• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:

    公开号:NL2012478A
    申请号:NL2012478
    申请日:2014-03-19
    公开日:2015-03-30
    发明作者:Koji Ogawa；Junichi Fujiwara
    申请人:Denso Wave Inc；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Title: ENVIRONMENT CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AGRICULTURAL
    FACILITY CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from earlier Japanese Patent Applications No. 2013-196936 filed on Sept. 24, 2013 and No. 2014-047667 filed on March 11, 2014 the descriptions of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [Field of the Invention]
    The present invention relates to an environment control system for an agricultural facility.
    [Description of the Related Art]
    Agricultural facilities, such as vinyl greenhouses and conservatories primarily used for agriculture, create an environment within that is isolated from the outside. For example, an agricultural facility is provided with various measurement instruments.
    The measurement instruments acquire data related to the environment within, such as temperature, humidity, sunlight, and carbon dioxide concentration. On the other hand, the agricultural facility is provided with regulating devices that regulate the environment within. The regulating devices are, for example, air-conditioners, air-blowers, humidity control systems, carbon dioxide gas generators, and shading apparatuses. A control device controls the regulating devices based on various pieces of data acquired from the measurement instruments. The control device thereby maintains the environment within the agricultural facility at a preset environment that has been set in advance.
    Conventionally, these measurement instruments and the control device are connected by, for example, a wired local area network (LAN).
    However, when a wired connection is used, wiring is required. Freely changing the combinations of the measurement instruments and the control device is complicated. In addition, the interior of the agricultural facility tends to be more humid compared to the environment outside. There is a problem in that degradation of wiring equipment easily occurs. Therefore, in agricultural facilities as well, wireless communication using electromagnetic waves, such as wireless LAN and Bluetooth (registered trademark), is being used (see JP-A-2009-89043).
    However, as described above, the interior of the agricultural facility is an environment that has higher humidity than the outside. In the instance of wireless communication using electromagnetic waves, the outputted electromagnetic waves, due to its nature, are easily converted to heat energy as a result of the moisture. Therefore, in special environments such as the interior of an agricultural facility, distance tends to decrease in communication using electromagnetic waves.
    In addition, when electromagnetic waves are used, communication distance tends to decrease in instances in which an object that blocks the electromagnetic waves is present between a transmitting side and a receiving side. Therefore, measurement instruments that acquire the environment within the agricultural facility are required to be provided in positions away from crops that are being cultivated, so as to avoid the crops. As a result, a problem occurs in that acquiring data related to the environment near the crops, which has a higher necessity, is difficult. Furthermore, in the instance of agricultural facilities, the crops that are being cultivated inside grow every day.
    Therefore, the positions of the measurement instruments are required to be changed as the crops grow. In this way, there is a problem in that wireless communication using electromagnetic waves has numerous drawbacks due to the special environment, that is the inside of an agricultural facihty.
    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an environment control system for an agricultural facility that establishes highly accurate wireless communication and regulates the environment within, even in a special environment such as the inside of an agricultural facility.
    SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
    In one aspect according to the present invention, communication is performed between a measurement instrument and a control device using a data transferring means that uses sound waves as a medium. The inside of an agricultural facihty tends to have high humidity. Therefore, the inside of the agricultural facility is more similar to an underwater environment than land.
    As a result, sound waves are more efficiently carried through the inside of the high-humidity agricultural facility compared to electromagnetic waves. In addition, the agricultural facility is shielded from the outside. Therefore, external noises do not easily enter the agricultural facility, and silence is easily maintained. As a result, communication using sound waves is not easily obstructed. On the other hand, sound waves which are carried at the speed of sound are slower compared to electromagnetic waves which are carried at the speed of light.
    However, in limited terms of communication within the agricultural facility, long-range communication does not occur. In addition, changes in the environment required in the agricultural facility for growing plants are very gradual. Therefore, the communication speed is not required to be high.
    From this perspective, taking into consideration use in agricultural facilities, communication using sound waves as the medium is very advantageous. Furthermore, taking into consideration conversations between workers are established inside the agricultural facility, it is clear that the sound waves serving as the medium for communication can reach from a transmitting side to a receiving side, even when a blocking plant is present between the transmitting side and the receiving side. As a result, the measurement instrument can be disposed near the plant. The position of the measurement instrument is not required to be changed as the plant grows. Therefore, even in special environments, such as the inside of an agricultural facility, highly accurate wireless communication can be established, and the environment within can be regulated.
    In addition, the present invention that uses sound waves as a medium can be used to repel destructive insects, birds, and animals as a result of the frequency used for communication being appropriately set. Furthermore, because sound waves are used as the medium, the present invention has little effect on medical equipment, such as cardiac pacemakers. Therefore, safety of the aging agricultural workers can be enhanced.
    In another aspect according to the present invention, the data transferring means has a transmitting section on the measurement instrument side and a receiving section on the control device side. The transmission direction of the sound waves from the measurement instrument is set horizontally, or downward towards the ground surface. Within the agricultural facility, a temperature distribution is formed between the ground surface side and the ceiling side as a result of, for example, sunshine and radiative cooling.
    On the other hand, the sound waves used as a medium by the data transferring means are characteristic in that speed changes depending on the temperature. The sound waves are refracted from high temperature to low temperature. Therefore, when a temperature distribution is formed within the agricultural facility, depending on the conditions, communication between the transmitting section and the receiving section may be obstructed.
    In a typical agricultural facility, the ground surface is heated by sunshine during the day. Therefore, the temperature near the ground surface tends to increase. The temperature within the agricultural facility tends to become higher during the day than a preset temperature.
    Therefore, in the agricultural facility, the ceiling is opened and ventilation is performed.
    As a result, in the agricultural facility in the daytime, the temperature tends to be higher on the ground surface side than the ceding side. When the temperature on the ceiling side is low and the temperature on the ground surface side is high in this way, the sound waves tend to refract towards the ceding side. The transmission direction of the sound waves from the transmitting section is set to be horizontal or downward towards the ground surface.
    Therefore, even when the sound waves are refracted towards the ceiling side, the sound waves that are transmitted from the transmitting section reach the receiving section with certainty. On the other hand, the ground is cooled as a result of radiative cooling during the night. Therefore, the air that has been cooled by the ground surface tends to codect on the ground surface side. When the temperature on the ceding side is higher than that on the ground surface side in this way, the sound waves tend to refract towards the ground surface side.
    In this instance as wed, the transmission direction of the sound waves from the transmitting section is set to be horizontal or downward toward the ground surface. Therefore, the sound waves that have been transmitted from the transmitting section reach the receiving section with certainty. As a result, even in a special environment, such as the interior of the agricultural facility, in which temperature distribution tends to occur, highly accurate wireless communication can be established.
    In another aspect according to the present invention, the measurement instrument has a temperature and a humidity sensor. The speed of sound, or in other words, the speed of sound is expressed as a function of temperature. In a similar manner, the speed of sound is also expressed as a function of humidity.
    Therefore, the transmission time of the sound waves transferred by the data transferring means is dependent on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the humidity detected by the humidity sensor. Should an abnormality occur in the temperature sensor or the humidity sensor, a discrepancy occurs in the relationship between the transmission time of the sound waves transmitted from the measurement instrument to the control device, and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the humidity detected by the humidity sensor.
    As a result, by grasping the correlation between the transmission time of the sound waves from the data transferring means and the temperature and humidity, an abnormality in the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor that configure the measurement instrument is detected. Therefore, highly accurate communication is established. In addition, an abnormality in the measurement instrument can be easily detected.
    In another aspect according to the present invention, a correlation of the temperature and the transmission time of sound wave during normal operation is acquired. When determined that an abnormality has occurred in the temperature sensor, a temperature estimating means estimates the temperature within the agricultural facility from the transmission time of the sound waves using the correlation during normal operation that has been acquired in advance.
    In other words, as a result of sound waves being used as the communication medium for data, even when an abnormahty occurs in the temperature sensor, the temperature within the agricultural facility can be estimated from the transmission time of the sound waves. As a result, even when detection of the temperature by the temperature sensor is difficult, the temperature within the agricultural facility is estimated. The control device controls the regulating device using the estimated temperature. Therefore, even when an abnormality occurs in the measurement instrument, the environment within the agricultural facility can be maintained.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    In the accompanying drawings:
    Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the agricultural facility to which an environment control system is applied according to a first embodiment;
    Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an overall configuration of the environment control system according to the first embodiment;
    Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of an agricultural facility to which an environment control system is applied according to a second embodiment;
    Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of an agricultural facility to which the environment control system is applied in a variation example according to the second embodiment;
    Fig. 5 is a block diagram of an overall configuration of an environment control system for an agricultural facility according to a third embodiment; and
    Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the flow of a process performed in the environment control system for an agricultural facility according to the third embodiment.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
    An environment control system for an agricultural facility according to a plurality of embodiments will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawings. Components that are common among the following various embodiments are given the same reference numbers, so that descriptions thereof are omitted.
    As shown in Fig. 1, an environment control system 10 according to a first embodiment controls the environment within an agricultural facility 11. The agricultural facihty 11 is, for example, a vinyl greenhouse or a conservatory. The vinyl greenhouse is configured by vinyl sheets being attached to a framework. The framework is composed of metal or resin. In addition, in the conservatory, plates composed of glass are attached instead of vinyl.
    In this way, the agricultural facility 11 according to the present embodiment refers to a facility that creates a space that is isolated from the outside for the purpose of cultivating crops and the like. Various environmental conditions are required to be regulated inside of the agricultural facihty 11, such as temperature, humidity, sunlight, ventilation, and carbon dioxide, depending on the cultivation subject. The environment control system 10 regulates these conditions inside of the agricultural facihty 11.
    As shown in Fig. 2, the environment control system 10 includes a measurement instrument 12, regulating devices 13, a control device 14, and a data transferring device (i.e., data transferring means) 15. The measurement instrument 12 acquires data related to the environment within the agricultural facility 11.
    Specifically, measurement instruments 12 are provided inside and outside of the agricultural facility 11. The measurement instrument 12 acquires various pieces of data that affect the environment within the agricultural facihty 11. The measurement instrument 12 provided inside the agricultural facility 11 is, for example, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a brightness sensor, or a carbon dioxide sensor. The temperature sensor detects the temperature within the agricultural facihty 11. In a similar manner, the humidity sensor detects the humidity. The brightness sensor detects the brightness within the agricultural facility 11. The carbon dioxide gas sensor detects the carbon dioxide concentration in the air within the agricultural facility 11.
    In addition, the measurement instrument 12 provided outside of the agricultural facility 11 is a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a brightness sensor, a wind direction sensor, a wind speed sensor, a meteorological sensor, or the like. The temperature sensor detects the temperature outside, near the agricultural facility 11. In a similar manner, the humidity sensor detects the humidity. The brightness sensor 11 detects the amount of solar radiation from sunlight incident on the agricultural facility 11. The wind direction sensor and the wind speed sensor respectively detect the wind direction and the wind speed of wind generated near the agricultural facility 11. The meteorological sensor detects the meteorological environment, such as sun, rain, clouds, and snow.
    The regulating devices 13 are provided in the agricultural facility 11. The regulating devices 13 regulate the environment within the agricultural facility 11. As shown in Fig. 1, for example, the regulating devices 13 include a cooling apparatus 21, a heating apparatus 22, a humidity regulating apparatus 23, an air blower 24, a light blocking apparatus 25, a ventilating apparatus 26, and a carbon dioxide gas generating apparatus 27. The cooling apparatus 21 and the heating apparatus 22 are configured as, for example, a heat pump-type airconditioner.
    The heating apparatus 22 may be configured by, for example, a heater that burns kerosene. The humidity regulating apparatus 23 regulates the humidity within the agricultural facility 11, such as by humidifying or dehumidifying. The air blower 24 includes a fan or the like. The air blower 24 creates a flow of air within the agricultural facility 11 to create a uniform environment within the agricultural facility 11. The fight blocking apparatus 25 is provided on the ceiling of the agricultural facility 11. The fight blocking apparatus 25 includes a curtain for blocking sunlight.
    The light blocking apparatus 25 opens and closes the curtains, thereby adjusting the irradiance of sunlight entering the inside of the agricultural facility 11.
    The ventilating apparatus 26 opens and closes a portion of the agricultural facility 11. The ventilating apparatus 26 thereby introduces air from outside of the agricultural facility 11 or discharges air from inside the agricultural facility 11. The carbon dioxide generating apparatus 27 supplies the inside of the agricultural facility 11 with carbon dioxide. The regulating devices 13 may also include a water spraying apparatus, a fertilizing apparatus, and the like (not shown), in addition to the above.
    The control device 14 is configured by, for example, a general-purpose personal computer or a dedicated computer. The control apparatus 14 controls the regulating devices 13 based on data related to the environment within the agricultural facility 11 acquired by the measurement instrument 12. As a result, the control apparatus 14 regulates the environment within the agricultural facility 11. Specifically, the control apparatus 14 has a control unit 31, an input section 32, and an output section33 that are configured by a computer.
    The input section 32 includes, for example, an external input device such as a keyboard. A user inputs various pieces of information related to the agricultural facihty 11 using the external input device. The information inputted via the input section 32 is, for example, information related to the agricultural facihty 11 and information related to the regulating devices 13. The information related to the agricultural facility 11 includes the conditions under which the agricultural facility 11 is installed, or in other words, the overall lengths in the south/north direction and the east/west direction, the capacity of the agricultural facihty 11, the materials composing the agricultural facility 11, the crop to be cultivated, the planting state such as the positions and density of the crop, the position and size of the entrance/exit of the agricultural facihty 11, and the hke.
    In addition, the information related to the regulating devices 13 includes whether or not a regulating device is present, the performance of each of the regulating devices 13, and the like. The user inputs the various pieces of information via the input section 32.
    In addition, the user inputs how the inside of the agricultural facility 11 is to be controlled, via the input section 32. In other words, the user inputs desired values for each time of day for the crop to be cultivated, and the like. For example, the user inputs a preset temperature, a preset humidity, and a present amount of light. The control section 14 controls the regulating devices 13 based on the data acquired from the measurement instrument 12, such that the inside of the agricultural facility 11 becomes the environment that has been set in advance.
    The data transferring device 15 has a transmitting section 35 and a receiving section 36. The transmitting section 35 is provided in each measurement instrument 12. In addition, the receiving section 36 is provided in the control device 14. The measurement instrument 12 transmits the acquired data related to the environment of the agricultural facility 11 from the transmitting section 35.
    The control device 14 receives the data transmitted from the measurement instrument 12 by the receiving section 36. As a result, the data related to the environment of the agricultural facility 11 acquired by each measurement instrument 12 is transmitted to the control device 14 via the data transferring device 15.
    The data is transferred between the transmitting section 35 and the receiving section 36 using sound waves as the medium. In other words, the transmitting section 35 converts the data acquired from the measurement instrument 12 to sound waves and outputs the sound waves. The receiving section 36 receives the data transmitted from the transmitting section 35. The receiving section 36 then converts the data again to electrical signals. According to the present embodiment, the sound waves used as the medium by the data transferring device 15 are sound waves that are within an audible range or ultrasonic waves.
    The sound waves have a slower communication speed compared to electromagnetic waves that are used for communication between typical devices. In other words, the sound waves are carried through the atmosphere at the speed of sound. Therefore, the sound waves are characteristic in that the speed is slower compared to the electromagnetic waves that are carried at the speed of light. On the other hand, the inside of the agricultural facility 11 is kept at a relatively high humidity so as to be suitable for growth of the plant to be cultivated.
    In a high humidity environment such as this, communication devices that use electromagnetic waves tend to corrode or the like. Maintenance of devices becomes cumbersome. In addition, in the instance of communication devices that use electromagnetic waves, in a high humidity environment, the electromagnetic waves used for communication are converted to heat. Communication distance tends to decrease.
    Therefore, in the instances of communication devices that use electromagnetic waves, a plurality of relay devices are required between the communication device and the control device 14. The number of devices increase and the configuration becomes complex.
    On the other hand, high humidity environments are more similar to underwater environments than atmospheric environments. Therefore, sound waves are less likely to attenuate compared to electromagnetic waves in high humidity environments. The sound waves are characteristic in that they are efficiently carried. In addition, the agricultural facility 11 creates a space that is closed off from the outside. Therefore, various external noises are less likely to enter the agricultural facility 11. The agricultural facility 11 is characteristic in that silence is more easily maintained.
    Furthermore, in the agricultural facility 11, high responsiveness of control by the regulating devices 13 is not always required for the various numerical values measured by the measurement instruments 12. This is because, in the agricultural facility 11, the plants that are being cultivated are exposed to the changes in environment. Rapid changes in the environment are not required. In addition, the environment within the agricultural facility 11 rarely suddenly changes. Therefore, in the agricultural facility 11, high-speed communication such as that using electromagnetic waves is unnecessary.
    Control can be sufficiently performed even by communication using sound waves that are low speed. Still further, in the agricultural facility 11, because the agricultural facility 11 is a closed space, long-range communication is unnecessary. Therefore, if the environment is that in which conversation between workers can be established within the agricultural facility 11, the sound waves reach from the transmitting section 35 to the receiving section 36 without the use of relay devices.
    The plants to be cultivated grow every day. Therefore, in the instance of communication devices that use electromagnetic waves, when the area between the transmitting section 35 and the receiving section 36 is blocked as a result of growth of the plants, communication distance may become shortened. Communication itself becomes impossible. On the other hand, to achieve higher growth efficiency, the measurement instrument 12 is required to measure the environment near the plants to be cultivated. However, as described above, the plants grow every day.
    Therefore, when the measurement instrument 12 is provided near a plant in the early stage of growth, in the instance of devices that use electromagnetic waves, acquisition of data related to the environment near the plant becomes difficult as the plant grows. Conversely, even when blocked by a plant that has grown, the sound waves can circumvent the plant and be carried.
    Therefore, when the sound wave is used as according to the present embodiment, even when a plant to be cultivated is interposed between the transmitting section 35 and the receiving section 36, the sound waves reach from the transmitting section 35 to the receiving section 36 without being affected by the plant. In this way, the measurement instrument 12 can be disposed near the plant. In addition, the position of the measurement instrument 12 is not required to be changed as the plant grows.
    As a result of the reasons described above, in the environment control system 10 according to the first embodiment, even in special environments such as the inside of the agricultural facility 11, highly accurate wireless communication can be established. The environment within can be regulated.
    In addition, according to the first invention in which sound waves are used as the medium, as a result of the frequency to be used for communication being appropriately set, the sound waves can be used to repel destructive insects, birds, and animals. Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, because sound waves are used as the medium, medical equipment, such as cardiac pacemakers, are little affected. Therefore, safety of the aging agricultural workers can be enhanced. (Second embodiment)
    An environment control system for an agricultural facility according to a second embodiment is shown in Fig. 3.
    As shown in Fig. 3, in the environment control system 10 according to the second embodiment, the attachment directions of the transmitting section 35 and the receiving section 36 are prescribed. The transmitting section 35 is provided in the measurement instrument 12. The receiving section 36 is provided in the control device 14. Specifically, the transmitting section 35 that is provided in the measurement instrument 12 transmits sound waves horizontally, or downward towards the ground surface. As a result, the sound waves transmitted from the transmitting section 35 advance horizontally toward the receiving section 36 or downward towards the ground surface.
    Within the agricultural facility 11, temperature distribution is formed between the ground surface side and the ceiling side as a result of sunshine during the day, radiative cooling during the night, and the like.
    On the other hand, the sound waves used as a medium by the data transferring device 15 are characteristic in that speed changes depending on the temperature. The sound waves are refracted from high temperature to low temperature. Therefore, when a temperature distribution is formed within the agricultural facility 11, depending on the conditions, communication between the transmitting section 35 and the receiving section 36 may be obstructed by this characteristic of the sound waves.
    In the instance of a typical agricultural facility 11, the ground surface is heated by sunshine during the day. The temperature near the ground surface tends to increase. In addition, as a result of temperature increase caused by sunlight, the temperature within the agricultural facility 11 tends to become higher during the day than a preset temperature that has been inputted in advance. Therefore, in the agricultural facility 11, to maintain the interior temperature, the ceiling is opened and ventilation is performed. The interior temperature is thereby maintained.
    As a result, in the agricultural facility 11 in the daytime, the temperature tends to be higher on the ground surface side than the ceding side. When the temperature on the ceding side is low and the temperature on the ground surface side is high in this way, the sound waves tend to refract towards the ceding side. According to the second embodiment, the transmission direction of the sound waves from the transmitting section 35 is set to be horizontal or downward towards the ground surface. Therefore, even under daytime temperature conditions in which the sound waves tend to be refracted towards the ceding side, the sound waves are transmitted horizontally or downward from the transmitting section 35. As a result, the sound waves that are transmitted from the transmitting section 35 reach the receiving section 36 with certainty.
    On the other hand, the ground is cooled as a result of radiative cooling during the night. Therefore, the air that has been cooled by the ground surface collects on the ground surface side. The temperature on the ground surface side tends to become low. When the temperature on the ceiling side is higher than that on the ground surface side in this way, the sound waves tend to refract towards the ground surface side. In this instance as well, the transmission direction of the sound waves from the transmitting section 35 is horizontal or downward. Therefore, the sound waves that have been transmitted from the transmitting section 35 tend to advance towards the receiving section 36. As a result, the sound waves that are transmitted horizontally or downward from the transmitting section 35 reach the receiving section 36 with certainty.
    According to the second embodiment, the transmission direction of the sound waves from the transmitting section 35 is set to be horizontal or downward. As a result, even in a special environment, such as the interior of the agricultural facility 11, in which temperature distribution tends to occur, the certainty of arrival of the sound waves from the transmitting section 35 to the receiving section 36 is improved. Therefore, highly accurate wireless communication can be established. (Variation example according to the second embodiment) A variation example according to the second embodiment is shown in Fig. 4.
    According to the second embodiment, an example is described in which communication is performed between the transmitting section 35 of the measurement instrument 12 and the receiving section 36 of the control device 14 using sound waves as the medium. However, as shown in Fig. 4, as a variation example, the data transferring device 15 may be applied that uses sound waves for communication between a plurality of agricultural facilities 11. In other words, even between transmitting devices 35 and receiving devices 36 provided in the agricultural facilities 11, communication may be performed using sound waves as the medium. In this instance, in a manner similar to that according to the second embodiment, the transmitting section 35 emits sound waves horizontally or downward.
    As a result, highly accurate wireless communication that uses sound waves as the medium can be estabhshed even between a plurality of agricultural facilities 11. (Third embodiment)
    An environment control system for an agricultural facility according to a third embodiment is shown in Fig. 5.
    According to the third embodiment, the measurement instrument 12 includes a temperature sensor 41 and a humidity sensor 42. The temperature sensor 41 detects the temperature within the agricultural facility 11. The temperature sensor 41 outputs the detected temperature as an electrical signal to the control device 14 via the data transferring device 15. The humidity sensor 42 detects the humidity within the agricultural facility 11. The humidity sensor 42 outputs the detected humidity as an electrical signal to the control device 14 via the data transferring device 15.
    The control unit 31 of the control device 14 runs a computer program. As a result, the control unit 31 actualizes an abnormality determining section (i.e., abnormality determining means) 51 and a temperature estimating section (i.e., temperature estimating means) 52 by software. In addition to being actualized by software, the abnormality determining section 51 and the temperature estimating section 52 may be actualized by dedicated hardware. Alternatively, the abnormality determining section 51 and the temperature estimating section 52 may be actualized by a combination of software and hardware. A relationship such as that indicated in expression (1) is present between the temperature within the agricultural facility 11 and the speed of the sound waves transmitted to the data transferring device 15, or in other words, the speed of sound. In other words, the speed of sound c (m/s) increases as the temperature t (°C) increases. The speed of sound c (m/s) decreases as the temperature t (°C) decreases. c=331.45+0.6t ... (1)
    In addition, a relationship such as that indicated in expression (2) is present between the humidity within the agricultural facility 11 and the speed of sound. In other words, the speed of sound c' in air having humidity has a relationship such as that indicated in expression (2) to the speed of sound c in dry air correlated with the temperature based on expression (1). In other words, the speed of sound c' tends to increase as the humidity increases.
    ... (2)
    Expression (2) indicates that the speed of sound c' (m/s) in air having humidity is determined based on the speed of sound c (m/s) in dry air, air pressure H (Pa), water vapor pressure p (Pa), specific-heat ratio yw (-) of water vapor, and specific-heat ratio γ of dry air.
    The abnormality determining section 51 determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the measurement instrument 12. The abnormality determining section 51 determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred based on a relationship between a transmission time T of the sound waves transferred from the data transferring device 15, and the temperature acquired by the temperature sensor 41 and the humidity acquired by the humidity sensor 42. The transmission time T refers to an amount of time required for the sound waves to reach the receiving section 36 from the transmitting section 35.
    As indicated in above-described expression (1) and expression (2), the speed at which sound is carried, or in other words, the speed of sound is correlated with the temperature and the humidity. Therefore, if the temperature and humidity within the agricultural facility 11 are correctly measured, the transmission time T of the wound waves transferred via the data transferring device 15 maintains the correlation with the temperature acquired by the temperature sensor 41 and the humidity acquired by the humidity sensor 42. On the other hand, when an abnormality has occurred in the measurement instrument 12, a discrepancy occurs between the transmission time T and the temperature and humidity. When such discrepancy occurs, the abnormality determining section 51 determines than an abnormality has occurred in the measurement instrument 12.
    When the abnormality determining section 51 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the temperature sensor 41, the temperature estimating section 52 estimates the temperature within the agricultural facility 11 based on the transmission time T of the sound waves transmitted from the data transferring device 15. As a result, even when an abnormality has occurred in the temperature sensor 41, the temperature estimating section 52 is capable of estimating the temperature within the agricultural facility 11 from the transmission time T of the sound waves. Then, the control device 14 controls the regulating devices 13 using the temperature estimated by the temperature estimating section 52.
    Here, an example of a detailed flow of the abnormality determination performed by the abnormality determining section 51 will be described with reference to Fig. 6.
    When the environment control system 10 is started, the control device 14 acquires temperature tm within the agricultural facility 11 from the temperature sensor 41 (S101). In addition, the control device 14 acquires humidity hm within the agricultural facility 11 from the humidity sensor 42 (S102).
    Furthermore, the control device 14 acquires transmission time Tm of the sound waves from the data transferring device 15 (S103). The control device 14 acquires the amount of time required from the transmission of the sound waves from the transmitting section 35 to the reception of the sound waves by the receiving section 36 as the transmission time Tm of the sound waves. Acquisition of the temperature tm, acquisition of the humidity hm, and the transmission time Tm may be acquired simultaneously or in an arbitrary order.
    The abnormality determining section 51 calculates the temperature within the agricultural facility 11 from the humidity hm acquired at S102 and the transmission time Tm acquired at S103, as an estimated temperature ts (S104). Specifically, the abnormality determining section 51 calculates the estimated temperature ts using, for example, a relational expression created in advance using the humidity hm and the transmission time Tm as variables, based on expression (1) and expression (2). Alternatively, the abnormality determining section 51 may determine the estimated temperature ts from a table created in advance. The table indicates the relationship between the humidity hm and transmission time Tm, and the estimated temperature ts.
    The abnormality determining section 51 determines whether or not an absolute value of the difference between the estimated temperature ts calculated at S104 an the temperature tm acquired from the temperature sensor 41 at S101 is greater than an alert temperature difference ta that is set in advance (S105). In other words, the abnormality determining section 51 determines whether or not I ts-tm | >ta. The estimated temperature ts calculated at S104 is an estimation value calculated based on the transmission time Tm and the humidity hm. If the temperature sensor 41 is normal, the estimated temperature ts and the temperature tm acquired by the temperature sensor 41 are substantially the same.
    Therefore, the abnormality determining section 51 determines whether or not the absolute value of the difference between the estimated temperature ts and the temperature tm acquired by the temperature sensor 41 is greater than the alert temperature difference ta. The alert temperature difference ta is a value that can be arbitrarily set by the user depending on the life form being managed in the agricultural facility 11.
    When judged at S105 that the absolute value of the difference between the estimated temperature ts and the temperature tm is greater than the alert temperature difference ta (Yes at S105), the abnormality determining section 51 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the temperature sensor 41. The abnormality determining section 51 displays alert information that prompts alert in a display or the like (S106). The display or the like configures the output section 33. The alert information is a display for prompting repair or replacement because an abnormality has occurred in the temperature sensor 41.
    On the other hand, when judged at S105 that the absolute value of the difference between the estimated temperature ts and the temperature tm is the alert temperature difference ta or less (No at S105), the abnormality determining section 51 determines whether or not the absolute value of the difference between the estimated temperature ts and the temperature tm is greater than a warning temperature difference tw (S107). In other words, the abnormality determining section 51 determines whether or not I ts-tm | >tw. Even when the temperature difference I ts-tm | is less than the alert temperature difference ta, a slight abnormality may be occurring in the temperature sensor 41.
    Therefore, the abnormality determining section 51 determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the temperature sensor 51 using the warning temperature difference tw. The warning temperature difference tw is set to a value that is smaller than the alert temperature difference ta. In other words, the warning temperature difference tw and the alert temperature difference ta are set to ta>tw. For example, when the alert temperature difference ta is set to 5°C, the warning temperature difference tw is set to 2°C. In a manner similar to the alert temperature difference ta, the warning temperature difference tw is also a value that can be arbitrarily set by the user depending on the life form being managed in the agricultural facility 11.
    When judged at S107 that the absolute value of the difference between the estimated temperature ts and the temperature tm is greater than the warning temperature difference tw at S107 (Yes at S107), the abnormality determining section 51 determines that a slight abnormality which is not enough for an alert has occurred in the temperature sensor 41. The abnormality determining section 51 displays warning information that prompts warning in a display or the like (S108). The display or the like configures the output section 33. The warning information is a display indicating that, although an abnormality has occurred in the temperature sensor 41, the abnormality is slight and continued use is possible.
    When judged at S107 that the absolute value of the difference between the estimated temperature ts and the temperature tm is the warning temperature difference tw or less (No at S107), the abnormality determining section 51 determines that an abnormality has not occurred in the temperature sensor 41 (S109). When determined that an abnormality has not occurred in the temperature sensor 41, the control device 41 stores the temperature tm acquired at S101, the humidity hm acquired at S102, and the transmission time Tm acquired at S103 in a storage device (not shown) of the control unit 31.
    As a result, when no discrepancies are present in the relationship between the transmission time Tm, and the temperature tm and humidity hm, the acquired temperature tm, humidity hm, and transmission time Tm are accumulated in the storage device (not shown). When the temperature tm, humidity hm, and transmission time Tm are stored, the control device 14 repeats the processing operations at S101 and subsequent steps.
    In the example described above, an example is described in which an abnormality in the temperature sensor 41 is determined. However, an abnormality in the humidity sensor 42 can also be determined by procedures similar to those in the above-described example.
    The environment within the agricultural facility 11 gradually changes, such as with the growth of plants cultivated within the agricultural facility 11. Therefore, the relationship between the transmission time Tm, and the temperature tm and humidity hm can be considered to change over time. When judged that no abnormalities have occurred in the temperature sensor 41 and the humidity sensor 42, the acquired temperature tm, humidity hm, and transmission time Tm are accumulated in the storage device (not shown).
    Here, the abnormality determining section 51 may correct the alert temperature difference ta and the warning temperature difference tw using the accumulated temperature tm, humidity hm, and transmission time Tm. In addition, when a plurality of temperature sensors 41 and humidity sensors 42 are provided in the agricultural facility 11, the abnormality determining section 51 performs the abnormality determination for each temperature sensor 41 and humidity sensor 42. At this time, the abnormality determining section 51 may be configured to determine abnormality with the plurality of temperature sensors 41 given an order of priority. Alternatively, the abnormality determining section 51 may be configured to compare the calculated values among the plurality of temperature sensors 41.
    Next, estimation of temperature by the temperature estimating section 52 will be described.
    As described above, the relationship between the temperature tm, humidity hm, and transmission time Tm is accumulated in the storage device (not shown) of the control device 14. Therefore, in the storage device of the control device 14, the temperature tm associated with the transmission time Tm of the sound waves is accumulated. When an abnormality occurs in the temperature sensor 41, the temperature within the agricultural facihty 11 cannot be detected. When temperature control stops as a result of the abnormality in the temperature sensor 41 in the agricultural facihty 11 in this way, the life form being managed in the agricultural facihty 11 may be significantly affected.
    Therefore, the temperature estimating section 52 estimates the temperature within the agricultural facility 11, in place of the temperature sensor 41. The temperature estimating section 52 estimates the temperature based on the accumulated relationship between the transmission time Tm of the sound waves and the temperature tm. Specifically, the temperature estimating section 52 acquires the transmission time Tm of the sound waves from the data transferring device 15. In other words, the temperature estimating section 52 acquires the transmission time Tm until the sound waves transmitted from the transmitting section 35 reach the receiving section 36.
    Then, the temperature estimating section 52 extracts the temperature tm associated with the acquired transmission time Tm from the storage device (not shown). If the positional relationship between the transmitting section 35 and the receiving section 36 is constant, the relationship between the transmission time Tm and the temperature tm acquired and collected in the past does not significantly change. Therefore, the temperature estimating section 52 can estimate the temperature tm from the transmission time Tm. The control device 41 estimates the temperature tm estimated by the temperature estimating section 52 as the temperature within the agricultural facility 11 and controls the regulating devices 13. As a result, even when an abnormality occurs in the temperature sensor 41, the control device 14 can continue management of temperature within the agricultural facility 11.
    According to the third embodiment, whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the temperature sensor 41 and the humidity sensor 42 is determined based on the temperature tm detected by the temperature sensor 41, the humidity hm detected by the humidity sensor 42, and the transmission time Tm of the sound waves. Therefore, highly accurate wireless communication is established. In addition, abnormality in the measurement instruments 12, such as the temperature sensor 41 and the humidity sensor 42, can be easily detected.
    In addition, according to the third embodiment, when determined that an abnormality has occurred in the temperature sensor 41, the temperature estimating section 52 estimates the temperature tm within the agricultural facility from the transmission time Tm of the sound waves, using the correlation during normal operation that has been acquired in advance. In other words, according to the third embodiment in which sound waves are used as the communication medium for data, even when an abnormality occurs in the temperature sensor 41, the temperature tm within the agricultural facility 11 can be estimated from the transmission time Tm of the sound waves.
    As a result, even when detection of the temperature of the agricultural facility 11 is difficult, such as because of an abnormality in the temperature sensor 41, the temperature is estimated. The control device 14 controls the regulating devices 13 using the estimated temperature. Therefore, even when an abnormality occurs in the measurement instrument 12, the environment within the agricultural facility 11 can be maintained.
    The present invention described above is not limited by the above-described embodiments. The present invention can be applied to various embodiments without departing from the spirit thereof.
    权利要求:
    Claims (4)
    [1]
    An environmental control system for an agricultural facility that controls an environment of an agricultural facility, which environmental control system is provided with a measuring instrument that obtains data related to the environment within the agricultural facility; a regulatory establishment that controls the environment within the agricultural facility; a control device that controls the control device based on the data obtained by the measuring instrument related to the environment within the agricultural facility and controls the environment within the control device; and data transferring means for transmitting, between the measuring instrument and the control device, data obtained by the measuring instrument to the control device using sound waves as medium.
    [2]
    The environmental control system according to claim 1, wherein: the data transferring means has a transmitting section that transmits the data obtained by the measuring instrument and receives a receiving section provided in the control device and receiving data sent from the transmitting section; and a transmitting direction of the sound waves from the transmitting section is horizontal or directed downwards to a ground surface.
    [3]
    The environmental control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein - the measuring instrument has a temperature sensor that obtains the temperature within the agricultural facility and a humidity sensor that obtains the humidity within the agricultural facility; and the ambient control system further comprises means for determining abnormality for determining an abnormality in the measuring instrument based on a relationship between the temperature obtained by the temperature sensor and the humidity obtained by the humidity sensor, and a transmission time of the sound waves transmitted by means of the data transferring means from the measuring instrument to the control device.
    [4]
    The environmental control system according to claim 3, said environmental control system further comprising temperature estimating means for estimating, when determining that an abnormality has occurred in the temperature sensor, of the temperature within the agricultural device based on the transmission time of the sound waves transmitted by means of the data transferring means from the measuring instrument to the control device.
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
    JP6552683B2|2019-07-31|Abnormality judgment system for measuring equipment and environmental control system for agricultural facilities using the same
    Ferentinos et al.2017|Wireless sensor networks for greenhouse climate and plant condition assessment
    EP0380734B1|1994-01-12|Greenhouse irrigation system based upon vapor pressure deficit data
    US20120124902A1|2012-05-24|Method for controlling greenhouse and system for the same
    JP2014150759A|2014-08-25|Environment controlling system of facility cultivation
    KR20130035794A|2013-04-09|The crop growth monitoring device using movable sensor and it's method
    KR20150011647A|2015-02-02|Method of controlling ventilation based on greenhouse microclimate prediction and apparatus for the same
    KR20160088019A|2016-07-25|Plant factory system for special crops
    KR20180050110A|2018-05-14|System for controlling a smart greenhouse
    KR101772552B1|2017-08-30|An integrated management system for growing crops that are based on the robot
    NL2012478C2|2015-04-29|Environment control system for agricultural facility.
    CN207965592U|2018-10-12|Environment monitoring control system
    JP5222655B2|2013-06-26|Crop cultivation device and terminal for crop cultivation device
    WO2020255677A1|2020-12-24|Information processing device and method
    KR20190084878A|2019-07-17|Measuring device
    JP6634728B2|2020-01-22|Environmental control system
    KR20190100495A|2019-08-29|Smart plant care system
    WO2020255678A1|2020-12-24|Information processing device and method
    JP2020156335A|2020-10-01|Environment control system of agricultural greenhouse, and greenhouse control device
    KR102366075B1|2022-02-22|Control system for smart farm
    US20220003441A1|2022-01-06|Method of controlling an air-conditioning system
    KR20210000698A|2021-01-05|A System for Growth Control of Crops and Disease and Insect Pest Control of Crops
    KR102134397B1|2020-07-15|An environmental condition control system based on plant activity index for controlled horticulture and method thereof
    KR20200071862A|2020-06-22|A System for Growth Control of Crops and Disease and Insect Pest Control of Crops
    Papagrigoriou et al.2019|Measurements of environmental parameters inside and outside a greenhouse using open-source software device
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    NL2012478C2|2015-04-29|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    法律状态:
    2018-11-07| MM| Lapsed because of non-payment of the annual fee|Effective date: 20180401 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    JP2013196936|2013-09-24|
    JP2013196936|2013-09-24|
    JP2014047667|2014-03-11|
    JP2014047667A|JP2015087100A|2013-09-24|2014-03-11|Agricultural facility environment control system|
    [返回顶部]