JP3167748B2 - Terminal network controller - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal network controller, and more particularly, to a terminal network controller having a thionyl chloride lithium battery as a main power supply.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a remote automatic meter reading system using a general subscriber telephone line has been widely introduced in order to automate supply management of household LPG, city gas, etc., management of gas consumption or safety management such as gas leakage. Is being done. In this meter reading system, each home is provided with a terminal network control device. The terminal network control device is a center device (host computer) supplied by a gas company or the like via a general subscriber telephone line.
And a gas meter, a gas leak alarm, a telephone, or the like provided in each home as a data terminal device. At the time of remote automatic meter reading, the data terminal device connected via this terminal network control device is called by a no-ringing call from the center device to establish a communication line, and meter reading data is transmitted to the center device. Data collection is performed on the side. Further, a terminal is periodically called to transmit data on the data terminal device side to the center device side. Further, the terminal network control device operates to receive a call arriving through a general subscriber telephone line and to communicatively connect a telephone and a telephone line connected thereto.

The above-described conventional terminal network control device has been supplied with power from a commercial power supply or an adapter. However, recent technological innovations have reduced the power consumption of ICs (abbreviated as integrated circuits) and reduced the use of primary batteries. A battery has come to be used as a main power supply of the terminal network control device due to the high performance and long life.

[0004] In particular, the terminal network control device is generally equipped with a thionyl chloride lithium battery in order to maintain stable operation for a long time. In this thionyl chloride lithium battery, in order to achieve a longer life of the battery itself, when the discharge current is about 0 to 10 μA, a lithium chloride film (hereinafter, referred to as a chloride film) is grown on the anode of the battery. , To reduce self-discharge. However, the growth of the chloride film has also raised the internal resistance of the battery itself.

[0005] Conventionally, a thionyl chloride lithium battery has been
Generally, it was used for the purpose of backing up memory of equipment. When a lithium thionyl chloride battery is used for memory backup, the discharge current is about several μA to about 10 μA depending on the memory capacity. Increase to about 100 ohms. However, since the discharge current required for memory backup is about several μA to 10 μA as described above, even if the internal resistance of the battery increases, the adverse effect on the battery terminal voltage is very small. Therefore, it was not a problem to use the lithium thionyl chloride battery.

When the lithium thionyl chloride-based battery is used as a main power supply for a terminal network control device, there has been a problem that the device runs out of control due to the above-mentioned chloride film growing at the anode of the battery. Specifically, the operation modes of the terminal network control device include a communication operation mode and a standby operation mode (standby). In the communication operation mode, the discharge current of the lithium thionyl chloride battery is 20
On the other hand, in the standby operation mode, the discharge current is about 10 μA and the discharge current is about 1 /
It changes by 10 ³ times. Further, since most of the operation modes of the terminal network control device are in standby, the chloride film continues to grow during that period as described above. This causes an increase in the internal resistance of the lithium thionyl chloride battery. When the device shifts to the communication operation mode, the terminal voltage of the thionyl chloride-based lithium battery decreases and discharge occurs even when the battery capacity of the lithium thionyl chloride-based lithium battery is sufficient due to the increased internal resistance during the standby period immediately before. There has been a problem that a sufficient current cannot be obtained and the terminal network control device runs away.

In order to prevent runaway caused by an increase in internal resistance accompanying the growth of the chloride film described above,
A possible solution is to increase the internal resistance of the thionyl chloride-based lithium battery, that is, to increase the discharge current of the battery so as to activate the chloride film grown on the anode (reduce the internal resistance). However, increasing the discharge current indiscriminately has a problem in that the service life of the terminal network control device is rather reduced (maintenance cost is increased). Conversely, in order to satisfy the service life without increasing the discharge current, the battery capacity of the lithium thionyl chloride-based battery had to be improved (cost increased), which was also a fundamental solution. Could not be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal network control device equipped with a thionyl chloride lithium battery as a main power supply, and the terminal voltage of the battery drops due to a chloride film inside the battery that grows as the battery is used, causing the device to run away. It is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal network control device that prevents the use of the terminal network and enables efficient battery use.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A terminal network control device according to the present invention connects a communication line to a temporary battery comprising a thionyl chloride-based lithium battery in which a chloride film grows with low-level discharge. a terminal network control apparatus which, for each predetermined period, the consumption of the battery within the predetermined period
The calculated current capacity, and the calculated value stably operates the device.
And determining whether the determination means has reached a predetermined level to activate the chloride film as possible, based on the determination result of the not reached the determination means, the current capacity is a predetermined level above consumed Force the discharging operation of the battery
Configured such that a control means for controlling urged.

[0010]

[Action] terminal network controller according to the present invention is constructed as described above, the determination means calculates the consumed current capacity of salt <br/> of thionyl type lithium battery in a predetermined period for every predetermined time period Determining whether the calculated value has reached a predetermined level, that is, a level at which the chloride film is activated so that the apparatus can operate stably, and the control unit determines that the determination unit has not reached And controls the discharge of the battery so that the current consumption capacity of the battery is at the aforementioned predetermined level. Therefore, since the chloride film grown inside the battery during that period is activated only when it is determined that the chloride film is necessary, the internal resistance is always maintained at a level at which the device can operate stably.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

A terminal network control device to be described below uses a general subscriber telephone line to communicate meter reading data from a data terminal device to be connected to a center device, or to connect in response to a no-ringing call from the center device. Although a terminal network control device used in a remote automatic meter reading system that calls a data terminal device and collects meter reading data is described, the terminal network control device is not limited to the device used in such a remote automatic meter reading system.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal network control device 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a terminal network controller 30 includes a thionyl chloride-based lithium battery (hereinafter referred to as a battery) 1, a constant voltage circuit 2, a microcomputer (abbreviated as a microcomputer) 3, a polarity reversal detector 4, a meter as main power sources. Interfaces (meter I / F) 5 and 6, transistors 7 and 8, and resistors 16 to 19 provided in connection with transistors 7 and 8 are included. Further, the terminal network control device 3
0 includes a tone decoder section 11, a modem section 12, a tone dialer section 13, a line control and coupling section 14, and a terminal section 15.

The constant voltage circuit 2 converts the voltage supplied from the battery 1 to a predetermined voltage level and supplies it to the microcomputer 3, the meter I / Fs 5 and 6, and the emitter of the transistor 7. Although the internal configuration of the microcomputer 3 will be described later, the microcomputer 3 is provided for centrally managing and controlling the operation of the device 30. The microcomputer 3 supplies the voltage supplied from the battery 1 to the polarity reversal detection unit 4 and supplies the voltage to the base side of the transistors 7 and 8 to control ON / OFF driving of these transistors.
When the transistor 7 is turned on by the microcomputer 3, the transistor 7 operates to supply the supply voltage from the battery 1 to the tone decoder unit 11. When the transistor 8 is turned on by the microcomputer 3 after the transistor 7, the transistor 8 operates to supply the supply voltage from the battery 1 to the modem unit 12 and the tone dialer unit 13.

The terminal unit 15 connects a general subscriber telephone line and a telephone set at home. When the polarity is inverted by the incoming of a call via the terminal unit 15 and the telephone line, the polarity inversion detection unit 4 provides a polarity inversion interrupt signal INT1 to the microcomputer 3 in response.

The operation states of the terminal network control device 30 are a communication operation mode and a standby operation mode (standby mode).
Consists of

In the standby mode of the terminal network control device 30, the supply voltage of the battery 1 is converted to a constant voltage via the constant voltage circuit 2 and supplied to the microcomputer 3, the polarity reversal detector 4, and the meter I / Fs 5 and 6. You. At this time, the discharge current of the battery 1 is usually about 10 μA.

In the communication operation mode, particularly in the case of no ringing communication, first, a call arrives at the polarity reversal detecting unit 4 via the telephone line and the terminal unit 15, and the polarity is reversed accordingly. Given to. The microcomputer 3 shifts from the standby mode to the communication operation mode according to the input of the interrupt signal INT1. At this time, in order to detect and decode the no-ringing signal (NRS signal) which will arrive next, the microcomputer 3 operates the transistor 7
A predetermined voltage is applied to the base side of the transistor 1 via the resistor 17 and the transistor 7 is turned on. Accordingly, a power supply path from the battery 1 to the tone decoder 11 is established. Thereby, the terminal network control device 30 shifts to the NRS signal receivable state. Thereafter, when receiving the NRS signal, the tone decoder section 11 decodes the signal and notifies the microcomputer 3 of the arrival of the NRS signal. The microcomputer 3 applies a predetermined voltage to the base side of the transistor 8 via the resistor 18 in response to the NRS signal arrival, and the transistor 8 is turned on accordingly. This establishes a power supply path between the battery 1 and the modem unit 12 and between the battery 1 and the tone dialer unit 13 via the transistor 8. As described above, the transistors 7 and 8 are turned on, power is supplied to each circuit, and the device 30 shifts to the communication operation mode, so that the discharge current of the battery 1 becomes about 20 mA.

As described above, the terminal network control device 30 slightly supplies power to the microcomputer 3 and its peripheral circuits from the battery 1 in the standby mode, but once the mode is shifted to the communication operation mode, the transistors 7 and 8 are turned on. O
Under the N control, power is also supplied to the tone decoder unit 11, the modem unit 12, and the tone dialer unit 13, and the discharge current of the battery 1 reaches 20 mA.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the microcomputer 3 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the microcomputer 3 is a CP
U (abbreviation of central processing unit) 20, ROM (read only memory) 21, RAM (random access memory) 22, I / O (input / output) interface 23 connected to CPU 20, and counter circuit connected to oscillation circuit 25 24 are connected.

The ROM 21 is a storage area for storing predetermined programs and data. RAM 22
Are storage areas 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d and 2
2e. In the storage area 22a, the terminal network control device 30
Is an area in which a communication flag TFG set when shifting to no-ringing communication is stored. Storage area 2
2b and 22c are areas for storing constant data A _C and KT, respectively, which will be described later. The storage area 22d is a storage area where the timer TM is stored. The storage area 22e is an area for polarity inversion detection section 4 shown in FIG. 1 is stored by the number of times that the polarity reversal in a predetermined period Gokuhan number KN _0. Each data stored in these storage areas is data that is appropriately accessed and read / written when the CPU 20 executes a program stored in the ROM 21 in advance.

The I / O interface 23 is a circuit provided for connecting the microcomputer 3 shown in FIG. 1 to various circuits.

The counter circuit 24 receives an oscillation signal from the oscillation circuit 25 that oscillates stably and performs a counting operation in response thereto. For example, the clock timer interrupt signal I every 0.5 seconds.
It operates to supply NT2 to the CPU 20.

FIG. 3 is a schematic processing flowchart showing the operation of the terminal network control device 30 activated by the polarity inversion interrupt signal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic processing flow chart showing the operation of the terminal network control device 30 activated by the clock timer interrupt signal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Each of the processing flows shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is stored in advance in the ROM 21 as a program, and is executed under the control of the CPU 20.

Next, the operation of the terminal network control device 30 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the processing flows of FIG. 3 and FIG. To summarize this operation, the terminal network controller 3
0 does not mean that the discharge current of the battery 1 should be increased but a constant value in order to prevent the terminal voltage of the battery 1 from being reduced due to the chloride film formed on the anode portion of the battery 1. If the current capacity consumed by the terminal network control device 30 is less than or equal to a predetermined value in each cycle (for example, one day), the discharging operation of the battery 1 is forcibly urged until the current value reaches the specified value. When the current capacity exceeds the specified value, the forcible discharging operation described above is not performed, thereby reducing the adverse effect of the chloride film grown inside the battery 1 and improving the efficiency. The operation is performed so that the battery 1 can be used.

As described above, the terminal network control device 30
Most are in standby mode. CPU 20 of microcomputer 3
Is normally in a standby mode, and is driven by a very small current supplied via the battery 1. In the standby mode, the microcomputer 3 starts executing the processing flow shown in FIG. 3 when the polarity inversion interrupt signal INT1 is input due to the polarity inversion of the polarity inversion detection unit 4.

In step ST1 of FIG. 3 (abbreviated as ST1 in FIG. 3), the CPU 20 determines whether or not the incoming call whose polarity has been inverted by the polarity inversion detecting unit 4 is an incoming call for no ringing communication. Is determined based on a detection signal provided from the I / O interface through the I / O interface. At this time, when it is detected that an NRS signal has been received, the process proceeds to step ST2, and the RAM 22
After setting the communication flag TFG (reset in the initial state) stored in the storage device, the process proceeds to a predetermined no-ringing communication process.

Returning to the process of step ST1, the CPU
When 20 detects that the detection signal provided from the tone decoder section 11 via the I / O interface 23 is not an NRS signal, the process shifts to the process of step ST3 accordingly. In the process of step ST3, the CPU 20 sets the number of reversals KN ₀ stored in the RAM 22 (a value 0 is set in an initial state) (KN ₀ = KN _0).
+1) is counted up one by one.
Thereafter, the microcomputer 3 shifts to the standby mode again.

As described above, the microcomputer 3 outputs the polarity inversion interrupt signal I given by the polarity inversion of the polarity inversion detection unit 4.
The transistor 7 is turned on according to the input of NT1. Therefore, if the polarity inversion associated with the input of the polarity inversion interrupt signal INT1 is caused by the no-ringing communication, the no-ringing communication process (3 of the battery 1 having a discharge current of 20 mA) is performed.
0 seconds), and on the contrary, unless it is based on no ringing communication, the transistor 7 is turned on (battery 1).
For 0.5 seconds with a discharge current of 20 mA). Therefore, if no-ringing communication processing is performed frequently,
The chloride film growing on the anode of the battery 1 is effectively activated. However, if the no-ringing communication process is not performed and only the polarity reversal due to the arrival of a normal telephone call is performed, the growth of the chloride film on the anode of the battery 1 is effectively promoted.

Next, an operation performed by the microcomputer 3 in response to the input of the clock timer interrupt signal INT2 will be described with reference to FIG.

The terminal network controller 30 is mostly in the standby mode as described above. When the timer interrupt signal INT2 for the clock is supplied every 0.5 seconds by the internal counter circuit 24, the CPU 20 starts executing the processing after step ST10 shown in FIG. 4 from the standby mode.

In the process of step ST10, the CPU 20 responds to the input of the clock timer interrupt signal INT2 by
The time calculation process is executed using an internal counter (not shown). Then, in the process of the next step ST11,
It is determined whether the calculated time has reached 0:00.
According to the determination result, the process shifts to the standby mode again or shifts to the process after the next step ST12.

As described above, the microcomputer 3 executes the time calculation process in response to the input of the clock timer interrupt signal INT2 which is periodically given, and the calculation result indicates that the current time is 0:00.
The time calculation process is repeated during the period that does not reach the minute, and when the current time reaches 0:00, the operation is performed so as to execute the processes after step ST12 for the first time. Therefore, the processing after step ST12 is executed every day.

When the current time reaches 0:00, a refresh operation for activating the chloride film formed on the anode of the battery 1 is performed as shown in step ST12 and thereafter. First, in the process of step ST12, the CPU 20 accesses the RAM 22 and sets the communication flag TFG.
It is determined whether or not is set. At this time, if the communication flag TFG is set, the CPU 20 executes the processing of steps ST19 and ST20, resets the communication flag TFG, and initializes the value by substituting the value 0 into the number of reversals KN ₀ of the storage area 22e, The state shifts to the standby state again.

As described above, when the communication flag TFG is set, at least one or more no-ringing communication processes have been performed within a fixed period, that is, one day.
The battery 1 performs a discharging operation of 20 mA once or more for 30 seconds. Therefore, it is determined that the average current consumption of battery 1 has reached a level at which the chloride film grown at the anode of battery 1 is sufficiently activated. As a result of this determination, the refresh operation is not performed, and the CPU 20 executes the processing after step ST19 as described above, initializes the communication flag TFG and the number of reversals KN ₀ in preparation for the next refresh operation, and returns to the standby mode again. Move to

Returning to the processing of step ST12, the CPU 2
0 is the communication flag TF stored in the storage area 22a.
G is read, and if it is determined that it has not been set (it is in the reset state), the processing after step ST13 is immediately executed.

First, in the process of step ST13, C
PU20 performs comparison between Gokuhan number KN ₀ and constant KT which is stored in the storage area 22e. That is, the number of reversals KN ₀ in the predetermined period (one day) is compared with the predetermined number KT, and if (KN ₀ ≧ KT) is satisfied, the average current consumption of the battery 1 in one day has reached the specified value. That is, it is determined that the activation of the chloride film at the anode of the battery 1 has been performed, and the process proceeds to the above-described steps ST19 and ST20. Then, the reset handle communication flag TFG in preparation for the next refresh operation, and initializes by setting a value 0 to Gokuhan number KN _0, procedure returns to the standby mode.

As described above, the constant KT is preset as a measure of the minimum value of the number of reversals, which corresponds to the average current consumption necessary for activating the chloride film of the battery 1 and achieving the stable operation of the device 30. Is done.

Returning to the process of step ST13, (KN ₀ ≧ KT) is not established by comparing the magnitude of the reciprocal number KN ₀ in one day with the constant KT. That is, the reciprocal number KN
_{If 0} is less than the constant KT, it is necessary to activate the chloride film grown on the anode of the battery 1 because the average current consumption of the battery 1 for one day has not reached the specified value for activating the chloride film. There is. For this purpose, the process first proceeds to step ST14, where the refresh time TR for activating the chloride film generated on the anode of the battery 1 is set.
Is calculated by a calculation process of (TR = A _C * (KT−KN ₀ )). The constant _AC is a constant set in advance for calculating the specified value of the average current consumption. In detail, CPU
20 are constants A _C and K stored in the RAM 22
While reading T, the number of reciprocal times KN ₀ is read and subjected to arithmetic processing, and the calculated refresh time TR is temporarily stored in its internal register. When the refresh time TR is calculated as described above, the CPU 20 proceeds to the process of the next step ST15, writes the refresh time TR in the storage area 22d, and writes the calculated refresh time T
Set R to timer TM. Then the next step ST1
A refresh operation is performed in the processing from step 6 to step ST18.

First, in order to start the refresh operation in the process of step ST16, the CPU 20 applies a predetermined voltage to the base side of the transistor 7 via the I / O interface 23. In response, the transistor 7 is turned on, and the battery 1 starts supplying power to the tone decoder unit 11 via the transistor 7. Next, the process proceeds to step ST17, in which the CPU 20
4, the timer TM is decremented in synchronization with the clock timer interrupt signal INT2 given from step 4, and the process of step ST17 is repeatedly executed until the timer TM counts up.

By repeating the process in step ST17, C
The PU 20 measures the refresh time TR, and the timer TM
When the timer is up, the process proceeds to the next step ST18, in which the CPU 20 turns off the transistor 7 via the I / O interface 23 and ends the refresh operation. Thereafter, step ST19 and step ST2
0, the communication flag TFG and the number of reversals KN ₀ are initialized as described above to prepare for the next refresh operation, and the process again shifts to the standby state.

As described above, the CPU 20 proceeds to step ST.
By executing the processing from step 13 to step ST18, until the average current consumption of the battery 1 in one day reaches a specified value for completing the activation of the chloride film grown on the anode of the battery 1 (the refresh time TR is timed). Until the operation is completed), the transistor 7 is forcibly turned on. Thereby, the activation of the chloride film grown on the anode part of the battery 1 is completed (the internal resistance is reduced).

As described above, the terminal network control device 30
The transmission flag TFG and the number of reversals KN ₀Constant based on
Check the average current consumption of battery 1 every cycle (every day).
Check at the anode according to the check result.
Activate longer chloride film to lower internal resistance
Then, the discharge of the battery 1 is forcibly urged.

In this embodiment, as described above, the refresh operation of the battery 1
Although this is realized by N operation, the transistor 7 and the transistor 8 may be simultaneously turned on to shorten the refresh time.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, the chloride film grown inside the battery is activated as needed at predetermined intervals, and its internal resistance is always stable in the terminal network control device. It is maintained at an operable level. Therefore, the stable operation of the device is ensured, and the battery is not discharged indiscriminately to activate the chloride film.
Efficient use of batteries becomes possible. The current consumption value is
For example, since the calculation can be performed by calculation, it is only necessary to incorporate this calculation program into the CPU of the device. Therefore, the configuration of the device is not large compared to adding a circuit (detector) for calculation, and the size of the device is small. Transformation is not inhibited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal network control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the microcomputer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic processing flowchart showing an operation of a terminal network control device started by a polarity inversion interrupt signal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic processing flowchart showing an operation of the terminal network control device started by a clock timer interrupt signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 battery 3 microcomputer 4 the polarity inversion detection unit 7 and the eighth transistors 20 CPU 22 RAM 24 counter circuit INT1 polarity inversion interrupt signal INT2 Note watch timer interrupt signal TFG communication flag A _C and TK constant TM Timer KN ₀ Gokuhan number, In the respective drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-203523 (JP, A) JP-A 64-77432 (JP, A) JP-A 1-127983 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 11/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A terminal network control device connected to a communication line and powered by a temporary battery comprising a thionyl chloride-based lithium battery in which a chloride film grows with a low-level discharge, wherein the battery is provided at predetermined intervals. Calculating the current capacity consumed by the battery during the predetermined period, and calculating the salt value so that the calculated value can stably operate the device.
Means for determining whether a predetermined level for activating the oxide film has been reached; and, based on a determination result that the determination means has not reached the predetermined level, the consumed current capacity is set to a predetermined level, Equipped with control means for forcing and controlling the discharge operation
A terminal network control device, comprising: