JPH06229811A - Integrating meter reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically read a meter from a remote place with excellent operability.reliability by radio transmitting a meter read signal, a meter read result, etc., from a terminal box to a meter reader. CONSTITUTION:A remote display type integrating meter 1 is connected to a terminal box 14 via a conduction line 2, and a signal is radio transmitted from a radio meter reader 15 to the plurality of the boxes 14. First, an inspection start switch 25 is pressed to radio transmit an inspection start command inspection signal and an inherent information signal from a meter read signal transmitter 26 to the boxes 14. The boxes 14 identify that the box is as predetermined, then converts an integrated available amount previously stored in an integrated available amount memory 17 to a signal, and radio transmits it together with the inherent information signal to the reader 15. The reader 15 identifies that the box 14 is as predetermined, subtracts previous integrated available amount from the integrated available amount to calculate the available amount. A calculated result, etc., is displayed on a meter read result display 28, and writes it in an external memory 24. Then, it is transferred to meter reading of next box 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided on the recipient side of a paid water photothermal medium such as water, electricity, gas, etc. to detect the integrated usage amount of the paid water photothermal medium of the recipient and convert it into an integrated usage signal. The present invention relates to an integrated meter meter reading system for automatically metering an integrated usage amount by using a remote display type integrated meter that outputs the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, due to a serious labor shortage, the amount of work per meter-reader on the supplier side has been increasing, which examines the usage status of the payee water and heat medium such as water, electricity and gas. . Therefore, various remote display type integrating meters have been developed which can improve the workability of the meter reading work by the meter reading staff. A general remote display type integrating meter will be described below. FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a general remote display type integrating meter. Reference numeral 1 is a remote display type integrating meter for detecting the integrated usage amount of the paid water and photothermal medium of the recipient and outputting the integrated usage amount signal. 2 is transmitting the integrated usage amount signal output from the remote display type integrating meter 1. The transmission line 3 is a remote display device for converting the integrated usage amount signal input from the transmission line 2 into an integrated usage amount represented by a numerical value and displaying it. Reference numeral 4 is rotatably attached by a rotary shaft 5 for paid water. Rotating blades that rotate according to the flow rate of the photothermal medium, 6 a pair of magnets arranged at the end of the rotating shaft 5, and 7 indicate the number of rotations of the rotating blades 4 by detecting the magnetism of the magnets 6. A magnetic sensor 8 for detecting the calculated cumulative usage amount based on the number of revolutions detected by the magnetic sensor 7 and displaying it on the meter display unit 9 and outputting a cumulative usage signal to the transmission line 2 at predetermined time intervals. CP for meter
U, 10 is a meter battery for operating the meter CPU 8 and the like, and 11 is a display device for calculating the integrated usage amount from the integrated usage signal input from the transmission line 2 and displaying it on the display unit 12 for the display device. CPU, 13 is a CPU 1 for display device
It is a battery for a display device for operating the first and the like. Here, as an example, it is assumed that the paid water photothermal medium is water. The method of using the general remote display type integrating meter configured as described above will be described below. FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the installation situation of a general remote display type integrating meter.
First, when the person to be supplied uses water, the rotating blade 4 rotates in accordance with the amount of water used, and at the same time, the magnet 6 also rotates. Next, the magnetism of the magnet 6 is detected by the magnetic sensor 7 to detect the rotation speed of the rotating blade 4, and the CPU 8 for the meter calculates the integrated amount of water supply of the recipient based on the detected rotation speed.
In addition to displaying on the meter display unit 9, the integrated usage signal corresponding to the integrated usage is output to the transmission line 2 at every required time. Next, the integrated use amount is calculated from the integrated use amount signal input from the transmission line 2 by the display device CPU 11,
It is displayed on the display unit 12 for the display device. Next, the meter-reader on the side of the supplier of water supplies visually measures the cumulative amount of use displayed on the meter display unit 9 or the display unit display unit 12 for each required period, and writes it on the slip. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, when the remote display type integration meter 1 is buried in the ground, the remote display device 3 is arranged at a required position on the ground so that the meter-reader can detect the By visualizing the display unit display 12 on the ground instead of the meter display unit 9, it is possible to read the cumulative amount of use and improve the workability of the meter reading work. Further, in a place where a plurality of recipients are gathered, such as an apartment, by disposing the remote display devices 3 centrally in one place, the meter-reader can calculate the cumulative usage amount of each recipient from that location. It is possible to perform visual inspection collectively on the display unit 12 for the display device, and similarly, the workability of the meter reading work is improved. Next, the supplier inputs the integrated usage amount described in the slip into a host computer (not shown) that calculates usage fees and the like. Next, the host computer (not shown) subtracts the cumulative usage amount of the recipient at the previous meter reading from the input cumulative usage amount to calculate the current usage amount of the water supply of the recipient. Based on the above, the usage fee is charged to the supplier. In the remote display type integrating meter, in addition to an electronic integrating meter such as a magnetic sensor type which detects the integrated usage amount by using the magnetic sensor 7 and electronically displays it as described above,
A power generation type in which the rotational energy of the rotating shaft 5 is accumulated in a biasing portion such as a spring and the generator is intermittently driven to generate a pulse signal to detect an integrated usage amount, and a magnet is arranged on the rotating shaft 5. A reed switch type in which the reed switch is turned on / off according to the rotation to detect the number of revolutions by an electromagnetic counter or an electronic counter, and the rotational energy of the revolving shaft 5 is accumulated in a biasing portion such as a spring to perform an intermittent operation. Of the display axes that are connected to the shaft via gears to display each digit of the accumulated usage amount, the resistance value of each digit is the resistance value of the rotary resistor that is rotated in synchronization with each display axis that is necessary for calculating the usage charge. There is a mechanical integrating meter capable of remote display, as well as having a mechanical integrated using amount display mechanism composed of a gear in a meter body such as a resistance value detecting type that converts a displayed value into a voltage to detect an integrated using amount.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the meter-reading person circulates around each of the supplied persons and approaches from the meter display portion or the display device display portion to a distance at which the accumulated usage amount can be visually observed. Since it has to be visually inspected and written on a slip, and the integrated usage amount written on this slip must be input to the host computer, there has been a problem that it is complicated, laborious, and lacks in workability. Further, there is a problem in that there is a possibility that errors may occur in visual inspection of the accumulated usage amount, description on a slip, input to the host computer, and the like, resulting in lack of reliability. In order to solve these problems, a centralized automatic meter reading system using a telephone line is being developed, but it is expected that considerable time and installation cost will be required before it is put into practical use. The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and a meter reading person can automatically measure the cumulative usage amount of each supplied person from a remote location, and the metered cumulative usage amount, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide an integrated meter meter reading system which is excellent in workability and reliability and which can be easily and accurately output collectively to a host computer for calculation.

[0004]

In order to achieve this object, the meter reading system of the present invention is provided on the side of the recipient of the paid water photothermal medium such as water, electricity, gas, etc. An integrated meter metering system that automatically detects the integrated usage amount using a remote display type integration meter that detects the integrated usage amount of the photothermal medium and converts it into an integrated usage amount signal for output. A meter reading signal receiving unit that receives a meter reading signal and the like, and an integrated usage signal transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits an integrated usage signal output from the remote display type integrating meter when the meter reading signal is received by the meter reading signal receiving unit. A terminal box having, a meter reading signal transmitting section that wirelessly transmits a meter reading signal and the like when the meter reading instruction is given by the meter reading person, and a cumulative usage signal etc. wirelessly transmitted from the cumulative usage signal sending section. To the information storage medium and / or the meter reading result display section for displaying the integrated usage amount based on the integrated usage signal received by the integrated usage signal receiving unit and the integrated usage signal receiving unit. And a wireless meter reading device having an external storage device for storing the data. Here, as a wireless transmission medium between the terminal box and the wireless meter, radio waves, light, sound waves, etc. are preferably used.

[0005]

With this configuration, when the meter-reader gives an instruction to start the meter reading from the wireless meter, the terminal box wirelessly transmits the integrated usage-amount signal detected by the remote-display type meter to the wireless meter. , The meter reader can automatically measure the cumulative usage of each recipient from a remote location, and the wireless meter is equipped with an external storage device that stores the meter reading results in an information storage medium. The meter reading result and the like can be collectively output to the host computer that calculates the charge via the information storage medium. In addition, it is possible to directly check the data displayed on the meter reading result display unit at the site or the like to check whether the integrated meter is out of order or whether it is illegally used.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An integrated meter meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an integrating meter metering system in one embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a remote display type integrating meter, 2 is a transmission line, 4 is a rotating blade, 5 is a rotating shaft, 6 is a magnet, 7 is a magnetic sensor, 8 is a CPU for a meter, 9 is a display unit for a meter, 1
Reference numeral 0 is a meter battery, which is the same as that of the conventional example, and therefore is given the same reference numeral and its description is omitted. Reference numeral 14 is a terminal box for wirelessly transmitting an integrated usage signal output from the remote display type integrating meter 1 through the transmission line 2 when receiving a wirelessly transmitted meter reading signal or the like, and 15 is a meter reading signal or the like during meter reading To the terminal box 14 and a wireless meter that displays and stores the integrated usage amount signal and the like transmitted from the terminal box 14 and displays and stores the integrated usage amount, and 16 is a CPU for the terminal box that controls the entire terminal box 14. Reference numeral 17 denotes an integrated usage amount storage unit for converting an integrated usage amount signal output from the remote display type integration meter 1 via the transmission line 2 at predetermined time intervals into an integrated usage amount and storing the same, and 18 denotes an integrated usage amount storage unit 17 Display for terminal box that displays the accumulated usage amount stored in
Reference numeral 19 is a unique information storage unit for storing unique information including information such as a recipient number (hereinafter referred to as ID No.) attached to each terminal box 14, and 20 is a wireless meter reading device 15.
A meter reading signal receiving unit that receives a meter reading signal that is a more wirelessly transmitted meter reading instruction and a unique information signal for specifying the terminal box 14 that is the object of meter reading, 21 is stored in the integrated usage amount storage unit 17. An integrated usage amount signal transmitter for converting the integrated usage amount and the unique information stored in the unique information storage unit 19 into an integrated usage amount signal and a unique information signal and wirelessly transmitting them to the wireless meter 15; 22 is a terminal box A battery for a terminal box for operating the CPU 16 and the like, 23 a CPU for a wireless meter detector that controls the entire wireless meter 15 and 24 a terminal box 14 for each terminal box 14.
The information storage medium such as a floppy disk that stores information such as the unique information of the device, the accumulated usage amount at the time of the previous meter reading, and the meter reading order of each terminal box 14 is accessed to read these information and write the meter reading result and the like. External storage device that outputs meter reading results and the like to a host computer (not shown) that calculates usage fees and the like via a storage medium, 2
5 is a meter reading start switch which is pressed at the time of meter reading to start the meter reading by the wireless meter 15; 26 is a meter reading signal transmitting section that wirelessly transmits a meter reading signal and a unique information signal to the terminal box 14 at the time of meter reading; 27 is wirelessly transmitted from the terminal box 14. The integrated usage amount signal receiving unit for receiving the integrated usage amount signal and the unique information signal, 28 is obtained by subtracting the integrated usage amount at the previous meter reading from the unique information, integrated usage amount, and integrated usage amount of the terminal box 14 from which the meter was read. Meter reading result display section that displays information such as the usage amount of paid water and light heating medium and various check items, 29 is a keyboard for inputting unique information, cumulative usage amount, etc. when performing visual meter reading, 30 is a meter reading The printer unit prints out the unique information of the terminal box 14, the accumulated usage amount, the usage amount, and the like. Here, as an example, it is assumed that the paid water photothermal medium is water.
Further, it is preferable to provide the solar battery 31 for charging the meter battery 10 and the terminal box battery 22 depending on the installation position of the terminal box 14 because maintenance management becomes easy. The operation of the integrating meter meter reading system configured as described above will be described below. First, the processing in the wireless meter 15 will be described. Figure 2
3 and FIG. 3 are flowcharts of the wireless meter detector of the integrating meter metering system according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, it is checked whether the meter-reader has pressed the meter-reading start switch 25 (S
1). If No, jump to S1. Yes
If it is, the total number of meter readings n and the meter reading order of each terminal box 14 are read from the external storage device 24 (S
2). Next, the initial value of the counter m is set to 1 (S
3). Next, the unique information of the m-th terminal box 14 in the meter reading order read in S2 and the cumulative usage amount at the time of the previous meter reading are read from the external storage device 24 (S4). Next, the ID No. included in the unique information read in S4 is displayed on the meter reading result display unit 28 (S5). Next, the unique information read out at S4 is converted into a unique information signal, and the meter reading signal and the unique information signal for giving the instruction to start reading the terminal box 14 are wirelessly transmitted from the meter reading signal transmitting unit 26 to the terminal box 14 (S6). . In FIG. 3, next, the integrated usage signal receiving unit 27 is put into a receiving state for a predetermined time, and data wirelessly transmitted from the terminal box 14 is received (S7). Here, in order to secure the reliability of the data, the terminal box 14 wirelessly transmits the same data a plurality of times. Therefore, the integrated usage signal receiving unit 27 receives a plurality of data. Next, it is checked whether data can be received in S7 (S8). If No, the meter reading result display unit 28 displays that data could not be received (S9) and jumps to S13. If Yes, the plurality of data received in S7 are collated with each other to check whether the data has been correctly received (S10). No
If it is, the meter reading result display unit 28 displays that the data could not be correctly received (S11), and the process proceeds to S13.
mp. If Yes, the unique information and the integrated usage amount are separated from the data received in S7 (S12), and S15
Jump to. Then, the keyboard 29 is used to select whether the meter-reader performs visual metering or re-metering, and it is checked whether the meter-reader performs visual metering (S13). No
If so, jump to S6 to perform re-reading. In the case of Yes, the meter reader visually checks the meter display unit 9 or the terminal box display unit 18 to visually inspect the integrated usage amount displayed there, and the integrated usage amount and the measured terminal box 14 IDN attached to
etc. are manually input from the keyboard 29 (S14).
Next, the ID No. included in the unique information read in S4.
Then, it is checked whether the ID No. included in the unique information separated in S12 or the ID No. manually input in S14 is the same (S15). In the case of No, the fact that the terminal box 14 that tried to perform the meter reading is different from the terminal box 14 after the meter reading is displayed on the meter reading result display section 28 (S16), and jump to S25. If Yes, the cumulative usage amount separated in S12 or S14
The integrated usage amount manually input in is displayed on the meter reading result display unit 28 (S17). Next, the cumulative usage amount at the previous meter reading read in S4 is subtracted from the cumulative usage amount displayed in S17 to calculate the water usage amount of the recipient (S1).
8). Next, it is checked whether the usage amount calculated in S18 is negative (S19). If Yes, the meter reading result display unit 28 displays that there is a possibility of unauthorized use (S2
0), for confirmation, jump to S14 and perform visual inspection. If No, the usage amount calculated in S18 is displayed on the meter reading result display unit 28 (S21). Next, S17
The integrated usage amount displayed in step S6 and the usage amount calculated in step S18 are written in the external storage device 24 (step S22). Next, the meter 29 is made to select by the keyboard 29 whether or not to print out the meter reading result, and it is checked whether or not to print out (S23). If No, jump to S26. If Yes, the printer unit 30 prints out the ID No. and the like included in the unique information read in S4, the integrated usage amount displayed in S17, and the usage amount calculated in S18 (S24), Jump to S26. Next, the external storage device 2 is provided with information indicating that the integrated usage amount of the terminal box 14 which is about to be read is unread.
4 (S25). At this time, the meter-reader later moves to the correct meter-reading location and performs the meter-reading again. Next, the value of the counter m is incremented by 1 (S26). Next, it is checked whether m is larger than n (S27). If No, jump to S4 in order to perform meter reading of the next terminal box 14.
To do. If Yes, the process by the wireless meter 15 ends. Next, the processing in the terminal box 14 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the terminal box of the integrating meter meter reading system according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, the meter reading signal receiving unit 20 causes the wireless meter reading device 1 to
The wirelessly transmitted data is received from S5 (S28). Next, it is checked whether the data can be received in S28 (S29).
If No, jump to S28. If Yes, the meter reading signal and the unique information are separated from the data received in S28 (S30). Next, it is checked whether the ID No. included in the unique information separated in S30 is the same as the ID No. assigned to the terminal box 14 included in the unique information stored in the unique information storage unit 19 ( S
31). If No, jump to S28. Y
If it is es, the unique information stored in the unique information storage unit 19 is converted into a unique information signal, which is output from the remote display type integration meter 1 in advance via the transmission line 2 and stored in the integrated usage amount storage unit 17. The accumulated used amount is converted into an accumulated used amount signal, and the accumulated used amount signal and the unique information signal are wirelessly transmitted from the accumulated used amount signal transmitting unit 21 to the wireless meter 15 a plurality of times (S32), and jump to S28. To do. Through the above processing, the meter reader starts the meter reading start switch 25 at a predetermined meter reading location.
When is pressed, the accumulated usage amount detected by each remote display type accumulation meter 1 is measured from each terminal box 14 according to the meter reading order stored in the information storage medium such as a floppy disk or hard disk accessed by the external storage device 24. A host computer (not shown) that wirelessly transmits the data to the wireless meter 15 and can store the meter reading results and the like in the information storage medium one after another by the external storage device 24, and calculates the usage fee and the like via the information storage medium. It is possible to output the meter reading results and the like collectively and easily and accurately.
In the present embodiment, the paid water photothermal medium is water. However, by changing the part of the rotary vane 4 that detects the flow rate of the paid water photothermal medium, the integrated meter metering system can be changed to gas, electricity, or other devices. It can be used as a paid water photothermal medium. Further, although a magnetic sensor type electronic integrating meter is used as the remote displaying type integrating meter 1, other types of electronic integrating meters or even mechanical type integrating meters such as a power generation type are better than the remote displaying type integrating meter. By detecting the signal that is emitted or by electrically and electronically extracting the display value of each display axis for displaying each digit of the integrated usage amount of the mechanical integration meter, and outputting this to the terminal box 14,
Similarly, the wireless meter 15 can perform meter reading.

[0007]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, according to the present invention, the remote display type integrating meter for detecting the integrated usage amount of the paid water photothermal medium of the recipient is remotely displayed when the meter reading signal or the like wirelessly transmitted at the time of meter reading is received. The terminal box that wirelessly transmits the integrated usage amount detected by the type integration meter is connected, and the meter reading signal is wirelessly transmitted at the time of meter reading, and the integrated usage signal etc. wirelessly transmitted from the terminal box is received, and the integrated usage amount is calculated from this. By storing the meter reading results such as the above in the information storage medium by the external storage device, the meter reading person can automatically measure the cumulative usage amount of each recipient from a remote location, and the usage fee is charged via the information storage medium. It is possible to realize an integrated meter meter reading system with excellent workability and reliability that can output the meter reading results collectively and accurately to a host computer that calculates .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an integrated meter meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a wireless meter detector of the integrating meter meter reading system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a wireless meter reading device of an integrating meter meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the terminal box of the integrated meter meter reading system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a general remote display type integrating meter.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the installation status of a general remote display type integrating meter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Remote Display Type Integrated Meter 2 Transmission Line 3 Remote Display Device 4 Rotating Blade 5 Rotating Shaft 6 Magnet 7 Magnetic Sensor 8 Meter CPU 9 Meter Display Unit 10 Meter Battery 11 Display Device CPU 12 Display Device Display Unit 13 Battery for display device 14 Terminal box 15 Wireless meter 16 CPU for terminal box 17 Accumulated usage amount storage section 18 Terminal box display section 19 Unique information storage section 20 Meter reading signal reception section 21 Accumulated usage signal transmission section 22 Terminal box use Battery 23 CPU for wireless meter reading device 24 External storage device 25 Meter reading start switch 26 Meter reading signal transmitting unit 27 Integrated usage amount signal receiving unit 28 Meter reading result display unit 29 Keyboard 30 Printer unit 31 Solar battery

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A remote unit which is provided on the side of a recipient of a paid water photothermal medium such as water, electricity, gas, etc., and detects an integrated usage amount of the paid water photothermal medium of the recipient and converts it into an integrated usage signal and outputs it. A meter reading system for automatically metering the total amount used by using a display type total meter, the meter reading signal receiving unit receiving the meter reading signal wirelessly transmitted at the time of meter reading and the meter reading signal etc. When a message is received, a terminal box having a cumulative usage signal transmitter for wirelessly transmitting a cumulative usage signal output from the remote display type cumulative meter, and a meter reading signal when a meter reading operator gives a command to start meter reading. Meter reading signal transmitting section for wirelessly transmitting the etc. and the integrated usage signal receiving section for receiving the integrated usage signal etc. wirelessly transmitted from the integrated usage signal transmitting section and the integrated usage received by the integrated usage signal receiving section amount A wireless meter having a meter reading result display unit for displaying the accumulated usage amount based on a signal and / or an external storage device for storing the accumulated usage amount etc. in an information storage medium. Meter reading system.