KR20080061754A - Measuring meter system with wireless remote meter reading function - Google Patents

Abstract

A meter system having a wireless remote meter-reading function is provided to reduce the manufacturing cost since the metering function and the remote meter-reading function are integrated in one chip. A meter system having a wireless remote meter-reading function includes a meter/RF(Radio Frequency) one-chip module(10), and a flow detection sensor(20). The meter/RF one-chip module receives a use quantity of a resource supplied to a user home, which is detected by the flow detection sensor, and displays meter-reading data. The meter/RF one-chip module transmits the meter-reading data to a center of a remote place through a wireless communication.

Description

Metering system with wireless remote meter reading function

1 is a block diagram of a meter system capable of wireless remote meter reading according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of a meter system capable of remote meter reading according to another embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flow chart showing the operation flow of the meter system capable of remote meter reading according to the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating a storage structure of a memory in the meter system capable of remote meter reading according to the present invention.

5 is a flow chart showing a flow rate indication flow in the meter system capable of remote meter reading according to the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

10: Weighing / RF one chip module 12: Main control part

14 memory 16 RF control unit

18: RF transmitter and receiver 20: flow rate detection sensor

30: temperature detection sensor 40: pressure detection sensor

50: display 60: power supply

70: leak detection sensor 80: blocking drive circuit

90: pulse output circuit

The present invention measures (reads) the amount of usage in each meter installed in the consumer for, for example, gas, water, or calories supplied to each home or workplace (hereinafter referred to as "consumer"), and calculates the metering (measurement) data. It is configured to transmit wirelessly to a remote location and relates to a meter system capable of wireless remote meter reading with one-chip metering and meter reading functions.

People in different homes and businesses need a variety of resources, such as gas, water and calories, to keep their lives and activities smooth. Businesses supplying these resources to each consumer will install a meter at each consumer to measure the amount of resources supplied to each consumer and charge for the usage according to the measured value. However, when a large number of subjects charge the usage fee, the method of imposing a usage fee by checking the meter by the meter reader becomes inappropriate. In order to solve these problems, various remote meter reading systems have been proposed.

Such a remote meter reading system is evolving from a remote meter reading system through a wire to a remote meter reading system through a wireless system, and the wireless remote meter reading system is particularly useful for wide area remote meter reading because no communication line is required.

The meter system currently used for wireless remote meter reading includes a meter for metering and displaying the flow rate of a resource such as gas, water or calories supplied to a customer, and transmitting the metering data metered from the meter to a remote center. It is configured by combining a wireless communication device for.

The meter is a flow rate detection sensor for detecting the use flow rate of resources such as gas, water or heat, a parameter detection sensor for detecting parameters such as temperature and / or pressure to calculate an accurate flow rate, and for displaying the use flow rate The display unit calculates an accurate flow rate of the used resource using the detection flow rate from the flow rate detection sensor and the detection parameter from the parameter detection sensor, and displays the calculated use flow rate on the display and stores the calculated flow rate data. And a communication interface for sending and receiving data to transmit metering data to the wireless communication device.

The wireless communication apparatus may include a communication interface for exchanging data with the meter, a memory for storing weighing data received from the meter, a communication protocol and a control program, and a wireless communication system for a remote center. And a wireless communication controller for controlling the wireless transceiver by a communication protocol and a control program stored in the memory to perform wireless data communication with a remote center.

As described above, the conventional meter system used for wireless remote meter reading has a problem in that the structure is complicated and the manufacturing cost is high because it is configured by attaching a wireless communication device to the meter.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and the amount of gas, water or heat supplied to each customer can be metered (readed) and wirelessly transmitted to the remote site. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a meter system capable of wireless remote meter reading that can be manufactured at a low cost while simplifying the structure by configuring the metering and remote metering functions in one chip.

In the meter system capable of wireless remote meter reading according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, in the meter system capable of wireless remote meter reading with respect to the resources supplied to the consumer, It is equipped with a weighing / RF one-chip module for weighing, displaying the weighing data, and transmitting wirelessly to a remote center.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings it will be described in detail with respect to the meter system capable of wireless remote meter reading according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram of a meter system capable of wireless remote meter reading according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the wireless meter reading meter system according to the present embodiment, the flow rate detection sensor 20, the temperature detection sensor 30, the pressure detection sensor 40, the power supply unit 60, It includes a metering / RF one-chip module 10 and a display 50, and measures the amount of use and displays the metering data for resources such as gas, water, or heat supplied to each customer, as well as remote centers. Wireless transmission to

The flow rate detection sensor 20 detects a flow rate of use of resources such as gas, water or heat supplied to a consumer, converts the detected signal into a digital signal, and outputs the digital signal to the metering / RF one-chip module 10.

The temperature detection sensor 30 detects the temperature inside and / or outside the supply pipe for supplying resources such as gas, water, or heat to the customer, converts the detected signal into a digital signal, and then measures the metering / RF one-chip module 10. Will output

The pressure detection sensor 40 detects the pressure inside the supply pipe for supplying resources such as gas, water or heat to the consumer, and outputs the detection signal as a digital signal to the metering / RF one chip module 10. Here, the pressure detection sensor 3 is mainly used for gas metering, and may be omitted, for example for water and calorie metering.

The power supply unit 60 is for supplying power to each component, for example, may use a mercury battery, a dry battery or a lithium battery, and may be used by converting commercial AC power into direct current.

The display 50 displays the flow rate of use of resources such as gas, water, or calorific value according to the display signal from the metering / RF one chip module 10, and also includes a reception sensitivity state of the RF signal. Display the status.

The metering / RF one-chip module 10 measures the flow rate of use of resources such as gas, water or heat, stores, manages, displays and controls the metering data, and manages communication with a remote center. And a memory 14, an RF controller 16, and an RF transceiver 18.

The main controller 12 corrects the flow rate detection data input from the flow rate detection sensor 20 based on the temperature detection data from the temperature detection sensor 30 and / or the pressure detection data from the pressure detection sensor 40. Accumulatively calculate and store the correct use flow rate in the memory 14 and provide the accumulated use flow rate as a display signal on the display 50 for display. Here, the temperature detection data and the pressure detection data are detection parameters for correcting the flow rate detection data, and other parameters may be detected and used for accurate correction.

Here, the main controller 12 may calculate and store not only the accumulated total use flow rate data but also the accumulated use amount for a specific period, store the result in the memory 14, and provide the display 50 as a display signal. For example, the cumulative usage amount for a specific period may exemplify daily cumulative usage amount, monthly cumulative usage amount, and the like, and preferably include cumulative usage amount for each reference period for calculating a resource usage fee.

In addition, the main controller 12 controls the RF control unit 16 to measure the RF reception sensitivity, and stores the measured RF reception sensitivity in the memory 14 and provides the display 50 as a display signal for display. You can do that. Here, the display of the RF reception sensitivity may be represented by numbers, characters, symbols, graphs, and the like.

In addition, the main control unit 12 controls the RF control unit 16 to transmit data stored in the memory 14 in response to a request for reading data from a remote center, and when the specific event occurs, the main control unit ( 12 may generate an event message corresponding to the corresponding event and wirelessly transmit the generated event message to the remote center by controlling the RF control unit 16. Here, examples of the event include fluctuations in the supply power supply (falling supply power supply, etc.), unusual characteristics of the sensor input (excessive flow rate usage, abnormal temperature, abnormal pressure, etc.), RF reception sensitivity abnormality, and the like.

The RF control unit 16 controls communication with the remote center side under the control of the main control unit 12, or measures and reports the RF received signal sensitivity to the main control unit 12.

The RF transceiver 18 performs RF transmission and reception with a remote center through an RF antenna under the control of the RF controller 16.

Here, it is preferable that the RF uses, for example, a ZigBee standard that can be implemented at low power consumption and low cost.

For example, the memory 14 may be divided into a program storage area 14A and a data storage area 14B, as shown in FIG. 4. The program storage station 14A stores application programs used by the main control unit 12 and the RF control unit 16, and the data storage area 14B includes meter state data including RF reception sensitivity along with flow rate data. Is stored.

As the application program stored in the program storage area 14A, the main control unit 12 receives the flow rate detection data from the flow rate detection sensor 20 and the temperature detection data and / or pressure detection from the temperature detection sensor 30. Using the pressure detection data from the sensor 40 to calculate an accurate use flow rate (e.g., total cumulative use flow rate, daily use flow rate, monthly use flow rate, in particular, cumulative use flow rate for each reference period for calculating resource usage fee, etc.) Use flow rate calculation program 14A_1 for use, display drive program 14A_2 for displaying and driving display 50 by main controller 12, and use flow rate calculated using the use flow rate calculation program 14A_1 (example For example, the total cumulative usage flow rate, daily usage flow rate, monthly usage flow rate, and in particular, the period-based cumulative usage flow rate for calculating resource usage fees, etc., are stored in the memory 14. It may include a storage manager (14A_3) and the main control section 12 and the RF control section 16, the communication program (14A_N) for communicating with a remote center side through the RF transmitting and receiving unit 18 in the like for.

In addition, the data storage area 14B may include an area 14B_1 for storing the use flow rate data, an area 14B_N for storing the RF reception sensitivity data, and the like. It may also include an area for storage. Here, for example, the total cumulative use flow rate, daily use flow rate, monthly use flow rate, and the like may be stored in the region 14B_1, and in particular, the cumulative usage amount for each reference period for calculating a resource usage fee is preferably stored.

2 is a block diagram of a meter system capable of wireless remote meter reading according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given in the same elements as those of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The present embodiment is a leak detection sensor 70 for detecting the leakage of resources such as gas, water or heat, a blocking drive circuit 80 for blocking the supply of resources in the event of leakage of resources, and metered in the meter The point is further provided with a pulse output circuit 90 for outputting the use flow rate information to the outside in the form of a pulse, except that it is the same as the embodiment of FIG.

The main control unit 12 of the metering / RF one-chip module 10 of the present embodiment immediately outputs a control signal to the shutoff driving circuit 80 when a leak detection signal is input from the leak detection sensor 70, thereby causing a breaker not shown. Ensure that the supply of resources is interrupted.

In addition, when the flow rate detection data from the flow rate detection sensor 20 is input, the main control part 12 of the metering / RF one chip module 10 of this embodiment corrects the minimum flow rate unit by the temperature detection data and / or the pressure detection data. The pulse output circuit 90 is controlled to output a pulse in synchronism with the. Here, when the meter is installed indoors, the output pulse of the pulse output circuit 90 is provided from a display terminal box (for example, water meters, gas meters, electric meters, etc.) installed outdoors. Apparatus for displaying with one display device using the metering pulse data] may be used for the purpose of checking the usage of resources in the outdoors.

On the other hand, in the above-described embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 it is preferable that in the meter of the present invention so that the time is the same as the remote center, for this purpose, the network side including the remote center periodically the GPS time data, CDMA time data or It transmits NTP (Network Time Protocol) time data, and the metering / RF one-chip module 10 of the meter of the present invention allows time to be synchronized with the received time data. Accordingly, in the metering / RF one chip module 10 of the meter of the present invention, the use flow rate data is calculated and stored based on the same time as the remote center.

Next, with reference to Figure 3 will be described the operation of the meter system capable of remote meter reading according to the present invention.

The main controller 12 of the metering / RF one chip module 10 according to the present invention detects flow rate detection data from the flow rate detection sensor 20 and parameters such as temperature and / or pressure to calculate an accurate use flow rate. The detection parameters from the sensors (for example, the temperature detection sensor 30 and the pressure detection sensor 40) are input (step S10).

Thereafter, the main controller 12 calculates an accurate use flow rate using the flow rate detection data and the detection parameter. The use flow rate includes, for example, not only the total cumulative use flow rate, but also the cumulative use amount for a specific period (for example, the cumulative use amount for each reference period for calculating the daily cumulative use amount, monthly cumulative use amount, and / or resource usage fee). The main controller 12 stores the calculated used flow rate in the memory 14 and controls the display 50 to display, for example, the total accumulated use flow rate among the used flow rates (step S12).

Thereafter, the main controller 12 determines whether a transmission interrupt occurs as the metering data transmission message is received from the remote center via the RF transceiver 18 and the RF controller 16 (step S14).

When the transmission interrupt occurs in the step S14, the main controller 12 transmits the used flow rate data stored in the memory 14 corresponding to the metered data transmission message from the remote center to the RF controller 16 and the RF transceiver. Control to be transmitted to the remote center side via (18) (step S16). Thereafter, control in the main controller 12 proceeds to step S10 described above.

On the other hand, if no transmission interrupt occurs in step S14, the main controller 12 determines whether an RF reception sensitivity measurement interrupt occurs (step S18). The RF reception sensitivity measurement interrupt is preferably generated periodically.

When the RF reception sensitivity measurement interrupt occurs in step S18, the main controller 12 controls the RF control unit 16 to measure the RF reception sensitivity, and stores the measured reception sensitivity in the memory 14, The reception sensitivity display corresponding to the reception sensitivity is controlled to be displayed on the display 50 (step S20).

On the other hand, if the RF reception sensitivity measurement interruption does not occur in step S18, the control proceeds to step S10 described above.

As described above, in the meter system according to the present invention, the metering / RF one-chip module enables accurate calculation and display of the used flow rate, and at the same time, it is possible to send the remote meter reading data to the remote center, and to measure and display the RF reception sensitivity. It is possible.

Next, with reference to Figure 5 will be described in the flow rate indication flow in the meter system capable of remote meter reading according to the present invention.

The main controller 12 of the metering / RF one-chip module 10 according to the present invention, by default, controls the display 50 to display the total flow rate accumulated up to now (step S22).

Thereafter, the main controller 12 checks whether or not a request for displaying the flow rate of use of the present day is generated, for example, by a specific key input (not shown) (step S24). 50) (step S22), and the process proceeds to step S22 after a predetermined time.

On the other hand, if the current flow rate display request does not occur in the step S24, check whether the current flow rate display request is generated by a specific key input (not shown) (step S28). Is controlled to be displayed on the display 50 (step S30), and the process proceeds to step S22 after a predetermined time.

On the other hand, if the current month use flow rate display request does not occur in step S28, check whether the previous month use flow rate display request is generated by a specific key input (not shown) (step S32). Is displayed on the display 50 (step S33), and the process proceeds to step S22 after a predetermined time.

In this case, the present day use flow rate and the current month / month use flow rate display may be replaced by a process of displaying a cumulative amount of usage for a specific period (for example, a cumulative amount of usage of a reference period for calculating a resource usage fee).

In addition, the above-described use flow rate indications may be automatically displayed alternately in a predetermined time unit.

On the other hand, the present invention is not limited to the above specific embodiments, but can be modified and modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention. If such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims, it will be apparent that they are included in the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately calculate and display the use flow rate by the metering / RF one-chip module in the meter with respect to the gas, water, calorie, etc. supplied to each consumer, and the amount of use can be managed at the same time. Remote meter reading data can be sent to the remote center, and RF measurement sensitivity can be measured and displayed, simplifying the structure of the telemeterable meter system and making it possible to manufacture a remote meter.

Claims (9)

A meter system capable of wireless remote meter reading on a resource supplied to a consumer, And a metering / RF one-chip module configured to measure the amount of use of the supplied resources, display the metering data, and wirelessly transmit them to a center of a remote site. The method of claim 1, The metering / RF one-chip module receives the flow rate detection data from the flow rate detection sensor for detecting the flow rate of the supplied resource and the parameter data from the parameter detection sensor for detecting the parameter for correcting the detection data, A wireless remote meter reading meter system for calculating a used flow rate and storing and displaying the calculated flow rate. The method of claim 2, The metering / RF one-chip module is configured to synchronize time by using GPS time data, CDMA time data or NTP (Network Time Protocol) time data transmitted from a network side including a remote center. Available meter system. The method of claim 3, The calculated use flow rate is a wireless remote meter reading meter system, characterized in that the total cumulative use flow rate and the cumulative usage amount for a specific period. The method of claim 4, wherein The cumulative usage amount of the specific period is a wireless remote meter reading meter system comprising a cumulative usage amount for each reference period for calculating the resource usage fee. The method of claim 5, The metering / RF one-chip module measures a wireless signal sensitivity received from a center side of a remote site and displays the received signal sensitivity. The method of claim 6, The meter / RF one-chip module is a wireless remote meter reading meter system, characterized in that for wireless communication with a remote center using the Zigbee communication standard. The method of claim 7, wherein The resource is a wireless meter reading meter system, characterized in that any one selected from gas, water, calories. The method of claim 8, And the parameter is at least one selected from the temperature of the resource, the ambient temperature, and the pressure of the resource.

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