JP4576009B2 - Remote indicator - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a remote indicator that displays a measured value of a water meter or the like at a location away from the meter.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is a remote indicator that displays the measured value of the water meter at a location away from the water meter. The water meter has a communication function, constantly measures the flow rate of tap water passing through the water pipe, sends meter information including the measurement value to the remote indicator periodically or as needed, and a pulse signal for integration Is always sent to the remote indicator.
[0003]
The remote indicator captures meter information and an integration pulse signal sent from the water meter, integrates the integration pulse signal based on the measurement value included in the meter information, and stores the measurement data or integration value in the tap water. Is displayed as the amount of usage.
By using this water meter with a communication function and a remote indicator, the remote indicator is installed in an easily accessible place such as the entrance of the house, so that it can be installed in the back of the house or in a narrow space between the house and the fence. Even when there is a water meter, meter reading of the water meter is possible without placing a burden on the staff.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As metering meters, there are not only water meters but also city gas meters and LP gas meters.
[0005]
If a remote indicator is prepared for each of these meters, the installation costs considerably. There is also a problem of installation space.
[0006]
The present invention takes the above-mentioned circumstances into consideration, and the object of the present invention is to easily perform meter reading of a plurality of meters at a single location, thereby making it possible to perform remote measurement with excellent convenience without cost and space problems. It is to provide an indicator.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The distance measuring display of the invention according to claim 1 is connected to a plurality of connection terminals for individually connecting a plurality of types of measurement meters having different measurement targets by signal lines, and the connection terminals . selection means for selecting and or periodically depending on the selecting operation of each meter, the integrated pulses are constantly sent a measurement of meter selected by the selection means from the selected time or periodically uptake and the meter The taking-in means for taking in the signal, the integrating means for accumulating the integrating pulse signal taken together with the measurement value taken in by the taking-in means as a reference, and the type of the meter selected by the selecting means are specified. And a display means for displaying the measured value of the meter taken in by the taking-in means from the specified meter or the integrated value integrated by the integrating means.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0009]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a remote indicator, which is provided with a microcomputer 2 as a main control unit. The microcomputer 2 includes an LCD integrated display (display means) 3, a switch (operation means) 4, a switching control circuit 5, an interface ( I / F) 6 and battery power supply 7 are connected, and connection terminals 11, 12 and 13 are connected to interface 6 via output contacts 5 a, 5 b and 5 c of switching control circuit 5. This remote indicator 1 is installed at the entrance of a house, for example.
[0010]
Then, a water meter 21, a city gas meter 22, and an LP gas meter 23 are connected to the connection terminals 11, 12, and 13 as signal reading meters, respectively.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 2, the LCD integrated display 3 always displays the characters “water”, “city gas” and “LP gas” corresponding to the water meter 21, city gas meter 22 and LP gas meter 23, respectively. And a numerical value display section 34 for displaying the meter reading value and the integrated value as a usage amount.
[0012]
The switch 4 functions as an operation means for sequentially selecting the water meter 21, the city gas meter 22, and the LP gas meter 23.
[0013]
The switching control circuit 5 has output contacts 5a, 5b, and 5c, and selectively turns on one of the output contacts 5a, 5b, and 5c in response to a command from the microcomputer 2.
[0014]
The interface (I / F) 6 covers data transmission between the microcomputer 2 and the meters 21, 22 and 23.
[0015]
The battery power source 7 outputs a voltage for operation of the remote indicator 1.
[0016]
The microcomputer 2 has the following means [1] to [5] as main functions.
[0017]
[1] Selection means for sequentially selecting each meter connected to the connection terminals 11, 12, 13 using the switching control circuit 5 for each ON operation (selection operation) of the switch 4.
[0018]
[2] Notifying means for notifying which meter is selected by the selecting means by lighting one of the light emitting diodes 31, 32, 33 in the display 3.
[0019]
[3] Taking-in means for taking in the measured value of the meter selected by the selecting means at the time of selection (and periodically) and taking in the integrating pulse signal sent from the meter.
[0020]
[4] Accumulating means for integrating the integrating pulse signal that is taken in based on the measurement value taken in by the taking means.
[0021]
[5] Display means for displaying the measured value taken by the taking means or the integrated value of the integrating means on the LCD integrated display 3.
[0022]
On the other hand, the water meter 21 has a communication function with respect to the distance measuring indicator 1, constantly measures the flow rate of tap water passing through a water pipe (not shown), and includes meter information including a measured value (also referred to as a meter reading value as needed). Is sent to the distance measuring display 1 periodically and as needed based on a request from the microcomputer 2 and an integration pulse signal is always sent to the distance measuring display 1. In addition to the measurement value, the meter information includes data representing the model, the diameter, the pulse signal output format for integration, and the like of the water meter 21.
[0023]
The city gas meter 22 has a communication function with respect to the distance measuring display 1, constantly measures the flow rate of gas passing through a gas pipe (not shown), and meter information including the measured value (also referred to as a meter reading value at any time) is a microcomputer. 2 is sent to the distance measuring display 1 periodically and as needed based on the request from 2 and the pulse signal for integration is always sent to the distance measuring display 1. In addition to the measured values, the meter information includes data representing the model, the aperture, and the integrated pulse signal output format of the city gas meter 22.
[0024]
The LP gas meter 23 has a communication function with respect to the distance measuring display 1, constantly measures the flow rate of gas passing through a gas pipe (not shown), and meter information including the measured value (also referred to as meter reading value as occasion demands). 2 is sent to the distance measuring display 1 periodically and as needed based on the request from 2 and the pulse signal for integration is always sent to the distance measuring display 1. In addition to the measurement value, the meter information includes data representing the model, the aperture, the pulse signal output format for integration, and the like of the LP gas meter 23.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the switch 4 is turned on (YES in step 101), one of the meters 21, 22, and 23 is selected. This selection is sequentially switched for each ON operation (step 102), and according to the selection switching, which meter is selected is notified by lighting one of the light emitting diodes 31, 32, 33 in the display 3. (Step 103).
[0026]
When the water meter 21 is selected, the light emitting diode 31 is turned on. Then, meter information is requested from the microcomputer 2 to the selected water meter 21. Based on this request, meter information is transmitted from the water meter 21 and is taken into the microcomputer 2 (step 104). Further, an accumulation pulse signal is constantly transmitted from the water meter 21 and is taken into the microcomputer 2.
[0027]
When the city gas meter 22 is selected, the light emitting diode 31 is turned off and the light emitting diode 32 is turned on. Then, meter information is requested from the microcomputer 2 to the selected city gas meter 22, and based on this request, the meter information is sent from the city gas meter 22 and taken into the microcomputer 2 (step 104). Furthermore, a pulse signal for integration is always sent from the city gas meter 22 and is taken into the microcomputer 2.
[0028]
When the LP gas meter 23 is selected, the light emitting diode 32 is turned off and the light emitting diode 33 is turned on. Then, meter information is requested from the microcomputer 2 to the LP gas meter 23 of the selection destination, meter information is sent from the LP gas meter 23 based on this request, and is taken into the microcomputer 2 (step 104). Further, an integration pulse signal is constantly sent from the LP gas meter 23 and is taken into the microcomputer 2.
[0029]
If meter information is taken in, the measurement value contained in it will be displayed on the numerical display part 34 of the LCD integrated display 3 as a usage amount (step 105). At this time, if the light emitting diode 31 is lit, it is determined that the displayed usage amount is a water usage amount based on the measurement of the water meter 21.
[0030]
Subsequently, the integration pulse signal is integrated and counted by adding the measurement value as a reference (step 106). Then, the integrated value is sequentially displayed on the numerical display unit 34 of the integrated display 3 as a water usage amount (step 107).
[0031]
On the other hand, the time count t is executed simultaneously with the selection switching (step 108), and the time count t is compared with the fixed time ts (step 109). As long as the time count t does not reach the set time ts (NO in step 109), the same integration count, display, and time count t are repeated (steps 106, 107, 108).
[0032]
When the time count t and the fixed time ts are reached (YES in step 109), the time count t is cleared (step 110). Then, returning to step 104, the meter information is taken in again, and the latest measured value included in the meter information is displayed as the water usage instead of the integrated value so far (step 105). Thereafter, the same processing is repeated.
[0033]
As described above, the meter reading of the water meter 21, the city gas meter 22, and the LP gas meter 23 can be easily performed with one remote display 1 respectively. That is, the problem of cost and space as in the case of preparing a remote display for each meter can be solved, and the convenience is improved.
[0034]
In addition, since the light emitting diodes 31, 32, and 33 are turned on / off to indicate which meter the displayed usage amount is based on, the meter whose measurement is the displayed usage amount. It is possible to accurately determine whether it is due to.
[0035]
In the above-described embodiment, the switching control circuit 5 is used to select and switch each meter. However, as shown in FIG. 4, the connection terminals 11, 12, and 13 are connected to the interface (I / F) 8, 9 and 10 may be connected to three input / output ports of the microcomputer 2 to replace the function of the switching control circuit 5 with signal input / output control at each input / output port.
In the above embodiment, each meter is selected and switched every time the switch 4 is turned on. However, the meter may be selected and switched periodically based on the timer timing without requiring an operation.
Furthermore, although the said Example demonstrated the application to a water meter, a city gas meter, and an LP gas meter, it is applicable similarly to another kind of meter.
In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of connection terminals for connecting measurement meters and a selection for selecting each meter connected to these connection terminals according to a selection operation or periodically Means, taking in the measured value of the meter selected by this selecting means, or taking in periodically, and taking in a pulse signal for integration constantly sent from the meter, and taking in by this taking means A plurality of integration means for integrating the integration pulse signal to be acquired with reference to the measured value and a display means for displaying the measurement value acquired by the acquisition means or the integration value of the integration means. The meter reading of the meter can be easily performed at one place, thereby providing a distance measuring display excellent in convenience without cost and space problems.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an LCD integrated display in the same embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Remote measurement display 2 ... Microcomputer 3 ... LCD integrated display (display means)
4 ... Switch (operating means)
5 ... Switching control circuit 6 ... Interface 7 ... Battery power supply 11, 12, 13 ... Connection terminal 21 ... Water meter 22 ... City gas meter 23 ... LP gas meter

Claims (1)

Multiple connection terminals for individually connecting multiple types of measurement meters with different measurement targets via signal lines ,
Selection means for selecting and or periodically depending connected to said these connection terminals each meter selection operation,
A take-in means for taking in the measured value of the meter selected by the selection means, or taking in the pulse signal for integration that is constantly sent out from the meter at the time of selection or periodically;
Integration means for integrating the integration pulse signal that is acquired with reference to the measurement value acquired by the acquisition means;
Display means for clearly indicating the type of meter selected by the selection means, and displaying the measured value of the meter taken in by the take-in means from the specified meter or the integrated value accumulated by the integrating means; ,
A remote indicator characterized by comprising:

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