JPH10117392A - Slave set for radio metering system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slave set by which a master set makes remote radio metering to the slave set by reading an ID number specific to the slave set through radio communication, even when the ID number specific to each slave set is forgotten or setting a new ID number. SOLUTION: This system is provided with an external signal reception section 6 that receives an external signal, in addition to a radio transmission reception section 4. A control section 5 has a function for discriminating the presence of a external signal from the external signal reception section 6 and makes a communication control reply to a master set via the radio transmission reception section 4, even when an ID number which is specific to the slave set does not match through radio communication in the case when the external signal is existent.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless meter reading system for remotely measuring a meter such as a gas meter, a water meter, a hot water meter or an integrating calorimeter by wireless communication between a slave unit and a master unit. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of wireless meter reading system, a plurality of slaves are individually and remotely metered by wireless communication from a master, so that each slave requires a unique call ID number. Because, in wireless communication, in order to select one slave unit from a plurality of slave units, the contents of wireless communication from the master unit include:
If the ID number unique to the slave unit is not included, wireless responses from a plurality of slave units are performed at the same time, and identification communication becomes impossible.

[0003] Therefore, when operating the master unit, the I
It is necessary to manage the D number, and the ID number of each slave unit is described in the management ledger so as not to be forgotten, or is stored in the storage medium on the master unit side, but the management ledger is lost. If the storage medium of the master unit is damaged or damaged, wireless communication with each slave unit cannot be performed.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an external signal receiving section which is different from a wireless transmitting / receiving section, and which receives an external signal even if the wireless transmitting / receiving section does not have a unique ID number in the wireless communication. If a communication control response can be made via a remote controller, even if the ID number unique to each slave unit is forgotten, the ID number unique to the slave unit can be read out by wireless communication, or a new ID number can be read. Is to provide a slave unit that enables remote wireless meter reading from the master unit again to the slave unit by performing the above setting.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a wireless transmitting / receiving unit 4, a control unit 5, and a measuring unit 8, and wirelessly communicates information with the base unit 2 through the wireless transmitting / receiving unit 4. In the slave unit of the wireless meter reading system that performs transmission and reception of an external signal, an external signal receiving unit 6 that receives an external signal separately from the wireless transmitting and receiving unit 4 is provided. Determine the presence or absence of an external signal,
In the case where there is an external signal, a function is added to send a communication control response to the master unit via the wireless transmission / reception unit 4 even if the ID number unique to the slave unit does not match in wireless communication. .

If the control unit 5 responds to the communication control without checking the ID number unique to the slave unit in the presence of the external signal, the step of judging the ID number check can be omitted. In this case, it is determined whether or not there is wireless communication from base unit 2 within the set time of the timer after receiving the external signal,
When there is communication, a communication control response can be made without collating the ID number unique to the child device.

In addition, when there is an external signal, the control section 5 determines whether or not the wireless transmission / reception section 4 has received an ID number common to the slave units, and if received, makes a communication control response. Good.

[0008]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. The handset 1 includes an antenna 3 for transmitting / receiving a radio signal to / from the base unit 2, a radio transmitting / receiving unit 4, a control unit 5
, An external signal receiving unit 6, a power source 7 which is a battery or an AC power source, and a measuring unit 8 for measuring the usage amount.

The radio transmitting / receiving unit 4 demodulates a radio signal from the antenna 3 and inputs the demodulated signal to the control unit 5, or modulates a signal from the control unit 5 and transmits the modulated signal from the antenna 3 as a radio signal.

The control unit 5 controls the radio transmission / reception unit 4 to transmit and receive radio signals, controls power supply to the radio transmission / reception unit 4, and transmits modulated data from the radio transmission / reception unit 4. For this purpose, the weighing unit 8 sends data to the wireless transmission / reception unit 4, monitors the presence / absence of an external signal from the external signal reception unit 6, and transmits a request from the master unit 2.
From the master unit 2 through the wireless transmission / reception unit 4.
And various controls such as responding to the

The external signal receiving unit 6 receives an external signal separately from the wireless transmitting / receiving unit 4, and responds to an external magnetic field, such as a reed switch, a Hall element, or a proximity switch, or responds to light. In addition to a sensor such as an optical sensor, a manually operable switch such as a button switch or a dip switch can be considered.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of an operation example of the control unit 5 at the time of wireless communication. First, in step S1, the presence or absence of wireless communication from the wireless transmission / reception unit 4 is checked. If there is wireless communication, the presence / absence of a signal from the external signal receiving unit 6 is checked in step S2. If there is, the process proceeds to step S4 without checking the ID number, and a communication control response is made as it is.

If there is no signal from the external signal receiving unit 6 in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3, where the ID number of the received communication data is checked and collated with the unique ID number held by the child device 1. If they match, step S4
To make a communication control response in response to the request from the master unit 2. For example, it responds with information from the weighing unit 8 or responds with information stored in a memory in the control unit 5. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step S5, where it is determined that communication with another child device has been made, and there is no response.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing another example of operation, in which step S6 is added between steps S2 and S4 in the flowchart of FIG.
That is, when there is a signal from the external signal receiving unit 6 in step S2, the process proceeds to step S6, and the common I which is predetermined in the message content as a common one for all the slaves is determined.
It is determined whether or not there is a D number, and if there is, a step S4
The communication control response is made as it is. If not, the process proceeds to step S3, where the ID number is the
It checks whether it is a D number.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation. In this case, first, the presence or absence of a signal from the external signal receiving unit 6 is checked in step S2, and if there is, a timer flag is set in step S7, and the process proceeds to step S8 to determine whether the timer flag is set. Judge. If it is set, the timer is incremented in step S9, and the process proceeds to step S10, where it is determined whether the timer has reached a set value. If the timer has reached the set value, the timer flag is reset in step S11.

If the timer has not reached the set value, it is checked in step S1 whether or not there is wireless communication from the wireless transmitting / receiving unit 4. If there is wireless communication, the flow advances to step S12 to determine whether or not the timer flag has been set. That is, it is determined whether or not the time is within a predetermined time set by the timer. If the time is within the time, the process proceeds to step S4 and the communication control response is performed as it is. If not, the process proceeds to step S3, where the ID number unique to the child device is checked.

That is, in this operation example, if there is wireless communication within a predetermined time from the reception of the external signal, the communication control response is directly made, and if not, the ID number unique to the child device is checked.

[0019]

As described above, the present invention comprises an external signal receiving section for receiving an external signal separately from the radio transmitting / receiving section, and judges whether or not there is an external signal from the external signal receiving section. When there is an external signal, the communication control response to the master unit can be performed even if the ID numbers unique to the slave unit do not match in wireless communication. Therefore, if the ID number unique to each slave unit is forgotten. Even if you do, by wireless communication,
By reading the ID number unique to the child device or setting a new ID number, remote wireless meter reading from the parent device to the child device becomes possible again.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an operation example at the time of wireless communication in a control unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing another operation example.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing still another operation example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 slave unit 2 base unit 3 antenna 4 wireless transmitting / receiving unit 5 control unit 6 external signal receiving unit 7 power supply 8 measuring unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A slave unit of a wireless metering system including a wireless transmission / reception unit, a control unit, and a measuring unit, and exchanging information with a base unit wirelessly through the wireless transmission / reception unit. An external signal receiving unit for receiving a signal, the control unit determines the presence or absence of an external signal from the external signal receiving unit, and when there is an external signal, the ID number unique to the slave unit in wireless communication. Even if they do not match,
A slave unit of the wireless meter reading system, which makes a communication control response to the master unit via the wireless transmission / reception unit. 2. The wireless metering system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs a communication control response without checking an ID number unique to the slave unit when an external signal is present. Child unit. 3. When there is an external signal, the control unit determines whether or not there is wireless communication from the master unit within a set time of the timer after receiving the external signal. 3. The slave of the wireless metering system according to claim 2, wherein the slave performs a communication control response without checking the ID number unique to the slave. 4. The control unit, when an external signal is present, determines whether or not the wireless transmission / reception unit receives an ID number common to the slave units, and performs a communication control response when the ID number is received. A slave unit of the wireless meter reading system according to claim 1.