Underground Water Leak Sensor Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless sensor networks used for water leak detection in underground pipes face high management costs due to periodic battery replacement, necessitating a method to minimize battery power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A water leak sensor management method that sets operation modes based on manual or automatic settings, performs time synchronization with a control server, and uses a sleep mode to conserve battery power by selectively powering components only when necessary, such as during data transmission or sensor activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor operates continuously to detect water leaks and transmit data, then the detection reliability is improved, but the battery power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor dynamically adjusts its operating state between sleep mode and active measurement mode based on whether external commands are received. The system transitions from a static continuous operation state to a dynamic state where operational characteristics change in response to external conditions, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining detection reliability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor operates in periodic cycles, alternating between sleep mode (low power consumption) and active measurement mode (high power consumption). The sensor wakes up at predetermined time intervals to perform measurements and transmit data, then returns to sleep mode. This periodic operation pattern reduces overall power consumption compared to continuous operation while maintaining periodic detection capability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the sensor enters sleep mode to conserve battery power, then the power consumption is reduced, but the response time to detect water leaks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor performs preliminary actions by waking up at predetermined time intervals before actual water leak events occur. During these wake periods, the sensor activates its measurement components and prepares for potential detection tasks. This preliminary periodic activation ensures the sensor is ready to detect and report water leaks at scheduled intervals without requiring continuous operation, thus balancing power consumption with response time.
3Loss of information
If the sensor transmits data frequently to the control server, then the information availability is improved, but the battery power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor transmits data periodically rather than continuously. After performing measurements during active periods, the sensor transmits the collected data to the control server and then returns to sleep mode. This periodic transmission pattern reduces the cumulative power consumption associated with frequent wireless communications while ensuring that measurement data is regularly updated and made available to the control server at scheduled intervals.
Data Source
AI summary
A water leak sensor management method includes a water leak sensor being installed in a underground pipe. The method includes detecting an operation time of the water leak sensor through a timer in a sleep mode, changing the sleep mode into a standby mode in the operation time of the water leak sensor to detect a sensor measuring procedure, and performing an operation for a transceiving component of the water leak sensor and determining whether the water leak sensor receives an external command or changes the standby mode into an operation mode based on the sensor measuring procedure.