JPH0461432A - Automatic metering system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the job efficiency by adopting a data communication system in which a radio transmitter-receiver is provided to and coupled with each of metering devices and data loggers through a radio transmission line and measured data from lots of the metering devices are collected by the data loggers via each radio transmitter-receiver in the polling system. CONSTITUTION:When a meterman uses a keyboard of a handy terminal (data logger) to set a command to a request data setting section 21 in the case of the metering job and this command is sent externally in a radio wave via a transmission section 20 and an antenna 28. When the data logger applies polling sequentially to lots of metering devices in existence in a service area of the data logger, a transmitter-receiver of the metering device responds to the polling and sends a measured data, and the data logger receives and processes the measured data. The data communication is implemented sequentially to each metering device. Thus, the metering job is easily attained.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention provides water, electricity,
This invention relates to an automatic meter reading system for centrally reading gas meter measurement data from a remote location.

(Prior Art) Various methods can be considered for automatic meter reading systems, and some methods have already been implemented. A typical example is a centralized meter reading system in an apartment complex. In this system, a transmission cable connects the water meter in each household to a meter reading device installed at one location, and the meter reading device collects measurement data from each meter. As another example, a system is known in which a solid device collects measurement data of each meter through a subscriber telephone line.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) In the case of apartment buildings, it is possible to efficiently implement a system in which each meter and a data collection device are connected with a transmission cable, and an automatic meter reading system can be incorporated at the time of construction of the building. This means that the cables do not spoil the aesthetics and are very reasonable. However, in order to apply this system to individual housing complexes that are being constructed from time to time, the wiring work for transmission cables would be extremely large-scale, resulting in high costs.In addition, there are problems such as the cable wiring spoiling the aesthetics. There is also.

In addition, in the case of a system in which meter measurement data is collected at a center using a subscriber telephone line network, wiring work is required to connect each meter and the telephone line, and an NCU is required to control the connection of the telephone line network. (Network control unit) must be installed in each meter's transmission device, which increases costs.

This invention was made in view of the conventional problems mentioned above, and its purpose is to provide an automatic meter reading system that can be easily implemented even in existing houses without wiring work. .

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) Therefore, in the present invention, each meter device and data collection device are provided with a wireless transmitter/receiver that is mutually coupled via a wireless transmission path, and measurement data of a large number of meter devices is transmitted to the wireless transmitter/receiver. An automatic meter reading system was realized using a data communication system that collects data to the data collection device using a polling method.

(Operation) When the data collection device sequentially polls a large number of the meter devices existing in the service area of the data collection device (the range where the wireless transceiver can communicate), the data collection device sequentially polls a large number of the meter devices existing in the service area of the data collection device (the range where the wireless transmitter/receiver can communicate). The machine responds and sends measurement data. This measurement data is received by the data collection device and processed. This data communication operation is performed sequentially for each meter device.

(Example) Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to an example. FIG. 1(a) is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a meter device attached to a water supply system, and FIG. 1(b) is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a control section built into this meter device.

In Figure 1(a), water enters from the right side, and the impeller shaft 1
Rotate the impeller 2 attached to it and exit to the left.

A magnet 3 is attached to the upper part of the impeller shaft 1, and a magnetic sensor 4 facing the magnet 3 detects the rotation of the impeller 2.

The signal line of the sensor 4 is connected to a control board 5, and the rotation detection signal is counted by an electric circuit (powered by a battery 6) on the control board 5, and an integrated value corresponding to the water flow rate is stored. .

An antenna 7 is provided for transmitting and receiving data.

In FIG. 1(b), the output signal of the sensor 4 is preprocessed by the sensor output section 10 in the electric circuit on the control board 5, and the rotation detection section 11 determines whether it is normal rotation or reverse rotation, and then performs addition or subtraction. The pulse is sent to the integration circuit section 12. The integrated value is held in the integrating circuit section 12 and simultaneously displayed on the display section 13 or can be wirelessly transmitted to the outside via the transmission data setting section 14, the transmitting section 15, and the antenna 7. The timing of sending to the outside is the activation signal (polling signal) from the outside.
is received by the receiving section 18 from the antenna 7, and the received data determining section 17 determines the content of the activation signal.

Depending on the content of the activation signal, the specified information is sent to the control information section 1.
6, it is wirelessly transmitted to the outside via the transmission data setting section 14 either alone or in combination with the integrated value. The control information includes the meter identification number and failure details.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an embodiment of a handy terminal (data collection device) that collects integrated values and control information from meters.

Meter readers use this indirect terminal when reading meters. Commands such as starting meter reading and meter identification number can be set in the request data setting section 21 using the keyboard (not shown) of the 11 day terminal. The command is wirelessly transmitted to the outside via the transmitter 20 and antenna 28. Data transmitted from the meter device enters the receiving section 23 from the antenna 28, and the received data discriminating section 24 identifies its contents. The measurement data is stored in the measurement data storage section 25, and the control information is sent to the request data setting section 21 and the display section 22.

The meter reading data creation unit 26 calculates the usage amount on a monthly basis and saves the measurement data with necessary headings such as meter identification number and user name. The saved data is output part 2
7 to external devices such as printers and floppy disks (
(not shown).

FIG. 3 shows the operational flow when a meter reading service is performed using a hand terminal for the above-mentioned meter device. Meter readers bring their handheld terminals with them and go to the areas where they want to collect measurement data. Measurement is started by operating the keyboard on the handy terminal.

When the activation signal is transmitted from the handy terminal, the meter device that received the signal transmits the zone and identification number to the handy terminal. In the Indian terminal, the area where communication is possible is displayed on the display section 22 based on the received signal. The meter reader uses the keyboard to designate an area from the communication area display (steps 32 and 33). Then, the smallest number among the meter identification numbers (ID, NO) within the designated area is displayed (step 34). By setting the start of communication using the keyboard, measurement data will be communicated from the specified meter device (steps 35 and 36). When communication with one meter device is completed (step 37), the measurement data is stored in the measurement data storage section 25, and communication with the next meter device with ID and NO is immediately started (steps 38 to 40). When communication with the last numbered meter device in the designated area is completed, a status check is performed (steps 41 and 42). If a communication error check or a drop in the battery voltage of the meter device is detected, the ID, number and failure details of the meter device are displayed on the display section 22 of the handy terminal. When data collection for one area is completed, the communicable area is displayed again, and data collection for the meter device existing in the next area is carried out.

After completing measurements in all communication areas, meter readers move to other areas they wish to measure. The collected data is output part 2
7 as meter reading data and give it to the customer on the spot, or after returning to the office, transfer the data to an external device such as a floppy disk drive, or input it directly into a computer via an interface. .

〔Effect of the invention〕

The system of the present invention has the above-described structure and operation, and is significantly easier than the conventional method of manual meter reading in which meter readers visit individual residences one by one and read the meter values. be able to carry out meter reading duties. For example, if a car is equipped with a handy terminal as a data collection device, business efficiency will be further improved. By increasing the transmission output of the wireless transmitter/receiver built into the meter device and permanently installing a large, highly functional data collection device, meter readers can read meters in the area they need, when they need it, from the comfort of their offices. can be done automatically. In particular, when compared to automatic meter reading systems that use transmission cables and subscriber telephone lines, which are currently in use, there is no need for wiring work, there is no problem of unsightly wiring, and it can be used in existing individual homes. This is an automatic meter reading system that is easy to implement and economically advantageous.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1(a) is a schematic structural diagram of a water meter device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1(b) is a f#q diagram of the same meter device.
Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the II1 part, Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the handy terminal which is a data collection device, and Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation when reading a meter using the handy terminal. be. 4...Sensor, 5...Control board, 6...Battery, 7...Antenna.

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has a meter device attached to a measurement target system and a data collection device for collecting measurement data from a large number of meter devices, and the meter device and the data collection device are connected to each other via a wireless transmission path. An automatic meter reading system comprising a data communication system that includes a built-in transmitter/receiver and collects measurement data from a large number of meter devices to the data collection device via the wireless transmitter/receiver using a polling method.