Counter Edge Unit

Abstract

To provide a counter edge unit that enables an on-site worker to easily check measurement information transmitted to an external device. [Solution] The counter edge unit includes an input circuit that receives an input of a pulse signal output from a sensor, a communication circuit configured to be able to communicate with an external device, a display, a processor, and a memory that stores program instructions. The counter edge unit calculates a pulse count value by counting the number of inputs of the pulse signal received by the input circuit, calculates an integrated time from when counting the pulse count value started, transmits the pulse count value and the integrated time to the external device via the communication circuit, and displays the pulse count value and the integrated time on the display.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This specification discloses technology relating to a counter edge unit. [Background technology]

[0002] The counter edge unit is a measuring instrument that measures the consumption of gas, electricity, water, air, etc., and is configured to be able to communicate measurement information with external devices. Patent Document 1 describes a meter reading system that allows measurement information from the counter edge unit to be confirmed on an information terminal connected via a computer network. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-66926 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The meter reading system of Patent Document 1 had a problem in that workers working at the site where the counter edge unit was installed could not easily check the measurement information being transmitted from the counter edge unit to an external device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One embodiment disclosed in this specification is a counter edge unit. This counter edge unit includes an input circuit that accepts input of a pulse signal output from a sensor, a communication circuit configured to be able to communicate with an external device, a display, a processor, and a memory that stores program instructions. Then, by executing the program instructions by the processor, the counter edge unit calculates a pulse count value by counting the number of inputs of the pulse signal accepted by the input circuit, calculates an accumulated time from when the pulse count value started to be counted, transmits the pulse count value and the accumulated time to the external device through the communication circuit, and displays the pulse count value and the accumulated time on the display. According to this embodiment of the counter edge unit, a worker who works at a site where the counter edge unit is installed can easily check the pulse count value and the accumulated time on the display provided on the counter edge unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a counter edge unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a counter edge unit 100. The counter edge unit 100 is a measuring instrument that measures the usage of gas, electricity, water, air, etc. The counter edge unit 100 measures various usage amounts based on pulse signals output from various sensors 700.

[0008] The counter edge unit 100 transmits information related to the measurement to an external device 800. The external device 800 includes a server computer connected to the counter edge unit 100 via a computer network.

[0009] The counter edge unit 100 operates on power supplied from a commercial power source 900. The counter edge unit 100 may operate on power supplied from a built-in secondary battery.

[0010] The counter edge unit 100 includes a processor 110, a memory 120, a power supply circuit 130, an input circuit 140, a communication circuit 150, a display 160, and an operation button 170.

[0011] The processor 110 of the counter edge unit 100 controls each part of the counter edge unit 100 by executing a measurement program 122 stored in the memory 120 .

[0012] The memory 120 of the counter edge unit 100 stores data handled by the processor 110. The memory 120 stores a measurement program 122, pulse count information 126, and accumulated time information 128. The measurement program 122 is a program command executed by the processor 110. The pulse count information 126 indicates a pulse count value obtained by counting the number of inputs of pulse signals received by the input circuit 140. The accumulated time information 128 indicates an accumulated time from the start of counting the pulse count value stored in the pulse count information 126.

[0013] The power supply circuit 130 of the counter edge unit 100 generates output power required by each electric circuit such as the processor 110, the memory 120, the input circuit 140, the communication circuit 150, and the display 160. The power supply circuit 130 generates output power corresponding to each electric circuit from input power from the commercial power source 900.

[0014] The input circuit 140 of the counter edge unit 100 receives an input of a pulse signal output from the sensor 700. The input circuit 140 includes a terminal block 145 configured to be connectable to an output terminal of the sensor 700. The number of input channels of the input circuit 140 is four. The number of input channels of the input circuit 140 may be one, or two or more.

[0015] The communication circuit 150 of the counter edge unit 100 is configured to be able to communicate with the external device 800. The communication circuit 150 may be configured to be able to communicate in accordance with a serial communication standard (e.g., RS485). The communication circuit 150 may be configured to be able to communicate in accordance with a wireless communication standard.

[0016] The display 160 of the counter edge unit 100 is configured to be able to display various information. The display 160 may be a liquid crystal display.

[0017] The operation button 170 of the counter edge unit 100 is a user interface that accepts operation input from the user. By operating the operation button 170, the user can change the settings of the counter edge unit 100, reset the pulse count value, switch the display on the display 160, and the like.

[0018] The counter edge unit 100 calculates a pulse count value by counting the number of inputs of pulse signals received by the input circuit 140 as a result of the processor 110 executing program instructions included in the measurement program 122. The counter edge unit 100 stores this pulse count value in the memory 120 as pulse count information 126.

[0019] In addition, the counter edge unit 100 calculates an integrated time from the start of counting the pulse count value by the processor 110 executing the program instructions included in the measurement program 122. The counter edge unit 100 stores this integrated time in the memory 120 as integrated time information 128.

[0020] In addition, the counter edge unit 100 transmits the pulse count value and the integrated time to the external device 800 through the communication circuit 150 by the processor 110 executing the program instructions included in the measurement program 122. The counter edge unit 100 may transmit at least one of the pulse count value and the integrated time to the external device 800 in response to a request from the external device 800. The counter edge unit 100 may periodically transmit at least one of the pulse count value and the integrated time to the external device 800.

[0021] In addition, the counter edge unit 100 displays the pulse count value and the integrated time on the display 160 by the processor 110 executing the program instructions included in the measurement program 122. The counter edge unit 100 may always display at least one of the pulse count value and the integrated time on the display 160. The counter edge unit 100 may display at least one of the pulse count value and the integrated time on the display 160 in response to the operation of the operation button 170.

[0022] According to the counter edge unit 100 described above, workers working at the site where the counter edge unit 100 is installed can easily check the pulse count value and accumulated time on the display 160 provided on the counter edge unit 100.

[0023] The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, example, and modification, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, among the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiment, example, and modification, those corresponding to the technical features in each form described in the summary of the invention can be appropriately replaced and combined to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems or to achieve some or all of the above-mentioned effects. In addition, technical features that are not described as essential in this specification can be appropriately deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 100…Counter edge unit 110…Processor 120…Memory 122…Measurement Program 126...Pulse count information 128...Accumulated time information 130…Power circuit 140...Input circuit 145...Terminal block 150…Communication circuit 160…Display 170...Operation button 700…Sensor 800...External device 900…Commercial power supply

Claims

[Claim 1] A counter edge unit, comprising: an input circuit that receives an input of a pulse signal output from the sensor; A communication circuit configured to be able to communicate with an external device; A display and A processor; A memory for storing program instructions; Execution of the program instructions by the processor Calculating a pulse count value by counting the number of inputs of the pulse signals received by the input circuit; Calculating an integrated time from when the pulse count value started to be counted; transmitting the pulse count value and the integrated time to the external device through the communication circuit; A counter edge unit that displays the pulse count value and the integrated time on the display.

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