EP0974946A2 - System de communication optique pour compteurs de consommation - Google Patents

System de communication optique pour compteurs de consommation Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0974946A2
EP0974946A2 EP99114445A EP99114445A EP0974946A2 EP 0974946 A2 EP0974946 A2 EP 0974946A2 EP 99114445 A EP99114445 A EP 99114445A EP 99114445 A EP99114445 A EP 99114445A EP 0974946 A2 EP0974946 A2 EP 0974946A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
communication system
signal
pulse width
data signal
meter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99114445A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0974946A3 (fr
Inventor
Mark Hamer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Landis and Gyr Ltd
Original Assignee
Siemens Metering Ltd
Landis and Gyr Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB9815945.2A external-priority patent/GB9815945D0/en
Priority claimed from GBGB9815943.7A external-priority patent/GB9815943D0/en
Application filed by Siemens Metering Ltd, Landis and Gyr Ltd filed Critical Siemens Metering Ltd
Publication of EP0974946A2 publication Critical patent/EP0974946A2/fr
Publication of EP0974946A3 publication Critical patent/EP0974946A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C23/00—Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems
    • G08C23/04—Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems using light waves, e.g. infrared
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C2201/00—Transmission systems of control signals via wireless link
    • G08C2201/50—Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
    • G08C2201/51—Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an improved communication system for utility meters. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved optical communication link to gas or electricity meters.
  • optical communication link means comprising a transmitter and a receiver.
  • the transmitter is often an infrared (IR) Light Emitting Diode (LED) and the receiver is an IR detector.
  • the optical communication link means is used for communication purposes with a receiving system.
  • the receiving system which may be a computer or a module in the case of a modular meter, is also fitted with an IR LED and detector.
  • the utility meter's IR LED transmits IR signals containing data information to the receiving system's IR detector.
  • the receiving system responds by transmitting IR signals from the receiving system's IR LED to the utility meter's IR detector.
  • a pulse output is used for calibration and testing purposes or for linking the meter to external equipment.
  • the optical communication link means and pulse output means have been separate devices.
  • the present invention advantageously allows for a reduction in component parts while enhancing the functionality of current utility meters.
  • a communication system for use with utility meters comprising a transmitter and a receiver disposed on a utility meter, and a further transmitter and receiver disposed on a receiver unit, said utility meter transmitter being arranged to transmit a data signal and a further signal to said receiver unit, said further signal having a pulse width greater than a pulse width of said data signal, and said receiver unit further comprising a separation means for separating said data signal and said further signal based on pulse width.
  • the data signal and the further signal are optical signals.
  • the optical signals may be infrared signals.
  • the optical signals may be visible signals.
  • the separation means may be a discrete component timing system. Alternatively, the separation means may be a microprocessor.
  • the utility meter may be a gas meter. Alternatively, the utility meter may be an electricity meter.
  • said further signal contains calibration information.
  • a method of communicating between a utility meter unit and a receiving unit comprising the steps of:
  • FIG. 1 shows a communications system 10 for utility meters according to the present invention.
  • a receiver 13 and a transmitter 14 are disposed on a utility meter 12.
  • a transmitter 16 and a receiver 17 disposed on a receiver unit 15.
  • the transmitters and receivers are configured such that communication between the utility meter and the receiver unit is possible.
  • the utility meter transmitter 14 is further configured to transmit data signals with a predefined pulse width. These data signals are received by the receiving unit's receiver 17.
  • the utility meter transmitter 14 is further configured to transmit a further signal with a pulse width greater than the predefined pulse width of the data signal.
  • the receiving unit further comprises a separation means 18 arranged to separate the data signal from the further signal based on the pulse width of the two signals. If the pulse width of the received signal is greater than that a predefined value, than the signal is recognised as being a signal containing calibration data. If the pulse width is approximately equal to the predefined value, than the signal is recognised as being a signal containing user data.
  • the signal with a pulse width greater than the predefined value may be a signal containing information other than calibration data.
  • the signal may be used to link the meter to external equipment.
  • the signal having a pulse width approximately equal to the predefined value may contain information other than user data.
  • the signals are optical signal and are generated by an LED.
  • other electromagnetic signals such as microwaves, could be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows a typical pulse width separation circuit 18 suitable for use in the present invention.
  • the operation of the circuit is well known in the art.
  • a signal containing both data and calibration information is transmitted from the utility meter transmitter and received at input 20.
  • the circuit functions to separate the signal based on pulse width, with the component of the signal having a pulse width approximately equal to a predefined value being fed to data output 21 and the component of the signal with a pulse width greater than the predefined value being fed to calibration output 22.
  • the pulse width separation circuit 18 may be replaced with a microprocessor.
  • the utility meter is a gas meter and the optical signal is an Infrared signal.
  • the utility meter is an electricity meter and the optical signal is a visible signal.
  • the visible signal is a wavelength corresponding to the colour red and is generated by a red LED.
  • the utility meter is a water meter.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optical Communication System (AREA)
  • Arrangements For Transmission Of Measured Signals (AREA)
EP99114445A 1998-07-23 1999-07-22 System de communication optique pour compteurs de consommation Withdrawn EP0974946A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9815945.2A GB9815945D0 (en) 1998-07-23 1998-07-23 Gas meter pulse output from an optical communication link
GB9815943 1998-07-23
GB9815945 1998-07-23
GBGB9815943.7A GB9815943D0 (en) 1998-07-23 1998-07-23 Improved utility meters

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0974946A2 true EP0974946A2 (fr) 2000-01-26
EP0974946A3 EP0974946A3 (fr) 2005-04-13

Family

ID=26314092

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99114445A Withdrawn EP0974946A3 (fr) 1998-07-23 1999-07-22 System de communication optique pour compteurs de consommation

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0974946A3 (fr)
GB (1) GB2339986A (fr)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3955188A (en) * 1971-01-04 1976-05-04 Honeywell Information Systems Inc. Encoding technique for enabling a device to process different types of digital information transmitted along a single information channel
US4213119A (en) * 1976-04-29 1980-07-15 Energy Optics, Inc. Remote meter reading system providing demand readings and load control from conventional KWH meters
JPS61229195A (ja) * 1985-04-03 1986-10-13 株式会社日本自動車部品総合研究所 信号伝送システム
US4868893A (en) * 1988-05-11 1989-09-19 Transdata, Inc. System for remote, interactive communication with a metal under ambient sunlight conditions
DE4321292A1 (de) * 1993-06-26 1995-01-05 Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag Verfahren zur seriellen Übertragung von Meßsignalen mehrerer Meßparameter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0974946A3 (fr) 2005-04-13
GB9917108D0 (en) 1999-09-22
GB2339986A (en) 2000-02-09

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