EP0852045A1

EP0852045A1 - Device for the controlled cashless supply of electric power, gas, water or the like

Info

Publication number: EP0852045A1
Application number: EP96934568A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Franz Hans Peter Bauer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-10-08
Filing date: 1996-10-07
Publication date: 1998-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 2016-10-07
Also published as: DE59610312D1; HUP9803003A3; CZ104498A3; NO981490D0; PL326066A1; HUP9803003A2; WO1997014123A1; DE29515869U1; SI9620119A; EP0852045B1; TR199800643T2; AU7287396A; EA199800363A1; NO981490L

Abstract

To increase the manipulation safety and convenience of operation in a device for the controlled cashless supply of electric power, gas, water or the like, comprising a meter, an input panel (4), a power switch to control the supply of the power/medium, a control and evaluation circuit to control the power switch in accordance with the data provided via the input panel (4) and a display module (3) to display the relevant data from the control and evaluation circuit, it is proposed that the input panel (4) be designed for the input of codes in the form of multi-digit sequences.

Description

Description:

Device for the controlled cashless dispensing of electrical

Energy, gas, water or similar media

The present invention relates to a device for the controlled cashless delivery of electrical energy, gas, water or similar media, comprising a measuring mechanism, an input device, a circuit breaker for controlling the energy / media delivery, a control and evaluation circuit for controlling the circuit breaker according to the data entered on the input device and a display module for displaying relevant data from the control and evaluation circuit.

Such devices are used in particular for the distribution of electrical energy to end users, as z. B. is described in DE-U-295 01 116. Electrical energy or a fluid medium such as gas or water is usually sold to the end user by the utility company (electricity supply company) or network operator (e.g. municipal utility) via a certified (sealed) electricity meter or a measuring device in general. In the case of low-paying customers or in the event of special circumstances (e.g. in a laundromat, dorm, etc., where devices are operated jointly by several consumers who are not recorded in more detail), the use of a so-called prepayment device is provided, in which the customer initially pays and only then can energy decrease according to the amount paid. So far, this prepayment was mostly made by installing a coin counter at the customer.

The use of coin counters, however, has the disadvantage of the risk of breaking open, since cash is available in the device. In addition, emptying the cash cassette requires considerable personnel costs, and if the delivery price changes, there are costs for the necessary change in the tariff at each individual counter, as is also described in DE-U-94 14 345. Furthermore, such counter dispensers are also equipped with a chip or magnetic card reader as an additional device, which is mounted on the terminal block of the counter and releases the energy output after reading and checking the data stored on the data carrier. The energy supply ends when the prepaid amount is used up or the electricity supply is interrupted. The amount of energy delivered is measured by the meter and used to calculate the respective remaining credit in the additional device. The respective tariff is stored in the data carrier (e.g. magnetic card) and is also transferred when the data is read.

Although this known additional device for chip cards, which can also have a key form, already enables the prepayment procedure to be simplified considerably, there is also a risk of forgery or manipulation of the magnetic card or chip card. It is also disadvantageous that the customer has to buy the card beforehand and keep it in stock in order to ensure a continuous supply. The same applies to the operator side (EVU, Stadtwerke), who have to purchase a relatively expensive chip or magnetic card programming station and should have a supply of data carriers ready.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device which eliminates the problems mentioned and enables increased security against manipulation with simplified operation and low costs.

This object is achieved by the features specified in claim 1.

It is provided that the transmission of encodings in the form of multi-digit character strings, in particular of numbers, controls an energy output proportional to the power and its offsetting. The dispenser is programmed solely by entering a key number or character string (also letters, special characters and the like) on the input device, in particular a keyboard, the z. B. 10-digit key number represents a paid amount of money and thus results in a certain electricity or gas tax. This coding in the form of a secret number is communicated to the user after payment of a certain amount of money to the utility company or public utility, for. B. by mail by sending a letter with the special, different coding (key number) or by phone or by handing out a receipt with the appropriate coding, such as a 10-digit number sequence. This multi-digit, coded key number results in a very high level of security against manipulation, in particular since this string is calculated by the network operator with relatively simple hardware equipment, each changing according to a specific system known only to the network operator, which the customer cannot see through . For example, the first or last digit of this key number can be used to encode the released amount of money, the software or systematic check criterion for verifying the encoding determining that z. B. the number in the third position forms the difference or arithmetic sum of the fifth and eighth positions.

This coding as a character string according to a predetermined system can also contain the parameterization data for the dispensing device, namely the kWh price for high or low tariff times, credit limits, activation, pulse adjustment to the respective meter type, basic fees and other setting data. It is particularly advantageous with this systematic coding that this character string can also be entered via an interface by radio or infrared transmitter. In addition, the network operator no longer needs a programming station and no chip card stock, but can calculate the systematic character string on the computer system, which is already available, with the appropriate software and at the same time integrate it into the accounting system. Preferred embodiments result from the dependent claims.

The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment in connection with the figures. Show it:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a device according to a preferred embodiment in side view with the housing attached.

Figure 2 is a front view of the front of the device. and

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the device.

1 shows a device with a housing 1 and a measuring mechanism 2 accommodated therein, as well as a circuit breaker 7, a control and evaluation circuit 5, a data input device 4 and a display module 3. The following description refers to an electricity delivery device, but the device is also applicable to the controlled delivery of gas, water, district heating and similar media. The housing 1 adjoins a network connection area 6, which would of course be formed in a gas network by appropriate connection valves and tubes. The individual phases of the network are led from the network connection area 6 through the calibrated electricity meter 2 (e.g. a three-phase meter with pulse output; in the case of gas, a gas meter) and via the circuit breaker 7 to the network output (see FIG. 3). If the circuit breaker 7 (preferably a contactor; in the case of gas, a corresponding switching valve) is switched on, electrical energy can be drawn from the network output, which is measured by the electricity meter 2. A voltage supply, not shown, branched off at the network connection area 6 supplies the electronics of the control and evaluation circuit 5 with the necessary operating voltage. The switch position of the circuit breaker 7 is controlled by the control and evaluation circuit 5, which is preferably equipped with a microprocessor, in accordance with the data which have been read in by means of the input device 4 by entering a coded sequence of characters or numbers on the keyboard 4a. This sequence of numbers or letters, which are used for checking and also for operator guidance on the display module 3 by a z. B. 16-digit number is displayed, represents an encrypted coding or string, which in addition to the amount of money to be released, z. B. DM 20 or DM 50, may also contain other parameters such as kilowatt hour price, personal overdraft, etc.

It is important here that the customer receives a string, in particular a key number with certain coded data, from his network operator, utility company or public utility against payment (cash in advance or transfer), for example on a receipt 20 (see Fig. 3) or by telephone Paths after the RU has checked the receipt of payment. The key number is typed into the prepayment device, preferably via the keyboard 4a, and after a plausibility check, the number is transferred to the control and evaluation circuit 5. Here is z. B. the third digit of the key number for a certain amount of money, here the number 8 z. B. for DM 100 credit or credit.

After checking the character string for the operator's own system, which is also stored in the control and evaluation circuit 5, for example by an EEPROM, the circuit breaker 7 (contactor or switching valve) is activated after this verification step, which releases the electrical energy. The credit will be calculated depending on the applicable tariff, e.g. B. is coded at the seventh digit of the key number and reduced from the electrical energy removed, measured by means of the power plant 2. If the credit is zero, the circuit breaker 7 interrupts the energy supply. It can also (e.g. on weekends) granted credit (e.g. at the ninth position of the key number), each number representing a different overdraft amount, which is immediately deducted from a later credit.

If the delivery is made by time, the time, e.g. B. every ten seconds, debited in parts by a clock generator integrated in the control and evaluation circuit 5. Since the actual consumption is not included in the control system, a connection between the control and evaluation circuit 5 and the electricity measuring unit 2 (for example an S0 interface) can be dispensed with in this case.

Using the keyboard 4a and the key number or coding entered, the cashier can also be parameterized (e.g. reprogrammed the respective kWh tariff). It is of particular advantage that the utility company can block or activate the prepayment device by remote data transmission. For this purpose, an interface 10 with a receiver 14 (cf. FIG. 2) is provided on the front of the housing 1, with which data can also be entered as an encrypted character string, as with the keyboard 4a. This can be done optically, by radio or infrared. In particular in the case of radio transmission in the manner of the so-called city call or call reception, the key number / coding can be transmitted directly from the RU to the user-specific prepayment device immediately after payment, without the user having to type in the coding himself.

This interface 10 can be designed not only with the receiver 14 but also bidirectionally as a transmitter, so that the EVU can read data from the pre-payment device. This is preferably done wirelessly via radio or mobile phone, but the interface 10 can also be designed optically or as a plug contact (RS 232 serial interface) in order to enable authorized maintenance personnel to read out data on the useful life, useful life and the like. The access authorization can again be entered by entering a Secret number on the keyboard 4a. The checking software stored in the EEPROM of the control and evaluation circuit 5 can also be reprogrammed at regular intervals, although as described above, this is done centrally by the network operator via the interface 10 with the receiver 14 by remote data transmission of a special character string.

The housing 1 in FIG. 1 also encloses a common base plate 9, on which all the assemblies of the dispensing device are attached with the interposition of a mounting plate 8. As shown in the front view of FIG. 2, the display module 3 and the one equipped with a counter display

Electricity measuring device 2 can be recognized by means of two windows 11 or 12 embedded in the housing 1, so that the entered number or character string and the kWh consumption can be checked by the user. The authentication of the device can be set up in two different ways: Firstly, the electricity measuring device 2 can be a certified alternating current or three-phase meter, so that when the housing 1 is opened, the authentication of the device does not expire. On the other hand, the entire device can be certified and sealed as a unit.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the device according to the innovation in the version for controlled current delivery. In an expedient embodiment, the customer receives a receipt 20 upon payment, which contains a character string systematically calculated by the network operator's computer, here a ten-digit key number. The customer enters this key number on the input device 4, here the keyboard 4a, so that this key number can only be decrypted by the test software of the control and evaluation circuit 5 in order to at least partially unlock the corresponding, prepaid amount of money. To facilitate the entry of the coding (key number), the network operator can also send it to a handheld device 13 (see FIG. 2) after receipt of payment, which is in the customer's possession, e.g. B. a city call or Scall receiver. This hand-held device 13, which is designed anyway for receiving character or number sequences, then only needs to be held in the vicinity of the interface 10 with a suitable receiver 14 in order to transmit the key number to the control and evaluation circuit 5 (cf. FIGS. 2 and 3).

Overall, the invention results in a prepayment device with a simple construction and simple operation as well as high security against incorrect operation and manipulation. It should be noted that the input device 4, in particular the keyboard 4a, with control and evaluation circuit 5 and display module 3 and with the receiver 14 of the interface 10 also as a separate device from the electrical measuring and switching components 2 and 7 in one separate housing can be accommodated. For example, the input device 4 with the interface 10 can each be arranged in an apartment in a tenement house and can be coupled in the manner of a door intercom to the control and evaluation circuit 5 for controlling the central circuit breaker 7. According to FIG. 3, a separation in the lower third of the border shown there would be possible. The key numbers or codes can also be transmitted via optical fibers or modulated signals on power lines. Likewise, the coding can be formed by a bar code which is printed on the document 20 and then by a barcode reader as an input device 4 or interface 10 of the evaluation circuit 5 for decoding and corresponding current release of e.g. B. ten kilowatt hours is supplied.

This version is particularly suitable for retrofitting existing meter dispensers to which the device according to the innovation can then be coupled, e.g. B. as a piggyback or flange device. The display module 3 can be a simple LED display or preferably a multi-cell LCD display for operator guidance.

Claims

Claims:

1. Device for the controlled cashless delivery of electrical energy, gas, water or similar media, comprising a measuring mechanism (2), an input device (4), a circuit breaker (7) for controlling the energy / media delivery, a control and evaluation circuit ( 5) for controlling the circuit breaker (7) according to the data entered on the input device (4) and a display module (3) for displaying relevant data from the control and evaluation circuit (5), characterized in that the input device (4) for Entering codes in

Form of multi-digit strings is formed.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical / electronic components (2, 3, 4, 5, 7) are arranged on a common base plate (9) and surrounded by a common housing (1).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the character string is a multi-digit key number, which is verifiable in the control and evaluation circuit (5).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the input device (4) is designed as a keyboard (4a).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the input device (4) is designed as an interface (10) to the control and evaluation circuit (5).

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control and evaluation circuit (5) for checking the on the input device (4) entered coding has at least one stored test criterion.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the measuring mechanism (2) is a calibrated AC or three-phase meter.

8. Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the interface (10) for receiving key numbers and / or codes is controlled by radio, telephone, infrared or ultrasound.

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the interface (10) is controlled directly by the network operator.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the coding on a document (20)

^{* is} printed.

11. Device according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the input device (4) for bidirectional data exchange has a transmitter.

12. Device according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the interface (10) is coupled to a receiver (14) which controls the transmission of the coding, in particular the key sequence of numbers from a transmitter handset (13) is.