Automatic utility meter monitor

• US 5,767,790 A
• Filed: 03/07/1996
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bartolome D. Jovellana
• Original Assignee: Bartolome D. Jovellana
• Inventors: Jovellana, Bartolome D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): HILL, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US08/612,440
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.28, 340/870.29, 364/483, 364/492, 364/493
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/008 Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• 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 self-contained automated meter reader system for monitoring a plurality of channels for gas, electricity and water utilities, has additional channels dedicated to normally closed alarm signals for monitoring the integrity of the system. The system is installed at the site of a standard utility meter and is configured for monitoring and operation by a user via keyword command programming on a data terminal or personal computer. Externally entered programming communicates with a compiler in the automated meter reader unit. Pulse data is accepted from digital meter reader devices for gas and water systems and a photoelectric sensor reads the watt-hour electricity usage. Utility office communication is via telephone modem link to a computer and a lap-top computer for field setup and systems analysis. Computing electronics hardware is within the watt-hour meter housing and interfaces with utility service meters, DC power supply and telephone service through a connector on a weatherproof polycarbonate meter enclosure on a utility electric service box.

Claims

1. An eddy current disk rotation photoelectric sensor comprising:

a photoelectric sensor circuit and mechanism including an infrared LED-modulated light source, said light being emitted by a diode laser, a light sensitive phototransistor, and an amplifier circuit to amplify reflective signals from said disk to operate a relay, and

means defining a non-reflective area on a bottom side of the disk interrupting a reflective surface area of the disk,

whereby infrared light in a watt-hour meter is reflected by the reflective surface of the disk and sensed by the light sensitive phototransistor until the non-reflective area is encountered to actuate the relay and transmit a pulse.

2. An eddy current disk rotation photoelectric sensor according to claim 1 wherein the sensing distance between the disk surface and the phototransistor is no more than about 50 mm.

3. An eddy current disk rotation photoelectric sensor according to claim 1 wherein the reflective surface of the disk is white.

4. An eddy current disk rotation photoelectric sensor according to claim 1 wherein the reflective surface of the disk is metallic.

5. An eddy current disk rotation photoelectric sensor according to claim 1 wherein the non-reflective mark is an aperture.

6. An eddy current disk rotation photoelectric sensor according to claim 1, and further comprising:

a pulse divider to accumulate pulses from successive rotations of the disk to produce a digital number.

7. An electric power usage measuring instrument for producing a pulsed output, said instrument comprising:

a frame for mounting the instrument,

an eddy current disk rotor, said disk rotor having a reflecting surface and a non-reflecting surface interrupting an optical coupling at least every revolution of said disk rotor,

means for generating eddy currents in the disk rotor,

mounting clip means on the frame and adapted to hold said photoelectric sensor in optically coupled relationship with said disk,

photoelectric sensor means comprising a diode laser light source and a phototransistor on the frame and optically coupled to said disk rotor, and

memory means to receive pulses from said optical coupling,

whereby pulses accumulated in a memory in a predetermined time indicate power usage.