JP2007225452A - Measuring instrument display information protection device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a third person from looking at, without permission, a display of a measuring instrument for measuring the used amount of power, gas, water service or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The measuring instrument display information protection device 1 mounted on the measuring instrument 40 is equipped with a display part 42 for displaying a measurement result of the used amount of power, gas, water service or the like, and is also equipped with: a concealing part 10 for concealing the display part 42; a receiving part 20 for receiving a concealment releasing instruction for releasing concealment of the display part 42; and a releasing part 30 for releasing concealment of the display part 42 by the concealing part 10 when the receiving part 20 receives the concealment releasing instruction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a measuring instrument display information protection device and method for protecting information related to the display of a measuring instrument that measures the usage of electricity, gas, water, and the like.

  Conventionally, a measuring instrument that displays information related to the usage amount of power, gas, water, and the like is installed outdoors and can be viewed by a third party. The amount of electricity, gas, and water used in each house is personal information that allows you to know the living conditions of the household. For example, a third party can assume that if these usages are always low, they are living alone, and if the usage for a certain period is almost zero, the period is absent due to travel, business trips, etc. I can guess. Therefore, the information relating to the amount of use becomes privacy information that can be used to infer conditions in the house such as being at home or absent.

  By the way, in recent years, the public awareness of appropriate and strict management of personal information has been increasing, such as the enactment of a law concerning the protection of personal information (so-called Personal Information Protection Law). And as above-mentioned, since the information regarding the usage-amount of electric power, gas, and water supply can be said to be one of privacy information, appropriate and severe management is calculated | required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and measuring instrument display information that prevents a third party from seeing the display of a measuring instrument that measures the amount of power, gas, water, etc. used. It is an object to provide a protection device and method.

The first invention is a measuring instrument display information protection device used by being attached to a measuring instrument having a display unit that displays a measurement result of the usage amount of electricity, gas, water, etc.
A concealing unit capable of concealing the display unit;
A reception unit that receives a concealment release instruction for releasing the concealment of the display unit;
A release unit that releases the concealment of the display unit by the concealment unit when the accepting unit accepts the concealment release instruction;
It is a measuring instrument display information protection device characterized by comprising.

The second invention is a measuring instrument for measuring the usage of electricity, gas, water, etc.
A display unit for displaying a measurement result by the measuring instrument only when a predetermined control signal is given;
A reception unit that receives a concealment release instruction indicating that the display unit should be in a display state;
A release unit that gives the predetermined control signal to the display unit when the reception unit receives the concealment release instruction;
It is a measuring instrument with a display information protection function characterized by comprising.

3rd invention is the measuring instrument display information protection apparatus as described in 1st invention,
The measuring instrument display information protection device, wherein the concealing unit is a shielding mechanism that covers the display unit and can be mechanically opened and closed.

4th invention is the measuring instrument display information protection apparatus as described in 1st invention,
The measuring instrument display information protection device, wherein the concealing unit is a liquid crystal shutter covering the display unit.

A fifth invention is the measuring instrument display information protection device according to the first or second invention,
The concealment release instruction is a signal including an identification code,
The measuring unit display information protection device, wherein the receiving unit receives the signal and receives the concealment release instruction only when an identification code included in the signal matches a predetermined identification code.

A sixth invention is the measuring instrument display information protection device according to the fifth invention,
The measuring device display information protection device, wherein the signal is a radio signal or an optical signal.

A seventh invention is the measuring instrument display information protection device according to the first or second invention,
The measuring instrument display information protection device according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit includes a mechanical lock, and the concealment release instruction is received when a key corresponding to the lock is inserted into the lock.

  An eighth invention is a measuring instrument comprising the measuring instrument display information protection device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to prevent a third party from seeing the display of the measuring instrument which measures the usage-amounts, such as electric power, gas, and water.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in a case where the present invention is applied to a measuring instrument for measuring the power consumption of each house will be described.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a measuring instrument display information protection device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the measuring instrument display information protection device 1 of the present embodiment is a device that is used by being mounted on a measuring instrument 40 that measures the amount of electricity used at each door, etc. The unit 20 and the release unit 30 are provided.

  The concealment unit 10 conceals the display unit 42. As a result, a third party who is neither a meter reading person nor a user of the electric power company can see the usage amount displayed on the display unit 42. The concealing unit 10 may be a physical shield that can be opened and closed, such as a door, shutter, or blind, or may be a liquid crystal shutter.

  The receiving unit 20 receives an instruction to release the concealment of the display unit by the concealing unit 10 (hereinafter referred to as “concealment release instruction”). The meter operator in charge of the electric power company reads the meter in order to confirm the amount of electric power used in each house. Usually, the display unit 42 of the meter 40 is concealed by the concealing unit 10. In view of this, the person in charge of meter reading has means for instructing the concealment cancellation to the reception unit 20, and the concealment cancellation instruction is given during meter reading so that the display unit 42 of the measuring instrument 40 can be read.

  The concealment release instruction accepted by the accepting unit 20 may be based on a predetermined password input. Moreover, it may be based on an electrical signal from a magnetic card or a contact IC card, a wireless signal from a non-contact IC card or a remote controller, an optical signal, an infrared signal, or the like. In this case, the accepting unit 20 accepts these signals as a concealment release instruction, and accepts the concealment release instruction only when the identification code included in the signal matches a predetermined identification code set in advance. Further, the reception unit 20 may be a mechanical password that rotates a dial to match a password, or may receive an instruction by inserting a predetermined key into a lock provided in the reception unit.

  The release unit 30 releases the concealment of the display unit 42 when the reception unit 20 receives the concealment release instruction. Specifically, when the concealing unit 10 is a shutter, the shutter is wound up and moved from the front surface of the display unit 42, and when it is a blind, it is parallel to the display surface of the display unit 42. The blind is rotated. When the concealing unit 10 is a liquid crystal shutter, the release unit 30 is a switch that switches between transmission and blocking of light of the liquid crystal shutter.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the weighing instrument display information protection device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

  FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a measuring instrument 40 to which the measuring instrument display information protection device 1 is attached. FIG. 2B is a measuring instrument display information protection device provided with a blind as the concealing unit 10. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the measuring instrument 40 is mounted, and FIG. 2C is a diagram for explaining an operation of a blind provided in the measuring instrument display information protection device 1 of the present embodiment. . That is, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the weighing instrument display information protection device 1 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the concealing unit 10 includes a blind 103. In this embodiment, the weighing instrument 40 is covered with a cover 101 in which a transparent window 102 is provided at a portion corresponding to the display unit 42, and a blind 103 is mounted inside the window 102 of the cover 101. By attaching the blind 103 to the inside of the window 102, it is possible to prevent the display unit 42 from being looked into by forcibly opening the blind 103 from the outside. In this embodiment, the lock unit 201 is provided as the reception unit 20, and the meter reading person can instruct concealment cancellation by inserting a key into the lock 201. By this concealment release instruction, as shown in FIG. 2C, the blind 103 that is parallel to the display surface of the display unit 42 rotates, and the concealed display unit 42 becomes visible from the outside. .

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the measuring instrument display information protection apparatus 1 including the liquid crystal shutter 104 as the concealing unit 10 and the measuring instrument 40 to which the measuring instrument display information protection apparatus 1 is attached. In the embodiment of FIG. 3 as well, the weighing instrument 40 is covered with a cover 101 in which a transparent window 102 is provided at a portion corresponding to the display portion 42, and a liquid crystal shutter as the concealing portion 10 is provided inside the window 102 of the cover 101. 104 is attached. In FIG. 3, the receiving unit 20 is not shown, but it may be one that receives an electrical signal, a radio wave signal, or an optical signal as described above. A mechanical password may be used, and a lock that is unlocked by inserting a key may be used.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another measuring instrument display information protection device 1 including a liquid crystal shutter 105 as the concealing unit 10. In this embodiment, the measuring instrument display information protection device 1 is not attached to the measuring instrument cover but directly attached to the measuring instrument 40 to cover the display unit 42. Further, as described above, the receiving unit 20 may be an electric signal or optical signal receiving unit, or various methods such as a mechanical password and a lock are possible.

  2 to 4, when the measuring instrument 40 is an inductive measuring instrument, the power usage status can be estimated from the rotating state of the rotating disk. The disk should also be concealed.

  As described above, according to the measuring instrument display information protection device 1 of the present embodiment described with reference to various examples, the display unit 42 of the measuring instrument 40 is normally hidden from a third party and the electric power provider is in charge of meter reading. If a person has means such as a password, an IC card, a remote controller, a personal identification number, or a key to cancel the concealment and cancels the concealment at the time of meter reading, the meter reading operation can be performed. In addition, when the power user needs to grasp the amount of power used, the power user may also possess the concealment release means. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent a third party who does not have the concealment release means from peeping at the display unit of the measuring instrument without permission, and to appropriately collect personal information regarding the power consumption. While protecting, it is possible for the person in charge of meter reading or the power user to read the power usage amount from the display unit 42 of the measuring instrument 40.

  FIG. 5 is an overall configuration diagram of a measuring instrument 2 with a display protection device according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the measuring instrument with a display protection device 2 according to the present embodiment is configured by a liquid crystal display in which the display unit 42 is configured to be able to turn on and off the display according to a control signal from the outside. In normal times, the liquid crystal display is turned off so that the third party cannot see the power consumption displayed by the measuring instrument 2 without permission.

  The accepting unit 20 accepts the concealment release instruction in the same manner as the measuring instrument display information protecting apparatus 1. When the receiving unit 20 receives the concealment release instruction, a control signal indicating that the liquid crystal display should be turned on is supplied to the liquid crystal display constituting the display unit 42. The display unit 42 receives the control signal and displays the amount of power used on the liquid crystal. The display by the display unit 42 may be automatically turned off when a predetermined time has elapsed after the receiving unit 20 receives the control signal, or the receiving unit 20 issues a concealment start instruction. In response, the display may be turned off by supplying a control signal indicating that the liquid crystal display should be turned off to the display unit 42.

  As with the measuring instrument display information protecting apparatus 1, the measuring instrument with a display protecting apparatus 2 normally turns off the display by the display unit 42 of the measuring instrument 40 to conceal the power consumption from a third party. By displaying the power consumption at the time of meter reading, the meter operator in charge of the power company has means such as a password, IC card, remote control, password, or key to release the above concealment (display off state). The meter reading work can be made possible.

  In addition, the description of the above embodiment is for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention. It goes without saying that the present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and that the present invention includes equivalents thereof. For example, the measuring instrument for measuring the amount of power used in the present embodiment has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be similarly applied to a water meter, a gas measuring instrument, and the like.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a weighing instrument display information protection device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st Example of the measuring instrument display protection apparatus 1 of this embodiment, and Fig.2 (a) is a perspective view which shows the measuring instrument 40 which is the mounting | wearing object of the measuring instrument display information protection apparatus 1. FIG. 2 (b) is a perspective view showing a state in which the measuring instrument display information protection device 1 of this embodiment is mounted on the measuring instrument 40, and FIG. 2 (c) shows the measuring instrument display information protection device 1 of this embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the blind provided. It is a perspective view which shows the 2nd Example of the measuring device information display protection apparatus of this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the 3rd Example of the measuring device information display protection apparatus of this embodiment. It is a whole block diagram of the measuring device 2 with a measuring device display information protection apparatus which is another embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Measuring instrument display information protection apparatus 2 Measuring instrument 10 with a measuring instrument display information protection apparatus Concealment part 20 Reception part 30 Release | release part 40 Measuring instrument 42 Display part 101 Cover 102 Cover window 103 Blind 104 Liquid crystal shutter 105 Liquid crystal shutter 201 Lock

Claims (9)

In the measuring instrument display information protection device used by attaching to a measuring instrument with a display unit that displays the measurement results of the usage amount of electricity, gas, water, etc.
A concealing unit capable of concealing the display unit;
A reception unit that receives a concealment release instruction for releasing the concealment of the display unit;
A release unit that releases the concealment of the display unit by the concealment unit when the accepting unit accepts the concealment release instruction;
A measuring instrument display information protection device comprising: In measuring instruments that measure usage of electricity, gas, water, etc.
A display unit for displaying a measurement result by the measuring instrument only when a predetermined control signal is given;
A reception unit that receives a concealment release instruction indicating that the display unit should be in a display state;
A release unit that gives the predetermined control signal to the display unit when the reception unit receives the concealment release instruction;
A measuring instrument with a display information protection function. In the measuring instrument display information protection device according to claim 1,
The measuring instrument display information protection device, wherein the concealing unit is a shielding mechanism that covers the display unit and can be mechanically opened and closed. The measuring instrument display information protection device according to claim 1,
The measuring instrument display information protection device, wherein the concealing unit is a liquid crystal shutter covering the display unit. In the measuring instrument display information protection device according to claim 1 or 2,
The concealment release instruction is a signal including an identification code,
The measuring instrument display information protection apparatus, wherein the receiving unit receives the signal and receives the concealment release instruction only when an identification code included in the signal matches a predetermined identification code. In the measuring instrument display information protection device according to claim 5,
The measuring instrument display information protection device, wherein the signal is a radio signal or an optical signal. In the measuring instrument display information protection device according to claim 1 or 2,
The measuring instrument display information protection device, wherein the receiving unit includes a mechanical lock, and receives the concealment release instruction when a key corresponding to the lock is inserted into the lock.   A measuring instrument comprising the measuring instrument display information protection device according to claim 1. In the measuring instrument display information protection method for protecting the display content by the display unit in the measuring instrument having a display unit that displays the result of measuring the usage amount of electricity, gas, water, etc.,
A concealing step of concealing the display unit;
A concealment releasing step of accepting an instruction to release the concealment of the display unit and releasing the concealment of the display unit in the concealment step;
A measuring instrument display information protection method comprising:

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