KR20010073329A - Automatic radio frequency inspection system for waterworks - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: Provided is a wireless automation system for inspecting a meter of water supply automatically, which can calculate a precise amount of water used by examining a plurality of meters at a time with reduced personnel expenses. CONSTITUTION: The system comprises a plurality of remote inspecting devices(10) photographing a number indicating part of each meter installed at normal home or a drainage place periodically and wireless transmitting data of used water amount gotten from the image signal photographed with a preset additional code, a plurality of relaying machines(8) communicating with the remote inspecting device wirelessly and supplying the data of amount of used water transmitted from the inspecting device to CPU through a wire modem and a communication line, an input and output part(3) including a plurality of input and output ports contacted with at least one or more of relaying machine and connected to the CPU respectively, a CPU operating the input water data to calculate the amount of monthly used water by home or regional unit and issue a notice of the calculated water rate and controlling each element to be operated normally, a printer for printing the calculated results of the CPU, and an indicating part contacted with a specific input and output port for indicating the calculated results of the CPU on the screen in real time.

Description

Automatic radio frequency inspection system for waterworks

The present invention relates to a wireless water metering automation system, in particular, the labor costs can be remarkably reduced as the metering personnel do not have to visit the home, and the accurate water consumption is measured as the meter is metered at the same time at a predetermined metering time. The present invention relates to a water supply wireless metering automation system that can calculate and further improve the reliability of the meter reading by directly photographing the numeric display of the meter.

At present, all buildings, such as homes and factories, have a water supply, and each water supply is provided by a local drainage system.

Where the water supply is installed, a meter for measuring water usage is installed, and meter reading in each building is performed by meter readers as they walk around the building.

In this way, when a meter reader goes around for a day and reads it directly, even if it is an adjacent building, the meter visitor's visit time is different, and the meter reading result is changed according to the psychological state or health condition of the meter, and the reliability of the meter reading is lowered. In order to issue a water bill calculation bill, the meter reader must manually input the result of the meter reading into the computer. Therefore, data is incorrectly input in this process, and a water bill calculation bill is incorrectly issued. It was happening.

In order to solve this problem, an apparatus for automatically reading a meter is provided as shown in FIG. 3, and a conventional automatic water meter reading device is installed in a meter installed in each building, and is provided whenever a numeric display unit of a meter indicating water consumption is operated. A plurality of water quantity detectors 30 for generating a pulse of the sum, and a totalizer 31 for calculating the water consumption of each building by counting the pulses output from the respective quantity detectors 30 and supplied through the communication line. It is configured to include.

The conventional automatic water meter reading device configured as described above has the advantage that the meter reader does not need to read the meter one by one, but the water meter installed in each building is connected to the adder 31 and the water quantity detector 30 by separate communication lines. It is very difficult to connect the totalizer 31 installed at a certain distance from 30) to a separate communication line, and especially when the communication line is disconnected, the meter of the building connected to the communication line can be automatically read. There was a problem of disappearing.

Accordingly, the present invention for solving the above problems constitutes a plurality of remote meter reading means for reading and wirelessly transmitting the water consumption data from the image obtained by photographing the numerical display of the meter, and the water transmitted from each remote meter reading means By receiving the usage data and calculating the amount of water used in each household or drain, and configuring the automatic billing bill, the meter can automatically read the meter of each household or drain. The labor cost can be remarkably reduced by not needing to visit, and the exact water consumption can be calculated by reading the meter at the same time at a predetermined meter reading time, and by reading the water consumption by directly photographing the numeric display of the meter. The reliability of the meter reading operation It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic water meter wireless metering system for further improvement.

The present invention for achieving the above object,

A plurality of remote meter reading means for photographing the numerical display unit of a meter installed in a general home or a drainage station at a set period, and wirelessly transmitting water consumption data obtained from the photographed video signal together with a predetermined code;

A plurality of repeaters communicating wirelessly with the remote metering means and supplying water usage data transmitted from each remote metering means to a central management computer through a wired modem and a communication line;

A plurality of input / output ports to which at least one repeater is connected, each input / output port having an input / output unit connected to a central management computer;

Calculate the monthly water consumption in general households or regional units by adding, subtracting, multiplying, and calculating the water usage data transmitted from each remote metering means and inputted through the input / output unit, and a water rate calculation bill is issued. A central management computer controlling the element to operate normally;

A printer which prints out the calculation result of the central management computer;

A display unit connected to a specific input / output port of the input / output unit to display a calculation result of a central management computer in real time; It consists of.

And, the remote meter reading means,

A camera for photographing the numeric display of the meter and outputting an image signal thereof; A memory for storing image information of all unit numbers that can be expressed in the number display unit; A comparison reading unit which analyzes the image signal photographed by the camera as information stored in a memory and converts the photographed numeric display unit image into numerical usage data; An RF modem for wirelessly transmitting the water consumption data output from the comparison reading unit together with a preset code to a repeater; A battery for supplying driving power to each part of the remote meter reading means; A power switch for switching the output voltage of the battery; An infrared lamp lit by the power supplied by the switching operation of the power switch to illuminate the numeric display portion of the meter; A timer which is directly connected to the battery and always operates to count in real time; When the counting time of the timer coincides with the preset standby time, the power switch is turned on so that the battery power is supplied to each component of the remote metering means to be in a standby state. A controller which controls the camera to photograph the numeric display unit by operating the camera; Characterized in that consisting of.

1 is a block diagram showing a water supply wireless metering automation system of the present invention.

2 is a view showing a remote meter reading means applied to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional automatic water meter reading device.

※ Explanation of code for main part of drawing

1: managed computer 2: printer

3: I / O section 3a to 3n: I / O port

4: display part 5: modem

6: communication line 7: radio receiver

8: repeater 10: remote meter reading means

11: battery 12: power switch

13: timer 14: controller

15: camera 16: comparison reader

17: memory 18: RF modem

19: infrared lamp 20: I / O interface

21: water pipe 22: meter

23: numeric display

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2.

According to the drawings, the present invention is roughly composed of a remote meter reading means 10, a repeater 8, a central management computer (1).

The central management computer 1 adds, subtracts, increases, and calculates the water usage data detected and supplied from the remote meter reading means 10, and the water usage at the place where the meter 22, such as each home or building, is installed. The calculation result by the central management computer 1 is printed out to the water bill calculation bill through the printer 2, and the display unit 4 connected to one end of the input / output unit 3 to be settled later. It is displayed in real time through the administrator to check the water consumption and leakage of each home or drain.

The central management computer 1 outputs a control signal for controlling each component constituting the waterworks wireless metering automation system of the present application in accordance with an administrator's input command.

The central management computer 1 is connected to an input / output unit 3 composed of a plurality of input / output ports 3a to 3n. The input / output unit 3 is connected to a plurality of repeaters 8 and a communication unit 7, and one side thereof. The above-described display section 4 is connected to the ports 3a to 3n.

Each input / output port 3a to 3n functions to connect a plurality of repeaters 8 or communication units 7 with the central management computer 1.

On the other hand, the repeater (8) is to interconnect the remote meter reading means 10 and the central management computer (1), and receives the water consumption data transmitted from the remote meter reading means 10 through the input and output unit (3) Supply to the central management computer (1).

Data transmission and reception between the repeater 8 and the central management computer 1 is performed through a communication line 6 and a wired modem 5.

That is, one repeater 8 receives water consumption data transmitted wirelessly from a plurality of remote metering means 10 installed in the surrounding buildings or homes, and receives the centralized water through the wired modem 5 and the communication line 6. The control command transmitted from the central management computer 1 is wirelessly transmitted to the remote meter reading means 10.

In addition, in case the communication line 6 is disconnected, a plurality of repeaters 8 and a communication unit 7 that exchanges data wirelessly are connected to arbitrary ports 3a to 3n.

That is, the repeater 8 transmits water usage data received from the remote metering means 10 to the central management computer 1 by wire through the modem 5 and the communication line 6 and simultaneously transmits the same data. The communication unit 7 wirelessly transmits the communication unit 7 to transmit the data received from the repeater 8 to the central management computer 1 through the input / output unit 3.

The central management computer 1 applies the data directly supplied from the repeater 8 as a priority when calculating the water rate, and if the communication line 6 is disconnected or other factors from the repeater 8 If the data is not supplied, the data supplied by bypassing the communication unit 7 is used to settle the water bill.

According to the installation of the communication unit 7 even if the communication line 6 is disconnected it is possible to implement the water supply wireless meter reading operation normally.

On the other hand, the remote meter reading means 10 photographs the numeric display unit 23 of the meter 22 installed in the general home or the drainage at set cycles, and the water consumption data obtained from the photographed video signal with a separate code set in advance. In wireless transmission together, it is installed in each meter 22 installed in each home or building as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the remote meter reading means 10 includes a camera 15, a memory 17, a comparison reader 16, an RF modem 18, a battery 11, a power switch 12, and an infrared lamp. 19, the timer 13, and the controller 14 are roughly composed.

The camera 15 photographs the numeric display unit 23 of the meter 22 and supplies the photographed video signal to the comparison reader 16, which is located at the top of the meter 22. It is desirable to install so that.

The memory 17 stores comparison information for the water consumption data conversion operation of the comparison reading unit 16. The memory 17 stores image information on all numbers that can be expressed by the number display unit 23. .

That is, the information stored in the memory 17 is information about the pattern or characteristic of the video signal when the unit number represented by the numeric display unit 23 is photographed by the camera.

The comparison reading unit 16 compares the video signal photographed by the camera 15 as information stored in the memory 17 and converts the image signal into numerical data.

For example, assuming that the number displayed on the numeric display unit 23 is '100', the image signal for '100' captured by the camera 15 is input to the comparison reading unit 16, and the comparison reading unit ( 16 compares the pattern of the image signal input from the camera 15 with the patterns previously stored in the memory 17 and recognizes that the image signal photographed by the camera 15 represents the number '100'. After that, the corresponding numeric data is generated and output to the RF modem 18.

The RF modem 18 receives numerical data output from the comparison reading unit 16, that is, water consumption data, and wirelessly transmits it to the repeater 8 together with a predetermined code. It is a code uniquely assigned to the remote meter reading means 10 provided in 22, which is stored in the central management computer 1 in correspondence with information on the home or building in which the meter 22 is installed.

Therefore, the central management computer 1 accurately finds the address of the home or building in which the meter 22 is installed as a code input together with the water consumption data.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a battery 11 for supplying driving power to each component of the remote meter reading means 10, and a power switch 12 for selective output of driving power is connected to an output terminal of the battery 11. The driving power of the battery 11 is supplied to each component through the power switch 12.

In addition, an infrared lamp 19 is installed around the camera 15, and the infrared lamp 19 has a numeric display unit so that the camera 15 can clearly photograph the numeric display unit 23 of the meter 22. 23) to brighten the light.

In order to extend the life of the battery 11 applied to the remote metering means 10, the timer 13 and the controller 14 are used as a means for allowing each component of the remote metering means 10 to be selectively driven only at the metering time. do.

The timer 13 is directly connected to the battery 11 and continuously receives the driving power from the battery 11 and is always in the on state. The timer 13 counts the real time and supplies it to the controller 14. .

The controller 14 controls each component of the remote meter reading means 10. The controller 14 turns on the power switch 12 when the time counted by the timer 13 coincides with a preset standby time. The power of the battery 11 is supplied to each component of the remote metering means 10 through the power switch 12, the camera 15, the memory 17, the comparison reader 16, the RF modem 18 The back is waiting in a standby state, and when the counting time of the timer 13 reaches the meter reading time, the camera 15 is operated so that the numeric display unit 23 of the meter 22 is photographed by the camera 15.

That is, by the control operation of the controller 14, the camera 15 operates at the meter reading time, photographs the numeric display unit 23, and transmits the video signal to the comparison reading unit 16, thereby comparing the reading unit 16. By the comparative analysis operation of the water consumption measured by the meter 22 is converted into numerical data is transmitted to the repeater 8 through the RF modem 18.

In the above description, the standby time is preferably set to several minutes ahead of the meter reading time.

For example, if the meter reading time is set to 11 am on the 10th of every month, the standby time is set to 10:55 am on the 10th of every month about 5 minutes before the meter reading time.

On the other hand, the time when the controller 14 turns off the power switch 12 is a time when the repeater 8 confirms that the water usage data has been received.

That is, when the water consumption data is wirelessly transmitted to the repeater 8 through the RF modem 18 after being analyzed by the comparison reading unit 16, the repeater 8 transmits a response signal indicating that the water consumption data is correctly received. 18) the controller 14 transmits to the controller 14, and when the response signal is input from the repeater 8, the controller 14 notifies that the response signal is received through the RF modem 18 and at the same time, the power switch 12 To turn off all components except the timer 13.

The remote meter reading means 10 of the present invention is configured with an I / O interface 20.

The I / O interface 20 allows a manager who operates the central management computer 1 to remotely control a pumping motor installed at a place such as a drainage station, and the administrator controls the pumping motor with the central management computer 1. When the control command for the control signal is inputted, the control signal is supplied to the RF modem 18 of the remote metering means 10 through the repeater 8, and the control signal supplied to the RF modem 18 is again in the I / O interface. It is supplied to the pumping motor through 20 to control the on / off control and rotation speed of the pumping motor.

Referring to the operation of the present invention configured as described above is as follows.

When the counting time of the timer 13 coincides with the standby time, the controller 14 turns on the power switch 12 so that the power of the battery 11 is supplied to each component of the remote meter reading means 10 and the camera 15 ), The comparator reader 16, the memory 17, the RF modem 18, and the like stand by in a standby state, and the infrared lamp 19 lights up to illuminate the numeric display portion 23 of the meter 22. do.

In this standby state, when the counting time of the timer 13 coincides with the metering time, the controller 14 momentarily drives the camera 15 so that the numbers displayed on the numeric display section 23 are moved by the camera 15. The photographed image is output to the comparison reading unit 16, and the comparison reading unit 16 reads the image signal input from the camera 15 as comparison information stored in the memory 17, and uses the numerical water consumption. The data is converted into data and transmitted to the RF modem 18.

The RF modem 18 wirelessly transmits the water consumption data input from the comparison reader 16 to the adjacent repeater 8 with a predetermined code, and the repeater 8 transmits the received water consumption data to the modem. At the same time as transmitting to the central management computer 1 via the communication line 6 and the wireless communication to the communication unit 9.

The reason why the communication unit 9 is provided is that the communication line 6 is disconnected as described above.

When the meter reading time is reached as described above, the water consumption data read from the remote meter reading means 10 installed in the meter 22 of each home or building is simultaneously transmitted to the central management computer 1, The central management computer (1) is to calculate the water consumption data input at the same time multiple times to issue a water bill calculation bill corresponding to the amount of water used in each home or building.

In addition, the central management computer 1 stores a database of water usage data supplied from each of the remote meter reading means 10 to be used for later statistics of annual water usage or to measure leakage.

The operation result of the central management computer 1 is displayed in real time through a separate display unit 4 connected to the input / output unit 3 so that administrators can easily check.

In addition, the calculated information may be transmitted to another computer connected to the central management computer 1 through a LAN or other communication line, and information calculated by another organization or organization may be used.

The wireless water metering automation system of the present invention described above is not limited to a water supply facility and can be used for city gas consumption metering or electricity consumption metering.

The reason for this is that the present invention uses the technology of photographing the numerical display of the meter with a camera and reading the water consumption data from the photographed video signal. The technique of photographing and reading the meter is a city gas meter or The same applies to the electricity meter.

As described above, the present invention constitutes a plurality of remote meter reading means for reading and wirelessly transmitting the water consumption data from the image obtained by photographing the numerical display of the meter, and the water consumption data transmitted from each remote meter reading means. By receiving and calculating the water consumption of each household or drain, and configuring the automatic billing bill, the meter will automatically read the meter of each household or drain. The labor cost can be significantly reduced, and accurate water consumption can be calculated by reading the meter at the same time at a predetermined meter reading time. To improve the reliability of The number of effects can be expected to provide a wireless water metering automation system for.

Claims (7)

A plurality of remote meter reading means for taking a picture of the numeric display unit 23 of the meter 22 installed in a general household or a drainage system at a set cycle, and wirelessly transmitting the water consumption data obtained from the photographed video signal together with a predetermined code. 10); A plurality of wireless communication with the remote meter reading means, and supplying the water consumption data transmitted from each remote meter reading means 10 to the central management computer (1) through the wired modem (5) and the communication line (6) A repeater 8; An input / output unit 3 having a plurality of input / output ports 3a to 3n to which at least one repeater 8 is connected, each input / output port 3a to 3n connected to the central management computer 1; Water bill calculation bill is calculated by adding, decrementing, multiplying, and calculating the water usage data transmitted from each remote meter reading means 10 and inputted through the input / output unit 3 to calculate monthly water usage of a general household or regional unit. And a central management computer (1) for issuing and controlling each component to operate normally; A printer (2) which prints out the calculation result of the central management computer (1); A display unit (4) connected to specific input / output ports (3a to 3n) of the input / output unit (3) to display a calculation result of the central management computer (1) in real time; Waterworks wireless metering automation system, characterized in that consisting of. The method of claim 1, The remote meter reading means 10, A camera 15 which photographs the numeric display unit 23 of the meter 22 and outputs an image signal thereof; A memory 17 for storing image information of all unit numbers that can be expressed in the number display unit 23; A comparison reading unit 16 for analyzing the image signal photographed by the camera 15 as information stored in the memory 17 and converting the image of the photographed numeric display section 23 into numerical water consumption data; An RF modem 18 for wirelessly transmitting the water consumption data output from the comparison reading unit 16 to a repeater together with a preset code; A battery 11 for supplying driving power to each part of the remote metering means 10; A power switch 12 for switching the output voltage of the battery 11; Water supply wireless metering automation system, characterized in that consisting of an infrared lamp (19) is illuminated by the power supplied by the switching operation of the power switch 12 to illuminate the numeric display portion 23 of the meter (22). The method of claim 2, The remote meter reading means 10, A timer 13 directly connected to the battery 11 and operating at all times to count in real time; When the counting time of the timer 13 coincides with the preset standby time, the power switch 12 is turned on so that the battery 11 power is supplied to each component of the remote metering means 10 to be in a standby state. And a controller 14 for controlling the photographing operation of the numeric display unit 23 of the meter 22 by operating the camera 15 when the counting time of the timer 13 reaches the meter reading time; Waterworks wireless meter reading automation system, characterized in that further comprises a. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, When the water consumption data is wirelessly transmitted to the repeater 8 through the RF modem 18 of the remote metering means 10, the repeater 8 transmits a response signal indicating that the water consumption data is correctly received through the RF modem 18. When the response signal is input from the repeater 8, the controller 14 indicates that the response signal has been received through the RF modem 18, and at the same time, the power switch 12 is turned off to turn off the timer. Water supply wireless metering automation system, characterized in that all components except (13) to be off. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The remote metering means 10 further comprises an I / O interface 20 for driving a pumping motor installed at a place such as a drainage station as a control signal received through the RF modem 18 to operate the central management computer 1. Water supply wireless metering automation system, characterized in that the administrator to control the pumping motor of the drain from a long distance. The method of claim 1, A plurality of communication units 7 for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data to and from each repeater 8 are connected to specific ports 3a to 3n of the input / output unit 3, and the repeater 8 is connected to the remote meter reading means 10. Water consumption data input from the wired modem 5 and the communication line 6 through the central management computer (1) and at the same time to the wireless communication to the communication unit (7), even if the communication line (6) is disconnected Water supply wireless metering automation system, characterized in that the metering operation is implemented normally. The method of claim 1, Wireless meter reading automation system, characterized in that the remote metering means (10) can be used for the meter reading of all the meters to measure the amount used for a certain period of time, such as electricity or city gas, not the meter of the water supply facility.