JPH0695779B2 - Centralized automatic meter reading device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a data collection device of a plurality of distributed detection devices, and in particular, consumption of water, gas, electricity, etc. installed for each customer. The present invention relates to a centralized automatic meter-reading device that detects and collects data intensively in a central device.

[Prior Art] A conventional centralized automatic meter reading apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, a detection device (hereinafter abbreviated as a meter) M _{11 to} M _1n , M _{21 to} M _2n , M _{n1 to} M _nn installed in each customer and outputting a detection signal for each predetermined power consumption amount. , the transmitter for converting an output signal from the meter M in a predetermined transmission signal _{(T 11) ~ (T 1n} ), (T 21) ~ (T 2n), (T n1) ~ (T
_nn ) are each connected. All of these are collectively referred to as a transmission unit (1). Transmitter (T ₁₁ ) to (T _1n ), (T ₂₁ )
_{~ (T 2n), (T} n1) ~ (T nn) To further connected box _{(B 11) ~ (B 1n} ), (B 21) ~ (B 2n), (B n1) ~
(B _nn ) are connected and a plurality of transmission lines (2
-1), (2-2) and (2-n) are connected to the first relay transmission devices (3-1), (3-2) and (3-n). Each of the first relay transmission devices (3-1), (3-2),
(3-n) is connected to the second relay transmission devices (5-1) to (5-n) via the transmission lines (4-1) to (4-n).

In the first relay transmission device (3-1), the input interface (8) is connected to the transmission line (2-1), and the voltage level of the signal received through the transmission line (2-1) is converted into a logical signal. Convert. The control circuit (9) comprises a microprocessor, is connected to the input interface (8), reads the output signal thereof, and performs other data processing required for transmission. The counter (10) is connected to the control circuit (9) and accumulates the data of the transmitters (T ₁₁ ) to (T _1n ), that is, the data representing the power consumption of each of the meters (M ₁₁ ) to (M _1n ).
The memory (11) stores data necessary for the operation of the control circuit (9), the display circuit (12) is connected to the control circuit (9),
Input / output data and display it. The transmission / reception circuit (B) is connected between the control circuit (9) and the transmission line (4-1) and performs transmission / reception signal processing.

In the second relay transmission device (5-1), the transmission / reception circuit (14) is connected to the transmission line (4-1), and the transmission / reception circuit (1
3) Sends and receives signals to and from. The control circuit (15) receives a signal from the transmission line (4-1) and converts it into a signal to be output to the transmission line (6), or vice versa. The transmitter / receiver circuit (16) includes a transmission line (6) and a control circuit (15).
It is connected between and, and transmits and receives signals between these.

The transmitters (T ₁₁ ) to (T _1n ) output a predetermined signal for each predetermined power consumption amount, and the signal is supplied to the connection box (B ₁₁ ) to
(B _1n ), the transmission line (2-1) and the input interface (8) are input to the control circuit (9). When the control circuit (9) detects a change in the signal of the input interface (8), it outputs the signal to the counter (10) and advances the count by one step. By repeating this, the data of each meter (M ₁₁ ) to (M _1n ) is accumulated in the counter (10).

On the other hand, the central device (7) sequentially calls the second relay transmission devices (5-1) to (5-n) via the transmission line (6) in order to collect the data of the counter (10) in a timely manner. Output a signal. For example, when the second relay transmission device (5-1) receives the calling signal through the transmission / reception circuit (16), the control circuit (15) transmits the call signal via the transmission / reception circuit (14) and the transmission line (4-1). The selection signal is output to one relay transmission device (3-1) to (3-n). In the first relay transmission device (3-1),
When the control circuit (9) receives the selection signal via the transmission / reception circuit (13), the control circuit (9) reads the contents of the counter (10) and then follows the path opposite to the above-mentioned calling signal and selection signal to the central unit. Send out. Similar processing is performed for the other first relay transmission devices (3-2) to (3-n) and the other second relay transmission devices (5-2) to (5-n), and the central device ( 7) collects data of all meters (M ₁₁ ) to (M _nn ).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The conventional centralized automatic meter reading device is configured as described above, and for example, the amount of electric power is detected for each customer, and the totalized results are collectively centralized in the central device. Are tabulated and displayed or output. Therefore, there has been a problem in that it is necessary to constantly allocate human resources for aggregation or monitoring to the central device, and it is impossible to put a plurality of central devices online to control and manage them.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a centralized automatic meter-reading device that collects and manages the totaling result of a certain central device under the control of a higher-order computer or the like. The purpose is to do.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A centralized automatic meter-reading device according to the present invention is arranged in a distributed manner, and includes a plurality of detecting means for emitting a predetermined detection signal for each predetermined measurement amount, and each of the plurality of detecting means. A plurality of relay transmission means for converting the detection signal from the above into a predetermined transmission signal and outputting it to a transmission line; and a plurality of relay transmission means connected to the plurality of relay transmission means via the transmission line and transmitted via the transmission line. Based on the detection signals from the plurality of detection means, a plurality of central control means for totalizing the measured amount for each detection means, accumulating and outputting the totalized result, and a separate central control means for managing the plurality of central control means And a message corresponding to the totalization result aggregated by at least the central control unit and the control signal from the another control unit, which is provided in each of the plurality of central control units. And a display switching unit that is provided in each of the plurality of central control units and that sets and switches whether to display the aggregation result on the display unit, and that is provided in each of the plurality of central control units. When the display means does not display the aggregated result by switching the setting of the display switching means, the aggregated result aggregated by the central control means is output to the other control means, and the other control means is provided. An input / output control unit that causes the display unit to display a message corresponding to the control signal from the another control unit when a control signal is received from the display switching unit regardless of the setting of the display switching unit. Characterize.

[Operation] The detection means is, for example, an electronic watt-hour meter or the like, which is distributed and arranged for each consumer, and outputs a detection signal such as a pulse signal for each predetermined measurement amount.

One relay transmission means is provided for each of the plurality of detection means,
An address signal for each detection means is added to the detection signal from each detection means to be converted into a predetermined transmission signal, which is output to the transmission line in synchronization with a predetermined timing signal.

The central control means is, for example, an automatic control device having a microprocessor and a memory, receives a transmission signal from the relay transmission means output via a transmission line in synchronization with the predetermined timing signal, and Based on the included address signal, the measured amount is aggregated for each detection means,
The totalized result is accumulated and output to a printer or a display device.

The display means is, for example, a television monitor or the like, and the totalized results summed up by the central control means or another control means connected to the central control means, for example, a host computer which controls and controls a plurality of central control means. The message corresponding to the control signal from is displayed.

The display switching means is, for example, an on / off switch, and switches whether or not the totalization result is constantly displayed on the monitor by the display means, converts the set position into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal to the central control means.

Here, when it is not necessary to monitor the counting result in the central control means, the display switching means is operated to select a state in which the counting result is not displayed on the display means. The display switching means outputs an electric signal according to the set position to the microprocessor of the central control means.

The input / output control means is, for example, an input / output interface controlled by the microprocessor of the central control means, and when the totalized result is not displayed on the display means, the totalization of the plurality of detection means accumulated in the memory of the central control means. The result is output to another control means, for example, a higher-level computer that supervises and manages a plurality of central control means. Also,
When a control signal from another control means is received, a message corresponding to the control signal from another control means is displayed on the display means regardless of the setting position of the display switching means.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the centralized automatic meter-reading apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, a central device (10
0) is a control unit (102) including a microprocessor and a storage unit (104) for storing a calculation program and detection data.
And a setting unit (106) for setting the reading number of the detection device from which the detection data should be read and other setting values.
And a logic signal processed by the control unit (102) and a transmission line (15
0) output a totalization result and the like by a signal transmission unit (110) that performs signal conversion and input / output control with a cyclic digital signal that is input and output to and from the control unit (102). Printer control section (112), a display section (108) for displaying detection data, etc., and a display switching section (116) for switching whether or not display on the display section (108) is executed.
And an interface (118) which is an input / output control means for outputting the totalization result by the arithmetic processing of the control section (102) to another control means, for example, a higher-order computer (600) which supervises and manages a plurality of central devices (100). ).

The transmission line (150) has a relay transmission device (2
00), (300) .... are connected multiple times.

The relay transmission devices (200), (300) .... respectively receive the cyclic digital signals from the transmission line (150) and are used by the control units (204), (304) .... A signal transmission unit (202), (302), ... which converts a logical signal or vice versa into a cyclic digital signal.
Transmitters (T ₁₁ )-(T _nn ) and connection boxes (B ₁₁ )-(B _nn ) are attached to a plurality of detection means such as watt-hour meters (hereinafter abbreviated as meters) (M ₁₁ )-(M _nn ). first interface that is connected via (212), and (312) ...., the control unit (204), the (304) connected to .... meter (M ₁₁₎ signals from ~ The counters (210), (310) .... and the control units (204), (3 that increment the count number by one each time they are received.
Storage units (208), (308) ....., which are connected to 04) and which store the number of counts of counters (210), (310) ...., and relay transmission devices (200), (300), respectively. Address setting section (206), (30) for setting the address code of ....
6) .... and each meter (M ₁₁ ) when the central automatic meter reading device is activated
Second for connecting a portable operating device (500) which is a portable control means for setting an initial display value of (M _nn ).
Interfaces (214), (314) .... and connectors (216), (316).

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.

For example, in order to collect the data of the counter (210) of the relay transmission device (200), the address code of the relay transmission device (200) is input by the setting unit (106) of the central device (100). The control section (102) reads this set value, converts it into a predetermined cyclic digital signal in the signal transmission section (110), and then outputs it as a calling signal to the transmission line (150).

Central device (100) and each relay transmission device (200), (30
0) ..... Sending and receiving signals to and from the central unit (100) is carried out by means of sequential polling by the relay transmission units (200), (30).
0) .... is called to send and receive the required data.

As a calling signal, the control section (102) first sends out an address signal. This address signal includes an address code therein, and is for identifying to which relay transmission device the central device (100) is transmitting, and the address setting unit (206) of the relay transmission device, (30
6) The relay transmitter with the address code that matches the setting value of ... is called as the partner of the signal transmission. The call signal is input to the signal transmission units (202), (302) ... Of the relay transmission devices (200), (300) ...., converted into a predetermined logic signal, and then the control unit (204). , (304) ....

Each control unit (204), (304) ..
6), (306) .... The address code of each relay transmission device (200), (300) ..... and the address code included in the input signal are compared, Determine whether the call signal is output to itself.

When the address codes match, the count number of the counter (210) stored in, for example, the storage unit (208) of (200) of the relay transmission device is used as the detection signal, and the route is reverse to the above-mentioned call signal. And sends it to the central unit (100).

All the relay transmission devices (200) connected to the central device (100) are changed by sequentially changing the address code included in the call signal to the address code of the relay transmission devices (200), (300) .... , (300) ... and the detection data of all meters (M ₁₁ ) to (M _nn ) connected to them can be collected. Further, the control unit (102) of the central device (100) displays these data in the display unit (10).
Display in 8).

Here, the display unit (106) is, for example, a TV monitor, and the meters (M ₁₁ ) to
The detection data of (M _nn ) is displayed for each.

The display switching section (116) is, for example, an on / off switch, switches the display content on the display section (108), and converts the set position into an electric signal, for example, “0” and “1”, and the control section (102). ) Is output.

When it is not necessary to display the counting result on the display means, such as when the person in charge of the central device (100) is absent, the display switching unit (116) is operated to cancel the display of the counting result on the display unit (108). To do. The display switching unit (116) outputs an electric signal indicating that the set position is the off position, for example, "0", to the control unit (102). The display switching section (11
When an electric signal indicating that the set position is the off position is input from 6), the control unit (102) displays the aggregated result of the detection data of the meters (M ₁₁ ) to (M _nn ) in the interface (118). ) Is output. The interface (118) outputs the totalization result via the transmission line (120) to the host computer (600) which is another control means in synchronization with a predetermined timing signal. A plurality of central devices (100), which are generally distributed in various places, are connected to the host computer (600) online. Host computer (60
0) manages the aggregation results of these central devices (100) in a centralized manner.

When there is an abnormality in the signal indicating the aggregation result transmitted from the central unit (100), the host computer (600) outputs a control signal for confirming the data to the central unit (100). Central device (100) interface (11
When the control signal (8) receives the control signal from the host computer (600), the control unit (102) converts the control signal into a message signal and outputs the message signal to the display unit (108). When the control signal is output from the host computer (600), it is generally an emergency situation, and therefore the message corresponding to the control signal is always displayed on the display unit (108) regardless of the setting of the display switching unit (116). .

To restart the display on the display unit (108), the set position of the display switching unit (116) is switched to the ON state. The display switching unit (116) outputs an electric signal "1" corresponding to the set position to the control unit (102). When an electric signal indicating that the set position is the ON position is input from the display switching unit (116) to the control unit (102), the control unit (102) causes each meter (M
₁₁ ) to (M _nn ) detection data display results (108)
Output to.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the centralized automatic meter-reading device according to the present invention determines whether to display the totalized result on the display unit or output it to another control means in conjunction with ON / OFF of the display switching unit. Since it is possible to switch and a message corresponding to a control signal from another control means is always displayed on the display unit, it is possible to unmanned the central device and to have the host computer, which is another control device, supervise and manage. Have an effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a centralized automatic meter-reading device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conventional centralized automatic meter-reading device. In the figure, (100) is a central device, (108) is a display unit, (116)
Is a display switching unit, (118) is an interface, (200),
(300) ... is a relay transmission device, and (600) is a host computer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of detecting means, which are arranged in a distributed manner and emit a predetermined detection signal for each predetermined measurement amount, and a detection signal from each of the plurality of detection means is converted into a predetermined transmission signal and transmitted. A plurality of relay transmission means for outputting to a line, and a plurality of relay transmission means connected to the plurality of relay transmission means via the transmission line, and based on detection signals from the plurality of detection means transmitted via the transmission line, respectively. A plurality of central control means for totalizing the measured amounts for each detecting means, accumulating and outputting the totalized results, another control means for controlling and managing the plurality of central control means, and each of the plurality of central control means Display means provided for displaying at least a message corresponding to a totaling result totaled by the central control means and a control signal from the another control means, and provided for each of the plurality of central control means Display switching means for setting and switching whether or not to display the totaling result on the display means, and a plurality of central control means, each of which is provided in each of the central control means, and is switched to the display means by switching the setting of the display switching means. When the totaling result is not displayed, the totaling result aggregated by the central control unit is output to the another control unit, and when the control signal is received from the other control unit, the setting of the display switching unit is set. Regardless of the above, a centralized automatic meter-reading device comprising: input / output control means for causing the display means to display a message corresponding to a control signal from the other control means.