Low power, centralized data collection

• US 10,536,185 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2018
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• 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:
  US15/935,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20180294833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 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 concentrator device comprising:

one or more antenna connectors;

a first processor to perform power functions and interfacing functions for the concentrator device;

a second processor to control a first radio and a second radio;

the first radio comprising a first transceiver to process a first signal at a first frequency;

the second radio comprising a second transceiver to process a second signal at a second frequency; and

a power supply controlled by the first processor to provide power to the first radio and the second radio;

wherein the concentrator device is capable of being removably coupled to a computing device and receiving signals from one or more sensors for collecting resource consumption data.

2. The concentrator device of claim 1, further comprising computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the first processor to perform acts comprising:

causing the power supply to provide power at a first voltage to a first power amplifier of the first radio, wherein the first voltage causes the first power amplifier to saturate at a saturation voltage associated with the first power amplifier; and

causing the power supply to provide power at a second voltage to a second power amplifier of the second radio, wherein the second voltage causes the second power amplifier to saturate at a saturation voltage associated with the second power amplifier.

3. The concentrator device of claim 2, the acts further comprising:

transmitting, via the first radio, a first output radio frequency (RF) signal over a first period of time; and

transmitting, via the second radio, a second output RF signal over a second period of time, wherein the first period of time and the second period of time at least partially overlap.

4. The concentrator device of claim 1, further comprising computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the first processor to perform acts comprising:

causing the power supply to provide power at a first voltage of approximately 3.75 volts or approximately 5 volts to a first power amplifier of the first radio, wherein the first voltage causes the first power amplifier to output a first radio frequency (RF) signal at a first signal power of approximately ½

-watt or approximately 1-watt; and

causing the power supply to provide power at a second voltage of approximately 3.75 volts or approximately 5 volts to a second power amplifier of the second radio, wherein the second voltage causes the second power amplifier to output a second RF signal at a second signal power of approximately ½

-watt or 1-watt.

5. The concentrator device of claim 1, wherein:

the first frequency is approximately 902 megahertz; and

the second frequency is approximately 928 megahertz.

6. The concentrator device of claim 1, wherein a volume of the concentrator device is less than approximately 0.25 in3.

7. The concentrator device of claim 1, wherein the first radio or the second radio communicates using a low-power, wide area network (LPWAN) protocol.

8. The concentrator device of claim 1, wherein:

the first receive path includes at least one of a first surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter, a first low-noise amplifier (LNA), or a second SAW filter; and

the second receive path includes at least one of a third SAW filter, a second LNA, or a fourth SAW filter.

9. A concentrator device comprising:

at least one processor to perform power functions and interfacing functions for the concentrator device;

a baseband processor to control a first radio of the concentrator device and a second radio of the concentrator device;

the first radio comprising a first transceiver and;

a first transmission path for transmitting one or more first signals, the first transmission path including at least one of a first balun, a first power amplifier, or a first low-pass filter;

or

a first receive path for receiving one or more second signals;

the second radio comprising a second transceiver and;

a second transmission path for transmitting one or more third signals, the second transmission path including at least one of a second balun, a second power amplifier, or a second low-pass filter;

or

a second receive path for receiving one or more fourth signals;

a first antenna connector to transmit the one or more first signals for the first radio or to receive the one or more second signals for the first radio; and

a second antenna connector to transmit the one or more third signals for the second radio or to receive the one or more fourth signals for the second radio.

10. The concentrator device of claim 9, wherein dimensions of the concentrator device comprise:

a height of approximately 0.19 inches;

a length of approximately 1.30 inches; and

a width of approximately 0.96 inches.

11. The concentrator device of claim 9, wherein:

the first radio further comprises;

a first switch, controllable by the baseband processor, to select between the first transmission path and the first receive path; and

a first lumped element low-pass filter disposed between the first switch and the first antenna connector; and

the second radio further comprises;

a second switch, controllable by the baseband processor, to select between the second transmission path and the second receive path; and

a second lumped element low-pass filter disposed between the second switch and the second antenna connector.

12. The concentrator device of claim 9, further comprising:

a first oscillator to control a clock rate of the at least one processor; and

a second oscillator to control a clock rate of the baseband processor, wherein a first frequency of the first oscillator is lower than a second frequency of the second oscillator.

13. The concentrator device of claim 9, further comprising a flash memory.

14. A concentrator device comprising:

one or more processors to perform power functions and interfacing functions for the concentrator device, and to control a first radio and a second radio;

a first antenna connector to transmit one or more first signals for the first radio or to receive one or more second signals for the first radio;

a second antenna connector to transmit one or more third signals for the second radio or to receive one or more fourth signals for the second radio; and

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

generating a first signal as the one or more first signals for transmission by the first radio via the first antenna connector;

transmitting the first signal via the first antenna connector for a first period of time;

generating a second signal as the one or more third signals for transmission by the second radio via the second antenna connector; and

transmitting the second signal via the second antenna connector for a second period of time,

wherein the first period of time and the second period of time at least partially overlap.

15. The concentrator device of claim 14, further comprising:

a switching supply to provide power to a first power amplifier of the first radio and a second power amplifier of the second radio; and

wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

causing the switching supply to provide power at a first voltage to the first power amplifier, wherein the first voltage causes the first power amplifier to saturate at a first power amplifier saturation voltage; and

causing the switching supply to provide power at a second voltage to the second power amplifier, wherein the second voltage causes the second power amplifier to saturate at a second power amplifier saturation voltage.

16. The concentrator device of claim 14, further comprising:

a switching supply to provide power to a first power amplifier of the first radio and a second power amplifier of the second radio;

wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

causing the switching supply to provide power at a first voltage to the first power amplifier, wherein the first voltage causes the first power amplifier to amplify the first signal to a first power; and

causing the switching supply to provide power at a second voltage to the second power amplifier, wherein the second voltage causes the second power amplifier to amplify the second signal to a second power,

wherein the first voltage is different than the second voltage, and the first power is different than the second power.

17. The concentrator device of claim 14, wherein:

the first signal is transmitted at a first channel frequency; and

the second signal is transmitted at a second channel frequency;

the first channel frequency and the second channel frequency both being within a band of;

approximately 902 megahertz to approximately 928 megahertz;

approximately 863 megahertz to approximately 870 megahertz;

or

approximately 779 megahertz to approximately 787 megahertz.

18. The concentrator device of claim 14, wherein a volume of the concentrator device is less than approximately 0.25 inches cubed.

19. The concentrator device of claim 14, wherein the first radio or the second radio communicates using a low-power, wide area network (LPWAN) protocol.

20. The concentrator device of claim 14, wherein the computer-readable media comprises a flash memory.