JP2000295668A - Remote monitoring and control system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To automatically set an address for identifying each terminal, and eliminate the need for external power supply to each terminal.
Also, the use of transmission lines eliminates the need for power supply wiring to each terminal. SOLUTION: A plurality of terminals 70 are sequentially connected in series to a transmission line 3, and a transmission power supply 20 is supplied with operating power to each terminal 70 via a low-pass filter 71. The address setting is an initialization command from the data collection unit 10,
Each terminal 70 opens the switch 73, sets its own address to the initial value, transmits the own address to the upstream within a predetermined time, and receives the same address as the own address from the downstream when receiving the same address from the downstream. Is updated, and when the same address as the self address has not arrived from the downstream within a predetermined time, the switch 73 is closed, and the address at that time is fixedly set to the self address number.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote monitoring control system for remotely monitoring and controlling a terminal using an addressing transmission message, and more particularly to a supply of operating power to the terminal and an address setting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional remote monitoring system for reading meters of electricity, gas and water using multiplex transmission. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a central device for controlling the system, and a power supply unit 11 for supplying drive power to the device.
A communication processing unit 12 for sending and receiving signals to and from the terminal device; a data processing unit 13 for creating data required by a user from the terminal device signal; a data display unit 14 for displaying data; And part 15. Reference numeral 2 denotes an external power supply input to the power supply unit 11 of the central device 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes a terminal device, which can communicate with the central device 1 via the transmission line 3. The terminal device 4 includes a communication processing unit 41, an address setting unit 42 using a dip switch or the like, a counting unit 43 for counting pulse signals of the needle meter to be measured, and a power supply unit 44 for supplying driving power to the inside of the terminal device. Consists of
5 is a meter provided with a pulse transmitting device. Reference numeral 6 denotes an external power supply of the terminal. One terminal 4 has a plurality of meters 5
Each terminal 4 has the same configuration, is branched and connected to the transmission line 3, and the required number of terminals 4 and meters 5 are connected depending on the scale of the system.

Next, the operation will be described. The terminal device 4
The power is supplied from the external power supply 6 by the power supply unit 44 to convert the power into the power required internally, and the counting unit 43 is operated to count the pulse signals from the meter 5. The communication processing unit 41 reads out its own address set by a dip switch or the like from the address setting unit 42, monitors the message on the transmission line 3, and responds if there is a message addressed to itself. If the received message is a meter reading request, data is read from the counting unit 43,
The response message is edited and transmitted to the central device 1.

When a meter reading request is issued from the central unit 1, the data processing unit 13 creates a measurement value request message of the terminal address of the meter to be read and sends it to the communication processing unit 12, and the communication processing unit 1
2 transmits a weighing request message with an address to the transmission line 3. Then, the terminal 4 sends a response message describing the self-address and the weighing value of each meter 5 to the data processing unit 13, and the data processing unit 13 performs a multiplication factor calculation, a charge calculation, and the like on the weighing value data to the user. The necessary information specific to the meter is added, and the data display unit 14 displays the data and the printing unit 15 prints the weighing value.

[0005]

Since the conventional remote monitoring and control system using multiplex transmission is configured as described above, an individual address is set in the address setting section 42 of each terminal 4 one by one. There is a need to. However, the location of such a terminal 4 in a building may not always be easily accessible by humans, and in the case of a water meter reading terminal, it may be installed in a place where there is no external power supply to the terminal. In many cases, an external power supply had to be individually wired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and does not require wiring of an external power supply to each terminal individually, and can remotely set an address of each terminal from a central unit. The purpose is to obtain a supervisory control system.

[0007]

(1) In a remote monitoring and control system according to the present invention, a central unit and a plurality of terminals are sequentially connected in series via a transmission line, and the central unit and each of the terminals are connected. In a remote monitoring control system for transmitting and receiving messages between devices based on an address number corresponding to the terminal device and monitoring and controlling the terminal device, a power source for operating the terminal device is a DC power source for supplying operating power from an arbitrary portion of the transmission line. In addition, the terminal device includes a switch for interrupting a telegram provided between the upstream transmission line connection terminal and the downstream transmission line connection terminal, and a switch connected in parallel to the switch to allow passage of DC operating power and to transmit the telegram. A low-pass filter for blocking the passage of a signal, a receiving unit connected to the downstream side of the switch, and a transmitting unit connected to the upstream side of the switch. The self address is set to an initial value by an initialization signal from the central unit, the switch is opened, the self address is transmitted upstream within a predetermined time, and the same address as the self address is transmitted from downstream within the predetermined time. If there is a reception, the self-address is updated in a predetermined address order, and if there is no address reception from the downstream within the predetermined time, the switch is closed and the address at that time is set as the self-address, and the self-address is set. When updated, the operation from the transmission of the self address within the predetermined time is repeated to sequentially set the address from the terminal on the downstream side.

(2) In the above (1), the central device transmits information of a predetermined time together with an initialization signal to each terminal to set the predetermined time.

(3) In the above (1) or (2), power is supplied from a power source between the central unit and the most upstream terminal unit, between any terminal units, in the central unit, and at any of the terminal units. Power is supplied from an arbitrary location in the vessel.

(4) In the above (1) or (2), the central device is a portable data collection device using a handy personal computer or the like, and the power sources are the portable data collection device and the most upstream terminal. The portable data collection device and the power source are connected by a detachable connector, and the transmission and power supply of a message are performed through the connector.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the remote monitoring control system of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an address setting operation of the terminal and the central unit of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows an address setting flow between the central unit and each terminal. FIG.

In the figure, 2, 3, 5, 12 to 15, 4
Reference numeral 3 is the same as in the description of the above conventional example. 10 is a data collection unit as a central device, 20 is a transmission power supply, 3
Reference numeral 0 denotes a connector, which connects the data collection unit 10 and the transmission power supply 20, and is connected by a communication line 31, for example, an RS232C communication line and the power supply line 32. Data collection unit 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a transmission power supply 2 which is composed of a built-in communication processing unit 12, a data processing unit 13, a display unit 14, and a printing unit 15, which will be described later.
The microcomputer is operated by a microcomputer (not shown) by the driving power from the power supply unit 21 of 0. The data collection unit 10 and the transmission power supply 20 are separated by attaching and detaching the connector 30.
Joining is possible. Therefore, the data collection unit 10 may be configured by a portable personal computer or the like, and may be connected as needed at the time of data collection.

A transmission power supply 20 is supplied with power from an external power supply 2 and generates a DC drive power for the entire system.
A battery 23 for power failure compensation, a charging circuit 22 for charging the battery 23, a switching circuit 24 for selecting the higher voltage of the power supply unit 21 and the battery 23, and transmitting a DC output of the switching circuit 24. A low-pass filter 25 provided on the way to the line 3, a signal conversion unit 26 for converting a signal of the communication processing unit 12 of the data collection unit 10 and a signal form of the transmission line 3, and a signal conversion unit 26 and a transmission line 3. It has a high-pass filter 27 provided therebetween.

Reference numeral 70 denotes a terminal, which is an upstream input terminal 70a.
And a downstream output terminal 70b, and a plurality of units are connected in series with the transmission power supply 20 being the uppermost stream. 71 is a low-pass filter, 72 is a high-pass filter, and 73 is a switch part which is always on. A high-pass filter 72 and a switch part 73 connected in series form an upstream input terminal 70a and a downstream output terminal in parallel with the low-pass filter 71. 70
It is provided between b. Reference numeral 74 denotes a power supply unit that organizes the power supplied from the transmission power supply 20 onto the transmission line 3 from the upstream input terminal 70a side to drive the respective units of the terminal device 70.

Reference numeral 75 denotes an address memory for storing an address; 76, a communication processing unit which is operated by a microcomputer (not shown) to read a message on the transmission line 3 from the downstream output terminal 70b side; Edits the message including the "" and inputs it to the upstream input terminal 70a.
Side to the transmission line 3. Further, the communication processing unit 76 turns off or on the switch unit 73 according to the content of the read electronic message.

With the data collection unit 10 and the transmission power supply 20 at the most upstream position, N terminals 70 are connected in series to the transmission line 3 to complete the system connection work. Then, the address numbers are automatically set in the N terminals 70. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a signal waveform of a transmission line. A communication signal passing through a high-pass filter 72 is superimposed on a DC voltage 24 V passing through a low-pass filter 25 from a power supply unit 21 or a battery 23.

As described above, a plurality of terminals 70 are sequentially connected in series to the transmission line 3 with the data collection unit 10 and the transmission power supply 20 at the upstream end, and the driving power to each terminal 70 is reduced. Since the power is supplied through the low-pass filter 71, no special power supply wiring to the installation location of the terminal 70 is required. Also, by turning on a switch 73 connected in series to the high-pass filter 72, a communication signal of a high-frequency component can be delivered to the terminal 70 downstream.

Data collection unit 10 and transmission power supply 20
Rises, DC power from the power supply unit 21 of the transmission power supply 20 is input to the upstream input terminal 70a of the terminal device 70 at the most upstream through the transmission line 3. In the most upstream terminal 70, the DC power passes through the low-pass filter 71 to the downstream output terminal 70b and is supplied from the transmission line 3 connected thereto to the next terminal 70. Similarly, the DC power is transmitted to the terminal 70 at the terminal. Supplied. Therefore, the terminal 70 connected to the transmission line 3 becomes operable. In addition, each terminal 7
A value of 0 indicates that the switch unit 73 is in the ON state, and the communication message from the data collection unit 10 is transmitted to the terminal device 70 at the terminal through the high-pass filter 72.

The operation of automatically setting an address will be described with reference to FIGS. (1) First, an address initialization command and a timer time limit value (T seconds) are transmitted from the data collection unit 10 with the system power turned on (step 20).
1). (2) Upon receiving the address initialization command uniformly, each terminal 70 turns off the switch unit 73 and sets its own address to "1" (steps 211 and 212).

(3) Each terminal 70 starts the operation of the timer (step 213). (4) During the timer operation, each terminal 70 sends out its own address number "1" (step 214). At this time, the address “1” transmitted by each terminal is transmitted only to the terminal immediately upstream since the switch unit 73 is turned off. The address "1" from the terminal at the most upstream is sent to the data collection unit 10, and the data collection unit 10 recognizes that the terminal with the address "1" exists.

(5) When each terminal receives an address having the same number as its own from the downstream terminal within a predetermined time period (T seconds), the terminal increments its own address and transmits the updated own address to the upstream. (Step 215)
217).

(6) When the address reception from the downstream terminal is not within the predetermined time period (T seconds), the self address number at this time is written in the address memory 75 to determine the address, and the switch 73 is turned on. Then, the process proceeds to the normal processing state (steps 218 to 220). Therefore, the terminal device at the final end has no terminal device downstream from itself, and the signal of the address “1” is not sent, so that after a predetermined time period (T seconds) elapses,
By writing "1" in the address memory 75, the self address "1" is determined. (7) Terminals other than the terminal at the end (the one having the own address number “1”) receive the same address number signal as the own address from the nearest terminal downstream within T seconds. It increments to "2" (step 217), starts the operation of the timer, and transmits the updated self address "2" to each upstream (step 2).
14). (8) Step 21 until the self address number is determined
Repeat steps 3 to 217.

(9) The data collection unit 10 checks whether or not an address number has been received from the most upstream terminal for each timer time limit (T seconds) transmitted to the terminal 70 (steps 202 to 204). If you receive the address number,
This means that the setting of the address number in the terminal device 70 is being continued. (10) If no address number is received even after the timer time value (T seconds) elapses, it indicates that the address number has been determined in the most upstream terminal, and the number N of subordinate terminals is recorded. As a result, the work of determining the address number is completed, and the process proceeds to the normal processing (steps 206 to 208).

In the above example, a method has been described in which the address number is incremented and sequentially increased. However, a similar effect can be obtained by decrementing the address number sequentially. Alternatively, a predetermined address order may be determined, and the addresses may be updated in that order. The high-pass filter 72 delivers a high-frequency component communication signal when the switch 73 is turned on, but is not always necessary.

As described above, the effect of the first embodiment is as follows.
The address number of each terminal 70 can be automatically set, thereby eliminating the need to manually set the number. In addition, the external power supply 2 is not individually required for each terminal 70, and each terminal 70 can be set using a transmission line. Since operating power can be supplied to the terminal device 70, wiring for supply can be eliminated.

Further, by setting a timer time limit value (T seconds) which is a predetermined time value of the updating process together with the address initialization command to each terminal device 70, the time timing of the number increment updating process including the central unit can be controlled by the system. Can be combined as a whole.

In the case where the terminal 70 is added while the system is in use, the terminal 70 is interrupted at a desired position of the transmission line 3 and connected in series.
By transmitting the address initialization command from 0, it is easy to automatically set a new address number for each terminal 70 including the added terminal 70.

Also, by making the data collection unit 10 portable and detachable from the transmission power supply 20 with a connector 30, for example, one portable data collection unit 10 such as a meter reader can be used. This is effective when collecting data from several transmission systems for each building. In the case where the normal remote monitoring control is performed after the address number is determined, the portable data collection unit 10 is connected to the end of the transmission line 3 as shown in FIG. 10 may be detached from the connector 30 and a connector may be provided at an arbitrary position on the transmission line to connect and collect data. Alternatively, another portable data collection unit may be provided with a connector or the like at an arbitrary position of the transmission line 3 to collect data while the portable data collection unit 10 is kept as it is.

Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment, the transmission power is provided between the data collection unit (central unit) and the terminal device at the most upstream position. In the second embodiment, the transmission power is provided at an arbitrary position on the transmission line.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a remote monitoring and control system according to the second embodiment.
This is an example of inserting. By providing the transmission power supply 20 between arbitrary terminals 70 in this way, the transmission power supply 20 can be provided at a location where the external power supply 2 such as a commercial power supply can be easily obtained, and a flexible system configuration can be realized. . Although the power supply of the central device 1 is supplied from the external power supply 2 in FIG. 5, it may be supplied from the transmission power supply 20.

The transmission power supply 20 may be incorporated in any one of the terminals 70 or may be incorporated in the central unit 21. Also, the downstream output terminal 7 of the terminal device 70 at the most downstream position
Power may be supplied from the 0b side. That is,
It may be supplied from any location including both ends of the transmission line. When the power supply capacity is increased by adding the terminal device 70 or the like, another transmission power supply 20 for supplying operating power from a desired portion of the transmission line may be provided.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the address of each terminal can be automatically set, and no external power supply such as a commercial power supply is required for each terminal individually. Since the transmission line can be used for both signal and power supply, there is an effect that the power supply wiring is unnecessary.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an address setting operation of the terminal and the central unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an address setting operation between a central device and each terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a signal waveform of a transmission line according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring control system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional remote monitoring system for reading electricity, gas, and water meters using multiplex transmission.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Central unit 2 External power supply, 3 Transmission line 5 Meter 10 Data collection unit (Central unit) 12 Communication processing unit 13 Data processing unit 14 Data display unit 15 Printing unit 20 Transmission power supply 21 Power supply unit 25 Low-pass filter 27 High-pass filter 30 Connector 31 Communication line 32 power supply line 43 counting unit 70 terminal 70a upstream input terminal 70b downstream output terminal, 71 low-pass filter 72 high-pass filter 73 switch unit 74 power supply unit 75 address memory 76 communication processing unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A central unit and a plurality of terminals are connected in series via a transmission line in order, and transmission and reception of a message between the central unit and each of the terminals based on an address number corresponding to the terminal. In the remote monitoring and control system for performing monitoring and control, a power supply for operating the terminal is a DC power supply for supplying operating power from an arbitrary portion of the transmission line, and the terminal is connected to an upstream transmission line connection terminal and a downstream. A switch for disconnecting a telegram provided between the side transmission line connection terminals, a low-pass filter connected in parallel with the switch to allow the passage of DC operating power and to prevent the passage of a telegram, and connected to a downstream side of the switch. A receiving unit, and a transmitting unit connected to the upstream side of the switch, wherein the terminal sets its own address to an initial value by an initialization signal from the central unit. Then, the switch is opened, the self address is transmitted upstream within a predetermined time, and if the same address as the self address is received from the downstream within the predetermined time, the self address is updated in a predetermined address order. If the address is not received from the downstream within the predetermined time, the switch is closed and the address at that time is set as the self address.If the self address is updated, the operation from the self address transmission within the predetermined time is performed. A remote monitoring control device, wherein the address is sequentially set from the terminal device on the downstream side by repeating the above. 2. The remote monitoring and control system according to claim 1, wherein the central unit transmits information of a predetermined time together with an initialization signal to each terminal to set the predetermined time. 3. The power supply from the power source is performed such that power is supplied from an arbitrary position among the central device and the most upstream terminal device, between any terminal devices, in the central device, and in any of the terminal devices. 3. The remote monitoring and control system according to claim 1, wherein 4. The central device is a portable data collection device using a handy personal computer or the like, and a power source is installed between the portable data collection device and the most upstream terminal device.
3. The remote device according to claim 1, wherein the portable data collection device and the power source are connected by a detachable connector, and a message is transmitted and power is supplied through the connector. Monitoring and control system.