JPH0423309B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a prepaid watt-hour meter. A prepaid electricity meter is used in places where meter reading is difficult or where electricity usage is irregular, in which the consumer purchases a token in advance and supplies the amount of electricity to the consumer according to that amount. be. [Prior Art] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the structure of a conventional prepaid watt-hour meter disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 50-71398. In the figure, 1 is a prepaid watt-hour meter, and 2 is an input terminal thereof, which is connected to a power company's distribution line (not shown). 3 is an output terminal connected to a consumer's load (not shown). 4 is a power metering unit connected to the input terminal 2, 5 is a switch connected between the power metering unit 4 and the output terminal 3, 6 is a control unit, and 7 is a token (not shown) inserted. The acceptance inspection section 8 is a control line that opens and closes the switch 5 according to the output of the control section 6. Its operation will be explained next. When a token is put into the acceptance inspection section 7, the acceptance inspection section 7 judges whether the token is correct, what the corresponding monetary value is, etc., inspects the token, and sends the information to the control section 6.
When information indicating that the token is correct is sent from the acceptance inspection section 7 to the control section 6, the control 6 closes the switch 5 via the control line 8 and supplies power to the consumer via the output terminal 3. The amount of electricity consumed by the consumer is measured by the electricity metering section 4, and a signal is sent to the control section 6 for each unit of electricity consumption, and the control 6 calculates and accumulates the electricity charge for the amount of electricity used. Ru.
When the accumulated power consumption charges reach the amount equivalent to the tokens inserted into the acceptance inspection section 7, the control section 6 opens the switch 5 via the control line 8 to stop the power supply to the consumer. , which supplies electricity equivalent to a certain amount of money to consumers. [Problem to be solved by the invention] However, the current electricity rate system is divided into a two-part rate system, that is, a basic rate based on the contract details and a metered rate that corresponds to the amount of electricity used. , a relatively low charge for the first stage that corresponds to the low consumption that is necessary for daily life, a charge that corresponds to the average cost for the second stage of consumption, and energy conservation for the third stage of consumption that exceeds this. It is divided into relatively high fees due to social demands. The following table shows an example of this two-tiered rate and three-tiered rate system, which includes a basic rate and a metered rate.

[Table] Therefore, like the conventional prepaid electricity meter mentioned above,
There was a problem in that it was not possible to comply with the current rate system by simply supplying the amount of electricity corresponding to the amount of electricity used. This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a prepaid electricity meter that can withstand use even under two-part tariffs, three-tier tariffs, or more complex rate controls. do. [Means for Solving the Problems] A prepaid watt-hour meter according to the present invention connects a clock section having a calendar function and a storage section that stores basic charges and various usage charges to a control section. There is also a switch control means that closes the switch in response to the input of a token into the acceptance inspection section, and a power consumption device that is reset by the application of a monthly signal from the clock section and that accumulates the amount of energy used from the power consumption counter. amount accumulating means, a remaining amount storage means for storing the amount corresponding to the token initially inserted into the acceptance inspection section, and storing the remaining amount after deducting the electricity charge according to the electricity usage; A basic charge deduction means for deducting the basic charge per unit time stored in the storage unit from the remaining amount for each unit time signal from the clock unit, according to the unit power consumption from the power metering unit; for each signal, a unit electricity consumption charge corresponding to the cumulative amount of electricity used by the electricity usage accumulation means, which is stored in the storage unit, is subtracted from the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means. Compare the remaining amount stored in the metered fee withdrawal means and the remaining amount storage means with the deducted unit fee, and when the amount falls below the unit fee, the opening/closing control means opens the switch. The control section is provided with a charge comparison means. [Function] The prepaid watt-hour meter of the present invention calculates the basic value per unit time stored in the storage unit from the amount corresponding to the token inserted in the acceptance inspection unit for each unit time signal from the clock unit. Charges are calculated for each signal from the power metering unit according to the unit power consumption, and are stored in the storage unit as a unit power consumption charge according to the cumulative power consumption from the time when the monthly signal from the clock unit is applied. Since the control section operates to remove each amount and open the switch when the remaining amount falls below the unit charge, it is possible to cope with the current two-part toll, three-tier toll, or more complex toll system. [Embodiment of the Invention] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the control section of this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a functional configuration of the control section. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the metered charge withdrawal means, which is one of the functions in the control section. In the figure, 1 is a prepaid watt-hour meter, 2 is its input terminal, 6 is an output terminal, 4 is a watt-hour measuring section,
5 is a switch; 6 is a microprocessor 6a; a power input circuit 6b; a token information input circuit 6c;
A control section consisting of a switch drive circuit 6d, 7 an acceptance inspection section, 8 a control line, 9 a storage section that stores electricity rate data for basic charges and various metered charges, 10 a vibration of a crystal oscillator, etc. Seconds, using numbers as time standards
This is a clock unit with a calendar function that counts minutes, hours, days, months, and years. The power consumption data output from the power metering section 4 goes through the power input circuit 6b of the control section 6, and the token input information output from the acceptance inspection section 7 goes through the token information input circuit 6c. input to the processor 6a, and the microprocessor 6a
The switching signal output from the switch 5 is outputted to the switch 5 via the switch drive circuit 6d. The storage section 9 and the time section 10 are directly connected to the microprocessor 6a via a data bus, an address bus, etc. Signals are exchanged between the microprocessor 6a and each peripheral circuit by executing a program recorded in advance in the microprocessor 6a. 11 to 16 are each means executed by the above program in the control unit 6; 11 is the acceptance inspection unit 7;
A switch control means 12 that closes the switch 5 in response to the input of a token is reset by the application of a monthly signal from the clock section 10, and accumulates the amount of power used from the power amount counter 4. The power consumption accumulating means 13 stores the amount corresponding to the token initially inserted into the acceptance inspection section 7, and the remaining amount storage means 14 stores the remaining amount after deducting the power fee according to the power usage. 15 is a basic charge deducting means for deducting the basic charge per unit time stored in the storage section 9 from the remaining amount stored in the means 13 for each unit time signal from the clock section 10; , for each signal corresponding to the unit power consumption from the power metering unit 4, calculate the unit power usage rate according to the cumulative power usage by the power usage accumulation means 12 stored in the storage unit 9, and calculate the remaining amount. The metered charge withdrawal means 16 which deducts the remaining amount stored in the storage means 13 from the remaining amount stored in the storage means 13 compares the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means 13 with the unit charge, and opens/closes when the amount falls below the unit charge. This is a remaining amount unit charge comparing means that causes the switch control means 11 to open the switch. Furthermore, 17 to 21 are each means executed by the above-mentioned metered charge withdrawal means 15, and 17 is a signal corresponding to the unit amount of electricity used from the electricity amount metering section 4, for example, every 1 kilowatt hour 1 pulse signal is input. Then, the cumulative usage value from the current monthly date input from the power usage accumulation means 12 is compared with the maximum cumulative usage value corresponding to the first stage charge stored in the storage unit 9. , a first-stage charge comparison means 18 outputs a signal when the latter is greater than or equal to the former, and the first-stage charge comparison means 18 outputs a signal when the latter is greater than or equal to the former. a second-stage charge comparison means that compares the cumulative usage value of and the maximum cumulative usage value corresponding to the second-stage charge stored in the storage unit 9, and outputs a signal when the latter is greater than or equal to the former; ,1
Reference numeral 9 denotes a third charge comparison means for outputting a signal in response to the comparison result that the current accumulated usage value of the second stage charge comparison means 18 is large; 20 indicates any one of the comparison means 18 to 19; Removal unit price calculation means 21 inputs any of the three-stage charges stored in the storage device 9 and outputs corresponding unit price data depending on whether a signal is input from the storage device 9;
This is a remaining amount deduction means that subtracts the unit price data amount from the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means 13 in response to unit price data input from 0. Next, the operation will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a program executed by the control unit 6, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a subroutine in which the metered charge withdrawal means is executed during this program. First, the clock part 10
Every time the month changes, a monthly change signal is sent to the control unit 6, and when the switch 5 is open, this is detected in step 22, and when the switch 5 is closed, this is detected in step (28), and the signal is detected in step (23). Alternatively, in step (29), the amount of power used accumulated in the amount of power used accumulating means 12 is reset to zero. Assuming that the power company's distribution line is now connected to the input terminal 2, and the token is not inserted into the acceptance inspection section 7, the control section 6 detects this state and the switch 5 is kept open. It will be done. Next, when the token is inserted into the acceptance inspection section 7, the acceptance inspection section 7 checks whether the token is correct and how much it corresponds to in terms of amount, and then the information that the token has been inserted is sent to the control 6. Sent. The control 6 immediately detects this (step (24)), reads the amount corresponding to the inserted token in the remaining amount storage means 13 (step (25)), and stores it (step (26)).
The switch 5 is closed by the switching control means 11 via the control line 8 (step (27)), and power supply to the consumer via the output terminal 3 is thereby started. This amount of power consumption is measured by the power amount measuring section 4, and the data is sent to the control section 6 for each unit amount of power used (step (30)). The power usage accumulating means 12 of the control section 6 accumulates this power data (step (31)), and the metered charge withdrawal means 15 deducts the metered charge (step (32)). That is, a pulse signal in units of 1 kilowatt hour corresponding to the unit power usage is inputted from the power metering section 4 (step (30)), and at the same time, the power usage accumulation means 12 receives the pulse signal in units of 1 kilowatt hour corresponding to the unit power usage from the current monthly date. The cumulative power consumption value WH is input (step (39)), and the maximum cumulative usage value A (for example, 120 kilowatt hours) corresponding to the first stage charge stored in the storage section 9 is input (step (39)). (40)). These current cumulative usage amount WH and usage amount equivalent to the first stage fee A
are compared by the first-stage fee comparison means 17 (step (41)), and if the latter value A is greater or equal, a signal is output to the withdrawal unit price calculation means 20. Furthermore, if the former value WH is large, a signal is output to the second stage fee comparison means 18. The second tier charge comparing means 18 uses the maximum value B of the cumulative usage amount corresponding to the second tier charges stored in the storage unit 9 (for example,
250 kilowatt hours) is read (step (42)),
This is compared with the current accumulated usage amount WH (step (43)), and if the former value B is larger or equal, a signal is output to the removal unit price calculation means 20. Furthermore, if the latter value WH is large, a signal is output to the third-stage fee comparison means 19. In the third stage rate comparison means 19, if the cumulative usage amount corresponding to the second stage rate exceeds the maximum value B (for example, 250 kilowatt hours), that is, the first stage rate comparison means 17 and the second stage rate comparison means 18 Only when the signal is not output to the removal unit price calculation means 20, the signal is output to the removal unit price calculation means 20. The withdrawal unit price calculation means 20 determines which of the first-stage charge comparison means 17 , the second-stage charge comparison means 18 , and the third-stage charge comparison means 19 input the signal, and calculates the signal from the three stored in the storage section 9 . Removal unit price data that is more suitable than the unit price of step charges, for example, unit price of 18 yen for step (44)
70 sen, the unit price 25 yen 61 sen is entered in step (45), and data corresponding to the unit price 28 yen 84 sen is input in step (46), and the unit price data is inputted to the remaining amount withdrawal means 21.
is output to. The remaining amount subtraction means 21 subtracts the unit price data amount from the current remaining amount data in the remaining amount storage means 13 (step (47)). In this way, it is determined whether the cumulative usage amount from the current monthly change date falls under the 1st tier charge, the 2nd tier charge, or the 3rd tier charge, and the remaining amount is memorized for each unit electricity metering. From the amount stored in the means 16, the unit electricity charge of the corresponding stage stored in the storage section 9 is subtracted (step (32)), and the remaining amount in the remaining amount storage means 13 is updated (step (32)). (33)). Furthermore, the basic charge withdrawal means 1 of the control unit 6
4, from the time data of the clock unit 10, each time the unit time elapses from the monthly change date (step (34))
While the switch 5 is closed, the charge per unit time of the basic charge stored in the storage unit 9, for example, the contract current
30 amperes and 900 yen/month, 1 yen/hour 23
The amount is subtracted from the amount stored in the remaining amount storage means 16 (step (35)) and updated (step (36)). After these deductions, the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means 16, the consumption charge per unit electric energy, and the basic charge per unit time are compared by the remaining amount unit charge comparison means 16 (step ( 37)), if the remaining amount is above these unit charges, the opening/closing control means 11 of the control unit 6 keeps the switch 5 in the closed state, and if the remaining amount is below the unit charge, the switching control means 11 closes the switch 5.
is opened (step (38)), and power supply to the consumer is stopped. Switch 5 once opened
When the token is inserted again after the token has run out, the acceptance inspection section 7 detects it and sends this information to the control section 6, which closes the switch 5 again and supplies power to the customer. will be resumed. If there is no monthly change before the token is reinserted, the accumulated amount of power used by the power usage accumulator 12 for determining the metered charge is added to the previous cumulative value, and during that time, the monthly change signal is sent from the clock unit 10. If it is given to the control unit 6, then the cumulative value is the step (22)
Since it is reset to zero in (23), after the token is reinserted, the amount of power used will be accumulated from zero.
When the monthly change signal is on and the switch 5 is closed, the clock section 1
0 to the control unit 6, the control unit 6 resets the cumulative value of the electric energy accumulated up to just before the signal is applied in steps (28) and (29) to zero, and the electric energy metering unit 4 again resets the accumulated value of the electric energy to zero. The metering data starts to accumulate, and the metered charge that allows for the new accumulated value is deducted. In the embodiments described above, the time by the clock unit 10, the cumulative amount of electricity after installation or for the month by the electricity metering unit 4, the equivalent amount or remaining amount after the token is inserted by the acceptance inspection unit 7, and the opening/closing time. The display means for displaying the opening/closing status of the container 5, the contents stored in the storage unit 9, etc.
It goes without saying that a display for these data may be provided if necessary, if not provided. Further, if the electricity rate system changes, it can be easily handled by changing the stored contents of the stored data 9 or the operating program of the control unit 6. [Effects of the Invention] Since the present invention is configured as described above, it can be applied not only to the current two-tier tariff and three-tier tariff, but also to more complicated tariff systems without any inconvenience, and allows for fair electricity rate transactions. This has the effect of making it possible to obtain a pre-paid watt-hour meter that can be used for a variety of purposes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a conventional prepaid electricity meter, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a control section of this embodiment. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control section, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the metered charge withdrawal means, and FIGS. 6 and 7. is a flowchart explaining the operation of this embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a prepaid watt-hour meter, 2 is its input terminal, 3 is its output terminal, 4 is a watt-hour measuring section, 5 is a switch, 6 is a control section, 7 is an acceptance inspection section, 8 is a control line, 9
10 is a storage unit, 10 is a clock unit, 11 is a switch control means, 12 is a usage energy accumulation means, 13 is a remaining amount storage means, 14 is a basic charge withdrawal means, 15 is a metered charge withdrawal means, and 16 is a remaining amount It is a unit price comparison method. The same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A power metering unit that calculates the amount of power supplied from the power supply to the load, a switch that opens and closes the supply to the load,
Prepaid electricity comprising: an acceptance inspection unit that identifies and counts tokens that are inserted; and a control unit that controls opening and closing of the switch based on token information from the acceptance inspection unit and power consumption information from the electricity measurement unit. In the meter, the control section is connected to a clock section having a calendar function and a storage section for storing basic charges and various metered charges, and the control section is connected to the above-mentioned switch in response to the insertion of a token into the acceptance inspection section. a switch control means that closes the electric power, a power consumption accumulating means that is reset by application of a monthly signal from the clock section and accumulates the power consumption from the power metering section; Remaining amount storage means for storing the amount corresponding to the token being used, and storing the remaining amount after deducting the electricity charge according to the electricity usage; a basic charge deducting means for deducting the basic charge per unit time stored in the storage section for each signal; and a basic charge deduction means for deducting the basic charge per unit time stored in the storage section; The unit power consumption rate according to the cumulative power consumption by the power consumption accumulation means stored in the storage unit is calculated by the cumulative power usage amount and the cumulative amount corresponding to any one of the multiple levels of charges stored in the storage unit. a metered charge deduction means that compares the maximum value of the amount of electricity used and subtracts the amount in the corresponding step from the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means; The remaining amount is compared with the basic charge per unit time and the metered charge per unit amount of electricity used, and when the remaining amount becomes less than either of these unit charges, the switch control means is operated to open the switch. A prepaid watt-hour meter characterized in that the control unit is provided with means for comparing a unit charge for a remaining amount.