GB2339986A - Optical pulse width multiplexed communication system for utility meters - Google Patents
Optical pulse width multiplexed communication system for utility meters Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2339986A GB2339986A GB9917108A GB9917108A GB2339986A GB 2339986 A GB2339986 A GB 2339986A GB 9917108 A GB9917108 A GB 9917108A GB 9917108 A GB9917108 A GB 9917108A GB 2339986 A GB2339986 A GB 2339986A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- 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- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 title claims description 28
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 title claims description 18
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
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
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optical Communication System (AREA)
- Arrangements For Transmission Of Measured Signals (AREA)
Description
1 2339986 EWROVED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR UTILITY METERS 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.
Currently, utility meters are fitted with an 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.
Current optical communication link means work as follows. 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.
However, some utility meters require in addition to an optical communication link, a pulse output. The pulse output is used for calibration and testing purposes or for linldng the meter to external equipment. To date the optical communication link means and pulse output means have been separate devices.
Thus, a technical improvement to existing utility meters by combining the optical communications link means and pulse output means into a single device is addressed by the present invention.
The present invention advantageously allows for a reduction in component parts while enhancing the functionality of current utility meters.
According to the present invention there is provided a communication system for use with utility meters, the system comprising a transmitter and a receiver disposed on a utility meter, and a ftirther transmitter and receiver disposed on a receiver unit, said utility meter transmitter being arranged to transmit a data signal and a fiu-ther signal to said recei ver unit, said fin-ther signal having a pulse width greater than a pulse width of said data signal, and said receiver unit fin-ther comprising a separation means for separating said data signal and said ffirther signal based on pulse width.
According to an aspect of the present invention, 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.
According to a further aspect of the present invention said fin-ther signal contains calibration information.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of communicating between a utility meter unit and a receiving unit comprising the steps of:
transmitting a data signal and a further signal, said fin-ther signal having a pulse width greater than a pulse width of said data signal, receiving said data signal and said fin-ther signal, and 3 separating said data signal and said further signal based on pulse width.
VvUle the principal advantages and features of the invention have been described above, a greater understanding and appreciation of the invention may be obtained by referring to the drawings and detailed description of the preferred embodiment, presented by way of example only in which;
FIGURE I shows a communications system for utility meters according to the present invention, and FIGURE 2 shows a circuit diagram of a typical pulse and data separation circuit.
Figure 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. Similarly, 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 fin-ther 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 4 approximately equal to the predefined value, than the signal is recognised as being a signal containing user data.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the signal with a pulse width greater than the predefined value may be a signal containing information other than calibration data. For example, the signal may be used to link the meter to external equipment. Similarly, the signal having a pulse width approximately equal to the predefined value may contain information other than user data.
Preferably, the signals are optical signal and are generated by an LED. However, as will be appreciated, other electromagnetic signals, such as microwaves, could be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Figure 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.
As will be appreciated by those skilled the art, the pulse width separation circuit 18 may be replaced with a microprocessor.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, the utility meter is a gas meter and the optical signal is an Infrared signal.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, the utility meter is an electricity meter and the optical signal is a visible signal. In this embodiment the visible signal is a wavelength corresponding to the colour red and is generated by a red LED.
In a flu-ther embodiment of the present invention, the utility meter is a water meter.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the m-t, various modifications may be made to the embodiment hereinbefore described without departing from scope of the present invention.
6
Claims (14)
1. A communication system for use with utility meters, the system 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 arranged to transmit a data signal and a ftirther 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 finther signal based on pulse width.
2. A communication system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said data signal and said further signal are optical signals.
3. A communication system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said optical signals are infrared signals.
4. A communication system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said optical signals are visible signals.
5. A communication system as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said visible signals are a wavelength corresponding to the colour red.
6. A communication system as claimed in any of Claims 2-5, wherein said optical signals are generated by an LED.
7. A communication system as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said separation means is a discrete component timing system.
8. A communication system as claimed in any of Claims 1-6, wherein said separation means is a microprocessor.
9. A communication system as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said utility meter is a gas meter.
7
10. A communication system as claimed in any of Claims 1-8, wherein said utility meter is an electricity meter.
11. A communication system as claimed in any of Claims 1-8, wherein said utility meter is a water meter.
12. A communication system as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said finther signal contains calibration information.
13. A method of communicating between a utility meter unit and a receiving unit comprising the steps of. tran smitting a data signal and a ftuther signal, said ftirther signal having a pulse width greater than a pulse width of said data signal, receiving said data signal and said finther signal, and separating said data signal and said fin-ther signal based on pulse width.
14. A communication system as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| 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 |
| GBGB9815943.7A GB9815943D0 (en) | 1998-07-23 | 1998-07-23 | Improved utility meters |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9917108D0 GB9917108D0 (en) | 1999-09-22 |
| GB2339986A true GB2339986A (en) | 2000-02-09 |
Family
ID=26314092
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9917108A Withdrawn GB2339986A (en) | 1998-07-23 | 1999-07-22 | Optical pulse width multiplexed communication system for utility meters |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0974946A3 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2339986A (en) |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| EP0342146A2 (en) * | 1988-05-11 | 1989-11-15 | Transdata, Inc. | Electricity meter with remote communications |
Family Cites Families (3)
| 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 |
| JPS61229195A (en) * | 1985-04-03 | 1986-10-13 | 株式会社日本自動車部品総合研究所 | Signal transmission system |
| DE4321292A1 (en) * | 1993-06-26 | 1995-01-05 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag | Method for serial transmission of measurement signals of a plurality of measurement parameters |
-
1999
- 1999-07-22 GB GB9917108A patent/GB2339986A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1999-07-22 EP EP99114445A patent/EP0974946A3/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| EP0342146A2 (en) * | 1988-05-11 | 1989-11-15 | Transdata, Inc. | Electricity meter with remote communications |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0974946A3 (en) | 2005-04-13 |
| GB9917108D0 (en) | 1999-09-22 |
| EP0974946A2 (en) | 2000-01-26 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |