Marine Product Logistics Monitoring Apparatus

Abstract

The present invention discloses an improved system of monitoring logistics involved in marine transportation. The proposed system with the help of data acquisition component, humidity control component, temperature control component, power component, microcontroller, and user device automatically regulate the required temperature and humidity level within preset threshold and also transmits the information to the user's device. This system also allows to add additional sensors and environmental control components including but not limited to ambient light, vibration, sound, movement, oxygen, chemical levels, and more. The system also provides a communication interface coupled to the onboard micro controller, where the communication interface being operative to transmit a monitoring update message to end user device, in response to a transmission instruction from the onboard microcontroller.

Claims

1. A marine product logistics monitoring apparatus, comprising: a data acquisition component, a humidity control component, a temperature control component, a power component, a microcontroller, and a user device, wherein the data acquisition component is configured to acquire environment information inside and outside a logistics box and send the environment information to the microcontroller; the microcontroller determines the acquired environment information according to set environment parameter thresholds, and then controls the on or off of the humidity control component and the temperature control component according to the determination results; moreover, the microcontroller sends the environment information inside and outside the logistics box sent by the data acquisition component to the user device by means of a wireless module, and the environment information is displayed on the user device; and the power component is configured to supply power to the microcontroller where:

2. The marine product logistics monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data acquisition component comprises a temperature sensor I for acquiring temperature information inside the logistics box, a temperature sensor II for acquiring temperature information outside the logistics box, a humidity sensor for acquiring humidity information inside the logistics box, an acceleration sensor for acquiring acceleration amplitude information and frequency domain information of a transportation tool within a sampling duration, and a camera for acquiring image information inside the logistics box; and the temperature sensor I, the temperature sensor II, the humidity sensor, the acceleration sensor, and the camera are respectively connected to the microcontroller.

3. The marine product logistics monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the humidity control component comprises an evaporator control circuit and a humidifier control circuit respectively connected to the microcontroller, and the microcontroller respectively controls the on or off of an evaporator and a humidifier by means of the evaporator control circuit and the humidifier control circuit.

4. The marine product logistics monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control component comprises a temperature control device control circuit connected to the microcontroller, and the microcontroller controls the on or off of a temperature control device by means of the temperature control device control circuit.

5. The marine product logistics monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power component comprises a storage battery and a solar panel.

6. The marine product logistics monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user device is a PC or mobile device.

7. The marine product logistics monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring apparatus further comprises a GPS module for locating the position of the transportation tool in real-time, and the GPS module is connected to the microcontroller.

8. The marine product logistics monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a data storage module for storing data, and the data storage module is connected to the microcontroller.

9. A marine logistics monitoring apparatus facilitating:

10. A marine logistics monitoring apparatus as per claim 9, providing environment information inside and outside a logistics box;

11. A marine logistics monitoring apparatus as per claim 9, providing a data acquisition component which is sent to a microcontroller;

12. A marine logistics monitoring apparatus as per claim 9, where the microcontroller determines the received information according to pre-set environment parameters;

13. A marine logistics monitoring apparatus as per claim 9, where if the temperature is not within a set threshold range, the operation or shutdown of the temperature control device is controlled by means of a temperature control device control circuit;

14. A marine logistics monitoring apparatus as per claim 9, where if the humidity is not within a threshold range, the operation or shutdown of an evaporator or a humidifier is controlled by means of a corresponding control circuit;

15. A marine logistics monitoring apparatus as per claim 9, where additional sensors and environmental control components can be added as required by the specific embodiment, including ambient light, vibration, sound, movement, oxygen, chemical levels, and more.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the utility model, according to some example embodiments.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a logical flow chart of the utility model, according to one example embodiment.

[0028] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

[0029] The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

[0031] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof

[0032] The present invention relates to a marine product logistics monitoring apparatus, belonging to the field of Internet of Things technologies.

[0033] The utility model provides a marine product logistics monitoring apparatus, including: a data acquisition component 120, a humidity control component 130, a temperature control component 140, a power component 150, a microcontroller 101, and a user device 110. The data acquisition component is configured to acquire environment information inside and outside a logistics box and send the environment information to the microcontroller; the microcontroller determines the acquired environment information according to set environment parameter thresholds, and then controls the on or off of the humidity control component and the temperature control component according to the determination results; moreover, the microcontroller sends the environment information inside and outside the logistics box sent by the data acquisition component to the user device by means of a wireless module 103, and the environment information is displayed on the user device; and the power component is configured to supply power to the microcontroller.

[0034] The data acquisition component 120 includes a temperature sensor I 121 for acquiring temperature information inside the logistics box, a temperature sensor II 122 for acquiring temperature information outside the logistics box, a humidity sensor 123 for acquiring humidity information inside the logistics box, an acceleration sensor 124 for acquiring acceleration amplitude information and frequency domain information of a transportation tool within a sampling duration, and a camera 125 for acquiring image information inside the logistics box; and the temperature sensor I, the temperature sensor II, the humidity sensor, the acceleration sensor, and the camera are respectively connected to the microcontroller. Additional sensor modules may be added to the data acquisition component as required by the specific embodiment.

[0035] The humidity control component 130 includes an evaporator control circuit 132 and a humidifier control circuit 134 respectively connected to the microcontroller, and the microcontroller respectively controls the on or off of an evaporator 131 and a humidifier 133 by means of the evaporator control circuit and the humidifier control circuit. The temperature control component 140 includes a temperature control device control circuit 142 connected to the microcontroller, and the microcontroller controls the on or off of a temperature control device 141 by means of the temperature control device control circuit. Additional environmental control components may be added as required by the specific embodiment.

[0036] The wireless module 102 allows connection between the apparatus and the user device through several different connections, including both Bluetooth and through the internet.

[0037] The power component 150 includes a storage battery 152 and a solar panel 151.

[0038] The user device 110 is a PC 111 or a mobile device 112. The user device connects with the apparatus through the wireless module to update the microcontroller for the specific embodiment and set the parameters, as well as receiving real-time updates.

[0039] The monitoring apparatus further includes a GPS module 103 for locating the position of the transportation tool in real-time, and the GPS module is connected to the microcontroller.

[0040] The apparatus further includes a data storage module 104 connected to the microcontroller.

[0041] The beneficial technical effects achieved by the utility model are: the utility model provides a marine product logistics monitoring apparatus; in the apparatus, environment information inside and outside a logistics box is acquired by means of a data acquisition component and sent to a microcontroller; the microcontroller determines the received information according to pre-set environment parameters, and if the temperature is not within a set threshold range, the operation or shutdown of the temperature control device is controlled by means of a temperature control device control circuit; by the same reasoning, if the humidity is not within a threshold range, the operation or shutdown of an evaporator or a humidifier is controlled by means of a corresponding control circuit. Additional sensors and environmental control components can be added as required by the specific embodiment, including ambient light, vibration, sound, movement, oxygen, chemical levels, and more.

[0042] As a specific embodiment of the utility model, environment data in a transportation process is monitored by using the apparatus and used to adjust one or more environmental conditions described herein. The parameters are set by the user device through the wireless module. The temperature sensor I acquires the temperature information in the logistics box and sends the temperature information to the microcontroller, the microcontroller determines the received temperature information according to the pre-set temperature threshold, if the temperature exceeds the threshold range, refrigeration is performed in the logistics box by means of the temperature control device control circuit, and if the temperature is lower than the threshold range, heating is performed in the logistics box by means of the temperature control device control circuit till the temperature in the logistics box is within the threshold range; the temperature sensor II sends the acquired temperature information outside the logistics box to the microcontroller, and the microcontroller sends the temperature information to a memory for storage or sends the temperature information to the user device as a basis for subsequent optimization of a transportation route, so as to minimize the risks in the transportation process; the humidity sensor acquires the humidity information in the logistics box and sends the humidity information to the microcontroller, and the microcontroller controls the operation or shutdown of the evaporator by means of the evaporator control circuit or controls the on or off of the humidifier by means of the humidifier control circuit according to the pre-set humidity threshold; the acceleration sensor acquires speed information of the transportation tool and sends the speed information sends the microcontroller, and the camera acquires picture information in the logistics box and sends the picture information to the microcontroller; in addition, the GPS module acquires real-time position information of the transportation tool and sends the real-time position information to the microcontroller. The microcontroller retains all recorded data through a data storage module and updates the user device through the wireless module. Additional tweaks to the parameters can be set by the user device, such as automatic adjustment based on GPS location.

[0043] Further description is made by taking the transportation of fish and shrimp as an example. The temperature threshold in the logistic box is pre-set to be −20° C. to 5° C., the temperature sensor 1 sends the acquired temperature information in the logistic box to the microcontroller, the microcontroller determines the received temperature information, if the temperature exceeds the threshold range, refrigeration is performed in the logistics box by means of the temperature control device control circuit, and if the temperature is lower than the threshold range, heating is performed in the logistics box by means of the temperature control device control circuit till the temperature in the logistics box is within the threshold range; the temperature sensor 2 acquires a weather environment parameter outside the logistic box, and sends the acquired data to the microcontroller, the microcontroller sends the acquired data to the memory for storage or sends the acquired data to the user device, and a transportation party can obtain optimal matched values of the temperature outside the logistics box and the temperature inside the logistics box by matching according to the stored data so as to ensure the freshness of the fish and shrimp. Data support is provided for the subsequent setting of the temperature in the logistics box, so as to minimize the risks in the transportation process; the humidity threshold in the transportation process of the fish and shrimp is set to be 45% to 70%, the humidity sensor sends the acquired humidity information in the logistics box to the microcontroller, and the microcontroller controls the operation or shutdown of the evaporator by means of the evaporator control circuit or controls the on or off of the humidifier by means of the humidifier control circuit according to the pre-set humidity threshold; in addition, in the transportation process, the acceleration sensor acquires the speed information of the transportation tool and sends the speed information to the microcontroller; if a curve displayed in the microcontroller is in a flat state, it is indicated that the transportation process is relatively smooth, and if a sudden increase in height occurs in the displayed curve, it is indicated that cases such as bumpy or careless transportation occur in the transportation process; the camera acquires the picture information in the logistics box and sends the picture information to the microcontroller; in addition, the GPS locator acquires the real-time position information of the transportation tool and sends the real-time position information to the microcontroller, and whether a flight is delayed or on time can be determined by combining locating information of the GPS and the normal schedule of the flight.

[0044] While a specific embodiment has been shown and described, many variations are possible. With time, additional features may be employed. The particular shape or configuration of the platform or the interior configuration may be changed to suit the system or equipment with which it is used.

[0045] Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0046] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.