Abstract:
A self dynamo smart flow utility meter providing self electric energy, real-time wireless data transmission ability and remotely flow control ability is disclosed. Also, a method and system for flow utility real-time flow usage monitoring and control, self error diagnostic and self leakage monitoring is disclosed.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation application of U.S. provisional patent application, Ser. No. 61/351,813, filed Jun. 4, 2010, included by reference herein and for which benefit of the priority date is hereby claimed. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a flow utility meter which provides self dynamo ability, real-time wireless data transmit ability and remote control abilities. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system and method provides real-time remote reading flow utility usage ability, self error diagnostic ability, self leakage detection ability and automatically remote control self dynamo smart flow meter within its network. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Traditionally, utility company has to employ “meter readers” to visit each customer location or home and take the reading, by visually observing the meter and recording in tabulated form a hand-written record of the utility consumption and the corresponding customer. Such a method is very time consuming and, thus, costly. Additionally, there is a chance workers may incorrectly read one or more meters thereby providing incorrect data to utility company. Also, current utilities flow meter only has one communication; they could not receive remote commands. 
         [0004]    1. The improved method was disclosed from master meter call “Connection-Free RF Drive-By System”. It requires a driver drive by each single utility water meter and the recording device record wirelessly the meter usage. Those utility meter powered by an internal battery with a service life of up to 10 years since they only to activate once a while like every month. 
         [0005]    2. Using RF signals to transmit data from a remote to a central location is well known in the prior art. Further, the use of RF signals to transmit utility meter data is also well known. For instance, U.S. Pat. No 3,688,271 discloses a method and apparatus for transmitting utility meter data from a single consumer meter to a mobile command unit utilizing RF signals. U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,230 and U.S. Pat. No 6,351,233 attempts to provide an enhanced automatic system for reading data from utility meter and sending it to central location. However, they all could NOT provide REAL-TIME flow usage data, self error diagnostic, self leakage detection and remote flow rate control capabilities. 
         [0006]    3. An oracle white paper, “Smart Metering for Water Utilities” Oracle claims “Interval meters on customer premises that measure consumption during specific time periods and communicate it to the utility, often on a daily basis. While in the electric industry, measurement intervals can be as short as every 10 or 15 minutes, water intervals of 30 to 60 minutes or longer generally provide adequate information”. However, the system could not provide self error detection ability. If one of more water meters report wrong data, it affects the information accuracy. Also, the oracle white paper did not mention how they could solve the power issues. 
         [0007]    4. Some cities in U.S. disclosed water automated meter reading (AMR) project. AMR wirelessly reads customer meters and then transfers the data into a secure billing system. However, AMR only provide reading ability. Also, it could not remotely control each AMR meter in read time. Furthermore, the lifetime of the AMR meter could only last for about 15 years. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention solves all the problems discussed above regarding the prior art. 
         [0009]    The invention provides a self dynamo smart flow meter not only reads and stores the flow utility usage and flow pressure data, but it also reports the flow rate/usage in real-time wirelessly. Also, it provides self electric energy and flow control abilities. Since the invention could generate sufficient electric energy for itself, the invention solves the power issue of the flow utility meter. In addition, the invention includes a microcontroller and wireless transceiver. Therefore, the invention could report its flow usage in real-time wirelessly, and it could also provide remote control abilities. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, this invention develops new self dynamo unit special for flow utility meter shown in  FIG. 3 . This invention let the flow utilities flow in and flow out the Self Dynamo Smart Flow Meter much smoother and it increases the efficiency of the energy transformation compared to other dynamo unit in other flow generators. 
         [0011]    Once the flow utilities flows through self dynamo smart flow utility meter as shown in  FIG. 1 , the self dynamo smart flow utility meter generates electric energy by its magnet and coil of conductive wire based on Faraday theory by the flow force. Also, the flow movement activates the microcontroller and wireless unit that are in the meter. The microcontroller senses and records the flow usage with the flow count sensor module and pressure data with its pressure sensor. Also, the microcontroller packages and encrypts flow usage data, and then it wirelessly transmits data to its parent meter, repeater or central server. In the meantime, the meter also is in receiving mode to see if any wireless command from its central server or its parent meter to control its flow rate or change its setting as shown in the flow chart  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 . 
         [0012]    Furthermore, the invention provides a method and system supporting real-time flow utility usage monitoring, self error detection and flow leakage diction. 
         [0013]    One or more Self Dynamo Smart Flow Utility meters are deployed as a tree network as shown in  FIG. 5 . The flow utilities flow through the meter tree network to the end user. The central server receives all the flow usage data from its tree network as shown in  FIG. 6 . The parent meter receives all flow rate from its children meters, then it compares the flow rate/usage which it sensed and the total flow rate/usage which reported by its children meters as shown in  FIG. 8 . Therefore, the parent meter  608  or central server  601  could detect if any leakage or meter error under its tree network. Once the parent meter  608  or central server  601  detected an error, it will send out an alert to the central server  601  by the wireless network. Therefore, the system manager could fix the flow leakage or meter immediately. For example, the parent meter  608  or the central server  601  senses the real-time flow rate is 100 gallons per second. Also, the system allows +/−2% error. The children meters  631  under the parent meters  608  or central server  601  report total 98 gallons per second. The parent meter  608  and its tree network is healthy. However, if the children meters  631  under the parent meters  608  report total  105  gallons per second. The parent meter  608  or central server  601  generates an alert to the central server. 
         [0014]    Depends on the network situation, if the child meter  607  is far away from its parent meter  621 , or the meters is far away from the central server, the network could includes one or more meters  620  as repeaters or third party wireless repeater  605 . Also, an external transceiver could connect to each individual self dynamo smart flow utility meter for better wireless signal. Also, the power of the external transceiver could be provided by the self dynamo smart flow utility meter which is connected to it. 
         [0015]    As mention above, the central server could receive all flow usage data in its network real-time. Therefore, all flow usage data could record into its database. The invention includes a web based user interface. End users could register their daily regular flow usage and their personal information such as phone number and email address into the database. The central server could compare their registered daily information and the real-time usage level. If the real-time usage level shows a dangerous level, the central server sends out an alert to the end user with internet or cell phone network. For example, an end user registered 1 gallon water or gas use from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on daily usage, but the central server receives 10 gallons water or gas usage from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. from the registered self dynamo smart flow utility meter, the central server sends out an alert to the end user by email  602  or test message. Furthermore, the end user could require the control server to shutdown the flow usage remotely through mobile phone communication interface or web interface. Therefore, the system could reduce the chance of accident happens as well. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example a front view of a self dynamo smart flow utility meter; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross section side view of a self dynamo smart flow utility meter; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section top view and a cross section side view of the dynamo portion which is in a self dynamo smart flow utility meter; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates a simplified block diagram of components and modules in a self dynamo smart flow utility meter; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates a diagram of self dynamo smart flow utility meters being deployed in a flow utilities tree network; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  illustrates a flow utility real-time flow usage monitoring and control, self error and leakages monitoring system communication network. It shows the wireless data communicated network among self dynamo smart flow utility meters, central server and repeater. Also, it shows the communication interfaces between the central server and end users; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  illustrates a detail state diagram for the algorithm implemented in the firmware in the lowest tier self dynamo smart flow utility meter; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  illustrates a detail state diagram for the algorithm implemented in the parent self dynamo smart flow meter and central server; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  illustrates communication links and direction among self dynamo smart flow utility meters, repeater and central server; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  illustrates a simplified block diagram of the central server for the system of this invention; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  illustrates a detail state diagram of lower power sensing mode algorithm in the self dynamo smart flow utility meter. 
       
    
    
       [0028]    For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0029]    A front view of a self dynamo smart flow utility meter is shown in  FIG. 1 . The description and operation of the self dynamo smart flow meter invention will be best initiated with reference to  FIG. 2 . Most of self dynamo smart flow meter components are inside of the external housing chamber  203 . The antenna  201  is physically connected to a cover  202  and the antenna  201  wire is connected to the smart electric circuit  218 . On the top of the smart electric circuit  218  is the electric energy storage, battery  219 , on the top of battery  219 , is the thermal baffle plate  220  which isolates the display  221  and rest of the components under it. The electric energy storage unit  219  is right under the thermal baffle plate  220 . The display power input and control signal is connected to the smart electric circuit  218  through the signal tunnel  205 . The display only will be activated when the cover  202  open by released the on/off switches  222 . Under the smart electric circuit  218 , is other baffle plate  204  which is a grounded baffle plate and connects to the ground signal of the smart electric circuit. Also, the baffle plate  204  connects to the coil holding frame  301  supporting connection  304  of the dynamo module  217 . Furthermore, there is a small hole on the edge of the baffle plate  204  which allow the dynamo module power wire connects to the smart electric circuit. Under the baffle plate  204  is the dynamo module  217 . The detail drawing of dynamo module  217  is shown in  FIG. 3 . The magnet housing  216  is on the bottom of the dynamo module  217 , magnet housing  216  connects to impeller axis  210 ; therefore, it will follow the impeller wheel  209  to spin. Under the magnet housing  216  is the flow count sensor module  215  which sense the flow movement. The power input and flow count signal wires of the flow count sensor module  215  connects to the smart electric circuit  218  through the signal tunnel  205 . Under the flow count sensor module is another baffle plate  211  which isolate the water which goes through the impeller chamber  208  to all others components above the baffle plate  211 . Inside of the impeller chamber  208  is the impeller wheel  209 . The impeller axis  210  goes through the baffle plate  211  and the flow count sensing module, and connects to the magnet housing  216 . In between the baffle plate  223  and the external housing chamber  203  is a pressure sensor  206  which senses the flow pressure and is connected to the smart sensing circuit  218  through the signal tunnel  205 . There is a flow control switches  212  which could be controlled by the smart electric circuit  218  or the manual switches  214  on the flow output side connection  213 . It could stop or allow flow utility flow out from the self dynamo smart flow utility meter  100 . 
         [0030]    The description and operation of the dynamo module of self dynamo smart flow utility meter  100  will be best initiated with reference to  FIG. 3 . As shown on the side view  320 , the impeller wheel  309  connects to the magnet housing  306  through impeller axis  307 . Also, the cylinder magnet  305  is attached to the magnet housing  306 . Therefore, the cylinder magnet is span by the impeller wheel  309  through flow movement pass through the impeller chamber  208 . The coil of conductor wire  308  and the coil supporting frame  301  are mounted on the fixed copper axis  303  which connects to the baffle plate  204 . Therefore, the coil of conductor wire  301  is mounted is a fixed location. 
         [0031]    Self dynamo smart flow utility meter  100  apply Faraday theory generates the electric energy by the flow utility such as water flow and gas flow. Once the flow utility flows through the self dynamo smart flow meter  100 , the flow will move the impeller wheel  209  which span the axis  210 ; and the axis  210  is connected to magnet housing  306 ; therefore, it spin the cylinder magnet  305  which connects to the axis  307 . Through the whole movement, it change the magnetic field pass through those fixed coils of conductive wire  302 . Consequently, the whole process generates electric energy for the self dynamo smart flow utility meter operation and the extra electric energy is stored in the battery  219 . 
         [0032]    The self dynamo smart flow meter could be divided into different potions; they are self dynamo potion  217 , flow control switches  417 , pressure sensor  418 , flow rate sensing and counting module  419 , electric energy storage portion  411 , antenna  430  and smart electric circuit portion  418  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0033]    Which 
         [0000]    a. Smart electric circuit portion  418  includes
       i. wireless circuit  413  transmitting data out from and receiving wireless information to the microcontroller  415     ii. flow rate and usage sensing circuit  414  counting and storing the flow usage data from the flow rate sensing and counting module  419     iii. The microcontroller  415  operates two different modes. One is lower power sensing mode as shown in  FIG. 11 , and normal operation modes are as shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 . Its operations are triggered by the impeller wheel  209 , once the impeller wheel  209  spin, the microcontroller  415  start to sense the flow rate, and then send out information and receive the data from its parent meter  908 , children meter  906 , repeater  902  or central server  905  in the wireless network. Furthermore, the microcontroller comes with analog sensors  420 ; it could sense the energy level of the electric energy storage  411 .   iv. Voltage and current rectifier circuit  410  rectifies the power from self dynamo unit  409  to electric energy storage  411 . Also, it rectifies the power from the dynamo unit  409  and electric energy storage  411  to the rest of self dynamo smart flow utility meter electric components
 
b. Self dynamo potion  408  includes power generation portion  409  which shown in  FIG. 3 . It generates electric energy, then the power is rectified by the voltage and current rectifier portion  410  such as a rectifier circuit; therefore, it could store the electric energy into the electric energy storage portion  411  such as rechargeable battery and provides the electric energy to the smart electric circuit portion  412 , flow control switches  418 , pressure sensor  418  and flow rate sensing and counting module  419 .
   c. The flow rate sensing and counting module  419  also connects to microcontroller  415  which records the flow usage and calculates the flow rate. Therefore, it sends out the flow rate and flow usage data wirelessly.   d. The output analog or digital signal of the pressure sensor  418  also connects to the microcontroller  415  which records the pressure data.   e. The control signal of utilities flow control switches  417  are connected to the microcontroller  415 . Microcontroller could shutdown the switches  417  according to remote command; therefore, the invention could control individual flow utilities usage remotely.   f. Display  416  displays the heath information of the meter  100 , flow usage and flow rate data. It is activated by a on/off switches  222         
 
         [0042]    This invention provides a self dynamo smart flow utilities meter which also is a smart low power device. It operates in two modes. They are lower power sensing mode as shown in  FIG. 11 , and normal operation mode are as shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , self dynamo smart flow utilities meter low power sensing mode is triggered by the flow movement. Only the flow rate sensing and counting module  419  and the microcontroller  415  are powered in lower power sensing mode. Also, the microcontroller  415  operates in very low power. Its calculation speed less or equal to 32 Khz and lower then 1 mA current consumption. Once the microcontroller  415  sense the energy level is high enough to normal operation mode means fully functional. The self dynamo smart flow utilities meter fully power up and it operates as shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 . Also, the calculation speed of the microcontroller  415  is increased to its normal speed. 
         [0043]    The description and operation of the system for flow utility real-time flow usage monitoring and control, self error and leakages monitoring is initiated with reference  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 5 . One or more self dynamo smart flow meters are deployed on the field as a tree network shown in  FIG. 5 . The main flow supply source supply flows to its parent self dynamo smart flow meters  503  through flow pipes  502 ; and flow goes to the self dynamo smart flow meters  505  has to go through their parent self dynamo smart flow meter  503 ; the flow goes to the self dynamo smart flow meter  507  has to goes to the parent meter  505  and grand parent meters  503  of the self dynamo smart flow meter  507 . 
         [0044]    The parent flow pipes  506  let the flow utility flows to children meters  507  and each parent flow pipe connect with a self dynamo smart flow meter  505 . Once the flow utility flows through one of the child meter  507 , the flow utility has to flow though its parent meter  505  and event its grandparent meter  503 . Therefore, the utility flow activates all meters in its path, which guaranties parent meters is powered and it could receive children meters data. The algorithm in  FIG. 7  is implemented in the lowest level children meters and the algorithm in  FIG. 8  is implemented in all parent meters  608  and central server  601 . Once the total children meters&#39; flow usage is not match with their parent meter&#39;s flow usage with a number of tolerances, an meter error or leakage is detected. Therefore, the whole system could detect the leakage or error. Also, all flow usage data could be sent out to the central server  601  and is saved in the databases  1051 . 
         [0045]    One or more self Dynamo smart flow meters are deployed on the tree wireless network as shown in  FIG. 6 . The communication between users  602  and central server  601  could be internet communication  614  or mobile phone network communication  613 . Therefore, the central server  601  could email, text message or voice call to users  602 , once it detects a leak or error. Furthermore, users  602  could register their personal information to database  1051  in the central server  601 . Furthermore, end users  602  could register their daily regular flow usage and their personal information such as phone number and email address into central server  601 . The central server  601  could compare their registered daily information and the real-time usage level. If the real-time usage level shows a dangerous level, the central server sends out an alert to the end user through its internet interface  614  or cell phone network interface  613 . Furthermore, the end user could pre-set meter remote control action in the central server  601 ; for example, it shutdown the flow switches when an abnormal situation happen. Therefore, the central server  601  shutdowns the flow usage remotely, once it detects an abnormal situation. Therefore, the system could reduce accident happen. 
         [0046]    The best description of the communication link among self dynamo smart flow utility meters, repeater  902  and central server  905  is shown in  FIG. 9 . The self dynamo smart flow utility meters  903  could communicate with the central server directly or bridging by the repeater  902 . If self dynamo self dynamo smart flow utility meters  921  is close enough to the central server, it could communicate with central server  905  directly. Furthermore, the children self dynamo smart flow utility meters  901  not only could send out their data to their parent self dynamo smart flow utility meter  908 , it also could communicate with central server through their parent self dynamo smart flow utility meter  908 . 
         [0047]    The description and operation of central server  1000  for this invention is shown in  FIG. 10 . The central server  1000  does not only providing flow utility network real-time flow usage monitoring and control, flow utility pipe network leakage and error monitoring; it also provides central data handling abilities. The central server  1000  gets all flow usage data from its automatic wireless transceiver system  1020 . The automatic transmit and receive program  1022  delivers the flow usage information to the system management system  1010  once it receive flow data through its wireless transceiver  1021 . Also, it transmits data to self dynamo smart flow utility meters from system management system  1010 . System management program  1012  will be based on the setting information which saved in the information storage  1011  in the System management system  1010  save the data to database system. Also, the system management program  1012  and the developed stored procedures  1052  will calculate to determine if any abnormal situation such as leakage, error or abnormal usage occurs. Once the abnormal situation detected, it will generate an alert in the management user interface  1013 ; also, it will notice the end user by email through the internet information system  1030 , or voice call or text message through automatic mobile phone network transceiver system  1040 . 
         [0048]    Moreover, the management users could control the whole system through the system management user interface. Also, the end users could register their personal information through the web user interface  1032  through the internet server  1031 , and the web user interface will save their information into the databases  1051 . 
         [0049]    Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.