System powered via signal on gas pipe

• US 20050258974A1
• Filed: 05/24/2004
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mahowald, Peter H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,034,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/632
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc

Abstract

A system comprises a first conductor configured to receive a signal via a supply side gas pipe, a second conductor configured to receive a reference signal via a reference path, and a circuit coupled to the first conductor and the second conductor. The circuit is configured to receive the signal and the reference signal to provide power to the system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first conductor configured to receive a signal via a supply side gas pipe;

a second conductor configured to receive a reference signal via a reference path; and

a circuit coupled to the first conductor and the second conductor and configured to receive the signal and the reference signal to provide power to the system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises:

a cathodic protection voltage on the supply side gas pipe.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises:

a voltage that is approximately negative 850 millivolts on the supply side gas pipe.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the reference path comprises at least one of:

a customer side gas pipe;

a water pipe; and

a ground rod.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit comprises:

a boost regulator configured to receive the signal and provide a regulated supply voltage to the system, wherein the voltage difference between the regulated supply voltage and the reference signal is greater than the voltage difference between the signal and the reference signal.

6. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a control circuit configured to receive data signals that indicate gas usage.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a control circuit configured to monitor the signal on the supply side gas pipe and provide an alarm signal in the event the signal on the supply side gas pipe crosses a predetermined threshold.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a communication circuit configured to communicate with an external device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication circuit is configured to communicate via at least one of:

a wire; and

wirelessly.

10. A system comprising:

a first sensor configured to receive power from a signal on a gas pipe that supplies gas to a plurality of sites and configured to monitor the signal on the gas pipe at a first site of the plurality of sites; and

a second sensor configured to receive power from the signal on the gas pipe that supplies gas to the plurality of sites and configured to monitor the signal on the gas pipe at a second site of the plurality of sites.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first sensor is configured to provide a first alarm signal in the event the signal on the gas pipe exceeds a first predetermined value and the second sensor is configured to provide a second alarm signal in the event the signal on the gas pipe exceeds a second predetermined value.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first sensor is configured to obtain usage data that indicate gas usage at the first site of the plurality of sites and the second sensor is configured to obtain usage data that indicate gas usage at the second site of the plurality of sites.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first sensor comprises a first communication circuit configured to communicate wirelessly with an external device and the second sensor comprises a second communication circuit configured to communicate wirelessly with the external device.

14. A meter reading system comprising

a conductor configured to receive a cathodic protection signal from a supply side gas pipe;

and

a meter reader electrically coupled to the conductor and configured to receive meter readings from a meter, wherein the meter reader receives the cathodic protection signal to provide a supply voltage to the meter reader.

15. The meter reading system of claim 14, wherein the meter reader comprises:

a power supply circuit configured to receive the cathodic protection voltage and provide a supply voltage to the meter reader, wherein the voltage difference between the supply voltage and a reference voltage is greater than the voltage difference between the cathodic protection voltage and the reference voltage.

16. The meter reading system of claim 14, wherein the meter reader comprises:

a control circuit configured to receive the meter readings; and

a communication circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to communicate usage data via the communication circuit.

17. The meter reading system of claim 16, wherein the control circuit is configured to monitor the cathodic protection signal and communicate an alarm signal via the communication circuit in the event the cathodic protection signal exceeds a predetermined value.

18. A method for supplying power to a sensor comprising:

receiving a signal via a supply side gas pipe;

receiving a reference signal via a reference path; and

regulating the signal to provide power to the sensor.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein regulating the signal comprises:

boosting the difference between the signal and the reference signal to provide a supply voltage to the sensor.

20. The method of claim 18, comprising:

monitoring the signal on the supply side gas pipe; and

supplying an alarm signal if the signal exceeds a predetermined value.

21. The method of claim 18, comprising:

receiving readings that indicate gas usage from a gas meter; and

communicating usage data from the readings to an external device.