Electric energy meter communication device

Abstract

The utility model provides an electric energy meter communication device which is fixedly connected to an electric energy meter and comprises a shell; the first communication unit U1 is arranged in the shell and is in communication connection with the electric energy meter; the wireless communication unit U2 is arranged in the shell and is in communication connection with remote management equipment; the signal conversion unit U3 is arranged in the shell and is in communication connection with the first communication unit U1 and the wireless communication unit U2; wherein the first communication unit U1 receives electric energy data of an electric energy meter and transmits the electric energy data to the signal conversion unit U3; the signal conversion unit U3 performs protocol conversion on the electric energy data to obtain remote transmission data, and transmits the remote transmission data to the wireless communication unit U2; and the wireless communication unit U2 transmits the remote transmission data to remote management equipment, so that the remote transmission of the time of the electric energy meter is realized, manual reading is not needed, the manpower and time cost is reduced, and the accuracy degree of data transmission can be improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application belongs to the field of communication, and relates to a remote communication technology, in particular to an electric energy meter communication device. BACKGROUND

[0002] An electric energy meter is a device for measuring and recording power consumption, which is widely used in industrial, commercial and residential power consumption fields. By obtaining the data on the electric energy meter, the power consumption of the corresponding user can be monitored, thereby providing an important basis for electric energy use billing settlement and power consumption behavior analysis. Therefore, accurately and efficiently obtaining electric energy meter data is of great significance for the scientific management of electric power.

[0003] In the prior art, the method for obtaining electric energy meter data is mainly through manual reading of data, that is, a worker periodically goes to the site to manually record the readings of the electric energy meter. However, the manual reading method not only requires a large amount of manpower and time, is time-consuming and labor-consuming, and has low efficiency, and in the reading process, due to environmental factors, insufficient experience or fatigue of the operator, etc., reading errors, data omissions or repeated records may occur, thereby affecting the accuracy of billing and the scientificity of power management.

[0004] Therefore, how to accurately and efficiently obtain electric energy meter data is an urgent problem to be solved by those skilled in the art. SUMMARY

[0005] The purpose of the present application is to provide an electric energy meter communication device to solve the problem of high labor cost and time cost caused by manual reading of electric energy meter data in the prior art, and to easily cause data errors.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides an electric energy meter communication device fixedly connected to an electric energy meter, comprising: a shell; a first communication unit U1 arranged inside the shell and in communication connection with the electric energy meter; a wireless communication unit U2 arranged inside the shell and in communication connection with a remote management device; a signal conversion unit U3 arranged inside the shell and in communication connection with the first communication unit U1 and the wireless communication unit U2 respectively; wherein the first communication unit U1 receives electric energy data of the electric energy meter and transmits to the signal conversion unit U3; the signal conversion unit U3 performs protocol conversion on the electric energy data to obtain remote transmission data and transmits to the wireless communication unit U2; and the wireless communication unit U2 transmits the remote transmission data to the remote management device.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present application, the wireless communication unit U2 comprises a wireless communication chip arranged inside the shell and a built-in antenna P1 connected with the wireless communication chip.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present application, the shell is provided with an external antenna interface; the wireless communication unit U2 further comprises an external antenna connector arranged in the shell and connected to the wireless communication chip, the position of the external antenna connector corresponding to the position of the external antenna interface, for connecting an external antenna P2.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present application, the wireless communication unit U2 further comprises an antenna switch P3 connected to the wireless communication chip and connected to the built-in antenna P1 and the external antenna connector respectively; when the external antenna P2 is connected to the external antenna connector, the antenna switch P3 is connected to the external antenna connector and disconnected from the built-in antenna P1; when the external antenna P2 is not connected to the external antenna connector, the antenna switch P3 is connected to the built-in antenna P1.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present application, the antenna switch P3 is a radio frequency switch.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present application, the electric energy meter communication device further comprises a configuration unit U4 arranged in the shell and connected to the signal conversion unit U3 in communication, the configuration unit U4 being used for connecting external devices to configure the electric energy meter communication device.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present application, the configuration unit U4 comprises an optoelectronic converter P4 connected to the signal conversion unit U3 in communication.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present application, the shell is provided with a guide rail structure or a buckle structure corresponding to the surface of the electric energy meter on the side close to the electric energy meter.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present application, the electric energy meter communication device further comprises an AC / DC conversion unit U5 connected to the power grid, for converting AC power from the power grid into DC power to realize power supply.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present application, the AC / DC conversion unit U5 further comprises a transformer.

[0016] As described above, the present application provides an electric energy meter communication device, which transmits electric energy meter data to a remote management device through a wireless communication unit U2, so as to realize remote acquisition of electric energy meter data, without the need of operating personnel to read on site, reducing labor and time cost, improving efficiency, and avoiding data errors caused by environmental factors, insufficient experience or fatigue of operating personnel, so as to improve the accuracy of data and the accuracy of billing and the scientificity of power management. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 A structure diagram of a power meter communication device is shown in the embodiments of the present application.

[0018] Figure 2 A circuit structure diagram of a wireless communication unit U2 is shown in the embodiments of the present application.

[0019] Figure 3 A circuit structure diagram of another wireless communication unit U2 is shown in the embodiments of the present application.

[0020] Figure 4 A circuit structure diagram of a first communication unit U1 is shown in the embodiments of the present application.

[0021] Figure 5 A circuit structure diagram of a signal conversion unit U3 is shown in the embodiments of the present application.

[0022] Figure 6 A circuit structure diagram of another power meter communication device is shown in the embodiments of the present application.

[0023] Figure 7 A circuit structure diagram of an AC / DC conversion unit is shown in the embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The present application will be described by specific working examples below, and those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present application from the disclosure of the present specification. The present application can also be implemented or applied by different specific embodiments, and the details in the present specification can be modified or changed based on different views and applications without departing from the spirit of the present application. It should be noted that the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other without conflict.

[0025] It should be noted that the diagrams provided in the following embodiments only illustrate the basic concept of the present application in a schematic manner, and only the components related to the present application are shown in the diagrams, not the number, shape and size of the components when actually implemented. The actual implementation of each component may be a random change in type, number and proportion, and the component layout type may also be more complex.

[0026] The following embodiments of the application provide an electric energy meter communication device. The first communication unit U1, the signal conversion unit and the wireless communication unit U2 are connected with each other. The first communication unit U1 acquires electric energy data. The signal conversion unit U3 converts the electric energy data. The data is transmitted to a remote management device through the wireless communication unit U2. Thus, the remote transmission of the electric energy meter data is realized. The manual reading of the data is not needed. The efficiency of the acquisition of the electric energy meter data is effectively improved. The data error caused by the environment or the operator himself is avoided. The accuracy of the data acquisition is improved. Thus, the better power management is realized.

[0027] The principle and implementation of the electric energy meter communication device of the embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Those skilled in the art can understand the electric energy meter communication device of the embodiments without creative labor.

[0028] As shown in Figure 1 The electric energy meter communication device provided by the embodiments includes a housing (not shown in the figure) and a first communication unit U1, a wireless communication unit U2 and a signal conversion unit U3 arranged in the housing. The housing is used to protect the units in the electric energy meter communication device. The electric energy meter communication device is fixedly connected to the electric energy meter. The data of the electric energy meter is acquired by the first communication unit. The data is converted by the protocol conversion data. The data can be transmitted to the remote management device through the wireless communication unit. Thus, the remote monitoring of the electric energy consumption of the user is realized. The labor and time cost is reduced. The more convenient and efficient power management is realized. The remote management device includes, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a computer device, a tablet device, a personal digital processing device, a factory background processing device and other intelligent terminal devices.

[0029] Specifically, as shown in Figure 2 The wireless communication unit U2 is used to realize the wireless communication with the remote management device. Thus, the wireless transmission of the electric energy meter data is realized. The wireless communication unit includes an antenna. The antenna is used to send the wireless signal. Thus, the remote communication with the remote management device is realized. As shown in Figure 2 The antenna is connected to the wireless communication chip. The wireless communication chip processes the data based on the wireless communication protocol. The electric signal is converted into the electromagnetic wave through the antenna. Thus, the wireless signal is transmitted. It should be noted that the wireless communication chip can be any one of the MTK series chips of MediaTek Company, the SIM chip of SimCom Company and the LE series chips of Telit. The embodiments are not limited in this regard.

[0030] In some optional embodiments, the antenna is an internal antenna, i.e., the antenna is arranged inside the shell, avoiding accidental collision damage to the antenna, and improving the appearance of the electric energy meter communication device.

[0031] In other optional embodiments, the antenna is an external antenna, i.e., the antenna is arranged outside the shell, thereby providing stronger signal transmission capability, improving signal gain, and improving the data quality transmitted by the electric energy meter communication device.

[0032] Further, in order to improve the flexibility of the electric energy meter communication device, the electric energy meter communication device can be applied to more scenarios, such as Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the wireless communication unit U1 includes an internal antenna P1, and further includes an external antenna connector (not shown in the figure) arranged in the shell and connected with the wireless communication chip. When the signal strength of the internal antenna P1 can achieve good transmission of electric energy meter data, the external antenna P2 does not need to be connected, and when the signal strength of the internal antenna P1 is insufficient, the external antenna P2 is connected through the external antenna connector, thereby signal transmission is performed through the external antenna P2, so as to improve the data quality transmitted by the electric energy meter communication device. Further, in order to facilitate the connection of the external antenna P2, the shell is provided with an external antenna interface, and the external antenna interface is arranged at the corresponding position of the external antenna connector, so as to facilitate the connection of the external antenna P2 with the external antenna connector through the external antenna interface. Exemplarily, the external antenna connector can be any one of an SMA connector, a TNC connector, an FME connector, a BNC connector, an N-type connector, an MCX connector, an MMCX connector, an SMB connector, and an SMC connector, as long as it can connect the external antenna P2, and the present embodiment does not make specific limitation here.

[0033] It should be noted that, when the electric energy meter communication device has two antennas, interference phenomenon may occur between the built-in antenna P1 and the external antenna P2, i.e. antenna mutual coupling, thereby causing data distortion and errors. Based on this, in some optional embodiments, the wireless communication unit further includes an antenna switching switch P3 connected to the wireless communication chip and connected to the built-in antenna P1 and the external antenna connector respectively, for realizing antenna switching, so that only one antenna in the electric energy meter communication device transmits signals, to avoid signal interference between multiple antennas. Specifically, the antenna switching switch P3 is a single-pole double-throw switch. When the external antenna P2 is connected to the external antenna connector, the antenna switching switch P3 is conductively connected between the external antenna P2 and the built-in antenna P1, and is disconnected between the external antenna connector and the built-in antenna P1, so that the electric energy meter communication device transmits data through the external antenna P2. When the external antenna P2 is not connected to the external antenna connector, the antenna switching switch P3 is conductively connected between the built-in antenna P1 and the external antenna connector, and is disconnected between the built-in antenna P1 and the external antenna connector, so that the electric energy meter communication device can transmit data through the built-in antenna P1. Exemplarily, the antenna switching switch P3 can be a radio frequency switch, which controls the conduction and disconnection of the antenna switching switch P3 through radio frequency signals, as shown in Figure 3 The antenna switching switch P3 is an MXD8625EC radio frequency switch chip of Zhusheng Company.

[0034] The first communication unit U1 is in communication with the electric energy meter, for obtaining electric energy data of the electric energy meter. The electric energy data refers to data obtained by the electric energy meter communication device from the electric energy meter through the first communication unit U1. Specifically, as shown in Figure 4 The first communication unit U1 is in wired connection with the electric energy meter through an RS485 interface, for data transmission, so as to obtain the electric energy data of the electric energy meter, and realize data acquisition of the electric energy meter communication device, thereby facilitating the wireless communication unit U2 to send the data of the electric energy meter to the remote management device.

[0035] It should be noted that, since the communication protocols adopted by the electric energy meter and the remote management device are different, the data transmitted by the first communication unit U1 and the wireless communication unit U2 cannot be directly transmitted. Based on this, as shown in Figure 5As shown, the electric energy meter communication device further comprises a signal conversion unit U3, which is in communication connection with the first communication unit U1 and the wireless communication unit U2 respectively, and is used for protocol conversion, so as to realize smooth transmission of data. Specifically, the first communication unit U1 receives the electric energy data of the electric energy meter and then transmits the data to the signal conversion unit U3, the signal conversion unit U3 receives the electric energy data to perform protocol conversion, and the electric energy data after protocol conversion is taken as remote transmission data, i.e. the data processed by the electric energy meter communication device. The remote transmission data can be transmitted in the communication protocol between the wireless communication unit U2 and the remote management device, so that the wireless communication unit can transmit the data to the remote management device. The remote management device receives the remote transmission data, i.e. the electric energy meter data, so as to realize efficient and accurate remote acquisition of the electric energy meter data. It should be known by those skilled in the art that the signal conversion unit U3 can realize protocol conversion of the electric energy data, and the present embodiment does not make specific limitation here.

[0036] It should be noted that the utility model protects the hardware system architecture including the structure, position relationship, connection relationship and cooperation working relationship with the electric energy meter of the first communication unit U1, the wireless communication unit U2 and the signal conversion unit U3, and does not include any improvement in software. On the basis of the hardware architecture, the software design can be further performed as follows, to provide the basis of hardware implementation for subsequent electric energy meter data transmission.

[0037] Exemplarily, the electric energy meter and the electric energy meter communication device communicate by adopting DLMS HDLC protocol, the electric energy meter communication device and the remote management device communicate by adopting DLMS TCP protocol, and the signal conversion unit U3 is used for converting the DLMS TCP protocol of the electric energy meter data into DLMS HDLC protocol, so as to facilitate data transmission. Further, the data adopting DLMS HDLC protocol can be checked, so as to ensure the accuracy of the electric energy meter data, and further facilitate better power management.

[0038] Optionally, the signal conversion unit U3 is actually the central processor of the electric energy meter communication device, which is used for management and coordination of other units.

[0039] In some optional embodiments, for example, Figure 6As shown, the electric energy meter communication device further comprises a configuration unit U4 disposed inside the shell and in communication connection with the signal conversion unit U3, which is used to realize the configuration of the electric energy meter communication device by the external device. Specifically, the external device connects the electric energy meter communication device through the configuration unit U4, thereby performing the basic configuration of the electric energy meter communication device such as network connection configuration, IP address allocation, security setting, etc., to realize the normal use of the electric energy meter communication device. Further, the external device can also check the connection state, signal strength, transmitted and received optical power, etc. of the electric energy meter communication device, check the system log and perform the restart operation to solve the temporary failure, thereby realizing the maintenance of the electric energy meter communication device.

[0040] Optionally, the configuration unit U4 comprises a photoelectric converter P4 in communication connection with the signal conversion unit U3. Specifically, a near-infrared interface is disposed on the shell, which realizes the optical communication connection between the photoelectric converter P4 and the external device, thereby transmitting the data of the external device to the photoelectric converter P4 in the form of optical signal, and the photoelectric converter P4 converts the optical signal into electrical signal and transmits it to the signal conversion unit U3, thereby realizing the configuration and maintenance of the electric energy meter communication device by the external device. It should be noted that the position of the photoelectric converter P4 corresponds to the position of the near-infrared interface, so that the external device can be optically connected with the photoelectric converter P4 through the near-infrared interface on the shell to realize the transmission of optical signal. Specifically, the optical signal is input from the external device to the photoelectric converter P4 through the OPTO RXD interface for photoelectric conversion, and the optical signal is sent to the external device through the OPTO TXD interface to realize the communication between the electric energy meter communication device and the external device.

[0041] It should be noted that the electric energy meter communication device needs electric energy to drive the normal operation of each unit. In some optional embodiments, the electric energy meter communication device is powered by the power grid. However, since the electric energy meter communication device needs stable direct current for power supply, and the current provided by the power grid is alternating current, based on this, as shown in Figure 7 The electric energy meter communication device further comprises an AC / DC conversion unit U5 connected with the power grid, which is used to convert the alternating current from the power grid into direct current to realize the power supply of the electric energy meter communication device. Specifically, the AC / DC conversion unit U5 forms a bridge rectifier circuit through rectifier diodes D4-D7 to convert the alternating current into direct current. Specifically, for the alternating current, the current direction will change within one period, and due to the unidirectional conductivity of the rectifier diodes D4-D7, when the current flows in from the input connector TR1 and out from the input connector TR2, the rectifier diodes D4 and D7 are cut off, and the rectifier diodes D5 and D6 are turned on, at this time, the current flows through the line connected with the rectifier diode D5, i.e. Figure 7The line in the middle upper part flows in, the line connected by the rectifier diode D6, that is Figure 7 The line in the middle lower part flows out; when the current flows in by the input connector TR2, the rectifier diode D4 and the rectifier diode D7 are turned on, the rectifier diode D5 and the rectifier diode D6 are turned off, at this time, the current flows in the line connected by the rectifier diode D7, that is Figure 7 The line in the middle upper part flows in, the line connected by the rectifier diode D4, that is Figure 7 The line in the middle lower part flows out, based on which, no matter the current direction of the alternating current, the current always flows in Figure 7 The line in the middle upper part flows in, the line in the lower part flows out, so as to convert the alternating current into the direct current to realize the power supply of the power grid to the communication device of the electric energy meter.

[0042] Further, when the working voltage of the communication device of the electric energy meter is different from the voltage provided by the power grid, that is, the working voltage of the communication device of the electric energy meter is not 220V, the alternating current / direct current conversion unit U5 further comprises a transformer T1 for converting the voltage of the power grid into the working voltage of the communication device of the electric energy meter.

[0043] Of course, the communication device of the electric energy meter can also be powered by a battery as long as the working requirements of the communication device of the electric energy meter are met, which is not limited in the embodiment.

[0044] In some optional embodiments, the shell of the communication device of the electric energy meter is provided with a guide rail structure or a buckle structure corresponding to the surface of the electric energy meter on the side close to the electric energy meter, so as to realize the fixed connection between the communication device of the electric energy meter and the electric energy meter, facilitate the installation and maintenance and replacement.

[0045] In summary, the communication device of the electric energy meter provided in the application realizes the remote transmission of the electric energy meter data through the wireless communication unit U2, so that the remote management equipment obtains the electric energy meter data without manual reading, to avoid the waste of a large amount of manpower and time cost, and reduce the probability of data error caused by environmental or personnel problems. It should be noted that the communication device of the electric energy meter obtains the electric energy data of the electric energy meter through the first communication unit U1, and realizes the protocol conversion of the data through the protocol conversion unit U3, to avoid the difficulty in data transmission due to the different communication protocols between the electric energy meter and the remote management equipment and the communication device of the electric energy meter, so as to better realize the remote transmission of the electric energy meter data.

[0046] The description of the flow or structure corresponding to each of the above-mentioned drawings has its own emphasis, and the part not described in detail in a certain flow or structure can be referred to the related description of other flows or structures.

[0047] The above embodiments are only illustrative of the principles of the present application and its effects, and are not intended to limit the present application. Any modification or change made by any person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application shall be covered by the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A communication device of an electric energy meter, fixedly connected to the electric energy meter, characterized in that, The utility model relates to an electric energy meter communication device, including: a housing; a first communication unit U1 arranged inside the housing and in communication connection with the electric energy meter; a wireless communication unit U2 arranged inside the housing and in communication connection with a remote management device; a signal conversion unit U3 arranged inside the housing and in communication connection with the first communication unit U1 and the wireless communication unit U2 respectively; wherein the first communication unit U1 receives electric energy data of the electric energy meter and transmits the data to the signal conversion unit U3; the signal conversion unit U3 performs protocol conversion on the electric energy data to obtain remote transmission data and transmits the remote transmission data to the wireless communication unit U2; and the wireless communication unit U2 transmits the remote transmission data to the remote management device.

2. The electric energy meter communication device according to claim 1, wherein The wireless communication unit U2 comprises a wireless communication chip and a built-in antenna P1 connected with the wireless communication chip.

3. The electric energy meter communication device according to claim 2, wherein The housing is provided with an external antenna interface; The wireless communication unit U2 further comprises an external antenna connector arranged inside the housing and connected with the wireless communication chip, the position of the external antenna connector corresponding to the position of the external antenna interface, for connecting an external antenna P2.

4. The electric energy meter communication device according to claim 3, wherein The wireless communication unit U2 further comprises an antenna conversion switch P3 connected with the wireless communication chip and connected with the built-in antenna P1 and the external antenna connector respectively; wherein when the external antenna P2 is connected with the external antenna connector, the antenna conversion switch P3 is in conduction between the external antenna connector and in open circuit with the built-in antenna P1; and when the external antenna P2 is not connected with the external antenna connector, the antenna conversion switch P3 is in conduction between the built-in antenna P1.

5. The electric energy meter communication device according to claim 4, wherein The antenna conversion switch P3 is a radio frequency switch.

6. The electric energy meter communication device according to claim 1, wherein Further comprising: a configuration unit U4 arranged inside the housing and in communication connection with the signal conversion unit U3, the configuration unit U4 being used for connecting an external device to configure the electric energy meter communication device.

7. The electric energy meter communication device according to claim 6, wherein The configuration unit U4 comprises an optoelectronic converter P4 in communication connection with the signal conversion unit U3.

8. The electric energy meter communication device of claim 1, wherein, The housing is provided, near a side thereof close to the electric energy meter, with a guide rail structure or a buckle structure corresponding to the surface of the electric energy meter.

9. The electric energy meter communication device of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: an AC / DC conversion unit U5 connected with a power grid and used for converting AC power from the power grid into DC power to realize power supply.

10. The electric energy meter communication device according to claim 9, wherein, The AC / DC conversion unit U5 further comprises a transformer.

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