the train 3 .

[0020] The on-board management device 19 manages the wetness state of the seats 7 inside the train 3. The on-board management device 19 is, for example, a computer. The on-board management device 19 is communicatively connected to the readers 17, for example, via a wired or wireless local area network (LAN). When the readers 17 and the on-board management device 19 are connected via a wireless LAN, wiring connecting the readers 17 and the on-board management device 19 inside the train 3 can be omitted, thereby reducing the weight of the train 3. The on-board management device 19 has a memory unit 29 that stores the wetness state of the seats 7. The memory unit 29 includes, for example, at least one of a hard disk (HDD), a semiconductor storage device (SSD), and a semiconductor memory (RAM). Detection results of the first RFID sensor tags 15 linked to the first tag identification information are transmitted from each of the multiple readers 17 arranged inside the train 3, and the respective detection results are stored in the memory unit 29.

[0021] The terminal device 21 is communicatively connected to the on-board management device 19, for example, via a wired or wireless LAN, and is located, for example, in the conductor's cabin. The terminal device 21 has a display unit that displays information and an input unit that inputs instructions to the terminal device 21, and the conductor can use the terminal device 21 to check the wetness status of the seats 7 inside the train 3. The input unit is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel. The terminal device 21 is, for example, a computer. The on-board management device 19 and the terminal device 21 may be integrated.

[0022] The portable terminal device 23 is communicably connected to the in-car management device 19 via a wireless LAN, and has a display unit that displays information and an input unit that inputs instructions to the portable terminal device 23. Information regarding the wetness of the seats 7 is also shared with the portable terminal device 23, so that crew members can carry the portable terminal device 23 and check the wetness of the seats 7 while moving around the train 3. The portable terminal device 23 is, for example, a tablet computer.

[0023] The communication unit 25 is communicably connected to the onboard management device 19 via a wired or wireless LAN, and transmits and receives information to and from the outside of the train 3 wirelessly via an antenna 27 .

[0024] The seat monitoring system 1 further includes an antenna 31, a communication unit 33, and a central control unit 35 as components arranged outside the train 3.

[0025] The central management unit 35 can communicate with the on-board management devices 19 of the multiple trains 3 via the antenna 31 and the communication unit 33. The central management unit 35 can be configured as an information processing device such as a personal computer or a workstation that includes a processor (MPU), input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display device. The central management unit 35 has a memory unit 37 that includes at least one of a hard disk drive (HDD), a semiconductor storage device (SSD), and a semiconductor memory (RAM). The central management unit 35 aggregates information regarding the wetness of the seats 7 of each train 3, thereby enabling the central management unit 35 to notify people not on the train 3 of the wetness of the seats 7.

[0026] The memory unit 37 stores the reservation status of the seats 7 of each train 3. Therefore, the central control device 35 can set the seat 7 in which wetness is detected as unavailable for reservation, and set it so that reservations can be resumed after receiving notification that cleaning of the seat 7 or replacement of the wet cushion portion 9 has been completed.

[0027] Next, the circuit configuration of the first RFID sensor tag 15 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the circuit configuration of the first RFID sensor tag 15.

[0028] The first RFID sensor tag 15 includes a substrate 39 , an analog module 41 , a control unit 43 , a first sensor 45 , and an antenna 47 .

[0029] On the board 39, an analog module 41, a control unit 43, a first sensor 45, and an antenna 47 are arranged.

[0030] The analog module 41 recovers energy from radio waves received by the antenna 47 from the reader 17 , receives communication signals from the reader 17 , and transmits communication signals to the reader 17 .

[0031] The analog module 41 has a modulation unit 49 for transmitting a communication signal, a demodulation unit 51 for receiving the communication signal, a rectification unit 53 for converting wireless energy into continuous energy, and a supply control unit 55 for generating a predetermined voltage and current from the continuous energy and storing it in a capacitor. With these configurations, the analog module 41 uses energy contained in the carrier wave of the communication signal from the reader 17 to supply power to the first sensor 45 and send the detection result of the first sensor 45 back to the reader 17 without including a battery or energy storage unit.

[0032] The control unit 43 is electrically connected to the analog module 41 and has a processor and a memory unit capable of processing data and storing detection values ​​acquired by the first sensor 45. The control unit 43 stores first tag identification information that identifies the first RFID sensor tag 15 and sheet identification information that identifies the sheet 7 on which the first RFID sensor tag 15 is placed, linked to each other. The control unit 43 is also electrically connected to the first sensor 45 and supplies the first sensor 45 with electrical energy received from the analog module 41. It is also possible to connect another sensor to the control unit 43.

[0033] The first sensor 45 is, for example, a humidity sensor. The humidity sensor detects a change in capacitance to detect the presence or absence of moisture around the first RFID sensor tag 15. The detection result of the first sensor 45 is transmitted to the control unit 43.

[0034] An antenna 47 is printed on the substrate 39 for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from the reader 17. The antenna 47 may extend from the substrate 39.

[0035] Such a passively operating first RFID sensor tag 15 is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-522028, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0036] In this way, when there is wetness 14 on the cushion portion 9 of the seat 7, the first RFID sensor tag 15 detects the wetness 14 by utilizing the energy of the communication signal periodically transmitted from the reader 17, and transmits the detection result together with the first tag identification information and the seat identification information back to the reader 17. The reader 17 transmits the detection results, the first tag identification information, and the seat identification information received from all the first RFID sensor tags 15 as a set to the in-vehicle management device 19.

[0037] The in-car management device 19 notifies the terminal device 21 and the portable terminal device 23 of the seat 7 where the wetness 14 has occurred, thereby notifying the conductor in the conductor's room and the sales staff patrolling the car of the seat 7 where the wetness 14 has occurred, so that the conductor and the sales staff can take appropriate measures.

[0038] As described above, the sheet monitoring system 1 of the first embodiment includes a plurality of sheets 7, a first RFID sensor tag 15 disposed on each of the plurality of sheets 7 and configured to detect wetness of the sheet 7 using radio waves from wireless communication as a power source, and a reader 17 configured to wirelessly read, from the first RFID sensor tag 15, the detection result of the first RFID sensor tag 15 and first tag identification information identifying the first RFID sensor tag 15. The first tag identification information is linked to sheet identification information identifying the sheet 7 on which the first RFID sensor tag 15 is disposed.

[0039] According to the sheet monitoring system 1 configured as described above, the first RFID sensor tag 15 placed on each of the plurality of sheets 7 uses radio waves from the reader 17 as a power source to detect wetness of the sheet 7. The first tag identification information that identifies each first RFID sensor tag 15 is linked to the sheet identification information that identifies each sheet, so that the wetness detection results for each sheet 7 can be known all at once even at a location distant from the sheets 7, and it can be easily known which of the plurality of sheets 7 are wet.

[0040] The seat monitoring system 1 makes it possible to remotely check whether all seats 7 are wet after passengers disembark from the train 3, thereby reducing the amount of checking work required by cleaning staff. As a result, the time required for cleaning can be reduced, allowing for an increase in the number of trains in operation. In addition, because it is possible to know in real time whether a seat 7 is wet, it is possible for the crew to clean the seats while the train 3 is in motion, or to prevent passengers from sitting on wet seats 7.

[0041] The seat 7 has a cushion part 9 that supports the buttocks of a person, and the first RFID sensor tag 15 is disposed on the cushion part 9. This makes it possible to detect whether the cushion part 9 is wet or not.

[0042] When wetness 14 exists on the sheet 7, the humidity of the sheet 7 increases, so the first RFID sensor tag 15 includes a humidity sensor and can detect the wetness 14 on the sheet 7 by detecting the humidity.

[0043] The reader 17 is disposed above the sheets 7, and therefore can efficiently communicate with the first RFID sensor tags 15 disposed on each of the multiple sheets 7.

[0044] Next, a first modification of the seat monitoring system 1 of the first embodiment will be described. The first sensor 45 of the first RFID sensor tag 15 of the seat monitoring system 1 described above includes a humidity sensor, but this is not limited to this. The first sensor 45 may include a temperature sensor instead of a humidity sensor. For example, if the wetness 14 on the seat 7 is a hot drink, the temperature is higher than the ambient temperature of the space 5 of the train 3. For example, if the wetness 14 on the seat 7 is a room-temperature or cold drink, the temperature is lower than the ambient temperature of the space 5 of the train 3 due to the heat of vaporization of the wetness 14 on the seat 7. Therefore, even if the first sensor 45 includes a temperature sensor, it is possible to detect whether the seat 7 is wet.

[0045] Next, a second modification of the seat monitoring system 1 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the circuit configuration of a first RFID sensor tag 15A in the second modification of the seat monitoring system 1 of the first embodiment.

[0046] While the first sensor 45 of the first RFID sensor tag 15 in the sheet monitoring system 1 described above includes a single first sensor 45, this is not limiting. The first RFID sensor tag 15 may include multiple sensors measuring different physical parameters. A first RFID sensor tag 15A shown as a modified example includes a second sensor 57 including a temperature sensor in addition to the first sensor 45 including a humidity sensor. Therefore, the first RFID sensor tag 15A can detect the humidity and temperature of the sheet 7 placed thereon in response to periodic readouts from the reader 17. If either the detected humidity value or the detected temperature value is outside a predetermined range, it can detect that wetting 14 has occurred on the sheet 7, thereby further improving the accuracy of wetting detection.

[0047] Next, a third modification of the seat monitoring system 1 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6 . FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the first RFID sensor tag 15 on the seat 7 in the third modification of the seat monitoring system 1 of the first embodiment. In the above-described seat monitoring system 1, one first RFID sensor tag 15 is arranged on one seat 7, but this is not limited to this. Two or more first RFID sensor tags 15 may be arranged on one seat 7. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , three first RFID sensor tags 15 are arranged on the cushion portion 9 of the seat 7. This increases the area in which wetness can be detected, thereby further improving the accuracy of detecting wetness on the seat 7.

[0048] The first RFID sensor tags 15 placed on the cushion portion 9 may all have the same first sensor 45, or a first RFID sensor tag 15 having a first sensor 45 and a first RFID sensor tag 15 having a second sensor 57 may be placed on the cushion portion 9. Also, a first RFID sensor tag 15A having both sensors may be placed as any or all of the multiple first RFID sensor tags. The first tag identification information of the multiple first RFID sensor tags 15 placed on one sheet 7 is all linked to the same sheet identification information.

[0049] Next, a fourth modified example of the seat monitoring system 1 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the readers 17 in the fourth modified example of the seat monitoring system 1 of the first embodiment.

[0050] In the seat monitoring system 1 described above, the reader 17 is disposed above the seat 7, but this is not limiting. The reader 17 may be disposed below the seat 7, as shown in Fig. 7. In Fig. 7, the reader 17 is embedded in the upper surface of the floor 59 below the seat 7.

[0051] By arranging the reader 17 below the seat 7, communication between the reader 17 and the first RFID sensor tag 15 can be maintained even when a passenger is seated in the seat 7. If the reader 17 were arranged above the seat 7, the passenger sitting in the seat 7 might interfere with communication between the reader 17 and the first RFID sensor tag 15.

[0052] Next, a fifth modified example of the seat monitoring system 1 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the arrangement of the antenna 47 of the first RFID sensor tag 15 in the fifth modified example of the seat monitoring system 1 of the first embodiment.

[0053] In the above-described seat monitoring system 1, the antenna 47 of the first RFID sensor tag 15 is disposed on the substrate 39, but this is not limiting. The antenna 47 of the first RFID sensor tag 15 may extend outside the substrate 39. As shown in Fig. 8 , the antenna 47 may extend from the first RFID sensor tag 15 through the cushion portion 9 toward the seat back portion 11, then extend upward through the seat back portion 11, and extend over the surface of the armrest 13 toward the tip of the armrest 13.

[0054] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9 , the antenna 47 may extend from the first RFID sensor tag 15 within the cushion portion 9 toward the seat back portion 11, then extend upward within the seat back portion 11, and further extend along the upper edge of the seat back portion 11.

[0055] In this way, the antenna 47 of the RFID sensor tag 15 is arranged along the upper edge of the armrest 13 or the seat back 11 of the seat 7, so that the antenna 47 extends to a position other than the position where the RFID sensor tag 15 is arranged on the seat 7. This makes it easy to maintain communication between the reader 17 and the first RFID sensor tag 15 even when a passenger is seated in the seat 7.

[0056] (Embodiment 2) Next, a seat monitoring system 1B according to embodiment 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 10 and Fig. 11. Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the seat monitoring system according to embodiment 2. Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a second RFID sensor tag 15B according to embodiment 2.

[0057] The seat monitoring system 1B of the first embodiment detects whether the seat 7 is wet, but the seat monitoring system 1B of the second embodiment detects whether a person is seated in the seat 7. In the first embodiment, the first RFID sensor tag 15 is disposed in the cushion portion 9 of the seat 7, but in the second embodiment, a second RFID sensor tag 15B is disposed in the seat back portion 11 of the seat 7 instead of the first RFID sensor tag 15. Other than this point and the points described below, the seat monitoring system 1B of the second embodiment is the same as the seat monitoring system 1 of the first embodiment, and therefore a description of the common configuration will be omitted.

[0058] 4, the first sensor 45 of the first RFID sensor tag 15 includes a humidity sensor, whereas the first sensor 45 of the second RFID sensor tag 15B includes a pressure sensor. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the second RFID sensor tag 15B can detect whether a passenger is seated in the seat 7 by detecting the pressure applied to the seat back 11 of the seat 7.

[0059] The second RFID sensor tag 15B may be a second RFID sensor tag 15C having the same configuration as the first RFID sensor tag 15A of the second modification of the first embodiment and having two sensors. While the first sensor 45 of the first RFID sensor tag 15A includes a humidity sensor and the second sensor 57 includes a temperature sensor, the first sensor 45 of the second RFID sensor tag 15B includes a pressure sensor and the second sensor 57 includes a temperature sensor.

[0060] When a person sits in the seat 7, pressure is applied to the seat back 11 of the seat 7, causing the temperature of the seat back 11 to rise to the same temperature as the person's body temperature. In contrast, when luggage is placed on the seat 7, even if pressure is applied to the seat back 11 of the seat 7, the temperature of the seat back 11 does not rise above the ambient temperature. Therefore, by detecting the applied pressure and the ambient temperature, the second RFID sensor tag 15C can distinguish whether a person is sitting on the seat 7 or whether luggage is placed thereon, thereby improving the accuracy of detecting whether a person is sitting on the seat 7.

[0061] The seat monitoring system 1B of the second embodiment includes a plurality of seats 7, a second RFID sensor tag 15B disposed on each of the plurality of seats 7 and configured to detect a person seated in the seat 7 using radio waves from wireless communication as a power source, and a reader 17 configured to wirelessly read, from the second RFID sensor tag 15B, the detection result of the second RFID sensor tag 15B and second tag identification information identifying the second RFID sensor tag 15B. The second tag identification information is linked to seat identification information identifying the seat 7 on which the second RFID sensor tag 15B is disposed.

[0062] According to the seat monitoring system 1B configured as described above, the second RFID sensor tag 15B placed on each of the plurality of seats 7 uses radio waves from the reader 17 as a power source to detect whether a person is seated in the seat 7. The second tag identification information that identifies each second RFID sensor tag 15B is linked to the seat identification information that identifies each seat 7, so that the seating status of each seat 7 can be known, and it can be easily known which of the plurality of seats 7 a person is seated in.

[0063] Currently, train ticket inspections of reserved seat passengers involve the conductor simply checking whether they are sitting in the appropriate seat based on sales records and ticket gate pass information. While the sales status of reserved seat tickets can be determined in advance, the seating status cannot be known until the train interior is inspected. In contrast, the seat monitoring system 1B makes it possible to determine from the conductor's room which seats are occupied based on the detection results of the second RFID sensor tag 15B, eliminating the need for ticket inspections. Furthermore, because the occupancy status of unreserved seats can be determined remotely, congestion information for arriving trains can be provided at stations, improving passenger satisfaction.

[0064] (Embodiment 3) Next, a seat monitoring system 1C according to embodiment 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 12 and Fig. 13. Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the seat monitoring system 1C according to embodiment 3. Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the first RFID sensor tag 15 and the second RFID sensor tag 15B according to embodiment 3.

[0065] The seat monitoring system 1C of the third embodiment is a combination of the seat monitoring system 1 of the first embodiment and the seat monitoring system 1B of the second embodiment. Therefore, a first RFID sensor tag 15 is disposed on the cushion portion 9 of the seat 7, and a second RFID sensor tag 15B is disposed on the seat back portion 11 of the seat 7. The seat monitoring system 1C of the third embodiment detects whether the seat 7 is wet, and further detects whether a person is seated on the seat 7. Except for this point and the points described below, the seat monitoring system 1C of the third embodiment has the same configuration as the seat monitoring system 1 of the first embodiment and the seat monitoring system 1B of the second embodiment, and therefore a description of the common configuration will be omitted.

[0066] According to the seat monitoring system 1C of the third embodiment, it is possible to detect the wetness of the seat 7 and the seating status, and therefore it is possible to obtain the effects of both the first and second embodiments.

[0067] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified as follows.

[0068] In each of the above-described embodiments, the reader 17 is disposed above or below the seat 7, but this is not limiting. A train crew member may carry a portable reader 17 in his / her hand while moving around the train 3 to detect wetness 14 on the seat 7.

[0069] Although the present invention has been described in various embodiments with a certain degree of detail, the disclosure of these embodiments may vary in structural details, and variations in the combination and order of elements in the various embodiments may be realized without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.

[0070] A sheet monitoring system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of sheets, a first RFID sensor tag disposed on each of the plurality of sheets and configured to detect wetness of the sheet using radio waves from wireless communication as a power source, and a reader configured to wirelessly read from the first RFID sensor tag a detection result of the first RFID sensor tag and first tag identification information identifying the first RFID sensor tag, the first tag identification information being linked to sheet identification information identifying the sheet on which the first RFID sensor tag is disposed.

[0071] According to this aspect of the sheet monitoring system, the first RFID sensor tags disposed on each of the multiple sheets detect wetness of the sheets using radio waves from the reader as a power source. The first tag identification information identifying each first RFID sensor tag is linked to the sheet identification information identifying the corresponding sheet, so that the wetness detection results for each sheet can be known all at once even from a location distant from the sheets, making it easy to know which of the multiple sheets is wet.

[0072] According to a second aspect, in the seat monitoring system of the first aspect, the seat has a cushion portion that supports the buttocks of a person, and the first RFID sensor tag is disposed in the cushion portion, thereby making it possible to detect wetness of the cushion portion, which is prone to getting wet.

[0073] According to a third aspect, in the seat monitoring system of the first or second aspect, the first RFID sensor tag includes a humidity sensor, which makes it possible to check whether the seat is wet in a short time without manual intervention.

[0074] According to a fourth aspect, in the seat monitoring system of any one of the first to third aspects, the first RFID sensor tag includes a temperature sensor, which makes it possible to check whether the seat is wet in a short time without manual intervention.

[0075] According to a fifth aspect, the seat monitoring system of the first or second aspect further includes a second RFID sensor tag disposed on each of the plurality of seats, the second RFID sensor tag being powered by radio waves from the radio waves, and detecting whether a person is seated in the seat. A reader associates the detection result of the second RFID sensor tag with tag identification information that identifies the second RFID sensor tag and reads it from the second RFID sensor tag via radio communication.

[0076] According to a sixth aspect, in the seat monitoring system of the fifth aspect, the seat has a seat back portion that supports a person's back, and the second RFID sensor tag is disposed in the seat back portion.

[0077] According to a seventh aspect, in the seat monitoring system of the fifth or sixth aspect, the second RFID sensor tag includes a pressure sensor, which makes it possible to confirm whether a person is seated in the seat in a short time without human intervention.

[0078] According to an eighth aspect, in the seat monitoring system of any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, the second RFID sensor tag includes a temperature sensor, which allows for quick confirmation of whether a person is seated in the seat without manual intervention.

[0079] According to a ninth aspect, in the seat monitoring system of any one of the first to eighth aspects, the reader is disposed above the seat, thereby allowing one reader to read many first RFID sensor tags.

[0080] According to a tenth aspect, in the seat monitoring system of any one of the first to ninth aspects, the reader is disposed below the seat, thereby enabling the first RFID sensor tag to be read even when a person is sitting in the seat.

[0081] According to an eleventh aspect, in the seat monitoring system of any one of the first to tenth aspects, a plurality of first RFID sensor tags are arranged for one seat, thereby widening the range in which wetness is detected by the first RFID sensor tags on the seat.

[0082] According to a twelfth aspect, the seat monitoring system of any one of the first to eleventh aspects further includes a first management device communicably connected to the reader, and the first management device associates seat identification information for identifying each seat with the first tag identification information. Thus, when a wet cushion portion of a seat is replaced with a new cushion portion, the first management device associates the first tag identification information of a first RFID sensor tag arranged on the new cushion portion with the seat identification information, thereby updating the first tag identification information corresponding to the seat 7.

[0083] According to a thirteenth aspect, the seat monitoring system of the twelfth aspect further includes a second management device communicably connected to the plurality of first management devices, and the second management device disables reservation of a seat in which wetness has been detected, thereby preventing passengers from sitting on the wet seat.

[0084] 1, 1B, 1C Seat monitoring system 3 Train 5 Space 7 Seat 9 Cushion portion 11 Seat back portion 13 Armrest 14 Wetness 15, 15A First RFID sensor tag 15B, 15C Second RFID sensor tag 17 Reader 19 In-car management device 21 Terminal device 23 Portable terminal device 25 Communication unit 27 Antenna 29 Memory unit 31 Antenna 33 Communication unit 35 Central management device 37 Memory unit 39 Board 41 Analog module 43 Control unit 45 First sensor 47 Antenna 49 Modulation unit 51 Demodulation unit 53 Rectification unit 55 Supply control unit 57 Second sensor 59 Floor

Claims

1. Multiple sheets and a first RFID sensor tag disposed on each of the plurality of sheets and configured to detect wetness of the sheet using radio waves from wireless communication as a power source; a reader that reads, from the first RFID sensor tag by wireless communication, a detection result of the first RFID sensor tag and first tag identification information that identifies the first RFID sensor tag; the first tag identification information is linked to sheet identification information that identifies the sheet on which the first RFID sensor tag is arranged; Seat monitoring system.

2. The seat has a cushion portion that supports the person's buttocks, the first RFID sensor tag is disposed on the cushion portion; The seat monitoring system of claim 1 .

3. the first RFID sensor tag includes a humidity sensor; The seat monitoring system of claim 1 .

4. the first RFID sensor tag includes a temperature sensor; The seat monitoring system of claim 1 .

5. a second RFID sensor tag disposed on each of the plurality of seats and configured to detect whether a person is seated on the seat using radio waves from wireless communication as a power source; The reader associates the detection result of the second RFID sensor tag with tag identification information that identifies the second RFID sensor tag and reads the result from the second RFID sensor tag by wireless communication. The seat monitoring system of claim 1 .

6. The seat has a seat back portion that supports the back of a person, the second RFID sensor tag is disposed in the seat back portion; 6. The seat monitoring system of claim 5.

7. the second RFID sensor tag includes a pressure sensor; 6. The seat monitoring system of claim 5.

8. the second RFID sensor tag includes a temperature sensor; 6. The seat monitoring system of claim 5.

9. The leader is positioned above the sheet. The seat monitoring system of claim 1 .

10. The leader is positioned below the sheet. The seat monitoring system of claim 1 .

11. a plurality of the first RFID sensor tags are arranged on one of the sheets; The seat monitoring system of claim 1 .

12. a first management device communicatively connected to the reader; the first management device associates sheet identification information for identifying each of the sheets with the first tag identification information; A seat monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. a second management device communicably connected to a plurality of the first management devices; the second management device disables reservation of the sheet for which wetness is detected; 13. The seat monitoring system of claim 12.