JPH0575897U - Wireless meter reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The present invention relates to a wireless meter-reading device for remotely metering water, gas, or the like by using wireless. A wireless meter reading device comprising a main body 3 and an antenna 3b for receiving meter control data sent from a meter 1 to a master station side in response to a control signal from the master station side. Are stored in a storage box 2 for storing.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a wireless meter-reading device for remotely metering water or gas using wireless.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, when metering the usage of water, gas, etc., a method has been generally used in which a meter-reader goes to the site where meters that indicate the usage are installed, and reads and records the meter. . However, (a) the location of the meter is unknown. (b) There is an object on the meter storage box and the meter cannot be read. (c) The administrator, etc., is away and cannot enter the meter installation place. (d) The security guard is strict, and there is a dog, and it is difficult to get close to the meter installation location. However, it has become difficult to secure meter-readers in connection with these problems.

In order to solve such a problem, an automatic meter reading system using a telephone line has been partially put into practical use, and a wireless meter reading system has also been proposed.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 By introducing these systems, the problem of the transmission system part that transmits the meter reading data will be solved to some extent, but in the interface part between the meter system and the transmission system, especially the system using the telephone line, the existing pipes and buildings must be reworked. There will be a new problem that the construction cost of equipment for separating from telephones and telephone systems will be high.

The present invention has been made to solve this problem, and an object thereof is to provide a wireless meter-reading device in which the interface between the meter system and the transmission system is simplified.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The wireless meter reading device of the present invention is a wireless meter reading device that receives a control signal from the master station side and transmits the meter reading data sent from the meter to the master station side. The feature is that it is stored in a storage box.

Further, the main body of the wireless meter reading device is detachably attached to the distant meter and has a magnetic sensor that responds to the operation of the distant magnet of the distant meter. The feature is that the metering operation is performed according to the operation of the magnet for use.

[0008]

[Action]

 By configuring in this way, the interface with the existing meter can be taken without requiring major modification work.

Further, by incorporating a magnetic sensor and mounting the wireless meter reading device in close proximity to the remote meter, the rotation of the remote magnet of the remote meter can be directly counted.

Further, the detachable attachment to the remote type meter facilitates construction and maintenance.

[0011]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an installation diagram including a partial cross section in which the wireless meter reading device of this embodiment is detachably attached to a remote meter, FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of the same embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a wireless meter reading of the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of a handy terminal that controls the device and collects meter reading data.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is, for example, a conventionally known remote meter that measures the amount of water used, and the remote meter 1 is stored in a storage box 2. In the pointer portion 1a of the remote type meter 1, there is provided a remote magnet (not shown) that makes one rotation in units of a predetermined usage amount.

Reference numeral 3 is a wireless meter-reading device of the embodiment, which is placed on the pointer portion 1 a of the remote-metering meter 1, and a guide 3 a provided on the wireless meter-reading device 3 is provided on the outer circumference of the remote-metering meter 1. It is held in contact with and detachable. A magnetic sensor such as a reed switch is provided in the wireless meter reading device 3 so as to respond to the magnetism of the remote magnet of the remote meter 1. That is, the rotation of the distance measuring magnet 1 is read by operating each rotation of the distance measuring magnet.

Further, in this embodiment, the wireless meter-reading device 3 has the antenna 3b built therein, or at least the antenna 3b is attached so that the antenna 3b can be housed in the housing box 2.

The openable / closable lid 2 a of the storage box 2 is formed of a material such as synthetic resin that allows radio waves to pass therethrough, and the wireless meter reading device 3 is connected to the handy terminal 4 via the antenna 3 b in the storage box 2. Can communicate.

The wireless meter-reading device 3 of this embodiment has a structure as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 3c is a magnetic sensor such as the reed switch described above. The counter 3d counts the number of operating times of the magnetic sensor 3c to measure the usage amount of the meter and stores the counted value in the counter 3d. I am trying.

Reference numeral 3e is a transmission / reception circuit that reads out the count value of the counter 3d via the control unit 3f and sends it to the handy terminal via the antenna 3b when a meter reading request is issued from the handy terminal. Is.

The control unit 3f is a low power consumption microprocessor, has a built-in counter 3d, and controls each unit such as the transmission / reception circuit 3e. Normally, only the control section 3f is operating, and the transmitting / receiving circuit 3e and the like are activated as necessary.

Further, 3 g is a power supply battery such as a dry battery for operating the wireless meter reading device 3. In addition, the transmission / reception circuit 3e of the wireless meter reading device 3 is normally in a reception state, and in order to reduce the consumption of the power supply battery, the transmission / reception circuit 3e has a clock function of the control unit 3f. It is activated at intervals of 15 to 30 seconds and intermittently monitors the control signal from the handy terminal 4.

The handy terminal 4 for controlling the wireless meter reading device 3 from the outside has a structure as shown in FIG. In the figure, 4a is an antenna for both transmission and reception, and this antenna 4a is connected to a transmission / reception circuit 4b.

The transmission / reception circuit 4b is switched to a transmission operation or a reception operation by operating the key input unit 4c. The key input unit 4c is provided with keys necessary for inputting and operating a user code and the like when calling a house for which meter reading is desired.

A data storage unit 4d is a storage unit that stores data input from the key input unit 4c and meter reading data collected from the wireless meter reading device 3 via the transmitting / receiving circuit 4b via the antenna 4a. Reference numeral 4e is a display unit for displaying the data input from the key input unit 4c and the meter reading data as needed.

Further, an I / F circuit 4f for exchanging the meter reading data and the user code of the data storage unit 4d with the host computer is provided.

Each of these units is controlled by a control unit 4g including a microprocessor. Further, each of these parts of the handy terminal 4 is adapted to be supplied with power from a power supply battery 4h.

As for the transmission standard of the transmitter / receiver circuit 4b, if a low power type is used, the frequency is 426.0250 to 426.1375MHZ as defined by the Radio Law for telemeters and teleconverters, and antenna power of 1 mW or less is used. It

In the meter reading system configured as described above, when the wireless meter reading device 3 installed in a house or the like is called, the handy terminal 4 is installed on a road or the like near the house where the wireless meter reading device 3 is installed. The key input section 4c of is operated to specify the required user code, and a control signal including this user code is transmitted to the wireless meter reading device 3 side for 30 to 60 seconds via the transmission / reception circuit 4b and the antenna 4a. To do.

The transmitted radio waves enter the storage box 2 from the lid 2a of the storage box 2 in which the wireless meter reading device 3 is installed, and the transmission / reception circuit 3e receives the control signal via the antenna 3b.

When the wireless meter-reading device 3 receives the control signal and the user code matches the user code given to the wireless meter-reading device 3, the controller 3f switches the transmission / reception circuit 3e to the transmitting side and the counter 3f. The count value of 3d is read out and sent to the handy terminal 4 via the antenna 3d. The handy terminal 4 stores the meter reading data in the data storage section 4d and displays it on the display section 4e to finish the meter reading operation for this house.

FIG. 4 is an installation diagram including a partial cross section showing a second embodiment. In this embodiment, the wireless meter reading device 3 is installed in a storage chamber 2b provided in the lid 2a of the storage box 2. The antenna 3b is housed in the upper portion of the lid 2a so that communication with the handy terminal 4 is not disturbed.

The meter 11 used in this embodiment is an electronic meter in which meter measurement data is output from a lead wire 11 a. The meter 11 includes a meter 11 and a wireless meter reading device 3. If the distance dimension can be secured within a predetermined value, it can be applied to the remote type meter 1 described in the first embodiment.

In both of the above embodiments, the main body of the wireless meter reading device 3 and the antenna 3b are both provided in the storage box 2, but only the main body of the wireless meter reading device 3 is stored in the storage box 2. The antenna 3e can also be installed outside the storage box 2.

According to such an embodiment, the effective sensitivity of the antenna 3b can be improved, and the lid 2a of the storage box 2 can be made of metal.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified and implemented within the scope not changing the gist.

[0034]

[Effect of the device]

 According to the present invention, the advantages of the wireless meter reading system can be effectively utilized without requiring extensive modification of existing buildings and instruments.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an installation diagram including a partial cross section showing a wireless meter reading device of a first embodiment housed in a meter housing box of the present invention and detachably mounted on a remote meter.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram showing a configuration of a wireless meter-reading apparatus of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of a handy terminal for externally controlling the wireless meter reading device.

FIG. 4 is an installation view including a partial cross section of the second embodiment stored in a storage box.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Remote meter 1a ... Pointer 11 ... Electronic meter 11a ... Lead wire 2 ... Storage box 2a ... Lid 2
b ... storage room 3 ... wireless meter reading device 3a ... guide 3
b ... antenna 3c ... magnetic sensor 3d ... counter 3
e ... Transmitting / receiving circuit 3f ... control section 3g ... battery power supply 4 ... handy terminal 4a ... antenna 4
b ... Transmitting / receiving circuit 4c ... Key input unit 4d ... Data storage unit 4
e ... Display unit 4f ... I / F circuit 4g ... Control unit 4
h ... Battery power supply

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A wireless meter reading device comprising a main body and an antenna which receives a control signal from the master station side and sends the meter reading data sent from a meter to the master station side, wherein at least the main body of the wireless meter reading device comprises: A wireless meter-reading device, which is housed in a housing box for housing a meter. 2. A main body of the wireless meter reading device is detachably attached to a remote type meter, and has a magnetic sensor which responds to the operation of the remote magnet of the remote meter. The wireless meter-reading device according to claim 1, wherein the metering operation is performed corresponding to the operation.