Magnetic rotation sensing

• US 8,111,063 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc. (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Cellnet Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Graff, Tyler A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aurora, Reena
• Application Number:
  US12/237,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20100072989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 324/207.25
• US Class Current: 324/207.25
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/008 Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06
• 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

Embodiments for rotation sensing are provided. The device may include a magnet apparatus comprising a magnet, the magnet apparatus configured to be coupled to a dial apparatus of a meter. Also included may be a magnetic field sensor configured to be coupled to a dial cover. When the magnet apparatus is coupled to the dial apparatus and the magnetic field sensor is coupled to the dial cover, the distance between the magnet and the magnetic field sensor may be a function of the strength of the magnet and the sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor. Also, the magnetic field sensor may be configured to generate an analog signal. The device may also include a memory component storing logic configured to detect an abnormal condition based on a data value of the analog signal. The detected condition may be magnetic tampering, a missing dial cover, and/or a missing dial hand.

Claims

1. A rotation sensing device, comprising:

a magnet apparatus comprising a magnet, the magnet apparatus configured to be mounted to a dial apparatus of a meter; and

a magnetic field sensor configured to be mounted to a dial cover,

wherein when the magnetic field sensor is mounted to the dial cover, a distance between the magnet of the magnet apparatus and the magnetic field sensor is a function of a magnetic field strength of the magnet and a sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor,

wherein the magnetic field sensor is configured to generate a signal based upon the sensed magnetic field of the magnet, and wherein the dial apparatus of the meter comprises a dial hand, and wherein the magnet apparatus is configured to be mounted to the dial hand of the dial apparatus.

2. The rotation sensing device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field sensor is coupled to a printed circuit board that is coupled to the dial cover.

3. The rotation sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a memory component that stores logic configured to detect an abnormal condition based on a data value of the generated signal, wherein the abnormal condition is selected from the group consisting of:

magnetic tampering, a missing dial cover, and a missing dial hand.

4. The rotation sensing device of claim 3, wherein the magnetic field sensor is coupled to a printed circuit board that is coupled to the dial cover, and wherein the memory component that stores the logic is coupled to the printed circuit board.

5. The rotation sensing device of claim 1, wherein the magnet of the magnet apparatus is coupled to a peripheral end of the dial hand.

6. The rotation sensing device of claim 1, wherein the dial apparatus of the meter comprises meter-drive-to-dial linkage, and wherein the magnet apparatus is configured to be mounted to the meter-drive-to-dial linkage.

7. The rotation sensing device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field sensor includes a Hall effect sensor.

8. The rotation sensing device of claim 1, wherein the magnet apparatus further comprises a housing, wherein the housing is configured to enclose the dial hand.

9. A method for sensing the rotation of a dial apparatus of a metering device, comprising:

generating a magnetic field that varies according to the rotation of a dial apparatus, wherein a magnet apparatus comprising a magnet is mounted to the dial apparatus;

sensing the generated magnetic field when a magnetic field sensor is within a magnetic field sensing distance of the generated magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field sensor is mounted to a dial cover;

receiving a signal corresponding to the sensing of the magnetic field sensor; and

detecting an abnormal condition based on the signal, and wherein the dial apparatus of the meter comprises a dial hand, and wherein the magnet apparatus is mounted to the dial hand of the dial apparatus.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the detecting further comprises determining whether a data value of the received signal meets a predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the detected condition is selected from the group consisting of:

magnetic tampering, a missing dial cover, and a missing dial hand.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the dial apparatus of the meter comprises meter-drive-to-dial linkage, and wherein the magnet apparatus is mounted to the meter-drive-to-dial linkage.

13. A system for rotation sensing, comprising:

a dial apparatus;

a magnet apparatus comprising a magnet, the magnet apparatus mounted to the dial apparatus; and

a magnetic field sensor mounted to a dial cover, the dial cover covering the dial apparatus, wherein the distance between the magnet of the magnet apparatus and the magnetic field sensor is a function of a magnetic field strength of the magnet and a sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor, wherein the magnetic field sensor is configured to generate a signal based upon the sensed magnetic field, and wherein the dial apparatus of the meter comprises a dial hand, and wherein the magnet apparatus is configured to be mounted to the dial hand of the dial apparatus.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the magnetic field sensor is coupled to a printed circuit board that is coupled to the dial cover.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a memory component that stores logic configured to detect an abnormal condition based on a data value of the generated signal, and wherein the abnormal condition is selected from the group consisting of:

magnetic tampering, a missing dial cover, and a missing dial hand.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the magnetic field sensor is coupled to a printed circuit board that is coupled to the dial cover, and wherein the memory component that stores logic is coupled to the printed circuit board.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the magnet of the magnet apparatus is coupled to a peripheral end of the dial hand.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the dial apparatus of the meter comprises meter-drive-to-dial linkage, and wherein the magnet apparatus is configured to be mounted to the meter-drive-to-dial linkage.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the magnetic field sensor includes a Hall effect sensor.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the magnet apparatus further comprises a housing, wherein the housing is configured to enclose the dial hand.