Low power, high resolution automated meter reading and analytics

• US 10,284,251 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2018
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HydroPoint Data Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: APANA, Inc.
• Inventors: Rose, Matthew W., Burns, Frank, Peterson, Matthew Maher, Peckham, Canyon Daniel, Siderskiy, Valentin, Humphrey, David Royce, Remmers, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Blane J
• Application Number:
  US15/935,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20180287657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0475 with means for limiting noise, interference or distortion H04B1/0483 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1036 with automatic suppression of narrow band noise or interference, e.g. by using tuneable notch filters H04B1/123 takes precedence; filter circuits H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/44 Transmit/receive switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/0408 with power amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The systems and methods described herein are directed to techniques for improving battery life performance of end devices in resource monitoring systems which transmit data using low-power, wide area network (LPWAN) technologies. Further, the techniques include providing sensor interfaces in the end devices configured to communicate with multiple types of metrology sensors. Additionally, the systems and methods include techniques for reducing the size of a concentrator of a gateway device which receives resource measurement data from end devices. The reduced size of the concentrator results in smaller, more compact gateway devices that consume less energy and reduce heat dissipation experienced in gateway devices. The concentrator may comply with modular interface standards, and include two radios configured for transmitting 1-watt signals. Lastly, the systems and methods include techniques for fully redundant radio architecture within a gateway device, allowing for maximum range and minimizing downtime due to transmission overlap.

Claims

1. A computing device for collecting and communicating metrology data, the computing device comprising:

a housing;

an antenna;

one or more input ports to receive the metrology data from one or more water sensors;

a power supply module including one or more batteries coupled to one or more supercapacitors;

a microcontroller comprising one or more processors for controlling operations of the computing device;

a transceiver, coupled to the antenna to communicate signals using a low-power wide area network (LPWAN) standard; and

computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform acts comprising;

entering a low-power mode for a first predefined period of time;

based at least in part on detecting an end of the first predefined period of time, switching from the low-power mode to a communication mode for a second period of time;

while in the communication mode, transmitting, via the transceiver, a signal representing a portion of the metrology data; and

in response to transmitting the signal, causing the computing device to enter the low-power mode for the first predefined period of time.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more batteries at least partially charge the one or more supercapacitors during the low-power mode.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein:

the first predefined period of time of the low-power mode is at least 100 times longer than the second period of time of the communication mode.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the power supply module further comprises a gas gauge, including a coulomb counter, disposed between the one or more batteries and the one or more supercapacitors, wherein the gas gauge is configured to:

monitor a coulomb amount of charge provided from the one or more batteries to at least the one or more supercapacitors and store an amount of coulomb charge data in a memory for transmission during the communication mode;

or

limit the coulomb amount of charge provided from the one or more batteries to at least the one or more supercapacitors.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more supercapacitors comprise:

a first capacitor that is charged from current received from the one or more batteries; and

a second capacitor in parallel with the first capacitor that is charged from the current received from the one or more batteries.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more batteries are thermally coupled to a connecter that is configured to be thermally coupled to piping external to the computing device.

7. The computing device of claim 1, the acts further comprising:

receiving a signal, via the transceiver, including information; and

determining at least one of the first predefined period of time or the second period of time based at least in part on the information.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the LPWAN standard for which the transceiver is configured to communicate the signals comprises at least one of:

a standard compliant with a SEMTECH transceiver;

a LoRaWAN®

standard;

a ZigBee standard;

a haystack standard;

an LTE Advanced for Machine Type Communications standard;

a MySensors standard;

a NarrowBand Internet-of-things (IoT) standard;

a NB-Fi standard;

an NWave standard;

a Random Phase Multiple Access (RPMA) standard;

a Senet standard;

a Sigfox standard;

a Symphony Link standard;

a ThingPark Wireless standard;

an Ultra Narrow Band (UNB) standard;

or

a Weightless standard.

18. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a water tight seal forming an exterior portion of the housing; and

an antenna connector disposed inside the housing, the antenna coupling to the antenna connector inside the housing and extending through the exterior portion of the housing.

21. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more supercapacitors are at least partially discharged during the communication mode.

9. A first computing device for communicating resource consumption data collected by one or more sensors to a second computing device, the first computing device comprising:

a housing;

one or more antennas;

a microcontroller comprising one or more processors that controls operations of the first computing device;

a power supply module configured to power the first computing device using at least one of an external power supply or an internal power supply;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, coupled to the one or more antennas, and configured to communicate signals using a low-power wide area network (LPWAN) standard; and

computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first computing device to perform acts comprising;

determining a sensor type of a sensor of the one or more sensors;

based at least in part on determining the sensor type, selectively providing a first voltage to a sensor input port, or a second voltage to an output port that provides at least one of power or a clock signal to the one or more sensors;

receiving metrology data from the sensor; and

storing the metrology data in a memory.

10. The first computing device of claim 9, wherein:

the sensor type is a first sensor type, and the sensor comprises at least one of a reed switch sensor, a Hall effect sensor, or a magneto-resistive sensor, and the first voltage is applied;

or

the sensor type is a second sensor type, and the sensor comprises at least one of a pulse sensor or an AMR sensor, and the second voltage is applied.

11. The first computing device of claim 9, wherein the first computing device receives data, via the sensor input port, and stores the data from multiple types of sensors, the multiple types of sensors including a Hall effect sensor, or a magneto-resistive sensor, a pulse sensor, and an AMR sensor.

12. The first computing device of claim 9, wherein:

the first computing device further includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port; and

the acts further comprising;

determining the sensor type of the sensor associated with an input cable coupled to the sensor input port, the determining comprising at least one of;

receiving, through a USB cable plugged into the USB port, an indication of the sensor type;

or

receiving, via the RF transceiver and from one or more server computing devices, a signal comprising the indication of the sensor type.

19. The first computing device of claim 9, further comprising a toggle switch for isolating the power supply module from one or more components of the first computing device during transport of the first computing device.

20. The first computing device of claim 9, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, further cause the first computing device to:

detect a status change related to the sensor or the first computing device; and

provide power to the transceiver based, at least in part, on detecting the status change.

13. An end-point computing device for communicating metrology data collected by one or more water sensors to a computing device, the end-point computing device comprising:

a housing;

one or more antennas;

a microcontroller comprising one or more processors that controls operations of the end-point computing device;

a power supply module configured to power the end-point computing device;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, coupled to the one or more antennas, and configured to communicate signals using a low-power wide area network (LPWAN) standard;

computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the end-point computing device to perform acts comprising;

entering a powered-down mode for a first period of time;

switching from the powered-down mode to a low-power mode for a second period of time;

receiving and storing pulses from a water sensor during the second period of time, the second period of time being less than the first period of time; and

in response to detecting an end of the second period of time, switching from the low-power mode to the powered-down mode.

14. The end-point computing device of claim 13, wherein:

the water sensor comprises a first type of sensor, and wherein the first type of sensor comprises at least one of a reed switch sensor, a Hall effect sensor, or a magneto-resistive sensor;

or

the water sensor comprises a second type of sensor, and wherein the second type of sensor comprises at least one of a pulse sensor or an AMR sensor.

15. The end-point computing device of claim 14, the acts further comprising:

determining a rotational speed of the water sensor via one or more input ports that accept one or more input cables of the one or more water sensors;

calculating the first period of time based at least in part on the rotational speed; and

calculating the second period of time based at least in part on a rate at which the water sensor outputs pulses.

16. The end-point computing device of claim 15, the acts further comprising:

analyzing historical rotational speed data associated with the water sensor;

determining an adjusted rotational speed of the water sensor; and

adjusting the first period of time based at least in part on the adjusted rotational speed.

17. The end-point computing device of claim 16, the acts further comprising:

sending historical rotational speed data associated with the water sensor to one or more server computing devices; and

receiving, from the one or more server computing devices, an indication of a third period of time; and

adjusting the first period of time based at least in part on the third period of time.