JPH11173895A - Gas meter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display the integrated quantity of used gas, an abnormality alarm and the kind of the abnormality so that they can be grasped intuitively by providing a means for generating a numeric display data and a character display data. SOLUTION: The means 101 for operating integrated flow rate of gas operates an integrated flow rate of gas, i.e., the integrated quantity of used gas, based on a gas flow rate measured by a gas flow rate measuring means 201. A display data generating means 103 normally generated numeric display data indicating the integrated flow rate of gas operated by the means 101 as numeric information. When occurrence of an abnormality is detected by an abnormality sensor 202, an abnormality judging means 102 judges occurrence of an abnormality and judges the kind thereof. The means 103 generates character display data for indicating the occurrence and the kind of the abnormality as character information which is then displayed on a display means 203 using segments.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gas meter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a gas meter has various functions for ensuring safety, such as a function of detecting a gas leak or an abnormality of a gas flow rate and warning the same, and a function of further stopping a gas supply in that case. ing. In such a conventional gas meter, a gas leak detector generally detects a gas leak or the like at a downstream side of the gas meter, that is, at a portion near a gas device that consumes gas, for example, a gas leak detecting device called a flow rate minute leak warning device. If gas leakage continues for a long period of time,
It is possible to detect the gas leak and warn of it, or to respond to it and shut off the gas supply.

A gas flow abnormality detecting means in a conventional gas meter includes a gas pipe when the gas pressure change amount at the time of stoppage of gas usage over the gas meter itself and the entire upper and lower pipes is a certain value or less. A pressure-type micro-leakage device that determines that an abnormality has occurred somewhere is used.

[0004] Alternatively, instead of being built in the gas meter main body, it is arranged immediately upstream of the regulator outlet upstream of the gas meter or between the regulator outlet side and the gas meter to detect a pressure change upstream of the gas meter. A pressure sensor installed separately from the gas meter and a shutoff valve controlled by receiving the pressure sensor are used.

In the gas meter, for example, various abnormal situations are detected by the various abnormal detecting means (devices) as described above. In any case, the occurrence of these abnormal situations is detected. In such a case, an alarm is issued by an audible means such as an alarm buzzer to warn the user, and a warning display such as three LEDs (light emitting diodes) provided at the most prominent part of the front part of the gas meter. A warning is also issued visually, for example, by using means.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional gas meters, gas meters using a mechanical metering system such as a membrane system have predominantly been used. Since only the display part such as a numerical counter that displays the integrated value of the gas consumption by mechanically switching the numbers is used as the display part, the gas, such as the occurrence of an abnormal situation such as a pressure abnormality, is used. Information other than the accumulated usage could not be displayed on the counter display. Therefore, apart from such a mechanical counter display unit, the three L
A technique has been proposed in which an ED is provided, and when an abnormal situation occurs, the ED is displayed so that the type of the abnormality can be recognized by a combination of turning on / off of the ED.

[0007] However, from the display of information having no character meaning by itself, such as the combination of the three LEDs, the correspondence between the combination of the lighting and the type of the abnormal situation is considered. Without the prior knowledge of the above, it was extremely difficult to identify the type of the abnormal situation. In particular, for ordinary household users who do not have such prior knowledge, identifying the type of anomaly is almost entirely impossible. That is, in the alarm by the abstract method using the combination of the three LEDs as described above, there is a problem that it is practically impossible for a general home user to identify the type of the abnormal situation. . In addition, it is difficult for gas management personnel to intuitively understand the contents of alarms using such an abstract method, and sometimes the lighting arrangement of LEDs and abnormal situations that must be accurately recognized as preliminary knowledge There is also a problem that the type and the severity of the abnormal situation occurring are inaccurately grasped by erroneously recognizing the correspondence relationship with the type.

In addition, since an LED driving circuit and a power supply system for actually lighting such three LEDs in a combination corresponding to each type of abnormal situation are separately required, the addition of these is necessary. As a result, there has been a problem that the whole of the gas meter device becomes complicated and the information processing circuit system therein becomes complicated.

Therefore, in order to display such a visual alarm in a more specific expression intuitively (universally) so that anyone can understand it, separately from the integrated value counter in the gas meter. For example, a technology using a flat panel display such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display Panel) has been devised and actually used to warn of the occurrence and type of an abnormal situation by character information or the like.

However, in recent years, the size of the gas meter has generally been reduced more and more, and the measuring method inside the gas meter has been reduced from the conventional mechanical method to an ultrasonic measuring method or an eddy current measuring method capable of further reducing the size. It is clear that there is a tendency to shift to a so-called guessing method such as a method, and this imposes even more severe limits on the space in which the flat panel display can be arranged.

[0011] As with other industrial products, gas meters are also generally required to have a low cost as a commercial product, and in combination with the above-mentioned limitation of the installation space, a gas meter using a flat panel display or the like is used. Arranging separately from the quantity counter is problematic in that it becomes increasingly difficult. That is, in the conventional technology, the above-described abstract display method using three LEDs or the like certainly requires less space for arranging it, but on the other hand, the display method itself is abstract. There is a problem that the meaning of the present warning cannot be intuitively grasped because it must be targeted. On the other hand, in order to be able to intuitively understand the meaning of such an alarm, LC
A method has been devised to use a flat panel display such as D to display a warning of the occurrence of an abnormality by character information or the like and to distinguish the type thereof on the screen, but the space for arranging it is as described above. Since the size of the gas counter has to be large separately from the numerical value counter display unit of the mechanical integrated gas usage, it is extremely difficult to cope with further downsizing of the entire gas meter.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. It is an object of the present invention to provide an intuitive display of both an integrated gas usage amount, an alarm for occurrence of an abnormality and information on the type of the abnormality, and furthermore, it is possible to display those displays almost in a conventional manner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas meter that can be accommodated in an extremely limited space, such as within a space for displaying a mark, and that can be further downsized.

[0013]

First, a gas meter according to the present invention comprises a gas flow measuring means for measuring a flow rate of a gas passing through the gas meter, and a gas integrating means for calculating an integrated gas flow rate based on the gas flow rate. A flow rate calculating means, an abnormal situation occurrence detecting means for detecting the occurrence of the abnormal situation at least when the abnormal situation occurs in the gas meter, and when the occurrence of the abnormal situation is detected by the abnormal situation occurrence detecting means An abnormal condition determining means for determining that the abnormal condition has occurred and the type of the abnormal condition; and a numerical display for displaying the value of the gas integrated flow rate calculated by the gas integrated flow rate calculating means as numerical information. On the other hand, when the abnormal situation occurs and the abnormal situation determining means determines the occurrence and type of the abnormal situation, Display data generating means for creating character display data for displaying the occurrence and type of the character information with character information, and display means using a segment type flat panel display device, wherein the abnormal condition does not occur normally Sometimes, based on the numerical display data, the value of the gas integrated flow rate is displayed as numerical information using the segment, and when the abnormal situation occurs, the occurrence and type of the abnormal situation are determined based on the character display data. Display means for displaying as character information using the segments.

That is, according to the present invention, the display means using a segment type flat panel display device for displaying the value of the integrated gas flow rate in the normal state by numerical information is displayed together with the display of the numerical information and the abnormal condition. It is also used as a display means for also displaying the occurrence and the type of character information. In addition, at this time, the segments that are originally formed to display numerical values are cleverly written with character information only when an abnormal situation occurs, instead of simply displaying them side by side in one screen. Used to display. Therefore, the space required for the screen is substantially only the space for displaying the conventional gas integrated flow rate value as numerical information, and the space increase due to the addition of the above-described character information display function is almost completely eliminated. It can be done without need. That is, as compared with the conventional case where the numerical information display and the character information display are displayed side by side, two to three times as much space is required.
By using the technology of the present invention, it is possible to display character information that allows intuitive grasp of the occurrence of an abnormal situation and its type, only in the space for displaying the numerical value of the conventional gas integrated usage value, It is possible to sufficiently cope with further downsizing as a gas meter.

Moreover, among the flat panel display devices, the segment type is the one which can be realized with the simplest device structure and circuit configuration as compared with the dot type and the like, and furthermore, its numerical display is Since each segment to be performed is displayed with character information almost as it is, the basic drive circuit system and the logic used therefor can be diverted almost as it is. In other words, there is also an advantage in manufacturing that only an extremely simple additional work of adding display data for displaying character information is required. That is, the cost of the entire gas meter can be further reduced.

By the way, it is possible to display the occurrence of an abnormal situation or the type of character information by using the segment type display means for displaying the numerical value as described above, especially when the character information is abnormal in the gas meter. This is thought to be due to information that can be expressed within a relatively limited vocabulary range, such as the occurrence and type of the situation, but basically, once the character information of the number of characters corresponding to the number of digits in numerical display is once It is needless to say that it can be displayed. For example, when the number of digits, that is, the number of characters is seven, and the display is performed by the alphabet, if the number of characters that can be displayed in the segment in the alphabet is n (0 ≦ n ≦ 26), the displayable text Is a simple calculation of 7 powers of n. However, in reality, they also include meaningless arrays as sentences, but the types of sentences that need to be displayed as information on abnormal alarms in gas meters are at most several to several tens of types,
Even with this, it can be said that the display capacity is sufficient.

In general, the above-mentioned abnormal situation rarely occurs in a gas meter. In most cases, the display of the integrated gas flow rate value is continued in most cases. Is switched to the display of character information such as. It is necessary to read the gas integrated flow rate value mainly at the time of gas meter reading by a gas meter reader, and such gas meter reading is performed in a normal gas use state without abnormality, so in most cases, that is, in normal cases In the case of, it is preferable that the gas integrated flow rate value is displayed on the display means, and on the other hand, although it is rare that an abnormal situation occurs,
It is mainly the home users who have the gas meter installed that need to read the information (alarm) that informs them when it occurs. Generally, the gas meter is permanently installed near the door of the home. Therefore, if the above-mentioned character information is displayed only when an alarm occurs due to an abnormal situation, it means that the display is sufficiently useful for the user. Therefore,
It is possible to display the alarm (information) of the abnormal situation only when an abnormal situation occurs as in the present invention by using the display means of the gas integrated value arranged at the most conspicuous position,
It can be said that this is an appropriate and suitable display method for both gas meter readers and general household users. In other words, there is no disadvantage to switching the display,
It is possible to obtain a great merit that information suitable for both can be displayed conspicuously in a minimum space and with a simple configuration by also using the two display means.

Secondly, in the gas meter according to the first aspect, when the character information is displayed on the display means, the display data generating means cancels the display and returns to the display of the numerical value display. It is characterized by further comprising a numerical display return command inputting means for causing the display to return.

That is, when an abnormal situation occurs as described above, the numerical information previously displayed on the display means is switched to character information. For example, the abnormal situation is resolved and the gas meter returns to a normal gas meter use state. In such a case, it is requested to return (return) to the display of the integrated gas flow value again. Therefore, in such a case, by using the numerical display return command input means, it is possible to cancel the display relating to the occurrence of the abnormal situation and return to the normal numerical display of the integrated gas flow rate.

Thirdly, in the gas meter according to the first or second aspect, when the character information is displayed on the display means, the display data generating means starts displaying the character information. After a certain period of time has elapsed, the apparatus further comprises a numerical value display automatic return means for canceling the display of the character information and automatically returning to the numerical display.

That is, when an abnormal situation occurs as described above, the display relating to the occurrence of the abnormal situation is canceled by a manual input operation as in the second technique, and the display returns to the normal numerical display of the integrated gas flow rate. Although it may be possible, after a certain period of time, such as generally one day or more,
The user, gas management company, or the like should be aware of the occurrence of the abnormality and take appropriate measures, and the abnormal situation should be resolved. Therefore, in that case, it is desirable to automatically return to the normal numerical display instead of the manual return as described in the second item. Therefore, in the gas meter technology according to the third aspect, a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours) is used.
After the lapse of time, the display can be automatically returned to the normal numerical display by the automatic numerical display return means.

Fourthly, in the gas meter according to the present invention, in the gas meter according to any one of the first to third aspects, the display means further comprises a character and a character using a fixed pattern which can be displayed or not displayed. Display means capable of displaying at least one of pictographs, pictographs, and numbers, wherein the display data generating means further includes characters, pictographs, and pictographs using a fixed pattern that can be displayed or not displayed. A gas meter for generating display data for displaying at least one of a symbol and a number on the display means.

That is, the display is performed mainly on the segment display as described above. In general, a flat panel display has a rectangular outer shape, so even in one screen, a portion around the segment display or the like is displayed. May have some room. Therefore, if there is room for this, patterns such as characters and pictograms, pictograms and numbers are also provided as fixed patterns that can be intuitively understood except for the character information and numerical information described above. You can also. As a result, the limited effective display space can be used up more effectively, so that a display in which various types of information are included in one screen can be realized. In addition, in the case of such a fixed pattern, selection of lighting / non-lighting per pattern can be controlled by the same switching method as selection of lighting / non-lighting for one segment. Even if one is added, it is only necessary to add at most one circuit as described above in terms of a circuit, and this addition can display information with a new semantic content different from the above. It is much larger and preferable than the above addition.

Fifth, the gas meter according to the present invention has the first
5. The gas meter according to any one of claims 4 to 5, wherein the display means further includes a display area using at least one set of segments of a second type formed by combining patterns different from the segments, and The gas meter is characterized in that the generation means further generates display data for performing display using the segment of the second format of the display means.

That is, in the segment pattern for originally displaying a numerical value as described above, some characters may be difficult to display in a form that is intuitively recognizable. For example, when the alphabet is displayed using a set of numerical display segments that perform decimal notation, for example, the letter K cannot be displayed in the so-called numerical display segment because the pattern has an oblique portion in the pattern. . Therefore, the use of a character such as K may be avoided as much as possible. However, if it is absolutely necessary, only the part is used. A segment of the form is placed where the letter k is to be displayed. As a result, it is possible to further enhance the variety of characters that can be displayed while maintaining the simplicity of the structure of the segment type circuit and the display device for numerical display, and to further enhance the information content that can be displayed.

Sixth, the gas meter according to the present invention has the first
6. The gas meter according to any one of claims 5 to 5, wherein the display unit further includes a display area using at least one set of dot patterns different from the segment separately from the segment, and the display data generation unit further includes: And a display unit for generating display data for performing display in the display area of the display means.

That is, in the case of the technology described in the fifth aspect, the segments of the second type are supplementarily used. A dot pattern such as the technique described in No. 6 can also be used. And at this time, practically mx
It is not limited to the use of dot patterns arranged in a perfect square like an n matrix, and only the characters required as information relating to the abnormality warning of the gas meter need to be displayed. It is only necessary to provide dots that can be turned on / off only in portions corresponding to. As a result, it is possible to further enhance the variety of characters that can be displayed while maintaining the simplicity of the structure of the segment type circuit and the display device for numerical display, and to further enhance the information content that can be displayed.

Seventh, the gas meter of the present invention has the first
7. The gas meter according to any one of claims 6 to 6, wherein the display data generating means further includes, in place of the character information, code information predetermined so as to correspond one-to-one with the content indicated by the character information to the display means. A gas meter for generating display data to be displayed.

That is, in the case of the gas meters described in the first to sixth aspects, the warning of the occurrence of an abnormality in the gas use status is displayed as character information, but it is inevitably displayed only by simple display or pseudo display of character information. Since there may be display of difficult characters and contents, the display of such characters and contents or the entire display including the same is made in advance so as to correspond one-to-one to the contents indicated by the character information instead of the character information. For example, as the determined code information, a combination of a plurality of digits, a combination of a plurality of alphabets, or a combination of a numeral and an alphabet is displayed.

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the gas meter according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a gas meter according to the present invention.
Is a segment electrode type LC as its display means 203.
The figure which shows typically the segment pattern formed in D.
FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart mainly showing the operation of the gas meter according to the present invention, particularly when an abnormal situation occurs.

(Embodiment 1) This gas meter has a gas flow rate measuring means 201 for measuring a flow rate of a gas passing through a gas conduction path (not shown) in the gas meter, and calculates an integrated gas flow rate value based on the gas flow rate. Integrated gas flow rate calculating means 101, an abnormal situation occurrence detection sensor (means) 202 for detecting the occurrence of the abnormal situation at least when an abnormal situation occurs in the gas meter, and the abnormal situation occurrence detection sensor 202 When the occurrence of an abnormal situation is detected, the abnormal situation determining means 102 for determining the occurrence of the abnormal situation itself and the type of the abnormal situation, and the gas integrated flow rate value calculated by the gas integrated flow rate calculating means 101 Is generated as numerical information, while the abnormal condition occurs and the abnormal condition determining means 1 is used. 2. When the occurrence and type of the abnormal situation are determined according to 2, the display for generating (creating) character display data for displaying the occurrence and type of the abnormal situation as character information such as alphabets or katakana. A data generating means 103 and a display means 203 using a segment type flat panel display device, wherein the value of the gas integrated flow rate is represented by numerical information based on the numerical display data at normal times when the abnormal situation does not occur. Display means 20 for displaying by using the segment, and when the abnormal situation occurs, displaying the occurrence and type of the abnormal situation based on the character display data as character information using the segment.
3 is a gas meter including

Further, when the character information is displayed on the display means 203, the display data generating means 103 cancels the display and returns to the numerical display display. 204,
It also has The gas flow rate measuring means 201 may be any measuring means for measuring a gas flow rate as used in a normal gas meter, and may be a so-called mechanical volume measuring type measuring means such as a so-called membrane flow meter,
Alternatively, a so-called guess-type measuring means such as an ultrasonic measuring method or a vortex flow measuring method may be used. In any case, the measuring means for measuring the gas flow rate can output the value of the measured gas flow rate as an electric signal which can be calculated by the gas integrated flow rate calculating means 101 described later or information which can be converted into the electric signal. Any possible measuring means may be used.

The integrated gas flow calculating means 101 calculates an integrated gas flow value, that is, a value of the integrated gas usage based on the gas flow measured by the gas flow measuring means 201. Then, the display data generating means 103 creates numerical display data for displaying the gas integrated flow rate value calculated by the gas integrated flow rate calculating means 101 as numerical information at normal times when no abnormal situation occurs. More specifically, when the integrated gas flow value to be displayed is, for example, 8054.064 m ³ , the threshold value is set for only the segments selectively turned on from among the segments shown in FIG. An output waveform is generated such that a voltage higher than the voltage is applied. That is, 7 per digit
Out of 56 segments in all eight digits, which segment is to be selectively turned on,
A voltage having an output waveform such that a lighting voltage is applied only to the segment to be selectively lit is generated. Therefore 5
The selective lighting as described above is possible by a simple structure in which only six switching elements and a control system for controlling the six switching elements are combined. On the other hand, the display data generating means 1
03, when an abnormal situation occurs, character information having a meaning content to warn of the occurrence of the abnormal situation itself and a meaning content indicating a type more than that is displayed by diverting the above-mentioned segment. Generate display data for

For example, when displaying that a gas leak has occurred, for example, in order to display character information such as “gasLOSS” shown in FIG. An output waveform voltage is generated to selectively light a segment.

The display means 203 is a display means 203 using a segment type liquid crystal display panel which is one of the flat panel display devices, and a corresponding segment can be selectively selected based on the above display data. To display the character information or numerical information as described above.

Here, as an example, as shown in FIG. 2, the above-described integrated gas flow rate calculating means 101 and abnormal situation determining means 1
02. The display data generating means 103 may be constructed in the information processing circuit system using a CPU 200 such as a microcomputer (microcomputer), or constructed by combining individual electronic components (not shown). Needless to say, this is acceptable. Note that in FIG.
Is a CPU such as a microcomputer, and 203 'is a display means L
CD, 202a is a pressure sensor for detecting the above-mentioned pressure abnormality, etc., 202b is a shutoff valve for performing the above various shutoffs,
202c is a vibration sensor (vibration sensor) for detecting the above-mentioned earthquake, etc.
202d is a voltage sensor for detecting the output voltage of the battery with a built-in meter used as a backup power supply or the like, 204 'is switches including numerical value display return command input means 204, and 205 is an interface portion on a connection for communication with the outside. Each communication port (terminal block) is shown.

The abnormal situation to be detected and judged by the abnormal situation occurrence detection sensor (means) 202 for detecting the occurrence of the above abnormal situation and the abnormal situation judging means 102 is a general example of the above. In addition to abnormal situations that are collectively referred to as "gas leaks", it is preferable that pressure drops due to insufficient remaining supply cylinders, an earthquake occurs, or the output voltage of the backup battery abnormally drops. is there. That is, more specific types of abnormality detection functions include various general abnormality detection functions even in conventional gas meters.

That is, when the gas usage per unit time becomes equal to or more than a predetermined set value, it is determined that a large amount of gas leaks. An alarm generation procedure is performed), an excessive flow rate abnormality that is determined to be a gas leak when the gas flow rate sharply increases (generally, a gas shutoff procedure called an increased flow rate cutoff and an alarm generation procedure are performed) ), An abnormal usage time that is determined to be an abnormality such as gas leakage or forgetting to stop using the gas when the continuous gas usage time exceeds a predetermined set value. If a gas leak occurs from a gas appliance, etc. when the shut-off valve is returned after the gas is shut off, a leakage abnormality during the safety check for return (generally, Gas shut-off measures called alarm shut-off and alarm-causing measures are performed during return-to-safety confirmation), and an earthquake or abnormal vibration occurs when the built-in vibration sensor in the gas meter detects a seismic intensity of 5 or more (generally, in this case, A gas shut-off operation called a vibration isolator (vibration sensor operation shut-off) and an alarm generation process are performed), and a minute gas leak is determined when a minute amount of gas continuously flows for a long period of time such as 30 days or more. When a minute pressure abnormality continues for a long period of time such as 30 days or more, such as a minute flow leakage abnormality (generally, a gas shut-off treatment called a flow-type minute leakage interruption and an alarm generation treatment are performed in this case). Use of gas appliances, where a slight pressure (leakage) abnormality is judged to be a minute gas leak (generally, in this case, a gas shutoff treatment called a pressure type minute leak cutoff and an alarm generation treatment are performed). Check the adjustment pressure at that time, and if there is an abnormality in the pressure (in this case, an alarm generation action generally called an adjustment pressure abnormality warning is given), and when the use of the gas appliance is stopped The regulator closing pressure is checked thereafter, and if there is a pressure abnormality, the regulator closing pressure abnormality is determined to be abnormal (in this case, an alarm generation process called a regulator closing pressure abnormality warning is generally performed). For example, various abnormal situations may occur. Alternatively, other types of abnormal occurrences may be considered, but in any case, such an abnormal situation is detected by the abnormal situation occurrence detection sensor (means) 202 and the abnormal situation judging means 1.
Needless to say, it can be set as a suitable detection target and determination target of No. 02.

Next, the operation of the gas meter according to the present invention, whose main part is constructed as described above, will be described focusing on the operation of displaying the occurrence of the abnormal situation and the type of the abnormal situation. In addition, while the gas meter is installed and is continuously used, a series of operations from s1 to s5 are repeated without a break, and the operations from s1 to s10 are repeated without a break while the gas meter is continuously used. Therefore, it is needless to say that the operation in FIG. 3 is intentionally shown as a loop-shaped outline flowchart.

The gas flow measuring means 201 measures the gas flow (s1). And the gas integrated flow rate calculation means 101
The measured gas flow values are integrated one after another to calculate an integrated gas flow value, that is, an integrated gas usage amount (s2). Subsequently, the display data generating means 103 generates display data for numerically displaying the integrated gas integrated flow rate value using the segment electrodes (s3), and displays it on the display means 203.
To send to. Then, the display means 203 receives the information and displays the calculated gas integrated flow rate value, that is, the numerical value of the gas integrated usage amount, based on the display data (s4).

If no abnormal situation has occurred (N in s5), the above-mentioned operations s (steps) 1 to s4 are repeated. The operations of s1 to s4 may be the same as the operation of displaying the integrated flow value of a conventional general gas meter. In other words, as for the configuration for providing such an operation (function), a conventional gas meter of the present invention can be suitably used.

On the other hand, if an abnormal situation occurs at this time (s
5) Y), which is detected by the abnormal situation occurrence detection sensor 202, and the abnormal situation judging means 102 further indicates that the abnormal situation has occurred and the nature of the abnormality itself (kind; Then, the type of abnormal content such as the abnormal content is determined (s6). Then, based on the result determined in this way, the display data generating means 1
03 generates character display data for displaying the occurrence and type of the abnormal situation as character information such as alphabets (s7) and sends it to the display means 203. Subsequently, based on the character display data, the display means 203 displays the content of the occurrence of the abnormal situation as character information using alphabets (s8).

For example, if an abnormal situation occurs and the content of the abnormality at that time is gas leakage, the display means 203
The character information such as “gasLoss” as shown as an example in FIG. 4A is displayed on the screen by using the segment. Alternatively, when abnormal vibration occurs due to an earthquake or the like, character information such as “TILT” as shown in FIG. 4B is displayed. Here, any character information can be displayed as characters approximated to the alphabet using existing general segment patterns for numerical display, and characters used in words other than the above GASLOSS and TILT are used. A, a, b, C,
Various characters such as c, d, E, e, F, G, g, H, h... can be displayed. Moreover, it is desirable to devise such a display pattern that can be clearly distinguished from the numerical characters indicating the integrated gas flow rate as clearly as possible. If there is a possibility of being identified with a display pattern of a number, it is preferable to use a display pattern of lowercase letters or uppercase letters that can be more clearly recognized.

Further, according to the present invention, the display mode for displaying such character information and the display mode for displaying numerical information are completely switched on one screen so that they are not mixed at all. . Therefore, there is no inconvenience that information displayed on one screen at a certain point in time is confusing as to whether it is a number or a character. Can be reliably determined.

Then, as described above, the occurrence of an abnormality is alerted by the character information, and although not shown and described, an alarm buzzer or the like may be sounded to alert the user of the occurrence of an abnormality. When the abnormal situation at that time is notified to the maintenance staff of the company and the situation is resolved, the character information for alerting the occurrence of the abnormality that has been displayed until then is no longer necessary. Therefore, in such a case, for example, when the maintenance staff of the gas management company presses the numerical display return instruction input means 204 and inputs a return instruction for the numerical display (Y in s9), the display is performed until then. The display of the text information that warns the occurrence of the abnormality is stopped, and the display returns to the original display of the integrated gas flow value (s1).
0).

In this embodiment, the numerical value display is restored by manual input as described above.
As soon as the cause of the abnormality is resolved and the abnormal situation occurrence detection sensor 202 and the abnormal situation judging means 102 return to the reset state or the initial state, the numerical value display may be returned in accordance with the reset state or the initial state. It is needless to say that the timing may be measured after elapse, and an automatic numerical value display returning means for automatically returning to the numerical value display may be further provided.

In this embodiment, the case where character information such as "gasLOSS" or "TILT" is displayed as an example of the character information to be displayed has been described. Is possible. That is, as the display of the total flow excess abnormality or the leak abnormality during the return safety check, since the flow rate is excessively high, such character information that can intuitively grasp the image of the gas loss is as described above, for example, as described above. What is necessary is just to display like "gasLOSS".

As an indication of the excessive increase in the flow rate,
For example, "HILow" is displayed as character information in which the image whose flow rate suddenly increases can be intuitively grasped (FIG. 4C). In addition, the display of the use time abnormality is displayed as character information whose image can be grasped intuitively, for example, “LongUSE” (FIG. 4).
(D)).

In addition, as an indication of the micro flow rate leakage abnormality,
A second segment pattern 520 as shown in FIG. 5B described later is provided in advance, and a character Δ
Characters having oblique elements such as can be displayed, and as a character information that can intuitively grasp the image of the minute gas flow of the minute flow leak abnormality, for example, “Δ-LOSS” (Fig. 4
(E)). Alternatively, the second segment pattern 520
When not using, for example, a display such as “Lo-LOSS” (not shown) enables an intuitive grasp of an image of a minute flow rate leakage that is continued over a long period of time. May be displayed.

In addition, as a display of a minute pressure (leakage) abnormality, the pressure is generally represented by the letter P, and this is used to provide character information whose image can be intuitively grasped, for example. It may be displayed as "P-LOSS" (FIG. 4 (f)). In addition, as an indication of the regulator closing pressure abnormality, the regulator is often displayed symbolically as r (R) as character information whose image can be grasped intuitively. In general, it is not always necessary for ordinary home users to be able to recognize the meaning of r because the pressure adjustment of the regulator such as specialization for the abnormality is not possible. Therefore, if it is generally recognizable that an error has occurred, it is sufficient if r can be easily recognized by the gas management staff. Thus, for example, it may be displayed as “r-error” (FIG. 4G). At this time, the general user can surely recognize that some kind of “error” has occurred, which is preferable for the general user. In the case where the uppercase R is more preferable, the r is the second segment pattern 5
What is necessary is just to display by using 20 in that part.

As for the indication of the adjustment pressure abnormality, it is impossible for a general home user to perform pressure adjustment such as adjustment by an adjuster, etc., even in the case of this abnormality. For the same reason as in the case of the regulator blockage pressure abnormality, the aforementioned P or the like may be used. For example, character information such as “P-error” that allows an intuitive image of the pressure adjustment abnormality to be displayed. (FIG. 4 (h)).

When a pressure drop abnormality occurs due to a shortage of the remaining amount of the supply cylinder or the like, the image can be intuitively grasped as character information such as "gas use".
d "(FIG. 4 (i)). The pattern shape of the segment on the screen of the display means according to the present invention is preferably such that when character information is displayed, it can be recognized as clearly as a character, and in that case, the wiring of the segment is preferable. It is preferable to use a structure, a combination, and the like that can change a conventional one as much as possible. Therefore, as the pattern shape of such a segment, that is, the outer shape of each segment, it is desirable to form the shape such that each vertex portion is a curve with a large curvature as compared with a conventional general shape, and Adjacent intervals of one-digit segments formed by combining these segments are more recognized when displaying one character using segments over two digits, for example, T or W. It is needless to say that it is desirable to make it narrower (that is, to reduce the horizontal interval) as compared with the conventional case of displaying only numerical values so that characters having easy shapes can be displayed.

(Embodiment 2) In the first embodiment, a technique for displaying character information of occurrence of abnormality using a segment pattern of a numerical display of the display means 203 has been described. It is also possible to display more various kinds of information contents by further effectively using a margin portion around the pattern portion.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), symbols 50 such as A, B, and C indicating the type of abnormality (alarm) similar to the first embodiment are used.
1, 502, 503, as well as fixed pattern characters 504 to 509 for displaying character information in a fixed pattern such as "R" or "fire", picture information or a combination of the picture information and character information The case where pictographic information 510, 511, 512, etc. for displaying the functions in the middle are arranged in the margin of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel of the display means 203, and selectively driven to perform display is shown.

In this way, more various kinds of information contents can be displayed by effectively using the margins such as the periphery of the segment pattern portion of the numerical display as described in the first embodiment. Can be. Alternatively, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5B, in the display of the screen shown in FIG. 5A, the fixed pattern characters 507 and 50 are displayed.
Instead of 8,509, a second segment pattern display 520 having a diagonal line segment 601 and a center line segment 602 as shown in FIG. 5B may be provided. The segment pattern display 520 also provided with such hatched segments 601 makes it possible to intuitively and clearly recognize a character such as K, which was inevitably difficult only with the numerical segment as shown in the first embodiment. Since display can also be realized, the types of information that can be displayed can be further increased. FIG. 5B shows the case where the second segment pattern is arranged at the end of the area where the segments for displaying numerical values are arranged. However, the present invention is not limited to this position, and the numerical value is not limited to this position. When it is necessary to display a character such as K or Z in a portion between the seven-digit segments to be displayed, the second segment pattern 520 may be arranged in that portion.

Alternatively, the dot display area 530 may be partially provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5D, the dot display area 530 is
As shown in FIG. 7, the array may be formed over almost the entire screen. In each of the above embodiments, the case where the display unit 203 displays the warning of the occurrence of an abnormality in the gas use status as character information has been described. However, it is difficult to display the character information only by simple display or pseudo display. Characters and contents may be displayed. Alternatively, there is information of such a type that even if it cannot be determined by a general user, it is sufficient that only a person concerned such as a gas manager can actually determine the meaning of the display of the alarm. In such a case, it is certainly more preferable that a general user can do so than to be able to determine the meaning of the display, but if there is no urgent need for the general user or if the general user does not In the case that it is not possible to respond just because you know that an abnormality has occurred, a display showing the meaning of such an alarm or an overall display including that will be given.
Instead of the character information, as code information predetermined so as to correspond one-to-one with the content indicated by the character information, for example, a combination of a plurality of digits, a combination of a plurality of alphabets, a combination of a number and an alphabet, and the like It should be necessary and sufficient if they are displayed as.

For example, information of battery life detection for warning that the life of the power supply backup battery for operating the warning means has expired is 005, information for warning of the occurrence of an abnormal shut-off of the shut-off valve is 004, and the regulated pressure is 004. 003 is information for alarming the occurrence of abnormalities, 002 is information for alarming the occurrence of minute flow gas leakage, and 001 is information for alarming the occurrence of large gas loss such as total flow rate abnormality. Codes may be assigned in advance so as to correspond to the contents on a one-to-one basis. In this case, as shown in the above example, as the number of the code is larger, the more serious and dangerous the type of event, the corresponding code is assigned so that the number becomes closer to 1. This is preferable because the significance of the abnormal situation at that time can be easily understood intuitively.

Alternatively, a symbol may be displayed at the front end or the rear end of the code to indicate that the code itself is information having a meaningful content regarding the abnormality. Alternatively, in the case where the above-described code itself expresses the severity of the abnormality by a numerical value obtained by dividing the hierarchy, in order to make it easy to understand intuitively, for example, “CLASS” is added before each of the above-mentioned codes. (That is, as a word meaning “hierarchy”). For example, in the case of the information that warns the occurrence of the above-described adjustment pressure abnormality,
Displaying as CLASS003 (not shown) is preferable because it is easy to intuitively determine that an abnormality of the third class, that is, an abnormality with a severity of about the third rank has occurred.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, the integrated gas usage, the alarm of the occurrence of the abnormality and the information on the type of the abnormality are displayed so as to be intuitively grasped. A gas meter that can be displayed in an extremely limited space, which is almost within the conventional space for displaying the integrated gas usage, and that can be used for further miniaturization. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a gas meter of the present invention.

FIG. 2 schematically shows an example in which a gas integrated flow rate calculating means 101, an abnormal situation judging means 102, and a display data generating means 103 are constructed in an information processing circuit system thereof by using a CPU 200 such as a microcomputer. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart showing the operation of the gas meter according to the present invention, particularly focusing on the operation when an abnormal situation occurs.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a typical example of character information display using a segment pattern formed on a segment electrode type LCD which is a display means 203 used in the gas meter according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a typical example of a variation such as a fixed pattern such as a pictogram pattern formed on a segment electrode type LCD which is a display means 203 used in the gas meter according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 ... Gas integrated flow rate calculation means 102 ... Abnormal situation determination means 103 ... Display data generation means 200 ... CPU 201 ... Gas flow rate measurement means 202 ... Abnormal situation occurrence detection sensor 203 ... Display means 204 ... Numerical display return command input means

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A gas flow rate measuring means for measuring a flow rate of a gas passing through a gas meter; a gas integrated flow rate calculating means for calculating a gas integrated flow rate based on the gas flow rate; An abnormal situation occurrence detecting means for detecting the occurrence of the abnormal situation when it occurs, and when the occurrence of the abnormal situation is detected by the abnormal situation occurrence detecting means, the occurrence of the abnormal situation itself and the occurrence of the abnormal situation An abnormal situation determining means for determining the type; and numerical display data for displaying the value of the gas integrated flow rate calculated by the gas integrated flow rate calculating means as numerical information, while the abnormal situation occurs and the abnormal When the occurrence and type of the abnormal situation are determined by the situation determining means, the occurrence and type of the abnormal situation are displayed as character information. Display data generating means for generating character display data, and display means using a segment type flat panel display device, wherein the gas integrated flow rate is normally based on the numerical display data when the abnormal situation does not occur. Display means for displaying the value of the above as numerical information using the segment, and when the abnormal situation occurs, displaying the occurrence and type of the abnormal situation based on the character display data as character information using the segment. A gas meter comprising: 2. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein, when the character information is displayed on the display unit, the display data generating unit cancels the display and returns to the numerical display. Display return command input means,
A gas meter further provided. 3. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein, when the character information is displayed on the display unit, the display data generation unit performs a certain period of time after the display of the character information is started. A gas meter further comprising a numerical value display automatic return means for canceling the display of the character information and automatically returning to the display of the numerical value display after elapse. 4. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein said display means further comprises at least one of characters and pictograms, pictographs, and numerals using a fixed pattern that can be displayed or not displayed. Display means capable of displaying any one of the characters, and the display data generating means further includes at least one of characters and pictograms, pictographs and numbers using a fixed pattern that can be displayed or not displayed. A display data for causing the display means to display the data. 5. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein the display unit further includes a display area using at least one set of a second type of segment formed by combining a pattern different from the segment. Wherein the display data generating means further generates display data for performing display using the segment of the display means in the second format. 6. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein the display unit further includes a display area using at least one set of dot patterns different from the segments, separately from the segments. The gas meter, wherein the display data generation means further generates display data for performing display in the display area of the display means. 7. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein the display data generating means is further predetermined so as to correspond one-to-one with the content indicated by the character information instead of the character information. A gas meter for generating display data for displaying code information on said display means.