Micro-current detection module

Abstract

The utility model provides a micro-current detection module, and relates to the technical field of water meters. The output end of the MCU is connected with the signal input end in the micro-current detection module, and the output end of the micro-current detection module is connected with the detection result input end in the MCU; the micro-current detection module comprises a detection circuit, and the detection circuit comprises a first detection circuit, a second detection circuit and a third detection circuit which are connected in parallel; the signal input end of the second detection circuit is connected with the signal output end of the MCU, and the signal output end of the third detection circuit is connected with the signal input end of the MCU. The micro-current detection module is arranged in the water meter to judge whether the current power consumption is abnormal or not, so that whether the power consumption of the water meter is abnormal or not can be known in time, and the loss caused by abnormal metering of the water meter is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of water meter technology, and in particular to a microcurrent detection module. Background Technology

[0002] Smart water meters are now widely used, and each smart water meter contains a controller unit (PCBA) to realize functions such as metering, communication, and human-machine interaction. However, the installation environment of water meters is very harsh, and many water meters are submerged in water for many years. Therefore, it is extremely important to strengthen the protection of the PCBA to ensure the normal operation of smart water meters. Usually, protection is achieved by potting the entire PCBA.

[0003] However, if the potted controller unit has issues such as faulty individual electronic components or inadequate adhesive protection, power consumption problems will gradually emerge over its 6-year lifespan. This can lead to malfunctions in the controller unit and a shorter-than-expected product lifespan, causing the smart water meter to malfunction and result in missed readings. Regular manual inspection is usually required to determine if the water meter has any of these problems. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of this disclosure is to propose a microcurrent detection module that can specifically solve the existing problems.

[0005] Based on the above objectives, in a first aspect, this disclosure proposes a micro-current detection module, which is electrically connected to the controller MCU of a smart water meter; the output terminal of the MCU is connected to the signal input terminal of the micro-current detection module, and the output terminal of the micro-current detection module is connected to the detection result input terminal of the MCU; the MCU is used to send signals to the micro-current detection module and to send abnormal messages to the target electronic device; the micro-current detection module is used to detect the power consumption of the smart water meter and to send the detection result of the smart water meter to the MCU; the micro-current detection module includes a detection circuit, which includes a first detection circuit, a second detection circuit, and a third detection circuit connected in parallel; the signal input terminal of the second detection circuit is connected to the signal output terminal of the MCU, and the signal output terminal of the third detection circuit is connected to the signal input terminal of the MCU.

[0006] Secondly, this disclosure proposes a smart water meter, including the micro-current detection module described in the first aspect; the MCU is disposed in a controller structure, the controller structure including the MCU, a local infrared communication module, a remote communication module, a metering module, and an IoT module; the MCU is electrically connected to the local infrared communication module, the metering module, and the IoT module respectively, and the IoT module is connected to the remote communication module; the MCU is used to detect the working state of the working switch in the local infrared communication module; the MCU is also used to detect the working state of the working switch in the remote communication module, and the MCU is also used to detect the working state of the working switch in the metering module; the MCU is also used to send a first detection signal to the micro-current detection module when it detects that the working switch in the local infrared communication module is in a conducting state; the MCU is also used to send a first detection signal to the micro-current detection module when it detects that the working switch in the remote communication module is in a conducting state through the IoT module; and the MCU sends a second detection signal to the micro-current detection module when it detects that the working switch in the metering module is in a conducting state.

[0007] In summary, this disclosure has at least the following beneficial effects: by setting a micro-current detection module in the water meter to determine whether there is an abnormality in the current power consumption, it is possible to know in a timely manner whether there is an abnormality in the power consumption of the water meter, and avoid losses caused by the water meter being unable to measure normally. Attached Figure Description

[0008] In the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise specified, the same reference numerals throughout the various drawings denote the same or similar parts or elements. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. It should be understood that these drawings depict only some embodiments according to this disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this disclosure.

[0009] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a smart water meter according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0010] Figure 2 Another structural schematic diagram according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0011] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the microcurrent detection module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0012] Figure 4 A structural diagram of a smart water meter according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0013] The present disclosure will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0014] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this disclosure can be combined with each other. This disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0015] Figure 1 This disclosure illustrates a microcurrent detection module electrically connected to a smart water meter's controller (MCU). The output of the MCU is connected to the signal input of the microcurrent detection module, and the output of the microcurrent detection module is connected to the detection result input of the MCU. The MCU is used to send signals to the microcurrent detection module and to send abnormal messages to a target electronic device. The microcurrent detection module is used to detect the power consumption of the smart water meter and to send the detection result of the smart water meter to the MCU. The microcurrent detection module includes a detection circuit comprising a first detection circuit, a second detection circuit, and a third detection circuit connected in parallel. The signal input of the second detection circuit is connected to the signal output of the MCU, and the signal output of the third detection circuit is connected to the signal input of the MCU.

[0016] In this embodiment, the micro-current detection module in the smart water meter is connected to the water meter's controller MCU. The MCU can periodically activate the micro-current detection module to detect power consumption. When abnormal power consumption is detected, the MCU of the controller unit can transmit an abnormal message to a remote control terminal via a remote communication module. The remote control terminal receives the abnormal message and then performs on-site processing. This remote control terminal can be any form of electronic device, such as a remote terminal.

[0017] Optionally, the MCU sending an abnormal message to the target electronic device includes: the MCU sending an abnormal message to the target electronic device through the remote communication module.

[0018] This embodiment incorporates a micro-current detection module in the smart water meter to determine if there are any abnormalities in the current power consumption. This allows for timely detection of any power consumption anomalies, preventing losses due to the meter's inability to measure properly. Furthermore, this embodiment utilizes different detection branches to provide the smart water meter with power consumption monitoring capabilities, enriching the detection possibilities.

[0019] In some optional implementations of any embodiment of this disclosure, the detection circuit further includes a voltage input interface and a voltage output interface for power supply, wherein the voltage input interface and the voltage output interface are connected in series to the positive power supply line.

[0020] In some optional implementations of any embodiment of this disclosure, the first detection circuit includes a first sampling resistor. The input terminal of the first sampling resistor is connected to the voltage input interface, and the output terminal of the first sampling resistor is connected to the voltage output interface.

[0021] In some optional implementations of any embodiment of this disclosure, the second detection circuit includes a second sampling resistor, the input terminal of which is connected to the voltage input interface, and the output terminal of which is connected to the voltage output interface.

[0022] In some optional implementations of any embodiment of this disclosure, the second detection circuit further includes a switch, the second sampling resistor is connected in series with the switch, the output terminal of the second sampling resistor is connected to the input terminal of the switch, the first sampling resistor is connected to the detection circuit when the switch is open, and the first sampling resistor and the second sampling resistor are connected to the detection circuit when the switch is closed; the voltage input interface is connected to one end of the first sampling resistor, one end of the second sampling resistor, and one end of the current sampling unit, respectively; the voltage output interface is connected to the other end of the first sampling resistor, the other end of the switch, and the other end of the current sampling unit, respectively; the signal input terminal of the switch is connected to the signal output terminal of the MCU, and the switch is used to receive the detection signal output by the signal output terminal of the MCU.

[0023] These implementations connect various sampling resistors and current acquisition units via voltage input and voltage output interfaces to achieve voltage signal input and output. Specifically, the voltage signal can be an analog signal.

[0024] In some optional implementations of any embodiment of this disclosure, the third detection circuit includes a current sampling unit. The current sampling unit is used to sample the total current of the detection circuit and convert the total current into a voltage signal when the first detection circuit is turned on, or when both the first and second detection circuits are turned on. The current sampling unit is connected in parallel with the first sampling resistor, and is also connected in parallel with the second sampling resistor and the switch. The signal output terminal of the current sampling unit is connected to the signal input terminal of the MCU. The current sampling unit is used to convert the detection current of the first and second detection circuits into a voltage signal and output it to the signal input terminal of the MCU.

[0025] Specifically, the switch here can be a PMOS transistor.

[0026] like Figure 3 As shown, the voltage input interface is connected to one end of the first sampling resistor R1, the second sampling resistor R2, and the current sampling unit U1. The voltage output interface is connected to the other end of the first sampling resistor R1, the drain (D) terminal of the PMOS transistor, and the current sampling unit U1. The second sampling resistor R2 is connected to the source (S) terminal of the PMOS transistor. The first sampling resistor R1, the second sampling resistor R2, the PMOS transistor, and the current sampling unit U1 are connected in parallel. The voltage input interface and the voltage output interface are connected in series to the positive terminal of the smart water meter's battery power supply.

[0027] In these implementations, the MCU's input is used to receive the detection results from the current sampling unit. The current sampling unit U1 can acquire the current signal, convert it into a voltage signal, and output it to the MCU.

[0028] For example, the voltage input and voltage output interfaces of the micro-current detection module are connected in series to the positive terminal of the battery power supply line. The Vout output terminal of the current sampling unit U1 is connected to an AD port of the water meter controller MCU, which is also the signal input port of the MCU. The G terminal Ctl of the switching PMOS transistor is connected to a GPIO port of the controller MCU, which is also the signal output port of the MCU.

[0029] These implementations can convert the signals detected by the circuit into voltage signals and output them to the MCU via electrical connection for subsequent use.

[0030] like Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the PCB main control board may include an MCU, a local infrared communication module, a remote communication module, a metering module, and an NB-IoT Internet of Things module. The smart water meter can communicate with the target terminal device through this IoT module.

[0031] The MCU is electrically connected to the local infrared communication module, the metering module, and the IoT module, respectively. The IoT module is connected to the remote communication module. The MCU is used to detect the operating status of the working switch in the local infrared communication module. The MCU is also used to detect the operating status of the working switch in the remote communication module and the metering module. The MCU is also used to send a first detection signal to the micro-current detection module when it detects that the working switch in the local infrared communication module is in a conducting state. The MCU is also used to send a first detection signal to the micro-current detection module when it detects that the working switch in the remote communication module is in a conducting state through the IoT module. The MCU sends a second detection signal to the micro-current detection module when it detects that the working switch in the metering module is in a conducting state.

[0032] In these implementations, the controller structure can be a PCB main control board. The remote communication module can be an antenna. Through various communication devices, communication with other electronic devices can be achieved.

[0033] The remote communication module contains a working switch; once this switch is turned on, the module enters the working state. Similarly, the local infrared communication module also has a similar working switch. The metering module here is used to measure the water meter's readings.

[0034] When the local infrared communication module or the remote communication module is in working condition, it sends a first detection signal, activating the first and second detection circuits for high-power detection. When the metering module is in working condition, it sends a second detection signal, activating the first detection circuit for low-power detection. In both detection processes, the current sampling unit in the third detection circuit samples the current and converts it into a voltage signal for output to the MCU.

[0035] These optional implementations can use different power consumption detection modes to detect different operating states, which can improve detection accuracy.

[0036] In some optional application scenarios, the first detection signal is a low-level signal and the second detection signal is a high-level signal.

[0037] Optionally, the micro-current detection module is used to detect the power consumption of the smart water meter; the micro-current detection module is used to detect the power consumption of the smart water meter using the first detection circuit and the second detection circuit after receiving the first detection signal; the micro-current detection module is also used to detect the power consumption of the smart water meter using the first detection circuit after receiving the second detection signal.

[0038] In these optional implementations, the water meter controller operates in different states, such as normal metering, infrared communication, and remote communication. The power consumption varies depending on the state. Under normal metering, the average power consumption is typically a few µA or tens of µA. When operating in remote communication mode, the average power consumption reaches tens of mA. When operating in infrared communication mode, the power consumption falls between these two levels, approximately a few mA. Therefore, the micro-current detection module of this disclosure is designed with two power consumption detection levels.

[0039] In this design, the first sampling resistor R1 has a value of several hundred ohms. When the controller operates at low power consumption, such as in metering mode (when the metering module is on), the PMOS transistor is turned off when the Ctl control level of the MCU's GPIO pin is high, and the current flowing through the first sampling resistor R1 is sufficient to supply the current consumption of the current controller. However, if the controller needs to perform remote communication, if the current is only provided through the first sampling resistor R1, it is obviously insufficient to provide enough current to ensure the normal operation of the controller. Therefore, the second sampling resistor R2 typically has a value of about 1 ohm. When the Ctl control level of the MCU's GPIO pin is low, the PMOS transistor is on, and the current mainly flows through the second sampling resistor R2 and the PMOS transistor to supply the controller's operation. The high-level and low-level signals mentioned above are both digital signals.

[0040] Figure 4 A structural diagram of a smart water meter according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0041] As shown in the figure Figure 4 The image shows the controller cover located at the top of the smart water meter. Below and adjacent to this controller cover are a micro-current detection module and a PCB main control board, connected horizontally. Below the PCB main control board is a valve actuator, and below the valve actuator is the controller base. The controller base is connected to the valve on the water meter base via a water pipe, used to control the valve's opening and closing.

[0042] It should be noted that:

[0043] In the foregoing text, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element. Furthermore, it should be noted that the scope of the methods and apparatuses in this disclosure is not limited to performing functions in the order shown or discussed, but may also include performing functions substantially simultaneously or in the reverse order, depending on the functions involved. For example, the described methods may be performed in a different order than described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Additionally, features described with reference to certain examples may be combined in other examples.

[0044] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms. Of course, they can also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases the former is a better implementation method. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this disclosure, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium (such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk), and includes several instructions to cause a terminal (which may be a mobile phone, computer, server, air conditioner, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in the various embodiments of this disclosure.

[0045] The embodiments of this disclosure have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. These are merely specific implementations of this disclosure, but this disclosure is not limited to the specific implementations described above. The specific implementations described above are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can make many other forms under the guidance of this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and all of these forms are within the protection scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A micro-current detection module, characterized in that, The micro-current detection module is electrically connected with a controller MCU of the intelligent water meter. An output end of the MCU is connected with a signal input end of the micro-current detection module, an output end of the micro-current detection module is connected with a detection result input end of the MCU, the MCU is used for sending signals to the micro-current detection module and sending abnormal messages to a target electronic device, and the micro-current detection module is used for detecting power consumption of the intelligent water meter and sending detection results of the intelligent water meter to the MCU. The micro-current detection module comprises a detection circuit, and the detection circuit comprises a first detection circuit, a second detection circuit and a third detection circuit which are connected in parallel with each other. A signal input end of the second detection circuit is connected with a signal output end of the MCU, and a signal output end of the third detection circuit is connected with a signal input end of the MCU. The first detection circuit comprises a first sampling resistor, an input end of the first sampling resistor is connected with a voltage input interface, and an output end of the first sampling resistor is connected with a voltage output interface. An input end of a second sampling resistor is connected with the voltage input interface, and an output end of the second sampling resistor is connected with the voltage output interface. The second detection circuit further comprises a switch, the second sampling resistor is connected with the switch in series, an output end of the second sampling resistor is connected with an input end of the switch, in a state where the switch is turned off, the first sampling resistor is connected to the detection circuit, and in a state where the switch is turned on, the first sampling resistor and the second sampling resistor are connected to the detection circuit. The switch is a PMOS tube, the voltage input interface is connected with one end of the first sampling resistor R1, one end of the second sampling resistor R2 and one end of a current sampling unit U1, the voltage output interface is connected with the other end of the first sampling resistor R1, a D end of the switch PMOS tube and the other end of the current sampling unit U1, and the second sampling resistor R2 is connected with an S end of the switch PMOS tube; the first sampling resistor R1, the second sampling resistor R2 and the PMOS tube and the current sampling unit U1 are in parallel connection; the voltage input interface and the voltage output interface are connected in series to a positive electrode power supply line of the intelligent water meter.

2. The micro-current detection module of claim 1, wherein, The detection circuit further comprises a voltage input interface and a voltage output interface for power supply, and the voltage input interface and the voltage output interface are connected in series to the positive electrode power supply line.

3. The micro-current detection module according to claim 1, wherein the voltage input interface is connected with one end of the first sampling resistor, one end of the second sampling resistor and one end of the current sampling unit respectively; the voltage output interface is connected with the other end of the first sampling resistor, the other end of the switch and the other end of the current sampling unit respectively; a signal input end of the switch is connected with a signal output end of the MCU, and the switch is used for receiving a detection signal output by the signal output end of the MCU.

4. The micro-current detection module according to claim 3, wherein The third detection circuit comprises a current sampling unit, which is used for sampling total current of the detection circuit and converting the total current into a voltage signal when the first detection circuit is turned on or when the first detection circuit and the second detection circuit are turned on, the current sampling unit is connected in parallel with the first sampling resistor, and the current sampling unit is connected in parallel with both the second sampling resistor and the switch; A signal output end of the current sampling unit is connected to a signal input end of the MCU; The current sampling unit is used for converting detection current of the first detection circuit and the second detection circuit into a voltage signal and outputting the voltage signal to the signal input end of the MCU.

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