JP3313912B2 - Price display meter system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fee display meter system capable of displaying a fee on a gas meter or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a gas user is notified of a gas fee as follows. For example, if a meter reader measures the gas usage fee of each gas meter and creates a notification sheet on the spot where the gas fee is calculated, or if automatic meter reading is being performed, centrally manage the gas usage fee. Gas bills, and mailed or distributed a receipt (and) notification slip. In order to know the gas charge, the gas user has to look at a receipt (concurrent) notice slip or contact a gas company or the like.

[0003]

However, the method in which the meter reader prepares an information slip for each gas meter on the spot has a problem that the amount of work is large and the meter reading efficiency is reduced. In addition, the method of mailing the notification slip requires a cost of work and mailing, and when the notification slip is distributed manually, there is a problem that the effect of improving the meter reading efficiency by the automatic meter reading becomes thin.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a meter capable of displaying a charge.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a meter connected to a center via a public line, the meter comprising: Storage means for storing a calculation target period, usage amount, and usage fee sent from the center, a fee display device for displaying a usage fee, and a fee display switch, wherein the fee display means includes the fee display. When the switch is pressed one or more times within a predetermined time, a charge is displayed according to the number of times the switch is pressed, and when the charge display switch is pressed for a predetermined time or more, the charge is displayed according to the number of times the switch is pressed. The meter is characterized by displaying the usage fee obtained from the center. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a meter connected to a center via a public line, wherein the measuring means measures the cumulative usage of the object, and a storage for storing the calculation target period and the usage sent from the center. Means, a calculating means for calculating a usage fee from the usage amount, a fee display means for displaying a usage fee, and a fee display switch, wherein the fee display switch is configured such that the fee display switch is operated within a predetermined time. At 1
The meter is characterized in that, when the button is pressed one or more times, a fee is displayed according to the number of times the button is pressed. Also,
A third invention is a system including a center, and a meter connected to the center via a public line, wherein the meter is configured to measure a cumulative usage amount of a target, and to store data. Means, a charge display means for displaying a usage charge, and a charge display switch, wherein the center calculates a target usage amount and a usage fee for each predetermined period from the accumulated usage amount sent from the meter. Means for calculating, and storage means for storing data, wherein the cumulative usage measured by the meter is transmitted to the center, and the center uses the cumulative usage sent from the meter for a predetermined period of time. The center calculates the usage amount of each target, and the center stores the calculated usage amount and the usage fee of the target for each predetermined period and transmits them to the meter, and the meter calculates the usage amount sent from the center. A target period, a usage amount, and a usage fee are stored, and the fee display means, when the fee display switch is pressed once or a plurality of times within a predetermined time, according to the number of times pressed, Displaying the usage fee for a period, and when the fee display switch is pressed for a predetermined time or more, being connected to the center, obtaining and displaying the usage fee for the period retroactive according to the number of times pressed from the center. This is a meter system characterized by the following. Further, a fourth invention is a system comprising a center and a meter connected to the center via a public line, wherein the meter comprises:
Weighing means for measuring the cumulative usage of the object, storage means for storing data, means for calculating the usage fee from the usage amount of the object for each predetermined period, fee display means for displaying the usage fee, and a fee display switch Wherein the center comprises: means for calculating a target usage amount for each predetermined period from the cumulative usage amount sent from the meter; and storage means for storing data. The measured cumulative usage amount is transmitted to the center, and the center calculates the usage amount of the target for each predetermined period from the cumulative usage amount sent from the meter, and calculates the target usage amount for the predetermined period. And the meter is transmitted to the meter. The meter stores the target usage amount sent from the center for each of the predetermined periods. When pressed one or more times,
The metering system is characterized in that the usage fee is calculated from the usage amount for the latest or retroactive period according to the number of times of pressing, and the usage fee is displayed.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the gas user can easily display the gas rate on the gas meter by operating the gas rate display switch provided on the gas meter.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a charge indicating gas meter 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Price display gas meter 1
Has a display device 3 and a charge display switch 5 and is connected to a center 9 via a communication line 7. The display device 3 is an LC
The data is displayed by D (liquid crystal) or LED (light emitting diode) or the like. Usually, the cumulative amount of gas usage from a predetermined time in the past is displayed. By pressing twice, the display device 3
The latest gas charge, gas consumption, and charge data such as the calculation target period are displayed, and each time the charge display switch 5 is added and pressed once, the charge data in each past period is retroactively displayed one after another. Further, as will be described in detail later, the charge indicating gas meter 1 is connected to the communication line 7 as necessary.
Communicates with the center 9 through the PC to obtain information.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the fee indicating gas meter 1. Power supply 1 for gas meter 1
1 is connected, the charge display gas meter 1 has a display device 3, a charge display switch 5, a microcomputer meter board 13, and a metering device 25. The microcomputer meter board 13
It has a CPU (central processing unit) 15, a weighing information acquisition unit 17, a storage unit 19, a display device driving unit 21, and a communication function unit 23.

[0009] The power supply 11 supplies electric power to each part of the charge indicating gas meter 1, and the metering device 25 measures the total amount of gas used. The CPU 15 in the microcomputer meter board 13 performs various calculations and data processing.
The data from the metering device 25 for measuring the total gas usage related to the charge indicating gas meter 1 is fetched. The storage unit 19
Stores programs and various data. The charge-related information storage unit 27 in the storage unit stores data such as gas usage, gas charge, and calculation target period. Charge-related information storage unit 27
The content of the fee display data stored in the is updated every time the meter is read. The display device driving unit 21 displays necessary data on the display device 3 according to an instruction from the CPU 15.
The communication function unit 23 performs necessary communication according to an instruction from the CPU 15 or the center 9.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining a method of displaying the charge of the charge display gas meter 1, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a calculation target period of the charge display gas meter 1. The charge indicating gas meter 1 measures the cumulative gas usage by the metering device 25 at the automatic meter reading timing at the end of the latest calculation target period a1, and transmits it to the center 9 (step 10).
1). The center 9 calculates the gas usage amount b1 for the calculation target period a1 and the gas charge c1 for the gas usage amount b1 by subtracting the gas usage total at the previous automatic meter reading timing from the gas usage total measurement (step S1). 102). Data such as the calculation target period a1, the gas usage amount b1, and the gas charge c1 are stored in a storage device (not shown) in the center 9 and sent to the charge display gas meter 1 through the communication line 7, and are stored in the storage unit 19. Is stored in the fee-related information storage unit 27 (step 10).
3). The charge-related information storage unit 27 stores the calculation target period a1,
Charge data such as gas consumption b1 and gas charge c1 is stored.

[0011] When the user wants to know the gas charge, he presses the charge display switch 5. However, for example, when the charge display switch 5 is pressed for more than 10 seconds, a signal for calling the center 9 is set to be issued, so that the time for pressing the charge display switch together with whether or not the charge display switch 5 is pressed is less than 10 seconds. Is determined (step 10).
4).

If it is determined in step 104 that the fee display switch 5 has been pressed for less than 10 seconds, the CPU 1
5 sends a signal to the display device driving unit 21 to display the latest or past fee data on the display device 3 according to the number of times the fee display switch 5 is pressed (step 10).
5).

In step 105, the charge display switch 5
Is pressed only once, the display device 3 displays the latest calculation target period a1, gas usage amount b1, gas rate c1, and other charge data. In addition, when the user wants to know the gas rate for the latest calculation target period a1 (the last one month from the time of the latest periodic automatic meter reading) for the calculation target period a2 in the previous month, for example, press the charge display switch 5 twice. Accordingly, the display device 3 displays the calculation target period a2 and the gas usage amount b.
2. Charge data such as gas charge c2 can be displayed. Similarly, when it is desired to know the gas rate cn for the measurement target period an from n months to (n-1) months before the latest regular automatic meter reading, the charge display switch 5 is pressed n times. The display device 3 can display charge data such as the calculation target period an, the gas usage bn, and the gas charge cn.

The charge-related information storage unit 27 has a limited storage capacity and can store only charge data for the past M months (for example, 14 months) from the time of the latest regular automatic meter reading. When the switch 5 is pressed (M + 1) times, the display device 3 displays the latest charge data for the calculation target period a1.

If the user wants to know the charge data before the last M months from the latest regular automatic meter reading, the center 9 is called through the communication line 7 to obtain the charge data and display it on the display device 3. indicate. If a communication line cannot be connected, a message indicating a communication error may be displayed.

In this case, for example, the charge display switch 5 is set to 1
By pressing the button continuously for 0 second (step 106), past charge data is retrieved by a method such as linking to the center 9 by telephone, and displayed on the display device 3. That is, if it is determined in step 106 that the charge display switch 5 has been continuously pressed for 10 seconds or more, the CPU 15 starts communication with the center 9, and the charge data M months ago stored in the center 9 is charged. It is sent to the display gas meter 1 and displayed on the display device 3. In addition, according to the number of times the charge display switch 5 is pressed, the data is displayed retroactively to the past charge data (step 1).
07).

Although not shown in the flow chart, the charge data currently displayed is displayed for, for example, 20 seconds and turned off when, for example, 10 seconds have elapsed since the user stopped operating the charge display switch 5. Or, instead of turning off the light, the cumulative gas usage is displayed.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a charge indicating gas meter 51 according to another embodiment. The charge display gas meter 51 has a gas charge conversion table in the charge-related information storage unit 77, and based on the gas usage amount for each calculation target period sent from the center 59, the charge display gas meter 51.
It is characterized in that the gas charge is calculated by the following.

The structure of the charge indicating gas meter 51 is shown in FIG.
Although it is almost the same as the charge display gas meter 1 shown in FIG. 2, a charge-related information storage unit 77 in the storage unit 69 stores a gas charge conversion table.

The storage area of the gas charge conversion table stored in the charge related information storage unit 77 in the charge display gas meter 51 is as follows.
Since the storage area of the gas fee for a long period (for example, ten and several months) is small, the gas usage amount for a long period can be stored as compared with the method of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining a method of displaying the charge of the charge display gas meter 51, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a calculation target period of the charge display gas meter 51. Here, the gas charge calculation for each periodical automatic meter reading timing will be described. At the regular automatic meter reading timing, when the gas usage cumulative data from the metering device 75 is taken into the metering information acquisition unit 67 to measure the gas usage amount related to the fee display gas meter 51, the CPU 65 sets the communication function unit 73,
The cumulative gas usage data is transmitted to the center 5 through the communication line 57.
9 (step 201). In the center 59,
By subtracting the cumulative gas usage at the time of the previous periodic automatic meter reading from the acquired cumulative gas usage, the calculation target period d2
Is calculated (step 20).
2). Data such as the calculation target period d2 and the gas usage amount e2 are stored in a storage device (not shown) in the center 59 and sent to the communication function unit 73 of the charge display gas meter 51 through the communication line 57 and stored. It is stored in the fee-related information storage unit 77 in the unit 69 (step 203).

If the user wants to know the gas charge,
The charge display switch 55 is pressed. If it is determined in step 203 that the fee display switch 55 has been pressed for less than 10 seconds, the CPU 65 determines the corresponding calculation from the fee-related information storage unit 77 according to the number of times the fee display switch 55 has been pressed. The gas charge data and the gas charge conversion table for the target period are called, and the gas charge is calculated. When the calculation is completed, the CPU 65 sends a signal to the display device driving unit 71 to display on the display device 53 fee data such as a calculation target period, a gas usage amount, and a gas fee (step 20).
4).

In step 204, for example, when the user presses the charge display switch 55 twice for a predetermined period of less than 1 second for a length of less than 10 seconds, the calculation target period up to the latest periodic automatic meter reading time point is reached. Charge data such as gas charge f2 for d2 is displayed.

If the user wants to know the gas charge f1 for the gas usage e1 used during the period d1 from the latest regular automatic meter reading to the present time, the charge display switch is set at any time for less than 10 seconds. Then, it is pressed only once in a predetermined period of less than one second. Then, the CPU 65 calculates the latest gas usage e1 by subtracting the gas usage at the time of the previous periodic automatic meter reading from the gas usage at that time, and stores it in the fee-related information storage unit 77. Using the gas rate conversion table, the gas rate f for the gas usage e1
Calculate 1. When the calculation is completed, the CPU 65 sends a signal to the display device driving unit 71, and the display device 53 displays a period d1, a gas usage amount e1, and a gas charge f1 from the latest periodic automatic meter reading to the present time. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, the fee display gas meter 51 can display not only the gas fee for one month but also the gas fee for the last 20 days or the like.

Similarly, when the charge display switch 55 is pressed n times, the display device 3 displays the calculation target from (n-2) months to (n-1) months before the latest regular automatic meter reading. Charge data such as the period dn, the gas usage amount en, and the gas charge fn are displayed.

When the charge display switch 55 is pressed after displaying the oldest data among the gas usage amounts stored in the charge-related information storage section 27 of the charge display gas meter 51, the display device 53 displays the latest data. The charge data for the period d1 from the time point of the periodic automatic meter reading to the current time point is displayed.

If the user wants to know the charge data before the oldest data stored in the charge-related information storage unit 27 of the charge display gas meter 51, the user calls the center 59 through the communication line 57 to calculate Acquisition of charge data such as the target period, gas consumption, gas charge, etc.
To be displayed. In this case, the past charge data is searched by, for example, pressing the charge display switch 55 continuously for 10 seconds and linking to the center 59 by telephone, and the like, and the display device 5
3 is displayed. That is, it is determined whether the fee display switch 55 has been continuously pressed for 10 seconds or more (step 20).
5) If it is determined that the button has been continuously pressed for 10 seconds or more,
The CPU 65 starts communication with the center 59, and
Is sent to the charge display gas meter 51 and displayed on the display device 53. Also in this case, by pressing the charge display switch 55 a plurality of times, the display can be performed retroactively to the past charge data (step 206).

A charge display switch 55 by the user
For example, when 10 seconds elapse after the operation of the operation is stopped, the currently displayed fee data is displayed for 20 seconds, for example, and turned off. Or, instead of turning off the light, the cumulative gas usage is displayed.

In the charge calculation method using the charge display gas meter 51, when the charge system is changed and the gas charge conversion table is updated, the center 5 is connected via the communication line 57.
From 9, the new gas rate conversion table data is transmitted to the rate display gas meter 51, which is stored and calculates and displays the gas rate for each gas usage. In that case, regarding the past gas usage stored in the storage area,
Because the new gas rate conversion table cannot be applied,
While the old gas rate conversion table is required, the storage of the gas rate conversion table is not updated, and the old and new gas rate conversion tables are stored together with the validity period data of the conversion table. When a plurality of gas rate conversion tables are stored, the user selects which gas rate conversion table to use depending on the target period for which the display of the rate data is requested. Every time a gas usage amount for a new period is added to the storage area of the fee display gas meter 51, the old gas usage data is deleted from the storage area in order from the oldest one. Since the charge conversion table becomes unnecessary, the old gas charge conversion table is deleted from the storage area at that time.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the gas user can easily operate the charge display switches 5 and 55 provided on the charge display gas meters 1 and 51 to easily set the gas charge. On the display devices 3 and 53.

In the present embodiment, the gas meter measures only the total usage, and the usage in the calculation target period is calculated by the centers 9 and 59. However, the usage in the gas meter alone is used in the calculation target period. Can also be calculated.

In this embodiment, when the gas is used in a villa, when the user is traveling, or when the user is sick or elderly, the user can always see the gas meter. If you are not in the state, you cannot know the gas rates. In such a case, for example, information on whether or not the charge display switch has been operated during a certain period is transmitted to the center, and the charge display switch has not been operated during the certain period. In this case, a written notice may be delivered by mail or the like.

In some cases, a receipt is required as a document for tax processing or the like. In such a case, the center can be accessed by using a charge display switch of the gas meter, or by using ordinary communication means such as a telephone. Make a receipt request. Once a receipt issuance request has been submitted, the issuance of a written receipt may be continued until a receipt issuance cancellation request is made.

If the gas meter is made durable for 30 years, it is supposed that the number of display digits for displaying the gas rate may become insufficient due to inflation or the like during that time. The gas usage, the calculation target period, and the like may not be displayed at once, but may be displayed a plurality of times, or the gas fee may be displayed a plurality of times.

Although the present embodiment has been described by taking a gas meter as an example, a similar fee display system can be applied to an electric meter, a water meter and the like.

[0036]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a user can easily display a charge on the meter by operating a charge display switch provided on the meter. A system can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a charge indicating gas meter 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a device configuration of the charge indicating gas meter 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a fee display method of the fee display gas meter 1.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a calculation target period of the charge indicating gas meter 1.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a device configuration of a charge display gas meter 51.

FIG. 6 shows a charge display method 1 of the charge display gas meter 51.
Flow chart showing an example

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a calculation target period of the charge display gas meter 51.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Charge display gas meter 3 ... Display device 5 ... Switch 7 ... Communication line 9 ... Center 11 ... Power supply 13 ... Micrometer meter board 15 ... CPU (Central processing unit) 17: weighing information acquisition unit 19: storage unit 21: display device driving unit 23: communication function unit 25: weighing device 27: charge-related information storage unit 51: charge Display gas meter 53 Display device 55 Switch 59 Center microcomputer board 65 CPU (central processing unit) 67 Measurement information acquisition unit 77 Charge-related information Memory

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07F 17/00 G01D 4/00 G08C 15/00

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. A meter connected to a center via a public line, comprising: a weighing means for measuring a cumulative usage amount of a target; and a storage for storing a calculation target period, usage amount, and usage fee sent from the center. Means, a charge display means for displaying a usage charge, and a charge display switch, wherein the charge display means is pressed when the charge display switch is pressed one or more times within a predetermined time. The fee is displayed in accordance with the number of times the fee is displayed, and when the fee display switch is pressed for a predetermined time or more, the usage fee obtained from the center is displayed in accordance with the number of times the fee is pressed. . 2. The meter according to claim 1, wherein the fee display means stops displaying the fee if the fee display switch is not pressed within a predetermined time. 3. The meter according to claim 1, wherein the object is one of gas, water, and electricity. 4. A meter connected to a center via a public line, wherein the metering means measures the cumulative usage amount of the object, a storage means for storing a calculation target period and usage amount sent from the center, Calculating means for calculating a usage charge from the usage amount; a charge display means for displaying a usage charge; and a charge display switch, wherein the charge display means switches the charge display switch once within a predetermined time. Alternatively, when the button is pressed a plurality of times, a fee is displayed according to the number of times the button is pressed. 5. The meter according to claim 4, wherein the charge display means stops displaying the charge when the charge display switch is not pressed within a predetermined time. 6. The meter according to claim 4, wherein the object is one of gas, water, and electricity. 7. A system comprising a center, and a meter connected to the center via a public line, wherein the meter is a weighing unit for weighing a target cumulative usage amount, and a storage unit for storing data. And a charge display means for displaying a charge, and a charge display switch, wherein the center calculates a target charge and a charge for each predetermined period from the cumulative charge sent from the meter. And a storage unit for storing data, wherein the cumulative usage amount measured by the meter is transmitted to the center, and the center uses the cumulative usage amount sent from the meter for every predetermined period. The center stores the calculated target usage amount and usage fee for each predetermined period and transmits them to the meter, and the meter calculates the usage amount sent from the center. When the fee display switch is pressed one or more times within a predetermined period of time, the fee display means stores the latest or backward according to the number of times that the fee display switch is pressed. Display the usage fee for the period
When the charge display switch is pressed for a predetermined time or more,
A meter system which is connected to the center and obtains a usage fee for a period retroactive according to the number of times pressed from the center and displays the usage fee. 8. The meter system according to claim 7, wherein said fee display means stops the fee display when said fee display switch is not pressed within a predetermined time. 9. The meter system according to claim 7, wherein the object is one of gas, water, and electricity. 10. A system comprising a center, and a meter connected to the center via a public line, wherein the meter measures a cumulative usage amount of a target, and a storage means for storing data. And a means for calculating a usage fee from a target usage amount for each predetermined period, a fee display means for displaying the usage fee, and a fee display switch, wherein the center uses the cumulative usage transmitted from the meter. A means for calculating the usage amount of the target for each predetermined period from the amount, and a storage means for storing data, wherein the cumulative usage amount measured by the meter is transmitted to the center, and the center From the accumulated usage sent from the meter, the usage of the target for each predetermined period is calculated, and the calculated usage of the target for the predetermined period is stored and transmitted to the meter. The charge display means stores the amount of use of the target for each of the predetermined periods sent from the storage center, and when the charge display switch is pressed one or more times within a predetermined time, according to the number of times the switch is pressed. A usage fee is calculated from a usage amount for a latest or retroactive period, and the usage fee is displayed. 11. The meter system according to claim 10, wherein the fee display means stops displaying the fee when the fee display switch is not pressed within a predetermined time. 12. The meter system according to claim 10, wherein the object is one of gas, water, and electricity.