JP2000059520A - Data terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To monitor the state of a battery being the insulated power source of a data terminal equipment. SOLUTION: A meter interface part 14 transmitting and receiving data among a terminal equipment 1 for collecting information of a meter 13 or the like by using a telephone line 21, the control part 2 of the terminal equipment 1 and the meter 13 is electrically insulated and is connected. A power source 9 is installed on a side where the meter interface part 14 is insulated from the control part 2. A meter transmission part 10 sending data to the meter 13 and a meter reception part 11 receiving data from the meter 13 are connected so that data sent from the terminal equipment 1 is fed back/inputted from the meter reception part 11. Data sent from the terminal equipment 1 is compared with data which is fed back/inputted by data. Then, the state of the power source 9 is monitored.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data terminal device for transmitting meter readings such as gas, electricity or water to a monitoring center using a telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of data terminal device has been generally used as a power supply with a built-in small lithium battery having a large capacity because of a demand that it can be used without maintenance for a long time. .

If the battery consumption is higher than expected,
The battery was monitored by various methods because the operation for the expected life could not be performed.

[0004] For example, the state of a battery is determined by a dedicated voltage detection IC.
For example, when the battery voltage drops below a specified voltage, information on the voltage drop is reported to the monitoring center to inform the service life of the data terminal device.

As another method, a built-in battery capacity counter is updated according to the operation state of the data terminal device,
If the counter value reaches a predetermined value, it is determined that the service life has expired, and the monitoring center is notified and notified.

The battery capacity counter system is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-203061.

On the other hand, in the field of gas meters, a system in which the interface between the meter and the terminal device is electrically insulated is becoming mainstream.

[0008] Generally, it is configured using a fort coupler.

In this case, the interface circuit with the insulated meter on the terminal device side requires an additional power supply, and here a lithium battery is used.

[0010]

However, in the conventional battery life detection, a dedicated voltage detection circuit is added to monitor the battery voltage in a hardware manner, so that the number of parts, the cost, and the circuit board are increased. There was a burden due to the size and so on.

In the battery capacity counter system,
When standard operation is performed, it is possible to secure operation for a certain period calculated by calculation, but for example, a failure of a pure battery alone or a battery capacity that is not the specified battery capacity from the beginning,
For example, when the battery voltage drops due to an unexpected situation during operation, there is a problem that the battery voltage drop cannot be detected.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a terminal device for collecting information such as a meter using a telephone line,
A control unit of the terminal device and a meter interface unit for transmitting and receiving data between the meter and the meter interface unit are electrically insulated and connected, and a power source is provided on a side of the meter interface unit which is insulated from the control unit. A meter transmitting unit for transmitting data and a meter receiving unit for receiving data from the meter, connected so that data transmitted from the terminal device is fed back from the meter receiving unit, and data transmitted from the terminal device; The feedback input data is compared with the data, and the state of the power supply is monitored.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a data terminal device according to the present invention, a control unit of a terminal device and a meter interface unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from a meter are electrically insulated and connected. A power supply is provided on the side insulated from the control unit, and a meter transmitting unit for transmitting data to the meter and a meter receiving unit for receiving data from the meter are configured such that data transmitted from the terminal device is fed back from the meter receiving unit. , And compares the data transmitted from the terminal device with the data input as feedback by the data to monitor the state of the power supply.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the data terminal device of the present invention.

A control unit 2 controls or processes the operation of the entire data terminal device. Generally, a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer) is used, and a program for performing a predetermined operation is internally provided. R in which is stored
It incorporates an OM, a RAM for storing data, an arithmetic processing unit for processing, judging or controlling data, and the like, and operates according to a program stored in the ROM.

One of the operations has a clock function, and meter readings of the meter can be collected at regular intervals.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a line monitoring unit which receives a telephone line 21 in response to a call from a monitoring center (not shown, the same applies hereinafter), or transmits data from the terminal device 1 to the monitoring center. When the line 21 is captured, the line current and the like are monitored to monitor that the loop of the telephone line 21 is normally formed.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a network control unit, which is connected to a telephone line 21 via a connector 20 such as a modular connector, and is connected to a monitoring center via a public line network.

The network control unit 4 is further controlled by the control unit 2 and monitors a call from the monitoring center. When detecting a call from the monitoring center, the network control unit 4 captures and monitors the telephone line 21 under the control of the control unit 2. It operates so that communication can be performed between the center and the terminal device 1.

Further, when transmitting data from the terminal device 1 to the monitoring center, the telephone line 21 is captured under the control of the control unit 2.

A telephone 23 may be connected to the network control unit 4 via a connection connector 22 such as a modular connector. In this case, the telephone call of the telephone 23 has priority over the communication of the terminal device 1. In some cases, the function may be selected according to the system.

The line monitor 3 also has a function of constantly monitoring the use state of the telephone 23.

Therefore, when the terminal device 1 performs communication, the control unit 2 controls the network control unit 4 after confirming that the telephone 23 is not in use.

When the telephone 23 is in use, the telephone 2
Wait until it detects that use of No. 3 is over.

Further, when priority is given to the telephone 23,
After the terminal device 1 controls the network control unit 4 to capture the telephone line 21, or when the telephone 23 goes off-hook during communication with the monitoring center, the communication of the terminal device 1 is temporarily interrupted. , The use of the telephone 23 is prioritized.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a dial signal transmitting unit. After the network control unit 4 captures the telephone line 21, the dial signal of the monitoring center is transmitted under the control of the control unit 2 in a signal form corresponding to the type of the telephone line 21. I do.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a data transmission / reception unit, which transmits and receives data in a predetermined format under the control of the control unit 2 after the terminal 1 is connected to the monitoring center.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a main power supply connected to each circuit.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a power supply monitoring unit for monitoring the voltage of the main power supply 7. When a voltage lower than a specified voltage is detected, the control unit 2 detects this and determines a voltage drop of the main power supply 7 according to a predetermined procedure. Report information automatically.

A power supply 9 is provided on the insulated secondary side of the meter interface unit 14.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a meter transmitting unit, which is an interface unit for transmitting data to the meter for data, and is controlled insulated from the control unit 2 by a fort coupler or the like.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a meter receiving unit, which is an interface unit for receiving data from the meter, which is insulated from the control unit 2 by a fort coupler or the like and inputted.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a connection portion with the meter, and the terminal device 1 and the meter 13 are connected via a terminal block or the like.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a meter, for example, a gas meter,
A power meter, a water meter, or the like, which can input and output a measured value or internal data with the control unit 2 of the terminal device 1 by means such as communication.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.

When reporting the meter reading of the meter 13 to the monitoring center, the following operation is performed.

Before reporting to the monitoring center, the terminal device 1 communicates with the meter 13 to read and store the meter reading.

In communication with the meter 13, data of a meter reading request specified by the meter 13 is transmitted from the meter transmitter 10 under the control of the controller 2, so that meter reading data is transmitted from the meter 13. This data is input to the control unit 2 via the meter receiving unit 11 and stored.

Next, by the processing of the control unit 2, the line monitoring unit 3 confirms that the telephone 23 is not in use. If the telephone is in use, the telephone waits until the telephone call ends.

When the telephone 23 is not in use, the network controller 4 is controlled to capture the telephone line 21 and dial from the dial signal transmitter 5 to the monitoring center.

When the response of the monitoring center is detected by the data transmission / reception unit 6, the meter reading value of the meter 13 is transmitted from the data transmission / reception unit 6 in data in a predetermined format, and the meter reading value data is transmitted to the monitoring center.

When a response indicating completion of reception is detected from the monitoring center, other data is transmitted and received as necessary, and communication is completed on both sides.

When the response of the reception completion from the monitoring center cannot be detected, the same data is transmitted several times again. When the response of the reception completion cannot be detected even after transmitting the prescribed number of times, the communication is temporarily terminated. I do. Then, according to the rules,
Dial the monitoring center again and send the data.

Although not directly described in the present embodiment, the terminal device 1 may have a connection portion to which various sensors such as a gas leak alarm device can be connected in addition to the meter 13.

FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration of one embodiment of the meter interface section 14. As shown in FIG.

The power source 9 uses a lithium battery, and supplies the power to the meter transmitting unit 10 and the meter receiving unit 11.

The meter transmitting section 10 includes a photocoupler 101 which is an insulating element, resistors 102 and 104, and a transistor 103 with a built-in resistor.

The meter receiving section 11 includes a photocoupler 105 as an insulating element, a transistor 106, and a resistor 10
7 to 111.

With the above configuration, the following operation is performed.

When transmitting data "0" to the meter 13, the output port MOUT is set to "1".

When transmitting "1" data, the output port MOUT is set to "0".

When receiving data from the meter 13, if “0” is input to the input port MIN, the data of the meter is “1”. If “1” is input to the input port MIN, the data of the meter 13 is output. Processing is performed assuming that the data is "0".

These inputs and outputs are all controlled by the control unit 2 according to a processing procedure created in advance.

Here, in this circuit configuration, since the meter transmitting section 10 and the meter receiving section 11 are connected in the secondary side circuit of the meter interface section 14, "1" is applied to the meter 13. When outputting data, “0” is input to the input port MIN. However, in this case, the battery 9 can supply a normal voltage.

When the battery 9 is depleted and a predetermined voltage cannot be supplied, the input port MIN is input when data “1” is output to the meter 13.

The communication data format of the meter 13 is as follows.
It has the following configuration.

[0058]

The mark signal has a role of a start signal that data comes from now on, and corresponds to the data of “1”. In the case of the gas meter, when transmitting from the terminal device 1 to the meter 13, the regulation is about 150 ms. is there.

The space signal has the role of an end signal and corresponds to data of "0".

Therefore, when data is output from the terminal device 1 to the meter 13, the input port MIN is monitored at the same time as the output of the mark signal, and the transmission time of the mark signal is compared with the received "0" input time. Thus, the state of the battery can be determined.

That is, if the transmission time of the mark signal is equal to the input time of the received “0”, the battery is normal,
When the time of the received “0” input is “0” or almost equal to “0”, it can be determined that the battery is low and cannot be used.

Further, when the time of the input of "0" received is clearly shorter than the transmission time of the mark signal, the battery reaches the end of its service life because the battery voltage is reduced by flowing the load current. It can be determined that it is just before.

As described above, when communicating with the meter 13, the state of the battery 9 can be monitored.

FIG. 3 is an operation flow showing the above operation procedure.

At (A), a mark signal at the start of communication with the meter 13 is output.

In (B), the mark counter for counting the output time of the mark signal and the input counter for counting the time when the input state is "0" are reset. In (C), the base time of the timer and the counter is determined. In this case, 5 ms is set.

From (D) onward, the process is performed every time the set 5 ms elapses, and here the mark counter is updated.

In (E), a feedback input for the mark signal output to the meter 13 is read.

In (F), the state of the read feedback input is determined, and if "0", which is a normal state, is input,
In (G), the input counter is updated. If the input is not “0”, the process proceeds to (H) without updating the input counter.

In (H), in the portion for monitoring the output time of the mark signal, the process proceeds to (I) when the output of the prescribed time has been completed, and returns to (C) if not completed, and repeats the same processing. The mark signal is output for a specified time.

In (I) and thereafter, in the portion for determining the input time, for example, when the input counter value is 0 to 2, it is determined that the battery is dead (battery abnormality).

In this case, even if the data is sent to the meter 13, the communication is not possible, so the data is not sent to the meter 13.

In (J), when the input counter value is (mark counter) to (mark counter 2), it is determined that the battery 9 is normal, and thereafter, data transmission to the meter 13 is started.

In (J), if the input counter value is not (mark counter) to (mark counter 2), the battery 9
Is determined to be near the end of its life, and data transmission to the meter 13 is started thereafter.

In the above processing, the input counter is compared with the mark sending time.
Even if the time is limited to a certain time, for example, the determination can be made based on ms.

[0077]

As described above, according to the present invention, the state of the battery provided insulated can be monitored by communicating with the meter.

According to the present invention, no additional components are required for monitoring the state of the battery, and thus no cost increase due to the additional components is involved.

Further, since the state of the battery is monitored indirectly but in a hardware manner, it is possible to monitor an initial failure of the battery alone or a battery having a small capacity.

In a general system of this type, the terminal device generally communicates with the meter once a day at a predetermined time to check the operation of the meter. Since the battery is monitored once a day, an abnormality can be detected early.

In addition to normal or abnormal, it is possible to determine that the battery life is near, and the battery life can be known in advance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data terminal device showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a meter interface unit of the data terminal device showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a data terminal device showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 terminal device 2 control unit 3 line monitoring unit 4 network control unit 5 dial signal transmission unit 6 data transmission / reception unit 7 main power supply 8 power supply monitoring unit 9 power supply 10 meter transmission unit 11 meter reception unit 13 meter 14 meter interface unit 21 telephone line 23 Telephone

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Hideaki Kitagawa 3-1, Shinjyuoji, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba F-term in Hitachi Home Tech Co., Ltd. (reference) 2F073 AA06 AB02 AB14 BB09 BC01 CC01 EE11 GG01 GG02 5K048 AA00 BA36 DC07 EA14 EB03 EB10 FC01 HA04 HA11 HA34 HA37 5K101 KK12 LL01 NN38 NN41

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A meter (1) using a telephone line (21).
3) a terminal device (1) for collecting information, a control unit (2) of the terminal device (1), and a meter interface unit (14) for transmitting and receiving data to and from a meter (13). Are electrically insulated and connected, and a power source (9) is provided on the side of the meter interface (14) that is insulated from the controller (2), and a meter transmitter (10) for transmitting data to the meter (13). ) And a meter receiving unit (11) for receiving data from the meter (13) such that data transmitted from the terminal device (1) is fed back from the meter receiving unit (11). A data terminal device for comparing data transmitted from 1) with data fed back by said data and monitoring the state of said power supply (9).