JPH08251301A - Power supply replacement method for terminal network control device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To secure long-term reliability of the connection between the power supply and the control board before and after power supply replacement. [Structure] The battery assembly 30 is removed from the outer case 20, and each lead wire 2 is soldered and connected to the control board 21.
Cut 6,27 from the middle. The lead wires 26, 27 on the control board 21 side are left as they are, and the lead wires of the new battery assembly and the remaining lead wires 26, 27 are joined together by pressure bonding.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for exchanging power in a terminal network control unit (T-NCU) used for automatic meter reading of LP gas and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a terminal network control unit (T-T) used in a telemeter system for transmitting automatic meter reading information from a terminal device (for example, a gas meter) to a center network control unit (C-NCU) via a telephone line. The NCU is connected to a gas meter and a telephone line, and is often installed outdoors, which is convenient for construction, because of the installation location of the gas meter and the location where the telephone line is pulled in. However, in most cases, there is no AC power supply near the outdoor installation site, and therefore it is almost impossible to supply power to the terminal network control device from outside. Therefore, as a power source of the terminal network control device, it is general to incorporate a primary battery such as a lithium battery having a capacity commensurate with the product life into the terminal network control device.

However, even if a battery having an appropriate capacity is built in, the battery may reach the end of its life in a shorter period than the expected period depending on the usage conditions or environmental conditions of the destination telephone. In this case, in the terminal network control device having a structure in which the battery cannot be replaced, there is a problem in that the entire terminal network control device needs to be replaced and the replacement service cost becomes high.

Therefore, a battery exchangeable terminal network control device is gradually being commercialized. In this type of terminal network control device, for example, a lead wire insertion type connector welded to a battery is connected to the control board side connector. The battery is connected to the control board by plugging in the battery.When the battery reaches the end of its life, remove the battery side connector from the control board side connector and remove the battery from the control unit main body, then connect the new battery connector to the control board side connector. The battery was replaced by inserting it into the control device main body.

[0005]

In the conventional battery exchange type terminal network control device, since the plug-in connector is used for connecting the battery and the control board, for example, gold plating having good conductivity is applied. Even if the one having the contact structure is used, there is great concern about the long-term reliability of the connection part in view of the life of the terminal network control device (7 to 10 years) and the situation of being installed outdoors. Further, since the battery side and the control board side are equipped with the connectors, there is a problem that the device becomes large accordingly.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of exchanging a power supply for a terminal network control device, which can ensure long-term reliability of a connection portion between a power supply and a control board.

[0007]

According to the power supply exchanging method of the present invention, the lead wires 26 and 27 for power supply, which are soldered to the control board 21 at the time of power supply exchange, are cut and the lead wires 41 and 42 of the new power supply D are cut. This is to attach the new power source D to the control device main body 20 by crimping the lead wires 26 and 27 connected to the control board 21 after cutting.

Further, when the battery assembly 30 which is detachable in the control device main body 20 in which the batteries 24 and 25 and the lead wires 26 and 27 are integrated is used as the power source D, the existing battery is replaced when the power source is replaced. The battery assembly 30 is removed from the control device body 20.

Further, the batteries 50 and 51 themselves mounted in the control device body 20 are used as the existing power source D, and the battery assembly 40 which is removable in the control device body 20 is used as the new power source D. .

[0010]

In the above means for solving the problem, in order to replace the existing battery assembly 30 that has reached the end of life with a new one, the battery assembly 30 is first removed from the control device body 20, and the battery assembly 3 is removed.
0 of the lead wires 26 and 27 are cut off midway to disconnect the battery assembly 30 from the control board 21, and the control board 21 is left with some of the lead wires 26 and 27 soldered and connected. Leave the state. Then, the lead wires 41, 42 of the new battery assembly 40 and the lead wires 26, 27 extending from the control board 21 are put together and pressure-bonded. Then, a new battery assembly 40 is mounted in the control device body 20 and the replacement is completed. As a result, the connection parts between the battery assemblies 30, 40 and the control board 21 are connected by a highly reliable connection method such as soldering or pressure bonding both before and after replacement.

If the existing power source D is the batteries 50 and 51 themselves, the lead wires 5 connected to the batteries 50 and 51 are connected.
5, 56 are cut from the middle and the new battery assembly 40 is connected to the control board 52 and mounted in the control device body 20 in the same manner as described above.

[0012]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 2, a telemeter system including a terminal network control device of a first embodiment includes a host computer 1, a center network control device (C-NCU) 2,
It is composed of a switching center 3 connected to the center side, a switching center 4 connected to the terminal side, a terminal network control unit (T-NCU) 5, a telephone 6, and a gas meter 7 for measuring the LP gas and the like. ing. In addition, 8 is an inter-station relay line, 9, 10, 11
Is a connection line, and 12 and 13 are telephone lines.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the terminal network control device 5 is fixedly housed in the control device main body (outer case) 20 and CP.
The control board 21 is equipped with a control circuit having U, ROM, RAM, etc., and a power source D detachably mounted in the outer case 20 to supply power to the control board 21.

At the lower front portion of the outer case 20, a connection line 10 from the gas meter 7 or a telephone line drawn from the telephone line 13 is connected to the terminal block 22 of the control board 21, and a power source D in the outer case 20 is connected. An opening for replacement is formed, and this opening is covered by a lid 23 engaged with the outer case 20. Although not shown, a small hole for inserting the connection line 10 or a telephone line is formed in the lower portion of the outer case 20.

The control circuit is an I-D converter such as a D-D converter.
It corresponds to be able to drive at 3V using C. As shown in FIG. 4, the power source D uses two lithium batteries 24 and 25 connected in series, and the lead wire 2 is provided on the positive electrode side of one lithium battery 24 and the negative electrode side of the other lithium battery 25.
6 and 27 are connected by welding, and lithium batteries 24 and 25 are connected.
It is a battery assembly 30 in which a heat-shrinkable tube 28 made of polyolefin resin or the like is covered on the outer periphery of the battery assembly to be integrated. A conductive metal fitting 31 is welded and connected between the negative electrode of one lithium battery 24 and the positive electrode of the other lithium battery 25, and the two lithium batteries 24 and 25 are an assembled battery having a series structure.

If there is no problem with the battery capacity,
As shown in FIG. 5, by connecting the lead wires 26 and 27 to the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side of one lithium battery 24 by welding, the structure is simple and space can be saved.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the battery assembly 30 is fixed laterally inside the outer case 20 by a retainer fitting 32. The holding metal fitting 32 is attached to the outer case 20 by the screw 33.
L-shaped base 32a fixed to the metal fitting mounting portion 20a at the lower part of the base for mounting the battery assembly 30, and a pressing plate 3 protruding upward from the front end of the base 32a and pressing the side surface of the battery assembly 30.
2b and.

Further, each lead wire 26, 2 of the battery assembly 30
7 has a sufficient length (slack) and is housed in the lower part of the outer case 20. Then, each lead wire 26, 2
7 is colored and displayed in red and black for polarity display, and the conductor portion is soldered to the control circuit pattern of the control board 21 through the lead wire connection hole 21a of the control board 21. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a label 33 is attached to the vicinity of the central portion of each lead wire 26, 27, in which precautions for replacing the battery assembly are described.

In the above structure, in order to replace the existing battery assembly 30 that has reached the end of life with a new one, first open the lid 23 of the outer case 20, remove the screw 33 and remove the holding metal fitting 32, and then replace the battery assembly. The product 30 is pulled out and removed from the outer case 20.

Next, the lead wires 26, 2 of the battery assembly 30.
In accordance with the precautions written on the label 33 of No. 7, the lead wires 26 and 27 are cut off midway to disconnect the battery assembly 30 from the control board 21, and the lead wires soldered to the control board 21. Leave 26 and 27 partially left.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, a new battery assembly 40
Lead wire 41 (having the same structure as the existing battery assembly 30),
42 and the lead wires 26, 2 protruding from the control board 21.
Match the same color with the end of 7 and use a commercially available sealed crimp terminal 4
By 3, the conductor portions of the lead wires 41 and 42 are pressure-bonded to each other. As a result, the connection between the lead wires does not become exposed, and the insulating oil filled in the hermetically sealed crimp terminal 43 does not come into contact with the outside air, enabling a highly reliable connection that is not affected by the outside air. Becomes After that, a new battery assembly 40 is inserted into the outer case 20 and fixed by the holding metal fitting 32, and the lid 23 is closed to complete the replacement.

As described above, when the battery assembly is replaced, the control board 2
Cut the lead wires 26, 27 soldered to 1 and
Lead wires 41 and 42 of the new battery assembly 40 and the control board 2
Remaining lead wires 26, 27 that are soldered to 1
Since and are crimp-connected with the sealed type crimp terminal 43, the battery assembly 30, 40 can be connected both before and after replacement of the battery assembly.
The connecting portion between the control board 21 and the control board 21 is welded, soldered,
Since the connection is made by a highly reliable connection method such as crimping, long-term reliability can be secured as compared with the conventional connection by a connector.

Also, the existing battery assembly 30 that has run out due to running out of battery is removed from the outer case 20, a new battery assembly 40 is attached to the outer case 20, and the new battery assembly 40 and the control board 21 are attached. Since the lead wire is crimped between the lead wires, the storage space in the outer case 20 may be almost the same size as the terminal network control device in which the battery cannot be replaced, even if the battery is of a replaceable structure. Can be made into a compact size having almost the same dimensions as the terminal network control device in which the battery cannot be replaced.

Further, the lead wires 26, 2 of the battery assembly 30.
Since a label 33 on which the precautions when replacing the battery assembly is written is attached to the item 7, anyone can make an error-free connection.

(Second Embodiment) Normally, a lithium battery as a power source for a terminal network control device has a capacity commensurate with its product life. Therefore, in the market, it is necessary to replace the battery. In reality, the number of control devices is small. In the first embodiment, the battery assembly 30 that is attachable to and detachable from the outer case 20 is used as the power source D of the terminal network controller, but in the terminal network controller that has reached the end of its life without battery replacement, The use of the costly battery assembly 30 may be meaningless, and the initial cost at the time of product production may be high.

Therefore, the terminal network control device of the second embodiment is
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, two lithium batteries 50 and 51 mounted on the control board 52 are used as the existing power source D. In FIG. 9, 53a, 53b and 54a, 54
b is fixed to the control board 52, and each lithium battery 50, 5
1 shows the terminals welded to the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side of the lithium battery 50 respectively, and the terminal 53b on the negative electrode side of the lithium battery 50 and the terminal 54a on the positive electrode side of the lithium battery 51 are connected by soldering H. Lead wires 55 and 56, which are connected to the pattern of the control circuit 52a of the control board 52 by soldering H, are connected to the terminal 53a on the positive electrode side and the terminal 54b on the negative electrode side of the lithium battery 51 by soldering H, respectively. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the two lithium batteries 50 and 51 are connected in series to the control circuit 52a to supply electric power. If there is no problem with the capacity of the battery, one lithium battery 50 is used to connect the lead wires 55 and 56 to the positive terminal 53a and the negative terminal 53b by soldering, respectively, to simplify the structure. Can save space.

A storage space S for storing the new battery assembly 40 similar to that of the first embodiment is formed in the outer case 20 below the mounting portion of the lithium batteries 50 and 51.

In the above structure, the lithium batteries 50, 5
1 when it has reached the end of its life, follow the precautions written on the label 33 of each lead wire 55, 56.
56 is disconnected from the middle to disconnect the lithium batteries 50 and 51 from the control circuit 52a.

Then, as shown in FIG. 11, with the expired lithium batteries 50 and 51 left on the control board 52,
Similar to the first embodiment, the new battery assembly 40 is connected to the control board 52 by the hermetically sealed crimp terminal 43 to connect the outer case 20.
Store in the storage space S inside. The other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the members having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

As described above, since the lithium batteries 50 and 51 themselves mounted on the control board 52 are used as the existing power source D, the outer case 20 corresponding to the storage space S for storing the new battery assembly 40 is used. However, the initial cost at the time of product production can be reduced more than when the battery assembly is used as the existing power source as in the first embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above embodiment within the scope of the present invention. For example, the connection between the lithium battery and the lead wire is not limited to welding connection and may be soldering connection. Further, the lithium batteries 50 and 51 may not be mounted on the control board 52 as in the second embodiment, but may be removed from the outer case 20 when the batteries are replaced. In this case, the storage space S for storing the new battery assembly 40 in the outer case 20 is not required, and the device can be made compact.

[0032]

As is apparent from the above description, claim 1
According to the invention of, the connection between the power supply and the control board is
Both before and after the power source is replaced, the connection is made by a highly reliable connection method such as soldering or crimping, and long-term reliability can be secured as compared with the conventional connection by a connector.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the power source is a detachable battery assembly, and the connection between the new battery assembly and the control board is the crimping connection of the lead wires, the structure is a battery exchange type. However, the storage space inside the control unit may be almost the same size as the terminal network control unit, which does not allow battery replacement,
The overall size of the device can be reduced to a compact size which is almost the same as that of the terminal network control device in which the battery cannot be replaced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the battery itself fixed in the control device main body is used as the existing power source, the initials at the time of product production are more than those when the battery assembly is used as the existing power source. The cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a terminal network control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a telemeter system.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view cross-sectional view of the terminal network control device.

[Fig. 4] Configuration diagram of battery assembly

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of another battery assembly.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing connection between a battery assembly and a control board.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the connection between the battery assembly and the control board after the battery assembly is replaced.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway front view of the terminal network control device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a control board on which a battery is mounted.

FIG. 10 is an electric circuit diagram of the terminal network control device.

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway front view of the terminal network control device after the battery assembly is replaced.

[Explanation of reference symbols] D power supply 20 control device main body 21,52 control board 24,25,50,51 battery 26,27,41,42,55,56 lead wire 30,40 battery assembly

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Akira Okamoto 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Within Sharp Co., Ltd. (72) Naruki Ashihara 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka, Osaka Within the corporation

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A terminal network control device having a built-in power supply for connecting a terminal device and performing data communication with a center side device using a telephone line, wherein the power supply is soldered to a control board when the power supply is replaced. Terminal for disconnecting a lead wire for a new power source and crimping a lead wire for a new power source and a lead wire connected to the control board after the cutting to attach the new power source to the control device body. Method for replacing power supply of network control device. 2. A battery assembly which is detachable in a control device body in which a battery and a lead wire are integrated as a power source is used, and an existing battery assembly is removed from the control device body when the power source is replaced. The power supply exchanging method for a terminal network control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The battery itself installed in the control device main body is used as an existing power supply, and the battery assembly detachable in the control device main body in which the battery and the lead wire are integrated is used as a new power supply. The power source exchanging method for a terminal network control device according to claim 1, characterized in that.