JPH0117113B2 - - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical energy consumption meter for use on a consumer's premises has data processing means responsive to the sensed voltage and current and to data such as tariff rates and clock information, for computing and displaying charges in monetary terms. A data link with the utility enables the utility to make use of this information and to add hire purchase commitments, etc. to the charges for energy consumption and also to enter credits for payments received. The data link may include provision for credit transfer by the consumer. Coin or token prepayment facilities may also be provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a power meter connected to a power supply system and used by a consumer.

Currently, an electromechanical integrating power meter (kilowatt hour meter), which integrates power by multiplying current and voltage, is commonly used to record the power used in kilowatt hours on the meter. . Consumers who pay their electricity bills on credit must read their electricity meters regularly in order to calculate their charges. Other methods include prepayment using a coin insertion mechanism or prepayment using previously purchased tokens.

According to the present invention, there is provided a meter for measuring the power consumed by a consumer's circuit, which includes a detection means for detecting the voltage supplied to the circuit and the current flowing through the circuit, and the detected voltage and current. and a digital data processing means for calculating the electricity consumption rate in monetary units using the data obtained from the programmable storage unit, and displaying or operating to display the credit or debit of the accumulated amount. To provide a meter equipped with possible means. This storage unit may be configured so that the program can be changed from a distance, so that, for example, an electric power supplier (power company) can change the data in the storage unit using a data transmission system.

In a prepayment meter operated by a consumer, a prepayment device is attached to the data processing means, and this prepayment device can accept coins, electronic money, tokens, etc. In order to update the information (credit amount, etc.), data is supplied to the data processing means in accordance with the received advance payment.

The data processing means may include a clock. This clock controls the rate information for calculating the rate so that the same meter can be used even when the rate changes over time.

Preferably the data processing means is a load circuit or
The circuit is configured to control solid state switches in one or more load subcircuits. By providing such a switching means, the data processing means can warn the consumer, for example by cutting off the power supply to the load for a short period of time, shortly before the expiration of the prepaid credit. I can give. In the event of such a failure, the indicator light will flash to warn the customer that he or she will need to pay more in advance. Alternatively or in addition to the above warning, a suitable display may be illuminated on the indicating means or other alarm means may be activated.

By providing a switch to cut off one or more loads, the data processing means can be programmed to cut off the power supply when the credit expires or to limit the power demand to a low level, for example around 250W. .

If there is a data transmission system between the data processing means and the power company's central processing unit, the device of the present invention can be displayed on the premises of the customer based on the data of the charges paid by the customer to the power company. It is particularly useful for credit users who update their credit records or debit-credit balance sheets.

Such data transmission systems can use telephone lines, power carrier lines, wireless communication systems, optical fibers, and the like. This data transmission system can be used for various purposes. For example, the configuration is such that the central processing unit periodically queries the data processing means of the consumer for each digit in order to determine the usage fee for the day and bill the consumer directly for the fee. You can also do it. The consumer can at any time cause the debit to the power company to be displayed on the display of the consumer's data processing means.

For example, in addition to automatic electricity rate calculation, a mechanism can be provided to remotely insert debts in installment sales contracts.

Credit limits can be incorporated into the program in the data processing means. When this limit is approached, a switch circuit controlled by the data processing means is used to cut off the power supply for a short period of time.
Alternatively, a warning is given to the consumer by lighting up the display. Such a warning may be followed by a reduction in allowable power demand or a power outage. The frequency and duration of warnings at this current level can be set in the data processing means according to the specific requirements of each consumer.

This warning and demand reduction or power outage occurs if payment is not made within a predetermined period. This non-payment is detected by the power company's central processing unit, and necessary program information is set in the consumer's data processing means via the data transmission system.

Other forms of payment can be taken using data transmission systems. When a direct payment, credit card transfer, or similar form of payment is contracted between a utility company and a consumer and the consumer wishes to pay all or part of the bill, the consumer may The keyboard allows you to enter the amount to be paid using your guarantee number. This warranty number is displayed on a visible display means. Furthermore, the input amount can also be configured to be checked on the display device before operating the input keys.
Conveniently, the data entered by this operation is
The data is stored in the storage section of the consumer's data processing means until the time when the data can be transferred to the power company's central processing unit. When the amount information is keyed into the data processing means, the total debit or credit in the storage unit is immediately adjusted, but if the transaction should be stopped, such as when the bank does not accept the transfer of funds, , the data transmission system restores the total amount contained in the credit/debit register to its original state. In such a case, the data processing means may be configured not to accept credit transfer procedures until instructions are received from the electric power company.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows how credit is used by consumers.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the energy consumption measuring device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a modification of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, numerals 10 and 11 indicate a live wire (ungrounded wire) and a neutral wire (grounded wire) of an AC power source sent from an electric power company. In the customer's premises there is provided a unit 12 comprising a transformer 13 having an input winding 14 connected to a live wire 10 and a neutral wire 11 and an output winding 15 producing a voltage signal. On the live line 10 there is a current transformer 1 having an output winding 17 producing a current output.
6 is provided. The unit 12 is equipped with a switch device 18 using a solid-state switch consisting of a thyristor unit, and this thyristor unit can be disconnected from the output line 19 by breaking it.
limit the magnitude of the current. The output line 19 is connected to the consumer's load. A data processing unit 20 including a microprocessor is provided in the customer's premises, possibly separate from the unit 12;
This data processing unit 20 receives voltage information from the voltage output winding 15 of the transformer and current information from the current output winding 17 of the current transformer, detects instantaneous power from the information, and integrates the power consumption. do. Conveniently, this calculation can be performed, for example, in
This is done by simultaneously pulse sampling the voltage and current at multiple points during each cycle, as described in the '92 patent.

The microprocessor unit 20 is equipped with, or is attached to, a programmable memory 21 for storing data including charge information. This pricing information is dependent on the clock time.
The microprocessor 20 includes a clock 22 for converting the detected energy consumption into a charge amount. The memory 21 stores further necessary information regarding charges, such as hourly charges for inputting amounts periodically prorated to the fixed charges in the consumer's charge schedule. The microprocessor 21 can determine the maximum demand and calculate the fee based on the maximum demand within a predetermined calculation period.
The accumulated debit (billing amount) total or credit charge is displayed on the display unit 23. In the embodiment shown, the display unit 23 includes a keypad 24, one key 25 for operation in order to display on the display unit the amount stored in the appropriate register within the unit 20. It is. The key 25 allows the customer to pay the utility company by direct deposit into their bank account or by using a credit card. This operation is performed through a data transmission system 26 that is linked to the power company's central processing unit. The data transmission system 26 includes a modem or other isolator 27 and is connected to the utility's central data processing equipment and data processing unit 20.
Telephone lines or power carrier lines using a carrier frequency, for example, are used for bidirectional data transmission between the two. Other suitable data transmission systems can also be used, such as wireless transmission/reception systems or fiber optic transmission systems. In order to make the desired payment, the consumer must:
When you key in a warranty number, for example a particular credit card number, this number is displayed on the display unit 23.
This warranty number is checked before being forwarded to the data processing unit 20. The consumer then enters the transfer amount and checks this amount,
Then transfer it to the register. The appropriate amount updates the contents of the register for credit/debit register information in microprocessor 20 and is then transferred via data transmission system 26 to the utility company's central data processing unit.

The programmable memory 21 also contains information indicating the credit limit, and is provided with a comparison section for comparing the cumulative charge and the credit limit. You will receive a warning when you approach this credit limit. For example, the display unit 23 lights up or the switch circuit 18 operates for a short period of time to flash the consumer's lights and shake the image on the consumer's television device. This operation is performed periodically according to a program stored in the memory 21, and the switch unit 18 either disconnects the consumer's load circuit 19 or limits the usable load to a low value of about 250W. .

FIG. 2 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in which the microprocessor 20 is provided with a coin advance mechanism 30 in conjunction with it. This advance payment mechanism 30 displays on the display unit 23 a comparison table of the amount of money input into the mechanism and the current credit amount. Data transmission system 26
is also provided in this case. This system allows customers to write in credits by paying cash directly to the electric power company, and allows customers to increase the amount of credits on their meters from a distance via a data transmission system. The data transmission system can correct information within the microprocessor 20 as necessary. For example, charges can be corrected to include past debits as well as current power usage. The prepayment mechanism 30 is of the add-on type linked to a conventional credit meter. This credit is withdrawn by depositing coins, ie, by making an advance payment to the power company as described above. When the prepaid amount is exhausted, the credit meter operates in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG. 1 when the credit limit is exhausted. A mechanical flag may be provided to indicate that additional money is required to restore power to the customer.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 shows how credit is used by consumers.
A block diagram showing one embodiment of the energy consumption measuring device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1. 10... Live wire, 11... Neutral wire, 13... Transformer, 14... Input winding, 15... Output winding, 16
... Current transformer, 17 ... Output winding, 18 ... Switch device, 19 ... Output line, 20 ... Data processing unit, 21 ... Programmable memory, 22 ...
...Clock, 23...Display unit, 24...Keypad, 25...Keys, 26...Data transmission system.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A wattmeter for measuring the power consumed by a load circuit of a consumer, the wattmeter comprising: a measuring means for measuring the electrical energy consumed;
In response to the measured energy, from the measured energy, using the preset data in the storage unit,
It is equipped with a digital processing means that calculates charges for energy consumption including basic charges in monetary units, and a display means that functions to display the accumulated charges, and the measuring means is configured to measure the voltage applied to the load circuit of the consumer. The digital data processing means 20 calculates the product of the voltage and current in response to the detected voltage and current. The wattmeter further includes a data transmission means 26 for communicating data with a remote central processing unit in real time, and the digital data processing means includes:
A power meter characterized in that it is configured to communicate data in a storage section in response to data transmitted via a data transmission means 26. 2. The wattmeter according to claim 1, wherein the data processing means includes a clock. 3. The wattmeter according to claim 1, wherein the data transmission means is capable of bidirectional data transmission.