JPS6324359B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to an automatic meter reading system that remotely and automatically reads the consumption of water, gas, electricity, etc., and is particularly applicable to apartment buildings where meter sensors are concentrated in predetermined locations. The present invention relates to a meter sensor selection device for an automatic meter reading system that is preferable for use in automatic meter reading systems.

Conventional automatic meter reading systems of this type are being developed and put into practical use by each utility such as water, gas, and electricity. However, in the future comprehensive automatic meter reading system, mainly from an economic point of view, the existing telephone line network will be used, and the terminal devices installed at each customer will be connected to each other for meter reading.
It is desirable that it be shared among consumers.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an automatic meter reading system designed from this perspective.
The figure is a time chart showing the operation of the system of FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a central device that collects meter reading data. When a data collection command is issued from this central device 1, a network control device 2 for the central device is activated to send, for example, a dial signal as shown in FIG. 2A. _a1 to control the telephone line network 3. As a result, a calling signal b is sent from the telephone line 3 as shown in FIG. 2B, and the no-ringing network control unit (hereinafter referred to as NR-NCU) 4 on the terminal side is called. NR
- When the NCU detects the calling signal b, it sends out a signal c ₀ as shown in FIG. 2C to start up the data terminal device 5. When the terminal device 5 is activated, it sends out a response signal _d1 as shown in FIG. 2D. Central device 1 receives the above response signal.
When _d1 is detected, it immediately sends out a sensor selection signal _a2 for designating one of the meter sensors 6a to 6d corresponding to the object to be read. This selection signal _a2 is decoded in the terminal device 5. In response to this decoded sensor selection signal, the terminal device 5 applies a DC voltage d ₂ for sensor activation to a specific meter sensor. As a result, the selected specific meter sensor is activated and sends meter reading information, ie, data _e1, to the terminal device 5 as shown in FIG. 2E. This meter-read data _e1 is input to the central device 1 via the terminal device 5, and is read and collected by the central device 1 as a meter-read value. When the sending of the data _e1 from one meter sensor is completed, the sensor selection signal _a3 for the next sensor is sent, and the same operation as above is repeated.
In FIG. 1, 7 indicates a subscriber telephone.

According to the system configured as described above, at least the terminal device in each customer can be shared among meter reading targets. However, it is necessary to assign the sensor 6a for water, the sensor 6b for gas, and the sensor 6c for electricity to each business entity, and each business entity can use the meter sensors of other business entities. Operational considerations are required to avoid incorrect meter readings. In addition, since the above system is a system in which individual houses are used as unit terminals, NR-NCU
4. The terminal device 5 cannot be shared among consumers.

By the way, in collective housing such as public housing, meter sensors are generally installed in a predetermined location, such as under stairs. Therefore, NR−NCU
4. It has conditions that make it easy to share the terminal device 5. Note that it is desirable that the NR-NCU 4 and the terminal device 5 have the same specifications as in the case of an individual house.

In consideration of such circumstances, FIG _{. 3} shows adapter devices 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d, this meter sensor selection device sequentially scans a group of meter sensors that are connected separately for each adapter device, and can read a large number of meter sensors at once. That is, the meter sensor activation signals _S1 to _S4 are transmitted from the terminal device 5 to the adapter devices 8a to 8a.
8d to activate the adapter devices 8a to 8d, and all the meter sensors 6a ₁ , 6a ₂ , to 6dn are sequentially scanned by each adapter device.

However, with the above configuration, there is a high possibility that meter sensors belonging to other business entities or meter sensors at other customers may be read, making it difficult to make accurate individual selections, and furthermore, even unnecessary meter sensors may be read. Since the meter is scanned uniformly, there is a lot of wasted time and it is difficult to perform efficient meter reading.

The present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and allows for efficient individual selection of meter sensors even in apartment complexes, etc., without changing the interface conditions of the central unit, NR-NCU, terminal device, and meter sensors. It is an object of the present invention to provide a meter sensor selection device for an automatic meter reading system that can perform accurate meter reading.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment in which this invention is applied to an automatic meter reading system for collective housing.
FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3; Therefore, the same parts as in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations of these parts will be omitted. 10 in Figure 4
is an adapter device, which is interposed between the terminal device 5 and each meter sensor 6a ₁ , 6a ₂ , to 6dn.
The terminal device 5 and the adapter device 10 are connected by four meter sensor activation lines 11a to 11d (hereinafter referred to as primary activation lines), as in the previous embodiments. Further, the adapter device 10 and each of the meter sensors 6a ₁ to 6dn are connected by sensor activation lines 12a ₁ to 12dn (which will be referred to as secondary activation lines).

The adapter device 10 connects the primary activation lines 11a to 1
A counter 14 that sequentially counts the pulse-like starting signals Sa to Sd appearing at 1d through an OR gate 13 and sends an output command when it reaches a preset value, for example, "4"; When the output command is sent out, during a certain period of time until this output command is issued, the primary activation line
Decoder 1 equipped with a memory function that decodes the activation signal group appearing in a to 11d as one block.
5. That is, the counter 14 and decoder 15 detect the pattern of primary activation signals sequentially output from specific terminals of the terminal device over a certain period of time, and obtain sensor individual selection signals. A gate circuit 16 having a driver function is connected to the output end of the decoder 15. This gate circuit 16 consists of a group of AND gates 16a ₁ to 16dn each having one input terminal connected to a plurality of output terminals of the decoder 15. This AND gate group 16a ₁ to 16dn
The other input terminal of each is connected to the power supply +Vcc. Further, the output ends of the AND gate groups 16a ₁ to 16dn are connected to terminals 17a ₁ to 17dn, respectively, which are connected to the meter sensors 6a ₁ to 6dn. Note that 18a ₁ to 18dn are secondary starting lines 12a ₁ to 18dn.
They are buffers connected to 12 dn, respectively.
This is for applying the signals appearing on each of the activation lines to the input terminal of the encoder 19. Further, the encoder 19 encodes the signal inputted through the buffer and applies it to the primary activation lines 11a to 11d via the input terminal of the decoder 15, and sends the encoded signal to the meter sensor 6.
Each data a ₁ to 6dn is sent to the central device via the data terminal device 5.

Note that the data terminal device 5 used has the same configuration as that shown in FIG.
The signals supplied from the external device such as the central device to the terminal device 5 are divided into, for example, four signals so that one output signal appears at the output terminals 5a to 5d of the terminal device in a specific time period as shown in FIG. It is assumed that the sensor selection unit signals are supplied as a set of selection signals.

Next, the operation of this apparatus configured as described above will be explained. When unit signals S ₀ for sensor selection arrive sequentially from an external device to the input terminal of the data terminal device 5, this unit signal S ₀ is decoded by a decoder in the terminal device 5 and becomes a primary activation signal from a specific terminal. The data are output sequentially as shown in Figure 5. This primary activation signal enters the decoder 15 of the adapter device 10 on the one hand and the OR gate 13 on the other hand.
is input to the counter 14 via. counter 14
counts the above-mentioned signals, and when the count reaches "4", it gives an output command to the decoder 15. Then, the decoder 15 receives a signal input from the activation line 11a during the period _T1 , receives a signal input from the activation line 11b during the period _T2 , receives a signal input from the activation line 11a during the period _T3 , and receives a signal input from the activation line 11a during the period T2.
At _T4 , a signal pattern indicating that a signal has been input to the activation line 11c is detected and then decoded. Thus, an individual sensor selection signal is sent from the output end of the decoder 15. This individual selection signal is applied to one input terminal of a specific AND gate of the gate circuit 16, for example _16a1 . The other input terminal of AND gate 16a ₁ has power supply +Vcc
is always given, and gate 16a ₁
A secondary activation signal is sent from. This secondary activation signal is applied to the meter sensor 6a ₁ via the activation line 12a ₁ . Therefore, the meter sensor 6a ₁ is activated and sends predetermined meter reading information to the activation line 12a ₁ . This meter reading information enters the encoder 19 via the buffer _18a1 , and is encoded by the encoder 19 to become meter reading data. This data will be sent to an external device such as a central device via the terminal device 5 and collected. When the transmission of one meter reading data is completed, the next sensor selection unit signal arrives at the terminal device, and the other one of the meter sensors 6a ₁ to 6dn is selectively activated by the same operation as described above.
In this way, the meter sensors are sequentially selectively activated and meter reading data can be collected. In addition, as in this embodiment, the number of combinations of signal patterns consisting of four sensor selection unit signals is 4 ⁴ =
Since there are 256 meter sensors, if this device is used, any one meter sensor can be selected from among the 256 meter sensors. Thus, in an automatic meter reading system where a small number of meter sensors were activated with DC current,
If this device is used, meter sensors can be easily added without changing the interface conditions. In other words, it is an extremely expandable device.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, in the above embodiment, a combination of a counter and a decoder was shown as means for detecting the pattern of signals sequentially output from specific terminals of a terminal device to obtain an individual sensor selection device, but timers, memories, logic circuits, etc. It may also be composed of a combination of. Further, in the embodiment described above, four sensor selection unit signals are used as a set of selection signals, but this number is not limited to four, and may be determined according to the number of meter sensors. Of course, various other modifications can be made.

As explained above, according to the present invention, an adapter device is interposed between a terminal device and a plurality of meter sensors, and this adapter device controls the primary activation signal that appears sequentially at specific terminals of the terminal device over a certain period of time. By detecting the pattern and decoding it, a sensor individual selection signal is obtained, and a secondary activation signal is applied to a specific sensor according to this individual selection signal, so that the central unit, NR-NCU,
It is possible to provide a meter sensor selection device that can quickly and accurately select individual meter sensors even in an apartment complex, etc., without changing the interface conditions of the terminal device and the meter sensor.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an automatic meter reading system using a telephone line, Fig. 2 is a time chart showing the operation of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a meter sensor selection showing an example of application to an apartment complex. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the apparatus, FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the embodiment. 5...Terminal device, 10...Adapter device, 11
a to 11d...Primary activation line, 12a ₁ to 12dn...
...Secondary activation line.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A terminal device that sends a primary activation signal to a plurality of primary activation lines in response to unit signals for sensor selection that arrive sequentially from an external device, and a secondary activation signal that transmits a secondary activation signal in response to the primary activation signal sent from this terminal device. It is equipped with an adapter that outputs an output to the activation line, and a plurality of meter sensors that are each connected to the adapter via a separate secondary activation line and are activated by a secondary activation signal that arrives via the secondary activation line. , the terminal device includes means for selectively sending a fixed number of primary activation signals to the plurality of primary activation lines in response to a unit signal for center selection each time a unit signal for center selection arrives from an external device; The means for determining the arrival pattern of a fixed number of primary activation signals sent from the terminal device via the primary activation line, and the meter sensor corresponding to the arrival pattern of the primary activation signals determined by this means A meter sensor selection device comprising means for sending and activating a next activation signal.