JPS5878297A - Meter sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a meter sensor, and particularly to a meter sensor for automatically reading the amount of water, gas, electricity, etc. used via a communication line.

A signal generator that sends out an electrical signal indicating one flow rate in order to automatically read the amount of water, gas, or electricity used by each user from a meter reading center via a communication line.

A meter equipped with a main device and an electrical signal sent from the meter that indicates the integrated flow rate are generated, and in response to a call signal from the meter reading center, an electrical signal indicating the integrated flow rate is sent to the communication line. A meter sensor that sends out signals has been developed. At the meter reading center, it is possible to detect the total flow rate for each user using electrical signals sent from each meter sensor.
t-can be known. The signal generator of the meter uses a magnetic sensor element to detect the rotation speed of a magnet attached to a rotating body that rotates at a speed proportional to the flow rate per unit time, and sends out a pulse signal with a pulse number proportional to the flow rate. do. The meter sensor that receives this pulse signal generates a digital signal indicating the cumulative flow rate by counting the total number of pulses, and sends this to the meter to display the cumulative flow value, and also responds to the call signal from the meter reading center. A digital signal indicating the integrated flow rate is sent to the communication line.

By using the above conventional meter sensor, water supply,
It can automatically perform meter readings for gas, electric, etc. meters, and can read meters more efficiently and with fewer errors than when reading them manually. However, conventional meter sensors only have the function of reading meters in response to a call from a meter reading center, and other means must be used to notify users of meter reading results and corresponding charges. In the case of gas and electric power, it is desirable to be able to immediately stop supply to users in the event of a major earthquake to prevent secondary disasters.

In order to efficiently and reliably notify such users and stop supply in case of an emergency, the next step is to send communications from the meter reading center to the meter sensor using the communication line connected to the meter sensor on the user side.
It is economical to automatically control all meter sensor valves to display notifications and stop supply by sending information indicating the signal or by sending a friend control signal to turn off the solenoid valve or switch circuit. is also desirable. However, conventional meter sensors do not have the ability to receive signals and information sent from the meter reading center and control other devices accordingly, so they do not receive notifications based on the signals and information sent from the meter reading center. One drawback is that display and supply stop control cannot be executed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a meter sensor that eliminates the above-mentioned defects and can control the operations of other devices in accordance with signals and information sent from a meter reading center.

The meter sensor of the present invention includes an integrating means that receives a pulse signal indicating a measured flow rate value given from a meter, counts the pulse signal, and sends out an integrated signal indicating an integrated flow rate value, and includes an integrating means that receives a pulse signal indicating a flow rate measurement value given from a meter and sends out an integrated signal indicating an integrated flow rate value; 1. An input signal generating means for generating a control signal in response to an operation request signal given from a first external device, and transmitting the response signal sent from the signal generating means to the first external device. output means, and each of the input/output means is connected to at least one second external device, each of which operates in response to the control signal, when the control signal requests sending of the answer signal. The response signal is sent from the signal generating means to the input/output means, and when the control signal requests an operation of any one of the second external devices, the control signal is sent to the second external device. send.

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows an example of automatic gas meter reading. When the solenoid valve 2 is opened, gas is sent to the gas appliance through the meter 3t. The meter 3 sends a flow signal to the meter sensor 10 counter 4 with a number of pulses proportional to the gas flow rate. The counter 4 counts the pulses of the flow rate signal and sends an integrated signal of parallel pulses indicating the entire integrated value of the gas flow rate to the message assembly circuit 5. On the other hand, a signal including a command signal and a start signal is sent to the input/output circuit 6 from the device on the meter reading center side via the input/output terminal 9. The input/output circuit 6 includes a switch circuit that connects the signal sent from the meter reading center to the control circuit 7 when the signal is received, and an input/output terminal that connects the signal to the control circuit 7 when the signal is sent from the message assembly circuit 5. It is fully equipped with a switch circuit that connects to 9. The command signal included in the signal sent from the meter reading center includes meter sensor 1.
A code requesting transmission of a telegram signal including the integration signal from the zero counter 4, a code requesting opening (or closing) of the solenoid valve 2, or a code requesting full activation of the reporting device 10. and if a code for requesting the activation of the reporting device 10 is included, a notification consisting of a code indicating the selection of the display means of the reporting device 10 and a code indicating the contents of the notification. Code included. When a command signal and a start signal are sent from the input/output circuit 6, the control circuit 7 selects one of the message assembly circuit 5, the switch circuit 8, or the notification device 10 according to the request code included in the command signal. A signal is sent to either one to control its operation. That is, when the request code included in the command signal indicates sending a message signal, a read signal and a clock signal are sent to the message assembly circuit 5, and when it indicates a request to switch the solenoid valve 2, the read signal and the clock signal are sent to the switch circuit 8. When a switching signal is sent and indicates a request to start up the notification device 10, the notification device 1
A notification signal obtained by converting the notification code into a parallel signal sequence is sent to the microcombi 0 and 11 along with the write signal. When the message assembling circuit 5 receives the d-coding signal and the black-coding signal from the control circuit 7, the message assembly circuit 5 reads the integrated signal when receiving the read signal and adds a predetermined signal to it, thereby creating a parallel signal with a predetermined format. After constructing nine telegram signals, the nine telegram signals are converted into serial signals in response to a clock signal, and the nine telegram signals are sequentially sent to the input/output circuit 6. The switch circuit 8 is a zero notification device lO that switches the opening and closing of the gas flow passing through the electromagnetic valve 4F-2 by switching the opening and closing of the connection between the power supply and the solenoid of the electromagnetic valve 2 every time it receives a switching signal from the control circuit 7. is a microcombi, a printing device 12, a video display device 13 and a public address device i4.
It is configured by e-connection. When a write signal and a notification signal are sent from the control circuit 7 of the meter sensor 1,
Microcombi, -Yu 11 is a report signal from the input boat?
: Read and select one of the display means of the printing device 12, video display device 13, and loudspeaker device 14 according to the code indicating the selection of the display means and send the code indicating the contents of the report to it, or The display information stored in advance in the location indicated by the report content code in the memory is read out and sent to the selected next display means to display the report.

2 and 3 are a block diagram showing an example of the configuration and a time chart illustrating the operation of the control circuit 7 of the meter sensor 1 shown in FIG. 1, respectively. The first signal J1 sent from the input/output circuit 6 is the command signal D.
1 and D2 and an activation signal that rises after them, the request code and notification code are separated from the signal of the control circuit 7, and both are converted into parallel codes and sent to the decoder circuit 16 and the notification device, respectively. Send to IO's microcombi, -Yu 11. The decoder circuit 16 receives the request code, and when it indicates transmission of a telegram signal (corresponds to the command signal D1), the decoder circuit 16 causes a pulse of a predetermined time width to rise in the signal, indicating activation of the notification device l110. (corresponding to the command signal D2), the pulse of a predetermined time width is made to rise in the signal C, or when the solenoid valve 2t indicates an open < (or close) operation, the pulse of the signal g is made to fall (or rise). (increased) and held until a request code is received to close (and then open) the next solenoid valve 2.

Note that the signal separation circuit 15 completes the transmission of the parallel notification code series C2 while the pulse of the signal C is rising. On the other hand, among the signals sent out by the decoder circuit 16, the signal S is applied to one input terminal of the AND gate 17, and while the pulse of the signal S is rising, a command containing a request code for sending a telegram signal is sent. When the pulse of the activation signal following the signal Dl rises,
A set pulse is sent from the AND gate 17 to the 7-lip flop 18, causing a pulse to rise on the signal d. When the pulse of the signal d rises, the oscillator 19 starts generating a clock signal with a predetermined period, and this is used as the signal e to be sent to the counter 20.
send to The counter 20 counts the clock pulses of the signal e, and when it reaches a predetermined number m, generates a pulse to reset the flip-flop Iff. When the flip-flop 18 is reset and the pulse of the signal d falls, the oscillator 19Fi stops generating the clock signal, and the pulse of the inverted signal d rises, resetting the count value of the counter 20 to zero. do. The number m of black and white signals that appear in the signal e during this period is determined to be equal to the length and number of pits of the telegram signal in a predetermined format sent out by the telegram assembling circuit 5.

Of the signals sent out by this control circuit 7, the signal
are sent to the message assembly circuit 5 as a read signal and a black signal, respectively, a signal g is sent to the switch circuit 8 as a switching signal, and signals C and f are sent to the microcombination circuit of the notification device 10 as a write signal and a notification signal, respectively. , - sent to Jll 1.

As explained above, the meter sensor 1 shown in FIG. 1 receives a command signal sent from the meter reading center via the communication line, and sends a signal to the solenoid valve 2 and the notification device 1o to control their respective operations. Send out.

Although Figure 1 shows the case of gas, it is clear that the same operation is possible for water, electricity, etc. by using a meter that generates a flow rate signal with a pulse number proportional to the flow rate. be.

As is clear from the above explanation, the present invention has the advantage that it is possible to realize a meter sensor that can control the operation of other devices according to signals and information from a meter reading center. The effect is that operations from meter reading to notification of billed charges can be carried out efficiently, quickly, and reliably.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are diagrams showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a time chart illustrating the operation of the circuit shown in FIG. l...Meter sensor, 2...Solenoid valve,
3...Meter, 4...Counter, 5.
・Seal/telegram assembly circuit-6... Input/output circuit, 7.
...Control circuit, 8...Switch circuit, 9
...Input/output terminal %10...Notification device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] an integrating means that receives a pulse signal indicating a measured flow rate value given from a meter, counts the pulse signal, and sends out an integrated signal indicating an integrated value of the flow rate; and a signal generating means that sends out a response signal including the integrated signal; an input/output means for generating a control signal in response to an operation request signal given from a first external device and transmitting the response signal sent from the signal generating means to the first external device; At least one second external device, each of which operates in response to the control signal, is connected to the input/output means, and when the control signal requests sending of the answer signal, the answer signal is transmitted to the signal generator. from the means to the input/output means,
The meter sensor is further characterized in that when the control signal requests an operation of any one of the second external devices, the control signal is sent to the second external device.