JPS6132646A - Gas metering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the power consumption of a battery volage detecting circuit by an easy method by providing a main control part composed of a microcomputer with a stand-by mode in which an output for driving the battery voltage detecting circuit is sent out when a start signal from a telephone circuit is detected. CONSTITUTION:The main control part 17 is composed of the microcomputer with the stand-by mode. The main control part 17 inputs a flow rate signal from a flow rate signal input circuit 12 to integrate and store the flow rate. When the start signal from a meter inspection center is sent to the main control part 17 through a start signal input circuit 15, the main control part 17 changes from the stand-by mode to a normal processing mode and sends data on an integrated flow rate value to the meter inspection center through a transmission circuit 16. The main control part 17 enters the stand-by mode again after the data transmission. Further, when a signal from a flow rate signal input circuit 12 is inputted, the stand-by mode is reset and the normal processing mode is entered to integrate and store the metered value.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a gas metering device used in an automatic meter reading system that reads the indicated value of a gas meter at a meter reading center of a gas utility company via a general subscriber telephone line. .

Conventional configuration and its problems Conventional gas metering devices for automatic meter reading integrate and store the flow rate pulses emitted from the sensor section of the gas meter body, and then respond to calls from the meter reading center via a telephone line. There is one that sends the integrated value of flow rate to a meter reading center. Fig. 1 is a conventional system diagram, in which 1 is a network control device that connects and controls the telephone line to a general telephone or gas meter controller, 2 is the gas meter body, 3 is the meter's metering instruction section, 4 is the gas metering device, and 5 is a regular telephone installed in a house.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional gas metering device. In this Figure 2, 6 is a flow rate signal input circuit that inputs a flow rate pulse signal from a sensor in the gas meter, θ is a power supply circuit consisting of a battery, 7 is a battery voltage detection circuit that checks the voltage of the power supply circuit, and 9 is a network A start signal input circuit receives a start signal from the control device, 10 is a transmission circuit that sends metering data to a communication line, and 11 integrates and stores the flow rate signal, and also sends the metering data in response to a call from the meter reading center. It is a control section that performs

For example, one pulse is sent every 101 pulses of the flow rate pulse signal, and the measured value can be determined by counting the number of pulses.

The battery voltage detection circuit monitors whether the voltage of the power supply circuit is equal to or higher than the minimum voltage for circuit operation, and sends the information to the main control unit 11 when the voltage becomes equal to or lower than the minimum operation voltage. The main control unit 11 stores the above information and sends out battery voltage drop information together with the meter reading data when there is a call from the meter reading center.

The disadvantage of such a conventional device is that since the battery voltage detection circuit is constantly operating, current consumption increases and the battery becomes large and expensive.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and to reduce the power consumption of the battery voltage detection circuit by a simple means, and to check the battery voltage at any timing from a meter reading center. An object of the present invention is to obtain a gas metering device configured so that the

Structure of the Invention In order to achieve the above object, the gas metering device of the present invention includes:
a startup signal input circuit for inputting a startup signal from a telephone line; a flow rate signal input circuit for inputting a flow rate pulse signal from a gas meter; a power supply circuit consisting of a battery; a battery voltage detection circuit for measuring battery voltage; A standby mode having an output terminal for driving the battery voltage detection circuit with a signal from the start signal input circuit, an input terminal for inputting the signal from the battery voltage detection circuit, and an input terminal for inputting the signal from the flow rate signal input circuit. The basic configuration includes a main control section consisting of a microcomputer with

With this configuration, according to the timing of the activation signal,
It is possible to check the battery voltage while putting the microcomputer into operation, reducing the power consumption of the battery voltage detection circuit, and eliminating the need for a timer for periodic battery voltage checks, resulting in a simple circuit configuration that can be made at low cost.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 3, 12 is a flow rate signal input circuit that inputs the flow rate signal from the sensor in the gas meter, 13 is a battery voltage detection circuit that checks the voltage of the power supply circuit 14,
14 is a power supply circuit consisting of a battery, 15 is a startup signal input circuit that receives a startup signal, 16 is a transmission circuit that sends measurement data and battery voltage information to a communication line, and 17 is a microcomputer with standby mode. Performs integration, storage, and transmission control.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

First, the main control section 17 inputs the flow rate signal sent from the flow signal input circuit 12, and the main control section 17 integrates the flow rate and stores it.

When the activation signal of the meter reading center is sent to the main control unit 17 via the activation signal input circuit, the main control unit 17 changes from standby mode to normal processing mode and transmits the data of the integrated flow rate via the transmission circuit 16. Send to meter reading center. (Normally, the standby mode of a microcomputer does not consume much power, but when it enters the processing mode, the power consumption increases.

) After sending the data, the main control section 17 goes into standby mode again. Further, when a signal from the flow rate signal input circuit is input, the standby mode is canceled and the normal processing mode is entered in the same manner as described above, and the measurement value is integrated and stored.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the gas metering device of the present invention provides the following effects.

(1) Since the voltage is checked at the timing of the start signal, low power consumption can be achieved with a simple configuration without the need for a voltage check timer.

■ Battery voltage information can be reconfirmed by requesting retransmission from the center.

(G) The operating state of the microcomputer is almost always in a standby state, and low power consumption can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a conventional gas metering device, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional gas metering device, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a gas metering device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 12...Flow rate signal input circuit, 13...
Battery voltage detection circuit, 14... Power supply circuit, 15.
...Start signal input circuit, 17...Main control section. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and one other person

Claims (1)

[Claims] A startup signal input circuit that inputs a startup signal from a telephone line, a flow signal input circuit that inputs a flow rate pulse signal from a gas meter, a power supply circuit consisting of a battery, and a battery voltage detection circuit that measures the voltage of the battery. It has an output terminal that drives the battery voltage detection circuit with a signal from the start signal input circuit, an input terminal that inputs the signal of the battery voltage detection circuit, and an input terminal that inputs the signal from the flow rate signal input circuit, A main control section comprising a microcomputer having a standby mode that sends out an output for driving the battery voltage detection circuit when the activation signal is detected.