Automated meter reader having peak product delivery rate generator

• US 20060028355A1
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pine Tree Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pine Tree Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Patterson, Tim, Derry, Kenneth J., Holowick, Erwin
• Application Number:
  US11/232,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20060028355A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.20
• 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: H04Q 2209/30 using a wired architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/826 where the data is sent periodically
• 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 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 AMR device adapted to couple to utility meters and detect an peak rate of product delivery and responsively generate a signal indicative of the peak rate of product delivery. This information is transmitted to a remote location, such as to a utility or to a municipality. This peak rate of delivery is time-stamped and can be determined each clock cycle to generate real-time information. Moreover, previous peak rate delivery information can also be stored for transmission, and associated with a time of delivery. This information is useful to help understand the maximum flow rates a particular metering device is subject to for equipment selection, as well as applications in the area of conservation enforcement.

Claims

1. A device for coupling to a meter measuring product delivery, comprising:

an interface module adapted to couple to the meter, the interface module calculating a rate of product delivery; and

the interface module adapted to send a first signal indicative of a peak rate of product delivery to a remote device.

2. The device as specified in claim 1 wherein the first and second signal is provided in a data message.

3. The device as specified in claim 2 wherein the interface module includes memory, the memory storing a previous peak rate of product delivery and a current peak rate of product delivery.

4. The device as specified in claim 3 wherein the current peak rate of delivery is stored as the previous peak rate of delivery when the current peak rate of delivery exceeds the previous peak rate of delivery.

5. The device as specified in claim 1 wherein the interface module further comprises a clock providing a series of clock signals.

6. The device as specified in claim 5 wherein the peak rate of product delivery is determined as a function of product delivery between two consecutive clock signals.

7. The device as specified in claim 5 wherein the rate of product delivery is calculated only when product is flowing through the meter.

8. The device as specified in claim 2 wherein the interface module comprises a wireless transmitter transmitting the data message to a physically remote location.

9. The device as specified in claim 8 wherein the wireless transmitter operates in an unlicensed frequency band.

10. The device as specified in claim 8 wherein the transmitter has a power level no greater than 1 mW.

11. The device as specified in claim 8 wherein the transmitter sends the first signal without requiring external polling by a physically remote device.

12. The device as specified in claim 8 wherein the transmitter operates without the assistance of a wireless communications network.

14. The device as specified in claim 8 wherein the transmitter transmits the data message at a fixed frequency.

13. The device as specified in claim 8 wherein the transmitter operates in an unlicensed frequency band and having a power level no greater than 1 mW, and transmits the data message without requiring external polling or the assistance of a wireless communications network.

15. The device as specified in claim 8 wherein the transmitter transmits the data message as a spread spectrum signal.

16. The device as specified in claim 2 wherein the device includes an internal battery and operates therefrom.

17. The device as specified in claim 2 wherein the data message is adapted to be communicated to a public utility.