JP3280957B2 - Automatic meter reading system, data collection device and meter device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic meter reading system, a data collection device, and a meter device for intensively reading measurement data of meters such as water supply, electricity, gas, etc. installed in each house or the like at a remote point. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various methods are conceivable for an automatic meter reading system of a meter, and some methods have already been implemented. A typical example is a centralized meter reading system in an apartment house. In this system, the water meter of each house is connected to a meter reading device installed in one place with a transmission cable,
The measurement data of each meter is collected by the meter reading device. As another example, there is also known a system in which a central device collects measurement data of each meter through a subscriber telephone line.

[0003]

In the case of an apartment house,
It is possible to efficiently implement a system that connects each meter and data collection device with a transmission cable, and by incorporating an automatic meter reading system when building a building, it is very reasonable without damaging the appearance with cables. is there. However, if this system is applied to a group of individual houses that are constructed from time to time, the wiring work for the transmission cable will be very large and the cost will increase, and in addition, there will be problems such as the aesthetic appearance being impaired due to the cable wiring. is there. Further, in the case of a system for collecting meter measurement data at a center using a subscriber telephone network, wiring work for connecting each meter to the telephone line is required, and an NCU for controlling connection of the telephone network is required. (Network control unit) must be provided in the transmission device of each meter, which increases costs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its object is to easily carry out wiring work for an existing house without performing wiring work, and to change radio wave conditions for wireless communication. An automatic meter reading system, a data collection device, and a meter device that can prevent occurrence of a situation in which measurement data cannot be collected due to inability to communicate as a result of collecting data at a usual place for a certain meter device. Is to provide.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has a meter device attached to a system to be measured and a data collection device for collecting measurement data from a large number of meter devices. The data collection device has a wireless transceiver coupled to each other by a wireless transmission path, and the meter device transmits an identification number to the data collection device when receiving a start signal transmitted from the data collection device, Based on the received identification number, the collection device collects the measurement data and the failure content of the meter device in a polling method with respect to the meter device, and when the failure content is detected as a result of the state check, the identification number of the meter device and the failure are collected. The contents are displayed. Further, the present invention is used for an automatic meter reading system having a meter device attached to a measurement target system and a data collection device for collecting measurement data from a large number of meter devices, wherein the meter device and a wireless transmission path are used. A transmitting / receiving means for transmitting an activation signal to the meter device, and an identification number transmitted from the meter device based on the activation signal transmitted from the transmitting device. Receiving means for receiving,
Means for collecting the measurement data and the failure content of the meter device in a polling manner based on the identification number received by the receiving device in a polling manner; It is characterized in that it has means for displaying the identification number of the meter device and the content of the failure when it is performed.

[0005] The present invention relates to an automatic meter reading system having a meter device attached to a measurement target system and a data collection device for collecting measurement data from a large number of meter devices. Transmitting means for transmitting an identification number of the device when receiving an activation signal transmitted from the data collection device, and a polling signal from the data collection device. And a means for transmitting measurement data of the meter device and details of the failure when the data is received.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a meter device attached to a water supply, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control unit built in the meter device. In FIG. 1, water enters from the right side, rotates an impeller 2 attached to an impeller shaft 1, and exits to the left. A magnet 3 is mounted on the upper part of the impeller shaft 1, and the rotation of the impeller 2 is
And the magnetic sensor 4 opposing the detection. The signal line of the sensor 4 is connected to the control board 5, the rotation detection signal is counted by an electric circuit (powered by the battery 6) on the control board 5, and an integrated value corresponding to the flow rate of water is stored. . The antenna 7 is provided for transmitting and receiving data. In FIG.
The output signal of the sensor 4 is pre-processed by a sensor output unit 10 in the electric circuit on the control board 5, the rotation detection unit 11 determines whether the rotation is forward or reverse, and an addition or subtraction pulse is added to the integration circuit unit 12
Send to The integrated value is stored in the integrating circuit unit 12 and simultaneously displayed on the display unit 13, and can be transmitted to the outside via the transmission data setting unit 14, the transmitting unit 15, and the antenna 7. The external transmission timing is such that an external start signal (polling signal) is transmitted from the antenna 7 to the receiver 1
8 and is performed when the received data determination unit 17 determines the content of the activation signal. Depending on the content of the activation signal, the designated control information is transmitted from the control information unit 16 to the outside via the transmission data setting unit 14 alone or in combination with the integrated value. The control information includes the identification number of the meter,
There is a failure content.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of one embodiment of a handy terminal (data collection device) for collecting an integrated value and control information from a meter. Meter readers use this handy terminal when performing meter reading operations. Handy terminal keyboard (not shown)
The command such as the start of meter reading and the meter identification number can be set in the request data setting unit 21 by using. The command is wirelessly transmitted to the outside via the transmitting unit 20 and the antenna 28. The data transmitted from the meter device enters the receiving unit 23 from the antenna 28, and the content thereof is identified by the received data determining unit 24. Measurement data is stored in the measurement data storage unit 2.
5, and the control information is sent to the request data setting unit 21 and the display unit 22. The measurement data is stored in the meter reading data creation unit 26.
Calculates the monthly usage, and saves it with necessary headings such as a meter identification number and a user name. The stored data can be output from the output unit 27 to an external device (not shown) such as a printer or a floppy (registered trademark) disk. FIG. 4 shows an operation flow when a meter reading operation is performed on the above-mentioned meter device using a handy terminal. Meter readers bring a handy terminal and go to the area where they want to collect measurement data. The measurement is started by operating the keyboard on the handy terminal. When the start signal is transmitted from the handy terminal, the meter device that has received the signal transmits an area and identification signal to the handy terminal. In the handy terminal, a communicable area is displayed on the display unit 22 based on the received signal. The meter reader sets the designation of the area from the communicable area display using the keyboard (steps 32 and 33). Then, a newer number among the meter identification numbers (ID. NO) in the designated area is displayed (step 34). Therefore, by setting the start of communication with the keyboard, measurement data is transmitted from the designated meter device (steps 35 and 36). When the communication with one meter device is completed (step 37),
The measurement data is stored in the measurement data storage unit 25, and the next ID. Communication with the NO meter device is started (steps 38 to 40). Upon completion of communication with the meter device of the last number in the designated area, a state check is performed (steps 41 and 42). Here, when a communication error check, a decrease in the battery voltage of the meter device, or the like is detected, the ID. ID of the meter device is displayed on the display unit 22 of the handy terminal. NO and the content of the failure are displayed. When the data collection in one area is completed, the communicable area is displayed again, and the data collection of the meter device existing in the next area is performed. When the measurement in all the communicable areas is completed, the meter reader moves to another area to be measured. The collected data is printed out as meter reading data from the output unit 27, and handed to the customer on the spot, transferred to an external device such as a floppy disk device after returning to the office, or directly to a computer via an interface. You can also input.

[0008] With the above-described configuration, the meter reading operation can be performed extremely easily as compared with the conventional method of manually reading meter readers who visit individual houses one by one and read the pointer value of the meter. can do. For example, if a handy terminal as a data collection device is mounted on an automobile, the work efficiency is further improved. By increasing the transmission output of the wireless transceiver built into the meter device and installing a large, sophisticated data collection device, the meter reader can stay in the office and Meter reading can be performed automatically. In particular, compared with the automatic meter reading system that uses transmission cables and subscribed telephone lines that are partially implemented, wiring work is not required, and there is no problem that the aesthetic appearance is impaired by wiring. The automatic meter reading system is economically advantageous.

[0009]

According to the present invention, as described above in detail, according to the present invention, de
From the meter device that received the start signal from the data collection device
It is configured to receive an identification number and perform data collection based on the identification number . Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the state of radio waves for wireless communication changes depending on the new construction of a building or weather conditions, and data cannot be communicated as a result of data collection for a certain meter device at a usual place.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a water meter device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control unit of the meter device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a handy terminal which is a data collection device.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram in the case of performing meter reading using a handy terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 ... Sensor, 5 ... Control board, 6 ... Battery, 7 ... Antenna.

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI H04Q 9/00 311 G08C 17/00 Z (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G08C 13/00-25/04 G01F 1/00 G01F 1/075 G01F 15/06 H04Q 9/00 311

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A meter device attached to a measurement target system,
A data collection device for collecting measurement data from a large number of meter devices, wherein the meter device and the data collection device have a wireless transceiver interconnected by a wireless transmission path, and the meter device is Upon receiving the activation signal transmitted from the data collection device, the identification number is transmitted to the data collection device, and the data collection device polls the meter device based on the received identification number in a polling manner and measures the measurement data of the meter device. An automatic meter reading system which collects the details of the failure and displays the identification number of the meter device and the details of the failure when the failure is detected as a result of the status check. 2. A meter device attached to a measurement target system,
What is used in an automatic meter reading system having a data collection device for collecting measurement data from a large number of meter devices, having a wireless transceiver mutually coupled by a wireless transmission path with the meter device, Transmitting means for transmitting an activation signal to the meter device; receiving means for receiving an identification number transmitted from the meter device based on the activation signal transmitted from the transmitting means; and identification information received by the receiving means. Means for collecting the measurement data of the meter device and the details of the failure in a polling manner with respect to the meter device based on the number, and identifying the meter device when the failure content is detected as a result of a state check after collection by the means; A data collection device having a number and a means for displaying a failure content. 3. A meter device attached to a measurement target system,
For use in an automatic meter reading system having a data collection device for collecting measurement data from a large number of meter devices, comprising a wireless transceiver interconnected with the data collection device and a wireless transmission path. Transmitting means for transmitting an identification number of the device when receiving a start signal transmitted from the data collection device, and transmitting measurement data and failure content of the meter device when receiving a polling signal from the data collection device And a meter device. 4. The automatic meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the failure content is a drop in battery voltage, the data collection device according to claim 2, or the meter device according to claim 3. 5. The automatic meter reading system according to claim 1, further comprising means for outputting the collected measurement data to an external device. 6. The automatic meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the status check is performed when communication with a predetermined meter device is completed. 7. The automatic meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the data collecting device is fixedly installed.