JPH0230079B2 - MEETASENSA - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a meter sensor, and particularly to a meter sensor for automatically reading the amount of water, gas, electricity, etc. used via a communication line.

In order to automatically read the amount of water, gas, electricity, etc. used by each user from a meter reading center via a communication line, a meter is equipped with a signal generator that sends an electrical signal indicating the flow rate, and a meter is equipped with a signal generator that sends an electrical signal indicating the flow rate. A meter sensor has been developed that generates an electrical signal indicating an integrated flow rate from an incoming electrical signal and sends the electrical signal indicating the integrated flow value to a communication line in response to a read signal from a meter reading center. At the meter reading center, the integrated flow rate value for each user can be detected by the electrical signals sent from each meter sensor, and therefore the amount used in a predetermined period can be known. The meter's signal generator uses a magnetic sensor element to detect the rotational speed of a magnet attached to a rotating body that rotates at a speed proportional to the flow rate per unit time, and sends out a pulse signal with a pulse number proportional to the flow rate. . The meter sensor that receives this pulse signal generates a digital signal indicating the integrated flow rate by counting the number of pulses, and sends this to the meter to display the integrated flow value in response to a readout signal from the meter reading center. A digital signal indicating the integrated flow rate value is sent to the communication line.

Conventional meter sensors only have the function of sending out signals in response to a call from a meter reading center, and it is also not possible to connect multiple meters and process the signals sent from each meter individually. . The service systems on the supply side have diversified, and for example, in addition to the usual form of supply that always provides the same rate (called full-time system), there are also forms of supply that are provided at a lower rate than the full-time system during specified hours such as at night. (referred to as a multi-shift system), conventional meter sensors will no longer be applicable. In other words, a meter sensor installed at a user who uses a full-time system or a multiple-shift system receives a command signal indicating either the full-time system or a multiple-shift system from the meter reading center, and detects the flow rate of the corresponding meter. It must be possible to send a signal indicating the integrated value. The meter sensor in this case must be capable of bidirectional communication and must include two means for counting pulse signals sent from the meter. However, conventional meter sensors cannot decipher the command signals sent from the meter reading center and only have one means of counting the pulse signals sent from the meter, so they have multiple supply formats. There is a problem that it is not applicable when used together.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a meter sensor that can automatically read meters for each supply mode when a plurality of supply modes are used together.

The meter sensor of the present invention includes at least two integrating means that receive pulse signals each indicating a measured value from at least two meters, count the pulse signals, and send out an integrated signal, and an external device that receives pulse signals indicating measured values from the integrating means. a predetermined time signal including an input/output means for receiving a command signal specifying any one of them and outputting a response signal including the integrated signal from the specified integrating means; and a clock circuit for generating a time signal indicating the time. a timer for transmitting a time signal indicating that the time has come; and a timer for transmitting an electrical signal for controlling opening/closing of a flow path passing through at least one predetermined meter at a predetermined time in response to the time signal. and control means.

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. The figure exemplifies the case of automatic gas meter reading.
The gas is sent into branched pipes, one of which passes through a gas meter 11 that measures the total flow rate on a full-time basis and is sent to the gas equipment, while the other passes through a solenoid valve 10 that measures the integrated flow rate of multiple parts. The gas is sent to gas equipment through a gas meter 12 that measures the integrated flow rate. Gas meters 11 and 12 send pulsed flow rate signals having a number of pulses proportional to the gas flow rate to counters 6 and 7 of meter sensor 1, respectively.
The counters 6 and 7 count the number of pulses of the flow rate signal sent from the gas meters 11 and 12, respectively, and send an integrated signal consisting of parallel pulses indicating the integrated value of the gas flow rate to the gas meters 11 and 12. Send to. Gas meters 11 and 12 are connected to counters 6 and 7, respectively.
Displays the gas flow rate integrated value in response to the integrated signal from. The clock circuit 8 divides a pulse signal having a predetermined period generated by an oscillator and counts the number of pulses, thereby generating a time signal of parallel pulses indicating the time and sending it to the message assembling circuit 5. The message assembling circuit 5 that receives this time signal and the two integrated signals described above generates a parallel pulse control signal consisting of a pulse that specifies one of these three signals and a pulse that specifies the timing of sending the message. When received from the control circuit 4, a telegram signal consisting of serial pulses in a predetermined format is sent to the input/output circuit 3 in response. The input/output circuit 3 includes a switch circuit that receives the message signal sent from the meter reading center via the communication line from the input/output terminal 2 and sends it to the control circuit 4, and a switch circuit that receives the message signal sent from the message assembly circuit 5. It consists of a switch circuit that receives the meter data and sends it from the input/output terminal 2 to the meter reading center via the communication line. The telegram signal sent from the meter reading center consists of a command signal consisting of a series of pulses in a predetermined format, and a readout signal that appears a predetermined time after the command signal is completed. The command signal appears at a predetermined portion, instructing to transmit a telegram signal containing one of the time signal and the two integrated signals or to calibrate the time of the clock circuit 8; Further, in the case of a time calibration instruction signal, the calibration signal indicating the correct time is also configured to appear in another predetermined portion. Further, the read signal starts the message transmission from the meter sensor 1 at the rising edge of the pulse. The control circuit 4 receives the above command signal and readout signal, decodes the command signal, and depending on the result, either sends a control signal to the message assembly circuit 5 or sends a calibration signal together with a write pulse to the clock circuit 8. do.
When a control signal is sent to the message assembly circuit 5,
In accordance with the designation of the control signal, a telegram signal containing a time signal and one of the two integration signals is sent from the telegram assembly circuit 5 to the input/output circuit 3. Also, when a calibration signal is sent to the clock circuit 8, in response to a write pulse sent together with the calibration signal,
The clock circuit 8 calibrates the time by switching the time signal of the counter counting the time to a calibration signal, and then continues counting again and sends out the time signal. Furthermore, the clock circuit 8 is set to a high level (hereinafter abbreviated as H) when the start time for using the multi-shift system arrives.
The switch circuit 9 has a built-in comparison circuit that generates a pulse signal that becomes low level (hereinafter abbreviated as L) when the end time is reached, and the switch circuit 9 receives the pulse signal sent from the comparison circuit of the clock circuit 8. is H
(or L), the connection of the power source to the solenoid valve 10 is closed (or opened), and the solenoid valve 10 is opened (or closed). Therefore, between the start time and end time of multi-shift usage, gas is sent through the solenoid valve 10 and the gas meter 12 to the gas equipment for multi-shift usage, but gas is sent from the end time of multi-shift usage. Until this time, gas is not sent beyond the solenoid valve 10. In addition, in the block diagram shown in Figure 1, in order to avoid the drawing from becoming complicated and difficult to read, the parts where multiple signals are sent in parallel are separated into one part.
It is displayed only with the signal line of the book.

FIGS. 2a and 2b are a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control circuit 4 in FIG. 1 and a time chart illustrating its operation, respectively. The signal a sent from the input/output circuit 3 is a command signal in a predetermined format consisting of a start code S after a mark M of a predetermined time width, a code _D0 including an instruction and calibration signal, and an end code E, and a time. It consists of a read signal that rises at A. The signal separation circuit 13 is
It is equipped with a serial-to-parallel conversion circuit, and receives the command signal of signal a, and from the parallel signal obtained through the serial-to-parallel conversion circuit, the start and end codes S and E and the parity bit are removed, and the parallel code D1 of the instruction and calibration signal is obtained. is sent to the decoder circuit 14 as signal b. After receiving the command signal of signal a, the signal separation circuit 13 sends the subsequent signal a, that is, the readout signal, to the flip-flop 15 through the monostable multivibrator 21 as the signal c. The decoder circuit 14 receives the signal b and sends the calibration signal of the parallel code D1 to the clock circuit 8 as it is.
It also sends an instruction signal to the decoder of the decoder circuit 14. The decoder of the decoder circuit 14 receives the command signal of the parallel code D1, and outputs a pulse only to the output terminal corresponding to the received command signal among the plurality of output terminals provided corresponding to the targets of the command signal. sends out a rising signal. The three output terminals, each corresponding to an instruction signal indicating the sending of a telegram signal including one of the time signal and two integration signals, are all connected to the telegram assembly circuit 5, and are also connected to the time calibration circuit. The output terminal corresponding to the instruction signal shown is connected to the clock circuit 8. On the other hand, the flip-flop 15 receives the signal c
A signal d whose pulse rises when set at the rising edge of the pulse is sent to the oscillator 16. Oscillator 16
When the pulse of the signal d rises, it begins to generate a clock pulse of a predetermined period, and sends this as a signal e to the counter circuit 17 and also sends it to the message assembly circuit 5.
Send to. The counter circuit 17 counts the pulses of the signal e, and when the count reaches a predetermined number m, sends a signal f, in which a pulse appears, to the flip-flop 15. When a pulse appears on the signal f, the flip-flop 15 is reset and the pulse on the signal d rises, causing the oscillator 16 to stop generating clock pulses and no clock pulses appear on the signal e. A signal obtained by inverting H and L of the signal d is sent to the message assembly circuit 5, and the count value of the counter circuit 17 is reset to zero. Among the signals sent by the control circuit 4, a write pulse indicating time calibration and a calibration signal are sent in parallel to the clock circuit 8, and a pulse indicating transmission of a telegram signal, a signal obtained by inverting the signal d, and a signal e are sent in parallel. The parallel control signals are sent to the message assembly circuit 5.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of the message assembly circuit 5 in FIG. 1. Among the parallel control signals sent from the control circuit 4 shown in FIG. 2a,
A pulse indicating the transmission of a telegram signal sent from the decoder of the decoder circuit 14 is input to the gate circuit 19, which is connected to the flip-flop 15 and the oscillator 16.
Both the inverted signal d of the signal d and the signal e sent from the parallel-to-serial converter circuit 20
is input. The gate circuit 19 includes a counter 6
and 7 and a clock circuit, respectively, and are connected to the parallel input terminal of the parallel-to-serial conversion circuit 20 via a gate array provided corresponding to each signal.
The additional signal generation circuit 18 generates a predetermined signal for configuring a portion of a predetermined message format other than that allocated to the integration signal or the time signal. The signal sent out by the additional signal generation circuit 18 is an identification signal added to distinguish whether the generation signal is a time signal or an integrated signal, and a signal that is generated and is specified to be generated. It consists of fixed signals such as a message start code and a message end code that are added regardless of the time. Of the two, the identification signal is applied to a predetermined location of the gate array to which the corresponding integration signal or time signal is input, and the fixed signal is applied in parallel without going through the gate array.
It is applied to parallel input terminals at predetermined locations of the serial conversion circuit 20. As mentioned above, the time signal and the two integration signals are input to each gate train along with each identification signal, and the pulse indicating the transmission of the telegram signal sent from the decoder circuit 14 is the one of the instruction signals in the gate train. It is applied to the gate array corresponding to the indicated object, and the signal input to that gate array is sent to the parallel-to-serial conversion circuit 20. The parallel-to-serial conversion circuit 20 consists of a latch and a shift register, and the latch that receives the signal sent from the gate circuit 19 gates when the inverted signal d in FIG. 2b falls, that is, at time A. circuit 1
The signal sent from 9 is sent to the shift register. In response to the clock pulse of signal e, the shift register converts the parallel signals sent from the latch into serial signals and sequentially sends them to the input/output circuit 3. The number m of clock pulses of the signal e is set equal to the length (number of bits) of a predetermined message format.

Although Figure 1 shows an example of automatic meter reading for gas, the same operation can be performed in any case, such as water or electric power, by using a meter that generates a pulse signal with a number of pulses proportional to the flow rate. is clear. Also, the number of meters is not limited to two, but it is possible to have three or more meters and provide counters that count the flow rate signals of each meter, and to specify and send out the integrated signal of one of the counters. It is clear that this can be done. If gas meters 11 and 12 are equipped with a mechanical display mechanism, there is no need to receive integration signals from counters 6 and 7.

As explained above, the present invention includes at least two counting means for integrating the flow rate signals sent from the meters, and transmits the integration signal of a desired one of the counting means via a communication line. By making it send in response to an incoming command signal,
When a plurality of supply forms are used together, there is an effect that a meter sensor capable of automatic meter reading for each form can be realized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 2a and 2b are a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration and a time chart illustrating the operation of the meter sensor control circuit 4 shown in FIG. 1, respectively;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the message assembly circuit 5 of the meter sensor shown in FIG. 1. 1...meter sensor, 2...input/output terminal, 3...
Input/output circuit, 4... Control circuit, 5... Telegram assembly circuit, 6, 7... Counter, 8... Clock circuit, 9...
...Switch circuit, 10...Solenoid valve, 11, 12...
...Gas meter.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. At least two integrating means that receive pulse signals each indicating a measured value from at least two meters, count the pulse signals, and send out an integrated signal;
input/output means for receiving a command signal specifying one of the integration means from an external device and outputting a response signal including the integration signal from the designated integration means; and generating a time signal indicating the time. a timekeeping means that includes a clock circuit and sends out a time signal indicating that a predetermined time has arrived; and a timer means for opening and closing at least one predetermined flow path of the meter at a predetermined time in response to the time signal. A meter sensor characterized by comprising a control means for sending out an electric signal. 2. The meter sensor according to claim 1, wherein the time measuring means calibrates the time using a calibration signal indicating the correct time sent from the external device via the input/output means.