JP7193076B2 - Cabinets, vending machines and data analysis systems - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a housing, a vending machine, and a data analysis system including the same.

For example, electronic devices such as mobile phones, monitoring cameras, and portable radiation detectors include sensors, communication units, secondary batteries, and charge/discharge control units. In addition to the number of charging times, overcharging and overdischarging are the causes of performance deterioration of secondary batteries. In particular, if the secondary battery is overcharged, it may generate heat and catch fire. Therefore, the charge/discharge control unit performs charge/discharge control of the secondary battery so that the secondary battery is not overcharged or overdischarged. In this way, it is possible to prevent heat generation and ignition accidents of the secondary battery, prevent performance deterioration of the secondary battery, and extend the service life of the secondary battery. Here, the sensor detects physical quantities such as temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, pressure, flow rate, light, magnetism, electromagnetic waves, radiation, gas, suspended particulate matter, sound waves, acceleration, etc., and converts them into electrical signals. It is an output element and also includes an image sensor. A secondary battery is a battery that can be used repeatedly by charging, and is also called a rechargeable battery, a storage battery, or a battery. Furthermore, an electric communication line is an electric communication means capable of two-way communication by wire or wirelessly, and includes, for example, the Internet.

The performance and service life of secondary batteries also vary depending on the temperature. Electronic devices such as mobile phones, surveillance cameras, and portable radiation detectors have problems such as overheating or overcooling, which deteriorates the performance of secondary batteries and shortens service life, because the temperature is not controlled in the place where they are stored. Moreover, depending on the case, there is also a problem that leads to heat generation and fire accidents.

Some aspects of the present invention provide a housing, a vending machine, and a data analysis system including the same that can prevent heat generation and fire accident of a secondary battery provided in an electronic device and extend the service life. for the purpose.

(1) A first aspect of the present invention is a housing having one or more storage units, wherein the storage unit stores an electronic device, and the electronic device includes a sensor, a communication unit, a secondary battery, and a first A charge and discharge control unit is provided, the sensor detects physical quantities outside the housing and outputs an electric signal, the communication unit transmits the electric signal output by the sensor to the outside of the housing, and the secondary battery is the sensor. driving the communication unit and the first charge/discharge control unit, the first charge/discharge control unit performs charge/discharge control of the secondary battery, the storage unit includes a first temperature control unit, and performs the first temperature control Part relates to a housing characterized by controlling the temperature of an electronic device.

The first charge/discharge control unit performs charge/discharge control of the secondary battery so that the secondary battery is not overcharged or overdischarged, thereby preventing the secondary battery from overheating and igniting accidents and extending the service life. be able to. In addition, since the first temperature control unit provided in the storage unit controls the temperature of the electronic device, the temperature of the secondary battery provided in the electronic device can be appropriately maintained, and the service life of the secondary battery can be improved. can be extended further. Therefore, the sensor and the communication unit provided in the electronic device can be driven for a longer time, and the electric signal output by the sensor can be transmitted to the outside of the housing for a longer time.

(2) In the first aspect of the present invention, the housing is supplied with electricity, the storage section includes a power supply section, the power supply section supplies the electricity supplied to the housing to the secondary battery, and the power supply Preferably, the unit includes a second charge/discharge control unit, and the second charge/discharge control unit performs charge/discharge control of the secondary battery so that the secondary battery is not overcharged or overdischarged. This is because the power supply unit can charge the secondary battery with the electricity supplied to the housing, so that the sensor, the communication unit, and the first charge/discharge control unit can be stably and continuously driven. In addition, the second charge/discharge control unit can perform charge/discharge control of the secondary battery so that the secondary battery is not overcharged or overdischarged. can be extended further. Furthermore, even if the first charge/discharge control unit fails, the charge/discharge control by the second charge/discharge control unit can prevent the secondary battery from generating heat and catching fire.

(3) In the first aspect of the present invention, the housing includes two or more storage units and a router, the storage unit has a connection unit, the connection unit and the communication unit are connected by wire, and the connection unit and the router are connected by wire, the router and the telecommunication line are connected by wire or wirelessly, and the electrical signal is preferably transmitted from the communication part to the telecommunication line via the connection part and the router. This is because the electrical signals output by the sensor are sent all at once to the outside of the housing via the router, so that the communication section only needs to communicate with the router, and the communication section can be simplified.

(4) In the first aspect of the present invention, the housing has two or more storage sections, the communication section and the electric communication line are wirelessly connected, and the electric signal is transmitted from the communication section to the electric communication line. Preferred is a housing characterized by: The electrical signal output by the sensor is sent directly from the communication unit to the electrical communication line, so the electronic device (sensor) can be easily replaced without changing the communication wiring inside the housing. be.

(5) A second aspect of the present invention relates to a vending machine characterized by using the housing of the first aspect of the present invention. Vending machines are generally powered by electricity and equipped with anti-theft measures. In addition, millions of vending machines are installed all over the country. Therefore, by using the housing for a vending machine, it is possible to provide such unmanned and safe storage units for electronic devices all over the country. Also, by renting such a storage unit for storing electronic devices, it is possible to obtain income from products other than those sold by the vending machine.

(6) In a second aspect of the present invention, the vending machine includes a product and a second temperature control unit, the vending machine sells the product, and the second temperature control unit controls the temperature of the product. However, it is preferable that the first temperature management unit uses the second temperature management unit for temperature control of the electronic device. This is because the structure of the vending machine can be simplified by using the second temperature control section for controlling the temperature of the product to control the temperature of the electronic device.

(7) A third aspect of the present invention is a data analysis system comprising one or more vending machines according to the second aspect of the present invention and a computer, wherein the computer and the electric communication line are connected by wire or wirelessly. and a sensor electrical signal transmitted to an electrical communication line is collected by a computer via the electrical communication line.

Electric signals from sensors located all over the country at locations where vending machines are installed are collected by a computer via electric communication lines, and the collected data can be analyzed by the computer.

1 shows an outline of a housing according to the present embodiment; 4 shows an outline of a storage unit according to the present embodiment; 1 shows an outline of a housing according to the present embodiment; 1 shows an outline of a housing according to the present embodiment; 1 shows an overview of a data analysis system according to the present embodiment;

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. It should be noted that the present embodiment described below does not unduly limit the content of the present invention described in the claims, and all of the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential as means for solving the present invention. not necessarily.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of the housing 10 of this embodiment. The housing 10 includes one or more storage units 11 . The housing 10 can be used, for example, in vending machines. There is no particular restriction on the installation location of the storage section 11 in the housing 10 as long as the use of the housing 10 is not adversely affected. When the housing 10 is used in a vending machine, the vending machine includes products to be sold, a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the products, payment means, electrical equipment for operating the vending machine ( Original equipment of a vending machine) is installed. For example, a compressor is used as the temperature control unit, and cash, electronic money, and credit cards are used as payment means. The installation location of the storage unit 11 is not particularly limited as long as it does not adversely affect the original equipment of the vending machine. empty space.

FIG. 2 shows an outline of the storage unit 11 of this embodiment. The storage unit 11 stores the electronic device 12 . The number of electronic devices 12 housed in the housing portion 11 is one or more, and may be two or more. The electronic device 12 includes a sensor 13 , a communication section 14 , a secondary battery 15 and a first charge/discharge control section 16 . The sensor 13 detects a physical quantity 18 outside the housing 10 and outputs an electrical signal (not shown). Physical quantities 18 outside the housing 10 detected by the sensor 13 include, for example, temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed, light, magnetism, electromagnetic waves, radiation, gas, suspended particulate matter, sound waves, and acceleration. The communication unit 14 transmits the electrical signal output by the sensor 13 to the outside of the housing 10 . The secondary battery 15 drives the sensor 13 , the communication section 14 and the first charge/discharge control section 16 . The first charge/discharge control unit 16 performs charge/discharge control of the secondary battery 15 so that the secondary battery 15 is not overcharged or overdischarged. Therefore, it is possible to prevent heat generation and fire accident of the secondary battery 15 and to extend the service life. The storage unit 11 has a first temperature control unit 17 . A first temperature management unit 17 controls the temperature of the electronic device 12 . Since the temperature of the secondary battery 15 provided in the electronic device 12 can be appropriately maintained, the service life of the secondary battery 15 can be further extended. Therefore, the sensor 13 and the communication unit 14 provided in the electronic device 12 can be driven for a longer time, and the electric signal output by the sensor 13 can be transmitted to the outside of the housing 10 for a longer time. The electronic device 12 is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include mobile phones, surveillance cameras, and portable radiation detectors. The temperature control method of the first temperature control unit 17 is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include air cooling, water cooling, Peltier elements, heat pipes, compressors, and the like.

Electricity is supplied to the housing 10 , and the storage unit 11 includes a power supply unit 19 , and the power supply unit 19 supplies the electricity supplied to the housing 10 to the secondary battery 15 . Since the power supply unit 19 can charge the secondary battery 15 with the electricity supplied to the housing 10, the sensor 13, the communication unit 14, and the first charge/discharge control unit 16 can be stably and continuously driven. can be done. The power supply unit 19 has a second charge/discharge control unit 20 . The second charge/discharge control unit 20 performs charge/discharge control of the secondary battery 15 so that the secondary battery 15 is not overcharged or overdischarged. Therefore, deterioration of the performance of the secondary battery 15 can be prevented, and the service life of the secondary battery 15 can be further extended. Furthermore, even if the first charge/discharge control unit 16 fails, the charge/discharge control of the second charge/discharge control unit 20 can prevent the secondary battery 15 from generating heat and igniting.

The housing 10 has an opening 21 . The opening 21 is an opening through which the physical quantity 18 passes, and the sensor 13 detects the physical quantity 18 passing through the opening 21 . Since the physical quantity 18 passes through the opening 21 provided in the housing 10, the physical quantity 18 is not attenuated, and the detection sensitivity of the sensor 13 can be maintained satisfactorily. The opening 21 does not need to be a visual opening as long as the physical quantity 18 can pass through it.

The opening 21 is provided with a magic mirror (not shown) that covers the opening 21 . When the sensor 13 is an image sensor and the physical quantity 18 is light, since the opening 21 is covered with a magic mirror, the image sensor inside the housing 10 (storage section 11) can be hidden. Therefore, the design including the appearance of the housing 10 can be improved, and tampering can be prevented.

FIG. 3 shows an outline of the housing 10 of this embodiment. The housing 10 has two or more storage units 11 and a router 22 , and the storage unit 11 has a connection unit 23 . The connection unit 23 and the communication unit 14 are connected by wire, the connection unit 23 and the router 22 are connected by wire, the router 22 and the electric communication line 24 are connected by wire or wirelessly, and the electric signal output by the sensor 13 is connected to the router. 22 to the telecommunications line 24 . Since the electrical signals output by the sensors 13 stored in the two or more storage units 11 are collectively transmitted to the outside of the housing 10 via the router 22, the communication unit 14 only needs to communicate with the router 22. Well, the communication part 14 can be simplified.

FIG. 4 shows an outline of the housing 10 of this embodiment. The housing 10 has two or more storage units 11 . The communication unit 14 and the electric communication line 24 are wirelessly connected, and the electric signal output by the sensor 13 is transmitted from the communication unit 14 to the electric communication line 24 . Since the electrical signal output by the sensor 13 is directly transmitted from the communication unit 14 to the electrical communication line 24, the electronic device 12 (sensor 13) can be easily replaced without changing the communication wiring inside the housing 10. can do.

The communication unit 14 or connection unit 23 of this embodiment includes a signal processing unit (not shown). The signal processing unit performs signal processing on the electrical signal output from the sensor 13 . Since the amount of communication data can be reduced by this signal processing, the communication time can be shortened.

The housing 10 of this embodiment can be used, for example, in a vending machine as described above. Vending machines are generally powered by electricity and equipped with anti-theft measures. In addition, millions of vending machines are installed all over the country. Therefore, by using the housing 10 for a vending machine, such an unmanned and safe storage section 11 can be provided all over the country. By renting such a storage unit 11 to store the electronic equipment 12, it is possible to obtain income from products other than those sold by the vending machine.

Although not shown, the vending machine of this embodiment generally includes products to be sold and a second temperature control section for controlling the temperature of the products. The first temperature management unit 17 can use the second temperature management unit for temperature control of the electronic device 12 . This simplifies the structure of the vending machine. The method by which the first temperature control unit 17 uses the second temperature control unit depends on the temperature control method of the second temperature control unit. For example, when the second temperature control unit uses a compressor, the refrigerant can be shunted.

FIG. 5 shows an overview of the data analysis system 25 of this embodiment. Data analysis system 25 includes one or more vending machines 26 and an electronic calculator 27 . The computer 27 and the electrical communication line 24 are connected by wire or wirelessly, and the electrical signals from the sensor 13 transmitted to the electrical communication line 24 are collected by the computer 27 via the electrical communication line 24 . Electrical signals from sensors 13 located all over the country at installation locations of vending machines 26 are collected by a computer 27 via a telecommunication line 24, and the collected data can be analyzed by the computer 27.

Although the present embodiment has been described in detail as above, those skilled in the art will easily understand that many modifications are possible without substantially departing from the novel matters and effects of the present invention. Accordingly, all such variations are included within the scope of this invention. For example, a term used in the specification at least once with a different, broader or synonymous term may be replaced with the different term anywhere in the specification.

10 housing, 11 storage unit, 12 electronic device, 13 sensor (image sensor), 14 communication unit, 15 secondary battery, 16 first charge/discharge control unit, 17 first temperature control unit, 18 physical quantity, 19 power Supply unit, 20 second charge/discharge control unit, 21 opening, 22 router, 23 connection unit, 24 telecommunication line, 25 data analysis system, 26 vending machine, 27 computer

Claims (5)

In a housing comprising one or more storage units,
the storage unit stores an electronic device,
The electronic device includes a sensor, a communication unit, a secondary battery, and a first charge/discharge control unit,
the sensor detects a physical quantity outside the housing and outputs an electrical signal;
The communication unit transmits the electrical signal output by the sensor to the outside of the housing,
The secondary battery drives the sensor, the communication unit, and the first charge/discharge control unit,
The first charge/discharge control unit performs charge/discharge control of the secondary battery,
The storage unit includes a first temperature control unit,
The first temperature management unit controls the temperature of the electronic device ,
The housing includes two or more storage units and a router,
The storage portion has a connection portion,
The connection unit and the communication unit are connected by wire,
the connection unit and the router are connected by wire,
The router and the telecommunication line are connected by wire or wirelessly,
The housing , wherein the electrical signal is transmitted from the communication section to the electrical communication line via the connection section and the router . In the housing according to claim 1,
electricity is supplied to the housing,
The storage unit includes a power supply unit,
The power supply unit supplies electricity supplied to the housing to the secondary battery,
The power supply unit includes a second charge/discharge control unit,
The housing, wherein the second charge/discharge control unit performs charge/discharge control of the secondary battery. A vending machine using the housing according to claim 1 or 2 . The vending machine according to claim 3 ,
The vending machine includes a product and a second temperature control unit,
said vending machine sells said goods;
The second temperature control unit controls the temperature of the product,
The vending machine, wherein the first temperature control section uses the second temperature control section for temperature control of the electronic device. In a data analysis system comprising one or more vending machines according to claim 3 or 4 and a computer,
the computer and the telecommunication line are connected by wire or wirelessly,
A data analysis system, wherein said electrical signals are collected by said computer via said electrical communication line.

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