KR100324493B1 - Central Controller for Remote Metering System and Its Control Method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a central controller for a remote meter reading system and a control method thereof, and in the related art, the central controller is capable of reading only in an indoor control device connected to one single-phase transformer in the same manner so that at least one independent transformer is located at the same place. If there is a central controller as much as the number of transformers, the installation cost is increased, and multiple central controllers must be installed, so the space required for installation must be secured, and a three-phase four-wire transformer cannot be connected. there was.

Therefore, the present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and includes a plurality of power line modems in a central controller so that not only one single-phase transformer but also a plurality of independent transformers are installed. By providing a device and a control method thereof which can be connected to a wire-type transformer, even if only one central controller is installed, the installation cost is reduced by performing the same operation as in the prior art, and there is no difficulty in securing the space required for the installation, and communication of power lines Since the state changes from time to time, the communication success rate is analyzed to perform the meter reading in the best communication time zone, and if the meter reading fails, the meter reading time is reset and the meter is read again, thereby improving the metering efficiency and communication reliability.

Description

Central controller for remote meter reading system and its control method

The present invention relates to a central controller for a remote meter reading system and a control method thereof. In particular, in a remote meter reading system using a 220 V power line as a communication medium, the meter is automatically connected to three single phase and one three phase power lines. The present invention relates to a central controller for a remote meter reading system for storing meter reading results and a control method thereof.

In general, each household is equipped with a meter for measuring the amount of electricity, gas, and water, etc. In order to measure the amount of use of these meters, the meter reader visits each door on a regular basis every month. Therefore, it takes a lot of time to read the meter, and the meter reader misreads the meter, causing a charge dispute due to unfair collection of usage fee, and also caused by various factors such as the occurrence of crime pretending to be the meter and the increase of labor cost. There has been a growing demand for remote metering devices to meter the usage of meters installed in each home via wired or wireless media.

As proposed in order to solve such a demand, as shown in FIG. 1, the remote meter reading system is mainly composed of a meter reading computer, a data collecting device and a household terminal device, and the meter reading computer is mainly used in a management room of a large-scale assembly house such as an apartment. Installed in the system, and the household terminal is installed in each household, and is connected to a plurality of meters to read and store the usage of each meter, and the data collection device is connected to a plurality of household terminals, the meter reading computer It is responsible for the data relay function between the terminal and the generation terminal device.

In addition, the remote meter reading system includes a telephone line communication method, a dedicated line communication method, a wireless communication method and a power line communication method according to transmission media connecting the devices. The telephone line communication method is the most common communication method in a remote meter reading system. A telephone line installed in each home is used as a communication medium, and the dedicated line communication method has a disadvantage in that a large installation cost is required by embedding a separate communication line for communication between devices, and the wireless communication method is separate. The system configuration is simple because no communication line is required, but there are many limitations in securing the use frequency, and there are many disadvantages in communication in an area or underground where buildings are crowded, and the power line communication method uses a low voltage power line of 220 volts. If there is an area where electricity is supplied through a communication medium, One possible communication, the line attenuation of the characteristic signal simhamyeo, and also the impedance is changed depending on the load connected to the power line as well as the line has a sensitivity to a short transmission distance disadvantages due to influence of noise.

In general, single-phase or three-phase transformers are the mainstream transformers for supplying electricity to homes. In some cases, two or three single-phase transformers are installed in one place. Should be.

Figure 1 is a simplified view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a conventional remote meter reading system, a metering computer 10 is installed in the management office operating the system as shown, the central controller 20 is located in the electrical room It is installed in a position close to the transformer 40 and connected to the low voltage power line 50 on the secondary side of the transformer 40, the indoor control device 30 is connected to the same low voltage power line 50 as the central controller 20. The meter is installed at the same location as the meter so as to read and store the usage of various meters (not shown) installed in each home.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the central controller in FIG. 1, comprising: a ROM 24 storing a program relating to the operation of the apparatus as shown therein; RAM 25 which is a storage area for data; A serial communication unit (23) for transmitting a command from an upper meter reading computer (10) to a central processing unit (CPU) (21) and sending a response from the central processing unit (21) to the meter reading computer (10); Converts the command received from the central processing unit 21 into serial data, converts serial data received from a frequency shift mode modem (hereinafter referred to as "FSK modem") 27 into parallel data, and converts the FSK modem ( 27) a general purpose synchronous / asynchronous transceiver (hereinafter referred to as "USART") 26 for supplying a clock signal necessary for communication of the communication and an interrupt signal so that the data can be read by the central processing unit 21 when receiving data; The serial data signal received from the USART 26 is modulated and transmitted to the power amplifier 28. The data received by the power amplifier 28 is demodulated and converted into a serial signal. An FSK modem 27 for outputting; The signal modulated by the FSK modem 27 is amplified and transmitted to the coupler 2A, and the signal from the indoor controller 30 received through the coupler 2A is amplified and transmitted to the FSK modem 27. A power amplifier 28; A coupler (2A) which transmits the signal amplified by the power amplifier (28) to the power line (50), extracts the signal input through the power line (50), and transmits the signal to the power amplifier (28); A power supply unit 29 for supplying operating power to the apparatus; A sickle gate 2B which inverts a signal transmitted to the FSK modem 27 and supplies it to the power amplifier 28 when the central processing unit 21 controls the data transmission mode; The ROM 24, the RAM 25, and the USART 26 enable the address decoder 22 to enable the operation of the conventional device configured as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2, when a predetermined command is input from the meter reading computer 10, the serial communication unit 23 receives it and transmits it to the central processing unit 21. The central processing unit 21 decodes it and controls the indoors. In order to send a command to the device 30, the FSK modem 27 and the power amplifier 28 are controlled in a transmission mode, and then the command is transmitted to the USART 26. The USART 26 converts the received parallel data into serial data and transmits the data to the FSK modem 27. The FSK modem 27 modulates the data and transmits the data to the power amplifier 28. 28 amplifies the signal modulated by the FSK modem 27 and sends it to the coupler 2A, which is directly loaded on the power line 50. When the data transmission is completed, the CPU 21 controls the transmission mode to switch the FSK modem 27 and the power amplifier 28 to the reception mode.

On the other hand, when the response signal modulated, amplified and output from the indoor control device 30 connected to the other side of the power line 50 is loaded on the power line 50, the central controller ( The coupler 2A of 20 extracts a response signal existing on the power line and transmits the response signal to the power amplifier 28. Since this signal is attenuated while being transmitted via the power line 50, the power amplification unit 28 amplifies enough to be recognized by the FSK modem 27 and outputs it to the FSK modem 27. When the FSK modem 27 demodulates and outputs a response signal, the FSK modem 27 receives the input signal from the USART 26 to interrupt the CPU 21 to read data, and the CPU 21 reads the predetermined data. If the data of the length is checked and there is no error, the data is transmitted to the meter reading computer 10 through the serial communication unit 23, thereby completing a series of communication processes.

As described above, in the conventional technology, the central controller can only read the indoor control device connected to the same single-phase transformer, so that when there are one or more independent transformers in the same place, the central controller must be installed as many as the number of transformers. Since the installation cost is increased and several central controllers need to be installed, the space required for installation must be secured, and a three-phase four-wire transformer has a problem that cannot be connected.

Therefore, the present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and includes a plurality of power line modems in a central controller so that not only one single-phase transformer but also a plurality of independent transformers are installed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and a control method thereof for enabling connection to a linear transformer.

Figure 1 is an exemplary view briefly showing the configuration of one embodiment of a conventional remote meter reading system.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a central controller in FIG.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of a central controller for the remote meter reading system of the present invention.

4 is an exemplary view showing the configuration of a power line modem in FIG.

5 is a flowchart illustrating operations during initial system installation of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart showing an automatic meter reading operation in accordance with the present invention.

*** Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings ***

100: ROM 110: RAM

120: central processing unit (CPU) 130: serial communication unit

130a to 130c: power line modem 131: USART

132: FSK modem 133: power amplifier

134: Sickle Gate 150: Noah Gate

140a to 140c: coupler 160: power supply

170: real-time control unit 180: address decoder

In order to achieve the above object, a configuration of a central controller for a remote meter reading system includes: a ROM storing a program related to an operation of the apparatus; RAM which is a data storage area; A central processing unit for sequentially reading the programs stored in the ROM and controlling the overall operation of the central controller; A serial communication unit for transmitting a command from an upper meter reading computer to the central processing unit (CPU) and sending a response from the central processing unit to the meter reading computer; A plurality of power line modems for modulating and amplifying a command received by the central processing unit and outputting the modulated command; A plurality of couplers for transmitting a signal modulated by the power line modem to a power line, extracting a signal input through the power line, and transmitting the signal to the power line modem; A NOA gate outputting an interrupt signal to the CPU when data is input to any one of the plurality of power line modems; A power supply unit supplying operation power to each unit of the central controller; A real-time control unit (RTC) for storing the meter reading time which is normally set and outputting an interrupt signal to the CPU when the meter reading time is reached; And the address decoder for enabling the ROM, RAM, real-time controller and power line modem.

In addition, the control method includes: a first step of receiving and storing a start address and an end address of an indoor control device during initial installation of a system, and determining whether an address search command of the indoor control device has been received; A second step of reading the address of the first indoor control device if the reception result is received in the first step, sequentially enabling a plurality of power line modems to transmit a predetermined command, and then determining whether there is a response; A third step of comparing the power line phase at the time of transmission with the power line phase at the time of reception if the response is a result of the determination in the second step, and storing the same at the address of the indoor control apparatus if the response is the same; A fourth step of determining whether the search is completed to the address of the last indoor control device after increasing the address of the indoor control device by '1' if the response of the second step is not input; If it is determined that the end of the fourth step is finished, and if not finished, the method returns to the second step and is repeatedly performed.

Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a central controller for a remote meter reading system according to the present invention, as shown therein; a ROM 100 for storing a program relating to the operation of the apparatus; RAM 110 which is a data storage area; A central processing unit (CPU) 120 for sequentially reading the programs stored in the ROM 100 and controlling the overall operation of the central controller; A serial communication unit (130) for transmitting a command from an upper meter reading computer (10) to the central processing unit (120) and sending a response from the central processing unit (120) to the meter reading computer (10); Three power line modems (130a to 130c) for modulating and amplifying the command received by the central processing unit (120); Three couplers 140a for transmitting the signals modulated by the power line modems 130a to 130c to the power line 50, extracting a signal input through the power line 50, and transmitting the signals to the power line modems 130a to 130c. ˜140c); A noah gate 150 for outputting an interrupt signal to the CPU 120 when data is input to any one of the three power line modems 130a to 130c; A power supply unit 160 for supplying operation power to each unit of the central controller; A real time control unit (RTC) for storing the meter reading time which is normally set, and outputting an interrupt signal to the central processing unit 120 to perform a meter reading operation when the meter reading time is reached; The ROM 100, the RAM 110, the real-time control unit 170, and the power line modems 130a to 130c enable the address decoder 180.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing the configuration of the power line modem in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the enable signal is received from the address decoder 180, and the command received from the CPU 120 is converted into serial data. Converts serial data received by a frequency shifted modem (hereinafter referred to as an "FSK modem") 132 into parallel data, and receives a clock signal and data required for communication of the FSK modem 132, and a central processing unit ( A general purpose synchronous / asynchronous transceiver (hereinafter referred to as "USART") 131 for supplying an interrupt signal for reading in 120; The serial data signal received from the USART 131 is modulated and transmitted to the power amplifying unit 133. The data received by the power amplifying unit 133 is demodulated and converted into a serial signal. An FSK modem 132 for outputting to; The signal modulated by the FSK modem 132 is amplified and transmitted to the couplers 140a to 140c, and the signal from the indoor control device 30 received through the coupler 140a to 140c is amplified and the FSK modem ( A power amplifier 133 for transmitting to 132; When the CPU 120 controls the data transmission mode, the CPU 120 inverts a signal transmitted to the FSK modem 132 and supplies the sick gate 134 to the power amplifier 133.

Referring to the operation process and effect of the embodiment according to the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system during initial installation of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the start address and the end address of the indoor control device 30 connected to the central controller 200 from the meter reading computer 10 during the system initial installation are illustrated. Upon receiving the address, the central controller 120 stores the address in the RAM 110 (step 1), and then receives an address search command from the meter computer 10 to the indoor controller 30 (step 2). After reading the address of the first indoor control device # 1 (step 3), the three power line modems 130a to 130c are sequentially enabled to transmit a predetermined command (step 4), and then a response is received. (Step 5), if a response is inputted, compares whether the power line phase when transmitting and the power line phase when receiving is the same (step 6). Save (step 7), and if the response is not entered, indoors After increasing the address of the control device by '1' (step 8), it is determined whether the search is completed to the address of the last indoor control device (#N) (step 9). Return to step 4 and repeat.

In addition, the steps (steps 4 to 5) may be repeated a predetermined number of times. This is because a plurality of indoor control devices (# 1 to #N) are installed, and the indoor control of the electrical wiring in the building is unknown. It is to improve the metering efficiency by reducing the number of communication attempts by accurately identifying the phase of the connected power line.

6 is a flowchart showing an automatic meter reading operation according to the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the meter reading start time received from the meter reading computer 10 at the time of initial installation of the system is stored in the real-time control unit 170, and is determined every day. The interrupt signal is output at the reading time, and the CPU 120 checks whether the interrupt signal is input from the real-time controller 170 and starts reading when the interrupt signal is input (Step 1 to Step 2). .

Meter reading is carried out every day, if the first attempted meter reading today, the central processing unit 120 resets (reset) all the reading result flag stored in the RAM 110 (Step 3 to Step 4).

Next, the central processing unit 120 sequentially reads addresses from the first indoor control device # 1 to the last indoor control device #N stored in the RAM 110 to control indoors in which the reading result is failed. Only retry the device and save the result (Step 5 to Step 11).

However, if all the indoor control devices stored in the RAM 110 of the central controller 200 are attempted to be read in step 8, it is checked whether the number of attempts to read the indoor control device that fails the reading is less than a predetermined value. If less than a predetermined number of times, repeat from step (Step 5) (Step 12), and even if there is any indoor control device that fails to read even after a predetermined number of times, the central processing unit 120 is the current time today In other words, it is determined whether it is before 24 hours (or 0 hours), and if so, the meter reading time is set again so that the meter reading can be resumed after 1 hour (Step 13 to Step 15). The reset of the meter reading time is possible only before 24 hours (or 0 hours), and if the date is changed, the changed meter reading time is reduced to the original meter reading time during the step (Step 14). In step 13), after 24 hours, the communication success rate is analyzed by the meter reading result performed every hour from 0 to 23 hours, and the time with the highest success rate is set as the new meter start time.

As described above, the central controller for the remote meter reading system of the present invention and a control method thereof may be applied to a case in which multiple single-phase transformers exist in the same place and are independent of each other by embedding a plurality of power line modems. Even if a transformer is installed, it is applicable. Even if only one central controller is installed, the installation cost is reduced by performing the same operation as in the prior art, and there is no difficulty in securing the space required for the installation. Analysis is performed to perform the meter reading in the best communication time zone, and if the meter reading fails, the meter reading time is reset and the meter is read again, thereby improving the metering efficiency and communication reliability.

Claims (3)

A ROM storing a program relating to the operation of the apparatus; RAM which is a data storage area; A central processing unit which sequentially reads the programs stored in the ROM and controls the overall operation of the central controller; A serial communication unit for transmitting a command from an upper meter reading computer to the central processing unit (CPU) and sending a response from the central processing unit to the meter reading computer; Three power line modems for modulating and amplifying a command received from the central processing unit and outputting the modulated command; Three couplers for transmitting a signal modulated by the power line modem to a power line, extracting a signal input through the power line, and transmitting the signal to the power line modem; A NOA gate outputting an interrupt signal to the CPU when data is input to any one of the three power line modems; A power supply unit supplying operation power to each unit of the central controller; A real-time control unit (RTC) for storing the meter reading time which is normally set and outputting an interrupt signal to the CPU when the meter reading time is reached; And a address decoder for enabling the ROM, RAM, real-time control unit, and power line modem. The serial receiver of claim 1, wherein the power line modem receives an enable signal from an address decoder, converts a command received from a central processing unit into serial data, and receives a serial signal received from a frequency shifted modem (hereinafter referred to as an "FSK modem"). A universal synchronous / asynchronous transceiver (hereinafter referred to as "USART") that converts data into parallel data and supplies a clock signal necessary for communication of the FSK modem and an interrupt signal to be read by the central processing unit upon receiving the data. )Wow; A FSK modem for modulating and transmitting the serial data signal received from the USART to a power amplifier, demodulating the data received by the power amplifier, converting the data into a serial signal, and outputting the serial signal; A power amplifying unit which amplifies the signal modulated by the FSK modem and transmits it to a coupler, and amplifies a signal from the indoor control device received through the coupler and transmits the signal to the FSK modem; And a sick gate for inverting a signal transmitted to the FSK modem and supplying the power amplifier to the power amplifying unit when controlling the data transmission mode in the central processing unit. A first step of receiving and storing a start address and an end address of an indoor control device during initial installation of the system, and determining whether an address search command of the indoor control device has been received; A second step of reading the address of the first indoor control device if the reception result of the first step is received, sequentially enabling three power line modems to transmit a predetermined command, and determining whether there is a response; A third step of comparing the power line phase at the time of transmission with the power line phase at the time of reception if the response is a result of the determination in the second step, and storing the same at the address of the indoor control apparatus if the response is the same; A fourth step of determining whether the search is completed to the address of the last indoor control device after increasing the address of the indoor control device by '1' if the response of the second step is not input; And a fifth step of repeating if the result of the determination of the fourth step is completed and returning to the second step if not finished.