JPH0862020A - Flow rate data storing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a flow rate data storing unit in which the flow rate data is protected against missing by preventing a necessary flow rate data from being overwritten when a memory card previously written with a flow rate data is inserted. CONSTITUTION: A transfer control section 5 compares the transfer date of a flow rate data already written in a memory card inserted into an apparatus with a current date obtained from a clock section 6. When both dates match each other, a flow rate data stored in a memory section 4 is controlled not to be transferred to the memory card.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flow rate data storage device, and more particularly to a flow rate data storage device having a function of transferring stored flow rate data to a memory card inserted from the outside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Flowmeters are installed in homes, offices or factories where gas, water, etc. are used to measure the flow rate. A flow sensor is used to measure the flow rate of fluids such as gas and tap water, and the flow rate data that is the output of this flow rate sensor is used not only for billing for fluid consumption but also for obtaining the flow rate per hour. A flow rate data storage device capable of storing flow rate data over a predetermined period has been developed because it can be used for various purposes such as analysis of the consumption tendency of.

The flow rate data stored in the flow rate data storage device needs to be collected by, for example, a meter reader to the place where the flow rate data storage device is installed. Since the conventional flow rate data storage device only has an interface with a data collection device such as a personal computer, the meter reader must carry a data collection device of considerable weight and size when collecting data.

Therefore, the applicants of the present invention are concerned with a flow rate data storage device having a function of transferring stored flow rate data to a memory card so that a meter reader may carry only a small memory card when collecting data. Japanese Patent Application 5-
A patent application as 342936 was filed.

If the data collection work is complicated and various operations by the meter-reader are required, the probability of erroneous operation by the meter-reader increases, and reliable data collection cannot be performed. Therefore, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 5-342936.
In the flow rate data storage device disclosed in No. 3, when the memory card is inserted, the stored flow rate data is automatically transferred to the memory card, which simplifies the data collection work by the meter reader. ing.

Further, in this flow rate data storage device, once the flow rate data stored in the internal memory has been transferred to the memory card, the transferred flow rate data is erased from the internal memory, and then the flow rate data newly input. To be able to store.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned flow rate data storage device is designed to automatically transfer the flow rate data simply by inserting the memory card.
Even if a memory card with flow rate data already written is inserted, the flow rate data stored in the internal memory at that time will be overwritten, and the flow rate data previously written to the memory card will be lost. There was a problem.

For example, if the meter reader forgets whether or not the flow rate data has been transferred and inserts the memory card into the flow rate data storage device again, when the flow rate data has already been transferred. Has a problem that the written flow rate data is lost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when a memory card in which flow rate data is already written is inserted, if the written flow rate data is necessary data, it is overwritten. It is an object of the present invention to provide a flow rate data storage device that can prevent the loss of flow rate data without doing so.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention receives a flow rate signal output from a flow meter each time a unit amount of fluid flows, and obtains flow rate data based on this flow rate signal. A flow rate data storage device that has a storage unit for storing and a memory card insertion slot for inserting a memory card, and transfers the flow rate data stored in the storage unit to the memory card inserted in the memory card insertion port, If the clock unit that outputs the current date and the transfer date of the flow rate data that has already been written in the memory card inserted in the memory card insertion slot are compared with the current date from the clock unit, and if both dates match The flow rate data storage device includes a transfer control unit that controls not to transfer the flow rate data stored in the storage unit to the memory card inserted in the memory card insertion slot. You configure.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the transfer controller has the above configuration.
The transfer date of the flow rate data that has already been written to the memory card inserted in the device is compared with the current date obtained from the clock section.If the two dates match, the flow rate data stored in the storage section is stored in the memory. Control not to transfer to the card.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a flow rate data storage device according to the present invention.

The flow rate data storage device 1 can be operated by raising the cover 11 as shown in FIG. The cover 11 is normally lowered and closed, and the key is further tightened so that the cover cannot be tampered with.

Further, the flow rate data storage device 1 is provided with a display section 10 for displaying the current date and time at the center of the front surface, and a memory card insertion slot 12 for inserting a memory card immediately above the display section 10. An eject button 14 for removing the inserted memory card is provided at the right end of the memory card insertion slot 12. And, a flow meter connection terminal 13 for connecting a flow meter is provided in the lower part of the front face, and at the left and right positions slightly lower than the center of the front face,
The flow rate data storage device 1 is provided with a setting machine connection terminal 15 for connecting a setting machine for setting the time and the like, and a switch section 9 for switching the display contents of the display section 10.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the flow rate data storage device according to the present invention.

The flow rate data storage device 1 comprises a flow rate data recording section 3, a storage section 4, a transfer control section 5, a clock section 6, and a memory card interface section 7.

The flow meter 2 is a predetermined amount of fluid (eg gas).
Outputs a flow rate signal each time it flows in the pipeline, and in the flow rate data storage device 1, based on the flow rate signal received via the flow meter connection terminal 13, for example, the time when the flow rate signal is received is used as the flow rate data. The data recording unit 3 stores it in the storage unit 4.

Next, an embodiment of the flow rate data transfer process in the flow rate data storage device according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of flow rate data transfer processing in the transfer control unit 5 shown in FIG.

This flow rate data transfer process is an interrupt process which is activated when a memory card is inserted into the memory card insertion slot 12 shown in FIG.

First, the transfer date of the flow rate data written in the memory card inserted in the memory card insertion slot 12 is read (F-1), and the transfer date is compared with the current date obtained from the clock unit 6 ( F-2).

Then, when the flow rate data is not written in the memory card and when the transfer date of the memory card is different from the current date, the flow rate data is stored in the storage unit 4.
Read from the memory card and written to the memory card via the memory card interface unit 7 (F-3). On the other hand, if the transfer date of the memory card and the current date are the same, the process ends without writing the flow rate data to the memory card.

Generally, when the flow rate data is collected, the flow rate data written in the memory card is transferred to the host computer of the center on the same day. Therefore, the flow rate data written in the memory card is transferred as in this embodiment. If the date is checked, it is possible to prevent overwriting when the written flow rate data is necessary data.

Even if the transfer date of the memory card and the current date are the same, if the process of transferring the flow rate data and the process of not transferring shown in FIG. 3 can be selected, the same memory can be used. It can also be used when you want to transfer data to the card multiple times on the same day.

Next, another embodiment of the flow rate data storage device according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the flow rate data storage device according to the present invention.

The flow rate data storage device 1 comprises a flow rate data recording section 3, a storage section 4, a transfer control section 8, a clock section 6, a memory card interface section 7, a switch section 9, and a display section 10. Become.

The flow meter 2 outputs a flow rate signal each time a predetermined amount of fluid flows in the pipeline, and in the flow rate data storage device 1,
Based on the flow rate signal received via the flow meter connection terminal 13, the flow rate data recording unit 3 stores the flow rate data in the storage unit 4.

Next, another embodiment of the flow rate data transfer process in the flow rate data storage device according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of flow rate data transfer processing in the transfer control unit 8 shown in FIG.

This flow rate data transfer process is also an interrupt process that is activated when the memory card is inserted into the memory card insertion slot 12 shown in FIG.

First, by reading the flow rate data written in the memory card inserted into the memory card insertion slot 12 (S-1), it is judged whether or not the flow rate data is already written in the memory card ( S-2).

When the flow rate data is not written in the memory card, the flow rate data is read out from the storage section 4, transferred through the memory card interface section 7 and written in the memory card (S-5). finish.

On the other hand, when the flow rate data is already written in the memory card, first, the current date, the transfer date and transfer time of the flow rate data written in the memory card, the flow meter and the flow rate data storage device. The instrument number is displayed (S-3).

When the meter-reader sees this display content and determines that the flow rate data of the memory card is unnecessary data because the transfer time differs from the current time, for example, the switch section 9 can be overwritten. On the contrary, since the transfer time is the same as the current time, when it is determined that it is not necessary to overwrite, the memory card is removed.

In the flow rate data storage device 1, the switch unit 9
When is pressed (S-4), the flow rate data is stored in the storage unit 4
Read from the memory card, transferred through the memory card interface unit 7, written to the memory card (S-5), and then the process ends, but when the memory card is removed without pressing the switch unit 9 (S-4), what is done? The process ends without doing anything.

Needless to say, the present invention can be applied not only to a flow rate data storage device for storing flow rate data, but also to a data logger in which various data are recorded and periodic data collection is required. . For example, it can be applied to the collection of data related to consumption of gas, electricity, water, etc.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the memory card in which the flow rate data has already been written is inserted, if the written flow rate data is necessary data, it is possible to prevent the flow rate data from being lost without overwriting.

Further, according to the flow rate data storage device of the present invention, since the operation by the meter-reader is also simplified, the probability of erroneous operation is low.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a flow rate data storage device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a flow rate data storage device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of flow rate data transfer processing in the transfer control unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the flow rate data storage device according to the present invention.

5 is a flowchart of a flow rate data transfer process in the transfer control unit shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 flow rate data storage device 2 flow meter 3 flow rate data recording unit 4 storage unit 5 transfer control unit 6 clock unit 7 memory card interface unit 8 transfer control unit 9 switch unit 10 display unit 11 cover 12 memory card insertion port 13 flow meter connection terminal 14 Eject button 15 Setting machine connection terminal

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tatsuro Sato 1-2-3 Shimura, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Inside Kinmon Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (72) Yuichi Sato 2-13-7 Midori, Sumida-ku, Tokyo Urban Heights Ryogoku No. 1009 (72) Inventor Shin Yamagami 1 Nisshin-cho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa 8-504, Kawasaki, Sansk Air Kawasaki Shinichi Sasayama 3-2-7, Takasago, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 215 (72) Invention Hajime Nakamura Hajime 2-7-9 Innai, Funabashi City, Chiba T & S Nishi-Fune 104

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for receiving a flow rate signal output from a flow meter each time a unit amount of fluid flows and storing flow rate data based on the flow rate signal, and a memory card insertion slot for inserting a memory card. A flow rate data storage device for transferring the flow rate data stored in the storage section to a memory card inserted in the memory card insertion slot, and a clock section for outputting the current date; The transfer date of the flow rate data that has already been written to the memory card is compared with the current date from the clock section, and if both dates match, the flow rate data stored in the storage section is inserted into the memory card. A flow rate data storage device, comprising: a transfer control unit that controls so as not to transfer to a memory card inserted in a mouth. 2. A storage unit for receiving a flow rate signal output from a flow meter each time a unit amount of fluid flows and storing flow rate data based on the flow rate signal, and a memory card insertion slot for inserting a memory card. A flow rate data storage device for transferring the flow rate data stored in the storage section to a memory card inserted in the memory card insertion slot, and displaying a clock section for outputting the current date and information related to the flow rate data. The display unit, the switch unit that can be operated by the operator, and the flow rate data stored in the storage unit when the flow rate data is not written in the memory card inserted in the memory card insertion slot. When the data is transferred to the memory card inserted in the mouth, and the flow rate data is already written in the memory card inserted in the memory card insertion mouth, Information about flow rate data is displayed on the display unit, and control is performed so that the flow rate data stored in the storage unit is transferred to the memory card inserted in the memory card insertion slot only when the switch unit is operated. A flow rate data storage device comprising a transfer control unit.