JP2008148045A - Wireless meter-reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless meter-reading device that allows a user to confirm states of occurrence, when an operational error occurs, such as its timing, the place of occurrence, failure contents so as to achieve an early solution for the problem and higher efficiency in installation construction work in automatic meter-reading via radio waves. <P>SOLUTION: A terminal network controller/wireless master unit 60 is used not only as a terminal network controller connected to a center-side device via an information network such as a telephone line but also as a wireless master unit wire-connected to the terminal network controller. One or more wireless slave units can communicate with the terminal network controller/wireless master unit. The wireless slave unit is wire-connected with terminal equipment such as a meter and security equipment. The terminal network controller/wireless master unit 60 or the wireless slave unit is provided with a UART circuit part 48 that converts data, generated by detecting an operating state of the terminal network controller/wireless master unit or that of the wireless slave unit, into a series format. The converted detection data is transmitted to external equipment through the UART circuit part 48 for analysis. It is possible to reproduce an operational error of the wireless meter-reading device by inputting a control signal through the UART circuit part 48. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is connected to a center side device using a telephone line and performs a no-ringing communication with the center side device and a terminal network control device / wireless master device (hereinafter abbreviated as “combined master device”), The present invention relates to a wireless meter reading device that includes a wireless slave connected to a meter such as LP gas, city gas, water supply, and electricity, and is intended to perform automatic meter reading.

  The present applicant has previously filed a patent application for a no-ringing communication system to which a conventional terminal network control device is applied (Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-009986). In the no-ringing communication system, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the host side device 1 and the center side network control device 2 are connected via the telephone line 13 in the center side device, and in the terminal side device installed in the consumer. The terminal network control device 6 is configured by connecting a terminal device such as an LP gas meter 7, a city gas meter 8, a water meter 9, a power meter 10, a security device 11, a contact device 55, and the home telephone 12. The center side network control device 2 and the terminal network control device 6 are connected as a telephone line network through a telephone line 13 with a center side switching center 3 and a terminal side switching center 4 having a no-ringing trunk 5 interposed therebetween. ing.

  In such a configuration, data transmission by no-ringing communication is performed between the center side device and the terminal side device, and an automatic meter reading such as the LP gas meter 7 from the host device 1 or an abnormality from the security device 11 due to the terminal call. Notification (for example, gas leak) is performed.

  During no-ringing communication, by detecting off-hook of the home telephone 12 by the no-ringing trunk 5, the terminal network control device 6 can perform communication without disconnecting the home telephone 12 from the telephone line 13. On the other hand, in the case of a terminal call, normally, the home phone 12 is disconnected from the telephone line 13 to prevent the bell of the home phone 12 from resonating and at the same time, the off-hook detection of the home phone 12 is performed.

  Since these terminal-side devices are installed in consumers, for example, ordinary households, it is necessary to perform installation work of the terminal-side devices in each home. In this case, for example, when the installation place is a condominium, an apartment house, etc., when wiring is performed between the terminal network control device 6 and the terminal device such as the meter 7, it is necessary to make a hole in the wall.

  If a method of transmitting and receiving data by radio waves instead of wiring is adopted, wiring work between the terminal network control device and the meter is not necessary. FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram in which wireless communication is applied between the wireless master device 60 on the terminal network control device side and the wireless slave device 14 on the terminal device side. In FIG. As a system configuration, a single wireless slave device 14 or a plurality of wireless slave devices (1) 14, wireless slave devices (2) 15... And wireless slave device (N) 16 are provided for one wireless master device 60. (Hereinafter, both cases are collectively referred to as “wireless slave unit 14”). The wireless master device 60 and the wireless slave device 14 can wirelessly communicate with each other by confirming the personal identification number in the initial setting operation after factory shipment. In wireless communication, the function of wireless transmission / reception varies greatly depending on the conditions of the installation location and the surrounding electromagnetic environment.

  FIG. 12 is a communication sequence for performing meter reading of a gas meter between a conventional wireless master unit and slave units. In the conventional product, since the status display signal at the time of communication operation is not sent to the outside, the operation confirmation is only performed by receiving a radio signal with a radio receiver and confirming the communication telegram as voice. Also, in communication over a telephone line, the signal on the telephone line has only been confirmed with an oscilloscope or as sound with an audio amplifier. In FIG. 12, the status display at the time of communication operation is not performed. However, the status display is related to the mismatch of ID signals (values for which the wireless port ID is not appropriate), the meter reading request message mismatch (messages other than the determined message). Port selection mismatch (port selection message is not appropriate), meter reading data not responding (no response due to disconnection, etc.), meter reading data value mismatch (values other than numbers etc. are included in meter reading data).

  However, in installation work, depending on the installation location, the frequency actually used may not be able to be transmitted / received due to noise from other sources. In this case, it is determined for what reason and at what timing the malfunction occurs. May not be possible. Also, if communication causes an error after installation work, it is difficult to distinguish whether the problem is occurring in the wireless communication part, telephone line, or center side, and the error is only once. There is a problem that it is difficult to grasp the essence of the error occurrence, including whether it is a phenomenon or how many times it has occurred.

  Therefore, in automatic meter reading via wireless, even if wireless transmission and reception, telephone line transmission and reception malfunction, the efficiency of installation work, problem solving, confirmation of meter reading information, contact information It is possible to confirm whether the wireless side or the telephone line side is confirmed using a dedicated jig, and there is a problem to be solved in that it contributes to shortening of wiring and function confirmation.

  The object of the present invention is to make it possible to confirm the timing of occurrence of an operation error in the automatic meter reading via wireless, the occurrence location on the wireless side or the telephone line side, the occurrence status of defective contents, etc. It is to provide a wireless meter-reading device that can achieve early solution of the problem and efficiency of installation work.

  In order to solve the above problems, a wireless meter reading device according to the present invention is connected to a center side device via an information network such as a telephone line, a mobile phone, and a PHS, and is connected to the terminal network control device by wire. A terminal network control device / wireless master device also serving as a wireless master device, one or more wireless slave devices capable of wireless communication with the terminal network control device / wireless master device, and a meter or security wired to the wireless slave device In a wireless meter reading device configured by a terminal device such as a device, the terminal network control device / wireless master device and the wireless slave device convert the data in which the operation status is detected into a serial format, and for confirmation It is characterized by including a UART circuit unit capable of transmitting detection data after conversion to a connected external device.

  According to this wireless meter reading device, in the wireless master device and the wireless slave device that also serve as the terminal network control device, data determined by the wireless meter reading device as an operation error is transmitted from the UART circuit unit to an external device connected for confirmation. It is possible to analyze the occurrence status in external equipment. When a display device is provided, an operation error can be displayed as a fault message. In addition to confirming the contents of the malfunctions in communications during normal installation in installation work, the communication status on the telephone line side is also confirmed. Furthermore, by transmitting a control telegram that causes a problem from an external device to the wireless meter-reading device, it is possible to reproduce the error occurrence state and contribute to an improvement in problem solving efficiency. It is also possible to monitor for temporary or long-term problems.

  The wireless meter reading device according to the present invention has an advantage of being able to analyze the contents of a problem in solving a problem during actual operation at the time of site installation or in long-term field verification, and is effective in solving the problem. In addition, there is an advantage that the telephone line can be confirmed without the cooperation of the center side. If the wireless meter reading is defective, the error operation can be reproduced multiple times by sending a control signal from an external device connected for confirmation. It is possible to easily check the communication operation for the timing and the error occurrence place of the wired part or the wireless part, and to narrow down the problem more quickly. As a result, the efficiency of the installation work, the problem solution, the meter reading information It can be confirmed and can contribute to shortening of wiring and function confirmation.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a wireless meter reading device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The system configuration of the wireless meter reading device according to the present invention is a wireless master device that is also used as the terminal network control device in FIG. 11 described in the section of “Prior art” (hereinafter referred to as “wireless master device”). It is basically the same as the system configuration diagram to which 60 and the wireless slave unit 14 are applied. Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted again.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the wireless master device 60 used in the wireless meter reading device according to the present invention. For wireless transmission / reception performed with the wireless slave unit, the wireless control circuit unit 20 performs processing such as transmission / reception of radio waves, error control, etc., and the wireless module unit 19 performs amplification / modulation / demodulation of radio waves, carrier sense, etc. And transmitting and receiving radio waves from the antenna 18 to the wireless slave units 14 to 16 by controlling transmission and reception of radio waves in accordance with the Radio Law. An RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) circuit portion 47 is a portion for confirming the wireless strength by outputting a DC voltage during wireless reception. These are all input data or output data in the microcomputer unit 21. The display circuit unit 40 turns on the LED 39 to indicate the state of the wireless master device 60. The LED 39 includes a power lamp, a cut-off lamp, and an edge lamp. The edge circuit unit 46 is a circuit unit for parent-child recognition with the wireless slave units 14 to 16. By simultaneously pressing the edge switch of the wireless master device 60 and the edge switch of each wireless slave device, the wireless master device 60 and the wireless slave device recognize each other by a wireless signal based on the operation of the edge circuit unit 46. Thereafter, wireless transmission / reception becomes possible.

  As a configuration of the power supply unit, power is supplied to each unit from the AC adapter unit 38 through the power supply circuit unit 36. In the case of a power failure or disconnection of the AC adapter 38, the power switch 34 of the battery 35 is turned on by a signal from the power failure detection circuit 37, and power is supplied to each part through the DC / DC power supply circuit unit 33. . The power-off unit 44 is for preventing the current of the battery 35 from flowing when power is supplied from the AC adapter unit 38 to each unit. The battery voltage detection unit 45 determines whether or not the voltage of the battery 35 is appropriate in an appropriate load state. Note that the basic data content (default value or set value) of the wireless master device 60 is stored in the EEPROM of the storage unit 41, so that the content is maintained even if the operation is terminated due to a power failure.

  The telephone line on the exchange side is connected to the line modular jack 22. In order to improve the lightning resistance, a lightning protection circuit portion 23 is provided on the telephone line side. The off-hook detection unit 24 is a block for detecting the off-hook of the home phone 12 (FIG. 5) or itself. The circuit of the off-hook detection unit 24 does not collide with the in-home telephone 12 and can confirm its own off-hook operation.

  The home phone 12 is connected to a home modular jack 26. The wireless master device 60 confirms by the off-hook detection unit 24 that a general user is not using the home phone 12, and then calls the center side to communicate with the center. If the general user uses the home telephone 12 while the radio cell phone 60 is communicating with the center, the home telephone busy detection unit 27 works to disconnect the communication so that the general user can use the home telephone 12. When the off-hook detection unit 24 detects that the use of the home telephone 12 by a general user is finished, the wireless master device 60 resumes communication with the center again.

  The anti-polarity detection unit 25 detects a gentle reverse of the telephone line (reducing the voltage change in time so that the voltage change of the telephone line does not ring the telephone bell) and operates with the NRS detection circuit unit 30. Thus, it is determined whether or not the host device 1 has selected itself. The NRS detection circuit unit is a no-ringing reception signal detection circuit unit, which maintains a telephone line impedance within a limited range and simultaneously receives a signal from an exchange. The polar detection unit 25 also detects a ringer signal on the telephone line, and a part of the signal is also supplied to the pre-ringer signal detection circuit unit 28, which can be used for the L-mode communication home telephone 12. The loop circuit unit 29 is a circuit for off-hooking when a terminal is called, and is also a circuit for dial pulses.

  The half-loop circuit unit 31 is a part for maintaining impedance during no-ringing communication. The modem circuit unit 32 is a part of a modem that generates a touch-tone dial signal using a DTMF signal and performs FM communication during terminal communication or no-ringing communication. The security interface unit 42 is an interface unit of a device with the outside of the wireless master device 60. A JIS 7-bit device is connected here.

  The function of the maintenance call circuit unit 54 of the wireless master device 60 is a function of periodically communicating with the registered wireless slave device with respect to the host device 1 and has experienced normal responses in the past. If there is no response during communication, it has a function to make a call. The RSSI circuit unit 47 outputs a DC voltage corresponding to the wireless strength. The timer unit 53 is where time information of the wireless master device 60 is obtained. A UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter) circuit unit 48 that converts data in parallel format into serial format is a part of a modem interface (so-called RS232C) for asynchronous communication with an external device. The reset circuit unit 43 is a reset of a microcomputer (hereinafter, abbreviated as “microcomputer” unless otherwise specified) that returns the set value to the default.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the wireless slave device 14 shown in FIG. 5 according to the present invention. A description of the same part as the wireless master device 60 is omitted. The meter / contact interface unit 49 is a connection part of a 5-bit meter or contact device 55. The difference between the present invention and the prior art is that, in the UART circuit unit 48, a part of an interface for modem (so-called RS232C) for asynchronous communication with an external device is added, and a filter (extracting a faulty message) is sent when sending a message. It is to have established. This filter on the microcomputer side does not send a normal message that is not an error, but only a message that is indicated as an error. If both a normal message and an error message are sent, the receiving side (display side) needs to determine again whether it is normal or not, and it takes time to extract the error message. Therefore, by not sending a normal message on the microcomputer side, the time for extracting an error message on the display side can be saved, and the failure message can be analyzed at an early stage, which is efficient.

  FIG. 1 is a detailed view of a UART circuit unit 48 used in the wireless meter reading device according to the present invention. A protection resistor and a diode are inserted from the communication microcomputer port of the microcomputer unit 21 via a buffer IC (IC100), and a signal is connected to a 7-pin connector. This 7-pin connector is a 7-pin connector male that is installed on the back side of the wireless master device 60 shown in FIG. 2 (see the connector labeled “UART”) and has no polarity and erroneous insertion. Similarly, the same connector is arranged inside the wireless slave shown in FIG. 3 with the lid opened (see the connector having the “UART” display). The voltage level of this connector is output at a TTL (transistor / transistor logic) level. This can be confirmed when a dedicated transceiver operating at the TTL level is connected. The “TTL level” is a voltage range in which the microcomputer can recognize a low level or a high level. The input level of RS232C is too larger than this, and the microcomputer may be damaged. There is a situation that the output level of the microcomputer is too low on the + side and too high on the-side compared to the level of RS232C.

  As for the general-purpose RS232C level, an interface circuit as shown in (2) of FIG. 1 and a Dsub 9-pin male connector are connected to the PC 80, which is an external device connected for confirmation. Can be built. The addition of the asynchronous communication modem interface (so-called RS232C) in the UART circuit section 48 indicates this interface portion. By adding this dedicated connector, signals can be sent to and received from external devices such as the PC 80 during normal communication operations, except during standby in the operation mode where power consumption is set to a minimum for both the wireless master unit and slave units. be able to.

  In this wireless meter-reading apparatus, a configuration for extracting only a failure signal, which is used as a means for grasping the operation status of the wireless master device and the slave device, will be described. As shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. 8, the wireless master unit and the slave unit determine whether the received signal is acceptable or not in each microcomputer unit, and pass the message as it is if it is a normal message. The malfunction message is sent from the UART circuit unit 48 (see FIGS. 1, 6, and 7) to an external device such as the personal computer 80. As an example of “no problem message”, in the case of a message transmitted from the exchange to the parent machine, if the ID in the wireless port ID + meter reading request matches the ID registered in the parent machine, the message is not a problem. . In addition, as an example of a “failed message”, in the case of a message transmitted from the exchange to the parent machine, if the ID in the wireless port ID + meter reading request does not match the ID registered in the parent machine, an ID mismatch and a problem There is a telegram. In addition to this, the electronic message with the matter mentioned as the relation of the situation display mentioned above is targeted as a defective electronic message. That is, definitions of messages that do not match ID, messages that are not defined as a meter reading request and that are not defined, messages that do not match due to incorrect port selection, messages that do not have a meter reading data response, messages that have a wrong meter reading data value, etc. Other than that, a message that contains character data in spite of numeric data, or wireless transmission, but if there is no response, wireless transmission is not possible (interference with other wireless) or In addition, there may be a time-out in which an end message is not sent indefinitely. When the microcomputer performs a transmission / reception operation, the filter performed on the microcomputer side at the time of message transmission described above is applied to determine whether the message is normal or error. Only messages that are indicated as errors are sent out. An error message is flagged in the microcomputer unit, but since this flag cannot be confirmed from the outside, error flag information is transmitted to the outside, and the situation is determined in the external device.

  For all electronic messages, as shown in FIG. 9, a multi-digit processing number is defined by a combination of numbers and alphabets. A normal received message is composed (not shown) of processing type, port number, other data, NCU management information, NCU status, NCU timer value, error correction, and the like. Based on the contents of the message, the occurrence time, the message processing type, and the contents of the trouble are encoded and stored in the storage unit 41 (storage element EEPROM) for a non-regulated (other than definition) message.

  By transmitting the same message as the center from the personal computer 80 to the wireless base unit, the personal computer 80 can operate the wireless base unit in place of the center and check the operations of the slave unit, the meter, and the like. . For example, if an incorrect wireless port ID is transmitted to the wireless master device, it is an unspecified message, so the wireless master device transmits an ID mismatch code to the personal computer 80 as shown in FIG. If the meter reading request message for the meter is incorrect, the meter reading request message error is transmitted to the personal computer 80 because it is an unspecified message. Although the default of the microcomputer is only to send a message of the contents of the defect, all the received messages can be transmitted to the external device by transmitting the control message from the external device to the microcomputer. An example of the above operation confirmation will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 8, a message received by the master unit from the telephone line includes “wireless port ID + meter reading request”. For example, “ID mismatch” Regarding the “send code”, when the ID defined in the parent device is 12345678901234, if the ID of the message content from the center (via the exchange) is sent as 12345678901212, the last two digits do not match. At this time, the master unit recognizes the ID mismatch and transmits this error to the personal computer. In addition, when the wireless port ID is sent from the center and the meter reading value request message is A1234, or when the parent device receives a message other than A1234, the “meter reading value request” Recognize that “send message error” and send this error.

  By connecting a notebook-type personal computer 80 or the like as an external device, these data are stored during communication and transmitted to the external device as serial transmission / reception data that is an output form of the UART circuit 48. FIG. 10 shows two defect contents as display examples for each of the wireless master unit and the slave unit. Since the wireless master unit and the slave unit output a list of text data, they are translated and displayed on the personal computer 80 for easy interpretation. As shown in the figure, by displaying the wireless communication time, the processing type, and the trouble content by item, it becomes obvious to the operator what is the problem and what is wrong with the communication.

  In this wireless meter reading device, a communication error reproduction operation using a control signal from the personal computer 80 or the like will be described. The wired telephone unit (the portion from the line modular jack 22 to the home content modular jack 26 shown in FIG. 6) is a wired circuit unit related to the telephone regardless of the wireless connection. As confirmation, for example, by setting a regular meter reading time as serial transmission / reception data, meter reading information can be communicated to the center at the set time. If any trouble occurs during communication with the center, it is output by the UART circuit section 48, so that an error can be confirmed by monitoring this. At the time of communication, serial transmission / reception data is only the content of the failure (that is, the time when the error occurred, the content code, and various flag contents), so it is not confused with normal data and the failure content can be found very early. can do.

  It is time consuming to check with continuous waves at all the installation locations, that is, to transmit radio continuously from the base unit and receive the radio at the handset side and check the RSSI value. And At first glance, if it turns out that the radio arrives, it is easy to detect and organize data by adopting digital data, so that it is possible to save the trouble of confirming with a continuous wave. The present invention is particularly effective in such a case. Confirmation with an oscilloscope or an audio monitor results in a mixture of market name data contents and other data contents, and it is difficult to detect errors in 1-bit units. When a defect content is detected, the personal computer 80 or the like can transmit a control message that is supposed to be caused by the content to the microcomputer as serial transmission / reception data, thereby confirming the communication status multiple times. That is, since the microcomputer samples and processes the RSSI value, it naturally outputs an averaged value. In actual wireless measurement, noise may suddenly enter from the outside, and the data tends to be uneven if it is an analog device, so the digitally averaged value is more stable.

  Next, voltage level conversion by an external device in this wireless meter reading device will be described. A configuration as shown in (1) and (2) of FIG. 1 is adopted in order to suppress current consumption in the wireless master device and the wireless slave device, or to simplify the circuit and suppress an increase in price. . It is possible to change the RS232C interface conditions and maintain the communication function of RS232C. The part of FIG. 1 (2) is a part that is not always required as a control signal. This part is necessary when a problem occurs, at the time of initial setting, at the time of replacement, etc., and is a circuit part that is not always necessary for the wireless master unit or the wireless slave unit, but the configuration is changed after separation. This leads to cost reduction of the product and occupies a large weight in mass production.

  The external device such as the notebook personal computer 80 connected to the wireless master device and the wireless slave device is not at the level of the signal RS232C in FIG. 1 (1) but at a so-called TTL level. If it is a special personal computer, RS232C communication operation may be possible even at TTL level (operation can be confirmed by connecting), but in order to have versatility, a conversion function from TTL level to RS232C level is provided. It is given by the part (2) in FIG. That is, even if a level exceeding the microcomputer input level enters from RTS, the level is absorbed by Q200, and the collector output of the transistor inputs a level that matches the input level of the microcomputer. Further, since the RS232C driver is in a normal standby state (operation with low power consumption), it does not operate until a signal is input. For this reason, the connection detection circuit by the transistor Q200 separately detects that an external signal has been connected, and a reliable operation is performed.

  Next, the influence of noise in the level conversion unit regarding voltage level conversion in the wireless meter reading device will be described. In FIG. 1, the connection wiring (straight cable) 70 of the connection connector used for connection with the personal computer 80 which is an external device shown at the rightmost end of the connector is long enough to ignore the influence of noise, for example, about 1.5 m or more. is there. Usually, when there is a liquid crystal screen display for a notebook personal computer, a small amount of wireless noise is emitted from here. Since the wireless master device and the wireless slave device have high reception sensitivity, this noise affects the wireless communication between the wireless master device and the slave device. Considering the wiring path and length, the noise of the personal computer can be reduced, and there is an advantage that it is not necessary to use expensive shielded wires. In addition, a 7-pole connector with polarity is used to prevent erroneous insertion.

  Furthermore, a long-term monitor in this wireless meter reading device will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, since the level of RS232C can be secured separately as this application, an RS232C-USB interface circuit (general-purpose RS232C / USB conversion circuit and power supply circuit) is further added to this. General-purpose control can be performed. By connecting the USB memory 90 to this interface circuit as a long-term signal monitoring function, the contents of the transmitted / received signal can be grasped over a long period of time. In addition, when a communication error occurs, the content of the error signal stored in the memory is analyzed, so that the telegram error occurred on the wireless transmission / reception side, the telephone line (wired) side, or the center side Can be separated, and the problem can be solved.

  In FIG. 4, SW200 is a connection detection switch. In this case, since connection detection is always input, wireless noise input can also be detected. That is, even if a wireless input is made, if a legitimate ID cannot be read, it is counted as an ID mismatch. If there is always noise in the vicinity, it will also serve as a noise counter, so it is suitable as a place to install the wireless base unit and handset (need to be installed in a place free from noise based on the Radio Law). It can be determined whether or not. In addition, since the analysis of the communication contents shows what kind of communication trouble occurs frequently, the reliability can be further improved by improving the setting of the communication time in accordance with the contents.

It is a figure which shows the interface of the UART (RS232C) circuit part of the wireless meter-reading apparatus by this invention, and a personal computer. It is a figure which shows a UART circuit part by the external appearance of the wireless main | base station of this invention. It is a figure which shows a UART circuit part by the external appearance of the radio | wireless subunit | mobile_unit of this invention. It is a figure which shows the interface of the UART (RS232C) circuit part and USB memory of the wireless meter-reading apparatus by this invention. 1 is a system diagram of a wireless meter reading device according to the present invention. It is a block diagram of a terminal network control device and a wireless master device of the wireless meter reading device according to the present invention. It is a block diagram of the wireless slave unit by this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of communication with respect to 5 bit type | system | group port (propane gas meter) by this invention. It is a figure which shows the process number example of a message | telegram. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a malfunction message | telegram. It is a system diagram of a conventional automatic meter reading device. It is a figure which shows the example of communication with respect to the 5-bit system port (propane gas meter) of a conventional product.

Explanation of symbols

1: Host device 2: Center side network control device 3: Center side switching center 4: Terminal side switching center 5: No ringing trunk 6: Terminal network control device and wireless master unit 7: LP gas meter 8: City gas meter 9: Water meter 10: Power meter 11: Security device 12: Home phone 13: Telephone line 14: Wireless handset 1
15: Wireless handset 2 16: Wireless handset N
18: Antenna 19: Radio module unit 20: Radio control circuit unit 21: Microcomputer unit 22: Modular jack for line 23: Lightning protection circuit unit 24: Off-hook detection unit 25: Polarity detection unit 26: Modular jack for home 27: In-home Telephone busy detection unit 28: Pre-ringer detection unit 29: Loop circuit unit 30: NRS detection circuit unit 31: Half loop circuit unit 32: Modem circuit unit 33: DC / DC power supply circuit unit 34: Power switch unit 35: Battery 36 : Power supply circuit unit 37: Power failure detection unit 38: AC adapter unit 39: LED unit 40: Display circuit unit 41: Memory (EEPROM) unit 42: Security interface unit 43: Reset circuit unit 44: Power off unit 45: Battery voltage detection Unit 46: edge circuit unit 47: RSSI circuit unit 48: UART circuit unit 49: meter / contact Point interface unit 53: Timer unit 54: Maintenance calling circuit unit 60: Wireless master unit 70: Connection wiring (straight cable)
80: PC (external device)
90: USB memory SW100: connection detection switches Q200, R200, R201: connection detection transistors D100 to D107, D200: protection diodes RP1, RP2: protection resistors

Claims (6)

A terminal network control device and a wireless master device that serve both as a terminal network control device connected to the center side device via an information network such as a telephone line, a mobile phone, and a PHS, and a wireless master device wired to the terminal network control device In the wireless meter reading device constituted by one or more wireless slave devices capable of wireless communication with the terminal network control device and the wireless master device, and terminal devices such as meters and security devices wired to the wireless slave device,
The terminal network controller / wireless master unit and the wireless slave unit can convert data detected in their operation status into a serial format and transmit the converted detection data to an external device connected for confirmation. A wireless meter reading device comprising a UART circuit unit.   The UART circuit unit is transmitted with a signal of the operation status when a failure occurs in the terminal network controller / wireless master unit or the wireless slave unit, and the external device receives the signal received through the UART circuit unit. The wireless meter reading device according to claim 1, wherein the operation status is displayed on a display device based on the received signal, and the received signal is transmitted to a UART circuit unit.   A control signal for controlling the terminal network controller / wireless master unit, the wireless slave unit, or the terminal device is transmitted from the external device to the UART circuit unit to reproduce a communication error, and the external device is connected to the UART circuit. 3. The wireless meter reading according to claim 2, wherein the communication error occurrence state can be analyzed by receiving a signal about an operation condition such as an occurrence location and an occurrence timing of the communication error transmitted from a unit. apparatus.   4. The UART circuit unit is configured at a TTL level of an asynchronous communication modem (so-called RS232C), and voltage level conversion to the asynchronous communication modem is performed by a configuration on the external device side. The wireless meter reading device described.   The connection to the conversion unit that performs the voltage level conversion includes a power source, a transmission signal, a reception signal, a control signal, and a ground, the connection connector has a 7-pin configuration with polarity, and the length of the connection line is The wireless meter-reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the wireless meter-reading apparatus is secured to a certain length that is not affected by noise from the display device.   2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein said UART circuit unit is connected to a storage means such as a USB memory which is transmitted as a log and can store transmission / reception operation data over a long period of time in order to check a wireless environment. Meter reading device.

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