Communication device and method for attaching communication device

Abstract

To provide a communication device that can be easily attached later to an object such as a meter reading device.SOLUTION: A communication device is provided that includes a housing, a wireless communication unit disposed inside the housing, and a control unit for transmitting predetermined information via the wireless communication unit. At least one hook for attaching a cable tie for fixing the housing to an object to which the housing is attached and a barb for preventing the cable tie from coming off are formed on a side of the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for a communication device that can be retrofitted to an object such as a meter. [Background technology]

[0002] Meter reading meters for measuring the amount of water used, etc., have traditionally been installed in homes, offices, etc. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-341680 (Reference 1) discloses a wireless communication device for reading water meters that has a waterproof cover. According to Reference 1, a buoyant space is provided in the antenna portion of the wireless communication device for water meter so that the antenna portion rises above the water surface when submerged in water, and the wireless communication device body and the antenna are integrally sealed and covered with a waterproof cover. If the installation location of the water meter is flooded, the wireless communication device rises to the surface and the antenna portion rises above the water surface, ensuring communication and enabling stable wireless meter reading of water meters.

[0003] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 6-282790 (Reference 2) discloses a wireless device for automatic meter reading. According to Reference 2, the wireless device for automatic meter reading has a cylindrical structure that is disposed in a recess formed on the front side of the meter manhole cover of a water meter, and the direction of the antenna of the wireless device can be adjusted as desired in the recess. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-341680 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-282790 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a communication device that can be easily retrofitted to an object such as a meter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication device including a housing, a wireless communication unit disposed inside the housing, and a control unit for transmitting predetermined information via the wireless communication unit. The housing has at least one hook formed on a side thereof for holding a cable tie for fixing the housing to an object to be attached, and a barb portion formed to prevent the cable tie from coming loose. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] As described above, the present invention provides a communication device that can be easily retrofitted to an object such as a meter. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a network system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a water meter box according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a top perspective view showing the inside of a water meter box according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view showing the inside of the water meter box according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a communication device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a communication device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view showing the communication device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 is a top perspective view showing a communication device in a state where a binding band according to a first embodiment is fitted; [Figure 9]1 is a block diagram showing main functions of a communication device according to a first embodiment; [Figure 10] 4 is a flowchart showing a method for installing a communication device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 2A and 2B are a plan view and a side view of a first state showing a fixing method of a communication device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 12] 4A and 4B are a plan view and a side view of a second state showing a fixing method of the communication device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] 10A and 10B are a plan view and a side view of a third state showing a fixing method of the communication device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are a plan view and a side view of a fourth state showing a fixing method of the communication device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a communication device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a communication device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a communication device according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a communication device according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a communication device according to a fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. The names and functions of the components are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated. First Embodiment <Overall configuration of network system 1>

[0010] First, the overall configuration of a network system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The network system 1 according to this embodiment mainly includes a water meter 200, a communication device 100, a network 500, a center-side network control device 400, a center server 300, and the like.

[0011] The water meter 200 is a meter for measuring the amount of water, gas, or the like used, and in particular stores and outputs to the outside the accumulated value of the amount used up to that point as the measurement result.

[0012] The communication device 100 is a device that can be attached later around the water meter 200. In this embodiment, the communication device 100 receives a measurement value from a measuring device via a wired signal cable and transmits the measurement value to the server 300 by wireless communication.

[0013] The server 300 acquires metered values ​​from the communication device 100 via a network 500 such as the Internet, and calculates the amounts of gas, water, electricity, etc. used in each home, office, or building.

[0014] As described above, in the network system 1 according to the present embodiment, by connecting the communication device 100 to the water meter 200, the communication device 100 can provide the measurement value of the water meter 200 to the server 300, instead of having an operator visit. In particular, in the present embodiment, the communication device 100 can be easily and stably fixed to the water meter 200. <Configuration inside the water meter box>

[0015] The following describes the configuration of the water meter box 10 in which the communication device 100 and the water meter 200 according to this embodiment are stored.

[0016] 2 to 4, the water meter box 10 is composed of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box body 11 and a lid 12. A water pipe 13 passes through the bottom of the box body 11 in the front-to-rear direction. Inside the water meter box 10, the water pipe 13, a water meter 200, a communication device 100, a valve 14, etc. are stored.

[0017] The water meter 200 measures the amount of water flowing through the water pipe 13, stores the meter reading results in an internal memory, and periodically transmits the meter reading results to the communication device 100 via a communication cable.

[0018] 3 and 4, communication device 100 is fastened to the side of water meter 200 using a cable tie 90. In this embodiment, communication device 100 is attached to the side of water meter 200 by wrapping cable tie 90 around water meter 200 and hooking cable tie 90 onto hook 105 provided on the side of housing 101 of communication device 100.

[0019] The configuration of the cable tie 90 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is an elastic member made of resin. The cable tie 90 has a flat belt portion that is wrapped around the object to be attached, and the tail at one end of the belt portion is passed through a head portion at the other end to tighten the belt. However, the configuration is not limited to passing the tail through a hole in the head portion, and other configurations of belt members are also acceptable as long as the length of the portion wrapped around the object can be adjusted. <Configuration of communication device>

[0020] Next, the configuration of communication device 100 will be described. With reference to FIGS. 3 to 7, communication device 100 has various units such as an antenna housed in housing 101. Hooks 105, 105 are provided on one side of housing 101. In this embodiment, two hooks 105, 105 are provided side by side in the left-right direction on the upper side of housing 101. The hooks are spaced apart, for example, by approximately 1 to 2 cm. Each hook 105 may be molded from resin integrally with housing 101, or may be bonded to housing 101, or may be fixed with screws, bolts, or the like.

[0021] Each hook 105 includes a horizontal portion 105A that stands horizontally from the side surface of the long side of upper cover 102 of housing 101, and a vertical portion 105B that bends downward. In other words, hook 105 and the side surface of housing 101 form a recessed portion 105C that is recessed upward. In other words, hook 105 opens downward.

[0022] The recess 105C is configured so that its vertical depth is greater than its horizontal (i.e., front-to-rear) width, which makes it easier for the flat cable tie 90 to fit into the recess 105C and also makes the cable tie 90 less likely to twist.

[0023] A barb portion 106 is formed below the two hooks 105. The barb portion 106 includes a horizontal portion 106A that stands horizontally from the side surface of the long side of the lower cover 103 of the housing 101, and a protruding portion 106B that protrudes upward. As shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal portion 106A is formed so that the length in the left-right direction of the housing 101 is approximately the same as the distance between the two hooks 105. The protruding portion 106B is provided approximately in the middle of the two hooks 105 in the left-right direction.

[0024] In this embodiment, protrusion 106B has inclined surface 106C formed in the direction toward the outside of housing 101. The upper end of protrusion 106B is configured to be rounded in side view, as shown in FIG.

[0025] In this embodiment, the inclined surface 106C is formed on the outside of the housing 101, while the inner portion is formed as a substantially vertical surface, but the inner portion may be integrated with the side surface of the lower cover 103 of the housing 101.

[0026] With this configuration, when fitting cable tie 90 into recess 105C, cable tie 90 can be easily inserted into recess 105C by moving cable tie 90 up along slope 106C. Once cable tie 90 has entered recess 105C, protrusion 106B of lower barb portion 106 makes it difficult for cable tie 90 to come out of recess 105C. As a result, it is possible to make it difficult to remove communication device 100 from cable tie 90 and water meter 200.

[0027] 4, in this embodiment, cable tie 90 is wrapped diagonally around water meter 200. Cable tie 90 is then hooked diagonally around communication device 100 and hooks 105, 105. Therefore, the lower end of cable tie 90 is positioned on the housing 101 side of the rounded portion at the upper end of barb portion 106, making it more difficult for cable tie 90 to slip out of recess 105C.

[0028] Next, one embodiment of the configuration of communication device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Communication device 100 mainly includes a microcomputer 110, a wired communication interface 150, a wireless communication antenna 160, and a battery 180. Microcomputer 110 is configured with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, a memory 112, and the like.

[0029] The CPU 111 controls each unit of the communication device 100 in accordance with a program stored in the memory 112 .

[0030] The memory 112 stores the control program, the meter readings obtained from the water meter 200, the time of reading, and the like.

[0031] The wired communication interface 150 receives the meter reading from the water meter 200 via the communication cable 25 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 111 .

[0032] The wireless communication antenna 160 transmits various types of information to the center server 300 and inputs commands and data from the center server 300 to the CPU 111 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 111. In this embodiment, the wireless communication antenna 160 transmits and receives data to and from a base station via LTE communication.

[0033] Each unit of the communication device 100 according to this embodiment is driven by power from a battery 180 .

[0034] In this embodiment, since battery 180 is a heavy member, it is mainly housed in lower cover 103 of housing 101. On the other hand, wireless communication antenna 160, microcomputer 110, etc. are housed in upper cover .

[0035] With the above configuration, the CPU 111 in this embodiment receives meter reading values ​​from the water meter 200 via the wired communication interface 150, stores them in the memory 112, and uses the wireless communication antenna 160 to transmit the meter reading values ​​to the server 300 via a wireless communication base station, a carrier network, or the Internet.

[0036] The communication of the water meter 200 may be wireless communication, a wired cable may be used for communication with the server 300, or power may be obtained from an external source via a power cable. <How to install communication equipment>

[0037] The following describes in detail a method for installing the communication device 100 according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, a worker installs the communication device 100 in the water meter box 10 by performing the work shown in FIG.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 10, an operator opens cover 12 of water meter box 10 (step S102).

[0039] An operator connects the communication cable 25 to the wired communication interface 150 of the communication device 100 (step S104).

[0040] As shown in FIG. 11, an operator loosely wraps binding band 90 around water meter 200 (step S106).

[0041] 12, the worker pushes the cable tie 90 into the recess 105C while pressing it against the inclined surface of the protrusion 106B (step S108). That is, the operator pushes the cable tie 90 upward while the housing 101 is fixed. Alternatively, the operator pushes the cable tie 90 downward while the housing 101 is fixed. Alternatively, the operator pushes the cable tie 90 upward while pushing the housing 101 downward.

[0042] As a result, the binding band 90 is hooked on the left and right hooks 105, 105 as shown in FIG. 13 (step S110).

[0043] As shown in FIG. 14, the worker fastens the cable tie 90 to secure the communication device 100 to the cable tie 90 and the water meter 200 (step S112).

[0044] The worker operates the communication device 100 to open communication with the server 300 (step S114).

[0045] The worker closes lid 12 of water meter box 10 (step S116). <Second embodiment>

[0046] In the above embodiment, protrusion 106B of barb portion 106 has inclined surface 106C formed on the outside of housing 101, and the inner portion is formed as a substantially vertical surface. In the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 15, inclined surface 206D is also formed on the inner portion. That is, a gap may be formed between inner inclined surface 206D and the side surface of bottom cover 103 of housing 101.

[0047] As a result, once cable tie 90 has entered recess 105C, it is difficult for it to come out of recess 105C due to the presence of lower barb 206. More specifically, even if cable tie 90 moves downward within recess 105C, it gets into the gap and does not descend toward outer slope 206C, and as a result, it is difficult for it to come out of recess 105C. <Third embodiment>

[0048] In the above embodiment, the slope 106C is formed on the protruding portion 106B of the barb portion 106. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16 , the slope may not be formed on the protruding portion 306B of the barb portion 306. In this case, a wider horizontal portion 306D is formed at the upper end of the barb portion 306, and once the binding band 90 enters the recess 105C, it hits the horizontal portion 306D of the lower barb portion 306, making it difficult to remove from the recess 105C.

[0049] It is also possible to form a horizontal portion on the outside of the protrusion while forming a slope. <Fourth embodiment>

[0050] In the above embodiment, one protrusion 106B is formed on the barb portion 106. In the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 17, two or more protrusions 106B, 106B are formed on the barb portion 106. The protrusions 106B, 106B are preferably formed below and near the center of the hooks 105, 105 in the left-right direction. <Fifth embodiment>

[0051] In the above embodiment, the barb 106 is formed on the lower cover 103 of the housing 101. However, the barb 106 may be formed on the upper cover 102 of the housing 101.

[0052] 18 and 19, for example, convex portions 505D facing toward housing 101 are formed on the inside of vertical portions 505B of hooks 505, 505. More specifically, convex portions 505D are formed on the inside lower end portions of vertical portions 505B of hooks 505, 505. This also makes it possible to prevent binding band 90 from slipping out of recessed portions 505C. Sixth Embodiment

[0053] In the above embodiment, two hooks 105, 105 are provided on the upper cover 102 of the housing 101. However, three or more hooks 105, 105... may be arranged side by side on the upper cover 102 of the housing 101.

[0054] Alternatively, instead of the two or more hooks 105, 105 on the upper cover 102 of the housing 101, one hook that is wide in the left-right direction may be provided. Seventh Embodiment

[0055] In the above embodiment, the hooks 105 are provided on the upper cover 102 of the housing 101, and the barb portions 106 are provided on the lower cover 103. However, the hooks 105 and the barb portions 106 may be provided on the upper cover 102 of the housing 101. Alternatively, the hooks 105 and the barb portions 106 may be provided on the lower cover 103 of the housing 101.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the hook 105 opens downward. However, the hook 105 and the barb 106 may be configured upside down. That is, the hook 105 may open upward, and the binding band 90 may be pushed into the recess 105C from above. <Eighth embodiment>

[0057] In the above embodiment, the communication device 100 is fixed to the water meter 200 in the water meter box 10 using the cable tie 90. However, the object to which the communication device 100 is fixed is not limited to a water meter, and may be various devices such as a gas meter, a vibration sensor, a noise sensor, components of an electrical appliance, a vehicle, or other devices. Alternatively, the communication device 100 is not limited to being fixed to a device that performs wired communication with the communication device 100, but may also be fixed to another building or structure. <Summary>

[0058] In the above embodiment, a housing, a wireless communication unit disposed inside the housing, The communication device includes a control unit for transmitting predetermined information via a wireless communication unit, and a housing having at least one hook on a side surface thereof for catching a cable tie for fixing the housing to an object to be attached, and a barb for preventing the cable tie from coming loose.

[0059] Preferably, the barb portion has an inclined surface formed on the outside.

[0060] Preferably, the at least one hook includes a plurality of hooks arranged side by side in a direction parallel to the hooked cable tie, and the barb portion is formed at a position corresponding to the center of the plurality of hooks.

[0061] Preferably, the barb is formed at a lower end of at least one hook.

[0062] Preferably, each of the at least one hook has an open bottom, and the cable tie is pushed in from below.

[0063] In the above embodiment, a method for installing a communication device is provided, which includes a first step of attaching a cable tie around an object to be installed, and then a second step of hooking the cable tie onto at least one hook provided on a side of the housing of the communication device.

[0064] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1: Network system 10: Meter box 11: Box body 12: Lid 13: Water pipe 14: Valve 25: Communication cable 90: Cable ties 100: Communication equipment 101: Housing 102: Upper cover 103: Lower cover 105: Hook 105A:Horizontal part 105B: Vertical part 105C: Recess 106: Barber's Department 106A:Horizontal part 106B:Protrusion 106C: Slope 205: Hook 205B: Vertical section 205C: Recess 205D: Convex part 206: Kaeshi Department 206C: Slope 206D: Slope 306: Kaeshi Department 306B:Protrusion 306E:Horizontal part 110: Microcomputer 111:CPU 112: Memory 150: Communication interface 160: Wireless communication antenna 180: Battery 200: Water meter 300: Center server 400: Center side network control device 500: Network

Claims

1. The housing and a wireless communication unit disposed inside the housing; a control unit for transmitting predetermined information via the wireless communication unit, A communication device in which the side of the housing is formed with at least one hook for hanging a cable tie to secure the housing to an object to be attached, and a barb portion for preventing the cable tie from coming loose.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the barb portion has an inclined surface formed on an outer side.

3. The at least one hook includes a plurality of hooks arranged side by side in a direction parallel to the hooked cable tie, The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the barb is formed at a position corresponding to a center of the plurality of hooks.

4. The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the barb is formed at a lower end of the at least one hook.

5. The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one hooks has an open bottom and the cable tie is pushed into it from below.

6. A method of attaching a communication device, comprising: A first step of attaching a cable tie around an object to be attached; and then a second step of hooking the cable tie onto at least one hook provided on a side surface of the housing of the communication device.

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