Remote access energy meter system and method

• US 20060028354A1
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endeavor Energy Incorporated (Nanolife Health, Inc. (f/k/a Endeavor IP, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Clear Skies Solar, Inc.
• Inventors: Dockweiler, Robert, Green, Ezra, O'Connor, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,336,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.20
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/34 Smart metering supporting the carbon neutral operation of end-user applications in buildings
• 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: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A remote energy meter system and method is provided having a meter server and a client module located remotely from the meter server. The meter server communicates with the client via a wireless communications link to recover energy production parameter values. The remote energy meter system preferably provides real-time and automated monitoring of, at least, energy production and system failure parameters.

Claims

1. A remote energy meter system for monitoring an energy generation facility comprising:

a client module operably connected to the energy generation facility for collecting data representative of energy production parameters of the energy generation facility; and

a server located remotely from the client module, wherein the server communicates with the client module to recover the energy production parameters.

2. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the server receives real-time energy production parameters.

3. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the energy production parameters comprise system failure parameters.

4. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the server communicates with the client module via a wireless communications link.

5. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the server communicates with the client module via a communications link comprising a cellular link.

6. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the server communicates with the client module via a communications link comprising a microwave link.

7. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the server communicates with the client module via a communications link comprising a satellite link.

8. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the client module comprises a volt meter and a data processor operably connected to the energy generation facility.

9. The remote energy meter system of claim 8, wherein the client module further comprises a secondary power source.

10. An energy generation facility comprising:

an energy production source;

a client module operably connected to the energy production source for collecting data representative of energy production parameters of the energy production source; and

a server located remotely from the energy production source and client module, wherein the server communicates with the client module to recover the energy production parameters.

11. The energy generation facility of claim 10, wherein the server receives real-time energy production parameters.

12. The energy generation facility of claim 10, wherein the energy production parameters comprise system failure parameters.

13. The energy generation facility of claim 10, wherein the server communicates with the client module via a wireless communications link.

14. The energy generation facility of claim 10, wherein the server communicates with the client module via a communications link comprising a cellular link, a microwave link or a satellite link.

15. The energy generation facility of claim 10, wherein the client module comprises a volt meter and a data processor operably connected to the energy production source.

16. The energy generation facility of claim 15, wherein the client module further comprises a secondary power source.

17. A method of monitoring an energy generation facility comprising:

collecting data representative of energy production parameters of the energy generation facility;

generating signals representative of the data; and

communicating the signals to a server located remotely from the energy generation facility.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the communication of the signals to the server is via a wireless communications link.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the collection of the data is done periodically.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising converting the signals into the data and processing the data via a microprocessor.