AMR transmitter and method for both narrow band and frequency hopping transmissions

• US 7,626,511 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Inventors: Lazar, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang; Hung Q
• Application Number:
  US11/451,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20070285276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.01, 340/870.18, 370/310, 370/338
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• 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

The invention provides a method and circuitry for transmitting signals in both a narrow band, mobile-receiver type of AMR network and also for operation in the frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum, fixed-receiver type of AMR network. Unlike systems provided with multiple transmitters, the invention provides this in a single transmitter operating with common circuitry to transmit in two modes of transmission in a single operational sequence.

Claims

1. A utility meter interface unit configured to connect in a one-way automatic meter reading network, the utility meter interface unit comprising:

transmitter circuitry configured to transmit a first plurality of narrow band signals at a first, limited power level for reception by a drive-by receiver and configured to transmit second pluralities of frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum signals at a second limited power level that is greater than the first power level by at least one order of magnitude for reception by a receiver in a fixed network; and

wherein the transmitter circuitry is configured to transmit the narrow band frequency signals at first intervals of less than one minute over a plurality of hours, except when interrupted for transmitting one of the second pluralities of frequency-hopping spread-spectrum signals at a second interval which is longer than the first interval by at least one order of magnitude;

wherein the first plurality of narrow band signals and one of the second pluralities of frequency hopping signals are each transmitted during respective intervals within a single operational sequence; and

wherein transmitting the narrow band signals for reception by a drive-by receiver at the first intervals more frequently than the spread spectrum signals transmitted for reception by a receiver in a fixed network at the second intervals provides communication for drive-by receivers while conserving power in the utility meter interface unit.

2. The utility meter interface unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits the second pluralities of frequency hopping spread spectrum signals at one hour intervals.

3. The utility meter interface unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits a plurality of the frequency hopping spread spectrum signals a plurality of times within one hour of a twenty-four hour time period.

4. The utility meter interface unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the first intervals are four seconds.

5. The utility meter interface unit as recited in claim 4, wherein the second intervals are approximately one hour.

6. The utility meter interface unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the first power level is limited to be no greater than one milliwatt.

7. The utility meter interface unit as recited in claim 6, wherein the second power level is in a range from at least ten times the first power level to one watt.

8. The utility meter interface unit as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a CPU operating according a stored control program; and

a radio frequency modulation section for modulating meter data signals into RF signals for transmission.

9. The utility meter interface unit recited in claim 1, wherein the first plurality of narrow frequency band signals and the second plurality of frequency hopping spread spectrum signals are transmitted by common circuitry comprising a single transmitter.

10. The utility meter interface unit of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of narrow band signals and the second pluralities of frequency hopping signals are transmitted within a frequency range between 902 Mhz and 928 Mhz.

11. A method of transmitting radio frequency signals representing utility metering data, the method comprising:

transmitting a first plurality of narrow band signals at a first, limited power level for reception by a drive-by receiver; and

transmitting a second plurality of frequency hopping spread spectrum signals at a second limited power level that is greater than the first power level by at least one order of magnitude for reception by a receiver in a fixed network; and

wherein the narrow band signals are transmitted at first intervals of less than one minute over a plurality of hours, and wherein the second plurality of frequency-hopping, spread spectrum signals is transmitted at a second interval which is longer than the first interval by at least one order of magnitude;

wherein the first plurality of narrow band signals and one of the second pluralities of frequency hopping signals are transmitted during respective intervals within a single operational sequence; and

wherein transmitting the narrow band signals for reception by a drive-by receivers at first intervals more frequently than the spread spectrum signals transmitted for reception by a receiver in fixed network at the second intervals provides communication for drive-by receivers while conserving power in a utility meter interface unit.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the second pluralities of frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum signals are transmitted at one hour intervals.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein a plurality of the frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum signals are transmitted a plurality of times within one hour of a twenty-four hour time period.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the first intervals are four seconds.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the second intervals are approximately one hour.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the first power level is limited to be no greater than one milliwatt.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the second power level is in a range from ten times the first power level up to one watt.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of narrow band signals and the second pluralities of frequency hopping signals are transmitted within a frequency range between 902 Mhz and 928 Mhz.