High power AMR transmitter with data profiling for mobile networks

• US 8,217,804 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Inventors: Laughlin-Parker, Kelly, Fillinger, John Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US11/701,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20080186200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.18, 340/870.02, 340/870.03
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• 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 a frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum, AMR network using mobile receivers operating at greater than 1 milliwatt and providing data profiling data to be read out through an I/O port or transmitted over the RF network, which may use one-way or two-way communication.

Claims

1. A water meter transmitter unit for use in an automatic meter reading network to communicate with a mobile network receiver, the water meter transmitter unit comprising:

a meter signal input section for receiving a plurality of signals representing meter reading data from a water metering signal source within a local area;

an arithmetic section for determining water usage data over data intervals from the plurality of signals received through the meter signal input section;

a storage section for storing the water usage data corresponding to a data interval within a longer data profiling interval;

a port for reading out the water usage data corresponding to a data profiling interval;

transmitter circuitry configured for transmitting a first plurality of radio frequency meter reading signals at a power level that is greater than 1 milliwatt to the mobile network receiver; and

wherein the transmitter is operated at a power level that is within a range from greater than 1 milliwatt up to and including one watt, with power being received from a power source that is self-contained within the water meter transmitter unit.

2. The water meter transmitter unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitter circuitry transmits the radio frequency meter reading signals in a frequency hopping, spread spectrum mode of transmission.

3. The water meter transmitter unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the data intervals each represent a variable amount of consumption over a fixed time interval.

4. The water meter transmitter unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the data intervals each represents a fixed amount of consumption over a variable time interval.

5. The water meter transmitter unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the port is an optical I/O port.

6. The water meter transmitter unit recited in claim 5, wherein the port is a port for transmitting and receiving signals in the infrared frequency range.

7. The water meter transmitter unit as recited in claim 1, wherein

the arithmetic section includes a CPU operating according a stored control program;

and

wherein the storage section includes a nonvolatile memory.

17. The water meter transmitter unit as recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of radio frequency meter reading data signals are transmitted by the transmitter circuitry in a frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum mode of transmission for a number of channels from 25 to 50 channels at power level above 1 milliwatt but no greater than 1/4 watt.

18. The water meter transmitter unit as recited in claim 17, wherein the communication of data is one-way from utility meter transmitter unit to the mobile network receiver.

24. The water meter transmitter unit comprising of claim 1, wherein the water meter transmitter unit is configured to be installed in a subsurface enclosure apart from any building.

25. The water meter transmitter unit comprising of claim 24, wherein the automatic meter reading network utilizes a walk-by or vehicle-carried mobile receiver.

8. A method of collecting and transmitting water metering data in a meter reading network including a mobile network receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of signals representing meter reading data from a utility meter signal source at a metering site, wherein the utility meter is a water meter;

determining water usage data over data intervals from the plurality of signals received from a utility meter signal source over the data intervals;

storing the water usage data at data intervals within a longer data profiling interval to provide data profiling data;

reading out the data profiling data on demand; and

transmitting a plurality of radio frequency meter reading data signals from the metering site at a power level that is greater than 1 milliwatt for reception by the mobile network receiver; and

receiving power from a power source that is self-contained within a water meter transmitter unit, wherein the power required for operation of the transmitter is in a range from greater than 1 milliwatt, up to and including one watt.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of radio frequency meter reading data signals are transmitted in a frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum mode of transmission.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the power level for transmitting radio frequency meter reading data signals is in a range from 1 milliwatt to one watt.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the transmitter transmits the radio frequency meter reading data signals as a plurality of frequency hopping, spread spectrum signals.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the data intervals each represent a variable amount of consumption over a fixed time interval.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the data intervals each represents a fixed amount of consumption over a variable time interval.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the data profiling data is accessed through an optical I/O port.

15. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein communication is two-way and wherein the data profiling data is accessed through a message sent to a radio frequency transceiver unit and, in response, is provided in a return message.

16. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein

the water usage is determined by a CPU operating according a stored control program;

and

wherein the water usage data is stored in a nonvolatile memory.

19. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the plurality of radio frequency meter reading data signals are transmitted by a transmitter in a frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum mode of transmission for a number of channels from 25 to 50 channels at power level above 1 milliwatt but no greater than 1/4 watt.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the communication of data is one-way from the metering site to the mobile network receiver.

26. The method of claim 8, wherein the water meter is installed in a subsurface enclosure apart from any building.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the automatic meter reading network utilizes a walk-by or vehicle-carried mobile receiver.

21. A water meter transmitter unit for use in an automatic meter reading network including a mobile network receiver, the utility meter transmitter unit comprising:

a meter signal input means for receiving a plurality of signals representing meter reading data from a water metering signal source within a local area;

an arithmetic means for determining water usage data over data intervals from the plurality of signals representing meter reading data;

a storage means for storing the water usage data corresponding to a data interval within a longer data profiling interval;

a port means for reading out the water usage data corresponding to a data profiling interval; and

transmitter circuitry configured for transmitting a first plurality of radio frequency meter reading signals, at a power level that is greater than 1 milliwatt, as signals that can be received by the mobile network receiver; and

wherein a power source is self-contained within the utility meter transmitter unit with a capacity for supplying power required for operation of the transmitter within a range from greater than 1 milliwatt up to and including one watt.

22. The water meter transmitter unit as recited in claim 21, wherein the plurality of radio frequency meter reading data signals are transmitted by the transmitter circuitry in a frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum mode of transmission for a number of channels from 25 to 50 channels at power level above 1 milliwatt but no greater than 1/4 watt.

23. The water meter transmitter unit as recited in claim 22 wherein the communication of data is one-way from the metering site to the mobile network receiver.

28. The utility meter transmitter unit of claim 21, wherein the utility meter transmitter unit is adapted to be installed in a subsurface enclosure apart from any building.

29. The utility meter transmitter unit of claim 28, wherein the automatic meter reading network utilizes a walk-by or vehicle-carried mobile receiver.