System and methods for wirelessly transmitting data from a utility meter

• US 7,250,874 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2005
• Issued: 07/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SmartSynch Incorporated (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Roderick Michael, Blackwell, Dane, Hamilton, Patrick, Scribner, Allan L., Mueller, Wilfred, Needham, Dennis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US11/230,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20060066457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.06, 340/870.05, 702/62, 379/106.03
• US Class Current: 340/870.06
• 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 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 system and method for transmitting data from a utility meter, such as a power meter, is disclosed. A microprocessor housed inside the power meter obtains readings of various power indicia, stores the readings in memory, and determines an efficient means of formatting the data for transmission to a remote host computer for further processing and use. The data is selectively compressed to minimize the amount and size of data that needs to be transmitted. The microprocessor is mounted on a circuit board assembly within the power meter housing and interfaces between the meter board of the power meter and a transmitter. The transmitter communicates the formatted and potentially compressed data from the power meter to the remote host computer wirelessly or via hard-wired communication lines. The various power indicia include power usage or power quality information.

Claims

1. A printed circuit board assembly configured for transmission of data from a utility meter to a remote host computer, the printed circuit board assembly comprising:

a processor;

a first I/O pod in electrical communication with the utility meter and the processor, wherein the first I/O port receives meter data readings from the utility meter;

memory storage in electrical communication with the processor for storage of the meter data readings; and

a second I/O port in electrical communication with the processor;

wherein the processor compares successive meter data readings to generate a difference value, wherein the processor selectively compresses the difference value based on the size of the difference value, and wherein either the difference value or compressed difference value is transmitted from the second I/O port to the remote host computer for further processing.

2. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the meter data readings represents power usage.

3. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 2 wherein the meter data readings represents a relative difference between a current power usage value and a previous power usage value.

4. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the meter data readings includes a time/date stamp and wherein the time/date stamp is also transmitted from the second I/O port to the remote host computer for further processing.

5. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the printed circuit board assembly is configured for mounting within the housing of the utility meter.

6. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the difference value or the compressed difference value is transmitted periodically.

7. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the difference value or the compressed difference value is transmitted wirelessly to the remote host computer using a pager system.

8. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the printed circuit board assembly comprises a single circuit board having an interface board and a pager board.

9. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the printed circuit board assembly comprises an interface board and a pager board.

10. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the difference value or the compressed difference value is transmitted along wired communication lines to the remote host computer.

11. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the processor includes a special byte value in the transmission to the remote host computer to indicate whether the accompanying data has been compressed.

12. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the meter data readings represent power quality information.

13. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 12 wherein the power quality information includes one of a power outage event, a high/low voltage event, a voltage unbalance event, and a reportable momentary interruption/voltage sag (MIVS) event.

14. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 12 wherein the printed circuit board transmits the difference value or the compressed difference value when power quality information exceeds a threshold value.

15. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the meter data readings selectively represent power usage or power quality types of information.

16. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 15 wherein the types of information are preconfigured in computer instructions on the printed circuit board assembly.

17. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 15 wherein the types of information are configured remotely.

18. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the first I/O port receives meter data readings from the utility meter on a periodic basis.

19. A system for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote host computer comprising:

a) an interface having;

a microprocessor;

a first I/O port in electrical communication with a meter board of the utility meter and with the microprocessor, wherein the first I/O port receives meter data readings from the utility meter via the meter board;

memory storage in electrical communication with the microprocessor for receipt and storage of the meter data readings; and

a second I/O port in electrical communication with the microprocessor;

wherein the microprocessor processes the meter data readings for transmission to the remote host computer by generating a difference value between successive meter data readings and by selectively compressing the difference value based on the size of the difference value; and

b) a transmitter in electrical communication with the interface, wherein the transmitter receives the selectively compressed difference value from the second I/O port and transmits the selectively compressed difference value to the remote host computer for further use;

wherein the interface and the transmitter are configured for mounting within the housing of the utility meter.

20. A method for providing periodic readings from a utility meter to a remote host computer, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a plurality of meter reading values from the utility meter, wherein the meter readings values are selectively indicative of power usage or power quality information;

b) storing the plurality of meter reading values within memory;

c) determining the relative difference between two sequentially-stored meter reading values in the memory;

d) selectively compressing the determined relative difference value at least as a function of the size of the determined relative difference value; and

e) wirelessly transmitting the selectively compressed determined relative difference value from the utility meter to the remote host computer for further processing wherein the selectively compressed determined relative difference value includes an indicator as to whether or not the determined relative difference value has been compressed.