JP2001159552A - Gas meter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas meter displaying a state of the meter only when necessity arises, reduce power consumption. SOLUTION: This gas meter has a gas flow measurement sensor 1 detecting a gas flow rate; a microcomputer 2 calculating an integrated value of the gas flow rate on the basis of detection output from the gas flow measurement sensor 1; a display part 3 displaying the state of the meter including the integrated value of the gas flow rate calculated by the microcomputer 2; a display start switch 4 outputting a display start signal for the display part 3; and a communication IF(interface) circuit 5 receiving a display start signal from the outside. The microcomputer 2 starts the display part 3 displaying on the basis of the display start signal from the display start switch 4 or the display start signal received by the communication IF circuit 5 to bring the display part 3 into a lighting state, and controls the display part 3 such that the display part 3 is in a turning-off state or in a dim lighting state after a prescribed time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas meter, and more particularly to a gas meter for displaying an integrated value of a gas flow rate and the like on a display means operated by a power supply such as a battery.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional gas meter uses a liquid crystal display as a display unit and displays the state of the meter (for example, integrated value,
Error information, etc.) is displayed, but since it is always displayed, the power consumed by the liquid crystal display increases.

[0003]

However, the gas meter is stored in a meter box or the like, and the display itself is hardly seen. In addition, it is considered that the user who is installing the gas meter rarely sees the display. Furthermore, direct viewing of the display of the gas meter by a centralized monitoring system or the like has been reduced.

[0004] From the above, in the gas meter,
It seems that it is not necessary to always display the state of the meter. However, in order to be able to easily check the state of the meter, the display of the meter cannot be eliminated, and the state of the meter must be displayed in some form.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a gas meter capable of displaying the state of the meter only when necessary and reducing power consumption.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above objects, a gas meter according to the first aspect of the present invention has a gas flow detecting means for detecting a gas flow rate, and a gas flow rate detecting means for detecting a gas flow rate based on a detection output from the gas flow rate detecting means. Calculating means for calculating the integrated value of the gas flow rate; display means for displaying a state of the meter including the integrated value of the gas flow rate calculated by the calculating means; display start means for outputting a display start signal of the display means; Communication means for receiving a display start signal from the display means, and based on the display start signal from the display start means or the display start signal received by the communication means, causes the display means to start displaying and turn on, and after a predetermined time Control means for controlling the light-off state or the light-on state.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the gas flow detecting means detects the gas flow. The calculation means calculates an integrated value of the gas flow rate based on the detection output from the gas flow rate detection means. The display means displays a state of the meter including the integrated value of the gas flow rate calculated by the calculation means. The display start means outputs a display start signal of the display means. The communication means
Receives an external display start signal. The control means controls the display means to start displaying the light based on the display start signal from the display start means or the display start signal received by the communication means, to turn on the light, and to turn off or light the light after a predetermined time. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gas meter, comprising: a gas flow rate detecting means for detecting a gas flow rate; an arithmetic means for calculating an integrated value of a gas flow rate based on a detection output from the gas flow rate detecting means; Display means for displaying the state of the meter including the integrated value of the gas flow rate calculated by the calculation means; display start means for outputting a display start signal of the display means; and first and second display switching signals from outside And communication means for receiving, based on the display start signal from the display start means, to start the display means to display the lighting state,
A control is performed such that the light is turned off or a light is turned on after a certain period of time, and based on the first display switching signal received by the communication means, the display of the display means is started to be continuously turned on, and the communication means is turned on. And control means for controlling the display of the display means to be in a light-off state or a light-on state based on the second display switching signal received in (1).

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the gas flow detecting means detects the gas flow. The calculation means calculates an integrated value of the gas flow rate based on the detection output from the gas flow rate detection means. The display means displays a state of the meter including the integrated value of the gas flow rate calculated by the calculation means. The display start means outputs a display start signal of the display means. The communication means
First and second display switching signals are received from outside. The control means, based on a display start signal from the display start means,
The display means is started to display and is turned on, and after a certain period of time, is controlled to be turned off or lightly turned on,
Based on the first display switching signal received by the communication means, the display on the display means is started and turned on continuously, and based on the second display switching signal received by the communication means, the display on the display means is turned off or lighted. It is controlled so as to be turned on.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gas meter according to the second aspect, the control unit is configured to perform a continuous display of the display unit based on the first display switching signal received by the communication unit. The display start signal from the display start means is invalidated, and the second
The display start signal from the display start means is made effective when the display means is turned off or lightly turned on based on the display switching signal.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the control means invalidates the display start signal from the display start means during continuous display of the display means based on the first display switching signal received by the communication means, When the display means is turned off or dimly lit based on the second display switching signal received by the communication means, the display start signal from the display start means is made valid.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gas meter according to any one of the first to third aspects, the display means comprises a liquid crystal display.

According to the present invention, the display means comprises a liquid crystal display.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the gas meter according to the fourth aspect, the display means further includes a light emitting diode, and the control means controls the operation of the gas meter while the liquid crystal display is turned off or dimly lit. The light emitting diode is controlled to blink.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the display means further includes a light emitting diode, and the control means controls the light emitting diode to blink while the liquid crystal display is in a light-off or light-on state.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the gas meter according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a gas meter according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a gas meter is a gas flow rate measuring sensor 1 as a gas flow rate detecting means.
A microcomputer 2 as arithmetic and control means, a display unit 3 as display means, a display start switch 4 as display start means, and a communication I as communication means.
An F (interface) circuit 5 and a terminal block 6 are provided. The gas meter includes components other than those described above for executing various functions, but is omitted here.

The display unit 3 is an LCD (liquid crystal display)
3a and an LED (light emitting diode) 3b. The input / output port of the microcomputer 2 is connected to the gas flow rate sensor 1, the LCD 3a, the LED 3b, the display start switch 4, and the communication IF circuit 5. The communication IF circuit 5 is connected to an external communication line (for example, a telephone line) (not shown) via the terminal block 6, and can exchange communication data with the outside (for example, a management center).

In the above configuration, first, a general operation of the gas meter will be described. Gas flow meter sensor 1
Detects the instantaneous flow rate of the gas flowing through the gas flow path at a predetermined measurement timing, and supplies a detection output to the microcomputer 2. The microcomputer 2 calculates and integrates the gas flow rate based on the detection output from the gas flow rate measurement sensor 1. The LCD 3a of the display unit 3 displays the state of the meter under the control of the microcomputer 2, such as the integrated value of the calculated gas flow rate and error information for notifying the content of the error when an error occurs in the operation of the meter. Also, the integrated value of the gas flow rate and error information are transmitted from the communication IF circuit 5 to the management center via a telephone line.

The present invention has a feature in the display operation of the display unit 3 in addition to the general operation described above. The operation is summarized as follows. That is, the LCD 3a of the display unit 3 is always turned off or is set to a thin lighting state which is thinner than that in the normal display, in order to reduce power consumption as much as possible. To check the state of the meter, a display start signal by turning on the display start switch 4 or an external signal (for example, a management center)
Based on the display start signal by receiving the communication data from
The display of the LCD 3a in the light-off state or the light-on state is started, and after the display is continued for a certain period of time, the display is switched off or turned on to be lighter than the display start.

Also, in addition to the above-mentioned display start signal, first and second display switching signals are received as communication data from the outside, and when the first display switching signal is received, the LCD of the display unit 3 is received.
The display 3a is started to be turned on continuously, and when the second display switching signal is received, the display on the LCD 3a of the display unit 3 is switched to be turned off or lighted.

When the display on the LCD 3a of the display unit 3 is off (or thin), it is difficult to determine from outside whether or not the meter is operating.
Indicates that the light emitting diode 3a is turned on (that is, blinks) at regular intervals while the LCD 3a is turned off or lightly turned on, indicating that the meter is operating.

Next, the display operation of the display unit 3 according to the present invention will be described in detail. In the manufacturing stage of the gas meter, from the reset of the microcomputer 2 to the shipment mode, the LCD 3a of the display unit 3
Is turned on by the control of. The microcomputer 2 sets the LCD 3a after a certain time from the start of the shipping mode.
Is turned off or dimly lit.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the above-described display processing. First, when the microcomputer 2 is reset (step S1), the display of the LCD 3a of the display unit 3 is started under the control of the microcomputer 2 and is turned on (step S2). Next, the microcomputer 2 determines whether or not the mode is the shipping mode (step S3). If the answer is no, the LCD 3a of the display unit 3
The lighting state of is continued. Also, if the answer is yes,
The microcomputer 12 controls the display state of the LCD 3a, and changes the display state from the lighting state to the display turning off state or the thin lighting state (step S4).

During the shipping mode, the display on the LCD 3a of the display unit 3 can be restarted by turning on the display start switch 4. That is, when the display start switch 4 is turned on, a display start signal is input to the microcomputer 2. The microcomputer 2 controls the LCD 3a that has been in the light-off state or the light-on state based on the display start signal from the display start switch 4 to return to the original display-on state.

Next, after the shipment mode is canceled, the microcomputer 2 restarts the LCD 3a, which was in the light-off state or the light-on state during the shipment mode, to the display-lighting state, and after a certain period of time, turns off the light or the light-on state again. Control so that Thereafter, based on a display start signal by turning on the display start switch 4 or a display start signal transmitted from the outside (for example, a management center) and received by the communication IF circuit 5 via the telephone line, the LCD 3a of the display unit 3
Is restarted. When the gas meter detects an error, the microcomputer 2 controls the LCD 3a of the display unit 3 to restart the display and display the error information based on the error detection. Then, when the error is cleared, the microcomputer 2 controls the display of the LCD 3a to be switched to a light-off or light-on state after a lapse of a predetermined time.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the display processing after the release of the shipping mode. First, the display start switch 4 is turned on to input a display start signal to the microcomputer 2, or a display start signal is transmitted from the outside (for example, a management center) and the communication IF circuit 5 It is received (step S11). Next, based on the display start signal, the microcomputer 2
Starts the display on the LCD 3a of the display unit 3 (step S12).

Next, the microcomputer 2 starts a display time timer (for example, a built-in timer of the microcomputer 2) (step S13). Next, the microcomputer 2 monitors the count of the display time timer and determines whether or not a certain time has elapsed (step S14). If the answer is no, the microcomputer 2 continues to monitor the count of the display time timer.

On the other hand, if the answer is yes, the microcomputer 2 determines whether or not an error has been detected (step S15). If the answer is yes, the process returns to step S13 to display error information on the LCD 3a. If the answer is no, the microcomputer 2 sets the LCD 3a
Is switched to the light-off state or the light-on state (step S16).

As described above, the LCD 3a of the display unit 3 is always turned off or is in a thin lighting state which is thinner than that in the normal display.
The power consumed by the LCD 3a can be greatly reduced.

After the release of the shipping mode, first and second display switching signals different from the above-described display start signal are transmitted as communication data from outside (for example, a management center) to transmit the display data of the display unit 3 of the gas meter. The display state of the LCD 3a can be changed. That is, the first and second display switching signals transmitted from the outside are received by the communication IF circuit 5 via the telephone line, and the microcomputer 2
When the first display switching signal is received, the LCD of the display unit 3
The display 3a is started to be turned on continuously, and when the second display switching signal is received, the display of the LCD 3a of the display unit 3 is switched to be turned off or lightly turned on.

Therefore, the LCD 3a of the display unit 3, which is normally turned off or dimly lit, is re-displayed for the convenience of the management center (for example, for inspection work of a gas meter), and is continuously lit. After that, it can be returned to the light-off or light-on state again.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a display process based on the above-mentioned communication data. First, outside (for example,
Communication data from the management center is received by the communication IF circuit 5 (step S21). Next, the microcomputer 2 determines whether the received communication data is the first display switching signal for instructing the start of display or the second display switching signal for instructing turning off (or faint lighting) of the display (step S2).
2).

If the received communication data is the first display switching signal, the microcomputer 2
D3a is started to be displayed, and after that, the light is continuously turned on after a certain period of time without being switched off (or lightly turned on) (step S23). Next, the microcomputer 2
When a display start signal is input by turning on the display start switch 4 during continuous lighting of the LCD 3a, the display start signal is not accepted and treated as invalid (step S24). Therefore, regardless of the operation of the display start switch 4, the LCD 3a of the display unit 3 keeps lighting.

On the other hand, if the received communication data is the second display switching signal, the microcomputer 2
The LCD 3a is switched from the continuous lighting state to the non-lighting or thin lighting state (step S25). Next, when a display start signal is input by turning on the display start switch 4 while the LCD 3a is turned off or lightly turned on, the microcomputer 2 accepts the display start signal and treats it as valid (step S26). . Therefore, when the display start signal is input by turning on the display start switch 4, the LCD 3 a of the display unit 3, which is turned off or dimly lit by the second display switching signal, is controlled by the microcomputer 2. Lighting is resumed, and after a lapse of a certain time, the light is turned off or turned on again.

As described above, the display state of the LCD 3a of the display unit 3 can be controlled based on the communication data from the outside. Therefore, when a battery voltage drop or the like occurs, the management center side receives the battery voltage drop information and receives the information. By turning off the LCD 3a of the display unit 3 of the gas meter or turning it off lightly, battery consumption can be suppressed.

[0037]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the power consumption of the display unit can be greatly reduced by turning on the display unit for a predetermined time only when necessary.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the display state of the display unit can be controlled based on communication data from the outside, so that when the battery voltage drops, the display unit is turned off. Battery consumption can be reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the display state of the display unit is switched by external communication data,
By disabling or enabling the display start signal from the display start means of the gas meter, if the display is started externally, the display processing is given priority to the external side, and if the light is turned off externally, the display processing is given priority to the gas meter. Display processing.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the power consumed by the LCD can be reduced.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to confirm that the gas meter is operating by blinking the LCD even when the display is off.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a gas meter according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a display process in a shipping mode in the block diagram of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a display process after releasing a shipping mode in the block diagram of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a display process based on communication data in the block diagram of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas flow measurement sensor (gas flow detecting means) 2 Microcomputer (calculation means; control means) 3 Display part (display means) 3a LCD (part of display means) 3b LED (part of display means) 4 Display start switch (Display start means) 5 Communication IF circuit (communication means)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A gas flow rate detecting means for detecting a gas flow rate, an arithmetic means for calculating an integrated value of a gas flow rate based on a detection output from the gas flow rate detecting means, and an integration of the gas flow rate calculated by the arithmetic means Display means for displaying a meter state including a value; display start means for outputting a display start signal of the display means; communication means for receiving an external display start signal; and display start signal from the display start means. Or control means for controlling the display means to start displaying the light based on the display start signal received by the communication means, to turn on the light, and to turn off or light the light after a predetermined time. And a gas meter. 2. A gas flow rate detecting means for detecting a gas flow rate, a calculating means for calculating an integrated value of a gas flow rate based on a detection output from the gas flow rate detecting means, and an integrating means for calculating the gas flow rate calculated by the calculating means. Display means for displaying a meter state including a value; display start means for outputting a display start signal of the display means; communication means for receiving first and second display switching signals from the outside; Based on the display start signal from the means, the display means is started to be displayed and turned on, and after a predetermined time, is controlled to be turned off or lightly lit, and the first display switching received by the communication means is performed. On the basis of the signal, the display of the display means is started and turned on continuously, and based on the second display switching signal received by the communication means, the display of the display means is turned off or a light spot. Gas meter being characterized in that a control means for controlling to the state. 3. The control means invalidates the display start signal from the display start means during continuous display of the display means based on the first display switching signal received by the communication means, and controls the communication. 3. The gas meter according to claim 2, wherein said display start signal from said display start means is made effective when said display means is turned off or dimly lit based on said second display switching signal received by said means. 4. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein said display means comprises a liquid crystal display. 5. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a light emitting diode, wherein the control unit controls the light emitting diode to blink while the liquid crystal display is in a light-off or light-on state. 4. The gas meter according to 4.