Utility meter interface unit

• US 6,424,270 B1
• Filed: 10/30/1998
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Landis+Gyr Innovations Incorporated (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Resource Management Services Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Ali, Mohammed S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US09/183,645
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.11, 340/580, 340/601, 340/825.31, 731/702.6
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/04 Arrangements for synchronous operation

Abstract

A meter interface unit (MIU) for use in sending, via RF or other suitable type of transmission, utility consumption information from a utility meter to a remote location. The MIU includes an antenna electrically coupled to a transmitter device. A microprocessor is operative to initiate reading of usage information from the meter encoder associated with the meter and control transmission of that information at selected times. The microprocessor implements functions to determine which of several known types of meter encoders is present. The meter encoder data is then read and converted to the desired transmission protocol. Power management circuitry is provided to limit application of power to the encoder, except when usage information is being obtained. The power management circuitry may also include step-up circuitry to convert a lower voltage level supplied by a power source to a higher voltage level needed by the encoder.

Claims

1. A utility meter interface unit for use with a meter encoder, said unit comprising:

a transmitter operative to send usage information obtained from said meter encoder to a remote location;

a processor operative to initiate reading of said usage information from said meter encoder and to control transmission thereof; and

power management circuitry responsive to said processor, said power management circuitry operative to direct power from a power source to said meter encoder only at selected times such that power is conserved during periods when said usage information is not being read;

wherein voltage from said power source is modulated by said power management circuitry and supplied to said meter encoder at a predetermined frequency; and

wherein said processor is operative to identify said meter encoder and responsively adjust said predetermined frequency.

2. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said processor is operative to read said usage information from both single and compound register encoder systems.

3. A utility meter interface unit for use with a meter encoder, said unit comprising:

a transmitter operative to send usage information obtained from said meter encoder to a remote location;

a processor operative to initiate reading of said usage information from said meter encoder and to control transmission thereof; and

power management circuitry responsive to said processor, said power management circuitry operative to direct power from a power source to said meter encoder only at selected times such that power is conserved during periods when said usage information is not being read;

wherein said power management circuitry includes step-up circuitry operative to step-up a source voltage supplied by said power source to a predetermined higher voltage level.

4. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 3, wherein said step-up circuitry includes a storage capacitor for maintaining said predetermined higher voltage level.

5. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 4, wherein said power management circuitry includes a selectively conducting arrangement connected in circuit with said storage capacitor, said selectively conducting arrangement being controlled to switch at said predetermined frequency.

6. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 5, wherein said selectively conducting arrangement includes at least one transistor.

7. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 4, wherein said step-up circuitry includes an inductor connected in circuit with a diode to supply charging current to said storage capacitor.

8. A utility meter interface unit for use with a meter encoder, said unit comprising:

a transmitter operative to send usage information obtained from said meter encoder to a remote location;

a memory;

a processor operative to initiate reading of said usage information from said meter encoder and store data representative thereof in said memory, said processor being operative during reading of said usage information to identify said meter encoder from among at least two encoder models; and

said processor being further operative to control transmission of said usage information utilizing a predetermined transmission protocol.

9. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 8, wherein said processor is operative to effect a different clock frequency to be supplied to said meter encoder depending on which of said at least two encoder models is identified.

10. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 9, wherein a first of said at least two encoder models is a single register encoder and a second of said at least two known encoder types is a compound register encoder system.

11. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 9, wherein said predetermined frequency is approximately 1200 Hertz.

12. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 9, wherein said predetermined frequency is approximately 19.2 KHz.

13. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 12, further comprising:

a battery; and

power management circuitry responsive to said processor, said power management circuitry operative to direct power from said battery to said meter encoder only at selected times such that battery power is conserved during periods when said usage information is not being read.

14. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 13, wherein voltage from said battery is modulated by said power management circuitry and supplied to said meter encoder at said predetermined frequency.

15. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 14, wherein said power management circuitry includes step-up circuitry operative to step-up a battery voltage supplied by said battery to a predetermined higher voltage level.

16. A utility meter interface unit for use with a meter encoder requiring a predetermined encoder voltage level, said unit comprising:

a power source supplying a source voltage level less than said encoder voltage level;

a transmitter operative to send usage information obtained from said meter encoder to a remote location;

a processor operative to initiate reading of usage information from said meter encoder and to control transmission thereof; and

power management circuitry responsive to said processor, said power management circuitry including step-up circuitry operative to step-up said source voltage level to at least said encoder voltage level.

17. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 16, wherein said step-up circuitry includes a storage capacitor for maintaining said predetermined voltage level.

18. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 17, wherein said step-up circuitry includes an inductor connected in circuit with a diode to supply charging current to said storage capacitor.

19. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 16, wherein said power management circuitry includes a selectively conducting arrangement controlled by said processor to supply power to said encoder at a predetermined frequency.

20. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 19, wherein said selectively conducting arrangement includes at least one transistor.

21. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 20, wherein said power source is a battery and said power management circuitry is further operative to direct power from said battery to said meter encoder at selected times such that battery power is conserved during periods when said usage information is not being read.

22. A method of reading usage information from a utility meter encoder, said method comprising steps of:

(a) supplying power to said encoder at a first predetermined frequency;

(b) verifying whether said encoder is of a first known type based on information responsively supplied by said encoder;

(c) if said encoder is not of said first model, supplying power to said encoder at a second predetermined frequency;

(d) verifying whether said encoder is of a second model based on information responsively supplied by said encoder;

(e) reading and storing usage information from said encoder; and

(f) transmitting said usage information to a remote location.

23. A method as set forth in claim 22, wherein said first model of encoder is a single register encoder and said second known type of encoder is a multiple register encoder system.

24. A method as set forth in claim 23, wherein said encoder is of said second model and step (e) involves successively reading and storing usage information from each of said multiple registers.

25. A method as set forth in claim 22, wherein said first predetermined frequency is approximately 1200 Hz and said second predetermined frequency is approximately 19.2 KHz.

26. A method as set forth in claim 22, wherein said usage information is converted from a first format supplied by the meter encoder to a second format prior to transmission thereof.

27. A method as in claim 22, wherein clock pulses are supplied to charge a storage capacitor of said meter encoder prior to any data being read.

28. A method as set forth in claim 22, wherein multiple encoders are read using a multiplicity of data lines while using a common clock signal.

29. A method as set forth in claim 22, wherein reading of usage information from said meter encoder is made on a scheduled basis which is programmable.

30. A utility meter interface unit for use with a meter encoder, said unit comprising:

a transmitter operative to send usage information obtained from said meter encoder to a remote location;

a processor operative to initiate reading of said usage information from said meter encoder and to control transmission thereof; and

power management circuitry responsive to said processor, said power management circuitry operative to direct power from a power source to said meter encoder only at selected times such that power is conserved during periods when said usage information is not being read and wherein said power management circuitry includes a selectively conducting arrangement controlled by said processor to supply power to said encoder at a predetermined frequency.

31. A utility meter interface unit as set forth in claim 30, wherein said processor is operative to identify said meter encoder and responsively adjust said predetermined frequency.

32. A utility meter interface as set forth in claim 30, wherein said power source comprises a battery.

33. A utility meter interface as set forth in claim 30, wherein said selectively conducting arrangement includes at least one transducer.

34. A utility meter interface unit for use with a meter encoder, said unit comprising:

a transmitter operative to send usage information obtained from said meter encoder to a remote location;

a processor operative to initiate reading of said usage information from said meter encoder and to control transmission thereof;

power management circuitry responsive to said processor, said power management circuitry operative to direct power from a power source to said meter encoder only at selected times such that power is conserved during periods when said usage information is not being read; and

wherein said processor is operative to identify said meter encoder and wherein said power management circuitry supplies power at a predetermined frequency depending on the meter encoder identified.