JP2007139487A - Operating status indication method for gas meter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operating status indication method for a microcomputer gas meter which allows the recognition of whether a reset safety confirmation operation has just begun or is about to terminate at a glance. <P>SOLUTION: At the time of a reset safety confirmation operation for the microcomputer gas meter 1, an LED 9 is driven to blink one time each at intervals of two seconds (ta) in the first section T11, is driven to blink two times each in a cycle of 0.5 second (tb) at intervals of two seconds in the next second section T12, and is driven to blink three times each in a cycle of 0.5 second at intervals of two seconds in the last third section T13. After the termination of the reset safety confirmation operation, the LED 9 is driven to blink three times in a cycle of one second. The number of blinking allows immediate recognition of whether the reset safety confirmation operation has just begun or is about to terminate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, when the shutoff valve is closed and the gas supply is forcibly shut off, when the return button is operated to return the shutoff valve to the open state, the LED or the like is informed that the return safety confirmation operation is being performed. The present invention relates to a method for displaying an operating state of a gas meter that is blinked and visually displayed.

  The so-called microcomputer gas meter with a built-in microcomputer controller constantly monitors the gas usage. When an abnormality such as a gas leak is detected, the shutoff valve is closed to forcibly shut off the gas supply. It has become. In order to return the forcibly shut off gas meter to its original state, the gas meter is provided with a return button. When the return button is operated, the controller returns the shut-off valve to the open state and resumes the gas supply. Further, during the return operation, a return safety check operation is performed for a certain period of time to check whether there is a gas leak on the downstream side or whether there is a gas appliance forgotten to close. In order to visually inform the operator that the gas meter is in the return safety confirmation operation, the LED, the liquid crystal display screen, and the like are driven to blink at a constant cycle, for example, a 2-second cycle.

  Such a blinking drive with a constant cycle has a problem that the operator who sees it cannot understand whether the return safety confirmation operation has just started or is about to end.

Here, in Patent Document 1, it is sensed that the period of the return safety confirmation operation is approaching the end by shortening or lengthening the blinking cycle of the display means toward the end of the period of the return safety confirmation operation. There has been proposed a gas meter display device that can be grasped automatically.
JP 2003-14523 A

  In the display form by the display device of the above-mentioned patent document, it can be seen that the blinking interval is gradually shortened or gradually lengthened when the blinking state is continuously observed. You can see that the end of the year is approaching. However, it is not possible to intuitively grasp whether the return safety confirmation operation has just started, whether it is in the middle of it, or whether it is near the end, by simply glancing at the blinking state. Therefore, there is still a problem to be solved that it is difficult to understand whether the return safety confirmation operation has just started or is nearing the end.

  In view of these points, the object of the present invention is to display the operation state of the gas meter, which can be intuitively understood by simply glance at the display state, for example, whether the return safety confirmation operation has just started or will soon end. To propose a method.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides that a predetermined safety meter is operating for a certain period of time when a return button for returning a closed shut-off valve to an open state is operated. In the gas meter operation state display method for visually displaying a blink pattern, the number of blinks blinking at a predetermined cycle at a predetermined interval from the start point to the end point of the return safety confirmation operation period as the blink pattern. Accordingly, a flashing pattern that gradually increases or decreases is employed.

  For example, it is possible to adopt a blinking pattern in which the number of blinks blinking at a cycle of 0.5 seconds at intervals of 2 seconds is set to once, then blinks twice, and then blinks three times. The lighting time width at the time of blinking can be set to 0.01 seconds, for example. If such a flashing pattern is adopted, the flashing is repeated many times every 2 seconds near the end of the return safety check operation period, so that the operator who sees it immediately ends the return safety check operation. You can understand that you are approaching. Conversely, if the number of blinks every 2 seconds is one or two, it can be immediately understood that the return safety confirmation operation has just started.

  Here, the number of blinks can be set to one at the start time, and can be increased by the same number toward the end time. On the contrary, the number of blinks may be plural at the start time and decreased by the same number toward the end time.

  In addition, the interval can be gradually increased or decreased gradually from the start time to the end time. According to the above example, the 2-second interval is gradually shortened or lengthened. For example, when the time is gradually shortened, since the flashing operation is performed many times during a narrow interval at the end of the return safety confirmation operation period, it can be immediately understood that the period is about to end.

  Furthermore, the blinking cycle can be gradually lengthened or gradually shortened from the start time to the end time. According to the above example, the 0.5 second period is gradually shortened or lengthened.

  Furthermore, each lighting time width in the blinking pattern can be gradually lengthened or gradually shortened from the start time to the end time.

  Next, the return safety confirmation operation period may be divided into a plurality of sections, and the number of blinks may be gradually increased or decreased for each section.

  Similarly, the period of the return safety confirmation operation can be divided into a plurality of sections, and the interval can be gradually increased or decreased for each section.

  In addition, the period of the return safety confirmation operation can be divided into a plurality of sections, and each lighting time width in the blinking pattern can be gradually increased or decreased for each section.

  Next, only the light emitting lamps such as LEDs may be driven to blink by the blinking pattern. However, if the display segments or the display screen such as the light emitting lamps and the liquid crystal display are simultaneously blinked, it is easier for the operator to understand. Become.

  In this case, both may be synchronized and flashed in the same flashing pattern, but it is also possible to drive these light-emitting lamps and the display segment or display screen to flash in different flashing patterns.

  Next, in order to clearly indicate to the operator that the return safety confirmation operation has been completed, it is desirable to visually display that the end point has been reached using a blinking pattern different from the blinking pattern.

  On the other hand, the gas meter of the present invention employs the above-described method and visually displays that the return safety confirmation operation is in progress.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to immediately visually recognize whether the return safety confirmation operation has just started or is nearing the end by observing the blinking pattern.

  An example of a microcomputer gas meter to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a microcomputer gas meter to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a schematic functional block diagram of the controller. Referring to these drawings, the microcomputer gas meter 1 includes a controller 2 mainly composed of a microcomputer, and a signal representing a measured value of the gas flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 3 is supplied to the controller 2. Is done. The flow rate sensor 3 is disposed in a gas passage (not shown) connecting the gas inlet port 5 and the outlet port 6 of the gas meter main body 4, and the flow rate of the gas flowing therethrough is measured.

  The controller 2 calculates various gas flow integrated values based on the measured gas flow rate. The calculated integrated value may be selectively displayed numerically on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device 7. The calculation result is also stored in the built-in memory of the controller 2 and is read out to the side of the meter reading device such as a handy terminal (not shown) connected to the terminal block 8 at the time of meter reading. Further, the controller 2 is connected to a display unit having an LED 9, and the LED 9 is driven to blink according to the operation state of the gas meter 1. In addition, the microcomputer gas meter 1 of this example is equipped with the battery power supply 10 as a drive power supply.

  Here, an unillustrated gas passage is provided with a shutoff valve 11 for forcibly shutting off the gas passage. When the shut-off determination unit 21 of the controller 2 detects that an abnormality such as a gas leak has occurred based on the measurement result of the gas flow rate or the like, the shut-off valve 11 is shut off to indicate that an abnormal situation has occurred. Displayed on the display device 7. Also, an abnormality alarm is transmitted to, for example, a centralized monitoring sensor (not shown) via a communication line (not shown) connected to the terminal block 8.

  The shut-off valve 11 that is forcibly shut off can be returned to an open state by pressing a return button 12. When the return button 12 is pressed, the return control unit 22 of the controller 2 returns the shut-off valve 11 to the open state. At the same time, a return safety check operation is performed to check whether or not a gas leak has occurred on the downstream side of the microcomputer gas meter 1 for a certain period (for example, one minute) immediately after the return button 12 is pressed. During this return safety confirmation operation, in order to notify that the operation is being performed, the display control unit 23 of the controller 2 drives the liquid crystal display device 7 and / or the LED 9 to blink in a predetermined blinking pattern. When the liquid crystal display device 7 is driven to blink, the entire display screen may be driven to blink, or one or more of the display segments may be driven to blink.

  FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the return safety confirmation operation performed under the control of the controller 2. If an abnormality such as gas leakage is detected in the normal mode in which the microcomputer gas meter 1 is measuring the gas flow rate (time T1), the shutoff valve is forcibly shut off and the gas supply is stopped. While the shutoff valve 11 is shut off, the LED 9 continues to blink at a constant cycle, and a predetermined error message is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display device 7. The operator looks at error messages and the like displayed on the liquid crystal display device 7 to perform recovery work, confirms safety, and presses the return button 12 (time T2).

  When the return button 12 is pressed, the shutoff valve 11 is returned to the open state, and the gas supply is resumed. When the gas supply is resumed, a return safety confirmation operation for confirming whether or not an abnormality such as a gas leak has disappeared starts (time T2). During the return safety confirmation operation, the LED 9 is driven to blink in a predetermined blinking pattern to visually notify the operator that the return safety confirmation operation is being performed. When the return safety confirmation operation ends (time T3), the microcomputer gas meter 1 returns to the normal mode. Here, the return safety confirmation operation period (T2 to T3) of this example is 1 minute, and the blinking pattern of the LED is the first section T11 for the first 40 seconds and the second section T12 for the next 10 seconds. And the remaining 10 seconds of the third section T13 are set differently. Further, in order to display the end of the return safety confirmation operation, the LED 9 is driven to blink in another blinking pattern during a period T14 from the time point T3 to a predetermined time.

  FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the blinking pattern of the LED 9 in each section. The blinking pattern will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. First, in the blink pattern of this example, the number of blinks blinking at a predetermined interval ta, for example, a 2 second interval (2000 ms) and a period tb of 0.5 second (500 ms) ends from the start time T2 of the return safety confirmation operation period. As it goes to time T3, it increases for each section. In this example, the LED is turned on once in the first section T11 including the start time point T2, and once every 2 seconds, in a constant lighting time width Pwa, in this example, 0.01 seconds (10 ms) (FIG. 4 ( a)). In the second section T12, the LEDs are lit twice with the same lighting time width Pwa (= 10 ms) every two seconds. In the third section T13, the LED lights up with the same lighting time width Pwa (= 10 ms) three times every two seconds. Further, after the end time T3, the lighting time width Pwb which is sufficiently longer than the lighting time width Pwa, for example, the time width of 1 second (1000 ms) is lighted three times in a cycle of 2 seconds, and the return safety confirmation operation Notify that has ended. The number of times of lighting may be one time or four times or more.

  Here, the number of times of blinking, that is, the number of times of lighting, can be gradually decreased so that it is three times in the first section T11, two times in the second section T12, and once in the third section T13. In addition, the number of lighting can be increased or decreased by a plurality. For example, the lighting may be performed once in the first section T11, three times in the second section T12, and five times in the third section T13. Conversely, the number of times of lighting can be reduced by two. Further, the number of sections is not limited to three sections, and may be two sections or four sections or more.

  Further, the interval ta may be increased or decreased for each section. In the above example, the interval ta is fixed at 2 seconds. For example, the interval ta is 4 seconds in the first interval T11, the interval ta is 3 seconds in the second interval T12, and the interval ta is set in the third interval T13. It can be 2 seconds. Conversely, the interval ta may be gradually increased.

  Furthermore, the blinking period tb and / or each lighting time width Pwa can be sequentially increased or decreased sequentially for each section.

  Next, in this example, only the LED 9 is used to indicate that the return safety confirmation operation is being performed, but the LED 9 and the liquid crystal display device 7 can also be driven to blink.

  FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing an example in which both are driven in synchronization with the same blinking pattern. In this example, the lighting time width Pwa of the LED 9 is 10 ms, the lighting time width Pwc of the liquid crystal display device 7 is 200 ms, and is the same in each of the sections T11, T12, and T13. Further, in the section T14 after the return safety confirmation operation is completed, only the LED 9 is driven to blink three times. Here, the blinking drive of the liquid crystal display device 7 may be the blinking drive of the entire screen, or the blinking drive of only one or a plurality of display segments. Moreover, you may drive LED and a liquid crystal display device with a different blink pattern.

  In this example, an LED and a liquid crystal display device are used as the display means. However, other light emitting lamps can be used. Also, instead of using a single LED, a plurality of LEDs are synchronized and driven with the same blinking pattern, or a plurality of LEDs are driven with a different blinking pattern and a return safety confirmation operation is in progress. May be displayed.

  As described above, in the microcomputer gas meter 1 of the present example, during the return safety confirmation operation, the LED 9 or the LED 9 and the liquid crystal display device 7 are driven to blink, and this is visually displayed. Further, the blinking drive pattern divides the period of the return safety confirmation operation into three sections, and repeats blinking once every 2 seconds (= ta) in the first section T11, and 0.5 seconds every 2 seconds interval in the second section T12. Flashing is repeated twice every second, and in the third section T13, flashing is repeated three times every 0.5 seconds at intervals of 2 seconds. Therefore, by confirming the number of blinks, it can be recognized with a glance whether the return safety confirmation operation has just started or is nearing the end.

It is a schematic block diagram of the microcomputer gas meter to which this invention is applied. It is a functional block diagram of the controller of the microcomputer gas meter of FIG. It is a timing chart of return safety check operation. (a)-(d) is a timing chart which shows the blink pattern of LED in each area. (a)-(d) is a timing chart which shows the blink pattern of LED and a liquid crystal display device.

Explanation of symbols

1 microcomputer gas meter 2 controller 3 flow sensor 4 gas meter body 5 inlet port 6 outlet port 7 liquid crystal display device 8 terminal block 9 LED
10 battery power supply 11 shut-off valve 12 return button T2 start time T3 of return safety confirmation operation end time T11 of return safety check operation T11 first section T12 second section T13 third section T14 fixed time section ta interval tb blinking period Pwa, Pwb , Pwc lighting duration

Claims (14)

When the return button for returning the closed shut-off valve to the open state is operated, the gas meter operation state display method visually displays in a predetermined blinking pattern that the gas meter is in a return safety confirmation operation for a certain period of time. In
As the blinking pattern, a blinking pattern in which the number of blinks blinking at a predetermined cycle at a predetermined interval gradually increases or gradually decreases from the start point to the end point of the return safety confirmation operation period. An operation state display method of a gas meter characterized by the above. In claim 1,
The gas meter operation state display method characterized in that the number of blinks is set to one at the start time and is increased by the same number toward the end time. In claim 1,
The gas meter operation state display method characterized in that the number of blinks is a plurality of times at the start time point and is decreased by the same number toward the end time point. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
An operation state display method for a gas meter, characterized in that the interval is gradually lengthened or gradually shortened from the start time to the end time. In any one of claims 1 to 4,
An operation state display method for a gas meter, characterized in that the cycle is gradually lengthened or gradually shortened from the start time to the end time. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
An operation state display method for a gas meter, characterized in that each lighting time width in the blinking pattern is gradually lengthened or gradually shortened from the start time to the end time. In any one of claims 1 to 6,
Dividing the return safety confirmation operation period into a plurality of sections,
An operation state display method for a gas meter, wherein the number of blinks is gradually increased or decreased for each section. In any one of claims 1 to 7,
Dividing the return safety confirmation operation period into a plurality of sections,
An operation state display method for a gas meter, characterized in that the interval is gradually increased or decreased for each section. In any one of claims 1 to 8,
Dividing the return safety confirmation operation period into a plurality of sections,
An operation state display method for a gas meter, characterized in that a blinking cycle in the blinking pattern is gradually increased or shortened for each section. In any one of claims 1 to 9,
Dividing the period of the return safety confirmation operation into a plurality of sections,
An operation state display method for a gas meter, characterized in that each lighting time width in the blinking pattern is gradually increased or shortened for each section. In any one of claims 1 to 10,
An operation state display method for a gas meter, wherein a light emitting lamp such as an LED and a display segment or a display screen such as a liquid crystal display are driven to blink according to the blink pattern. In claim 11,
An operation state display method for a gas meter, wherein the light-emitting lamp and the display segment or display screen are driven to blink in different blink patterns. In any one of claims 1 to 12,
A gas meter status display method, wherein the end point is visually displayed by a flashing pattern different from the flashing pattern.   14. A gas meter characterized by visually displaying that the return safety confirmation operation is being performed by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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