Reduction Chattering Error of Reed Switch Sensor for Remote Measurement of Water Meter

Reed Switch 센서를 이용한 원격 검침용 상수도 계량기에서 Chattering 오차 감소 방안 연구

To reduce the chattering errors of reed switch sensors used for automatic remote measurement of water supply system, a reed switch sensor was analyzed and improved. The operation of reed switch sensors can be described as a mechanical contact by approximation of permanent magnet piece to generate an electrical pulse. The reed switch sensors are used in measurement application by detecting the rotational or translational displacement. To apply for flow measurement devices, the reed switch sensors should keep high reliability. They are applied for the electronic digital type of water flow meters. The reed switch sensor is just installed simply on the mechanical type flow meter. A small magnet is attached on a pointer of the water meter counter rotor. Inside the reed sensor, two steel leaf springs make mechanical contact and apart as rotation of flow meter counter. The counting electrical contact pulses can be converted as the water flow amount. The MCU sends the digital flow rate data to the server using the wireless communication network. But it occurs data difference or errors by chattering noise. The reed switch sensor contains chattering error by it self at the force equivalent position. The vibrations such as passing car near to the switch sensor installed location. In order to reduce chattering error, most system uses just software methods for example using filter and also statistical calibration methods. The chattering errors were reduced by changing leaf spring structure using mechanical hysteresis characteristics.