Multiple mode AMR system with battery free transmitters
First Claim
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1. A transmitter associated with a utility meter and configured for transmitting resource consumption data to a remote location, said transmitter comprising:
- a processor, a memory, and transmitter circuitry electrically associated with an antenna;
a RF scavenger circuit electrically associated with, and configured to supply power, to at least one of said processor, said memory and said transmitter, wherein said RF scavenger circuit is configured to receive ambient RF energy and convert such RF energy to a direct current (DC) voltage;
wherein said processor is further electrically associated with a data-source containing utility-data;
wherein a function-table is stored in said memory, said function-table comprising (i) a list of functions to be performed by said transmitter, (ii) the status-value for at least one function, and (iii) a function-power-value for at least one function, wherein said function-power-value represents the amount of power required to perform said function and wherein said status-value indicates if said function needs to be performed; and
wherein said processor is further configured to (a) monitor the power level supplied by said RF scavenger circuit, (b) monitor the status-value of each function associated with a status-value, and (c) perform a required function when said function'"'"'s status-value indicates said function needs to be performed and there is sufficient power to perform said function.
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Abstract
The disclosed inventions include and apparatus and method for providing a universal Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system. Such system may be configured to work in a plurality of modes including a walk-bay, drive-by and fixed network mode. For some configurations RF scavenging technology is used to power the transmitter.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A transmitter associated with a utility meter and configured for transmitting resource consumption data to a remote location, said transmitter comprising:
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a processor, a memory, and transmitter circuitry electrically associated with an antenna; a RF scavenger circuit electrically associated with, and configured to supply power, to at least one of said processor, said memory and said transmitter, wherein said RF scavenger circuit is configured to receive ambient RF energy and convert such RF energy to a direct current (DC) voltage; wherein said processor is further electrically associated with a data-source containing utility-data; wherein a function-table is stored in said memory, said function-table comprising (i) a list of functions to be performed by said transmitter, (ii) the status-value for at least one function, and (iii) a function-power-value for at least one function, wherein said function-power-value represents the amount of power required to perform said function and wherein said status-value indicates if said function needs to be performed; and wherein said processor is further configured to (a) monitor the power level supplied by said RF scavenger circuit, (b) monitor the status-value of each function associated with a status-value, and (c) perform a required function when said function'"'"'s status-value indicates said function needs to be performed and there is sufficient power to perform said function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A transmitter associated with a utility meter and configured for transmitting resource consumption data to a remote location, said transmitter comprising:
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a processor, a memory, and transmitter circuitry electrically associated with an antenna; a battery configured to supply power to said processor, said memory and said transmitter circuit, said battery having a known watt/time rating value indicating how many watts per unit of time said battery can supply before becoming discharged and wherein said watt/time rating value is stored in said memory; wherein said processor is configured to keep track of time and generate time-data; wherein said processor is further electrically associated with a battery monitoring circuit configured to monitor the voltage level of said battery and the current flowing from said battery to generate power-draw-data; wherein said processor is further configured to use said power-draw-data and said time-data to generate a power-consumption-value that indicates the amount of power per unit time that has been supplied by said battery; and wherein said processor is further configure to perform at least one task from the group of tasks consisting of;
(a) use said power-consumption-value and said watt/time rating value to predict the remaining energy in said battery; and
(b) to transmit said power-consumption-value and said watt/time rating value to a remote device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A transceiver for transmitting data from a utility meter, said transceiver comprising:
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a processor, a memory, receiver circuitry, and transmitter circuitry wherein said transmitter circuitry and said receiver circuitry are electrically associated with an antenna; a RF scavenger circuit electrically associated with, and configured to supply power to, at least one of said processor, said memory, said transmitter circuitry and said receiver circuitry, wherein said RF scavenger circuit is configured to receive ambient RF energy and convert such RF energy to a direct current (DC) voltage; wherein a function-table is stored in said memory, said function-table comprising (i) a list of functions to be performed by said transceiver, (ii) the status-value for at least one function, and (iii) a function-power-value for at least one function, wherein said function-power-value represents the amount of power required to perform said function and wherein said status-value indicates if said function needs to be performed; and wherein said processor is further configured to (a) monitor the power level supplied by said RF scavenger circuit, (b) monitor the status-value of each function associated with a status-value, and (c) perform a required function when said function'"'"'s status-value indicates said function needs to be performed and there is sufficient power to perform said function. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification