AMR transmitter and method for both narrow band and frequency hopping transmissions

• US 20070285276A1
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Inventors: Lazar, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,626,511 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: 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 invention provides a method and circuitry for transmitting signals in both a narrow band, mobile-receiver type of AMR network and also for operation in the frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum, fixed-receiver type of AMR network. Unlike systems provided with multiple transmitters, the invention provides this in a single transmitter operating with common circuitry to transmit in two modes of transmission in a single operational sequence.

Claims

1. A utility meter interface unit for use in a one-way automatic meter reading network, the utility meter interface unit comprising:

transmitter circuitry transmitting a first plurality of narrow band signals at a first, limited power level and transmitting second pluralities of frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum signals at a second limited power level that is greater than the first power level by at least one order of magnitude; and

wherein the transmitter circuitry transmits the narrow band frequency signals at first intervals of less than one minute over a plurality of hours, except when interrupted for transmitting one of the second plurality of frequency-hopping spread-spectrum signals at a second interval which is longer than the first interval by at least one order of magnitude.

2. The utility meter interface unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits the plurality of frequency hopping spread spectrum signals at one hour intervals.

3. The utility meter interface unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits a plurality of frequency hopping spread spectrum signals a plurality of times within one hour of a twenty-four hour time period.

4. The utility meter interface circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the first intervals are four seconds.

5. The utility meter interface as recited in claim 4, wherein the second intervals are approximately one hour.

6. The utility meter interface circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the first power level is limited to be no greater than one milliwatt.

7. The utility meter interface as recited in claim 6, wherein the second power level is limited to be no greater than one watt.

8. The utility meter interface unit as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a CPU operating according a stored control program; and

a radio frequency modulation section for modulating meter data signals into RF signals for transmission.

9. The utility meter interface unit recited in claim 1, wherein the first plurality of narrow frequency band signals and the second plurality of frequency hopping spread spectrum signals are transmitted by common circuitry comprising a single transmitter.

10. A method of transmitting radio frequency signals representing utility metering data, the method comprising:

transmitting a first plurality of narrow band signals at a first, limited power level; and

transmitting a second plurality of frequency hopping spread spectrum signals at a second limited power level that is greater than the first power level by at least one order of magnitude; and

wherein the narrow band signals are transmitted at first intervals of less than one minute over a plurality of hours, and wherein the second plurality of frequency-hopping, spread spectrum signals is transmitted at a second interval which is longer than the first interval by at least one order of magnitude.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the transmitter transmits the plurality of frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum signals at one hour intervals.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the transmitter transmits the plurality of frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum signals a plurality of times within one hour of a twenty-four hour time period.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the first intervals are four seconds.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the second intervals are approximately one hour.

15. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the first power level is limited to be no greater than one milliwatt.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the second power level is limited to be no greater than one watt.