BACK-UP DATA DELIVERY DEVICE FOR AN UNPOWERED UTILITY METER AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

• US 20090265123A1
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TransData, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TransData, Inc.
• Inventors: King, John Paul, Porter, Lawrence Russell
• Application Number:
  US12/105,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20090265123A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/62
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• 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

Introduced is a utility meter data collection device for the collection of metered data when primary power to the utility meter is unavailable. In one embodiment the device includes (1) a back-up battery configured to provide power to communicate metered data when primary power to a utility meter is unavailable; (2) a communication apparatus with a detector for detecting an interrogation signal; and (3) a micro-processor, coupled to the back-up battery and the communication apparatus, to determine if the interrogation signal is detected and, if detected, switching to an active mode to communicate the metered data.

Claims

1. A utility meter data collection device, comprising:

a back-up battery configured to provide power to communicate metered data when primary power to said utility meter is unavailable;

a communication apparatus having a detector for detecting an interrogation signal; and

a micro-processor, coupled to said back-up battery and said communication apparatus, to determine if said interrogation signal is detected and, if detected, switching to a mode to communicate said metered data.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein a normal state for said micro-processor when no primary power is applied is a resting mode, said micro-processor periodically switching from a resting mode to a partially active mode to determine if said interrogation signal is detected.

3. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said micro-processor switches to a partially active mode about every ten seconds.

4. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein utility meter includes said battery, said communication apparatus and said micro-processor as integral components.

5. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said utility meter collects metered data regarding usage from the group consisting of:

electricity;

natural gas; and

water.

6. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said metered data is communicated via said communication apparatus.

7. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said metered data is communicated via a device selected from the group comprising:

a visual display device;

a radio frequency communications device;

a serial communication device;

or

an optical communication device.

8. A method of manufacturing a utility meter data collection device, comprising:

providing a back-up battery configured to provide power to communicate metered data when primary power to said utility meter is unavailable;

providing a communication apparatus having a detector for detecting an interrogation signal; and

providing a micro-processor, coupled to said back-up battery and said communication apparatus, to determine if said interrogation signal is detected and, if detected, switching to a mode to communicate said metered data.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein a normal state for said micro-processor when no primary power is applied is a resting mode, said micro-processor periodically switching from a resting mode to a partially active mode to determine if said interrogation signal is detected.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said micro-processor switches to a partially active mode about every ten seconds.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein utility meter includes said battery, said communication apparatus and said micro-processor as integral components.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said utility meter collects metered data usage from the group consisting of:

electricity;

natural gas; and

water.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said metered data is communicated via said communication apparatus.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said metered data is communicated via a device selected from the group comprising:

a visual display device;

a radio frequency communications device;

a serial communication device;

or

an optical communication device.

15. A method of using a utility meter data collection device, comprising:

causing a back-up battery to be configured to provide power to communicate metered data when primary power to said utility meter is unavailable;

causing a communication apparatus having a detector for detecting an interrogation signal; and

causing a micro-processor, coupled to said back-up battery and said communication apparatus, to determine if said interrogation signal is detected and, if detected, switching to a mode to communicate said metered data.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein a normal state for said micro-processor is a resting mode, said micro-processor when insufficient primary power is applied periodically switching from a resting mode to a partially active mode to determine if said interrogation signal is detected.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said micro-processor switches to a partially active mode about every ten seconds.

18. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said utility meter includes said battery, said communication apparatus and said micro-processor as integral components.

19. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said metered data is communicated via said communication apparatus.

20. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said metered communicated via a device selected from the group comprising:

a visual display device;

a radio frequency communications device;

a serial communication device;

or

an optical communication device.