JP2002040063A - Voltage drop judgment device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To monitor a drop in the voltage of a battery that supplies electric power used for driving a load such as a shut-off valve of a gas meter, and accurately warn of the drop. A every 50 hours, a pseudo resistor R ₃ to the current flows from the lithium battery B, determines a pseudo resistor R low battery sampling the voltage drop generated between the _third time. Furthermore, the number of times of sampling is counted. For example, if the number of times of sampling reaches 10 (variable),
The shut-off valve V is actually driven by the lithium battery B, and the voltage of the lithium battery B at that time is taken into the control unit Ca and checked. If the battery voltage has not dropped, the shut-off valve V is driven by the lithium battery B, and the voltage of the lithium battery B is checked by the control unit Ca.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voltage drop judging device for more accurately judging a voltage drop state of a battery for supplying electric power used for driving an electric load such as a shut-off valve of a gas meter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Batteries are widely used for driving a load that is difficult to connect to a commercial power supply, or for driving a load with a voltage and current different from that of a commercial power supply. There is a gas meter provided in each home or the like to measure the amount of gas used.

This gas meter measures the flow rate of a gas flowing through an internal gas flow path as a gas usage amount,
Gas leak detection means for determining whether or not gas leakage has occurred in the gas supply path based on the measurement results of the flow meter or time-series changes in the measurement results, and It has a shutoff valve or the like that is driven when the leak detection means makes a determination and forcibly shuts off the internal gas flow path.These flow meters, gas leak detection means, and shutoff valves are built in the gas meter. It is powered by a lithium battery.

The gas meter has a voltage required for a valve closing operation by a shut-off valve so that when the gas leak detecting means determines a gas leak, the internal gas flow path is forcibly shut off. A battery voltage drop inspection device that periodically checks whether or not the battery remains in the lithium battery is provided together with a flow meter, gas leak detection means, a shutoff valve, and the like.

[0005] In the gas meter described above, as a result of the inspection by the battery voltage drop inspection device, if it is determined that the voltage of the lithium battery has decreased enough to decrease the voltage required for the valve closing operation by the shut-off valve, the gas leak is detected. The shutoff valve forcibly shuts off the gas flow path regardless of the presence or absence of the gas flow.

FIG. 8 shows, for example, a voltage monitoring apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-2316. The apparatus 1 inputs the flow rate signal of gas and the like from the flow sensor FS, and enter by ON operation a drive signal through the base resistor R ₁ of the transistor to Q ₁ for cutoff valve V drive on the basis of the input signal A control unit C for forcibly shutting off the gas flow path is provided.

The control unit C is provided with the lithium battery B.
Bruno + pole to ON / OFF operation by supplying a pulse signal every predetermined cycle through the base resistor R2 of the transistor Q ₂ to which is connected to the collector. As a result, transistor Q ₂
Voltage drop pseudo resistor R ₂ connected between the emitter and the ground occurs. This pseudo resistor R ₂ has the same resistance value as the shut-off valve V, and it can be confirmed that the battery voltage can be secured even in the state where the current flows most (the voltage drops) in the gas meter use of valve operation. It is set as follows.

The voltage judgment circuit Dv includes a transistor Q_TwoMovement
The pseudo resistor R is synchronized with the operation cycle every predetermined monitoring cycle.
_ThreeBy monitoring the voltage drop between the two, the power of lithium battery B can be monitored.
Monitor pressure drop. Monitoring of the voltage drop of the lithium battery B
Visual inspection was performed once every 50 hours, and the normal shut-off valve operation time (1-2
Second), a pseudo-resistor signal of 20 ms shorter than the pseudo-resistance R _Two
In addition to the voltage drop generated at that time, the voltage judgment circuit Dv
Is determined.

[0009]

However, when the battery voltage drop judging operation by adding a signal to the pseudo-resistance is viewed from the battery side, the operation time is shorter than the actual shut-off operation of the shut-off valve. If the act of operating the shut-off valve is small and not used for a long period of time, the characteristics of the lithium battery tend to be in an inactive state.

The inactive state described here is a phenomenon in which the battery capacity is sufficient but the chemical reaction becomes slow and the battery voltage drops. Due to this phenomenon, for example, the battery voltage drop determination value set in anticipation of use for 10 years (with the battery capacity reduced) matches the battery voltage drop in the inactive state, and as a result, the battery voltage drop determination is made. There has been a problem that there is a possibility that the information is displayed by mistake.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a voltage drop judging device which can measure a voltage in an active state while avoiding an inactive state which is a battery characteristic. With the goal.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a voltage monitoring apparatus according to the present invention comprises a voltage monitor for supplying a DC voltage from a battery to an electric load of the apparatus as shown in FIG. Generating means, a pseudo-resistive load equivalent to the electric load, and DC power equivalent to DC power supplied to the electric load for the pseudo-resistive load from the voltage generating means at a predetermined cycle. Control means for controlling; a voltage detecting means for detecting a battery voltage when the DC power is supplied; and a warning means for issuing a warning when the battery voltage drops below a specified voltage a predetermined number of times or more. Sometimes, DC power equivalent to operating an electric load is supplied to the pseudo-resistive load, and a decrease in the battery voltage is determined from a change in the battery voltage generated at that time.

The voltage detecting means of the battery voltage drop judging device according to the present invention, when the battery voltage is detected a predetermined number of times, causes the control means to supply DC power to the electric load from the voltage generating means for a predetermined time. By detecting the battery voltage, DC power for actually operating the electrical load is supplied to the electrical load, and a decrease in the battery voltage is determined from a change in the battery voltage generated at that time.

The voltage detecting means of the battery voltage drop judging device according to the present invention, when detecting the battery voltage drop, causes the control means to supply DC power from the voltage generating means to the electric load for a predetermined time, so that the battery voltage becomes a predetermined value. By issuing a warning from the warning means when the voltage drops below the specified voltage more than the number of times, when the battery voltage drop is detected, the DC power for actually operating the electrical load is checked in order to confirm the drop in the inactive state of the battery. The battery voltage is supplied to the dynamic load, and the decrease in the battery voltage is determined based on the change in the battery voltage generated at that time.

The control means of the battery voltage drop judging device according to the present invention supplies DC power to the pseudo-resistive load in accordance with the operation state of the electric load, so that the electric load can be put into an operation state without permission. Prevents inactivity.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a gas meter to which a voltage drop measuring device 1A according to the present invention is applied. In the drawing, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 8 indicate the same or corresponding parts. The control unit Ca according to the present invention incorporates the microcomputer 30 shown in FIG. 3, performs a battery voltage drop determination by a software function thereof, and displays a battery voltage drop warning by the alarm circuit 3 when the voltage drop is determined.

As shown in FIG. 3, the microcomputer 30 has a CPU 30a, a RAM 30b, and a ROM 30c. Among them, the CPU 30a has a flow sensor FS for measuring a gas flow rate flowing through a gas flow path in addition to the RAM 30b and the ROM 30c. A transistor Q _{1 for} controlling the opening and closing of a not-shown shut-off valve according to the flow rate measurement result is turned on periodically (for example, every 50 hours), and the pseudo resistor R ₃ is turned on by 20 m.
s, a transistor Q ₂ for flowing a pseudo-resistance operation signal, a voltage determination circuit Dv for detecting a voltage drop of the battery B by taking in a voltage drop generated between both ends of the pseudo-resistance R ₃ , and a process performed by the CPU 30a to lower the battery voltage below a specified value. The alarm circuit 3 which issues a warning when it is determined that the power is off is connected.

The RAM 30b has a data area for storing various data and a work area used for various processing operations. The ROM 30c has various processes by the CPU 30a, such as a voltage drop determination process, a flow rate calculation process, and a shutoff valve control process. A control program for performing such operations is stored.

Embodiment 1 Next, Embodiment 1 of the present invention
The operation of the control unit in the voltage drop determination device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The outline of the present embodiment is that once every 50 hours, whether the battery voltage at that time is normal or abnormal is determined by the voltage determination circuit Dv. However, once every n times, the shutoff valve V is actually operated to prevent the lithium battery B from being deactivated.

That is, a current is supplied from the lithium battery B to the pseudo resistor R ₃ every 50 hours, and a voltage drop generated between the pseudo resistor R _{3 at} that time is sampled to determine a battery voltage drop. Furthermore, the number of times of sampling is counted. For example, when the number of times of sampling reaches 10 (variable), the shut-off valve V is actually driven by the lithium battery B, and the voltage of the lithium battery B at that time is taken into the CPU 30a and checked. do.

If the battery voltage has not dropped, after the number of samplings has been cleared, the voltage drop across the pseudo resistor R ₃ is sampled again every 50 hours to determine whether the battery voltage has dropped, or the number of samplings is 10 times. If it becomes
The shutoff valve V is driven by the lithium battery B, and the voltage of the lithium battery B is checked by the CPU 30a. If the battery voltage drop is determined in any operation, a warning is issued.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, current flows from the 50-hour lithium battery B to a pseudo resistor R ₃ for each, determine the 50-hour timer for sampling the voltage drop generated across the pseudo resistor R ₃ to that time whether a time-over (Step S1). If the time has not elapsed, the counting operation is continued again. If the time is over, the number of checks (sampling) is counted up (step S2).

As a result of the count-up, it is determined whether or not the number of checks (sampling) is less than 10 (step S3). Fewer words, pseudo-resistor R ₃ to the current flows from the lithium battery B, and checks the sampled battery voltage the voltage drop generated across the pseudo resistor R ₃ at that time (step S4).

As a result of the check, it is determined whether or not the voltage drop is lower than a specified value of the battery voltage (for example, 80% of the battery voltage) (step S5). If it does not decrease has passed 50 hours returns to step S1 if it is determined to sample the voltage drop generated electric current pseudo resistor R _3.

In step S3, the number of checks is 10
If it is determined in step S5 that the battery voltage has fallen below the specified value twice within less than the number of times, a warning of the battery voltage drop is issued (step S6). If the battery voltage does not fall below the specified value even when the number of checks reaches 10, the routine enters a routine for operating the shut-off valve V in order to prevent battery inactivation. Before operating the shutoff valve V, it is determined whether or not the shutoff valve is performing a shutoff operation (meter energization) (step S7).

Here, if the shut-off valve V is in the shut-off operation,
A pseudo resistance R for 1-2 seconds corresponding to the shut-off valve operation time
_A current is passed through ₃ (step S9), and the battery voltage is checked based on the voltage drop (step S4). If the shut-off valve V is not in operation, a current is passed from the lithium battery B to the shut-off valve V to operate the shut-off valve V for 1-2 seconds (step S8). The voltage is checked (step S4).

As described above, by changing the battery voltage drop judging means periodically, the inactive state which is the battery characteristic can be avoided.
The voltage of the battery can be measured in the active state.

Embodiment 2 The first embodiment, if it is in shut-off valve V operating uniquely passing a current pseudo resistor R _3, was performed to check the battery voltage by the voltage drop, the present embodiment in the flowchart of FIG. 5 As shown, if it is determined in step S7 that the shut-off valve V is operating, and if it is determined that the shut-off valve V has not returned (opened) even after the lapse of a predetermined time (steps S10 and S11). ), over 1 to 2 seconds, which corresponds to the shut-off valve operating time pseudo resistor R ₃ a current flows to the pseudo resistor R ₃ (step S9), and checks the battery voltage than the voltage drop generated in the pseudo-resistor R ₃ (Step S4).

Embodiment 3 In the first and second embodiments,
In less than pseudo resistance battery voltage check number by measuring the voltage drop across R ₃ is 10 times, but that the battery voltage falls below a specified value twice and to warn lower battery if it is determined, In the present embodiment, if the voltage drop is determined regardless of the number of continuous determinations of the battery voltage drop based on the detection of the voltage drop, the battery voltage drop check based on the operation result of the shut-off valve V is started.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Pseudo resistor R ₃ for each 50 hours passing a current from the lithium battery B, it determines the whether 50 hours timer for sampling the voltage drop generated across the pseudo resistor R ₃ at that time becomes time-over ( Step S1). If the time has not elapsed, the counting operation is continued again.

If the time is over, the pseudo resistor R
₃ to a current flows from the lithium battery B, and checks the sampled battery voltage the voltage drop generated across the pseudo resistor R ₃ at that time (step S4). As a result of the check, the voltage drop is a specified value of the battery voltage (for example, 80% of the battery voltage).
%) (Step S)
5).

If it is determined that there is no decrease,
Clear the battery voltage drop judgment count (step S1
4). At this point, the number of battery voltage drop determinations is zero. The process of steps S1, S4, S5, and S14 is repeated every 50 hours to determine whether the battery voltage has dropped below a specified value. If it is determined that the battery voltage has dropped below the specified value, the number of battery voltage determinations is counted up (step S12), and it is determined whether the number of battery voltage determinations is one or not (step S13).

If the number of determinations of the battery voltage drop is one, preparations are made to flow a current from the lithium battery B to the shut-off valve V in order to prevent the inactivity of the lithium battery B and determine the battery voltage drop. In order to prevent the shut-off valve V from returning without permission due to the test energization before the current flows, it is determined whether or not the meter is shut off by shutting off the shut-off valve V (step S).
7). If the meter is not shut off, turn on transistor Q1.
N and outputs a shut-off valve operation signal to the shut-off valve V (step S
8).

Then, the battery voltage at that time is taken directly from the battery and measured (step S4). If the measured battery voltage has not dropped below the specified value, it is determined that the battery voltage drop is due to battery inactivity, and the counted-up battery voltage drop determination count is cleared to 0 (step S14). The processing of steps S1, S4, S5 is repeated again. If it is determined in step S5 that the battery voltage has dropped below the specified value, the number of battery voltage drop determinations is counted up (step S12), and after the first voltage drop determination is determined in step S13 (step S13), the process proceeds to step S7. Move on to

If it is determined in step S7 that the meter is energized, the shutoff valve V
There If it is not restored (open) is determined (step S10,11), electric current pseudo resistor R ₃ over 1 to 2 seconds, which corresponds to the shut-off valve operating time pseudo resistor R ₃ (step S9), and checks the battery voltage than the voltage drop generated in the pseudo-resistor R ₃ (step S4).

As a result of the check, it is determined whether or not the battery voltage corresponding to the voltage drop is lower than a specified value (for example, 80% of the battery voltage) (step S5). If it is determined that the battery voltage has dropped, the number of battery voltage drop determinations is counted up (step S12), and it is determined whether the number of battery voltage drop determinations has become two (step S1).
3). At this point, since the number of times of battery voltage drop determination is two, a warning of battery voltage drop is issued (step S6).

Embodiment 4 FIG. In the third embodiment, when the meter is energized, the pseudo resistor is energized by the battery for 1 to 2 seconds, and when the meter is not energized, the shutoff valve is energized to prevent the battery from being deactivated. and it was judged a drop in battery voltage, without energizing the shut-off valve V in the present embodiment, simple as determining the battery voltage drop simply prevent a pseudo resistor R ₃ only energized inert Method.

Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Pseudo resistor R ₃ for each 50 hours passing a current from the lithium battery B, it determines the whether 50 hours timer for sampling the voltage drop generated across the pseudo resistor R ₃ at that time becomes time-over ( Step S1). If the time has not elapsed, the counting operation is continued again.

If the time is over, the pseudo resistor R
₃ to a current flows from the lithium battery B, and checks the sampled battery voltage the voltage drop generated across the pseudo resistor R ₃ at that time (step S4). As a result of the check, it is determined whether the battery voltage corresponding to the voltage drop is lower than a specified value (for example, 80% of the battery voltage) (Step S5).

If it is determined that there is no decrease,
Clear the battery voltage drop judgment count (step S1
4). At this point, the number of battery voltage drop determinations is zero. The process of steps S1, S4, S5, and S14 is repeated every 50 hours to determine whether the battery voltage has dropped below a specified value. If it is determined that the battery voltage has dropped below the specified value, the number of battery voltage drop determinations is counted up,
It is determined whether the number of battery voltage drop determinations is one (step S13).

If the number of determinations of the battery voltage drop is one, the inactivation of the battery is prevented to determine the battery voltage drop.
Flowing a current pseudo resistor R3 over 1 to 2 seconds, which corresponds to the shut-off valve operating time pseudo resistor R ₃ (step S9), and checks the battery voltage than the voltage drop generated in the pseudo-resistor R ₃ (step S4 ).

As a result of the check, it is determined whether the battery voltage corresponding to the voltage drop is lower than a specified value (for example, 80% of the battery voltage) (step S5). If it is determined that the battery voltage has dropped, the number of battery voltage drop determinations is counted up (step S12), and it is determined whether the number of battery voltage drop determinations has become two (step S1).
3). At this point, since the number of times of battery voltage drop determination is two, a warning of battery voltage drop is issued (step S6).

[0043]

According to the present invention, a voltage generating means for supplying a DC voltage from a battery to an electric load of a device, a pseudo-resistance load equivalent to the electric load, and a DC power equivalent to the DC power supplied to the electrical load, control means for controlling the supply from the voltage generating means in a predetermined cycle, at the time of the supply of the DC power, voltage detection means for detecting the battery voltage, Warning means for issuing a warning when the battery voltage has dropped below a specified voltage for a predetermined number of times or more, and supplying DC power equivalent to operating an electrical load to the pseudo-resistive load at the time of battery voltage drop determination, By judging a drop in the battery voltage based on the change in the battery voltage occurring in the battery, there is an effect that the judgment of the drop in the battery can be made in the battery activated state.

According to the present invention, when the battery voltage is detected a predetermined number of times, the control means causes the voltage generation means to supply DC power to the electric load for a predetermined time, and detects the battery voltage at that time. In this way, the DC power for actually operating the electric load is supplied to the electric load, and the decrease in the battery voltage is determined based on the change in the battery voltage that occurs at that time, so that the battery is brought into a normal power supply state to the device. so,
Moreover, there is an effect that the battery voltage can be measured in the activated state.

According to the present invention, the voltage detecting means causes the control means to supply DC power from the voltage generating means to the electric load for a predetermined time when the battery voltage drop is detected,
By issuing a warning from the warning means when the battery voltage has dropped below the specified voltage for a predetermined number of times or more, when the battery voltage drop is detected, the electrical load is actually operated to confirm the drop in the inactive state of the battery. By supplying DC power to an electric load and determining a decrease in the battery voltage based on a change in the battery voltage generated at that time, there is an effect that the battery voltage can be more reliably measured in an activated state. .

According to the present invention, the control means supplies the DC load to the pseudo-resistive load in accordance with the operation state of the electric load, thereby setting the electric load to the operation state or setting the electric load to the non-operation state. There is an effect that it can prevent that.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a voltage drop determination device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration when the voltage monitoring device of the present invention is applied to a gas meter.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a voltage drop determination device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the voltage drop judging device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the voltage drop judging device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the voltage drop determining device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the voltage drop judging device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration when a conventional voltage drop determining device is applied to a gas meter.

[Explanation of symbols]

SB voltage generation means Cont control means L electric load R _D pseudo resistance D _BV voltage detection means AL warning means

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H01M 10/48 H01M 10/48 P H02J 7/00 H02J 7/00 NF term (reference) 2F030 CB04 CC13 CF05 CF11 2G016 CB12 CC01 CC02 CC04 CC06 CC07 CC10 CC21 CC24 CC27 CC28 CD04 CD14 2G035 AA21 AA26 AB03 AC16 AC23 AD02 AD10 AD23 AD26 AD28 AD29 AD48 AD49 AD64 5G003 BA01 DA13 EA06 5H030 AA04 AS11 AS18 BB21 FF00 FF44

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A voltage generating means for supplying a DC voltage from a battery to an electric load of an apparatus, a pseudo-resistive load equivalent to the electric load L, and a pseudo-resistive load applied to the electric load. Control means for controlling supply of DC power equivalent to the DC power supplied thereto from the voltage generating means in a predetermined cycle; voltage detecting means for detecting a battery voltage when the DC power is supplied; As described above, the voltage drop determining device includes the warning unit that issues a warning when the voltage drops below the specified voltage. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the battery voltage is detected a predetermined number of times, the control unit causes the voltage generation unit to supply DC power to the electric load for a predetermined time, and detects the battery voltage at that time. The voltage drop judging device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The voltage detecting means, when detecting a battery voltage drop, causes the control means to supply DC power to the electric load from the voltage generating means for a predetermined time, so that the battery voltage drops below a specified voltage by a predetermined number of times. 2. The voltage drop judging device according to claim 1, wherein a warning is issued from the warning unit when the voltage drops. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit supplies DC power to the pseudo-resistive load according to an operation state of the electric load.