JP2000231687A - Remote meter reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide a remote meter reading device capable of remote meter reading of electricity, gas, water, and the like at low cost as if going to each customer. A remote meter reading device for electricity, gas, water, or the like, wherein a meter reading unit (1) captures at least a portion of a usage integrator (2) that displays an integrated amount, a CCD light receiving unit (3), an image processing unit
22 (FIG. 5) and a transmitting unit 24 (FIG. 5). The CCD light receiving unit 3 is attached to the usage amount integrator 3, and is mounted at least in the cover 4 which allows the display unit 5 to be seen through.
Transmits at least a video signal captured by the CCD light receiving unit 3 and an identification code of the customer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote meter reading device for an integrator for use, which is installed in a consumer such as electricity, gas or water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Charges for electricity, gas, water and the like are conventionally calculated based on data obtained by a meter reader directly reading a meter attached to each customer. By the way, the efficiency of meter reading business has declined due to overcrowding in urban areas, and it has become difficult to secure meter readers in snowy areas and depopulated areas. It is well known that remote meter reading devices are being developed.

In order to perform automatic meter reading, it is necessary to develop a meter reading terminal to be arranged at each customer and a meter reading data transmission system. In this system, a meter reading terminal disposed at each customer is connected to a central control device disposed at a predetermined business place such as a business office by a transmission line for transmitting control signals and data.

As the transmission line, there are a distribution line transportation system, a communication line system such as a telephone line, a CATV line, and various dedicated lines, and a wireless system. For example, as a transmission line for remote meter reading of an electricity meter, a low-voltage distribution line is used for the transmission line, and a repeater is attached to each pole transformer that distributes power to each customer, and the meter reading results of each customer are collected once. A method of transmitting a signal to a central control unit via a high-voltage transmission line has been studied, and the method has already reached a practical level.

[0005]

The remote meter reading terminals of the watt-hour meter which have been studied in the past include a rotation number addition method, a pulse addition method, and an electronic meter reading method. The rotation number addition method detects rotation of the indicating board by movement of a magnet attached to the watt hour meter indicating board. In addition, the pulse addition method generates a pulse each time the display panel makes one rotation, and detects the number of times this pulse is generated. The electronic meter reading method measures the voltage and current of the service line, Electric power is calculated and integrated by an electronic circuit, and all of them have reached the level of practical use.

[0006] In any of the systems described above, it is necessary to newly install the meter reading terminal in each customer, and even if it is a technically superior method, there is a problem that a huge amount of fund is required. is there. Therefore, even if it can be effective in specific cases, such as in an sparsely populated area, an automatic meter reading device is placed at a position where meter reading is possible and it is possible to read meter without going to the customer one by one. It is necessary to develop a lower cost means to apply the method.

[0007] Another problem is that in the case of meter reading by a meter reader, a system in which the result of the meter reading is written on a slip and a copy is given to the customer is adopted. You can check by looking at the meter. On the other hand, in remote meter reading, since data arrives at the customer's hand later, even if the customer is suspicious, it cannot be confirmed. Therefore, the record of the meter reading result is
It is preferable that the meter indication at the time of meter reading can be recorded as it is. However, such a remote meter reading method has not yet been provided. The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-described problem, and the display value of the usage integrator can be recorded as it is, as if going to each customer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote meter reading device which can execute a meter reading in a central control room as if a meter of a usage integrator is metered with as little cost as possible.

[0008]

A remote meter reading device of the present invention for achieving the above object is a remote meter reading device for a usage meter of a consumer such as electricity, gas or water supply. The device includes a meter reading unit and a transmission unit, and the meter reading unit includes:
The CCD comprises a CCD light receiving unit and a transmission unit for photographing at least a portion of the usage amount integrator that displays the integrated amount.
The light receiving unit is attached inside a cover attached to the usage amount integrator, the cover covers at least the integration amount display unit of the usage amount integrator, and at least the display unit is formed so as to be transparent, and the transmission is performed. The unit transmits at least a video signal captured by the CCD light receiving unit and an identification code of the customer.

The means for transmitting the video signal is not particularly limited. However, in order to reduce the transmission cost, increase the number of meter readings per time, and reduce the data storage capacity as much as possible. Preferably, the transmission signal is a digital signal so that compression transmission is possible.

Although there is no particular limitation on the method of attaching the CCD light receiving section, placing the CCD light receiving section in front of the display section obstructs the viewing of the display section. Therefore, a method of attaching the display part obliquely forward, a method of attaching a half mirror to the see-through window in front of the display part of the cover, and disposing the display part at a position where the display part is reflected on the mirror can be adopted. Further, the half mirror can be attached between a display unit and a CCD light receiving unit, and the image reflected by the half mirror can be seen through the cover.

[0011] An illuminating device may be mounted in the cover to illuminate the display unit at least when the CCD light receiving unit is operated. The lighting device may be activated when the surroundings have a certain brightness or less.

[0012] In order to identify which customer the transmitted data is, the product number of the usage integrator is indicated by CC.
Although it is possible to take an image with the D light receiving unit, it may be difficult to take an image with one camera depending on the location where the serial number is engraved. Therefore, an input device for a customer (customer) identification signal can be provided in advance in the usage amount integrator, and an identification signal (for example, a customer number) assigned to the customer can be input when the device is attached. As the input device, for example, a DIP switch or other hardware means, or a means for attaching a data input terminal and inputting it from a portable personal computer or the like can be used. The execution of the meter reading is not particularly limited, but usually the meter reading is executed by a meter reading command signal from the central management device, and the obtained data is transmitted.

[0013] The usage integrator can be applied to any measuring instrument for integrating the usage of continuously supplied electricity, such as a watt-hour meter, a gas meter, and a water meter. The transmission method is not particularly limited, and various existing communication means such as a distribution line, a telephone line, a mobile phone, a PHS, and a cable broadcasting line can be used.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention; The first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is implemented by electric meter remote meter reading. As shown in FIG. 1, a meter reading unit 1 includes a watt hour meter ( It is attached to the usage integrator 2).

In FIG. 1, the CCD light receiving section 3 of the meter reading section 1 is shown.
Was mounted inside the transparent cover 4 of the watt-hour meter 2 at a position where the display unit 5 of the watt-hour meter 2 could be accommodated in the field of view. In addition, the meter reading unit main body 6 containing the digital conversion unit, the image processing unit, and the transmission unit (all not shown in FIG. 1) was attached to the lower side of the wattmeter 2. Note that reference numeral 7 shown in FIG.
Denotes a mounting surface (for example, a wall surface) of the watt hour meter 2 and the main body 6 of the meter unit.

As is well known, the display unit 5 displays 0 for each digit.
A weighing plate 5a engraved with numerical values from 1 to 9 is arranged in a horizontal line by the required number of digits, and the CCD light receiving section 3 is mounted so that the numerical values of all the digits can be stored in the field of view. Although not shown, the cover 4 is provided with a mounting seat for the CCD light receiving unit 3 and a through hole through which a signal line for transmitting a control signal and a detection signal is passed.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show an example of the display unit 5. FIG. FIG. 2A shows a case where reading is possible up to 1 kWh and one digit, and FIG. 2B shows a case where reading is possible up to 1 kWh. Since the CCD light receiving section 3 disposed at the above described position has at least the display portion shown in FIG. 2A or 2B in a close-up view from an oblique direction, the image formed on the CCD naturally distorts the image. It becomes something. However, this distortion can be corrected at the stage of optical system design and image processing design.

Specification display panel 8 of watt hour meter 2 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 shows an example. The consumer identification means of the first embodiment uses the product number 9 shown on the specification display panel 8.
However, as a means for identifying a customer, a customer number or the like can be appropriately used.

If the product number 9 can be photographed by the CCD light-receiving section 3, it is possible to prevent the input error of the product number 9 when the watt hour meter is replaced with a new watt-hour meter 2 because the service life has passed. Normally, since it is difficult to simultaneously put both the display unit 5 and the specification display panel 8 into the field of view of the CCD light receiving unit 3, for example, a DIP switch is attached to the meter reading unit 1 in advance, and the DIP switch is operated when attached. Alternatively, a jack for inputting data may be attached to the meter reading unit 1 in advance, and a means for inputting data by a key operation from an input device may be used.

Before describing the operation of the meter reading section 1 for transmitting the image pickup signal output from the CCD light receiving section 3 to the central control device 10 (FIG. 4), an example of a signal transmission system will be described with reference to FIG. Electric power supplied to each customer 11 is distributed from a substation 12 through a high-voltage distribution line 13, a pole transformer 14, and a low-voltage distribution line 13. In addition, a command signal Io for operating each of the meter reading units 1
And the response signal Ia of the meter reading unit 1 are transmitted through the high-voltage distribution line 13 and the low-voltage distribution line 15, respectively. In the pole transformer 14 and the substation 12, the signals Io and Ia are relayed. Transmitted through the unit 16. That is, the meter reading unit 1 and the low-voltage distribution line
15 and between the distribution lines 13 and 15 and the repeater 16.
The coupling between Io and Ia was performed by inductive coupling by a current transformer 17, respectively, and the transmission between the repeater 16 of the substation 12 and the central management unit 10 was performed by a signal line 18.

As shown in FIG. 5, the operation of the meter reading section 1 is as follows. The command signal Io transmitted through the low-voltage distribution line 15 is detected by the current transformer 17 and demodulated by the receiving section 20, and the calling signal is converted to the demand signal. When it matches the house identification signal (product number 9), the meter reading unit 1 is turned on.

When the meter reading unit 1 is turned on, the CCD light receiving unit 3
Captures an image of the display unit 5, supplies the obtained video signal to the digital conversion circuit 21, performs sampling and quantization of the video signal,
Next, the pre-processing circuit 22 performs pre-processing such as selection of a visual field for deleting a video signal other than the weighing board 5a, correction of video distortion caused by a shooting angle, compression of an image signal, and encryption if necessary. Video signal and DIP switch 23
And a consumer identification signal (product number 9) output from the transmission circuit 24. The transmission circuit 24 creates a response signal Ia and outputs it to the current transformer 17.

The central management device 10 having received the response signal Ia
According to a program input in advance, data storage / update, charge calculation, billing, and other necessary calculations are automatically performed from the imaging data of each consumer 11. Although the power supply unit of the meter reading unit 1 is not explicitly shown in each of the drawings, the power source is directly taken from the low-voltage distribution line 15 so that the power required for meter reading is not added to the power usage fee of the customer.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a protective cover 4a is attached to the outside of the watt-hour meter 2, and the display unit 5 and the specification display panel 8 are placed in the field of view inside the protective cover 4a. Except that the CCD light receiving unit 3 is attached to a position where the CCD light receiving unit can be operated, the embodiment is the same as the first embodiment.

The third embodiment shown in FIG.
Except that the half mirror 27 is attached to a predetermined portion of the front transparent portion, the present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment. By attaching the half mirror 27, the CCD
The field of view of the light receiving section 3 can be expanded.

FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention in which a CCD light receiving section 3 is mounted in front of a display section 5 of a water consumption integrator 30 and the display section 5 and the water consumption integration are implemented. A total of 30 specification display panels 8 are simultaneously imaged, and the other parts are the same as in the first embodiment. Although a protective cover was attached to the outside of the water consumption meter 30, it was not shown. Note that the meter reading data can be transmitted using a distribution line in the same manner as described above, but other signal transmission methods such as a mobile phone, a PHS, and a cable broadcasting cable can be adopted as other methods.

The power supply for the meter reading unit attached to the water consumption meter is drawn directly from the customer's service line (low-voltage distribution line), and the customer is charged for the electricity fee for operating the meter reading unit. Instead, the water utility paid directly to the power company.

The fifth embodiment shown in FIG.
When a person looks at the image, the reflected light of the half mirror 27 is used, and the CCD light receiving section 3 captures an image with straight traveling light.

[0029]

As described above, according to the remote meter reading device of the present invention, the cover provided with the CCD light receiving unit is attached to the existing meter, and the obtained image data is stored in one place by a predetermined transmission method. Since the meter reading is performed based on the collected and transmitted image data, the following effects can be obtained.

Since a CCD light receiving unit, an image processing unit, and a transmitting unit for capturing an image of a display unit of a meter such as a watt-hour meter which has been conventionally installed are used, the manufacturing cost of the measuring unit is unnecessary, and remote meter reading can be performed at low cost. It became. Since the imaging result can be recorded as a video, it can be used as a persuasive material when the customer is suspicious of the meter reading result.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the outline of the outer shape of a meter reading section / data transmission section and a CCD light receiving section mounting position of a remote meter reading apparatus according to a first embodiment in which the present invention is implemented by a watt hour meter.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are front views of a usage amount display section of the watt hour meter shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2A shows a display with a decimal place, and FIG. 2B shows a display without a decimal place.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a specification display section of the watt hour meter shown in FIG.

4 is a system schematic diagram for explaining a communication path between a remote meter reading device attached to each customer shown in FIG. 1 and a central management device.

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram of the remote meter reading device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a main part of a remote meter reading device according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a longitudinal sectional view.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a main part of a remote meter reading device according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a longitudinal sectional view.

FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory view in perspective view of a remote meter reading device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention implemented using a water consumption meter.

FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory view of a meter reading unit according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Meter reading unit 2 Watt hour meter (usage meter) 3 CCD receiver 4 Cover 4a Protective cover 5 Display unit 10 Central management unit 21 Digital conversion circuit 23 DIP switch 24 Transmission circuit 27 Half mirror 30 Water usage meter

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A remote meter reading device for an integrator of consumption of electricity, gas, water or the like by a consumer, wherein the remote meter reading device comprises a meter reading section and a transmission section, wherein the meter reading section includes the meter. A CCD light receiving unit for photographing at least a portion of the integrator that displays the integrated amount; and a transmitting unit. The CCD light receiving unit is mounted inside a cover attached to the usage amount integrator. At least an integrated amount display section of the meter, and at least the display section is formed to be transparent, and the transmitting section transmits at least a video signal captured by the CCD light receiving section and an identification symbol of the customer. Remote meter reading device. 2. The remote meter reading device according to claim 1, wherein said video signal is converted into a digital signal and transmitted. 3. A half mirror is mounted inside a cover portion on the front surface of the display unit, the cover is formed so that the display can be seen through the half mirror, and an image reflected by the half mirror is transmitted to the CCD light receiving unit. 3. The remote meter reading device according to claim 1, wherein the remote meter reading is performed by using the following method. 4. The remote meter reading device according to claim 1, wherein an illuminating device is mounted in the cover, and the display unit is illuminated at least when the CCD light receiving unit is operated. 5. The remote meter reading device according to claim 1, wherein the signal for identifying the customer is input from an input device provided in the remote meter reading device in advance. 6. The remote meter reading device according to claim 1, wherein a receiving device is mounted in advance, and when the receiving device receives a command signal sent from a central management device, the used amount integrated value at that time is photographed. The remote meter reading device according to 2, 3, 4, or 5. 7. The remote meter reading device according to claim 1, wherein the usage amount integrating device is one of a watt-hour meter, a gas usage amount integrating meter, and a water usage amount integrating meter.