EP3658873A1

EP3658873A1 - Measuring system for measuring pressure and/or humidity

Info

Publication number: EP3658873A1
Application number: EP19728909.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mohammed KABANY
Original assignee: B Horizon GmbH
Current assignee: B Horizon GmbH
Priority date: 2018-08-01
Filing date: 2019-05-28
Publication date: 2020-06-03
Also published as: WO2020025189A1; US11300460B2; DE102018118612A1; US20200088589A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a measuring system for measuring pressure and/or humidity having at least one device for measuring pressure and/or humidity comprising at least one sensor for measuring pressure and/or humidity, with the sensor comprising at least one capacitor with at least two electrodes which are arranged at a distance from one another in a horizontal direction along and on a, particularly flexible, substrate material. At least one dielectric layer is arranged between the electrodes. The invention is characterized in that at least one electrode and/or the dielectric layer at least in parts and at least one at least partially liquid-permeable and/or liquid absorbing moisture layer are arranged on a side facing away from the substrate material. The at least one electrode and/or the dielectric layer are thus arranged in a transverse direction between the substrate material and the moisture layer. In this way, a capacitance changes at least partially as a result of the liquid at least partially contacting the dielectric layer, wherein a processing unit is configured and provided for measuring and/or storing measured values from the sensor. A capacitive humidity sensor is created in this way. The invention is characterized in that the data measured by the sensor is transmitted to a central CPU from the processing unit, with this data being processed by the processing unit.

Description

Measuring system for measuring pressure and / or moisture

description

The present invention relates to a measuring system for measuring pressure and / or moisture and a method for measuring pressure and / or moisture comprising the respective preambles of claims 1 and 10.

The measuring system according to the invention for measuring pressure and / or moisture comprises at least one sensor for measuring pressure and / or moisture, the sensor comprising at least one capacitor with at least two electrodes which, in particular in a horizontal direction, along and on one, in particular flexible, carrier material are arranged with respect to one another, with at least one dielectric layer being arranged between the electrodes.

The horizontal direction is preferably a main direction of extension of the flexible carrier material.

In this context, “flexible” means that the carrier material is at least in places flexible and thus elastic.

In particular, the backing material can be a woven fabric or an other clothing fabric such as a polyester.

The dielectric layer thus spaces the two electrodes in a horizontal and / or in a transverse direction perpendicular thereto. According to the invention, at least one, at least partially, at least one, at least partially liquid-permeable and / or liquid-absorbing moisture layer is arranged on a side facing away from the carrier material and / or the dielectric layer, the at least one electrode and / or dielectric layer thus being in one Transverse direction are arranged between the carrier material and the moisture layer, so that a capacitance is at least partially changed by the liquid that at least partially strikes the dielectric layer, a processing unit being set up and intended to measure the measured values of the sensor and / or save so that a capacitive humidity sensor is created

A capacitive moisture sensor is basically a capacitor, the dielectric of which is preferably made of a hygroscopic polymer layer, which absorbs (absorbs) or releases (desorbs) moisture depending on the humidity of the ambient air until an equilibrium state (diffusion gradient = 0) is reached. The dielectric constant of the polymer material changes as a function of a moisture content.

The task of the processing unit is, among other things, to determine the relative humidity as precisely as possible from a measured ambient temperature and the moisture-dependent capacitance value of the sensor.

According to the invention, the data measured by the sensor are sent from the processing unit to a central CPU (Central Processing Unit), these data being processed by the processing unit. The CPU and the processing unit are preferably different from one another. The CPU and the processing unit are, for example, arranged at a distance from one another. In particular, the processing unit and the CPU cannot be arranged on a common carrier and / or substrate unless the carrier is the carrier material, for example a textile.

It is also conceivable that the device claimed here and in particular the sensors are installed on an inner surface of a tire. It is also conceivable that the sensors are even inserted into the material of the tire. It is conceivable that the sensors are all inserted into the material and thus encased by the material of the tire, and that the processing units are arranged on the inner surface of the tire. Alternatively, however, the processing units can also be inserted into the material of the tire. The senso Ren can then record the tire pressure, the tire temperature and / or the individual or total running time of the tire.

According to at least one embodiment, the measuring system comprises at least one device for measuring pressure and / or moisture, the device having at least one sensor for measuring pressure and / or moisture, the sensor comprising at least one capacitor with at least two electrodes , which are arranged in particular in a horizontal direction along and on a particularly flexible carrier material to one another, at least one dielectric layer being arranged between the electrodes.

According to the invention, at least one, at least partially, at least partially, at least partially liquid-permeable and / or liquid-absorbing layer (= moisture layer) is arranged on a side facing away from the carrier material, the at least one electrode and / or dielectric Layer is arranged in the transverse direction between the carrier material and the moisture layer, so that a capacitance is at least partially changed by the liquid that at least partially strikes the dielectric layer, a processing unit being set up and intended to measure these measured values of the sensor and / or store so that a capacitive humidity sensor is created.

According to the invention, the data measured by the sensor are sent from the processing unit to a central CPU (Central Processing Unit), these data being processed by the processing unit.

The sensor and / or the processing unit and / or the central CPU can be supplied with electrical energy by means of a battery or a fixed mains power supply.

Alternatively or additionally, it is possible to generate electrical energy to supply the sensor and / or processing unit by means of so-called “energy harvesting”.

Energy harvesting is the extraction of small amounts of electrical energy from sources such as ambient temperature, vibrations or air currents for mobile devices with low power. The ones used for it Structures are also called nanogenerators. With wireless technologies, energy harvesting avoids restrictions due to wired power supply or batteries. Possibilities of energy harvesting:

- Piezoelectric crystals generate electrical voltages when subjected to force, for example by pressure or vibration. These crystals can be arranged on or on the carrier material.

- Thermoelectric generators and pyroelectric crystals obtain electrical energy from temperature differences. These generators can be arranged on or on the carrier material.

- The energy of radio waves, a form of electromagnetic radiation, can be captured and used energetically via antennas. Passive RFIDs are an example of this. These antennas can be arranged on or on the carrier material.

- Photovoltaics, electrical energy from ambient lighting.

- osmosis.

An energy store of the device can be part of a processing unit. For this purpose, one or more of the processing units can have such an energy store (local energy store). For example, only one or some of the processing units has such an energy store, so that one of these processing units supplies another processing unit (namely one which has no energy store) with electrical energy. It is also conceivable for the energy storage unit (s) of the processing unit (s) to supply the CPU with electrical energy in whole or in part. For example, the CPU cannot be connected to any other energy storage devices and / or power supply lines.

At least one of the energy stores can be charged via the above-mentioned energy harvesting.

The energy transfer between the sensors and / or the processing units and / or the CPU can take place in whole or in part wirelessly. Wireless energy transmission in the near field, also known as non-radiative coupling, includes, for example, inductive coupling based on the magnetic flux. The term wireless energy transmission is often used synonymously for inductive energy transmission, since it plays a dominant role in practical applications. Wave phenomena play no role in the non-radiative coupling in the near field.

For example, wireless energy transmission between the individual elements takes place by means of inductive coupling, resonant inductive coupling and / or capacitive coupling.

According to at least one embodiment, the measuring system has at least two sensors, the processing unit dividing the sensors into groups of at least one sensor based on at least one of the following criteria: location of the sensor or sensors on the carrier material, the

Substrate is divided into surface areas, and only sensors of one group are arranged within a surface area,

Area of a sensor. According to at least one embodiment, the measuring system comprises at least two devices for measuring pressure and / or moisture, each processing unit forwarding the data it receives from the sensors to the central CPU. The data connection between the processing unit and the central CPU can be wired (with data connections) or wireless. For this purpose, at least one processing unit can establish a Bluetooth connection to the central CPU.

According to at least one embodiment, at least one device comprises at least two sensors. In this respect, a sensor group can already be formed by these two sensors. The two sensors can then be controlled and / or regulated by a common processing unit. It is conceivable that the multiplicity of processing units form a processing network, with the acquisition, processing and / or forwarding of the sensor data and / or the Processing data of each sensor and / or each processing unit is controlled by at least one control device (master). The control unit can be identical to the CPU described above.

However, it is also possible for one or more of the processing units to represent the master, which controls the other processing units (slave) and / or the other sensors (slave).

For example, one of the processing units and / or the CPU, after the device has been started up (for example after the device has been switched on), can select sensors which are put into operation for a predefinable useful life. Alternatively, all or some sensors can also be put into operation, but then it is conceivable that a processing unit and / or the CPU, in particular for the purpose of saving energy, only sends data of a predetermined number (ie less than all sensors) to the sensors CPU forwards (filtering).

This master processing unit can preferably communicate as a single unit with the CPU.

Another alternative or in addition is conceivable that one or all processing units and / or a sensor (slave or master) communicate directly with the CPU.

According to at least one embodiment, the processing network can be subdivided into at least two, only logically separate, network segments (VLANs) by means of at least one VLAN switch, each of the detection elements depending on the activation by a VLAN switch and / or the control device and can thus be controlled by each of the network segments.

If, for example, a very large area (for example a textile) is equipped with a large number of sensors and processing units claimed here, individual processing units and / or sensors can then be categorized in a particularly simple manner (according to different priorities, etc.). In one embodiment, a “virtual”, that is to say VLAN, subdivision is therefore selected instead of a physical network subdivision. This ensures that changes in the categorization of the processing units and / or sensors are carried out particularly quickly and without complex modifications. can be reacted to.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the measuring system comprises at least one processing network, wherein at least one VLAN switch of the processing network can be subdivided into at least two, only logically separate, network segments (VLAN), and each processing unit and / or each of the sensors can be controlled by each of the network segments depending on the control by the VLAN switch. For this purpose, the VLAN switch can be installed in at least one of the processing units and / or sensors or in a separate component.

According to at least one embodiment, the VLAN switch is used to prioritize the individual network segments, in particular with regard to their data exchange.

According to at least one embodiment, at least one VLAN ID is assigned to each processing unit and / or each network segment, at least one sensor or another processing unit being controllable via each of the VLAN IDs. Individual sensors and / or individual processing units can form their own sub-network.

In order to communicate across network boundaries, static project-dynamic routes are used in the prior art. This separation model is clear and straightforward and has been used for years. However, this has the disadvantages that broadcast requirements in the subnet are visible to all participants and would have to be considered by the endpoints. In other words, different end devices could previously only be controlled via corresponding switches that are assigned to each subnet, separate and physically separate from each other. However, such a structure is particularly expensive and extensive in design.

As already mentioned above, the design of each subnetwork with a separate switch and separate physical data lines is therefore dispensed with, so that a single physical structure can be used for the entire network, this physical structure, ie network architecture, only by virtue of a logical, especially a mathematical distinction ^. H. thought).

The abbreviation "VLAN switch" denotes such a network switch, which is set up and intended to operate a network in the form of a virtual local area network (VLAN).

In this respect, the network segments now claimed, which can each be designed in the form of a VLAN network, make it possible for the separation of the network to be divided into several logical segments, that is to say the network segments.

In contrast to the physical separation through the assignment to a switch port, the devices are logically separated by a VLAN ID when separated by VLANs. The data stream of each station is provided with an identifier (the VLAN tag). This identifier determines the association of a data packet with a specific VLAN. All devices with the same VLAN identifier are now in a logical network.

In particular, a broadcast can be limited by the logical separation of the individual networks. Broadcasts are only distributed to members of the same VLAN and not to all control elements attached to the switch.

In this respect, this not only contributes to higher performance, but also to more security, because data traffic is restricted to fewer addressees. In addition, users or the controls in a VLAN generally have no way of breaking out of the assigned VLAN. Access (or attack) to another computer that does not belong to your own VLAN can therefore already be prevented by the network switch. If cross-VLAN communication is required, routes can be explicitly set up for this.

In particular, it is pointed out that the VLAN technology described here can be one which is adapted to and / or is compatible with the industry standard IEEE 802.1Q. The IEEE 802.1Q standard is a prioritization and VLAN technology standardized by the IEEE, which, in contrast to the older, only port-based VLANs, implements packet-based tagged VLANS. The term “tagged” is derived from the English term “material tags”.

Tagged-VLANS are therefore networks that use network packets that have a special VLAN marking.

In particular, the 802.1 Q standard defines data fields for V-LAN tagging that can be introduced in the data area of an Ethernet packet.

In this respect, the present network can be designed in the form of an Ethernet communication system. This has the advantage that, as a rule, existing, older switches can also forward such packets. The inserted tag usually consists of several fields, for example four fields with a total length of 32 bits.

2 bytes are used for the protocol ID, 3 bits for the priority field, 1 bit for the indicator of the Canonical format and 12 bits for the VLAN ID.

To uniquely identify a VLAN, each VLAN is therefore assigned a unique number. This number is called VLAN ID. A detection module that is equipped with VLAN-ID = 1 can communicate with any other device in the same VLAN, but not with a device in another VLAN, e.g. B. ID = 2, 3, ....

To differentiate between the VLANS, an Ethernet frame is expanded by 4 bytes according to the IEEE 802.1Q standard. Of these, 12 bits are provided for recording the VLAN ID, so that 4096-2 = 4094 VLANS are theoretically possible (without using the canonical format).

It is conceivable that the individual logical network connections are designed according to an OPC standard, ie for example in the form of OPC UA connections. In particular, it is conceivable that per network segment via the control device io

Several OPC UA endpoints with different IP addresses, VLAN IDs and prioritization are available in accordance with the IEEE 802.1 Q standard mentioned above.

If a network segment which has been assigned a specific VLAN ID uniquely, preferably uniquely, has a higher priority than one, only in logical terms, of a different network segment of a correspondingly different VLAN ID, then the Control device and / or the VLAN switch should be provided to prefer first the data exchange of the higher-priority network segment in order to allow processing of the lower-priority network segment only after the tasks assigned to this higher-priority network segment have been completed.

In other words, the following generally applies: assignment and configuration of the OPC UA endpoints to a specific network segment according to the VLAN ID and assignment of a priority, according to the priority of the corresponding VLAN.

According to at least one embodiment, each sensor and / or each processing unit is assigned at least one VLAN ID and each network segment is in turn assigned at least one, for example exactly one, unique, preferably unambiguous, VLAN ID, with each of the VLAN IDs at least one control element can be controlled. According to at least one embodiment, at least one device comprises at least one temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor measures an ambient temperature and / or a temperature of a sensor and forwards it to the processing unit of a device and / or to the central CPU.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the central CPU determines a degree of utilization (CPU load and / or memory consumption) of at least one processing unit, and when a limit temperature of the processing unit and / or at least one of the sensors assigned to this processing unit is exceeded, its performance is at least partially is throttled or switched off completely

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the sensor is additionally a capacitive pressure sensor, the processing unit being additionally set up and intended to measure and / or store a change in capacitance of the capacitor caused by external pressure. Basically, a capacitive sensor is a sensor that works on the basis of the change in the electrical capacitance of an individual capacitor or a capacitor system. The capacity can be influenced by the size to be recorded in various ways, which is primarily determined by the intended use.

A capacitive sensor is based, among other things, on the fact that two electrodes, one of which can be the surface to be measured, form the "plates" of an electrical capacitor whose capacitance or change in capacitance is measured, which can be influenced as follows:

A plate is displaced and / or deformed by the metering effect, as a result of which the plate spacing and thus the electrical measurable capacitance change.

The plates are rigid and the capacitance changes as a result of bringing an electrically conductive material or a dielectric in close proximity.

The effective plate area changes by moving the plates against each other like a rotary capacitor.

In order to be able to better detect even small changes, the actual measuring electrode can often be surrounded by a shielding electrode, which shields the inhomogeneous edge area of the electrical field from the measuring electrode, which results in an approximately parallel electrical field between the measuring electrodes, usually grounded, counter electrode with the well-known characteristics of an ideal plate capacitor. A capacitive pressure sensor is, in particular, one in which the change in capacitance due to the bending of a membrane and the resulting change in the plate spacing is evaluated as a sensor effect. For example, the membrane is the dielectric mentioned above or the individual capacitor electrodes, which can be designed in particular in the form of a plate. In other words, in such an embodiment, a capacitive moisture sensor is combined with a capacitive pressure sensor in a novel manner, but without these components forming separate elements or two separate sensors, but rather the present embodiment is a “two in One "concept, in which the same sensor functions both as a moisture sensor and as a pressure sensor. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the carrier material is a woven fabric, in particular in which electrical conductor tracks for electrically contacting the sensor and the processing unit are woven. For the purposes of the invention, a woven fabric is therefore a fabric that has been woven manually or by machine on the basis of individual threads.

The electrical conductor tracks can therefore also be integrated in a fabric in addition to the usual fibers and fabric strands or they can replace individual fabric strands which form the fabric network.

Depending on the distance and properties of the individual threads (twisted, puffy, etc.), very loose fabrics, such as bandages or dense fabrics such as brocade, can be created. Fabrics are used in a longitudinally elastic manner using rubber threads used as warp threads (more ribbons used) or crimped and bulked yarns. They are tensioned, processed and contract in the idle state. Bulk yarns consist of textured, i.e. crimped, synthetic fibers. The crimp changes the properties of the synthetic fibers. The yarns spun on it are very elastic and voluminous and have good thermal insulation.

For example, the carrier material can be part of a cover material for a seat, in particular a vehicle seat or an office chair. In this respect, however, the sensor can preferably be applied to the entire device, on the cover fabric of such a seat, or can be integrated into such.

For example, the processing unit is set up and provided to record the individual moisture and pressure values and to determine from a combination of the individual moisture and pressure values at least one respective characteristic value from which it can be derived which individual (with weight and / or size) is currently occupying the vehicle seat.

For example, a weight of the respective person can be derived and determined from the pressure measurement by the processing unit. The respective moisture which the respective person emits to the sensor can also be measured, the respective The characteristic value is, for example, a product of the relative moisture value times the load weight determined by the processing unit.

If such a characteristic value exceeds a corresponding limit value, the processing unit can issue a warning, in particular by means of a connection to the electronics of the vehicle. This warning may indicate that the seat is overcrowded or the driver is sweating excessively. However, this warning can also be replaced by a corresponding display as to what type of occupancy the seat is using. An occupancy type can be a weight classification of a respective user, or it can also be a matter of whether the user is an animal, a human or even a thing. The processing unit can therefore preferably be integrated into display electronics of the vehicle, or at least can be connected to such. It is conceivable for this that the processing unit connects to a receiving unit of the vehicle, for example by means of Bluetooth or another wireless connection, and the respective characteristic or limit value and / or the respective warning and / or the respective identification of the user on a display of the Vehicle can be played. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that these individual values and / or identifications can also be called up externally and / or displayed externally. For example, the car can be monitored for overcrowding by an external controller.

For example, the processing unit can be connected to a deployment unit of an airbag by means of a data connection, so that the processing unit can also control and / or regulate the deployment unit, in particular with regard to a deployment time of the airbag. Additionally and / or alternatively, it is possible for the processing unit to supply a controller unit of the airbag with data, for example with regard to an occupancy type, position and / or weight of a user of the vehicle seat.

These data can lead to the triggering time and the triggering sequence of the airbag being adapted to the user, so that personal injury to the user is avoided. In accordance with at least one embodiment, at least one electrode and / or dielectric layer is printed on the carrier material or on a layer, in particular water-impermeable, arranged on the carrier material or applied by means of a thin-layer method.

This means that at least one element, preferably both the electrode and the dielectric layer, is printed on the carrier material or a preferably electrically non-conductive, more preferably water-impermeable layer applied between the sensor and the carrier material by means of a printing process.

The printing process can, for example, be an inkjet process.

For example, the processing unit is applied to the carrier material in the same way as the sensor. To this end, it is conceivable that the processing unit, but at least one, in particular conductive, layer of the processing unit is also printed on the carrier material, for example. The data communication between the processing unit and the sensor can then be established via the above-mentioned conductor tracks. These conductor tracks can be at least partially, but preferably completely, woven into the woven fabric or even form individual fibers of the woven fabric itself.

For example, at least one electrode is flat. This means that a thickness of the electrode is negligible compared to its surface area. Such an electrode can therefore be manufactured in particular by means of a printing process. Alternatively, a thickness of at least one electrode can be at most 5 mm. For this purpose, the printing process can be used several times, so that at least two, but preferably then more, individual printing layers are stacked on top of one another.

Furthermore, the electrode can also be arranged on the carrier material by means of a 3D printing method.

1. The FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) process

Alternative names: Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), Fused Layer Modeling (FLM) The process describes the layer-by-layer application (extrusion) of a material through a hot nozzle. The consumable is in the form of a long wire (so-called filament) on a roll and is pushed by the conveyor unit into a print head, melted there and applied to a print bed. The print head and / or print bed can be moved in three directions. Plastic layers can be applied to each other step by step.

2. The SLS process (selective laser sintering) In contrast to the sintering process, in which substances in powder form are bonded to one another under the influence of heat, this is done selectively by a laser in the SLS process (alternatively also electron beam or infrared beam). So only a certain part of the powder is melted together. For this purpose, a thin layer of powder is always applied by the coating unit on the print bed. The laser (or other energy source) is now precisely aligned to individual points in the powder layer in order to form the first layer of the print data. Here the powder is melted or melted and then solidifies again by slight cooling. The unmelted powder remains around the sintered areas and serves as a support material. After a layer has solidified, the print bed lowers by a fraction of a millimeter. The coating unit now runs over the print bed and applies the next powder layer. The second layer of print data is then sintered by the laser (or another energy source). This creates a three-dimensional object in layers.

3. Three-Dimensional Printing (3DP)

The 3DP process works very similar to selective laser sintering, but instead of a directed energy source, a print head moves over the powder. This releases tiny droplets of binder onto the underlying powder layers, which are then bonded together. Otherwise, this procedure is the same as the SLS procedure. 4. Stereolithography (SLA)

Instead of a plastic wire or printing material in powder form, liquid resins, so-called photopolymers, are used in the stereolithography process. They are hardened in layers by UV radiation and thus create three-dimensional objects. To do this, the construction platform in the Harz basin is gradually lowered. There are also variants (so-called polyjet process) without an entire pool with liquid resin. To do this, an epoxy resin is applied drop by drop from a nozzle and immediately cured by a UV laser.

5. Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM)

Alternative name: Layer Laminated Manufacturing (LLM) The process is neither based on chemical reactions nor on a thermal process. It is cut with a separating tool (e.g. a knife or carbon dioxide laser), a film or a plate (e.g. paper) and glued to each other in layers. Lowering the construction platform creates a layered object made of glued, superimposed foils.

One or more water-impermeable layers and / or the moisture layer can be applied in the same way and / or thickness as the electrode.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the moisture layer completely covers the capacitor.

This can mean that the moisture layer delimits and closes the sensor from the outside, that is to say in the transverse direction, so that the sensor is arranged between the moisture layer and the carrier material.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the sensor has at least one further capacitor which is arranged in the transverse direction below or above the capacitor and is spaced apart from the capacitor by a further water-impermeable layer or is arranged under this further water-impermeable layer, so that a capacitor stack is created.

The further capacitor can be constructed in the same way as the capacitor and can also be arranged on the further water-impermeable layer in the same way as the capacitor.

By means of such a capacitor stack, the sensor system can be refined in a particularly simple manner, to the extent that it is conceivable that with two sensors forming the capacitor stack, both sensors perform the same tasks, but that the individual sensors determine respective measured values which, taken together, suggest an average value to let. For example, the (relative) humidity of the environment is measured by each of the two sensors, and the average moisture value is then determined from these two measured values. The same can be done accordingly with the pressure measurement, so that the accuracy of the entire measurement, in particular a combination of the measurements of (relative) moisture and the respective pressure, can be designed particularly precisely.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the water-impermeable layer and / or the further water-impermeable layer at least partially forms the dielectric view itself.

This can mean that instead of the separate positioning of a dielectric layer next to the water-impermeable layer and / or next to the further water-impermeable layer, this dielectric layer itself is formed by the water-impermeable layer and / or the further water-impermeable layer.

Such generation of the dielectric layer by the water-impermeable layer (s) therefore forms a particularly simple and inexpensive manufacturing process for an inexpensive device.

Apart from that, the electrodes, the dielectric layer and the water-impermeable layer (s) can in principle be arranged in such a way that an electrical short circuit is prevented in any case. According to at least one embodiment, a maximum thickness of the moisture layer is at least 30% and at most 80% of the maximum thickness of the water-impermeable layer and / or the maximum thickness of the further water-impermeable layer. This not only ensures a particularly flat sensor, but also ensures a particularly fast response time to changes in moisture. The moisture acting on the moisture layer from the outside therefore does not have to travel long distances to the dielectric. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for measuring pressure and / or moisture, it being particularly noted that all of the features disclosed for the above-described device are also disclosed for the method described here and vice versa. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the method for measuring pressure and / or moisture initially comprises a first step by means of which at least one measuring system, in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, is provided, with at least one sensor for measuring pressure and / or moisture is provided, the sensor having at least one capacitor with at least two electrodes which are arranged, in particular in a horizontal direction along and on a, in particular flexible, support material, at least one dielectric layer being arranged between the electrodes is.

According to the invention, at least in places, at least in places, at least partially liquid-permeable and / or liquid-absorbing moisture layer is arranged on a side facing away from the carrier material and / or the dielectric layer, the at least one electrode and / or the dielectric layer thus being in one Are arranged transversely between the carrier material and the moisture layer, so that a capacitance changes at least partially due to the liquid that at least partially impinges on the dielectric layer, wherein a processing unit measures and / or stores this change, so that a capacitive moisture sensor is produced.

The method described above has the same advantages and advantageous configurations as the device described above. The invention described here is described in more detail below with reference to two exemplary embodiments and the associated figures.

The same or equivalent components are provided with the same reference numerals.

FIGS. 1A to 1C show an exemplary embodiment of a measuring system described and in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a device according to the invention for measuring pressure and / or moisture in a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of an exploded drawing shown in relation to the layer order.

Another exemplary embodiment of a device described here is shown in FIG.

FIG. 1A shows a schematic structure of a measurement system 1000 according to the invention described here. A processing unit 5 can be seen, which is in data communication with a plurality of sensors 1. The processing unit 5 forms a device 100 together with the sensors 1. The moisture and / or pressure values measured by the individual sensors 1 are sent to a central CPU 40 in order to be stored and / or processed there. In addition, there is a temperature sensor 60 which measures an ambient temperature and / or a temperature of the sensor 1 and forwards it to the processing unit 5 of the device 100 and / or to the central CPU 40.

FIG. 1B schematically shows the entire measuring system 1000, with a plurality of sensor groups, which are formed by the individual devices 100 for measuring pressure and / or moisture and which each have a processing unit 5. A plurality of sensors 1 is therefore assigned to each processing unit 4.

FIG. 1C schematically shows an installation and integration of the measuring system 1000 in a chair, in particular in an office chair. As can now be seen in FIG. 2, a device 100 for measuring pressure and / or moisture is shown there.

A sensor 1 is shown there by way of example, the sensor 1 showing a capacitor stack with a capacitor 20 and a capacitor 30, the individual electrodes 10, 11 of the capacitors 20, 30 being arranged one above the other in the horizontal direction H1, however, as an alternative to this, of course, an arrangement of the individual electrodes 10, 11 of an individual capacitor 20, 30 in the transverse direction Q1 which runs perpendicular to the horizontal direction H1 and thus also run or can be arranged perpendicular to the main direction of extent of the sensor 1 shown there ,

The individual electrodes 10, 11 are arranged on a carrier material 13. The carrier material 13 can in particular be a woven fabric, in particular a flexible woven fabric.

A water-impermeable layer 4 is arranged on the carrier material 13, the two electrodes 10, 11 of the capacitor 20 being printed on this water-impermeable layer 4 in the horizontal direction H1. The electrodes 10, 11 of the capacitor 20 are completely surrounded by another water-impermeable layer 14. The further capacitor 30 with corresponding electrodes 10, 11 is printed on this water-impermeable layer 14 in the same way. In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, exposed outer surfaces of the individual electrodes 10, 11 of the further capacitor 30 are preferably completely surrounded by a water-permeable and / or water-absorbing moisture layer 3.

Via this moisture layer 3, water can strike a dielectric layer 4, which in the present case is arranged in the horizontal direction H1 between the respective electrodes 10, 11 of a capacitor 20, 30.

In the present exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 2 and 3, the water-impermeable layer 4 itself forms a dielectric layer 4 of the capacitor 20. The same applies to the further water-impermeable layer 14 in relation to the further capacitor 30. By impinging and penetrating the moisture through the moisture layer 3, the dielectric properties, in particular of the dielectric layer 2 of the further capacitor 30, are changed. In addition, a processing unit 5 can be seen, which is connected to the two capacitors 20, 30 in terms of data technology, this processing unit 5 being set up and intended to measure a change in the relative humidity of the environment and / or the moisture layer 3. Due to the “stackwise” arrangement shown in FIG. 3 and the fact that the further water-impermeable layer 14 prevents the capacitor 20 from coming into contact with moisture, it can therefore be provided that only the further capacitor 30 and its dielectric layer 4 of the Is exposed to moisture. For this purpose, the processing unit 5 can then compare a change in the capacitance of the further capacitor 30 with the stable capacitor capacitance of the capacitor 20, so that a particularly simple comparison can be made in the change in the relative humidity and / or the respective load pressure can.

The arrow shown in FIG. 2 also shows a pressure direction under which the sensor 1 is pressurized. Both can preferably be measured, evaluated and stored by the sensor 1 and in particular by the device 100. The processing unit 5, which is shown as essential in the invention, serves in particular for this purpose, which can also measure and evaluate corresponding pressure values and, in so far, associated changes in the capacity of the individual sensors 1, so that the processing unit 5 is additionally set up and provided for this purpose measure and / or store a change in capacitance of the capacitor 20 and in particular also of the further capacitor 30 caused by external pressure.

The moisture layer 3 can be flexible or not flexible. It is also possible that the moisture layer 3 is designed as a woven fabric. In particular, it can be a woven fabric, which was mentioned as an example in the introductory part of the present application. In addition, however, it is also possible for the moisture layer 3 to be a substrate which has been applied, for example in the form of an epitaxy or an adhesive process, to the further capacitor 30, for example has been glued on. The water-impermeable layer 14 and / or the water-impermeable layer 15 can also be designed to be flexible and not flexible, in particular also in the form of a woven fabric or a substrate in the same way as the moisture layer 3. In addition, it is advantageously conceivable that the electrodes 10, 11 of the two capacitors 20, 30 were printed on the water-impermeable layer 14 and the further water-impermeable layer 15 in the form of a printing process, for example an ink-jet printing process. FIG. 3 shows an exploded drawing, in particular from FIG. 3 the respective arrangement of the electrodes 10, 11 of the capacitors 20, 30. The force acting on the sensor 1, represented by the direction of the arrow, and the moisture acting on the individual schematically represented drops can again be seen. In particular, it can again be seen that the moisture penetrates in particular between the electrodes 10, 11 and has, for example, a considerable effect on the electrical property on the respective water-permeable layer 14, so that the capacitance of at least the further capacitor 30 as in FIG 1 explains changes in each case.

In a further embodiment of the invention described here, FIG. 4 shows that the sensor 1 can consist of two electrodes 10 and one electrode 11. The electrodes 10 have one polarity (preferably the same polarity), while the electrode 11 has a different polarity, but in the lower part of FIG. 3 the exploded view of the left part of FIG. 3 is shown and it can be seen that three water-impermeable layers 4 , 14, 15 can be used. The electrodes 10 can also have different polarities and / or electrical potentials.

The electrodes 10 can also be electrically connected to one another.

For example, the electrodes 10, 11 can also each have and / or generate a separate polarity and / or a separate electrical potential. The same can also apply to the electrodes in the following figures.

For example, the lowermost water-impermeable layer is again the water-impermeable layer 4, the subsequent water-impermeable layer 14 and the water-impermeable layer 15 arranged thereon in the transverse direction Q1 are a further water-impermeable layer. permeable layer, an electrode being applied to a separate water-impermeable layer, in particular being printed.

In this stacking of the individual water-impermeable layers 4, 14 and 15, the capacitor 20 shown in the left part of FIG. 4 is therefore produced by merging these layers, the electrodes 10 in each case in the transverse direction Q1, as in the corresponding partial image can be removed are arranged on different levels. As an alternative to this, the electrode 11 can also be applied together with at least one of the electrodes 10 in a common plane, that is to say on or in a common water-impermeable layer 4, 14, 15, so that, for example, only the second of the electrodes 10 remains on a separate impermeable layer 4, 14, 15 must be stacked on.

In principle, therefore, the individual electrodes 10, 11 can be arranged in different planes in the Q1 direction to one another. For example, a pairwise assignment between exactly one water-impermeable layer 4, 14, 15 with exactly one electrode 10, 1 1 applies.

The invention is not limited by the description based on the exemplary embodiment. Rather, the invention encompasses every new feature, as well as every combination of features, which in particular includes every combination of features in the patent claims, even if this feature or this combination itself is not explicitly specified in the patent claims or in the exemplary embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 sensor

3 moisture layer

4 dielectric layer / waterproof layer

5 processing unit

10 electrode

1 1 electrode

12 electrode

13 carrier material

14 waterproof layer

15 waterproof layer

20 capacitor

30 capacitor

40 CPU

60 temperature sensor

100 device

200 procedures

1000 measuring system

H1 horizontal direction

Q1 cross direction

Claims

claims

1. Measuring system (1000) for measuring pressure and / or moisture, comprising

comprising at least one device (100) for measuring pressure and / or moisture

- at least one sensor (1) for measuring pressure and / or moisture, the sensor (1)

- At least one capacitor (20) with at least two electrodes (10, 11), which are arranged, in particular in a horizontal direction (H1) along and on a, in particular flexible, carrier material (13) to one another, wherein between the electrodes (10 , 11) at least one dielectric layer (4) is arranged, wherein

on at least one electrode (10, 11) and / or the dielectric layer (2) on a side facing away from the carrier material (13)

in places at least one at least partially liquid-permeable and / or liquid-absorbing moisture layer (3) is arranged, the at least one electrode (10, 11) and / or the dielectric layer (4) thus being in a transverse direction (Q1) between the carrier material (13) and the moisture layer (3) is arranged so that a capacitance changes at least partially due to the liquid that at least partially impinges on the dielectric layer (4), a processing unit (5) being set up and provided for this purpose

Measure and / or save the measured values of the sensor (1) so that a capacitive humidity sensor is created,

characterized in that

the processing unit (5) sends the data measured by the sensor to a central CPU (40), these data being sent by the

Processing unit (5) are processed.

2. Measuring system (1000) according to claim 1,

characterized in that the measuring system (1000) has at least two sensors (1), the processing unit (5) dividing the sensors (1) into groups of at least one sensor (1) based on at least one of the following criteria:

- Location of the sensor (1) or the sensors (1) on the carrier material (13), the carrier material (13) being divided into surface areas, and within a surface area only sensors (1) of a group being arranged,

- Area expansion of a sensor (1).

3. Measuring system (1000) according to claim 1 or 2,

marked by

at least two devices (100) for measuring pressure and / or humidity, each processing unit (5) forwarding the data it receives from the sensors (1) to the central CPU (40).

4. Measuring system (1000) according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

at least one device (100) comprises at least two sensors (1).

5. Measuring system (1000) according to claim 1,

characterized in that

at least one device (100) comprises at least one temperature sensor (60), the temperature sensor (60) being an ambient temperature and / or a

Measures the temperature of a sensor (1) and forwards it to the processing unit (5) of a device (100) and / or to the central CPU (40).

6. measuring system (1000) according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the temperature sensor (60) has a temperature associated with it

Processing unit (5) measures and forwards it to the processing unit (5) of a device (100) and / or to the central CPU (40).

7. measuring system (1000) according to the preceding claim,

characterized in that

the central CPU (40) determines a degree of utilization (CPU load and / or memory consumption) of at least one processing unit (5) and if a limit temperature of the processing unit (5) and / or at least one of these is exceeded Processing unit (5) associated sensor (1) this (r) is at least partially throttled in its performance or completely switched off.

8. Measuring system (1000) according to at least one of the preceding claims,

marked by

at least one processing network, wherein by means of at least one VLAN switch of the processing network, the latter can be subdivided into at least two network segments (VLAN), which are only logically separated from one another, and each

Processing units (5) and / or each of the sensors (1) depending on the activation by the VLAN switch through each of the network segments

are controllable.

9. measuring system (1000) according to the preceding claim,

characterized in that

The VLAN switch is used to prioritize the individual network segments, particularly with regard to their data exchange.

10. A method (200) for measuring pressure and / or moisture comprising first a first step by means of which a measuring system (1000) is provided, which comprises:

- At least one sensor (1) for measuring pressure and / or moisture

is provided, the sensor (1)

- At least one capacitor (20) with at least two electrodes (10, 11), which are arranged, in particular in a horizontal direction (H1) along and on a, in particular flexible, carrier material (13) to one another, between the electrodes (10 , 11) at least one dielectric layer (4) is arranged,

characterized in that

At least in places at least partially at least partially liquid-permeable and / or liquid-absorbing moisture layer (3) is arranged on a side of at least one electrode (10, 11) and / or the dielectric layer (4) facing away from the carrier material, the at least one electrode thus (10, 11) and / or the dielectric layer (4) are arranged in a transverse direction (Q1) between the carrier material (13) and the moisture layer (3), so that a capacitance is at least partially due to the dielectric layer (4) liquid at least partially changed, a processing unit (5) Measured values of the sensor (1) measures and / or stores, so that a capacitive humidity sensor is created.