System and Method for Improving Chemical Efficiency of a Battery in a Flow Measurement System

• US 20140139229A1
• Filed: 11/20/2012
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aquacue, Inc. (Badger Meter Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kassayan, Reza
• Granted Patent: US 9,910,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/88 Providing power supply at the sub-station
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for powering a measurement system are provided. In some aspects, a system includes a high energy density electric cell, storing energy for powering the measurement system; a rechargeable electric cell, being charged by the high energy density electric cell and providing high current bursts to the measurement system; and a charging control device, coupled between the high energy density electric cell and the rechargeable electric cell, and enabling the high energy density electric cell to charge the rechargeable electric cell. The high energy density electric cell operates at a current which allows the high energy density electric cell to be in its optimal zone of chemical efficiency.

Claims

1. A measurement system, comprising:

a control unit, receiving usage data of water, electricity or gas from a sensor;

a wireless communication unit, coupled to the control unit to receive the usage data of water, electricity or gas, and transmitting the usage data of water, electricity or gas via an antenna; and

a power supply unit, coupled to a power supply system, the control unit and the wireless communication unit, and providing power to the control unit and the wireless communication unit,

wherein the power supply system comprises;

a high energy density electric cell, storing energy for powering the measurement system; and

a rechargeable electric cell, being charged by the high energy density electric cell and providing high current bursts to the measurement system.

2. The measurement system of claim 1, wherein the power supply system further comprises a charging control device, coupled between the high energy density electric cell and the rechargeable electric cell, and enabling the high energy density electric cell to charge the rechargeable electric cell.

3. The measurement system of claim 2, wherein the high energy density electric cell operates at a current which allows the high energy density electric cell to be in its optimal zone of chemical efficiency.

4. The measurement system of claim 2, wherein the charging control device comprises a comparator for comparing a voltage of the rechargeable electric cell with a first threshold, and turning on an enabling signal to enable the high energy density electric cell to charge the rechargeable electric cell when the voltage of the rechargeable electric cell falls below the first threshold.

5. The measurement system of claim 4, wherein the comparator compares the voltage of the rechargeable electric cell with a second threshold, and turns off the enabling signal to stop charging the rechargeable electric cell when the voltage of the rechargeable electric cell reaches the second threshold.

6. The measurement system of claim 4, wherein the charging control device further comprises a voltage regulator coupled between the high energy density electric cell and the rechargeable electric cell, and enabling the high energy density electric cell to charge the rechargeable electric cell when receiving the enabling signal.

7. The measurement system of claim 6, wherein the voltage regulator is a DC-DC converter.

8. The measurement system of claim 6, wherein the voltage regulator is a low-dropout regulator.

9. The measurement system of claim 1, wherein the high energy density electric cell is a primary lithium battery.

10. The measurement system of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable electric cell is a LiFeSo4 battery, a lithium polymer battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, or a nickel metal hybrid battery.

11. The measurement system of claim 1, wherein the control unit monitors the voltage of the rechargeable electric cell, determines power remaining in the rechargeable electric cell and determines power needed for an upcoming wireless transmission.

12. The measurement system of claim 11, wherein the control unit further determines to turn off the wireless communication unit when the power remaining in the rechargeable electric cell is not enough for the upcoming wireless transmission.

13. The measurement system of claim 12, wherein the control unit further determines to turn on the wireless communication unit when the power remaining in the rechargeable electric cell is enough for the upcoming wireless transmission.

14. The measurement system of claim 11, wherein the control unit turns on a triggering signal to trigger charging of the rechargeable electric cell when the power remaining in the rechargeable electric cell is not enough for the upcoming wireless transmission.

15. The measurement system of claim 12, wherein the control unit turns off the triggering signal, which is used to trigger the charging of the rechargeable electric cell, when the power remaining in the rechargeable electric cell is enough for the upcoming wireless transmission.

16. The measurement system of claim 1, wherein the control unit detects time periods during which the high energy density electric cell charges the rechargeable electric cell, calculates a sum of the time periods, and determines power remaining in the high energy density electric cell based on the sum of the time periods.

17. A power supply system for a measurement system, comprising:

a high energy density electric cell, storing energy for powering the measurement system;

a rechargeable electric cell, being charged by the high energy density electric cell and providing high current bursts to the measurement system; and

a charging control device, coupled between the high energy density electric cell and the rechargeable electric cell, and enabling the high energy density electric cell to charge the rechargeable electric cell,

wherein the high energy density electric cell operates at a current which allows the high energy density electric cell to be in its optimal zone of chemical efficiency.

18. A method for powering a measurement system, the method comprising:

comparing a voltage of a rechargeable electric cell with a first threshold, wherein the rechargeable electric cell provides high current bursts to the measurement system; and

when the voltage of the rechargeable electric cell is lower than the first threshold, turning on an enabling signal to enable charging of the rechargeable electric cell by a high energy density electric cell which stores energy for powering the measurement system;

wherein the high energy density electric cell operates at a current which allows the high energy density electric cell to be in its optimal zone of chemical efficiency.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

comparing the voltage of the rechargeable electric cell with a second threshold; and

when the voltage of the rechargeable electric cell exceeds the second threshold, turning off the enabling signal.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a triggering signal from the measurement system when power remaining in the rechargeable electric cell is not enough for an upcoming wireless transmission by a wireless communication unit in the measurement system, and triggering charging of the rechargeable electric cell by the high energy density electric cell.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the high energy density electric cell is a primary lithium battery.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the rechargeable electric cell is a LiFeSo4 battery, a lithium polymer battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, or a nickel metal hybrid battery.

23. A method for powering a measurement system, wherein the measurement system comprises a control unit for receiving usage data of water, electricity or gas from an interface, a wireless communication unit for transmitting the usage data, and a power supply unit for providing power to the control unit and the wireless communication unit, the method comprising:

comparing a voltage of a rechargeable electric cell with a first threshold, wherein the rechargeable electric cell provides high current bursts to the measurement system; and

when the voltage of the rechargeable electric cell is lower than the first threshold, turning on an enabling signal to enable charging of the rechargeable electric cell by a high energy density electric cell which stores energy for powering the measurement system;

wherein the high energy density electric cell operates at a current which allows the high energy density electric cell to be in its optimal zone of chemical efficiency.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

comparing the voltage of the rechargeable electric cell with a second threshold, and turning off the enabling signal when the voltage of the rechargeable electric cell reaches a second threshold.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the control unit further:

detects the voltage of the rechargeable electric cell;

determines power remaining in the rechargeable electric cell; and

determines power needed for an upcoming wireless transmission from the wireless communication unit.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the control unit further determines to turn off the wireless communication unit when the power remaining in the rechargeable electric cell is not enough for the upcoming wireless transmission.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the control unit further determines to turn on the wireless communication unit when the power remaining in the rechargeable electric cell is enough for the upcoming wireless transmission.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the control unit further turns on a triggering signal to trigger the charging of the rechargeable electric cell when the power remaining in the rechargeable electric cell is not enough for the upcoming wireless transmission.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the control unit further turns off the triggering signal, which is used to trigger the charging of the rechargeable electric cell, when the power remaining in the rechargeable electric cell is enough for the upcoming wireless transmission.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the control unit further detects time periods during which the high energy density electric cell charges the rechargeable electric cell.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the control unit further calculates a total charging duration by adding the times periods.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the control unit further determines current drained from the high energy density electric cell.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the control unit further determines power remaining in the high energy density electric cell by subtracting the current drained from a rated capacity of the high energy density electric cell.