JP2008293071A - Alarm and gas security system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience of a user in advance payment type gas supply without complicating any installation environment. <P>SOLUTION: An alarm 20 installed separately from a gas meter 10 which supplies available gas corresponding to advance payment, and stops supply of gas when available quantity is turned to be zero, and warns generation of an abnormal state at the destination of the supply of gas is provided with a communication means 24 for receiving various signals from the gas meter 10; a balance warning signal detection means 21a1 for detecting a balance warning signal output when the available quantity of the gas is decreased to a predetermined value by the gas meter 10 from among a plurality of signal patterns received through the communication means 24 by the gas meter 10; and a balance warning means 21a2 for warning the decrease of a balance according to the detection of the balance warning signal by the balance warning signal detection means 21a1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an alarm device and a gas security system for warning a user of a decrease in the balance when supplying a gas corresponding to a prepaid card acquired via a prepaid card, communication, or the like.

  In the gas industry, there is known a prepaid supply control device that reliably collects gas charges and prevents the supply of useless gas. The prepaid supply control device shown in Patent Document 1 connects a gas meter and a controller via a communication line, and the controller converts the usage amount input from the gas meter into a frequency, and the card frequency stored in the prepaid card. Describes the technical idea of substituting the frequency corresponding to the amount of use from the above and giving an alarm when the residual frequency becomes zero.

Furthermore, in the gas meter shown in Patent Document 2, advance payment having a usable amount corresponding to the amount of advance payment paid by a consumer (consumer side) to a gas dealer or the like by purchase of a prepaid card, account transfer or the like. A technical idea is described in which information is taken into a memory unit in a gas meter via a communication unit and the remaining number is managed.
JP 11-316874 A JP-A-2005-43948

  However, in the prepaid supply control device shown in Patent Document 1 described above, when the remaining frequency (remaining amount) becomes zero, the gas meter shuts off the gas flow path, so that an alarm is issued when the remaining frequency becomes zero. Then, there was a problem that the user could not use it when he wanted to use it. For this reason, it has been examined whether it is possible to promptly warn of a decrease in the balance with devices that are close to the user, but new devices can be provided or the system configuration can be complicated only to solve the problem. However, the above-mentioned problems have not been solved.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described problems, the present invention has an object to provide an alarm device and a gas security system that improve the convenience of the user in the supply of prepaid gas without complicating the equipment environment. .

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the alarm device according to claim 1, which is made according to the present invention, supplies usable gas corresponding to the advance payment and the usable amount is zero as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. In the alarm device 20 that is provided separately from the gas meter 10 that stops the supply of the gas at the time when the gas is supplied, and that alerts the occurrence of an abnormal state at the supply destination to which the gas is supplied, various signals are output from the gas meter 10 And a balance output from the plurality of signal patterns received from the gas meter 10 via the communication unit 24 when the gas meter 10 decreases the usable amount of the gas to a predetermined value. A balance warning signal detecting means 21a1 for detecting a warning signal and a balance warning for warning a decrease in the balance in response to detection of the balance warning signal by the balance warning signal detecting means 21a1 Characterized in that it has a means 21a2, a.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the gas security system according to claim 2 according to the present invention comprises, as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. 1, and in the gas security system 1 in which the gas meter 10 and the alarm device 20 are directly communicably connected via a communication line 30, the gas meter 10 includes the alarm device 20. And other signal patterns used in the communication line 30 when the usable amount of the gas is reduced to a predetermined value. And a balance warning signal output means 11a1 for outputting a balance warning signal via the gas meter side communication means 13 so as to be distinguishable from each other, and the communication means 24 includes the communication means 3 Characterized in that it is a means for receiving various signals via the.

  As described above, according to the alarm device of the present invention described in claim 1, the gas meter 10 outputs a signal when the usable amount of gas decreases to a predetermined value from among a plurality of signal patterns received from the gas meter. When the balance warning signal is detected, a warning is given to the decrease in the balance, so the alarm provided at the gas supply destination can warn the user that the balance will soon be exhausted. In addition, it is possible to prevent the gas from being used due to a charge outage. In addition, since it is possible to warn with an alarm provided at the gas supply destination that is the user's living environment, there is no need to install a new warning device, and the user is required to pay the advance payment at an appropriate time. Can be urged. Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user in supplying the prepaid gas without complicating the equipment environment.

  As described above, according to the gas security system of the present invention described in claim 2, even if the gas meter and the alarm device are directly connected to be communicable with each other via a communication line, the gas meter transmits the balance warning signal to another signal. By outputting to the alarm device so that it can be identified, the alarm device can warn the user that the balance will soon be exhausted, so that it is possible to prevent the gas from becoming unavailable due to out of charge. In addition, since it is possible to warn with an alarm provided at the gas supply destination that is the user's living environment, there is no need to install a new warning device, and the user is required to pay the advance payment at an appropriate time. Can be urged. Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user in supplying the prepaid gas without complicating the equipment environment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a gas meter and a gas security system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings of FIGS.

  In FIG. 2, a gas security system 1 includes a gas meter 10 provided outdoors so as to be incorporated in a gas supply line, and a gas leak alarm provided indoors as a gas supply destination separately from the gas meter 10. Device (hereinafter also referred to as an alarm device) 20. Note that the gas supply destination is a house or the like that supplies gas, and it does not matter whether the room is provided with a combustion appliance or the like.

  The gas meter 10 has a microprocessor (MPU) 11 that operates according to a predetermined program. As is well known, the MPU 11 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11a that performs various processes and controls according to a predetermined program, a ROM 11b that is a read-only memory storing a program for the CPU 11a, and various data. And a RAM 11c, which is a readable / writable memory having an area necessary for processing operations of the CPU 11a. The ROM 11b stores a program for causing the CPU 11a to function as a balance warning signal output means in the claims.

  The gas meter 10 further includes a memory unit 12, a communication unit 13, a flow rate sensor 14, and a cutoff valve 15. Each of the memory unit 12, the communication unit 13, the flow sensor 14, and the shutoff valve 15 is electrically connected to the MPU 11.

  The memory unit 12 is capable of holding various stored data even when the power supply from the battery is cut off, and is an electrically erasable / rewritable read having various storage areas necessary for the processing operation of the CPU 11a. A dedicated memory (EEPROM) or the like is used. And the memory part 12 memorize | stores various information, such as usage time interruption | blocking division | segmentation information 51, the balance determination information 52, remaining frequency information 53, etc. other than various counters, such as a meter-reading counter.

  The usage time cut-off category information 51 indicates the relationship between a plurality of cut-off categories obtained by dividing the flow rate [l / h] or the gas consumption [kg / h] into a plurality of predetermined ranges and the determination threshold value (minutes). From the table, the shut-off classification used in the gas meter 10 and each determination threshold value are set. For example, when the gas consumption amount is less than 0.042 and the flow rate is less than 21, the determination threshold is unlimited in the cutoff section 1. When the gas consumption is 0.042 or more and less than 0.126, and the flow rate is 21 or more and less than 63, the determination threshold is a lower limit value = 300, an upper limit value = 720, etc.

  The balance determination information 52 includes data such as a determination threshold used for determination when the balance payment signal P2 is output to the alarm device 20 when the advance amount reaches a predetermined balance, and is arbitrarily determined by the user or the like. The selected balance is set.

  The remaining frequency information 53 is set with the remaining frequency according to the advance paid from the consumer (consumer side) to the gas dealer or the like by purchase of a prepaid card, account transfer or the like. The remaining frequency corresponds to the remaining money, and the frequency corresponding to the gas supply amount is subtracted by the CPU 11a. Further, the remaining frequency information 53 is obtained, for example, by purchasing a prepaid card from a management center of a gas dealer using a communication device such as an NCU (Network Control Unit), or from a setting device connected to the gas meter 10 or by transferring the account. The advance information corresponding to the amount of the advance paid from the consumer (consumer side) to the gas dealer is acquired and updated based on the advance information.

  The communication unit 13 corresponds to the gas meter side communication means in the claims, and is controlled by the MPU 11 and a terminal block to which various external devices outside the gas meter 10 are connected is used. The communication unit 13 is directly connected to the communication unit 24 of the alarm device 20 via the communication line 30. Then, the CPU 11a as the balance warning signal output means turns on / off a switch or the like (not shown) in a predetermined pattern so that an arbitrary signal pattern is superimposed on the communication line 30 and is output (transmitted) to the alarm device 20. is doing.

  The flow sensor 14 is composed of, for example, a pair of ultrasonic transducers disposed in the gas flow path, and is connected to the MPU 11 via a sensor circuit unit (not shown). Then, as is well known, the MPU 11 calculates the flow velocity and flow rate of the gas passing through the gas flow path based on the ultrasonic signal propagation time between the pair of ultrasonic transducers of the flow rate sensor 14. As for the flow rate sensor 14, the flow rate sensor generates a flow rate signal in accordance with the movement of the movable part (film) inside the gas meter 10, and digitally converts the flow rate signal and outputs it to the MPU 11, or uses a flow sensor. It can be set as various embodiments, such as.

  Although not shown, the shutoff valve 15 has a valve body and a drive circuit that drives the valve body. When a shutoff signal is input from the MPU 11, the valve seat provided in the gas flow path is shut off by the valve body. Is in a supply stop state in which the gas flow path is shut off. Further, when a return signal is input from the MPU 11, the valve body is driven so as to open the valve seat, so that the gas flow path can be opened.

  The gas meter 10 thus configured measures the amount of gas used using the flow sensor 14. Then, when a large amount of flow is measured, or when it has been used for a long time that would not be normal, it is determined that there is an abnormality, and the shutoff valve 15 is driven to shut off the gas flow path. It has a security function to ensure.

  The gas meter 10 causes the alarm device 20 to display / output information corresponding to the safety signal by outputting a plurality of types of safety signals related to the safety function to the alarm device 20. For example, examples of the security signal include a shut-off notice signal and a valve shut-off signal. Then, the cutoff notice signal is generated when the MPU 11 detects that the gas has been used for a long time (when the usage time of the combustion appliance is abnormally long) based on the predetermined use determination condition and the usage time cutoff classification information 51. This signal is output from the gas meter 10 to the alarm device 20 in order to call attention immediately before shutting off the gas when it is determined that the appliance has been forgotten to be turned off (for example, approximately 5 to 8 minutes before). The valve shut-off signal is a signal indicating that the shut-off valve 15 of the gas meter 10 is closed due to an abnormal shut-off of gas use or shut-off due to an operation of an external sensor.

  When the CPU 11a of the gas meter 10 receives advance payment information indicating the advance payment paid by the user, the CPU 11a updates the remaining frequency information 53 of the memory 12 based on the frequency. The gas meter 10 measures the amount of gas used by using the flow sensor 14 and subtracts the remaining frequency corresponding to the used amount from the remaining frequency information 53. When the remaining frequency (remaining amount) becomes the remaining amount determination information 52 set in advance, the communication unit 13 is controlled to output the remaining amount alarm signal P2 to the alarm device 20.

  Next, an example of a schematic configuration of the alarm device 20 will be described below.

  The alarm device 20 includes a microprocessor (MPU) 21 that operates according to a predetermined program, a memory unit 22, a gas detection unit 23, a communication unit 24, a voice IC (integrated circuit) 25, a notification unit 26, ,have. Similar to the gas meter 10 described above, the MPU 21 includes a CPU 21a, a ROM 21b, and a RAM 21c. The MPU 21 includes a memory unit 22, a gas detection unit 23, a communication unit 24, an audio IC 25, and a notification unit. 26 is electrically connected.

  The ROM 21b stores a program for causing the CPU 21a to function as a balance warning signal detection unit and a balance warning unit, a program for performing a warning when a gas having a predetermined concentration or more is detected by the gas detection unit 23, and the like. The memory unit 22 uses an EEPROM or the like, and stores various tables such as the audio information table 61 received by the communication unit 24. The audio information table 61 is a table for selecting audio information of the audio IC 25 corresponding to the device used, time, alarm, and the like.

  Although not shown, the gas detection unit 23 includes a gas sensor such as a catalytic combustion type gas sensor, and a drive circuit that drives the gas sensor. The gas detection unit 23 is driven in response to a request from the MPU 21, thereby detecting a sensor output corresponding to the gas concentration and outputting it to the MPU 21.

  Although not shown, the communication unit 24 includes a light-emitting diode that is connected to the communication line 30 and that is turned on / off when a current flows through the communication line 30 and a photocoupler that is conductive by the light. . A phototransistor of the photocoupler is connected to the MPU 21, and the MPU 21 is configured to detect the ON / OFF as a signal pattern.

  The audio IC 25 stores a plurality of types of audio information determined in advance, and examples thereof include “I will soon be unable to use gas”, “Would you forget to turn off the combustion appliance”, and the like. And the audio | voice information designated from CPU21 is output to the alerting | reporting part 26. FIG.

  The notification unit 26 converts the audio information input from the audio IC 25 into an audio signal, amplifies it by an amplifier and outputs it from a speaker or the like, and displays various information input from the MPU 21 on a display such as an LCD (liquid crystal display). To display.

  Next, an example of a signal according to the present invention output from the gas meter 10 to the alarm device 20 will be described below with reference to the drawing of FIG. FIG. 3A shows a cutoff notice signal, and FIGS. 3B to 3D show a balance warning signal.

  In FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 3A, the cutoff notice signal P1 has a signal pattern in which 5 seconds of ON is 0.1 second and OFF is 4.9 seconds as one cycle. On the other hand, the balance warning signal P2 is different from the cutoff notice signal P1 in that the signal pattern is differentiated by changing the number of pulses, the pulse width, the pulse period, and the like.

  First, FIG. 3B shows a balance warning signal P2 for outputting a 0.1 second ON / OFF pulse a plurality of times (for example, four times) or more in one cycle of 5 seconds. FIG. 3C shows a balance warning signal P2 in which the ON pulse width is changed to 0.2 to 0.4 seconds or 0.6 seconds or more in one cycle of 5 seconds. FIG. 3D shows a balance warning signal P2 in which the ON pulse width is changed from 0.2 to 0.4 seconds in one cycle of 6 seconds or more.

  In this way, by using different signal patterns for the cutoff notice signal P1 and the balance warning signal P2, even if a plurality of types of signal patterns conventionally used and the common communication line 30 are used, or the alarm device 20 However, even when the cutoff notice signal P1 is already received from the gas meter 10, the alarm device 20 can accurately distinguish and detect the cutoff notice signal P1 and the balance warning signal P2.

  Next, an example of the interlocking alarm process according to the present invention executed by the CPU 21a of the alarm device 20 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the interlocking alarm processing program is executed by the CPU 21a, it is determined in step S11 whether or not a signal has been received from the gas meter 10 based on the ON / OFF state of the communication unit 24. If it is determined that no signal is received (N in S11), the reception of the signal is monitored by repeating this determination process. On the other hand, if it is determined that a signal has been received (Y in S11), the process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S12, the pattern of the signal received from the gas meter 10 is sampled, and the signal pattern is specified based on the sampling result. In step S13, it is determined whether or not the specified signal pattern is the balance warning signal P2. . When it is determined that the balance is the warning warning signal P2 (Y in S13), the process proceeds to step S14. As described above, in the present embodiment, the processing in steps S12 and S13 corresponds to the balance warning signal detection means in the claims.

  In step S14 (remaining amount warning means), the remaining amount warning output process is executed, so that the voice information of the voice IC 25 corresponding to the remaining amount warning is selected from the voice information table 61, and the voice IC 25 is requested to notify the voice information. The audio IC 25 outputs the requested audio signal to the notification unit 26, and the notification unit 26 outputs the audio signal to the outside, so that a remaining money warning is performed, and then the process returns to step S11 and a series of processes is repeated. .

  If it is determined in step S13 that it is not the remaining balance warning signal P2 (N in S13), it is determined in step S15 whether or not the specified signal pattern is the cutoff notice signal P1. When it is determined that the signal is not the cutoff notice signal P1 (N in S15), the process returns to step S11 and a series of processes is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the signal is the cutoff notice signal P1 (Y in S15), the process proceeds to step S16.

  In step S16, the interruption notice warning output processing is executed, so that the voice information of the voice IC 25 corresponding to the interruption notice warning is selected from the voice information table 61, and the voice IC 25 is requested to notify the voice information. Outputs the requested audio signal to the informing unit 26, and the informing unit 26 outputs the audio signal to the outside, thereby performing a cutoff notice alarm, and then returns to step S11 to repeat a series of processes.

  Next, an example of the operation (action) of the gas meter 10 and the alarm device 20 in the above-described gas security system 1 will be described.

  When the advance payment is made from the consumer to the gas seller, etc., the advance information corresponding to the amount of the advance payment is generated on the gas seller side, and this advance information is the gas meter of the consumer who paid the advance payment. 10 is transferred. And the gas meter 10 which took in advance information updates the remaining frequency information 53 of the memory part 12 based on advance information.

  Thereafter, when the gas meter 10 detects that the balance indicated by the remaining frequency information 53 has reached the balance determination information 52 as the gas is used, the communication unit 13 superimposes the signal pattern of the balance warning signal P2 on the communication line 30. Then, the balance warning signal P2 is output to the alarm device 20.

  On the other hand, when the alarm device 20 receives a signal from the gas meter 10 via the communication unit 24 and detects a remaining amount warning signal P2 from the signal, a remaining amount warning such as “Soon, the gas will become unusable” is performed. . The remaining money warning method may be various embodiments such as obtaining various information such as the remaining money, the remaining frequency, and the remaining usable amount from the gas meter 10 and issuing a warning based on the information.

  According to the gas security system 1 described above, even if the gas meter 10 and the alarm device 20 are directly connected to be communicable with each other via the communication line 30, the gas meter 10 can shut off the remaining amount warning signal P2 and other signals such as the cutoff notice signal P1. By outputting to the alarm device 20 so that it can be identified, the alarm device 20 can warn the user that the balance will soon be exhausted. Can do. In addition, since the alarm device 20 provided in the gas supply destination that is the user's living environment can be used for warning, it is not necessary to install a new warning device, and the advance payment is made to the user at an appropriate timing. Can be encouraged. Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user in supplying the prepaid gas without complicating the equipment environment.

  Further, when the gas usage time satisfies the usage time determination condition, the gas meter 10 outputs a cutoff notice signal P1 to the alarm device 20, and when the balance is about to expire, a balance warning of a signal pattern that can be distinguished from the cutoff notice signal P1. Since the signal P2 is output to the alarm device 20, the alarm device 20 can specify a request from the gas meter 10 based on the signal pattern and appropriately issue an alarm. Even in an environment where the alarm device 20 is directly connected, the user can be alerted by distinguishing between the long-time use alert and the balance alert.

  In addition, although this embodiment mentioned above demonstrated the case where the alarm device 20 was made into the gas leak alarm device, this invention is not limited to this, For example, the fire alarm device installed in the supply destination of gas It can be realized by various alarm devices such as a composite alarm device.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the signal pattern is an ON / OFF pattern with an arbitrary period has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a plurality of signal patterns are represented by binary 0s. , 1 may be various embodiments, such as an embodiment showing a message known as 1.

  As described above, the above-described embodiments are merely representative forms of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of the alarm device of this invention, and a gas security system. It is a system configuration figure showing a schematic structure of a gas security system of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the cutoff notice signal and balance warning signal which are output to a warning device from a gas meter. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the interlocking alarm process which CPU of the alarm device of FIG. 2 performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas security system 10 Gas meter 11a1 Balance warning signal output means (CPU of gas meter)
13 Gas meter side communication means (communication part of gas meter)
20 Alarm (gas leak alarm)
21a1 Balance warning signal detection means (alarm CPU)
21a2 Remaining amount warning means (alarm CPU)

Claims (2)

A gas meter that supplies usable gas according to the advance payment and stops supplying the gas when the usable amount becomes zero is provided separately from the supply destination to which the gas is supplied. For alarm devices that warn of abnormal conditions,
Communication means for receiving various signals from the gas meter;
A balance warning signal detection means for detecting a balance warning signal output from the plurality of signal patterns received from the gas meter via the communication means when the usable amount of the gas is reduced to a predetermined value by the gas meter; ,
A balance warning means for warning a decrease in the balance in response to detection of a balance warning signal by the balance warning signal detection means;
An alarm device comprising: A gas security comprising: a gas meter that supplies a gas of a supply amount corresponding to the advance payment; and the alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the gas meter and the alarm device are directly connected to be communicable via a communication line. In the system,
The gas meter is used on the communication line when the gas meter side communication means for transmitting and receiving various signals to and from the alarm device via the communication line and the usable amount of the gas is reduced to a predetermined value. A balance warning signal output means for outputting a balance warning signal via the gas meter side communication means so as to be distinguishable from other signal patterns, and
The gas security system according to claim 1, wherein the communication means is means for receiving various signals via the communication means.

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