Abstract: Technologies are described herein for activating one or more operating modes of a register in a meter. The register is operated in a first mode. Light detections indicating whether the register is exposed to light or isolated from light are read. It is determined whether a condition is met based on the light detections. Upon determining that the condition is met, operating the register in a second mode.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for compensating for inaccuracies in flow measurement in real-time during accumulation of usage. A pulse count indicating an amount of flow in a meter over a measurement period is read. An average flow rate through the meter for the measurement period is determined and a correction factor is looked up from a table based on the average flow rate. A total usage accumulator for the meter is then updated with the amount of flow over the measurement period based on the pulse count and the correction factor.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for activating one or more operating modes of a register in a meter. The register is operated in a first mode. Light detections indicating whether the register is exposed to light or isolated from light are read. It is determined whether a condition is met based on the light detections. Upon determining that the condition is met, operating the register in a second mode.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for compensating for inaccuracies in flow measurement in real-time during accumulation of usage. A pulse count indicating an amount of flow in a meter over a measurement period is read. An average flow rate through the meter for the measurement period is determined and a correction factor is looked up from a table based on the average flow rate. A total usage accumulator for the meter is then updated with the amount of flow over the measurement period based on the pulse count and the correction factor.

Abstract: The disclosed inventions include and apparatus and method for providing a universal Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system. Such system may be configured to work in a plurality of modes including a walk-bay, drive-by and fixed network mode. The system configured to provide functionally-self-healing features where the system continues to function after certain hardware failures occur.

Abstract: The reader (1) for a utility meter is disclosed. The reader (1) is capable of receiving data, in a variety of different protocols, by either inductive coupling or by radio frequency transmission. The reader (1) is a hand-held device which comprises an inductive read nozzle (2), a RF module, a display (4), a keypad (5) a trigger switch (6), a handle (7) a communication port (8), a battery charging interface (9), a memory and a microprocessor. The reader (1) is capable of storing utility usage data in memory and/or downloading utility usage data to a computer through the communication port (8).

Abstract: The present inventions relate to a smart transmitter technology that provides for a more stable transmitted signal power level, a more stable transmitted signal carrier frequency, a sleep mode without the need for receiving a wakeup signal, and a universal communication interface. The smart transmitter may comprise selective of a processor, a universal communication interface, transmitter circuitry, a reference-frequency-generator, a depletable power source, and an antenna. The processor configures the transmitter circuitry to adjust the power level of the transmitted signal based on the quality of power supplied to the transmitter circuitry. The processor is further configured to access temperature data from a temperature sensor and compensate for expected changes in the frequency output of the reference-frequency-generator.

Abstract: The disclosed inventions include and apparatus and method for providing a universal Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system. Such system may be configured to work in a plurality of modes including a walk-bay, drive-by and fixed network mode. The system configured to provide functionally-self-healing features where the system continues to function after certain hardware failures occur.

Abstract: The present inventions relate to a method and apparatus for adding Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) capabilities to utility meters that generate a magnetic field comprising magnetic flux that varies proportionally with the rate of resource consumption. The apparatus comprises a dual magnetic field sensor unit for detecting variations in the magnetic flux density for the magnetic field. The sensor unit may be compact in size so that it can be positioned within a utility meter. The sensor unit may be operatively connected to a data-unit located outside the utility meter. The data unit may be further configured for storing processed or unprocessed sensor signals and is connected to a transmitter. To minimize power consumption, the magnetic field sensors may be configured to have sensor on times and sensor off times. The on/off state of the magnetic field sensors may be controlled by either a dedicated sensor controller or the data unit.