AMR transmitter with programmable operating mode parameters
First Claim
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1. A method for programming the operating mode of a utility meter transmitter unit for use in an automatic meter reading network, the utility meter interface unit comprising:
- storing operating parameters in a utility metering transmitter unit for determining the following functions;
transmission power of the transmitter unit according to a physical environment of an installation of the transmitter unit, wherein the physical environment comprises a type of enclosure in which the transmitter unit is situated;
a selection of one of two significantly different power levels differing by at least an order of magnitude and a selection of one of at least two modulation types for communicating with a drive-by receiver and a fixed network receiver, respectively; and
frequency of occurrence of data transmissions over a predefined interval to conserve battery life; and
transmitting one or more of said operating parameters into the utility meter transmitting unit using a programming unit.
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Abstract
The invention provides a method and circuitry for programming an AMR transmitter to operate in different modes. The device can be programmed as to any one or all of the following parameters: transmission power according to the physical environment of the installation; power level and modulation type for drive-by or fixed network application; and frequency of data transmission to conserve battery life. A laptop computer or other type of programming device communicates through an optical IR port to enter these parameters.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for programming the operating mode of a utility meter transmitter unit for use in an automatic meter reading network, the utility meter interface unit comprising:
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storing operating parameters in a utility metering transmitter unit for determining the following functions; transmission power of the transmitter unit according to a physical environment of an installation of the transmitter unit, wherein the physical environment comprises a type of enclosure in which the transmitter unit is situated; a selection of one of two significantly different power levels differing by at least an order of magnitude and a selection of one of at least two modulation types for communicating with a drive-by receiver and a fixed network receiver, respectively; and frequency of occurrence of data transmissions over a predefined interval to conserve battery life; and transmitting one or more of said operating parameters into the utility meter transmitting unit using a programming unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 14)
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7. A utility meter interface unit for use in an automatic meter reading network, the utility meter interface unit comprising:
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a circuit for storing operating parameters for determining the following functions; transmission power of a transmitter unit in the utility meter interface unit according to a physical environment of an installation of the transmitter unit, wherein the physical environment comprises a type of enclosure in which the transmitter unit is situated; a selection of one of two different power levels differing by at least an order of magnitude and a selection of one of at least two modulation types for communication with a drive-by receiver and a fixed network receiver, respectively; and frequency of occurrence of data transmissions over a predefined interval to conserve battery life; and wherein said circuit is capable of receiving said operating parameters from an external programming unit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15)
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Specification