System and method for reading and transmitting water meter data utilizing RF signals
US6351223B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 1, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 1, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY04S40/18
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A network of fixed RF transmitter modules, an RF repeater module and an RF collector module are located within a multi-unit facility for collecting water usage data from a plurality of water meters associated with the units within the facility and for uploading to a central billing center. Each water meter is coupled to a single RF transmitter module. Each RF transmitter module reads the water meter multiple times per day and transmits the data over a 418 MHZ carrier. One of a plurality of transceivers coupled to the RF repeater module receives the data and directs it to a storage medium in the RF repeater module. The RF repeater module temporarily holds the data and then repeats it on the RF carrier. The RF collector module receives the data through a transceiver coupled thereto. The data is stored in a storage medium of the RF collector module for retrieval by the central billing center.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.