Abstract: A kit is disclosed for installing a radio frequency transmitter assembly (30) in position for radio transmission and reception when connected to a water meter register (26, 40) that is situated below ground level, the kit comprising: a base member (22) for extending substantially horizontally from the meter register (26, 40); a transmitter assembly (30) having a transmitter body (32) for attachment to the base member (22) with the transmitter body in an upright position; an electrical cable (17) connected at one end to the meter register (26, 40) and connected at an opposite end to the transmitter assembly (30). The kit provides a product that can be installed in any one of three different configurations.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and several types of devices for converting meter reading signals into data messages including a first message (40) having meter data (44) representing consumption of a utility, and meter diagnostic status data (43), and a second message (60) having meter reverse flow data (63-65) and meter diagnostic data (66) particular to an electronic flow meter, and receiving said first message (40) and said second message (60) and converting first message and said second message to radio frequency signals (25) and transmitting said radio frequency signals (25) to a receiver (22, 24).

Abstract: A method and a system for collection of meter readings from meter reading and transmitting devices (12, 14) and for viewing on a web-enabled wireless communication device (28) comprises addressing at least one receiver (15) through the Internet (21) and obtaining a data file of meter data for a plurality of meter reading devices (12, 14) that have previously communicated with the receiver (15). The receiver (15) can then re-transmit the meter data through a wide area network such as the Internet (21) to a web site (10) operated by an organization marketing AMR systems. The meter data is then accessed and displayed at a customer demonstration site using a handheld wireless smart phone (28) which receives a web page (22) that is reduced in size for transmission through the cellular network to the smart phone (28).

Abstract: A method and a system for collection of meter readings from meter reading and transmitting devices (12, 14) and for viewing on a web-enabled wireless communication device (28) comprises addressing at least one receiver (15) through the Internet (21) and obtaining a data file of meter data for a plurality of meter reading devices (12, 14) that have previously communicated with the receiver (15). The receiver (15) can then re-transmit the meter data through a wide area network such as the Internet (21) to a web site (10) operated by an organization marketing AMR systems. The meter data is then accessed and displayed at a customer demonstration site using a handheld wireless smart phone (28) which receives a web page (22) that is reduced in size for transmission through the cellular network to the smart phone (28).

Abstract: A water meter (10) and a flow control valve (30) are housed in a common pressure vessel (16), in which the flow control valve (30) restricts flow through a metering chamber (18) to less than the normal flow, while still permitting a flow sufficient for basic human needs, rather than completely interrupting supply of the utility, and in which the flow control valve (30) is controlled electrically through a control valve (40) in an energy efficient manner so as to utilize power from a self-contained power source (27) in another device (25) at the customer site (50).

Abstract: A sealed electronic meter register with no moving parts and no bottom wall or bottom cover includes a casing of plastic with an open bottom. A viewing window is snap fitted into a top wall of the casing. A gasket is placed on top of an electronic numerical display and under the viewing window. The display is placed on top of a frame that is positioned face down into the casing. An electronic circuit board with the processing circuitry of the device is attached to the bottom of the frame. A polyurethane compound sealing material is deposited though a hole in the circuit board and onto the backside of the display. An epoxy-resin sealant is then deposited from the bottom of the housing to seal over everything in the housing to protect the components and provide an exposed bottom surface for the assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for adjusting a transmission power level of a transceiver (12, 15) at a utility meter data origination site (10). A power level of transmission at the site transceiver (12, 15) is adjusted to an optimum level if an acknowledgement is not received from a network gateway (30) in response to data transmissions from the site transceiver (12, 15). Also, for each unsuccessful transmission period, the amount of metering data is increased in the next transmission period to make up for the failed communication tries. Upon establishing communication with the gateway (30), the site transceiver (12, 15) can receive commands from the gateway (30) that further adjust its power level of transmission to optimize reception at the gateway from a large plurality of utility meter data origination sites (10) within a geographical area served by the gateway (30).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a metering site transceiver (12 or 15) with the ability to operate in a mobile back-up network (26) to signal utility consumption data that would otherwise be transmitted to a fixed receiver (30) in a fixed network AMR system. A mobile collection back-up capability allows a vehicle collection system (26, 27) to be used to read the remote meters (11, 14) in the fixed network, when a gateway (30) is detected as not communicating with the site transceiver (12 or 15).

Abstract: An assembly (10) for installation in a subsurface ground enclosure has an electronic transmitter, an antenna and other circuitry that are encapsulated against moisture conditions. The assembly (10) comprises a circuit board (31) supporting radio frequency transmitter circuitry, the circuit board (31) having at least two orthogonal edges (31b, 31c), an antenna (14, 15) having two 90-degree bent portions extending from orthogonal edges (31b, 31c) of the circuit board (31), a housing bottom portion (11) with an internal barrier (18) separating an L-shaped antenna compartment (13) adjacent two sides of the circuit board (31) from a battery compartment (16) underneath the circuit board (31), sealing material for encapsulating the circuit board (31) and the batteries (17) in the battery compartment (16), and a cover (20) that protects the antenna compartment (13) from entry of the sealing material.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and circuitry for transmitting signals in a frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum, AMR network using mobile receivers operating at greater than 1 milliwatt and providing data profiling data to be read out through an I/O port or transmitted over the RF network, which may use one-way or two-way communication.

Abstract: A method and system by which certain radio transmitters are assigned to certain reception nodes for the purpose of transmitting metering data derived from a plurality of utility meters to a system management computer. The reception nodes are configured to receive and process data transmissions only from those transmitters with data paths assigned to particular reception nodes, and to ignore data transmissions from non-listed transmitters, thereby assuring that on a continuous basis, a majority of the transmitters will utilize only one data path. Lists may be formed for the transmitters and reception nodes in the system management computer and transmitted to the reception nodes. The status of data transmissions through the repeaters may also be uploaded to the system management computer for analysis of data update rates and data path redundancy.

Abstract: A handheld, key-operated programmer device (10) for transferring data to and from an electronic meter register. Communication between the device (10) and the electronic register takes place over a wireless optical interface (20). The device (10) is configured through a USB port (14) using a personal computer. Operations between the device (10) and the meter register include cycling the meter register display, clearing a totalizer, resetting alarm conditions, and retrieving stored configuration data. A swipe with a magnet is no longer necessary to cycle through the display. The device is battery-powered and can be embodied in a key fob.

Abstract: An antenna (14, 15) for installation in a subsurface ground enclosure has an F-shaped radiating element (15) having a rectangular strip (15c) disposed on edge and two spaced apart bars (15a, 15b) disposed substantially perpendicular to the rectangular strip (15c) for connection to a first edge of a circuit board (31) and an L-shaped ground plane extension element (14) extending from a second edge (31b) of the circuit board (31) and then turning substantially perpendicular downward to provide a longer ground plane within a confined rectangular space. The antenna (14, 15) is dimensioned so as to be tuned to a resonant frequency in a range from 450 Mhz to 470 Mhz.

Abstract: An aseptic diaphragm valve in which a valve seat (37) is formed by a groove including a concave surface of engagement that positioned along an outer diameter of an upper end of an inlet tube (32), and a resilient valve member portion (41) that is annular in extent with a convex surface that moves into the groove to contact the concave surface (37) around the outer diameter of the inlet tube (32) to close the valve. The valve member portion (41) has at least a coating of polytetrafluoroethylene (47) or equivalent material.

Abstract: A method and article of manufacture for providing a mechanical bond and an improved water vapor seal between a lens (11, 41) and a base (17, 47) in an instrument housing (10, 40), includes heating the components and a hot butyl rubber sealant (18, 58) prior to assembly, maintaining a level of heating for the assembly during assembly, dispensing the heated sealant (18, 58) into a channel (25, 65) to form a ring-shaped body of sealant (18, 58), assembling the lens (11, 41) to the base (17, 47) and pressing a lower edge (11a, 41a) of the lens (11, 41) into the ring of sealant (18, 58) and bending an upper edge (17b, 47b) of the side wall (17a, 47a) over a portion (11b, 41b) of the lens (11, 41). The method is applied in a second embodiment to an instrument having at least two signal conductors (55) entering the base (47) at two entry points. Apparatuses manufactured with the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for collection of meter readings from the field and for providing a self-populating database for storing and retrieving the meter data. A network data collection computer operating according to a stored computer program reads in data from the receivers and detects the meter reading devices that are sending data through a respective receiver. If not previously detected, the network data collection computer allocates space in the database for the data and stores the meter data and indexes it by the receiver and meter reading device from which it was received, and by the date and time of reception at the network data collection system. This data can then be retrieved and displayed or printed out by these parameters in database reports.

Abstract: An out-of-route collection capability is provided for an AMR data collection system of a type that collect readings within a geographic area using a radio. If a transmission is received from an out-of-route transmitter, its location is based on a geographic location of the data collector as the data collector receives data from the out-of-route transmitter. The location can further be determined by evaluating a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the transmission. The out-of-route transmitter is identified by association with a transmitter identification number. The out-of-route transmitters can be added to the route through operations at the central office.

Abstract: A antenna (10) comprises a straight stem portion (11) and a spiral coiled portion (12) for providing the necessary length, but being compact enough for assembly in a pit tube (23) of a transmitter assembly (20) for subsurface enclosures for fluid meters.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and circuitry for transmitting signals in both a narrow band, mobile-receiver type of AMR network and also for operation in the frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum, fixed-receiver type of AMR network. Unlike systems provided with multiple transmitters, the invention provides this in a single transmitter operating with common circuitry to transmit in two modes of transmission in a single operational sequence.