Mueller International, LLC

Fc Patents, LLC.

Mars Company

Other

Performance Meter, Inc.

Ian Phillip Harvey

Floyd Stanley Salser, Jr

Roger Allcorn

Neil Andrew Furmidge

Francis J Stifter, Jr

Szabolcs Zigovszki

Richard Hall

Tim Baker

Matt Allen Thomas

Arthur Hendey, Sr

Ronnel Gallon

Technologies are described herein for activating one or more operating modes of a register in a meter. The register is operated in a first mode. Light detections indicating whether the register is exposed to light or isolated from light are read. It is determined whether a condition is met based on the light detections. Upon determining that the condition is met, operating the register in a second mode.

Mode activation using light detection

Technologies are described herein for compensating for inaccuracies in flow measurement in real-time during accumulation of usage. A pulse count indicating an amount of flow in a meter over a measurement period is read. An average flow rate through the meter for the measurement period is determined and a correction factor is looked up from a table based on the average flow rate. A total usage accumulator for the meter is then updated with the amount of flow over the measurement period based on the pulse count and the correction factor.

Real-time flow compensation in usage accumulation

An encoder-type register for an automatic meter reader to be interfaced with a visual read-only register of the kind found in a water meter that measures water consumption. The water meter register has a rotatable sweep hand that carries a magnet and rotates around a register plate in relation to the speed and volume of water moving through the water meter. A plurality of (e.g., three) magnetic (e.g., Hall effect) sensors are fixedly positioned one-after-another in the path of the magnet carried by the rotating sweep hand. The magnetic sensors measure the magnetic field produced by the rotating magnet and generate corresponding output signals. A microprocessor receives the output signals generated by the magnetic sensors whenever the magnet rotates therepast. The microprocessor stores information concerning the number of rotations of the magnet carried by the sweep hand depending upon the direction in which the magnet is being rotated as an indication of water consumption. The microprocessor provides the stored information to a meter interface unit connected to a set of output terminals of the encoder register so that such information can be transmitted from the meter interface unit to a remote data collector over a wireless communication path.

Encoder-type register for an automatic water meter reader

The disclosed inventions include and apparatus and method for providing a universal Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system. Such system may be configured to work in a plurality of modes including a walk-bay, drive-by and fixed network mode. The system configured to provide functionally-self-healing features where the system continues to function after certain hardware failures occur.

Mutltiple mode AMR system for water meters

The reader () for a utility meter is disclosed. The reader () is capable of receiving data, in a variety of different protocols, by either inductive coupling or by radio frequency transmission. The reader () is a hand-held device which comprises an inductive read nozzle (), a RF module, a display (), a keypad () a trigger switch (), a handle () a communication port (), a battery charging interface (), a memory and a microprocessor. The reader () is capable of storing utility usage data in memory and/or downloading utility usage data to a computer through the communication port ().

Smart meter reader

The present inventions relate to a smart transmitter technology that provides for a more stable transmitted signal power level, a more stable transmitted signal carrier frequency, a sleep mode without the need for receiving a wakeup signal, and a universal communication interface. The smart transmitter may comprise selective of a processor, a universal communication interface, transmitter circuitry, a reference-frequency-generator, a depletable power source, and an antenna. The processor configures the transmitter circuitry to adjust the power level of the transmitted signal based on the quality of power supplied to the transmitter circuitry. The processor is further configured to access temperature data from a temperature sensor and compensate for expected changes in the frequency output of the reference-frequency-generator. Finally, the processor is configured to initiate an AutoCommSelect routine that selects the proper universal communication interface configuration and communication protocol required to communicate with a data-source connected to the transmitter.

Smart transmitter for utility meters

A reader () for a utility meter is disclosed. The reader () is capable of receiving data, in a variety different communication protocols, by either inductive coupling or by radio frequency transmission. The reader () is a hand-held device which comprises an inductive read nozzle (), a RF module, a display (), a keypad (), a trigger switch (), a handle (), a communication port (), a battery charging interface (), a memory and a microprocessor. The reader () is capable of storing utility usage data in memory and/or downloading utility usage data to a computer through the communication port ().

Reader for utility meter

The present inventions relate to a method and apparatus for adding Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) capabilities to utility meters that generate a magnetic field comprising magnetic flux that varies proportionally with the rate of resource consumption. The apparatus comprises a dual magnetic field sensor unit for detecting variations in the magnetic flux density for the magnetic field. The sensor unit may be compact in size so that it can be positioned within a utility meter. The sensor unit may be operatively connected to a data-unit located outside the utility meter. The data unit may be further configured for storing processed or unprocessed sensor signals and is connected to a transmitter. To minimize power consumption, the magnetic field sensors may be configured to have sensor on times and sensor off times. The on/off state of the magnetic field sensors may be controlled by either a dedicated sensor controller or the data unit.

Growing community of inventors

Bristol, United Kingdom

Ian Phillip Harvey