Systems and methods for utility meter reading
First Claim
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1. A electro-optical meter reading device (EOMR) for remotely reading a utility meter, the EOMR comprising:
- a control unit in communication with an optical unit, the control unit comprising;
an interface adapter configured to communicate with the optical unit;
a processor configured to perform the functions of the control unit; and
a network interface configured to communicate a meter reading to a remote location;
the optical unit comprising;
an electro-optical reflective infrared sensor configured to;
transmit an infrared pulse, wherein the infrared pulse is directed to a portion of a utility meter face associated with a last dial of the utility meter;
receive a reflected portion of the infrared pulse; and
output a voltage, wherein the voltage changes based upon the amount of the infrared pulse reflected by the meter face; and
an interface, the interface being configured to transmit the voltage to the control unit.
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for utility meter reading. The present disclosure provides inexpensive, easy to install, devices that can collect and report utility usage data from a remote location automatically, or on-demand. The disclosed systems may be used to monitor up to sixty-four meters per system, wherein each of the sixty-four meters is monitored at least once per second. Methods for using the disclosed systems also are disclosed.
13 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A electro-optical meter reading device (EOMR) for remotely reading a utility meter, the EOMR comprising:
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a control unit in communication with an optical unit, the control unit comprising; an interface adapter configured to communicate with the optical unit; a processor configured to perform the functions of the control unit; and a network interface configured to communicate a meter reading to a remote location; the optical unit comprising; an electro-optical reflective infrared sensor configured to; transmit an infrared pulse, wherein the infrared pulse is directed to a portion of a utility meter face associated with a last dial of the utility meter; receive a reflected portion of the infrared pulse; and output a voltage, wherein the voltage changes based upon the amount of the infrared pulse reflected by the meter face; and an interface, the interface being configured to transmit the voltage to the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A electro-optical meter reading device (EOMR) for remotely reading a utility meter, the EOMR comprising:
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a control unit in communication with sixty-four optical units simultaneously monitored by the control unit, wherein; each of the sixty-four optical units communicates with the control unit via an analog to digital converter; the control unit employs digital multiplexing to accommodate the simultaneous monitoring of the sixty-four optical units; and the control unit is configured to sequentially receive a signal from all sixty-four of the monitored optical units in less than eight tenths of a second; the control unit comprising; a peripheral interface adapter configured to communicate each of the sixty-four optical units via an analog to digital converter; a processor configured to perform the functions of the control unit; and a network interface configured to provide two-way communication with a remote location; each of the sixty-four optical units comprising; an electro-optical reflective infrared sensor configured to; transmit an infrared pulse, wherein the infrared pulse is directed to a portion of a utility meter face associated with a last dial of the utility meter; receive a reflected portion of the infrared pulse; and output a voltage, wherein the voltage changes based upon the amount of the infrared pulse reflected by the meter face; and an interface, the interface being configured to transmit the voltage to the control unit; and a power supply comprising a battery configured to be trickle-charged by an AC power source, wherein; the EOMR and the power supply are configured such that the EOMR functions normally for over 430 hours in the event of an AC power loss to a trickle-charging circuit associated with the power supply.
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Specification