Y04S20/30

Monitoring of Distributed Power Harvesting Systems Using DC Power Sources
20230221145 · 2023-07-13 ·

A system includes a central analysis station and a display. The central analysis station may be configured to receive a unique identifier and performance data from each of a plurality of solar panels. The central analysis station may detect a problem in at least one of the plurality of solar panels based on the performance data. A display may be configured to display a status of the at least one of the plurality of solar panels based on the detected problem.

COMPACT ULTRASONIC FLOWMETER
20230221156 · 2023-07-13 ·

A compact ultrasonic flowmeter for measuring flowrate and other fluid related data includes a flow tube with a flow bore for passage of the fluid between an inlet and an outlet, a flowmeter housing associated with the flow tube, a printed circuit board arranged in the flowmeter housing and including a processor for controlling operations of the flowmeter, a meter circuit including ultrasonic transducers provided on the printed circuit board and configured for operating the ultrasonic transducers to transmit and receive ultrasonic wave packets through the fluid, a display mounted on the printed circuit board and configured for displaying a measured flowrate and the other fluid related data, one or more battery packs for powering flowmeter operations, and an antenna element configured to be connected to a radio circuit via connectors provided on the printed circuit board and/or the antenna element.

SMART METER MODULES AND ASSEMBLIES
20230214947 · 2023-07-06 ·

The present disclosure describes an assembly for mounting a smart meter on a mounting pole. The assembly includes a support frame and an outer cover. The support frame includes a top mounting plate having a first routing aperture located and a first plurality of elongated apertures located circumferentially around the first routing aperture, a bottom mounting plate having a corresponding second routing aperture and a second plurality of apertures located circumferentially around the second routing aperture, the top mounting plate is spaced apart a distance from the bottom mounting plate to form an interior space of the smart meter module, and an inner bracket between the top and bottom mounting plates and coupled thereto, the inner bracket having an aperture that is generally perpendicular relative to the top and bottom mounting plates and configured to receive and secure a smart meter within the interior space of the smart meter module. The outer cover is sized to extend circumferentially around the interior space of the smart meter module. The bottom mounting plate is configured such that the smart meter module can be secured to the top of a mounting pole. Smart meter modules and related assemblies are also provided.

Interval data for a utility meter during a power outage without a battery

A utility meter includes a consumption measurement unit for generating consumption data, a meter processor, and a RTC for time stamping the consumption data to provide interval meter data during interval meter operation. A memory stores the interval meter data. The meter processor implements/initiates responsive to a power loss that suspends RTC operation, switching from interval to relative time operation where consumption data is stored as relative consumption data together with a relative time as relative meter data. Responsive power restoration and receiving a current time, the meter switches from relative time to interval meter operation. The restoration time is calculated using the current and an elapsed time since the restoration. The time of restoration and current time is used to generate calculated times. The consumption data from relative time operation is time stamped with the calculated times to provide time-corrected relative meter data that is stored to the memory.

NEAR REAL TIME OUT OF HOME AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT
20220417888 · 2022-12-29 ·

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture for near real time out of home audience measurement are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one memory; instructions; and processor circuitry to execute the instructions to at least: receive a first data transmission request at a first portable meter; send a second data transmission request from the first portable meter to a second portable meter; determine whether the first portable meter is capable of transmitting at least one data packet, based at least in part on an indication the second portable meter is capable of transmitting the at least one data packet; and in response to determining the first portable meter is capable of transmitting the at least one data packet, transmit the at least one data packet.

Systems and methods for charging vehicles

Systems and methods for charging vehicles. In some embodiments, a system includes at least one mobile device and a utility network management center (“NMC”). The at least one mobile device is configured as an electronic utility device and includes a network interface card (“NIC”). The at least one mobile device is also associated with a utility billing account and at least one utility commodity meter. The utility NMC is configured to communicate with the at least one mobile device and the at least one utility commodity meter over a network, locate the at least one mobile device, and monitor a state of the at least one utility commodity meter. The utility NMC is also configured to determine a usage of a commodity based on the state of the at least one utility commodity meter, and bill the utility billing account associated with the mobile device for the usage of the commodity.

Telecommunications method and system
11528691 · 2022-12-13 · ·

A mobile communications unit for communicating data to and/or from base stations, the unit being arranged to communicate data with one or more base stations via a wireless access interface provided by the one or more base stations; arranged to receive transmissions from the one or more base stations via at least one carrier, wherein carriers are logically separate sets of physical resources within a frequency range, the resources of a carrier providing a communication channel; and arranged, upon reception of allocation information comprising an indication of the location of common information within a first carrier, to access the common information in the first carrier, wherein the allocation information is provided in a second carrier and the common information is for at least one mobile unit using the first carrier and for at least one mobile unit using a second carrier.

Systems and methods for reporting pipeline pressures

An optimized, energy-sensitive system and method for fulfilling various data needs of gas utilities. In particular, the disclosure relates to optimized methods for discovering and reacting to an alarm. In one aspect, when an alarm is triggered a telemetry unit automatically alters its operating mode to begin transmitting live pressure reads every minute instead of every hour, as typically performed. This variance in operation eliminates the need for a user to monitor a pipeline system for an incoming alarm and manually request data by initiating a live communication session.

Low power, centralized data collection

The systems and methods described herein are directed to techniques for improving battery life performance of end devices in resource monitoring systems which transmit data using low-power, wide area network (LPWAN) technologies. Further, the techniques include providing sensor interfaces in the end devices configured to communicate with multiple types of metrology sensors. Additionally, the systems and methods include techniques for reducing the size of a concentrator of a gateway device which receives resource measurement data from end devices. The reduced size of the concentrator results in smaller, more compact gateway devices that consume less energy and reduce heat dissipation experienced in gateway devices. The concentrator may comply with modular interface standards, and include two radios configured for transmitting 1-watt signals. Lastly, the systems and methods include techniques for fully redundant radio architecture within a gateway device, allowing for maximum range and minimizing downtime due to transmission overlap.

Method for operating a supply system

A method operates a supply system having a measuring unit and a central unit. Information is transferred repeatedly at specific time intervals via a communication network by radio between the central unit and the measuring unit. The measuring unit or the central unit receives the information and then generates a receipt confirmation, which it transmits to the central unit or the measuring unit respectively. The central unit or the measuring unit, after transmitting the information, opens a receive window of a certain time length for receiving the receipt confirmation. As a result of a first trigger event, the time intervals between the repeat transmissions of the information are shortened, and/or an additional receive window for receiving the receipt confirmation is opened, and as a result of a second trigger event, the time intervals between the repeat transmissions are lengthened, and/or no additional receive windows are opened.