Patent Application
20240125627
The present invention relates to a portable device and the like.
A technique for measuring vibration, sound, temperature, or the like by optical fiber sensing is known. For example, PTL 1 discloses an optical fiber distributed temperature measurement device measuring a temperature distribution by optical fiber sensing (see paragraphs [0002] to [0005], [0030], and [0031], FIGS. 2 and 4, and the like in PTL 1).
The optical fiber distributed temperature measurement device described in PTL 1 includes an electrical signal control processing block, an optical system block, a reference optical fiber block, and a power supply block (see paragraphs [0030] and [0031], FIG. 2, and the like in PTL 1). The individual blocks are housed in housing cases. The optical fiber distributed temperature measurement device is constituted of the housing cases being connected to one another (see abstract,
The optical fiber distributed temperature measurement device described in PTL 1 includes an electrical signal control processing block, but does not include a block for communicating with an external system. Thus, there is a problem of difficulty in achieving an analysis in cooperation with an external system, when analyzing data acquired by optical fiber sensing. Specifically, for example, there is a problem of difficulty in analyzing by using a dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) engine in an external system. Further, for example, there is a problem of difficulty in complexly analyzing data acquired by a plurality of optical fiber distributed temperature measurement devices in an external system.
In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable device and the like that are able to easily achieve an analysis in cooperation with an external system on data acquired by optical fiber sensing.
A portable device according to the present invention includes: a sensing means for executing optical fiber sensing using an optical fiber cable; an analysis means for executing primary analysis processing on sensing data acquired by the optical fiber sensing; a communication means for transmitting, to an external analysis means for executing secondary analysis processing based on a result of the primary analysis processing outside the portable device, data including a result of the primary analysis processing; and a housing accommodating the sensing means, the analysis means, and the communication means.
An analysis method according to the present invention includes, by a portable device: executing optical fiber sensing using an optical fiber cable; executing primary analysis processing on sensing data acquired by the optical fiber sensing; and transmitting, to an external analysis means for executing secondary analysis processing based on a result of the primary analysis processing outside the portable device, data including a result of the primary analysis processing.
The present invention is able to easily achieve an analysis in cooperation with an external system on data acquired by optical fiber sensing.
Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present invention will be descried in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The optical fiber cable 1 can be used in optical fiber sensing. Specifically, for example, the optical fiber cable 1 can be used in detection of vibration, sound, or temperature by distributed optical fiber sensing (distributed fiber optic sensing, DFOS). Hereinafter, data acquired by executing optical fiber sensing using the optical fiber cable 1 may be collectively referred to as “sensing data”.
In the portable device 2, the sensing unit 11 acquires sensing data by executing optical fiber sensing (more specifically, DFOS) using the optical fiber cable 1. The sensing unit 11 is configured by, for example, a distributed vibration sensing (DVS) device or a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) device. In this case, the sensing data acquired by the sensing unit 11 are a distribution in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable 1, and include a distribution of vibration intensity or sound intensity for each frequency component. Alternatively, for example, the sensing unit 11 is configured by a distributed temperature sensing (DTS) device. In this case, the sensing data acquired by the sensing unit 11 are a distribution in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable 1, and include a distribution of a relative value (for example, a ratio of intensity of Raman scattered light) associated with temperature.
In the portable device 2, the analysis unit 12 executes predetermined analysis processing (hereinafter, will be referred to as “primary analysis processing”) on sensing data acquired by the sensing unit 11. The primary analysis processing includes, for example, processing (so-called “lat-long”) of determining a position coordinate associated with the acquired sensing data. Alternatively, for example, the primary analysis processing includes processing of detecting, using the acquired sensing data, occurrence of an abnormality (occurrence of abnormal vibration, occurrence of abnormal sound, occurrence of abnormal temperature change, or the like) around the optical fiber cable 1. Alternatively, for example, the primary analysis processing includes both the pieces of processing. Various kinds of known techniques can be used in the pieces of processing. Detailed description of the techniques will be omitted.
In the portable device 2, the communication unit 13 of the analysis unit 12 can freely communicate with the analysis system 3. The communication unit 13 transmits, to the analysis system 3, data (hereinafter, may be referred to as “primary analysis data”) including a result of primary analysis processing executed by the analysis unit 12. The analysis unit 12 is configured by, for example, a serve device. The server device uses, for example, an on-vehicle computer or a rack mount server. Further, the communication unit 13 is configured by, for example, at least one of a wireless communication module and a wired communication module provided in the server device. The wireless communication module uses, for example, a 3rd generation (3G) module, a long term evolution (LTE) module, a 5th generation (5G) module, or a wireless local area network (LAN) module. On the other hand, the wired communication module uses, for example, a wired LAN module. That is, the communication unit 13 uses, for example, at least one of a cellular module and a LAN module.
In the portable device 2, the power supply circuit 14 supplies electrical power for operation to each of the sensing unit 11 and the analysis unit 12 (including the communication unit 13), by using electrical power supplied from an external power supply PS. That is, the sensing unit 11 executes optical fiber sensing as described above, by using electrical power supplied from the power supply circuit 14. Further, the analysis unit 12 executes primary analysis processing as described above, by using electrical power supplied from the power supply circuit 14. Further, the communication unit 13 of the analysis unit 12 transmits primary analysis data to the analysis system 3 as described above, by using electrical power supplied from the power supply circuit 14. The external power supply PS is configured by, for example, an AC power supply for home use or for commercial use. The power supply circuit 14 is configured by, for example, a power supply module including an AC-DC converter and a DC-DC converter for transformation (more specifically, for step-down).
The analysis system 3 receives primary analysis data transmitted from the portable device 2. The analysis system 3 executes another predetermined analysis processing (hereinafter, will be referred to as “secondary analysis processing”) on the received primary analysis data. That is, the secondary analysis processing is processing based on a result of primary analysis processing in the portable device 2. In other words, the primary analysis processing in the portable device 2 is processing equivalent to preprocessing on the secondary analysis processing in the analysis system 3. The analysis system 3 is configured by, for example, a cloud server.
The secondary analysis processing includes, for example, processing of generating data (hereinafter, will be referred to as “value-added data”) having improved value compared with the above received primary analysis data, by processing the primary analysis data. Herein, the “value” is, for example, value for a customer of a service provided by using the optical fiber sensing system 100. The secondary analysis processing may use the dedicated AI engine 21. The AI engine 21 uses, for example, a learned model generated by machine learning. The analysis system 3 inputs the above received primary analysis data to the AI engine 21. The AI engine 21 outputs value-added data in response to the input, based on a result of machine learning. In this way, value-added data are generated.
The analysis system 3 transmits the generated value-added data to the output system 4. The output system 4 receives the transmitted value-added data. The output system 4 outputs the received value-added data. Thereby, value-added data are provided to the above customer. Alternatively, value-added data are output to another system (not illustrated). The output system 4 is configured by, for example, another cloud server.
Herein, the output system 4 may output value-added data by displaying, using a graphical user interface (GUI), an image associated with value-added data. Alternatively, the output system 4 may output, using an application programming interface (API), value-added data as data of a predetermined format.
As described above, in the portable device 2, the communication unit 13 can freely communicate with the analysis system 3. In addition thereto, the communication unit 13 can freely communicate with the control system 5. The control system 5 controls an operation of each of the sensing unit 11 and the analysis unit 12, by communicating with the communication unit 13. That is, the sensing unit 11 executes optical fiber sensing as described above, under control of the control system 5. Further, the analysis unit 12 executes primary analysis processing as described above, under control of the control system 5. Further, the communication unit 13 of the analysis unit 12 transmits primary analysis data to the analysis system 3 as described above, under control of the control system 5. The control system 5 is configured by, for example, another cloud server.
Specifically, for example, the control system 5 transmits, to the portable device 2, a signal (hereinafter, will be referred to as a “first control signal”) for controlling an operation of the sensing unit 11 and a signal (hereinafter, will be referred to as a “second control signal”) for controlling an operation of the analysis unit 12. The communication unit 13 receives the transmitted first control signal and the second control signal. The communication unit 13 outputs the received first control signal and the second control signal to the analysis unit 12. The analysis unit 12 executes primary analysis processing, based on the output second control signal, and outputs the output first control signal to the sensing unit 11. The sensing unit 11 executes optical fiber sensing, based on the output first control signal.
Further, the control system 5 may control an operation of the analysis system 3, by communicating with the analysis system 3. That is, the analysis system 3 may execute secondary analysis processing as described above, under control of the control system 5. Further, the analysis system 3 may transmit value-added data to the output system 4 as described above, under control of the control system 5.
Further, the control system 5 may output an operation of the output system 4, by communicating with the output system 4. That is, the output system 4 may output value-added data as described above, under control of the control system 5.
As above, the control system 5 may control an overall operation of the optical fiber sensing system 100.
In this way, a main portion of the optical fiber sensing system 100 is configured.
Hereinafter, the sensing unit 11 may be referred to as a “sensing means”. The analysis unit 12 may be referred to as an “analysis means”. The communication unit 13 may be referred to as a “communication means”. The analysis system 3 may be referred to as an “external analysis means”. The control system 5 may be referred to as an “external control means”.
Next, a hardware configuration of a main portion of the portable device 2 will be described with reference to
As described above, the sensing unit 11 is configured by, for example, a DVS device, a DAS device, or a DTS device. The analysis unit 12 is configured by, for example, a server device. The communication unit 13 is configured by, for example, a communication module provided in a server device. The power supply circuit 14 is configured by, for example, a power supply module.
Herein, a DVS device, a DAS device, or a DTS device, a server device (including a communication module), and a power supply module are accommodated in one substantially box-shaped housing 15. In other words, the portable device 2 includes the housing 15 accommodating the sensing unit 11, the analysis unit 12 (including the communication unit 13), and the power supply circuit 14, as illustrated in
In an example illustrated in
Specifically, for example, the communication unit 13 communicates with the analysis system 3 by using the radio wave RW, and communicates with the control system 5 by using the wired communication cable CC1 connected to the wired communication port CP. That is, the wired communication port CP may be a wired communication port for control. Further, the wired communication cable CC1 may be a wired communication cable for control.
Further, inside the housing 15, the sensing unit 11 and the analysis unit 12 are connected to each other by another wired communication cable CC2. In other words, inside the housing 15, the sensing unit 11 and the analysis unit 12 can freely communicate with each other. Thereby, as described above, the sensing unit 11 can output sensing data to the analysis unit 12. Further, as described above, the analysis unit 12 can output a first control signal to the sensing unit 11.
Further, as described above, the power supply circuit 14 supplies electrical power for operation to each of the sensing unit 11 and the analysis unit 12, by using electrical power supplied from the external power supply PS (not illustrated in
Herein, supposing that a power supply circuit for the sensing unit 11 and a power supply circuit for the analysis unit 12 are provided separately from each other inside the housing 15, it is required that two AC power supply cables be connected to the portable device 2. In contrast, the number of AC power supply cables PC1 to be connected to the portable device 2 can be reduced to one, by providing the power supply circuit 14 shared by the sensing unit 11 and the analysis unit 12. This can facilitate handling of the portable device 2.
Next, an operation of the portable device 2, mainly an operation of the sensing unit 11, the analysis unit 12, and the communication unit 13, will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in
First, the sensing unit 11 executes optical fiber sensing (more specifically, DFOS) using the optical fiber cable 1 (Step ST1). Thereby, sensing data are acquired. Then, the analysis unit 12 executes primary analysis processing on the sensing data acquired in Step ST1 (Step ST2). A specific example of the primary analysis processing is as described already. Thus, repeated description will be omitted. Then, the communication unit 13 of the analysis unit 12 transmits, to the analysis system 3, data (that is, primary analysis data) including a result of the primary analysis processing in Step ST2 (Step ST3).
Next, an optical fiber sensing system 100′ for comparison with the optical fiber sensing system 100 will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
Herein, the optical fiber sensing system 100′ includes a sensing device 11′ and an analysis device 12′, instead of the portable device 2 in the optical fiber sensing system 100. The analysis device 12′ can freely communicate with the analysis system 3′ via a network NW′.
The sensing device 11′ includes a function similar to a function included in the sensing unit 11 of the portable device 2 in the optical fiber sensing system 100. That is, the sensing device 11′ is configured by, for example, a DVS device, a DAS device, or a DTS device.
The analysis device 12′ includes a function similar to a function included in the analysis unit 12 (including the communication unit 13) of the portable device 2 in the optical fiber sensing system 100. That is, the analysis device 12′ is configured by, for example, a server device. The server device is equivalent to an edge computer for a cloud network including the analysis system 3′, the output system 4′, and the control system 5′.
Next, an effect of using the optical fiber sensing system 100 will be described. More specifically, an advantageous effect when compared with the optical fiber sensing system 100′ will be described.
In the optical fiber sensing system 100′, an operation of laying the optical fiber cable 1′ and an operation of installing the sensing device 11′ are required in order to achieve optical fiber sensing. That is, an operation of bringing the sensing device 11′ to a spot where one end of the optical fiber cable 1′ is arranged and connecting the one end of the optical fiber cable 1′ to the sensing device 11′. In addition thereto, an operation of installing the analysis device 12′ is required in order to achieve an analysis (including primary analysis processing and secondary analysis processing) of sensing data. That is, an operation of preparing an edge computer for primary analysis processing and for communication with the analysis system 3′ is required.
In contrast, in the optical fiber sensing system 100, a function of executing optical fiber sensing, a function of executing primary analysis processing, and a function of transmitting primary analysis data are achieved by the portable device 2. Thus, an operation of preparing an edge computer equivalent to the analysis device 12′ is unnecessary, upon achieving an analysis (including primary analysis processing and secondary analysis processing) of sensing data. This can easily achieve an analysis of sensing data, compared with the optical fiber sensing system 100′.
Next, another effect of using the optical fiber sensing system 100 will be described. More specifically, an advantageous effect when compared with the technique described in PTL 1 will be described.
As described above, the optical fiber distributed temperature measurement device described in PTL 1 includes an electrical signal control processing block, but does not include a block for communicating with an external system. Thus, there has been a problem of difficulty in achieving an analysis in cooperation with an external system, upon analyzing data acquired by optical fiber sensing. Specifically, for example, there has been a problem of difficulty in analyzing using a dedicated AI engine in an external system.
In contrast, in the optical fiber sensing system 100, the portable device 2 includes the communication unit 13 transmitting primary analysis data to the analysis system 3. Thereby, an analysis (including primary analysis processing and secondary analysis processing) in cooperation with the analysis system 3 can be easily achieved. That is, an analysis in cooperation with an external system can be easily achieved, compared with when the optical fiber temperature distribution measurement device described in PTL 1 is used. Specifically, for example, an analysis using the dedicated AI engine 21 in an external system (the analysis system 3) can be easily achieved.
Next, a modified example of the portable device 2 will be described.
In the portable device 2, each of the sensing unit 11 and the analysis unit 12 may be unitized, and individual units may be configured detachably to the housing 15. Further, there may be provided a structure in which, when individual units are accommodated in the housing 15, the accommodated units are electrically connected to the power supply circuit 14.
Thereby, in the portable device 2, a selected sensing unit 11 among a plurality of types of sensing units 11 prepared in advance may be mounted. The plurality of types of sensing units 11 may execute, for example, sensing (for example, DVS, DAS, or DTS) different from each other.
Further, in the portable device 2, a selected analysis unit 12 among a plurality of types of analysis units 12 prepared in advance may be mounted. The plurality of types of analysis units 12 may execute, for example, primary analysis processing of different contents from each other.
Next, another modified example of the portable device 2 will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
Next, a modified example of the optical fiber sensing system 100 will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
Even in this case, an effect as described above can be exhibited. That is, the sensing unit 11 of the portable device 2 executes optical fiber sensing using the optical fiber cable 1 (not illustrated in
As illustrated in
The individual optical fiber cable 1 in the optical fiber sensing system 100a is similar to the optical fiber cable 1 in the optical fiber sensing system 100 according to the first example embodiment. Further, the individual portable device 2 in the optical fiber sensing system 100a is similar to the portable device 2 in the optical fiber sensing system 100 according to the first example embodiment.
That is, a sensing unit 11 (not illustrated in
The analysis system 3 receives primary analysis data transmitted from the individual portable device 2. Thereby, primary analysis data indicating a result of primary analysis processing in the M portable devices 2_1 to 2_M are received. The analysis system 3 executes secondary analysis processing on the received primary analysis data. That is, the secondary analysis processing is processing based on a result of the primary analysis processing in the M portable devices 2_1 to 2_M. In other words, the primary analysis processing in the individual portable device 2 is processing equivalent to preprocessing on the secondary analysis processing in the analysis system 3. The secondary analysis processing may use a dedicated AI engine 21 (not illustrated in
The control system 5 controls an operation of each of the sensing unit 11 and the analysis unit 12 in the individual portable device 2, by communicating with the communication unit 13 of the individual portable device 2.
In this way, a main portion of the optical fiber sensing system 100a is configured.
Next, an effect of using the optical fiber sensing system 100a will be described. More specifically, an advantageous effect when compared with the technique described in PTL 1 will be described.
As described above, the optical fiber distributed temperature measurement device described in PTL 1 includes an electrical signal control processing block, but does not include a block for communicating with an external system. Thus, there has been a problem of difficulty in achieving an analysis in cooperation with an external system, upon analyzing data acquired by optical fiber sensing. Specifically, for example, there has been a problem of difficulty in analyzing using a dedicated AI engine in an external system, or in complexly analyzing data acquired by a plurality of optical fiber distributed temperature measurement devices.
In contrast, in the optical fiber sensing system 100a, the individual portable device 2 includes the communication unit 13 transmitting primary analysis data to the analysis system 3. Thereby, an analysis (including primary analysis processing and secondary analysis processing) in cooperation with the analysis system 3 can be easily achieved. That is, an analysis in cooperation with an external system can be easily achieved, compared with when the optical fiber temperature distribution measurement device described in PTL 1 is used. Specifically, for example, an analysis using the dedicated AI engine 21 in an external system (the analysis system 3) can be easily achieved. Further, for example, a complex analysis of primary analysis data acquired by the M portable devices 2_1 to 2_M can be facilitated.
Next, a modified example of the individual portable device 2 will be described.
The individual portable device 2 can employ various modified examples similar to those described in the first example embodiment. For example, the individual portable device 2 may include a battery 16 instead of a power supply circuit 14, as illustrated in
Next, a modified example of the optical fiber sensing system 100a will be described.
The number M of the portable devices 2_1 to 2_M may be different from the number N of the optical fiber cables 1_1 to 1_N (N≠M). In this case, the individual portable device 2 may execute optical fiber sensing using equal to or more than two optical fiber cables 1.
Besides the above, the optical fiber sensing system 100a can employ various modified examples similar to those described in the first example embodiment. For example, a main portion of the optical fiber sensing system 100a may be configured by the portable devices 2_1 to 2_M and the analysis system 3, similarly to an example described with reference to
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
The whole or part of the example embodiments described above can be described as, but not limited to, the following supplementary notes.
A portable device including:
The portable device according to supplementary note 1, wherein
The portable device according to supplementary note 1, wherein
The portable device according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 3, wherein
The portable device according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 4, wherein the primary analysis processing includes at least one of processing of determining a position coordinate associated with the sensing data and processing of detecting occurrence of an abnormality around the optical fiber cable.
The portable device according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 5, wherein
The portable device according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 6, wherein the analysis means uses an on-vehicle computer or a rack mount server.
The portable device according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 7, wherein the communication means uses at least one of a cellular module and a LAN module.
An optical fiber sensing system including:
An analysis method including, by a portable device:
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2021/013047 | 3/26/2021 | WO |
