METER READING SYSTEM

• US 20090189778A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ying-Yu Chen, Yin-Tien Juan
• Original Assignee: Ying-Yu Chen, Yin-Tien Juan
• Inventors: CHEN, Ying-Yu, JUAN, Yin-Tien
• Application Number:
  US12/022,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20090189778A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.20
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• 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 meter reading system is provided for use in reading the water, electricity or gas meters, in which a data logger and a meter are installed at user end. When desiring to obtain the readings of a meter at user end, a mobile meter reader sends a control signal via a communication method to the data logger and at the same time obtains the readout of user-end meter connected to the data logger. The meter reading system improves the situation of wrong recording of readout and saves the cost of labor in conventional manual meter reading.

Claims

1. A meter reading system, comprising:

at least a meter having a reader and a plurality of dials, the reader being electrically connected to a processor chip and storing an identifier of the meter, the processor chip enabling the reader to identify locations of the dials of the meter to determine a readout of the meter, and transfer the readout and the identifier to the processor chip;

a data logger connecting to the processor chip of the meter in a wired or wireless manner to control the processor chip to obtain the readout and the identifier of the reader; and

a mobile meter reader connected to the data logger via a communication method for sending a control signal to the data logger so as to obtain the readout and the identifier of the meter in the data logger.

2. The meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the dial of the meter contains a light-emitting tube on a first side of the dial and a receiving tube on a second side of the dial, the light-emitting tube illuminating a face of the dial and resulting in light-blocking and light-transmitting functions given the different locations of the dials such that the receiving tube receiving a bright-dark signal and transferring such signal to the processor chip to identify the locations of the dials of the meter so as to measure the readout of the meter.

3. The meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile meter reader sends the control signal to the data logger via a microwave transmission communication to obtain the readout and the identifier of the meter in the data logger.

4. The meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile meter reader sends the control signal to the data logger via a short message communication to obtain the readout and the identifier of the meter connected to the data logger.

5. The meter reading system according to claim 1, further comprising transferring the readout and the identifier of the meter obtained by the mobile meter reader to a control center via WLAN, WiFi, 3G or ADSL.

6. The meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the meter is a water meter.

7. The meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the meter is an electric meter.

8. The meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the meter is a gas meter.

9. A meter reading system, comprising:

at least a meter having a reader and a plurality of dials, the reader storing an identifier of the meter, the reader identifying locations of the dials of the meter to measure a readout of the meter;

a data logger having a processor chip and controlling the processor chip in a wired or wireless manner to enable the reader to obtain the readout of the meter and send the readout and the identifier of the meter back to the processor chip; and

a mobile meter reader connected to the data logger via a communication method for sending a control signal to the data logger so as to obtain the readout and the identifier of the meter in the data logger.

10. The meter reading system according to claim 9, wherein the dial of the meter contains a light-emitting tube on a first side of the dial and a receiving tube on a second side of the dial, the light-emitting tube illuminating a face of the dial and resulting in light-blocking and light-transmitting functions given the different locations of the dials such that the receiving tube receiving a bright-dark signal and transferring such signal to the processor chip to identify the locations of the dials of meter so as to measure the readout of the meter.

11. The meter reading system according to claim 9, wherein the mobile meter reader sends the control signal to the data logger via a microwave transmission communication to obtain the readout and the identifier of the meter in the data logger.

12. The meter reading system according to claim 9, wherein the mobile meter reader sends the control signal to the data logger via a short message communication to obtain the readout and the identifier of the meter connected to the data logger.

13. The meter reading system according to claim 9, further comprising transferring the readout and the identifier of the meter obtained by the mobile meter reader to a control center via WLAN, WiFi, 3G or ADSL.

14. The meter reading system according to claim 9, wherein the meter is a water meter.

15. The meter reading system according to claim 9, wherein the meter is an electric meter.

16. The meter reading system according to claim 9, wherein the meter is a gas meter.