Configurable smart utility meter box
First Claim
1. A smart meter box comprising:
- a body comprising a wall structure defining a geometric shape of predefined height wherein the top of said wall structure is configured for being associated with a top cover, wherein the bottom of said wall structure defines the perimeter of the bottom of said body and wherein the inside of said body defines a cavity;
a top cover movably associated with said body and configured for allowing access to said cavity;
a first-fixture defining a first-fixture-input and an first-fixture-output wherein said first-fixture is configured to provide a fluid flow path from said first-fixture-input and through said first-fixture to said first-fixture-output, and wherein said first-fixture-input is configured for being associated with a utility service line and wherein said first-fixture is associated with said wall structure so that said first-fixture-input is disposed outside of said body and said first-fixture-output is disposed within said cavity thereby providing a fluid flow path from said first-fixture-input to said cavity;
a second-fixture defining a second-fixture-input and a second-fixture-output, wherein said second-fixture-input is configured to provide a fluid flow path from said second-fixture-input and through said second-fixture to said second-fixture-output, and wherein said second-fixture-output is configured for being associated with a fluid consumer line and wherein said second-fixture is associated with said wall structure so that said second-fixture-input is disposed within said cavity and said second-fixture-output is disposed outside of said cavity thereby providing a fluid flow path from said cavity to said second-fixture-output;
an electronic module mechanically associated with one of (a) said wall structure, and (b) said top cover, said electronic module comprising a processing device electrically associated with a memory, a power source, and at least one data-transfer-facilitator, and wherein said memory is configured for storing warning-criteria, wherein each of said warning-criteria defines a warning-criteria condition;
at least two sensors electrically associated with said processing device, wherein said at least two sensors are configured for providing sensor-signals to said processing device and wherein at least one of said at least two sensors is selected from the group of sensors consisting of;
(1) a temperature sensor;
(2) a fluid level sensor;
(3) a fluid pressure sensor; and
(4) a light sensor;
wherein said processing device is further configure to monitor said sensor-signals and issue a warning when the processing device determines at least one of said sensor-signals satisfies a warning-criteria condition;
wherein said processing device is further configured to receive a data signal from a remote electronic device, said data signal comprising warning-criteria-update-information and wherein said processing device is further configured to update said warning-criteria stored in said memory using at least part of said warning-criteria-update-information; and
wherein the at least one data-transfer-facilitator comprises at least one of (a) transmitter configured for transmitting a data-signal to a remote receiver, (b) a communications interface configured for transferring data to an electronic device electrically associated with said communications interface, and (c) a receiver configured for receiving a data signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a meter box for housing a utility meter and configured for associating a customer service line to a utility service line. The meter box may be configured to fit within an existing meter box and may be configured with side sections in a telescopic arrangement. Flow control components at an input of the meter box prevent backflow.
The meter box comprises an electronic module that includes a variety of selectable features including datalogging, AMR, environmental monitoring, and resource monitoring. A remote monitor is provided for allowing a customer to view selected data including consumption data, pressure, pH, temperature, warnings, remote turnoff, and provide secured bill paying services. Imaging/audio components provide visual and audio data which may include an image of an analog readout for a meter register, images of the metering environment, and sound data for metering environment.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A smart meter box comprising:
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a body comprising a wall structure defining a geometric shape of predefined height wherein the top of said wall structure is configured for being associated with a top cover, wherein the bottom of said wall structure defines the perimeter of the bottom of said body and wherein the inside of said body defines a cavity; a top cover movably associated with said body and configured for allowing access to said cavity; a first-fixture defining a first-fixture-input and an first-fixture-output wherein said first-fixture is configured to provide a fluid flow path from said first-fixture-input and through said first-fixture to said first-fixture-output, and wherein said first-fixture-input is configured for being associated with a utility service line and wherein said first-fixture is associated with said wall structure so that said first-fixture-input is disposed outside of said body and said first-fixture-output is disposed within said cavity thereby providing a fluid flow path from said first-fixture-input to said cavity; a second-fixture defining a second-fixture-input and a second-fixture-output, wherein said second-fixture-input is configured to provide a fluid flow path from said second-fixture-input and through said second-fixture to said second-fixture-output, and wherein said second-fixture-output is configured for being associated with a fluid consumer line and wherein said second-fixture is associated with said wall structure so that said second-fixture-input is disposed within said cavity and said second-fixture-output is disposed outside of said cavity thereby providing a fluid flow path from said cavity to said second-fixture-output; an electronic module mechanically associated with one of (a) said wall structure, and (b) said top cover, said electronic module comprising a processing device electrically associated with a memory, a power source, and at least one data-transfer-facilitator, and wherein said memory is configured for storing warning-criteria, wherein each of said warning-criteria defines a warning-criteria condition; at least two sensors electrically associated with said processing device, wherein said at least two sensors are configured for providing sensor-signals to said processing device and wherein at least one of said at least two sensors is selected from the group of sensors consisting of;
(1) a temperature sensor;
(2) a fluid level sensor;
(3) a fluid pressure sensor; and
(4) a light sensor;wherein said processing device is further configure to monitor said sensor-signals and issue a warning when the processing device determines at least one of said sensor-signals satisfies a warning-criteria condition; wherein said processing device is further configured to receive a data signal from a remote electronic device, said data signal comprising warning-criteria-update-information and wherein said processing device is further configured to update said warning-criteria stored in said memory using at least part of said warning-criteria-update-information; and wherein the at least one data-transfer-facilitator comprises at least one of (a) transmitter configured for transmitting a data-signal to a remote receiver, (b) a communications interface configured for transferring data to an electronic device electrically associated with said communications interface, and (c) a receiver configured for receiving a data signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification