Optical sensor for utility meter

• US 20020039068A1
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Published: 04/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pine Tree Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Datamatic, Ltd. (R&P Print)
• Inventors: Holowick, Erwin
• Granted Patent: US 6,798,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/008 Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/12 in which the signal transmitted is frequency or phase of ac
• 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

A radio frequency automated meter reading (AMR) device for determining quantities of a consumed utility product including electric, gas and water service. The present invention intermittently transmits utility product consumption as a modulated RF signal, and does not require complex polling and bi-directional communication. Data is obtained and formatted for transmission and is adapted to be received by a remote receiving device having an RF receiver. The present invention is adaptable to water meters, gas meters and electric meters, and has an IR programming module facilitating remote programming and diagnostic procedures. In the case of water and gas meters, an internal lithium battery provides an operational life of up to ten years. In the case of the electric meter, power is tapped directly from the electric service.

Claims

1. An interface module, comprising:

a) a transmitter adapted to emit radiation toward a face of a meter measuring a quantity of delivered product;

b) a receiver adapted to detect radiation reflected from said meter; and

c) a circuit converting the intensity of said detected radiation into an output signal indicative of the quantity of delivered product.

2. The interface module specified in claim 1 wherein said transmitter emits and said receiver detects electromagnetic radiation.

3. The interface module specified in claim 2 wherein said transmitter emits and said receiver detects infrared radiation.

4. The interface module specified in claim 2 wherein said transmitter emits and said receiver detects visible light.

5. The interface module specified in claim 2 wherein said transmitter emits and said receiver detects ultraviolet radiation.

6. The interface module specified in claim 2 wherein said receiver is a photodetector.

7. The interface module specified in claim 6 wherein said photodetector has a photoconductive region comprising cadmium sulfide.

8. The interface module specified in claim 6 wherein said photodetector has a photoconductive region comprising cadmium selenide.

9. The interface module specified in claim 1 wherein said transmitter emits bursts of radiation over a predetermined interval of time, and said receiver detects the reflected radiation over said predetermined interval of time.

10. The interface module specified in claim 9 wherein the interface module is adapted to interface with a meter having a needle, wherein said receiver outputs predetermined values, one value corresponding to the intensity of radiation being reflected by the needle coupled to said meter, said needle contrasting with said meter'"'"'s surface, and a different value corresponding to the intensity of said emitted radiation being reflected by said meter'"'"'s surface.

11. The interface module specified in claim 10 wherein said outputted values are voltage levels.

12. The interface module specified in claim 1 wherein the receiver outputs a signal corresponding to radiation reflected by one or more markings on said meter during a predetermined interval of time.

13. The interface module specified in claim 12 wherein the outputted values are voltage levels.

14. The interface module specified in claim 1 wherein the intensity of said emitted radiation is controllable based on translucent characteristics of said meter'"'"'s face.

15. The interface module specified in claim 6 wherein the active region of the photodetector comprises a photo conductive surface.

16. The interface module specified in claim 6 wherein the active region of the photodetector comprises a photovoltaic surface.

17. The interface module specified in claim 6 wherein the photodetector comprises a photodiode.

18. The interface module specified in claim 6 wherein the photodetector comprises a phototransistor.

19. The interface module specified in claim 1 wherein the receiver is a photoemissive detector.

20. The interface module specified in claim 2 wherein the transmitter is an He—

Ne laser.

21. A method for sensing the position of an indicator on a meter measuring a quantity of delivered product, comprising the steps of:

a) emitting radiation toward the face of said meter;

b) detecting the variations in intensity of the reflected radiation; and

c) converting the variations in intensity of said reflected radiation into an output signal.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

a) emitting said radiation over a predetermined interval of time;

b) detecting the variations in intensity of said reflected radiation during said predetermined interval of time; and

c) converting the variations in intensity of said reflected radiation during the predetermined interval of time into time varying signal.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

a) measuring the intensity of said reflected radiation over the face of said meter during an instant in time; and

b) correlating the locations of different intensity levels to specific levels.