High power AMR transmitter with data profiling

• US 20080186200A1
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 8,217,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 utility meter transmitter unit for use in an automatic meter reading network, the utility meter transmitter unit comprising:

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

an arithmetic section for determining utility meter usage over data intervals;

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

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

transmitter circuitry capable of transmitting a first plurality of radio frequency meter reading signals at a power level that is greater than 1 milliwatt.

2. The utility meter transmitter unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the power level is in a range from greater than 1 milliwatt up to and including one watt.

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

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

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

6. The utility meter transmitter circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the port is an optical I/O port.

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

8. The utility 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.

9. A method of collecting and transmitting utility metering data, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of signals representing meter reading data from a utility meter signal source within a local area;

determining utility meter usage over data intervals;

storing the utility usage data at data intervals within a longer data profiling interval;

reading out the data profiling data on demand; and

transmitting a plurality of radio frequency meter reading data signals at a power level that is greater than 1 milliwatt.

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

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the power level for transmitting radio frequency meter reading data signals is in a range from 1 milliwatt to one watt.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the transmitter transmits the radio frequency meter reading data signals as a plurality of frequency hopping, spread spectrum signals.

13. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the data intervals each represent a variable amount of consumption over a fixed time interval.

14. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the data intervals each represents a fixed amount of consumption over a variable time interval.

15. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the data profiling data is accessed through an optical I/O port.

16. The method as recited in claim 9, 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.

17. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein

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

and

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