Radio and advanced metering device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10425704-B2
Application number	US-201816035730-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2018
Priority date	Oct 24, 2017
Publication date	Sep 24, 2019
Grant date	Sep 24, 2019

Abstract

A radio and advanced metering system. In an example, a multi-device module includes a host device interface configured to connect to a host device. The host device interface includes a communications interface that can send communications to and receive communications from the host device. The multi-device module includes a radio that can to connect to a wireless network and a microcontroller configurable to provide metering functions and smart metering applications.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-device module comprising:
a host device interface within the multi-device module, the host device interface configured to connect the multi-device module to a host meter device, wherein the host device interface includes:
a communications interface configured to send communications to and receive communications from the host meter device;
a power interface configured to receive power from the host meter device; and
an antenna interface configured to connect a radio on the multi-device module with an antenna on the host meter device,
the radio configured to transmit radio frequency signals to a wireless network via the antenna interface and to receive radio frequency signals from the wireless network via the antenna interface; and

a computing device within the multi-device module and communicatively coupled to the communications interface and to the radio, wherein the computing device is configured to provide interval data functions by:
receiving resource consumption information from a metering device on the host meter device via the communications interface,
processing the resource consumption information to generate interval data, wherein the interval data indicates consumption over at least one interval period,
storing the interval data in memory on the multi-device module,
generating an interval data message that includes at least a portion of the interval data, and
causing the radio to send the interval data message via the antenna interface and the wireless network to a central system, wherein the computing device is configured to facilitate remote control of the host meter device by:
receiving, via the wireless network and the radio, a command from the central system,
processing the command to determine a control message for the metering device, wherein the control message provides instructions for controlling the metering device; and
sending the control message to the host meter device via the communications interface to control the metering device, wherein:
the host device interface is disposed on a first side of a printed circuit board, the first side comprising a plurality of contacts that connect to the host device interface, and
the computing device and the radio are disposed on a second side of the printed circuit board, wherein the second side comprises a shield that covers the computing device and the radio.

2. The multi-device module of claim 1 , further comprising a power supply configured to:
receive power from the host meter device via the power interface;
generating a regulated voltage from the power; and
provide the regulated voltage to the computing device and the radio.

3. The multi-device module of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to provide event logging functions by:
receiving an indication of an event detected by the host meter device from the communications interface, wherein the event identifies one or more of: (i) a power outage or (ii) an identification of a consumption level that is over a threshold;
processing the indication of the event;
storing information about the event in memory on the multi-device module;

generating an event message; and
causing the radio to send the event message via the wireless network to the central system.

4. The multi-device module of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
receive a command from a remote device via the wireless network and the radio;
process the command to determine a response to the command; and
when the command requires use of the interval data stored in memory on the multi-device module, access the memory and generate the response to the command using the interval data.

5. The multi-device module of claim 1 , wherein causing the radio to send the interval data message comprises sending the interval data message according to timing information stored on the multi-device module.

6. A multi-device module comprising:
a host device interface within the multi-device module, the host device interface configured to connect the multi-device module to a host meter device, wherein the host device interface includes:
a communications interface configured to send communications to and receive communications from the host meter device;
a power interface configured to receive power from the host meter device; and
an antenna interface configured to connect a radio on the multi-device module with an antenna on the host meter device, wherein
the radio is configured to transmit radio frequency signals to a wireless network via the antenna interface and is configured to receive radio frequency signals from the wireless network via the antenna interface;

a first computing device within the multi-device module and communicatively coupled to the communications interface and to the radio, wherein the first computing device is configured to:
receive resource consumption information from a metering device on the host meter device via the communications interface, and
cause the radio to send an interval data message via the antenna interface and the wireless network to a central system;
receive, via the wireless network and the radio, a command from the central system,
process the command to determine a control message for the metering device, wherein the control message provides instructions for controlling the metering device; and
send the control message from the first computing device to the host meter device via the communications interface; and

a second computing device communicatively coupled to the first computing device and configured to:
receive resource information from the first computing device;
process the resource consumption information to generate interval data, wherein the interval data indicates consumption over at least one interval period,
store the interval data in memory on the multi-device module,
generate an interval data message that includes at least a portion of the interval data, and
send the interval data message to the first computing device, wherein:
the host device interface is disposed on a first side of a printed circuit board, the first side comprising a plurality of contacts that connect to the host device interface, and
the first computing device, the second computing device, and the radio are disposed on a second side of the printed circuit board, wherein the second side comprises a shield that covers the first computing device, the second computing device, and the radio.

7. The multi-device module of claim 6 wherein the first computing device is configured to execute a smart metering application that is configured to calculate one of (i) current energy use, (ii) historical energy use, or (iii) environmental impact.

8. The multi-device module of claim 6 , wherein the first computing device is configured to perform one or more of: (i) filtering, (ii) mixing, or (iii) amplification of a signal that is either (i) received from the radio or (ii) sent to the radio.

9. The multi-device module of claim 6 , wherein the communications interface is configured to connect to a power-line communications system, and wherein the first computing device is further configured to:
receive a command from the communications interface and the power-line communications system, and
send, via the communications interface, the command to the host meter device.

10. The multi-device module of claim 6 , wherein the second computing device is configured to download an original metering application and install the original metering application.

11. The multi-device module of claim 6 , wherein the multi-device module is packaged in a land grid array comprising a plurality

Assignees

• Landis & Gyr Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Torpy Keith
• Matthews Justin Clifford
• Collins Paul
• Calvert Chris
• Karlgaard Matt

Classifications

• G01D4/008 Primary

  Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading · CPC title

• H04Q9/00 Primary

  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 title

• H04Q2209/60

  for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter · CPC title

• H04Q2209/40

  using a wireless architecture · CPC title

• Y04S20/30

  Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading · CPC title