Utility meter power arrangements and methods

Abstract

An arrangement for providing power in an RF transmitter includes a first power supply and a bank of capacitors. The RF transmitter is operably connected to receive commodity consumption information from a measurement circuit of a utility meter. The first power supply is operable to provide power to metering circuitry within the utility meter. The metering circuitry includes an analog to digital converter and at least one processor. The bank of capacitors is operably coupled to provide power to the RF transmitter at least when power requirements of the RF transmitter exceed an amount of power available from the first power supply.

1 . An arrangement for providing power in an RF transmitter, the RF transmitter operably connected to receive commodity consumption information from a measurement circuit of a utility meter, the arrangement comprising: 
 a first power supply operable to provide power to metering circuitry within the utility meter, the metering circuitry including an analog to digital converter and at least one processor;    a bank of capacitors operably coupled to provide power to the RF transmitter at least when power requirements of the RF transmitter exceed an amount of power available from the first power supply.    
   
   
       2 . The arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the first power supply is further operably coupled to provide a charging current to the bank of capacitors.  
   
   
       3 . The arrangement of  claim 2  wherein the bank of capacitors include ultracapacitors.  
   
   
       4 . The arrangement of  claim 3  further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to obtain information regarding a temperature in the vicinity of the bank of capacitors.  
   
   
       5 . The arrangement of  claim 4  further comprising a processing circuit coupled to receive the temperature information, the processing circuit operable to inhibit transmission by the RF transmitter based at least in part on the temperature information.  
   
   
       6 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the bank of capacitors include a plurality of series-connected capacitors.  
   
   
       7 . The arrangement of  claim 6 , further comprising a resistance coupled across each of the plurality of series-connected capacitors.  
   
   
       8 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , further comprising a voltage regulator coupled between the first power supply and the bank of capacitors.  
   
   
       9 . An arrangement for providing power to an RF transmitting apparatus, the RF transmitting apparatus configured to be connected to obtain metering information from a metering circuit of a utility meter, the arrangement comprising: 
 a plurality of series-connected capacitors connected between a power input of the RF transmitting apparatus and a ground reference, the plurality of series-connected capacitors configured to be further operably coupled to a source of electrical power; and    a plurality of resistive devices, each resistive device connected across a corresponding one of the plurality of series-connected capacitors.    
   
   
       9 . The arrangement of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of series connected capacitors include ultracapacitors.  
   
   
       10 . The arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of series connected capacitors has a capacitance of 10 about farads.  
   
   
       11 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of resistive devices has a resistance of about 10 k ohms.  
   
   
       12 . The arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of series connected capacitors has a capacitance of about 10 farads.  
   
   
       13 . The arrangement of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of resistive devices has a resistance of about 10 k ohms.  
   
   
       14 . A method, comprising: 
 a) providing power to metering circuitry of a utility meter from a first power supply;    b) providing power to an RF transmitter from a bank of capacitors at least when power requirements of the RF transmitter exceed an amount of power available from the first power supply; and    c) providing power to the bank of capacitors from the first power supply.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein step a) further comprises providing power to an A/D converter of the metering circuitry from the first power supply.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, inhibiting transmission by the RF transmitter based at least in part on a sensed temperature.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the bank of capacitors comprises a plurality of series-connected capacitors, and wherein a resistive device is coupled across each of the plurality of capacitors.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein step b) further comprises providing power to the RF transmitter from a bank of ultracapacitors.  
   
   
       19 . An arrangement for transmitting information from a utility meter, the arrangement comprising: 
 a radio frequency device operable to transmit metering information;    an energy storage circuit operably coupled to a power supply input of the radio frequency device, the energy storage circuit configured to provide power the radio frequency device;    a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor operable to generate a temperature output signal having temperature information therein; and    processing circuitry operably coupled to receive the temperature information, the processing circuitry operable to inhibit operation of the radio frequency device based at least in part on the temperature information.    
   
   
       20 . The arrangement of  claim 19  wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to inhibit operation of the radio frequency device when the temperature information is indicative of a temperature in the proximity of the energy storage circuit below a threshold.  
   
   
       21 . The arrangement of  claim 20  wherein the radio frequency device comprises a pager radio.  
   
   
       22 . The arrangement of  claim 19  wherein the energy storage circuit further comprises a plurality of capacitors.  
   
   
       23 . The arrangement of  claim 22  wherein the plurality of capacitors includes ultracapacitors.  
   
   
       24 . The arrangement of  claim 19  wherein the processing circuitry includes elements of a pager radio integrated circuit and elements of a voltage regulator integrated circuit.