JPH08163265A - Microcomputer meter with separated module - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To economize cost of exchange parts or to accelerate exchange work and to economize labor cost by exchanging only the part of any damage or fault which is generated. CONSTITUTION: In the microcomputer meter for which a microcomputer is integrated into a casing 1 with a built-in mechanical part 4 and a communication function for HA service/automatic meter-reading is provided, the communication function is constituted as modules 2 and 3 freely attachable and detachable to the casing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a module-separated type microcomputer meter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A gas meter installed in a home or the like for the purpose of safe use of gas and having a microcomputer provided with a gas breaker function is called a microcomputer meter, and this microcomputer meter is further provided with HA (HOME AUTOMATIO).
N) An intelligent gas meter with a communication function for service / automatic meter reading is called a microcomputer meter with communication function (microcomputer meter III). That is,
The microcomputer meter III is integrated with a valve unit, a flow rate measuring unit, a meter display unit, an automatic meter reading communication unit and the like. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the microcomputer meter III.

As shown in FIG. 7, the communication line used as the communication function of the microcomputer meter III is an A line 50.
And B line 60, A line 50 is T-NC
It is for connection with a U (TERMINAL NETWORK CONTROL UNIT) 51, which is further connected to a telephone line 52.
The B line 60 is for connection with the alarm device 61 or the HA board 62.

The conventional microcomputer meter III has a built-in structure in which a mechanical part for measuring a gas flow rate and an electronic substrate part for automatic meter reading are built in, and these parts are not particularly divided.

[0005]

As described above, since the conventional micommeter III has an integrated structure in which the mechanical part and the electronic board part are not separated from each other, only when the mechanical part, for example, the gas cutoff valve is broken, Conversely, if an abnormality occurs only in the electronic board part, the entire microcomputer meter must be replaced together with the chassis, which makes maintenance difficult and wastes money and troublesome replacement work due to the entire replacement. There are drawbacks such as

The present invention has been made in view of the above points. When a breakage or a failure occurs, only that part is replaced to save the cost of replacement parts, speed up the replacement work, and save labor costs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a microcomputer meter for automatic meter reading, which is capable of performing the above.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the module-separated type microcomputer meter of the present invention incorporates a microcomputer in a housing containing a mechanical section to provide HA service
In a microcomputer meter having a communication function for performing automatic meter reading, the communication function is configured as a module that can be attached to and detached from a housing. The module may be a dedicated module for wired communication or a dedicated module for wired communication, or may be two modules divided into an MM base module with communication function with LCD meter and a wireless communication module, and a communication function with LCD meter. In some cases, the attached MM base module and the wireless communication module are combined into one module.

[0008]

[Function] Since the communication part built in the micom meter is made into a module and divided from the case having the mechanical part so that the module can be detachably attached to the case, maintenance can be performed by replacing only the defective module with a new one. Inspection becomes easy, and by changing the combination of various modules, it is possible to make microcomputer meters suitable for various applications.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A module-separated type microcomputer meter of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an automatic meter-reading module separate type microcomputer meter according to the present invention.

The automatic meter-reading module-separated type micom meter of FIG.
This is a detachable structure in which the MM base module 2 with a communication function and the wireless communication module 3 that are divided are respectively inserted from the front side and the upper side. The mechanical unit 4 is a member that is rarely broken and has few failures.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the MM-based module with a communication function having the LCD meter shown in FIG.

The MM base module shown in FIG. 3 has a battery voltage drop determination circuit 11, a microcomputer (control device) 12, and an abnormality display L.
CD13, shutoff valve I / O circuit 14, test switch 1
5, a communication I / O circuit 16, a flow rate pulse input circuit 17, a vibration sensor input circuit 18, a B line I / O circuit 19 and a pressure sensor input circuit 20.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the wireless communication module.

The wireless communication module 3 includes a wireless communication unit 23,
The microcomputer 12 (combined), the wired communication unit 25, the clock control unit 26, and the power supply 27 are provided.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the mechanical section.

The mechanical section includes a shutoff valve 30 and a metering function 3
1, a vibration sensor 32 and a pressure sensor 33 are provided.

In FIG. 1, if wireless communication is used, it is not necessary to use a telephone line. Therefore, when the wireless communication module 3 is inserted into the housing 1, the telephone line interface is automatically turned off. be able to.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of another embodiment of the automatic meter-reading module separate type micom meter according to the present invention.

In the automatic meter-reader module-separated type micom meter of FIG. 2, (1) the module 5 is a dedicated module for wired communication that does not have a wireless communication part, and (2) the module 5 is a wireless module that does not have a wired communication part. There are cases where the module is a communication-dedicated module, and (3) the module 5 is an integrated MM base module with a communication function with an LCD meter and a wireless communication module. (1) (2) (3)
In any case, the module 5 is configured to be detachably inserted from the front surface (in the case of FIG. 2) of the housing 1 containing the mechanical section 4 or from above (not shown).

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a module when the MM base module with a communication function with LCD meter and the wireless communication module of FIG. 2 are integrated.

Integrated module 5 in the case of (3) in FIG.
6, as shown in FIG. 6, a battery voltage drop determination circuit 11, a microcomputer (control device) 12, an abnormality display LCD 13, a shutoff valve I / O circuit 14, a test switch 15, a flow rate pulse input circuit 17, a seismic sensor input circuit. 18B, line I / O circuit 19, pressure sensor input circuit 20, wireless communication section 23,
The wired communication unit 25 and the A line connector 21 are provided.

The block diagram of the module 5 in the case of (1) of FIG. 2 is a block diagram in which the wireless communication section 23 is removed from the block diagram of FIG. Further, the block diagram of the module 5 in the case of (2) in FIG. 2 is a block diagram obtained by removing the wired communication unit 25 from the block diagram in FIG. 6.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, a microcomputer is incorporated in a housing containing a mechanical section to provide HA service
In the microcomputer meter provided with the communication function for performing automatic meter reading, the communication function is configured as a detachable module in the housing, so that the following excellent effects can be obtained. (1) When a failure occurs only in a part of the micom meter, only the failed part needs to be replaced with a new one, connection between the parts can be facilitated, and replacement work can be performed quickly. Therefore, the idle time of the microcomputer meter is shortened. (2) The cost can be reduced by using the same LSI for the microcomputer meter unit and the wireless communication unit. (3) Impact resistance and moisture resistance are improved by modularization. (4) It is possible to reduce the cost required for maintenance work of the entire microcomputer meter. (5) By making various types of modules, it becomes possible to produce a microcomputer meter suitable for various fields of use at low cost by combining these.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an automatic meter-reading module separate type micom meter according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of another embodiment of a module-type microcomputer meter for automatic meter-reading according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an MM base module with an LCD meter and a communication function.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a wireless communication module.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a mechanical unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an integrated module.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a microcomputer meter III.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 case 2 MM base module with LCD meter and communication function 3 module 4 machine part 5 module

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. In a microcomputer meter having a communication function for HA service / automatic meter reading, the microcomputer is incorporated in a housing containing a mechanical part, and the communication function is configured as a detachable module in the housing. A separate module type microcomputer meter characterized in that 2. The module-separated microcomputer meter according to claim 1, wherein the module is a dedicated module for wired communication. 3. The module-separated type microcomputer meter according to claim 1, wherein the module is a wireless communication dedicated module. 4. The module-separated type microcomputer meter according to claim 1, wherein the module is composed of a divided MM base module with a communication function and a wireless communication module. 5. The module-separated type microcomputer meter according to claim 1, comprising an MM base module with a communication function and an LCD meter integrated with the module and a wireless communication module.