JP2003035585A - Gas cutoff device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the reliability of a gas cutoff device by making it function according to its intrinsic functions to send a notice to the outside promptly. SOLUTION: The same data as the data to be stored in an internal data memory part 106 are stored in an internal data nonvolatile memory part 110 in advance. When the data to be stored in the memory part 106 are written, the data are coded using error-correcting codes. When the data stored in the memory part 106 are read, and when there are errors after conducting error detection, using error-correcting codes, from the data which are regularly coded, the data stored in the internal data nonvolatile memory part 110 are reset.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas shutoff device having a function of preventing a gas accident and integrating a gas consumption amount.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional gas shutoff device of this type will be described with reference to FIG. 401 is a gas meter, 402 is a flow rate measuring means for outputting a flow rate signal (denoted by S) corresponding to the flow rate of gas passing through the gas meter 401, 403 is a shutoff valve for opening and closing the gas passage, and 404 is for driving the shutoff valve 403 to open and close. A valve drive unit, 405 is an external communication unit that transmits and receives data to and from the outside, and 406 is a constant for integration correction (denoted as K) and a determination value (T for abnormal flow rate determination that are set via the external communication unit 405. External communication means 405
The communication information (referred to as I) transmitted from the device stores identification information (referred to as ID) that is added to identify the ID of the device, and data (T ′) necessary for an abnormal flow rate determination unit described later.
Data) and the data (K ') required by the integrating unit described later.
The internal data storage unit (RAM of the microcomputer) for storing the data 407 uses the data T ′ necessary for the abnormal flow rate determination processing of the internal data storage unit 406 based on the flow rate signal S output from the flow rate measuring unit 402. Then, a flow rate value (denoted by S ′) is calculated and compared with a determination value T for determining an abnormal flow rate stored in the internal data storage unit 406, and if there is an abnormality in the gas usage, a shutoff signal (denoted by V) To output the valve drive unit 40
An abnormal flow rate determination unit that drives 4 to operate the shutoff valve 403 to shut off the gas passage, and 408 is a flow rate signal S output from the flow rate measurement unit 402 and a constant K for integration correction stored in the internal data storage unit 406. From this, the integrated value of this time is calculated as K × S, and the integrated value of this time is added to the integrated value (M) that has been stored in the data K ′ necessary for performing the integration processing of the internal data storage unit 406. It is an integrating unit that adds a value (denoted as M ′). When the information is sent from the external communication means 405, the device ID stored in the internal data storage unit 406 is added, and when the information is received by the center device or the like, it is determined from which gas shutoff device the information is. Deciding. The constant K for integration correction, the determination value T for abnormal flow rate determination, and the device ID stored in the internal data storage unit 406 are
Usually, it is set only once in the initial stage. The gas shutoff device has been operating for 10 years with the battery energized.

[0003]

However, in such a gas shutoff device, when the data in the internal data storage unit 406 has a bit inverted due to external noise or the like while operating for 10 years, or when the internal data storage is performed. If the bit is reversed due to a failure of a part (failure of RAM), there is a possibility that the abnormal flow rate determination function, the integration function, and the communication function of the gas shutoff device will not operate as they should.

For example, regarding the integrating function, the integrating unit 4
At 08, the integrated value of this time is calculated as K × S from the flow rate signal S output from the flow rate measuring unit 402 and the constant K for the integration correction stored in the internal data storage section 406, and the integrated value of the internal data storage section 406 is calculated. A constant for integration correction stored in the internal data storage unit 406, which is obtained by adding the current integration value M ′ to the integration value M stored so far in the data K ′ necessary for performing the integration process. If K or the bit of the accumulated value M so far is inverted, the accumulated value may be far from the actual usage. It may be indistinguishable whether the integrated value is changed by the flow rate signal S output from the flow rate measuring unit 402 or the bit of the data in the internal data storage unit 406 is inverted and changed.

Regarding the abnormal flow rate judgment function, the necessary data T '(for the abnormal flow rate processing of the internal data storage section 406 is stored in the abnormal flow rate judgment section 407 based on the flow rate signal S output from the flow rate measuring means 402. (Calculation area) is used to calculate the flow rate value S ′, and it is compared with the judgment value T for judging the abnormal flow rate stored in the internal data storage unit 406. Although the valve drive unit 404 is driven to operate the shutoff valve 403 to shut off the gas passage, necessary data T ′ for abnormal flow rate processing of the internal data storage unit 406 used when calculating the flow rate value S ′. If the bit of (1) is inverted or the bit of the determination value T for determining the abnormal flow rate is inverted, it may not be possible to normally determine the abnormal flow rate, and the gas passage may not be blocked.

Further, when the information is sent from the external communication means 405, the device ID stored in the internal data storage unit 406 is added, and when this information is received by the center device or the like, which gas cutoff device is used Although it is determined whether the information is information, if the bit of the device ID is inverted, communication with the center device or the like may not be possible.

A constant K for integrating correction, a judgment value T for judging an abnormal flow rate, and a device I stored in the internal data storage unit 406.
Since D is normally set only once at the initial stage, it has conventionally been provided with a plurality of internal data storage units 406 to provide redundancy, but other internal data (data K'required for performing integration processing And data required for abnormal flow rate determination processing T '
Etc.) was not provided with redundancy.

If all the internal data are simply provided with a plurality of redundancy in this way, it is necessary to have three or more of the same data for all data when error correction is performed by taking a majority decision, for example. However, in this case, the internal data storage capacity is 3 times the data required for the original function.
It was doubled and could not be provided with the limited internal data storage capacity of the gas shutoff device.

There is also a method of storing all the data stored in the internal data storage unit 406 in a non-volatile memory and comparing the data in the internal data storage unit 406 with the data in the non-volatile memory. Need access. When accessing the non-volatile memory, the current consumption is several + mA with respect to the normal internal data storage unit (several μA).
There have been cases where I couldn't work for zero years.

[0010]

In the gas shutoff device of the present invention, the same data is stored in an internal data storage unit and a non-volatile memory unit, and an error correction code is used when writing data to be stored in the internal data storage unit. The internal data non-volatile memory unit encodes data, detects an error in at least a part of the data stored in the internal data storage unit using an error correction code of the encoded data at a predetermined timing, and if there is an error. When the internal data is loaded from the device and the data is corrected by resetting it in the internal data storage unit, and when the error is detected and corrected, the error detection location and the correction content are notified to the outside from the external communication means. A data error correction detector is provided.

As a result, when the data in the internal data storage unit 406 has a bit inverted due to external noise or the like while operating for 10 years with almost no load on the battery power source of the gas shutoff device, If the bit is reversed due to a failure of the data storage unit (RAM failure), the data in the non-volatile memory is reset to the internal data storage unit so that the abnormal flow rate determination function, integration function, and communication function of the gas shutoff device are originally intended. Can be operated.

Furthermore, it is possible to take prompt action such as replacement of the gas shutoff device according to the error detection location and correction content of the internal data notified to the outside and the notification frequency.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention relates to data stored in an internal data storage section (data K'necessary for performing integration processing, constant K for integration correction, abnormal flow rate determination). The same data as the necessary data T'for processing, the judgment value T for abnormal flow rate judgment, and the device ID are stored in the internal data nonvolatile memory unit, and the data stored in the internal data storage unit (accumulation processing Data needed to do K '
And a constant K for integrating correction, necessary data T'for abnormal flow rate determination processing, a determination value T for abnormal flow rate determination, and a device ID) are written when data is encoded using an error correction code, At least a part of the data stored in the data storage unit is subjected to error detection using an error correction code of the data encoded at a predetermined timing, and if there is an error, the internal data is loaded from the internal data nonvolatile memory unit and When an error is detected and corrected by performing correction by resetting in the internal data storage unit, an error detection / correction signal is output, and the error detection location and the correction content are notified to the outside from the external communication means. A data error correction detection unit is provided to store data stored in the internal data storage unit (data K ′ necessary for performing integration processing, integration correction constant K, abnormal flow rate determination processing). Required data T ', the judgment value T for abnormal flow rate judgment, and the device ID) are reversed, the internal data error correction detection unit detects the location of the error and the correction content. It is possible to inform the center etc. from external communication means.

Further, the data stored in the internal data storage unit (the data K'necessary for performing the integrating process, the constant K for the integrating correction, the data T'necessary for the abnormal flow rate determining process, and the abnormal flow rate determining process). (Including the determination value T and the device ID), the error correction is performed by reloading the data before the bit stored in the internal data nonvolatile memory is inverted into the internal data storage unit again. It is possible to operate the integration function, abnormal flow rate determination function, and communication function normally. On the side of the center, when error correction frequently occurs, it is possible to take measures corresponding to each error location. For example, if the error location frequently causes error correction of the data relating to the integrating function (including the data K ′ necessary for performing the integrating process and the constant K for integrating correction), it is possible to stop erroneous billing to the customer. Further, if the error correction of the data regarding the abnormal flow rate determination function (including the necessary data T ′ for the abnormal flow rate determination process and the determination value T for the abnormal flow rate determination) frequently occurs, the gas shutoff device can be immediately replaced.

Further, if the device ID frequently occurs, the center side detects the difference from the original device ID and the device I
It is possible to change to D and perform communication again. That is,
It will be possible to perform treatment according to each frequency.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is a program for causing a microcomputer to realize the gas shutoff device according to claim 1. Since it is a program, it can be distributed and installed by recording it on a recording medium and distributing it or distributing it using a communication line.
Change work can be done easily.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the invention described in claim 1. In FIG. 1, 101 is a gas meter, 102 is a flow rate measuring means for outputting a flow rate signal (denoted by S) corresponding to the flow rate of gas passing through the gas meter 101, 103 is a shutoff valve for opening and closing the gas passage, 10
Reference numeral 4 is a valve drive unit that drives the opening and closing of the shutoff valve 103, 105 is an external communication unit that transmits and receives data to and from the outside, and 106
Identifies the device ID in a constant for integration correction (K) set through the external communication unit 105, a judgment value for abnormal flow rate judgment (T), and communication information transmitted from the external communication unit 105. In addition to storing identification information (identified as ID) to be added, data (identified as T ') required by an abnormal flow rate determination unit described below and data (identified as K') required by an integration unit described below are stored. The internal data storage unit (RAM of the microcomputer) to be stored 110 is the same data as the internal data storage unit (constant K for integration correction, determination value T for abnormal flow rate determination, identification information ID, abnormal flow rate determination unit required). An internal data non-volatile memory unit (EEPROM) for storing data T ′ and data K ′ necessary for the integrating unit, 107 is an abnormal flow in the internal data storage unit 106 based on the flow rate signal S output from the flow rate measuring means 102. Flow Data T that requires quantity determination processing
The flow rate value (denoted as S ') is calculated using', and compared with the determination value T for determining the abnormal flow rate stored in the internal data storage unit 106. If there is an abnormality in the gas usage amount, the cutoff signal (V Is output to drive the valve driving unit 104 to operate the shutoff valve 103 to shut off the gas passage, and 108 is stored in the internal data storage unit 106 and the flow rate signal S output from the flow rate measuring unit 102. The cumulative value K calculated as K × S from the constant K for cumulative correction and the cumulative value stored so far in the data K ′ necessary for performing the cumulative processing in the internal data storage unit 106. An integration unit that adds the current integrated value (M ′) to (assumed to be M), and 109 is data stored in the internal data storage unit 106 (data K ′ necessary for performing the integration process and integration correction). Constant K, necessary data T for abnormal flow rate determination processing ', Or the judgment value T for judging the abnormal flow rate, including the device ID), the error correction code (P
When the data stored in the internal data storage unit 106 is read, error detection is performed using the error correction code P from the encoded data, and if there is an error, the internal data nonvolatile memory unit Stored data in the internal data storage unit 106 is again stored, the data stored in the internal data storage unit is also periodically read out, error detection is performed using the error correction code P, and internal data is detected if there is an error. The data stored in the non-volatile memory unit is again stored in the internal data storage unit 106 to make a correction, and when an error is detected and corrected, an error detection / correction signal (denoted by E) is output and the error detection is performed. It is an internal data error correction detection unit for notifying the location and the correction content from the external communication means to the outside. Reference numeral 111 is a battery as a power source of the above device.

FIG. 2 shows an internal data storage unit 106 (RAM).
FIG. The RAM is divided into blocks in advance for data relating to the integrating function (205 in the figure), data relating to the abnormal flow rate determining function (206 in the figure), and device ID relating to the communication function (207 in the figure). An example of a horizontal / vertical parity code is shown as an error correction code. When the internal data error correction detection unit 109 writes data, the data is temporarily stored at address 0000 (201 in the figure).
If so, the exclusive OR (XOR) from the address 0000 to the address 000E of the internal data storage unit 106 is taken and stored in the address 000F (202 in the figure) as a horizontal / vertical parity code. At the same time, the XOR from the address 0000 to the address 00E0 of the internal data storage unit is taken and stored in the address 00F0 (203 in the figure) as a horizontal / vertical parity code (204 in the figure).

When the data is read, if the data is read at address 0000, the internal data error correction detection unit 109 takes the XOR from the address 0000 to the address 000E of the internal data storage unit 106 and outputs the result (denoted as P1) and the address. The value of 000F is collated, and it is determined whether or not there is bit inversion depending on whether they match. At the same time, an XOR from the address 0000 to the address 00E0 of the internal data storage is taken and the result (denoted as P2) and the address 0
The value of 0F0 is collated, and the presence or absence of bit inversion is determined depending on whether they match. Since P1 does not match the value of the address 000F of the internal data storage unit 106 and P2 does not match the value of the address 00F0 of the internal data storage unit, an error location can be detected.

Further, the internal data error correction detection unit 109 is
Periodically, the same processing as the above-mentioned data reading is performed for all addresses in the internal data storage unit 106 to perform error detection and correction. The internal data error correction detection unit 109 detects an error, and if there is an error, the internal data nonvolatile memory unit 11
When error correction is performed by storing 0 data in the internal data storage unit 106, the address (error detection location) at which error detection or error correction and the data (correction content) at that address are transmitted to the external communication means. The center is notified from 105. Since the address area of the data relating to the integrating function, the address area of the data relating to the abnormal flow rate determining function, and the address area of the device ID are respectively determined in advance on the center side, it is possible to take measures corresponding to each error location. Although the horizontal and vertical parity codes are used as the error correction codes in the above example, a Hamming code or BCH code may be used instead.

The above-mentioned control can be easily realized by using the calculation, judgment and storage functions by the program operation of the microcomputer. The program flow is shown in FIG.

First, in step 301, the internal data storage unit 10
It is judged whether or not the internal data is written in the data No. 6, and if the data is written, the process proceeds to step 302. If it is not written, processing 304
Move on to. In process 302, the horizontal and vertical parity codes for the write data are calculated and the process moves to process 303. In step 303, the write data and the calculated horizontal and vertical parity codes are stored in the internal data storage unit 106. In process 304, it is determined whether the internal data is read or periodically checked. If the internal data is read or regularly checked, the process proceeds to process 305. If it is not the reading of internal data and it is not a periodical check, the process ends. Process 305
Then, the horizontal / vertical parity code of the read data or check data is calculated, and the process proceeds to step 306. In process 306, the horizontal and vertical parity codes in the internal data storage unit 106 are collated with the horizontal and vertical parity codes calculated this time, and if they match, the process ends. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step 307. In process 307, the data in the internal data nonvolatile memory unit is reloaded and stored again in the setting data storage unit 106 to perform error correction, and in process 308, the errored address and data are notified to the outside via the external communication unit 105. Then, the process ends.

Further, in the above embodiment, it is described that both the abnormal flow rate determination and the flow rate integration are performed, but only one of them may be performed and such error detection may be performed.

Further, in the above embodiment, the error correction timing is such that the error detection is performed when the data stored in the internal data storage unit is read, and the data stored in the internal data storage unit is regularly read and the error detection is performed. However, it is also possible to perform only one of them and to perform such error detection.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to the gas shutoff device for the gas meter, the same problem is also encountered in the integrating device such as for the water meter and the electric power meter. It may be used as a power meter. In addition, the meter may have no external communication means.

[0027]

As is apparent from the above invention, in the gas shutoff device of the present invention, the data stored in the data storage unit of the gas shutoff device is rewritten due to disturbance noise or failure of the data storage unit, When a case where it does not operate according to the original function of the circuit breaker occurs, it is detected without applying a load to the battery power supply of the gas circuit breaker, and the data in the non-volatile memory section is reset to the data storage section. It is possible to improve the reliability of the gas shutoff device by operating according to the function and further promptly notifying the outside.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a gas shutoff device according to an embodiment of the present invention 1.

FIG. 2 is an address layout diagram of an internal data storage unit of the gas shutoff device in one embodiment of the present invention 1.

FIG. 3 is a program flowchart of a gas shutoff device according to an embodiment of the present invention 1.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a conventional gas shutoff device.

[Explanation of symbols]

102 Flow rate measuring means 103 Shut-off valve 104 valve drive 105 External communication means 106 internal data storage unit 107 Abnormal flow rate determination unit 108 Flow rate integrating section 109 Internal data error correction detector 110 Internal data Non-volatile memory unit 111 battery power

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04Q 9/00 301 H04Q 9/00 301B 311 311H (72) Inventor Yasuo Kiba 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2F030 CB05 CC13 CD08 CE05 CF05 CF10 2F031 AA03 AB01 AC20 AD03 5J065 AA01 AB00 AC03 AC04 AD02 AE01 AE06 AF02 AH01 AH06 AH15 5K014 AA01 BA02 BA07 BA09 EA01 BA080853A06 5K0848 A06 5K0848 A06 536. GB08 GC05

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A flow rate measuring means for measuring a flow rate corresponding to a flow rate of a passing gas and outputting a flow rate signal, a shutoff valve for opening and closing a gas passage, a valve drive section for driving the shutoff valve to open and close, and an external device. An external communication means for communicating with the external communication means, a constant for integration correction set externally via the external communication means, a judgment value for abnormal flow rate judgment, and communication information for the external communication means to communicate with the outside. An internal data storage unit that stores identification information and the like, and also stores necessary data for performing the integration process and the abnormal flow rate determination process,
An internal data non-volatile memory unit that stores the same data as the internal data of the internal data storage unit, and a data area required for abnormal flow rate determination processing of the internal data storage unit from the flow rate signal output from the flow rate measurement unit are used. The calculated flow rate value is compared with the judgment value for abnormal flow rate judgment in the internal data storage section, and if there is an abnormality in the gas usage, a shutoff signal is output to drive the valve drive section to operate the shutoff valve. And an abnormal flow rate determination unit that shuts off the gas passage, and the flow rate signal output from the flow rate measurement unit is added with the data necessary for performing the integration process of the internal data storage unit and the constant for the integration correction to perform the integration. At least one of the data stored in the internal data storage unit and the flow rate integration unit for performing data encoding using an error correction code when writing data to be stored in the internal data storage unit Error is detected by using the error correction code of the data encoded at a predetermined timing, and if there is an error, it is corrected by loading the internal data from the internal data nonvolatile memory unit and resetting it in the internal data storage unit. In the case of performing error detection and correction by performing the error detection and correction, an internal data error correction detection unit that outputs an error detection correction signal and notifies the error detection location and correction contents to the outside from the external communication means, and this gas. A gas shutoff device having a battery for driving the shutoff device. 2. A program for causing a microcomputer to realize the gas shutoff device according to claim 1.