JP2000298789A - Data transmitting and receiving device for meter with communicating function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple data transmitting and receiving device automatically reading integrated value data or specific data or the like in a noncontact state by using a handy terminal, without changing a meter with a communicating function. SOLUTION: A data transmitting and receiving device 20 connected with a microcomputer meter 10 with a communicating function for relaying between a meter and a handy terminal 30 is provided with a serial interface part 25, which can be connected with a communication interface 14 of the microcomputer meter 10, and a storage part 23 for storing data such as an integrated value read from the meter through the serial interface part, and a transmitting and receiving part 22. Thus, an induced electromotive force is generated at an antenna coil 21 by radio waves generated from the handy terminal 30, so that the transmitting and receiving part 22 can be started, and the data stored in the storage part 23 can be transmitted to the handy terminal in a noncontact manner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data for a meter with a communication function capable of contactlessly reading integrated value data and unique data in a meter with a communication function such as a gas meter, a power meter, and a water meter having a communication function. It relates to a transmitting / receiving device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a gas meter (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer meter) which incorporates a microcomputer in a meter and monitors an integrated value of gas consumption and an abnormality at the time of gas use has been widely used. Automatic meter reading of the integrated value of the microcomputer meter and transmission of abnormal information at the time of gas use are performed to gas companies.

In the case of reading a meter without using a telephone line, for example, a meter reader goes to a place where a microcomputer meter is installed with a handy terminal, visually observes the integrated value of the microcomputer meter, and manually inputs the value to the handy terminal. The meter reading method to input is also widespread.

Further, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-101293, the integrated value of the microcomputer meter is measured using a handy terminal having an electromagnetic induction type transmitting / receiving section, a display section and a microcomputer section. A meter reading method for reading directly by contact has already been provided.

[0005]

However, in a system in which a telephone line is connected to a microcomputer meter to perform communication, the investment in communication equipment is high. Only a small part of the total installation rate uses the communication function, and the actual situation is that even one gas company uses both automatic meter reading using a telephone line and manual input meter reading using a handy terminal. In the case of this manual input meter reading, there is a problem that a data input error occurs.

When a handy terminal capable of directly reading the integrated value of the microcomputer meter in a non-contact manner is used, an electromagnetic induction type transmitting / receiving section corresponding to the terminal must be provided on the microcomputer meter side. There were difficulties in applying it to microcomputer meters.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a meter with a communication function in view of the fact that meters with a communication function have become widespread. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple data transmitting / receiving device that can automatically read the integrated value data, the unique data, and the like without using a handy terminal without changing the meter.

[0008]

A data transmitting / receiving device for a meter with a communication function according to the present invention is attached to a meter with a communication function to relay between the meter with a communication function and a handy terminal. A serial interface unit that can be connected to the communication interface of the meter with a communication function, a storage unit that stores data such as integrated values read from the meter through the serial interface unit, and an induced electromotive force to the antenna by radio waves emitted from the handy terminal And a transmission / reception unit capable of transmitting the data stored in the storage unit by being activated by the electric power and contactlessly to the handy terminal.

This data transmitting / receiving device is preferably incorporated in a resin case attached to the meter body so that it can be easily attached to an existing meter with a communication function.

If the storage unit of the data transmitting / receiving device also stores unique data such as the management number of the meter and the date of replacement,
The unique data can be transmitted to the handy terminal by a request signal by radio waves from the handy terminal.

When the previous meter reading data stored in the storage unit of the data transmitting / receiving device and the current meter reading data newly read from the meter are transmitted to the handy terminal by a request signal by radio waves from the handy terminal, Then, the current integrated value and the previous integrated value are calculated in the handy terminal, and for example, the monthly usage can be known.

[0012]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a microcomputer meter (gas meter) 10 having a communication function according to the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system in which an integrated value data and the like of the microcomputer meter 10 are read by the handy terminal 30 in a non-contact manner via the data transmitting / receiving device 20.

The microcomputer meter 10 includes a microcomputer 11, a battery 12, a liquid crystal display unit 13, a communication interface 14 having two communication terminals DT and SG which can be connected to a transmission device for transmitting data via a telephone line, an external device interface 15, a gas It comprises a shutoff valve 16, a flow sensor 17 and an integrating counter 18. The integrated value of the integrating counter 18 is stored in the internal memory of the microcomputer 11, and the integrated value data is transmitted to the terminals DT and S by the communication interface 14.
It can be transmitted to the outside via G.

The data transmission / reception device 20 includes an antenna coil 21, a transmission / reception unit 22, a readable / writable storage unit 23, and a serial communication conversion unit 2 for communicating with the microcomputer meter 10.
4. A communication interface unit 25 serially connected to the communication terminals DT and SG of the microcomputer meter 10 and a sequence unit 26, which are attached to the microcomputer meter 10.

The handy terminal 30 includes an antenna coil 31, a transmitting / receiving section 32, a power supply section 33, a microcomputer section 3
4, a display unit 35, a buzzer 36, and a switch 37, which are separated from the microcomputer meter 10.

When measuring data such as an integrated value of the microcomputer meter 10, the antenna coil 21 of the handy terminal 30 is connected to the antenna coil 21 of the data transmitting / receiving device 20.
, The switch 37 is turned on, a radio wave is emitted from the handy terminal 30, and the radio wave generates an induced electromotive force in the antenna coil 31.
To send a request signal to start measurement.

In the data transmission / reception device 20, when a signal from the handy terminal 30 is received by the antenna coil 21, the transmission / reception unit 22, the serial communication conversion unit 24, the storage unit 23, and the sequence unit 2
6 is driven. Then, the unique data such as the management number of the microcomputer meter 10 and the date of replacement stored in the storage unit 23 and the previous integrated value data stored in the storage unit 23 are read out. The data is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 22 to the handy terminal 30 via the transmission / reception unit 22.

When the data transmitting / receiving device 20 receives a request signal from the handy terminal 30,
The signal is converted into a communication protocol with the microcomputer meter 10 by the serial communication conversion unit 24 and transmitted to the microcomputer meter 10 via the communication interface unit 25.

In the microcomputer 11 of the microcomputer meter 10,
When the request signal is received, the integrated value data stored in the internal memory is transmitted to the data transmitting / receiving device 20 via the communication interface 14. The data transmission / reception device 20 that inputs the data via the communication interface unit 25 sends the data to the storage unit 23 via the serial communication conversion unit 24, stores the integrated value in the storage unit 23 as the previous integrated value, and sends the data to the handy terminal 30. Is transmitted by the transmission / reception unit 22 as the current integrated value data.

The previous integrated value data and the current integrated value data transmitted from the data transmission / reception device 20 to the handy terminal 30 as described above are calculated by the microcomputer section 34 of the handy terminal 30. Is displayed on the display unit 35. In addition, unique data such as the management number of the microcomputer meter 10 and the date of exchange transmitted from the data transmission / reception device 20 as described above are also displayed.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the microcomputer meter 10.
The data transmission / reception device 20 according to the present invention is integrally incorporated in a plastic terminal cover (case) 41 of the terminal box 40a of the meter main body 40.
This is an example in which the data transmission / reception device 20 is attached to the meter main body 40 by closing Oa. in this case,
The data transmitting / receiving device 20 is largely divided into an antenna unit and other electric circuit units, and two signal lines 25a from a communication interface unit 25 included in the electric circuit unit.
Is connected to the communication terminals DT and SG provided in the terminal box 40a of the meter main body 40.

Therefore, the data transmission / reception device 20 can replace the existing microcomputer meter 10 by simply replacing the terminal cover 41.
It can be easily attached to.

FIG. 3 shows a case where the data transmitting / receiving device 20 is incorporated in a resin transmission box (case) 50 instead of the terminal cover 41, and the transmission box 50 is directly or indirectly attached to the meter main body 40, or in the vicinity thereof. And two signal lines 25a from the communication interface unit 25 of the data transmission / reception device 20 are connected to the communication terminals DT and SG of the meter main body 40.

[0025]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the integrated value is connected to the communication terminal of the existing or newly provided microcomputer meter with a communication function, so that the integrated value can be obtained without changing the microcomputer meter with the communication function. Data and unique data can be automatically read without contact using a handy terminal, so meter reading of microcomputer meters that are not connected to the telephone line can be measured accurately without entry or entry errors. Become like

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since it is incorporated in the case attached to the meter body, in addition to the above effects,
It can be easily attached to existing microcomputer meters.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the unique data such as the management number of the microcomputer meter and the date of replacement can be read out, so that the unique data of the meter can be added by attaching to the existing microcomputer meter. Or it can be changed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the previous meter reading data stored in the storage unit of the data transmitting / receiving apparatus and the current meter reading data newly read out from the meter are converted into a request signal by a radio wave from the handy terminal. , The usage amount can be calculated and displayed on the handy terminal, for example, monthly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a data transmission / reception device according to the present invention and a configuration of a system that uses the same to read integrated value data of a microcomputer meter or the like in a non-contact manner with a handy terminal.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of an example in which a data transmitting / receiving device according to the present invention is attached to a meter main body of a microcomputer meter.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example of attachment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 microcomputer meter 14 microcomputer meter communication interface 20 data transmission / reception device 21 antenna coil (antenna) 22 transmission / reception unit 23 storage unit 24 serial communication conversion unit 25 communication interface unit 26 sequence unit 30 handy terminal 32 handy terminal transmission / reception unit 34 handy terminal Microcomputer part 41 Terminal cover (case) 50 Transmission box (case)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2F030 CC02 CC13 CE02 CE09 CE13 CE22 CE23 CE25 CE27 CE32 CF05 CF11 2F031 AB01 AE05 AE06 AE07 AF03 AF04 AF10 2F073 AA07 AA08 AA09 AA34 AB03 AB05 AB12 BB02 BC02 CC01 CC02 DD01 DE02 FF02

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A serial interface unit that can be connected to a communication interface of a meter with a communication function, a storage unit that stores data such as an integrated value read from the meter through the serial interface unit, and an antenna that receives radio waves emitted from a handy terminal. And a transmission / reception unit capable of transmitting the data stored in the storage unit by starting up the induced electromotive force and transmitting the data to the handy terminal in a non-contact manner, which can be attached to the meter with the communication function. A data transmission / reception device for a meter with a communication function, characterized in that: 2. The data transmission / reception device for a meter with a communication function according to claim 1, wherein the data transmission / reception device is provided in a resin case attached to the meter main body. 3. The storage unit can store unique data such as a management number of the meter and an exchange date, and transmit the unique data to the handy terminal by a request signal by radio waves from the handy terminal. The data transmission / reception device for a meter with a communication function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the previous data stored in the storage unit and the current data read from the meter can be transmitted to the handy terminal by a request signal by radio waves from the handy terminal. The data transmission / reception device for a meter with a communication function according to claim 1.