Internet of Things intelligent electric meter supporting edge computing

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of electric meters, in particular to an internet of things intelligent electric meter supporting edge computing, which comprises an intelligent electric meter shell and a circuit board arranged in the intelligent electric meter shell, and further comprises an elastic mounting system which comprises a plurality of clamping seats fixed on the inner wall of the intelligent electric meter shell and a plurality of clamping heads fixed on the edge of the circuit board, a bidirectional buffer mechanism is arranged between the clamping head and the clamping seat, the bidirectional buffer mechanism allows the circuit board to perform multi-degree-of-freedom micro motion in a vibration environment so as to buffer impact, the heat exchange and dehumidification system comprises a heat conduction copper rod penetrating through the clamping seat, one end of the heat conduction copper rod is thermally connected with the bidirectional buffer mechanism, and the other end of the heat conduction copper rod is provided with heat dissipation fins. The heat conduction copper rod is sleeved with a moisture absorption filter element and a breathing heat dissipation system, the breathing heat dissipation system comprises a breathing air shell fixed in the intelligent electric meter shell, a suction groove is formed in the breathing air shell, an intermittent air exchange mechanism is arranged in the breathing air shell, and the air exchange mechanism can periodically suck external cooling air into the shell and then discharge the air out of the shell to blow the circuit board.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electricity meter technology, specifically to an Internet of Things (IoT) smart meter that supports edge computing. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional smart meters primarily collect and upload electricity consumption data, with most complex calculations (such as peak-valley analysis and anomaly detection) performed in the cloud or centralized data processing centers. IoT smart meters that support edge computing are a more advanced type of smart meter. They not only add communication modules (such as 4G / Cat.1, NB-IoT, LoRa, etc.) to the basic metering chip, but more importantly, they incorporate an edge computing unit with a certain computing power (usually a microprocessor or microcontroller).

[0003] For example, patent document CN212031569U discloses a limiting structure for a circuit board inside an electricity meter box, including a meter box body, a top cover, and a tail cover. The top cover is connected to the meter box body, and the tail cover is rotatably connected to the top cover. The meter box body has a buckle inside for limiting the circuit board. The buckle is located at two corners of the meter box body away from the tail cover. The meter box body has a mounting seat for placing the circuit board at the end near the tail cover. The mounting seat has a groove. The beneficial effect of this utility model is that the buckle inside the meter box body can clamp one end of the circuit board, and the other end of the circuit board is placed on the mounting seat. The protrusion on the mounting seat limits the circuit board and prevents the circuit board from swaying left and right. At the same time, a limiting post is set on the inner side wall of the meter box body to further prevent the circuit board from swaying.

[0004] While the aforementioned existing technology uses rigid limiting structures to fix the internal circuit board of the meter, thus suppressing vibration or impact-induced shaking and improving assembly stability, it exposes serious reliability risks during actual operation. Due to changes in ambient temperature between day and night and the periodic heating and cooling of the circuit components themselves, the circuit board and its substrate (especially the epoxy resin and plastic encapsulation materials in the FR-4 substrate) inevitably undergo minute thermal expansion and contraction deformations. These repeated, micron-level dimensional changes cannot be freely released under the constraint of the rigid limiting structure, leading to localized stress concentration that continuously acts on critical areas such as mounting holes, metallized vias, and connector contacts. The long-term accumulated mechanical stress not only causes extrusion damage to the PCB edges from the limiting screws or clips, but more seriously, it accelerates the fatigue wear and peeling of the metal contact plating (such as gold, tin, and nickel), compromising the integrity of the conductive interface. This ultimately leads to problems such as increased contact resistance, unstable signal transmission, and even intermittent interruptions, which seriously affect the meter's metering accuracy, communication reliability, and long-term operational stability. This failure mode is particularly prominent under high temperature and humidity or frequent load changes, becoming a key bottleneck restricting the lifespan and reliability of smart meters.

[0005] Therefore, this application proposes an IoT smart meter that supports edge computing. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an IoT smart meter that supports edge computing, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an IoT smart meter supporting edge computing, comprising a smart meter casing and a circuit board disposed therein, and further comprising: The flexible installation system includes multiple card slots fixed to the inner wall of the smart meter housing and multiple card connectors fixed to the edge of the circuit board. A bidirectional buffer mechanism is provided between the card connectors and the card slots. This bidirectional buffer mechanism allows the circuit board to make multi-degree-of-freedom micro-movements in a vibration environment to buffer the impact and provides a stress release path during thermal expansion and contraction. The heat exchange and dehumidification system includes a heat-conducting copper rod that runs through the card holder. One end of the heat-conducting copper rod is thermally connected to the bidirectional buffer mechanism, and the other end is provided with heat dissipation fins. A moisture-absorbing filter element is sleeved on the heat-conducting copper rod, forming a channel for simultaneous heat conduction and dehumidification. The breathing heat dissipation system includes a breathing air shell fixed inside the smart meter housing. The breathing air shell has an intake groove and an intermittent air exchange mechanism inside. The air exchange mechanism can periodically draw external cooling air into the housing and then discharge it to blow away the circuit board.

[0008] Preferably, the bidirectional buffer mechanism includes an inclined plate disposed in the slot of the card holder. The inclined plate is connected to the inner wall of the card holder through a telescopic spring tube. The bottom of the card connector is provided with a buckle that matches the inclined surface of the inclined plate. When the circuit board expands due to heat, the buckle slides along the inclined surface and compresses the telescopic spring tube, thereby absorbing longitudinal stress. When the circuit board is subjected to vibration and impact, the telescopic spring tube provides lateral and longitudinal elastic buffering.

[0009] Preferably, the end of the heat-conducting copper rod near the card holder is thermally coupled to the inclined card plate through a heat-conducting sheet made of a high thermal conductivity material, so that the heat generated by the circuit board can be conducted to the heat-conducting copper rod in sequence through the card holder, the inclined card plate, and the heat-conducting sheet.

[0010] Preferably, the moisture-absorbing filter element is provided with a moisture-draining inclined groove on its outer periphery, and the outer surface of the moisture-absorbing filter element is provided with a convex filter sheet that fits against the inner wall of the moisture-draining inclined groove. The bottom of the moisture-draining inclined groove is provided with drainage micro-holes. When the moisture-absorbing filter element is regenerated by heating with a heat-conducting copper rod, the precipitated water is guided along the convex filter sheet to the moisture-draining inclined groove and discharged through the drainage micro-holes.

[0011] Preferably, the intermittent ventilation mechanism includes an eccentric wheel rod rotatably disposed within the breathing chamber and fan blades fixed thereon. The eccentric wheel rod is connected to a one-way shaft gear via a one-way bearing. A rack plate is also slidably disposed within the breathing chamber. A return spring rod is fixedly connected to one end of the rack plate, and a ball bearing is provided at one end of the return spring rod. The mechanism also includes a motor fixedly connected within the smart meter housing. Its output end is driven by a common connecting rod, and a multi-bladed cam is fixed on the common connecting rod, periodically contacting the ball bearing. When the multi-bladed cam pushes the rack plate to move, it drives the one-way shaft gear and fan blades to rotate in one direction to achieve exhaust. When the multi-bladed cam disengages, the return spring rod drives the rack plate to reset. Due to the action of the one-way bearing, the fan blades do not rotate, completing one breathing cycle.

[0012] Preferably, it also includes an edge computing controller configured on a circuit board, which can control the start / stop and speed of the motor according to temperature data or a preset time period, thereby adjusting the ventilation frequency of the intermittent ventilation mechanism.

[0013] Preferably, a terminal block is fixed at the bottom of the circuit board, and the inside of the smart meter housing is provided with a wiring terminal for connecting to an external cable. The wiring terminal is connected to the smart meter housing through a set of elastic elements, and the wiring terminal is electrically connected to the terminal block.

[0014] Preferably, the elastic element is a spring sheet, one end of which is welded to the smart meter housing, while the other end is connected to the wiring terminal in an elastic manner through a plug-in connection.

[0015] Preferably, the eccentric wheel rod has eccentric balls rolling inside, which generate mechanical vibrations at a specific frequency when it rotates.

[0016] Preferably, one end of the smart meter housing is fixedly connected to a meter housing.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. By incorporating a spring-loaded elastic connection structure between the terminal block and the smart meter housing, the terminal block can undergo slight elastic displacement under external vibration or mechanical impact, effectively releasing accumulated stress and preventing metal fatigue, loose contact, or fretting wear between the terminal block and the terminal block caused by rigid fixing. This design improves the long-term stability of the electrical connection, making it particularly suitable for high-vibration environments such as industrial sites and rail transportation. The elastic mounting system consists of a card holder, a card connector, and a bidirectional buffer mechanism, which includes a slanted card plate, a telescopic spring, and a latch. This structure allows for slight displacement of the circuit board in the X, Y, and Z directions, absorbing vibration and impact energy during transportation and operation, and releasing thermal expansion and contraction stress caused by temperature changes. This prevents PCB deformation, solder joint cracking, or component detachment, significantly extending the lifespan of the circuit board. A moisture-absorbing filter is fitted around the outer periphery of the heat-conducting copper rod to dry and filter external air entering the smart meter housing, preventing moisture intrusion that could lead to PCB corrosion, insulation degradation, or condensation short circuits. Furthermore, the heat conducted by the thermally conductive copper rod can heat the moisture-absorbing filter element, causing the adsorbed moisture to desorb and precipitate out, flowing along the inclined convex filter plate into the dehumidification trough, and then exiting the shell through the bottom drainage micropores. This achieves passive regeneration of the moisture-absorbing filter element, eliminating the need for manual replacement and improving the long-term reliability and maintenance-free performance of the equipment in high-humidity environments. The air slot is set around the thermally conductive copper rod. After the external dry air flows through the moisture-absorbing filter element, it enters the air slot and blows on the surface of the circuit board, forming an internal airflow circulation with both drying and cooling effects, further improving heat dissipation efficiency, especially effectively suppressing the formation of local hot spots in the sealed shell.

[0018] 2. The breathing cooling system uses a motor-driven connecting rod to rotate a multi-bladed cam, which in turn drives ball bearings and a rack plate in reciprocating motion. This, in turn, drives an eccentric wheel and fan blades to rotate periodically via a one-way shaft gear, achieving breathing-like ventilation. Dry external air enters through the intake slot, sweeping across the circuit board surface, carrying away heat and improving internal convection heat transfer efficiency. This system works in conjunction with the heat exchange and dehumidification system to form a composite cooling mode of heat conduction, forced air cooling, and dry air intake. The edge computing controller dynamically controls the motor's start / stop and speed based on temperature sensor data on the circuit board or a preset time period, achieving on-demand ventilation. The ventilation frequency is increased during high-temperature periods and reduced or even shut down during low-temperature or low-load periods, effectively balancing heat dissipation needs and energy consumption, extending motor life, and conforming to green energy-saving design principles. The eccentric ball bearings inside the eccentric wheel generate mechanical vibrations at a specific frequency during rotation. This vibration is transmitted through the structure to the card holder and smart meter housing, forming a low-frequency resonance. Studies have shown that this type of vibration can effectively repel small insects such as ants, spiders, and cockroaches, preventing them from nesting or crawling in the terminal area, avoiding short circuits or leakage caused by insect carbonization, and improving the safety of equipment in insect-prone environments such as outdoors, basements, and power distribution wells. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 This is an exploded structural diagram of the smart meter housing and the meter casing in this invention; Figure 3 This is an exploded structural diagram of the smart meter casing and circuit board in this invention; Figure 4 This is a partial cross-sectional structural diagram of the smart meter casing in this invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the smart meter casing in this invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit board structure in this invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the card holder in this invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heat dissipation fins in this invention. Figure 9 For the present invention Figure 8 Enlarged structural diagram at point A; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the breathing shell structure in this invention; Figure 11 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the breathing shell in this invention.

[0020] In the diagram: 100, Smart meter housing; 101, Meter housing; 102, Circuit board; 103, Terminal block; 104, Wiring terminal; 105, Spring plate; 200, Card holder; 201, Slanted card plate; 202, Telescopic spring tube; 203, Card connector; 204, Buckle; 300, Thermally conductive copper rod; 301, Heat dissipation fins; 302, Moisture-absorbing filter element; 303, Slanted convex filter; 304, Thermally conductive sheet; 305, Air groove; 306, Dehumidification slant groove; 400, Breathing air shell; 401, Fan blade; 402, Eccentric wheel rod; 403, One-way shaft gear; 404, Rack plate; 405, Return spring rod; 406, Ball bearing; 407, Multi-leaf cam; 408, Common connecting rod; 409, Suction groove; 410, Motor. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] Example 1: Please refer to Figure 1 - Figure 11 This invention provides a technical solution: an IoT smart meter supporting edge computing, comprising a smart meter housing 100 and a circuit board 102 disposed therein. A terminal block 103 is fixed to the bottom of the circuit board 102. The smart meter housing 100 has internal wiring terminals 104 for connecting to external cables. The wiring terminals 104 are connected to the smart meter housing 100 via a set of elastic elements, and are electrically connected to the terminal block 103. The elastic elements can be spring sheets 105, one end of which is soldered to the smart meter housing 100, and the other end of which is connected to the wiring terminals 104 via a plug-in method to maintain an elastic connection. One end of the housing 100 is fixedly connected to the meter housing 101. The terminal 104 is connected to the smart meter housing 100 via a spring plate 105. The elastic connection allows the terminal 104 to move slightly. When subjected to vibration, it can effectively release stress, thereby avoiding metal wear between the terminal 104 and the terminal block 103. This elastic connection structure allows the terminal 104 to undergo slight displacement and angle adjustment when subjected to external vibration, thermal expansion and contraction, or installation stress, thereby effectively releasing accumulated stress and avoiding metal fatigue, loose contact, or fretting wear between the terminal block 103 and the terminal 104 caused by rigid constraints.

[0023] The circuit board 102 contains the following components: Metering Unit: Composed of high-precision current / voltage sensors. Current sampling can be achieved using a low-temperature-coefficient manganese-copper shunt or a miniature current transformer, while voltage sampling is implemented through a high-resistance voltage divider network. After signal conditioning, the signal is sent to a dedicated metering chip, which integrates a high-resolution ADC and DSP unit to calculate key parameters such as voltage, current, active / reactive power, power factor, frequency, harmonic content, and cumulative energy in real time.

[0024] Edge computing unit: With a high-performance main control MCU as the core, running an embedded real-time operating system, this unit is responsible for performing local data analysis tasks, such as load identification NILM, abnormal power consumption monitoring, power quality analysis, demand forecasting and local policy control, reducing dependence on the cloud and reducing communication latency and bandwidth consumption.

[0025] Communication Unit: Integrates multiple IoT communication interfaces to enable bidirectional communication with cloud platforms, concentrators, or other smart devices.

[0026] Storage unit: Includes Flash memory for storing firmware, configuration parameters, and historical data, and RAM for program execution and edge algorithm caching. This is designed to meet the demands of edge computing for large-scale data processing and supports encrypted data storage.

[0027] Power Management Unit: Draws power from the grid and provides a stable voltage to the system after AC-DC conversion. It has a built-in supercapacitor or rechargeable lithium battery as a backup power source, enabling it to maintain RTC operation, save critical data, and report power outage events even in the event of a power failure.

[0028] Clock unit: Integrated high-precision real-time clock (RTC) chip, supports temperature-compensated TCXO, ensuring time error is less than ±2 seconds / day, meeting the application requirements of time-of-use pricing, SOE event sequence recording, and remote time synchronization.

[0029] It also includes a flexible mounting system, which comprises multiple card holders 200 fixed to the inner wall of the smart meter housing 100 and multiple card connectors 203 fixed to the edge of the circuit board 102. A bidirectional buffer mechanism is provided between the card connectors 203 and the card holders 200. This bidirectional buffer mechanism allows the circuit board 102 to make multi-degree-of-freedom micro-movements in a vibration environment to buffer the impact and provides a stress release path during thermal expansion and contraction. By setting up the flexible mounting system, the vibration force on the circuit board 102 can be effectively absorbed, and the stress generated by the thermal expansion of the circuit board 102 can be absorbed at the same time. Under the action of the bidirectional buffer mechanism, the terminal block 103 and the wiring terminal 104 can be protected to operate synchronously, thereby reducing the metal wear caused by their relative movement. Compared with rigid connection, this flexible mounting method is more conducive to the long-term use of the circuit board 102, improves service life and reduces wear rate, and absorbs the vibration and impact energy during transportation and operation; releases the PCB thermal expansion and contraction stress caused by changes in ambient temperature; and avoids circuit board solder joint cracking, component detachment or interlayer separation.

[0030] Furthermore, the bidirectional buffer mechanism includes an inclined plate 201 disposed in the slot of the card holder 200. The inclined plate 201 is connected to the inner wall of the card holder 200 through a telescopic spring tube 202. The bottom of the card connector 203 is provided with a buckle 204 that is adapted to the inclined surface of the inclined plate 201. When the circuit board 102 expands due to heat, the buckle 204 slides along the inclined surface and compresses the telescopic spring tube 202, thereby absorbing longitudinal stress. When the circuit board 102 is subjected to vibration and impact, the telescopic spring tube 202 provides lateral and longitudinal elastic buffering. By setting the telescopic spring tube 202, thermal expansion displacement force can be absorbed, thereby eliminating the stress on the circuit board 102.

[0031] It also includes a heat exchange and dehumidification system, which includes a heat-conducting copper rod 300 that runs through the card holder 200. One end of the heat-conducting copper rod 300 is thermally connected to the bidirectional buffer mechanism, and the other end is provided with heat dissipation fins 301. A moisture-absorbing filter element 302 is sleeved on the heat-conducting copper rod 300, forming a channel for simultaneous heat conduction and dehumidification. External air enters the interior of the smart meter housing 100 through the above-mentioned channel. By setting up the heat exchange and dehumidification system, good and efficient heat dissipation can be provided for the circuit board 102, while dehumidifying the air entering the smart meter housing 100, thereby increasing the service life of the circuit board 102.

[0032] Furthermore, the end of the thermally conductive copper rod 300 near the card holder 200 is thermally coupled to the inclined card plate 201 through a thermally conductive sheet 304 made of a high thermal conductivity material. This allows the heat generated by the circuit board 102 to be conducted sequentially to the thermally conductive copper rod 300 through the card connector 203, the inclined card plate 201, and the thermally conductive sheet 304. The card connector 203, the inclined card plate 201, and the thermally conductive sheet 304 are all made of high thermal conductivity materials, thereby conducting the heat of the circuit board 102 to the heat dissipation fins 301 to exchange heat with the external gas and achieve heat dissipation.

[0033] The moisture-absorbing filter element 302 is fitted with a moisture-draining inclined groove 306 on its outer periphery. The outer surface of the moisture-absorbing filter element 302 is provided with a convex filter sheet 303 that fits against the inner wall of the moisture-draining inclined groove 306. The bottom of the moisture-draining inclined groove 306 is provided with drainage micro-holes. When the moisture-absorbing filter element 302 is regenerated by heating by the heat-conducting copper rod 300, the precipitated water is guided along the convex filter sheet 303 to the moisture-draining inclined groove 306 and discharged through the drainage micro-holes. By setting the moisture-absorbing filter element 302, the gas entering the smart meter housing 100 can be dehumidified, so that the gas is purified and dried. The moisture-absorbing filter element 302 is fitted on the surface of the heat-conducting copper rod 300 so that it can be heated and regenerated, thus achieving continuous and long-term dehumidification.

[0034] To maximize heat dissipation efficiency, the end of the thermally conductive copper rod 300 near the card holder 200 is tightly thermally coupled to the inclined card plate 201 via a thermally conductive plate 304 made of a high thermal conductivity material. The card holder 203, the inclined card plate 201, and the thermally conductive plate 304 are all made of aluminum alloy, copper, or high thermal conductivity engineering plastics, forming a complete heat conduction chain.

[0035] Meanwhile, an air groove 305 is provided around the heat-conducting copper rod 300. After the external dry air flows through the moisture-absorbing filter element 302, it enters the air groove 305 and blows on the surface of the circuit board 102 to achieve forced air cooling and further improve thermal management efficiency.

[0036] Specifically, the circuit board 102 is installed by connecting the terminal block 103 to the terminal block 104, where the terminal block 104 is supported and fixed by the spring plate 105. Then, multiple snap-fit ​​connectors 203 on the back of the circuit board 102 are evenly snapped into the grooves of multiple snap-fit ​​seats 200, so that the snap-fit ​​connectors 203 abut against the inclined snap-fit ​​plate 201. The snap-fit ​​is fixed by snapping the snap-fit ​​plate 204 into the inclined snap-fit ​​plate 201. Then, the micro-movement of the circuit board 102 will be absorbed and buffered by multiple telescopic springs 202. At the same time, the heat generated by the circuit board 102 during operation will be conducted to the inclined snap-fit ​​plate 201 by the snap-fit ​​connectors 203, and then dissipated by the heat dissipation fins 301 after passing through the heat-conducting sheet 304 and the heat-conducting copper rod 300, thereby cooling the circuit board 102. Meanwhile, external air can pass through the inclined convex filter 303 for moisture absorption and filtration and then be discharged into the snap-fit ​​connector 203. After that, it is discharged through the air groove 305 and blown onto the surface of the circuit board 102 for further cooling.

[0037] In summary, by setting a spring sheet 105 between the terminal block 104 and the smart meter housing 100 to form an elastic connection structure, the terminal block 104 can generate a slight elastic displacement when subjected to external vibration or mechanical impact, effectively releasing accumulated stress and avoiding metal fatigue, loose contact, or fretting wear between the terminal block 103 and the terminal block 104 caused by rigid fixing. This design improves the long-term stability of the electrical connection and is especially suitable for high-vibration environments such as industrial sites and rail transportation. The elastic mounting system consists of a card holder 200, a card connector 203, and a bidirectional buffer mechanism, wherein the bidirectional buffer mechanism includes a slanted card plate 201, a telescopic spring tube 202, and a buckle 204. This structure allows the circuit board 102 to make minute displacements in the X, Y, and Z directions, which can absorb the vibration and impact energy during transportation and operation, and release the thermal expansion and contraction stress caused by temperature changes, preventing PCB deformation, solder joint cracking or component detachment, and greatly extending the service life of the circuit board 102. The moisture-absorbing filter element 302 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the heat-conducting copper rod 300 to dry and filter the external air entering the smart meter housing 100, preventing moisture intrusion that could lead to PCB corrosion, insulation degradation or condensation short circuit. Furthermore, the heat conducted by the thermally conductive copper rod 300 can heat the moisture-absorbing filter element 302, causing the adsorbed moisture to desorb and precipitate out, flowing along the inclined convex filter plate 303 into the dehumidification trough 306, and then out of the housing through the bottom drainage micropores, realizing the passive regeneration of the moisture-absorbing filter element 302 without manual replacement, improving the long-term reliability and maintenance-free performance of the equipment in high humidity environments. The air groove 305 is set around the thermally conductive copper rod 300. After the external dry air flows through the moisture-absorbing filter element 302, it enters the air groove 305 and blows on the surface of the circuit board 102, forming an internal airflow circulation with the dual effects of drying and cooling, further improving the heat dissipation efficiency, especially effectively suppressing the formation of local hot spots in the sealed housing 100.

[0038] Example 2: Please refer to Figure 1 - Figure 11 To further improve the heat dissipation efficiency of smart meters under high load operation, this invention also includes a breathing heat dissipation system. This system works in conjunction with the aforementioned heat exchange and dehumidification system. By periodically introducing external cooling air and forcibly blowing it onto the surface of the circuit board 102, it enhances the internal convection heat exchange capacity and effectively reduces the operating temperature of key components such as the main control MCU and power module. The technical solution of the embodiment 1 is different from that of the invention. It includes a breathing air shell 400 fixed inside the smart meter housing 100. The breathing air shell 400 has an intake groove 409. An intermittent ventilation mechanism is provided inside the breathing air shell 400. The ventilation mechanism can periodically draw external cooling air into the shell and then discharge it to blow it onto the circuit board 102. By setting up the breathing heat dissipation system, it can cooperate with the heat exchange and dehumidification system to increase the airflow rate.

[0039] Furthermore, the intermittent ventilation mechanism includes an eccentric wheel rod 402 rotatably disposed within the breathing chamber 400 and a fan blade 401 fixed thereon. The eccentric wheel rod 402 is connected to a one-way shaft gear 403 via a one-way bearing. A rack plate 404 is also slidably disposed within the breathing chamber 400. A return spring rod 405 is fixedly connected to one end of the rack plate 404, and a ball bearing 406 is provided at one end of the return spring rod 405. It also includes a motor fixedly connected within the smart meter housing 100. The output end of the device is connected to a common connecting rod 408, and a multi-leaf cam 407 that periodically contacts the ball bearing 406 is fixed on the common connecting rod 408. When the multi-leaf cam 407 pushes the rack plate 404 to move, it drives the one-way shaft gear 403 and the fan blade 401 to rotate in one direction to achieve exhaust. When the multi-leaf cam 407 disengages, the reset spring rod 405 drives the rack plate 404 to reset. Due to the action of the one-way bearing, the fan blade 401 does not rotate, completing one breathing cycle.

[0040] After entering through the intake slot 409, the external air first flows through the moisture-absorbing filter element 302 for drying. The dried air is then accelerated by the fan blade 401 to form a directional airflow that blows across the surface of the circuit board 102, carrying away heat. The hot air is discharged through the exhaust holes on the top or side wall of the housing, forming effective convection. At the same time, the airflow further cools the area of ​​the heat-conducting copper rod 300 when passing through the air slot 305, improving the overall heat dissipation efficiency.

[0041] Power Management Unit: It draws power from the grid and provides a stable voltage to the system after AC-DC conversion. It has a built-in supercapacitor or rechargeable lithium battery as a backup power source. In the event of a power outage, it can still maintain the operation of the RTC, save critical data, and complete the reporting of power outage events. At the same time, the motor 410 in the breathing cooling system is itself a component of the overall meter system. Its power supply depends entirely on the existing power management unit of the meter, rather than an independent external power source.

[0042] Furthermore, it also includes an edge computing controller, which is configured on the circuit board 102. The edge computing controller can control the start, stop and speed of the motor 410 according to temperature data or a preset time period, thereby adjusting the ventilation frequency of the intermittent ventilation mechanism.

[0043] The eccentric wheel rod 402 contains eccentric balls that rotate inside. When it rotates, it generates mechanical vibrations at a specific frequency. These eccentric balls, also known as eccentric counterweights, generate mechanical vibrations at a specific frequency during rotation. These vibrations are transmitted through the structure to the card holder 200 connected to it, and further to the mounting frame of the entire smart meter housing 100. Studies have shown that such low-frequency vibrations can effectively interfere with the sensory systems of insects such as ants, spiders, and cockroaches, making it difficult for them to nest or crawl inside the device.

[0044] The multi-leaf cam 407 and the return spring rod 405 ensure a smooth ventilation process, while the edge computing controller dynamically adjusts the frequency to avoid continuous vibration.

[0045] Specifically, by continuously running the motor 410, the connecting rod 408 is driven to rotate, which in turn drives multiple multi-leaf cams 407 to rotate. This causes the multi-leaf cams 407 to continuously push the ball bearings 406 over their surface cams, driving the reset spring rod 405 to perform linear reciprocating motion. At this time, the rack plate 404 will continuously mesh with multiple one-way shaft gears 403, thereby causing the eccentric wheel rod 402 to rotate in one direction, thus driving the fan blades 401 to rotate and forming flowing gas. The gas is drawn in through the suction groove 409 and discharged through the fan blades 401 to blow onto the surface of the circuit board 102. At the same time, when the eccentric wheel rod 402 rotates, the deflector wheel inside it will vibrate, causing the card holder 200 to resonate, thereby preventing insects from approaching the smart meter casing 100.

[0046] In summary, the breathing cooling system uses a motor 410 to drive a connecting rod 408, which in turn rotates a multi-bladed cam 407. This cam drives a ball bearing 406, which in turn drives a rack and pinion plate 404 to reciprocate. This, in turn, drives an eccentric wheel rod 402 and fan blades 401 to rotate periodically via a one-way shaft gear 403, achieving breathing-like ventilation. Dry external air enters through the intake slot 409, blowing across the surface of the circuit board 102, carrying away heat and improving internal convection heat transfer efficiency. This system works in conjunction with the heat exchange and dehumidification system to form a composite cooling mode of heat conduction, forced air cooling, and dry air intake. The edge computing controller dynamically controls the start / stop and speed of the motor 410 based on temperature sensor data on the circuit board 102 or a preset time period, achieving on-demand air exchange. By increasing the ventilation frequency during high-temperature periods and decreasing or even shutting down the ventilation during low-temperature or low-load periods, the heat dissipation demand and energy consumption are effectively balanced, extending the life of the motor 410 and conforming to the green energy-saving design concept. The eccentric ball bearings inside the eccentric wheel rotor 402 generate mechanical vibrations at a specific frequency when rotating. This vibration is transmitted to the card holder 200 and the smart meter housing 100 through the structure, forming a low-frequency resonance. Studies have shown that this type of vibration can effectively repel small insects such as ants, spiders, and cockroaches, preventing them from nesting or crawling in the terminal block area 104, avoiding short circuits or leakage caused by insect carbonization, and improving the safety of the equipment in insect-prone environments such as outdoors, basements, and power distribution wells.

[0047] Working principle: The circuit board 102 is installed by connecting the terminal block 103 to the terminal block 104, wherein the terminal block 104 is supported and fixed by the spring plate 105. Then, multiple snap-fit ​​connectors 203 on the back of the circuit board 102 are evenly snapped into the grooves of multiple snap-fit ​​seats 200, so that the snap-fit ​​connectors 203 abut against the inclined snap-fit ​​plate 201. The snap-fit ​​is fixed by snapping the snap-fit ​​buckle 204 into the inclined snap-fit ​​plate 201. After that, the micro-movement of the circuit board 102 will be absorbed and buffered by multiple telescopic springs 202. Meanwhile, the heat generated by the circuit board 102 during operation will be conducted by the snap-fit ​​connector 203 to the inclined snap-fit ​​plate 201, and then dissipated by the heat dissipation fins 301 after passing through the heat-conducting sheet 304 and the heat-conducting copper rod 300, thereby cooling the circuit board 102. At the same time, external air can be filtered by moisture absorption through the inclined convex filter sheet 303 and then discharged into the snap-fit ​​connector 203, and then discharged through the air groove 305 and blown onto the surface of the circuit board 102 for further cooling. By continuously running the motor 410, the connecting rod 408 is driven to rotate, which in turn drives multiple multi-leaf cams 407 to rotate. The multi-leaf cams 407 continuously push the ball bearings 406 over their surface cams, driving the return spring rod 405 to perform linear reciprocating motion. At this time, the rack plate 404 will continuously mesh with multiple one-way shaft gears 403, thereby causing the eccentric wheel rod 402 to rotate in one direction, thus driving the fan blades 401 to rotate and forming flowing gas. The gas is drawn in through the suction groove 409 and discharged through the fan blades 401 to blow onto the surface of the circuit board 102. At the same time, when the eccentric wheel rod 402 rotates, the deflector wheel inside it will vibrate, causing the card holder 200 to resonate, thereby preventing insects from approaching the smart meter casing 100.

[0048] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0049] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An IoT smart meter supporting edge computing, comprising a smart meter housing (100) and a circuit board (102) disposed therein, characterized in that, Also includes: The flexible mounting system includes multiple card slots (200) fixed to the inner wall of the smart meter housing (100) and multiple card connectors (203) fixed to the edge of the circuit board (102). A bidirectional buffer mechanism is provided between the card connectors (203) and the card slots (200). The bidirectional buffer mechanism allows the circuit board (102) to perform multi-degree-of-freedom micro-movements in a vibration environment to buffer the impact and provides a stress release path during thermal expansion and contraction. The heat exchange and dehumidification system includes a heat-conducting copper rod (300) that passes through the card holder (200). One end of the heat-conducting copper rod (300) is thermally connected to the bidirectional buffer mechanism, and the other end is provided with heat dissipation fins (301). A moisture-absorbing filter element (302) is sleeved on the heat-conducting copper rod (300), forming a channel for simultaneous heat conduction and dehumidification. The breathing heat dissipation system includes a breathing air shell (400) fixed inside the smart meter housing (100). The breathing air shell (400) has an intake groove (409) and an intermittent air exchange mechanism inside. The air exchange mechanism can periodically draw external cooling air into the housing and then discharge it to blow away the circuit board (102).

2. The IoT smart meter supporting edge computing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bidirectional buffer mechanism includes an inclined plate (201) disposed in the slot of the card holder (200). The inclined plate (201) is connected to the inner wall of the card holder (200) through a telescopic spring tube (202). The bottom of the card connector (203) is provided with a buckle (204) adapted to the inclined surface of the inclined plate (201). When the circuit board (102) is heated and expanded, the buckle (204) slides along the inclined surface and compresses the telescopic spring tube (202) to absorb longitudinal stress. When the circuit board (102) is subjected to vibration and impact, the telescopic spring tube (202) provides lateral and longitudinal elastic buffering.

3. The IoT smart meter supporting edge computing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The end of the heat-conducting copper rod (300) near the card holder (200) is thermally coupled to the inclined card plate (201) through a heat-conducting sheet (304) made of a high thermal conductivity material, so that the heat generated by the circuit board (102) can be conducted to the heat-conducting copper rod (300) in sequence through the card connector (203), the inclined card plate (201), and the heat-conducting sheet (304).

4. The IoT smart meter supporting edge computing according to claim 3, characterized in that: The moisture-absorbing filter element (302) is fitted with a moisture-draining inclined groove (306) on its outer periphery. The outer surface of the moisture-absorbing filter element (302) is provided with a convex filter sheet (303) that fits against the inner wall of the moisture-draining inclined groove (306). The bottom of the moisture-draining inclined groove (306) is provided with drainage micro-holes. When the moisture-absorbing filter element (302) is regenerated by heating by the heat-conducting copper rod (300), the precipitated water is guided along the convex filter sheet (303) to the moisture-draining inclined groove (306) and discharged through the drainage micro-holes.

5. The IoT smart meter supporting edge computing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The intermittent ventilation mechanism includes an eccentric wheel rod (402) rotatably disposed within a breathing chamber (400) and a fan blade (401) fixed thereon. The eccentric wheel rod (402) is connected to a one-way shaft gear (403) via a one-way bearing. A rack plate (404) is also slidably disposed within the breathing chamber (400). A return spring rod (405) is fixedly connected to one end of the rack plate (404), and a ball bearing (406) is provided at one end of the return spring rod (405). The mechanism also includes a motor fixedly connected within a smart meter housing (100). The output end of the device (410) is connected to a common connecting rod (408), and a multi-leaf cam (407) that periodically contacts the ball (406) is fixed on the common connecting rod (408). When the multi-leaf cam (407) pushes the rack plate (404) to move, it drives the one-way shaft gear (403) and the fan blade (401) to rotate in one direction to achieve exhaust. When the multi-leaf cam (407) disengages, the reset spring rod (405) drives the rack plate (404) to reset. Due to the action of the one-way bearing, the fan blade (401) does not rotate, thus completing one breathing cycle.

6. The IoT smart meter supporting edge computing according to claim 5, characterized in that: It also includes an edge computing controller configured on a circuit board (102) that can control the start, stop and speed of the motor (410) according to temperature data or a preset time period, thereby adjusting the ventilation frequency of the intermittent ventilation mechanism.

7. The IoT smart meter supporting edge computing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the circuit board (102) is fixed with a terminal block (103). The inside of the smart meter housing (100) is provided with a wiring terminal (104) for connecting to external cables. The wiring terminal (104) is connected to the smart meter housing (100) through a set of elastic elements, and the wiring terminal (104) is electrically connected to the terminal block (103).

8. The IoT smart meter supporting edge computing according to claim 7, characterized in that: The elastic element is a spring sheet (105), one end of which is welded to the smart meter housing (100), and the other end is connected to the wiring terminal (104) by plugging in to maintain an elastic connection.

9. The IoT smart meter supporting edge computing according to claim 5, characterized in that: The eccentric wheel rod (402) has eccentric balls rolling inside, which generate mechanical vibrations at a specific frequency when it rotates.

10. The IoT smart meter supporting edge computing according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the smart meter housing (100) is fixedly connected to the meter housing (101).

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