JPS5852274B2 - Meter reading device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to remote measurement technology, and is particularly suitable for automatic meter reading of cumulative consumption of water, gas, electricity, etc. from a central station remote from these data sources without requiring human intervention. Regarding the meter reading system.

In order to realize an automatic meter reading system that has the unique characteristics of having a relatively fixed information source that is geographically dispersed and that information is measured only once a month, we have adopted a power line transport system and dedicated lines. A method has been proposed in which data is transmitted using

However, in the case of the power line transport system, the transmitting and receiving devices for meter reading are composed of elements with relatively low withstand voltage, such as transistors and ICs, so the cost required to prevent damage due to external abnormal voltages cannot be ignored.

Furthermore, when performing serial transmission using a dedicated line, the transmitter/receiver device is complicated and costs are high.

On the other hand, a method that transmits data in parallel using a dedicated line requires a certain amount of dedicated lines, but the transmitter/receiver can have a simpler configuration than the former two.

As a system for transmitting data in parallel using this dedicated line, one has already been proposed that includes a relay box placed in each household and a group sorter placed for several relay boxes (for example, However, since this method uses four types of wire groups: address lines, digit selection lines, data lines, and control lines, the core wires of the cable for transmitting and receiving these signals are The number of cables becomes extremely large, and there are disadvantages in that the required number of driver circuits for signal transmission and receiver circuits for reception increases, the cable cost increases, and the workability of cable installation decreases.

The main object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art as described above, reduce the number of signal lines required for meter reading, and provide an economical automatic meter reading system.

In order to achieve this objective, the present invention has the following features: (1) The cable has only two types of core wires, control lines and data lines, (2) The control line is a control line for regulating system operation issued from the meter reading device. (3) The data line is used for selecting address information given as downstream information from the meter reading device toward the meter reading light meter, and return address information that is upstream information from the meter side toward the meter reading device.
(4) The selector placed between the meter reading device and the meter is
It has a control mode decoding function, and the decoding result also has a function to control connection and disconnection of the data line, and performs time-division control to use the data line as a bidirectional transmission path according to the meter reading control mode. However, there are some characteristics.

Next, typical embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a central office meter reading device equipped with various meter reading functions and transmitting/receiving functions, 2A to 2 are
D indicates units that are arbitrarily grouped by building or region of medium-to-high-rise residential buildings, 3A to 3D are area selectors placed in each group, and 4A to 4D are, for example, vertical directions with stairs in medium-to-high-rise residential buildings. This is a household selector that is placed for each column.

Further, L is a multi-core cable consisting of a control line LO and a data line Ld, which will be described later, and is installed between all the components in the system except between the meter M and the household selector 5A1, etc.

LM is a signal line connecting the household selector 5A1 and the like to the meter M, and is composed of a meter digit selection line and a line for sending out an indicated value.

In the figure, for simplicity, there are 4 region selectors 3, 4 column selectors 4 for each region selector, and 5 household selectors.
An example is shown in which there are 4 meters per column selector and 2 meters per household selector.

The transmission route between the meter reading device 1 and the meter M of the household to be tested is formed by the operation of the selector at each level according to the command issued from the meter reading device 1, and the control mode for the element step of the route selection operation is is emitted via the control line Lc inside the multi-core cable L.

In this control mode, for example, the control line Lc consisting of four lines
Each selector is instructed to perform a control operation as shown in FIG. 2 in response to a combination of signal levels issued to each line.

That is, when the meter reading device 1 sets the address of the meter reading destination according to a preset order, the control mode #0 (region selector (currently being selected), but at the same time, the address of the corresponding region selector is issued to the data line Ld.

Since the region selectors 3A to 3D are all intercepted as shown in FIG. 3, the control mode decoding decoder DEC1 connected to the control line LO reads from its terminal A in the region selector selection mode. It emits 1 output indicating that there is something, and also the receiver R connected to the data line Ld
1 passes through the selector selection destination address signal mentioned above and applies it to the B input terminal of the address comparator ACOMP.

Since the other input terminal A of the address comparator ACOMP is always supplied with a signal from the address setter SA that indicates an address specific to its own region selector, the address comparator ACOMP is used only when the comparison results of these two signals match. One output is generated from the output terminal Z of the address comparator ACOMP.

Therefore, at this time, the ant gate G1 passes through 1 output, sets the flip-flop FF, and memorizes that its own region selector has been selected.

In this way, a corresponding one of the region selectors 3A to 3D in FIG.
When the mode (area selector address returning mode) is issued, the self address is returned to the meter reading device 1 via the data line Ld.

This operation will be explained next.

That is, in this case, the control mode decoding decoder DEC1 emits 1 output from the terminal C, which indicates the address return mode of the area selector, and this is applied to one switching command input terminal X of the transmission data switching gate sEL. .

When the signals applied to the switching input terminals X and Y are 1 and 1, this gate receives the signal applied to the data input terminal A.
When it is 0, 1, the signal applied to the B terminal is output from the output terminal Z, and when it is 0, 0, and 1.0, the signal applied to the C terminal is output from the output terminal Z, so the previous control mode - Considering that the flip-flop FF is sesorted at +O, the level signal is also applied to the data switching input terminal Y, so the switching gate SEL selects the unique address of its own selector set in the address setter SA. It is output from the Z terminal and is applied to the information input terminal 2 of the driver D1.

Also, at this time, naturally the control mode decoding decoder DEC1
Since all terminals other than the C terminal output an O level output, the output of the phase inversion gate 1 becomes a level, which is applied to the driver function activation/deactivation command input terminal 1 of the driver D1.

Therefore, the driver D1 enters the driving state and gives the local selector's unique address, which is the output of the above-mentioned switching gate, to the data line Ld, so that this is sent back to the meter reading device.

For example, when the region selector 3B in FIG. 1 is selected with the control mode=#=0 and temple 1 returns its own unique address to the meter reading device, the driver D of the selector 3B
1, the unique address is sent to the meter reading device via the area selector 3A.

At this time, the reason why the return address of 3B can pass through the area selector 3A is because the switching gate inside 3A has a 1°0 signal being applied to its switching input terminals X and Y. This is because the above signal is sent to the data line Ld for the meter reading device 1 by the driver D1 since the output of the phase inversion gate 1-11 is 1.

Also, in the control mode +O at this time, the data line Ld
After the address signal for selecting the region selector 3B issued by the receiver passes through the receiver R1 of the region selector 3A, it can be applied to the region selector 3B via the driver D3 due to the following operation. .

That is, in the area selector 3A, the internal control mode deciphering decoder DEC1 can be used to select area selectors 3A to 3D, column selectors 4A to 4D, or household selectors 5A1 to 5D.
4 is the selected mode (i.e., Φ
At this time, there is a level output (that is, downstream signal transmission) on the terminal indicating the control mode (0, 42, 44 control mode), and the internal flip-flop FF is in a reset state because the own selector has not been selected. Because of this, the ant game-1-02 emits one output, which causes the driver D3 to be in the driving state.

Similarly, it can be understood from the above explanation that no matter which region selector is selected from 3C and 3D, the selected selector can return its own unique address to the meter reading device 1 via the data line Ld. Therefore, the meter reading device 1 can confirm whether or not the correct selection of the region selector has been completed, and thereby can shift to the start of the next control mode.

As a selection operation following the region selector selection step described above, in control mode +2, any one of the column selectors 4A to 4D under the region selector is selected, and further in control mode 3, the column selector is selected. The operation is to return an address unique to the selector to the meter reading device 1, and the column selectors 4A to 4D are connected to the D for returning the column selector address.
Since the circuit configuration is exactly the same as the above-mentioned area selectors 3A to 3D (Fig. 3) except that C of ECl becomes 1 at this time, the operation at this time will not be explained again here. .

Note that when the column selector 4A under the region selector 3A is selected, the column selection address signal is sent via the driver D2 of the region selector 3A in control mode +2 because the internal flip-flop FF is in the set state at this time. This is also because the D terminal of the control mode decoding decoder emits a 1 output, and the AND gate G3 is in the 1 driving state.

The fact that the column selector 4A can send data back to the meter reading device 1 via the region selector 3A in control mode #3 (column selector address returning mode) means that the control within the region selector 3A is possible during reception in #3 mode. Since the D terminal output of the mode decoding decoder DEC1 is O, the C terminal output is also O (that is, the local address is not being returned), and the flip-flop FF is in the set state, the switching gate is operated by the switching power X,
The input signals of Y become 0 and 1, respectively, and the output of the receiver R2 given to the B terminal (this is the return address signal from the column selector 4A) is passed, and this signal is read by the driver D1, which is in the driving state at this time. Depends on being able to send it to the device.

Next, the configuration and operation of the household selectors 5A1 to 5D4 will be explained using FIG. 4.

In this figure, all the same signals as in FIG. 3 indicate the same components.

The configuration and operation of this household selector regarding selection and address return are exactly the same as the area selector and column selector described above, but since a water meter is connected to this selector, the control shown in Figure 2 above regarding meter reading is Mode +6
Since the configuration and operation regarding ~1=11 have not been described, they will be explained below.

For example, the household selector 5B1 in FIG. 1 has already been selected,
Select the meter 51 under the household selector 5B1 after returning the own unique address in control mode 4I-5,
4th example regarding the case of performing meter reading operation from this meter.
This will be explained using figures.

In the case of assuming the above situation, the flip-flop F in the figure
F is in the set state, the control mode 6 (water meter selected) is sent from the meter reading device via the control mode line LO, and the address of the meter 51 for meter reading light is sent from the meter reading device via the data line Ld.

The control mode signal #6 is decoded by the meter-related control mode decoder DEC2, and one output is sent to the terminal H.

Therefore, AND gate G4 passes this output,
This one output is given to the P input terminal of the meter number decoder MD.

At this time, the other input Q terminal of the meter number decoder MD is given the address of 51, which is the selected meter, through the receiver R1, so 1 output is generated from the corresponding output terminal R, and this The flip-flop FF2 is set to store the fact that the meter 51 has been selected by
A flip-flop is also provided to remember that the meter 52 has been selected when a 1 appears at its output.
(This is also not shown).

The output signal of this flip-flop FF2 is applied to one input terminal of the AND gate 6, γ, and to the input terminal U of the meter number encoder.

Therefore, the next control mode, the meter number returning signal -II-7, is given via the control mode line LO,
When the meter-related control mode decoding decoder DEC2 outputs one output from the corresponding output terminal G, the encoder M
The output of C passes through AND gate G5 to OR gate OG.
I and the transmission data switching gate 5EL (at this time, the X and Y terminals of this gate are 0°1, and the input of the B terminal is output from the Z terminal), and the data line Ld passes through the driver D1. It is returned to the meter reading device 1.

Therefore, the meter reading device 1 can confirm that the meter has been correctly selected, and can move to the next control mode.

In other words, control mode 8 (1st digit meter reading mode) is
Since it is sent via the control mode line Lc, it is decoded by the meter-related control mode decoding decoder DEC2, and 1 output is issued from the E terminal, so this passes through the first digit meter reading command line L1 via Antoge-1-G6. , is applied to the first digit of the known meter reading value encoding circuit shown in FIG.

Therefore, the first digit value of the meter reading optical makeup 51 encoded by 81 to S8, which is opened and closed according to the indicated value of the meter at this time, is applied to the OR gate OG1 in FIG. 4 via the meter reading value output line L3. After passing through the transmission data switching gate SEL and driver D1, the data line L
d to the meter reading device.

In this way, the meter reading of the indicated value of the first digit is completed.

Similarly, for meter reading of the second digit, when the control mode 〇 is sent via the control mode line LO, the decoder DEC2 for decoding the meter-related control mode outputs 1 to its F terminal, and the AND gate G7 is activated. 1 output, which is the second output.
This is possible because it is given to the meter side via the meter reading command line L2 of the digit.

It can be easily inferred that the other meters in FIG. 1 can be arbitrarily read using the same method as described above.

According to the above embodiment, assuming that there are four address signal lines, the maximum is 16 area selectors, 16 column selectors (per one area selector), 16 household selectors (per one column selector), and 1 meter.
6 (per household selector), 65,
It is possible to read 536 meters.

Furthermore, above the region selector, there is a large region selector, etc.
It is also possible to provide another selector type by newly adding a control mode other than those described above.

The control mode is sent via the data line, so even if you add 2 digits, it will still be 1.
There is plenty of room for 3 types.

Adding one selector type like this gives 1,048,
It is now possible to read meters for an extremely large number of households (576) using one meter reading system.

As described above, the present invention (1) makes it possible to automatically read the meters of one million households using a cable with only eight core wires, and (2) completely standardizes the circuit configuration of the selector.
The repeatability of the plug-in card is high, (3) an extremely economical meter reading system can be realized, and (4) system expansion is extremely easy, which is a huge practical advantage.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration of a meter reading system showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the control mode of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a first selector block diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a second selector block configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a known meter reading value encoding circuit used for explanation. Explanation of codes, 1... Meter reading device, 2A to 2D...
...Meter reading group unit, 3A to 3D...Region selector, 4A to 4D...Column selector, 5A
1~・・・Household selector, 5B1~5B4...
... Household selector, 5C1 - ... Household selector, 5D1 - ... Household selector, M ...
・Meter, L...Multi-core bottom pull, LM...
...Signal line, Lo...Control mode line, Ld...
...Data line, DECl...Decoder for decoding control mode, ACOMP...Address comparator, SA...Year selector specific address setter, SE
L...Transmission data switching gate.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A central meter reading station equipped with a transmitting and receiving function, and a plurality of first meter reading stations arranged in series and connected to the central meter reading station by signal lines.
a plurality of second selectors arranged in series and connected to each of the plurality of first selectors by a signal line; a plurality of second selectors arranged in series and connected to each of the plurality of second selectors by a signal line; third selector, this third
A plurality of measuring instruments are provided for each selector, and the signal line is composed of a control line for regulating the operation of the selector or measuring instrument, and a data line for transmitting address or measurement data. In a meter reading device in which the control line is directly connected between each selector and the data line can be connected and switched, the central meter reading station selects one of the first selectors.
a control signal, then a second control signal selecting one of the second selectors connected to this selector, then a third control signal selecting one of the third selectors connected to this second selector. The control signals are sequentially selected and transmitted, and for each of these control signals, a signal regarding the address of the selector to be selected is sent to the data line as well as the first . Second. A selector selection signal indicating which rank of selector among the third selectors is selected is sent to the control line, and then an address return command signal for returning the selector address is sent to the control line. A transmission control means for transmitting a measuring instrument selection signal to a control line and a measuring instrument address to a data line after selection of the selector No. 3, and input means connected to the data line for receiving and inputting a signal, Each of the first and second selectors is connected to an upper or upstream control line and a data line, and includes a self-selector selection detection means for detecting and storing the selection of the self-selector from the selector selection signal and address signal therefrom. , a first means for transmitting a self-address to a data line to a central meter reading station in response to reception of an address return command signal; a second means for forming a signal transmission path from the data line for the meter reading station to the data line for the lower selector group; A third means for forming a signal transmission path from a data line for the station to a data line for a selector downstream of a selector group of the same rank, an output signal of the self-selector selection detection means exists, and an address return command signal is received. If not, there is no output signal from the self-selector selection detection means, which is the fourth means for forming a signal transmission path from the data line for the lower selector group to the data line for the central meter reading station, and the address return command signal is not present. a fifth means for forming a signal transmission path from a data line for a downstream selector among the selectors of the same rank to a data line for a central meter reading station when the selector is not received; 1. In addition to the self-selector selection detection means of the second selector, the first means, the third means, and the fifth means, a meter is connected to an upper or upstream control line/data line and detects a measuring instrument selection signal. a sixth means for detecting the measured value of the selected measuring instrument in accordance with the output signal of the measuring instrument selection signal detecting means; an output signal of the self-selector selection detecting means is present, and an address is returned; and seventh means for forming a signal transmission path from the output terminal of the sixth means to data for the central detection layer when a command signal is not received.