Utility meter with external signal-powered transceiver

• US 8,378,844 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landis+Gyr AG (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Landis+Gyr Inc. (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Inventors: Junker, John P., Burns, Gordon R.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US11/490,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20060261973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,405 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.01, 340/870.02, 340/870.3, 340/10.34, 324/142
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/02 in which the signal transmitted is magnitude of current or voltage G08C19/36, G08C19/38 take precedence
• 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: H04Q 9/04 Arrangements for synchronous operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• 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

An arrangement for use in a utility meter includes a non-volatile memory and an RF transceiver. The non-volatile memory has a first and a second port, the first port configured to obtain commodity consumption data. The radio frequency (RF) transceiver is configured to receive an RF signal from an external source and obtain energy from the RF signal and provide the energy to a bias voltage input of the non-volatile memory. The RF transceiver is further operable to perform a data transfer operation responsive to the received RF signal, the data transfer operation including a transfer of meter-related data between the non-volatile memory and the RF transceiver using the second port of the non-volatile memory.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) receiving an external signal into a transceiver of a utility meter;

b) obtaining first bias power from the external signal;

c) obtaining first meter data from the external signal;

d) providing the first bias power to a non-volatile memory;

e) storing the first meter data into the non-volatile memory; and

f) performing commodity consumption measurements within the utility meter based at least in part on the first meter data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to step f):

providing second bias power from a source other than the external signal to the non-volatile memory; and

retrieving the first meter data from the non-volatile memory.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

g) storing second meter data into the non-volatile memory, wherein the second meter data is at least partially different than the first meter data.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

h) receiving a second external signal into the transceiver;

i) obtaining first bias power from the second external signal;

j) providing the first bias power to the non-volatile memory;

k) retrieving the second meter data from the non-volatile memory;

l) transmitting an outgoing signal to a device external to the utility meter, said outgoing signal including the second meter data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step a) further comprises receiving the external signal into the transceiver of the utility meter, the external signal comprising an RF signal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step c) further comprises obtaining the first meter data from the external signal, the first meter data including meter calibration data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step c) further comprises obtaining the first meter data from the external signal, the first meter data including meter program data.

8. A method comprising:

a) measuring commodity consumption at least in part using a circuit within a utility meter, the circuit powered by a first source of electrical power;

b) storing consumption data measured by the circuit in a non-volatile memory, the storage in the non-volatile memory powered by the first source of electrical power;

c) receiving an external RF signal into a transceiver within the utility meter when the first source of electrical power is unavailable;

d) obtaining bias power from the external RF signal;

e) providing the bias power to the non-volatile memory;

f) retrieving meter-related data from the non-volatile memory;

g) transmitting an outgoing signal to a device external to the utility meter, said outgoing signal including the meter-related data.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein step g) further comprises employing an RF transmitter to transmit the outgoing signal.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising, prior to step a), receiving into the nonvolatile memory meter-related data comprising commodity consumption data from a measurement circuit of the utility meter.