UTILITY MONITORING DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100060479A1
• Filed: 02/04/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aztech Associates Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aztech Associates Inc.
• Inventors: Salter, Geoffrey David Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 8,325,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.400
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/18 Remote displaying of utility meter readings
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1333 adapted for special tariff measuring
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/10 using digital techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/16 in which transmission is by pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/25 using a mesh network, e.g. a public urban network such as public lighting, bus stops or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/30 using a wired architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• 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

A monitoring device, system and method is provided for in-home/on-premises monitoring of usage of utilities, such as electricity and other services. The monitoring device receives information from a smart metering system or transceiver, and displays current usage through an illuminated display, which displays a colour indicative of the current cost of consumption, and controls illumination of the display to scan illumination across the display at a traverse rate indicative of a rate of consumption or other metric, the scanning of a pattern of illumination across the display simulating movement or rotation in the display. The display therefore provides a consumer with immediate “at a glance” visual information on current usage. Optionally a digital display screen provides more detailed alphanumeric and graphical information, through a number of selectable display modes. Beneficially one or more devices may be networked, and interface directly or indirectly with a transceiver of a smart metering system, or a retrofit transceiver for a conventional meter. While particularly suited to electricity monitoring, monitoring of other utilities and services may alternatively or additionally be provided. The system may be used with a wired network or wirelessly networked by one of a number of standard wireless and mesh network communication protocols.

Claims

1. A monitoring device for in-building monitoring of usage of a commodity supplied by a utility and contemporaneously displaying at least two usage metrics, wherein:

receiver means for receiving information relating to at least a first of said two usage metrics, said first usage metric relating to present consumption rate or aggregate consumption of the commodity;

display means having a display area;

light source means for selectively illuminating at least part of the display area with light of a selected one of a plurality of colours and varying the illuminated area;

control means responsive to the receiver means for controlling the light source means to select the illumination colour and to vary the illuminated area, the colour selection and area variation each being indicative of a respective one of the at least two usage metrics.

2. A monitoring device according to claims 1, wherein, each of the plurality of colours represents a respective one of a corresponding plurality of different tariffs and the control means causes the light source means to illuminate different parts of the display sequentially at a rate indicative of present rate of consumption.

3. A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein, each of the plurality of colours represents a respective one of a corresponding plurality of different levels of funds available and the control means causes the light source means to illuminate different parts of the display sequentially at a rate indicative of present rate of consumption

4. A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the light source means comprises an array of light emitting sources, and the control means comprises a controller for selectively activating one or more light emitting sources of the array to selectively illuminate parts of the display area with a selected colour.

5. A monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein, the display area is linear and the control means controls the array of light emitting sources to provide for scanning illumination along a length of the display area at a rate indicative of consumption rate.

6. A monitoring device according to claim 5, wherein, the display area is rectilinear or arcuate.

8. A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein optical coupling means is provided for conveying light from the light source means to the display area, said optical means comprising one or a combination of optical components, reflectors, lenses, light guides, and optical fibers.

10. A monitoring device according to claim 8, wherein, the display area comprises a window through a casing of the monitoring device and the light sources means is aligned with the window.

11. A monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein the control means provides for scanning of illumination of the array of light sources in a plurality of sequences to provide one of a plurality of patterns of illumination moving at a desired speed and traverse direction.

12. A monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein the array of light emitting sources comprises an array of light emitting diodes, or an array of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDS) or an electroluminescent membrane light source

13. A monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein, the display area comprises several substantially parallel linear bands and the control means controls the light sources to scan illumination along the length of each band.

18. A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein one of said usage metrics comprises cost information based on a rate tier or rate tariff, and each rate tier or rate tariff is associated with a specific colour of the display.

19. A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein, the control means provides for

modulating the output of the light source means to create a pattern of illumination of the display area simulating one of linear motion or rotational motion traversing the display area at a traverse speed dependent on a rate of consumption.

21. A monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the

control means is responsive to the receiver means for controlling the display to depict present consumption rate in terms of an equivalent number of light bulbs each of a given wattage.

7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

20. A monitoring device for in-building monitoring of usage of a commodity supplied by a utility, wherein:

display means for displaying at least one usage metric related to present consumption of the commodity, and

receiver means adapted to communicate directly with a receiver or transceiver integrated into a smart meter and obtain information normally transmitted by the smart meter to a utility or other recipient as part of the normal metering process, and

controller means for deriving said usage metric from said information and controlling the display means to display the usage metric.

22. A method of in-building monitoring of usage of a commodity supplied by a utility and contemporaneously displaying in-building at least two usage metrics, comprising:

receiving information relating to at least a first of said two usage metrics, said first usage metric relating to present consumption rate or aggregate consumption of the commodity;

selectively illuminating at least part of a display area with light of a selected one of a plurality of colours and varying the illuminated area;

responsive to the received information, selecting the illumination colour and the area variation such that each is indicative of a respective one of the at least two usage metrics.

23. (canceled)

24. A monitoring system for in-building monitoring of usage of a commodity supplied by a utility and displaying within the building at least two usage metrics, comprising at least one monitoring device having:

receiver means for receiving information relating to at least a first of said two usage metrics, said first usage metric relating to present consumption rate or aggregate consumption of the commodity;

display means having a display area;

light source means for selectively illuminating at least part of the display area with light of a selected one of a plurality of colours and varying the illuminated area; and

control means responsive to the receiver means for controlling the light source means to select the illumination colour and to vary the illuminated area, the colour selection and area variation each being indicative of a respective one of the at least two usage metrics,

the system further comprising at least one additional device for deploying elsewhere in the building from the first monitoring device but in communication therewith, the additional device receiving and displaying the two usage metrics.

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. A transceiver adapter for mounting between an electricity meter and a receptacle for the electricity meter and communicating with a remote monitoring device, the adapter comprising:

a set of connectors each for connecting a respective one of a set of terminals on the electricity meter to a corresponding one of a set of complementary terminals on the receptacle, and provide a conductive path for the power lines,

a base having

means for extracting current from line current carrying conductors within the adapter,

means for deriving from the extracted current a signal representing present consumption;

transmitter means responsive to the signal for transmitting to the monitoring device a further signal representing present consumption, and

power supply means for extracting power from the lines to supply components in the adapter.