CONVERTING AC POWERED UTILITY METER TO SOLAR POWERED METER

• US 20100315263A1
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Shuey, Kenneth C.
• Application Number:
  US12/485,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20100315263A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• 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 2209/886 using energy harvesting, e.g. solar, wind or mechanical
• 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

Abstract

A solar powered meter reading device (MRD) includes a metering circuit configured to measure consumption of a resource. A transceiver is operatively connected to the metering circuit and is configured and arranged to transmit and receive radio signals. A power arrangement is electrically connected to supply electrical power to at least one of the metering circuit and the transceiver. The power arrangement includes a photovoltaic array and a battery electrically connected to the photovoltaic array and to at least one of the metering circuit and the transceiver.

Claims

1. A meter reading device comprising:

a metering circuit configured to measure consumption of a resource;

a transceiver operatively connected to the metering circuit and configured and arranged to transmit and receive radio signals; and

a power arrangement electrically connected to supply electrical power to at least one of the metering circuit and the transceiver, the power arrangement comprising a photovoltaic array and a battery electrically connected to the photovoltaic array and to at least one of the metering circuit and the transceiver.

2. The meter reading device of claim 1, wherein the power arrangement further comprises a capacitor electrically connected to an output of the photovoltaic array.

3. The meter reading device of claim 1, wherein the power arrangement further comprises a switching regulator electrically connected to at least one of the metering circuit and the transceiver.

4. The meter reading device of claim 1, wherein the power arrangement further comprises a plurality of rectifier diodes electrically connected to an output of the photovoltaic array.

5. The meter reading device of claim 1, wherein the power arrangement further comprises a clamping device electrically connected to an output of the photovoltaic array.

6. The meter reading device of claim 5, wherein the clamping device comprises a Zener diode.

7. The meter reading device of claim 1, wherein the metering circuit is configured to measure consumption of electricity.

8. A meter reading device comprising:

a metering circuit configured to measure consumption of a resource;

a transceiver operatively connected to the metering circuit and configured and arranged to transmit and receive radio signals;

a switching regulator electrically connected to supply electrical power at a regulated voltage to at least one of the metering circuit and the transceiver;

a battery electrically connected to the switching regulator; and

a photovoltaic array electrically connected to charge the battery.

9. The meter reading device of claim 8, further comprising a capacitor electrically connected to an output of the photovoltaic array.

10. The meter reading device of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of rectifier diodes electrically connected to an output of the photovoltaic array.

11. The meter reading device of claim 8, further comprising a clamping device electrically connected to an output of the photovoltaic array.

12. The meter reading device of claim 11, wherein the clamping device comprises a Zener diode.

13. The meter reading device of claim 8, further comprising a transformer electrically connected to the switching regulator, wherein the transformer is removable to convert the meter reading device from an alternating current powered mode to a solar powered mode.

14. The meter reading device of claim 8, wherein the metering circuit is configured to measure consumption of electricity.

15. A method of modifying a meter reading device comprising a metering circuit configured to measure consumption of a resource, a transceiver operatively connected to the metering circuit and configured and arranged to transmit and receive radio signals, and a power arrangement electrically connected to supply electrical power to at least one of the metering circuit and the transceiver, the power arrangement comprising a switching regulator electrically connected to at least one of the metering circuit and the transceiver and a transformer electrically connected to the switching regulator, the method comprising:

electrically disconnecting the transformer from the switching regulator;

electrically connecting a battery to the switching regulator; and

electrically connecting a photovoltaic array to charge the battery.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the power arrangement comprises a plurality of rectifier diodes electrically connected to an output of the transformer, wherein electrically connecting the battery to the switching regulator comprises electrically connecting the battery between the rectifier diodes and the switching regulator, and wherein electrically connecting the photovoltaic array to charge the battery comprises electrically connecting the photovoltaic array ahead of the rectifier diodes.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the power arrangement further comprises a capacitor electrically connected to an output of the transformer, and wherein the capacitor is electrically connected to an output of the photovoltaic array when the photovoltaic array is electrically connected to charge the battery.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the power arrangement further comprises a clamping device electrically connected to an output of the transformer, and wherein the clamping device is electrically connected to an output of the photovoltaic array when the photovoltaic array is electrically connected to charge the battery.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the clamping device comprises a Zener diode.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the metering circuit is configured to measure consumption of electricity.