Communication terminal and method of installing the communication terminal

Abstract

To provide a communication terminal capable of stably transmitting wirelessly a meter-reading value even in a case where the communication terminal is disposed in a location below the ground surface.SOLUTION: A communication terminal 100 includes: a communication interface 150 that acquires a meter-reading value from a water meter 200; an antenna 160 for wirelessly transmitting the meter-reading value; a battery 180; and a housing 103. The antenna 160 is disposed in an upper part inside the housing 103. A screw hole to which a support member 20 is coupled is formed on a bottom face or a side face of the housing 103.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for acquiring a meter reading value such as a water meter and wirelessly transmitting it to a server.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a meter for meter reading for measuring the usage amount of water or the like has been attached to houses, offices, etc. And Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-341680 (Citation Document 1) discloses a wireless communication device for water meter reading with a waterproof cover. According to Citation Document 1, a space having a buoyancy that causes the antenna portion to float above the water surface when flooded is provided in the antenna portion of the wireless communication device for water meter, and the wireless communication device main body and the antenna are integrally sealed and covered with a waterproof cover. When the installation location of the water meter is flooded, the wireless communication device floats and the antenna portion comes out above the water surface so that communication can be ensured and the wireless meter reading of the water meter can be stably operated.

[0003] In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-282790 (Citation Document 2) discloses an automatic meter reading wireless device. According to Citation Document 2, the automatic meter reading wireless device has a cylindrical structure disposed in a recess formed from the front side in the lid of the meter scale of the water meter, and the direction of the antenna of the wireless device can be arbitrarily adjusted in the recess.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The objective of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal that can reliably transmit meter readings wirelessly, even when it is positioned below ground level. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of this invention, a communication terminal is provided comprising a communication interface for acquiring meter readings from a water meter, an antenna for wirelessly transmitting the meter readings, a battery, and a housing. The antenna is positioned at the top of the housing. Screw holes are formed on the bottom or side of the housing for connecting a support member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] As described above, the present invention provides a communication terminal that can stably transmit meter readings wirelessly even when it is positioned below ground level. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is an image diagram showing the overall configuration of the network system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a water meter box according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the inside of a water meter box according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a side cross-sectional view of the water meter box according to the first embodiment, cut at the communication terminal portion. [Figure 5] This is an overhead perspective view showing the appearance of a communication terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a downward perspective view showing the appearance of a communication terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] This is an illustrative diagram showing the operation of attaching a flexible arm to a communication terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8]It is an image diagram showing a state in which a flexible arm is attached to a communication terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] It is an image diagram showing a first method for supporting a communication terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] It is an image diagram showing a second method for supporting a communication terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] It is an image diagram showing a third method for supporting a communication terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] It is an image diagram showing a fourth method for supporting a communication terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] It is a side sectional view of a communication terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] It is a block diagram showing the main functions of a communication terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] It is a flowchart showing the installation method of a communication terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 16] It is an upper perspective view showing the appearance of a communication terminal according to the second embodiment. [Figure 17] It is a side sectional view of a communication terminal according to the second embodiment. [Figure 18] It is an upper perspective view showing the appearance of another communication terminal according to the second embodiment. [Figure 19] It is an upper perspective view showing the appearance of yet another communication terminal according to the second embodiment. [Figure 20] It is an image diagram showing the operation of attaching a flexible arm to a communication terminal according to the third embodiment. [Figure 21] It is an image diagram showing a state in which a flexible arm is attached to a communication terminal according to the third embodiment. [Figure 22] It is a side sectional view of a water meter BOX according to the fourth embodiment in a state where the lid is open. [Figure 23] It is a side sectional view of a water meter BOX according to the fourth embodiment in a state where the lid is closed.

Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described while referring to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated. <First Embodiment> <Overall Configuration of Network System 1>

[0010] First, the overall configuration of the 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 measuring device 200, a communication terminal 100, a network 500, a center-side network control device 400, a center server 300, and the like.

[0011] The measuring device 200 is a meter for measuring the usage amount such as water supply, and particularly stores or outputs externally the cumulative value of the usage amount so far as a measurement result.

[0012] The communication terminal 100 is a device that can be attached retroactively near the measuring device 200. In this embodiment, the communication terminal 100 receives the measured value of the measuring device via a cable for wired signals and transmits the measured value to the server 300 by wireless communication.

[0013] The server 300 acquires the measured value from the communication terminal 100 via a network 500 such as the Internet, and calculates the usage amounts of gas, water supply, electricity, etc. for each household, each office, and each building.

[0014] As described above, in the network system 1 according to this embodiment, by connecting the communication terminal 100 to the measuring device 200, the communication terminal 100 can provide the measured values ​​from the measuring device 200 to the server 300 instead of a worker making a visit. In particular, in this embodiment, since the communication terminal 100 and the measuring device 200 are placed inside a water meter box buried underground, measures have been taken to ensure that wireless communication by the communication terminal 100 remains stable even if rainwater accumulates inside the water meter box. <Configuration inside the water meter box>

[0015] The following describes the configuration of the water meter box 10, which houses the communication terminal 100 and the measuring device 200.

[0016] First, as shown in Figures 2 to 6, the water meter box 10 consists of a roughly rectangular box 11 and a lid 12. A water pipe 13 passes through the bottom of the box 11 in the front-to-back direction. Inside the water meter box 10 are the water pipe 13, a measuring device 200, a communication terminal 100, a valve 14, and the like.

[0017] The measuring device 200 measures the amount of water flowing through the water pipe 13, stores the meter reading results in its internal memory, and periodically transmits the meter reading results to the communication terminal 100 via the communication cable 25.

[0018] In this embodiment in particular, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the communication terminal 100 is fixed to the water pipe 13 or to the box body 11 or lid 12 via the flexible arm 20.

[0019] More specifically, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, a screw hole 102X is formed in the approximate center of the bottom plate 102 of the communication terminal 100. Then, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the tip of the flexible arm 20 is connected to and fixed to the communication terminal 100 by screwing the screw 20X at the tip of the flexible arm 20 into the screw hole 102X.

[0020] The other end of the flexible arm 20 is then fixed to the water pipe 13, the measuring device 200, the box 11, or the lid 12. The other end of the flexible arm 20 is fixed in various ways, such as by wrapping, screwing, or bolting.

[0021] In this embodiment, the flexible arm 20 is made of a resin or metal that is soft enough to be freely reshaped by a worker's hand, and conversely, hard enough to maintain the communication terminal 100 in a predetermined position for a long period of time, lifted above the floor surface of the water meter box 10.

[0022] More specifically, as shown in Figure 9, for example, the flexible arm 20 may be fixed at one end to the bottom surface of the communication terminal 100 and the other end wrapped around a weight placed inside the water meter box 10 to maintain the communication terminal 100 in a predetermined position and orientation.

[0023] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 10, the flexible arm 20 may be fixed at one end to the bottom surface of the communication terminal 100 and wrapped around the water pipe 13 at the other end to maintain the communication terminal 100 in a predetermined position or orientation.

[0024] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 11, the flexible arm 20 may be fixed to the bottom surface of the communication terminal 100 with one end and driven into the ground with the other end, thereby maintaining the communication terminal 100 in a predetermined position and orientation.

[0025] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 12, the flexible arm 20 may be fixed to the bottom surface of the communication terminal 100 at one end and coiled at the other end to maintain the communication terminal 100 in a predetermined position or orientation. <Communication terminal configuration>

[0026] Next, the configuration of the communication terminal 100 will be described. Referring to Figures 5 to 13, the communication terminal 100 consists of a roughly rectangular box 101 and a bottom plate 102, which together form the case 103. The box 101 and the bottom plate 102 are preferably made of resin so as not to interfere with wireless communication.

[0027] Referring to Figures 5 to 14, the inside of the case 103 houses a microcomputer 110, a wired communication interface 150, a wireless communication antenna 160, an LTE module 161, a battery 180, and the like. The microcomputer 110 includes a CPU 111 and memory 112. The antenna 160 is preferably composed of, for example, a low-power LTE module.

[0028] In this embodiment in particular, screw holes 102X are formed in the left-right and front-back approximate center of the bottom plate 102. The wireless communication antenna 160 is provided on the upper surface of the upper circuit board 109 inside the case 103. As a result, even if rainwater fills the water meter box 10 or other disasters occur, the top of the communication terminal 100 will be facing upwards, and the wireless communication antenna 160 will be positioned on top of the communication terminal 100, making it easier to communicate with a ground base station.

[0029] Furthermore, it is preferable to form a gap of a predetermined distance X, for example 10 mm, between the upper end of the antenna 160 and the upper surface of the outer casing of the case 103. This reduces the possibility that wireless communication by the antenna 160 will be interfered with by the metal lid 12, even if the communication terminal 100 is placed near the metal lid 12 or in contact with the metal lid 12.

[0030] Here, with reference to Figure 14, one configuration of the communication terminal 100 will be described. The communication terminal 100 mainly includes a microcomputer 110, a wired communication interface 150, a wireless communication antenna 160, and a battery 180. The microcomputer 110 consists of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111 and memory 112, among other things.

[0031] The CPU 111 controls each part of the communication terminal 100 according to the program stored in the memory 112.

[0032] Memory 112 stores the control program, meter readings obtained from the measuring device 200, acquisition time, and other data.

[0033] The wired communication interface 150 receives meter readings from the measuring device 200 via the communication cable 25, in accordance with instructions from the CPU 111.

[0034] 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, according to instructions from the CPU 111. In this embodiment, the wireless communication antenna 160 transmits and receives data with the base station via LTE communication.

[0035] Each part of the communication terminal 100 in this embodiment is powered by the battery 180.

[0036] With the above configuration, the CPU 111 in this embodiment receives meter readings from the measuring device 200 via the wired communication interface 150 and stores them in the memory 112, and also transmits the meter readings to the server 300 via a wireless communication base station, carrier network, or the internet using the wireless communication antenna 160. <How to install the communication terminal>

[0037] The following describes in detail the method for installing the communication terminal 100 according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, a worker installs the communication terminal 100 inside the water meter box 10 by performing the work shown in Figure 15.

[0038] Referring to Figure 15, the worker opens the lid 12 of the water meter box 10 (step S102).

[0039] The worker connects the communication cable 25 to the wired communication interface 150 of the communication terminal 100 (step S104).

[0040] The worker operates the communication terminal 100 to establish communication with the server 300 (step S106).

[0041] The worker secures one end of the flexible arm 20 to the water pipe 15 (step S108).

[0042] The worker connects the screw 20X at the other end of the flexible arm 20 to the screw hole 102X of the communication terminal 100 (step S110).

[0043] The worker adjusts the shape of the flexible arm 20 to adjust the position and orientation of the communication terminal 100 (step S112). In this embodiment, the worker adjusts the orientation of the communication terminal 100 so that the wireless communication antenna 160 is on the upper side, and adjusts the position of the communication terminal 100 so that it protrudes slightly from the upper end of the water meter box 10.

[0044] The worker closes the lid 12 of the water meter box 10 (step S114). In this embodiment, when the lid 12 is closed, the lid 12 contacts the upper end of the communication terminal 100, and is configured to maintain the communication terminal 100 in a slightly downward position against the biasing force of the flexible arm 20. <Second Embodiment>

[0045] In the above embodiment, the distance X between the wireless communication antenna 160 and the upper surface of the outer casing of the box body 101 was configured to be longer than a predetermined value. However, the configuration is not limited to this. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, a plurality of rod-shaped ribs 104, 104... may be formed on the upper surface of the box body 101, extending upwards. The height X from the upper end of the ribs 104, 104... to the upper surface of the antenna 160 is preferably 10 mm or more.

[0046] As a result, even if the communication terminal 100 is placed near the metal cover 12 or in contact with the metal cover 12, a sufficient distance is maintained from the top surface of the case 103 to the cover 12, thereby reducing the possibility that wireless communication by the antenna 160 may be interfered with by the metal cover 12.

[0047] The number of rod-shaped ribs 104, 104... formed on the upper surface of the box body 101 may be three, as shown in Figure 16, or four, as shown in Figure 18. More specifically, it is preferable that three or more rod-shaped ribs 104, 104... are formed so that the upper surface of the box body 101 is horizontal when the multiple ribs 104, 104... of the box body 101 are in contact with the bottom surface of the lid 12.

[0048] However, as shown in Figure 19, multiple wall-like ribs 104B, 104B... may be formed on the upper surface of the box body 101, extending upwards. Preferably, the height from the upper end of the ribs 104B, 104B... to the upper surface of the antenna 160 is 10 mm or more. <Third Embodiment>

[0049] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, screw holes 102X were formed in the bottom plate 102 of the communication terminal 100. However, as shown in Figure 20, screw holes 101X may be formed on the side of the box body 101 or the like. Also, as shown in Figure 21, the position and orientation of the communication terminal 100 may be supported from the side by the flexible arm 20. <Fourth Embodiment>

[0050] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the communication terminal 100 was supported by a pipe-shaped or hose-shaped flexible arm 20. However, the flexible arm 20 is not limited to a pipe-shaped elastic one. It may be a simple rod-shaped object, or it may have greater rigidity.

[0051] For example, as shown in Figure 22, the support member may be a tripod 21. Preferably, the tripod 21 has three legs 22, 22.... Each of the legs 22, 22... is provided with a spring 23, 23.... This causes the length of the legs 22, 22... to elastically deform, and as a result, the height of the communication terminal 100 elastically deforms.

[0052] More specifically, in this embodiment as well, as shown in Figure 22, the worker adjusts the orientation and direction of the communication terminal 100 so that the wireless communication antenna 160 is facing upwards, and adjusts the position of the communication terminal 100 so that it protrudes slightly from the opening of the water meter box 10. Then, when the worker closes the lid 12 of the water meter box 10, as shown in Figure 23, the lid 12 comes into contact with the communication terminal 100, and the communication terminal 100 is maintained in a slightly downward position against the biasing force of the springs 23, 23... <Summary>

[0053] In the above embodiment, a communication terminal is provided comprising a communication interface for acquiring meter readings from a water meter, an antenna for wirelessly transmitting the meter readings, a battery, and a housing. The antenna is positioned at the top of the housing. Screw holes are formed on the bottom or side of the housing for connecting a support member.

[0054] Preferably, a gap of 10 mm or more is formed between the antenna and the ceiling of the housing. In other words, the housing is configured such that the distance from the top surface of the antenna to the top surface of the housing's outer casing is 10 mm or more.

[0055] Preferably, multiple protrusions with a height of 10 mm or more are provided on the top surface of the housing.

[0056] In the above embodiment, an antenna is positioned on top of the communication terminal, and a method for installing the terminal is provided for acquiring meter readings from a water meter and transmitting them wirelessly. The installation method includes the steps of connecting a support member to the housing of the communication terminal, adjusting the posture or shape of the support member so that the communication terminal is positioned directly below the lid of the box in which the water meter is installed, and closing the lid.

[0057] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0058] 1: Network System 11: Box body 12: Lid 13: Water pipes 14: Valve 15: Water pipes 20: Flexible Arm 20X: Screw 21: Tripod 22: Legs 23: Spring 25: Communication cable 100: Communication terminal 101: Box body 101X: Screw hole 102: Bottom plate 102X: Screw hole 103: Case 104: Rib 110: Microcomputer 111: CPU 112: Memory 150: Wired communication interface 160: Wireless communication antenna 161: LTE module 170: Battery 180: Battery 200: Measuring device 300: Center Server 400: Center-side network control device 500: Network

Claims

[Claim 1] A communication interface for obtaining meter readings from a water meter, An antenna for wirelessly transmitting the meter reading, Batteries and A communication terminal comprising a housing, The antenna is positioned at the top of the housing. Screw holes are formed on the bottom or side of the housing for connecting a support member. A communication terminal having multiple protrusions, each 10 mm or more in height, on the upper surface of the aforementioned housing.

Images