A power self-adjusting wireless meter reading module, a working method thereof and a storage medium

Abstract

A power self-adjusting wireless meter reading module, a working method thereof and a storage medium, the wireless meter reading module is used for meter reading of an electric meter, comprising: an MCU, a current limiting chip, a wireless communication module and a power supply circuit; the MCU is connected with the electric meter, the current limiting chip and the wireless communication module, the MCU is used for acquiring the state of the current limiting chip and the wireless communication module, and is used for controlling the wireless communication module to send meter reading data, and is used for adjusting the transmitting power of the wireless communication module according to the state of the current limiting chip and the wireless communication module; the current limiting chip is connected with the electric meter, and the current limiting chip is used for limiting the current output to the power supply circuit, the current limiting chip has a constant current mode and a normal working mode; the wireless communication module is used for realizing the communication between the wireless meter reading module and a master station; the power supply circuit is connected with the current limiting chip, and the power supply circuit supplies power for the MCU and the wireless communication module. The application can adjust the transmitting power of the wireless communication module, and adapt to different electric meters.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of wireless meter reading technology, and particularly relates to a wireless meter reading module with power self-adjustment function, its working method, and a computer-readable storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of wireless communication technology, smart meters equipped with wireless communication modules are being used more and more widely, and automatic meter reading via wireless communication modules has become the mainstream meter reading method. For wireless communication modules, the higher the wireless transmission power, the farther the communication distance, and the larger the meter reading coverage. However, higher wireless transmission power requires more current. The current for the wireless communication module is usually supplied by the meter. If the current consumed by the wireless communication module exceeds the meter's load capacity, it will cause the meter to experience abnormal operation such as reset or black screen.

[0003] To address the issue of malfunctions caused by wireless communication modules consuming current exceeding the meter's load capacity, two main solutions exist: One is to significantly increase the meter's power supply capacity, making it far exceed the current consumed by the wireless communication module. However, this increases the meter's cost. The other solution involves using a current-limiting protection chip in the meter's power module to restrict the output current. While this limits the wireless communication module's current consumption to a safe range, it also restricts the use of high-power wireless communication modules, limiting the meter's communication distance and meter reading coverage. Furthermore, in the existing meter retrofit market, the load capacity of installed meters varies. Wireless communication modules with fixed power settings at the factory are incompatible with different meter models, resulting in poor versatility. Additionally, highly precise power calibration for wireless communication modules requires extremely precise testing equipment, leading to high costs and hindering mass production. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a wireless meter reading module with power self-adjustment function and its working method.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer-readable storage medium capable of executing a power self-adjustment program for a wireless meter reading module.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A power-adjustable wireless meter reading module for electricity meter reading includes: an MCU, a current-limiting chip, a wireless communication module, and a power supply circuit. The MCU is connected to the electricity meter, the current-limiting chip, and the wireless communication module. The MCU is used to acquire the status of the current-limiting chip and the wireless communication module, control the wireless communication module to transmit meter reading data, and adjust the transmission power of the wireless communication module according to the status of the current-limiting chip and the wireless communication module. The current-limiting chip is connected to the electricity meter and limits the current output to the power supply circuit. The current-limiting chip has a constant current mode and a normal operating mode. The wireless communication module enables communication between the wireless meter reading module and a master station. The power supply circuit is connected to the current-limiting chip and supplies power to the MCU and the wireless communication module.

[0008] As described above, the power self-adjusting wireless meter reading module may optionally include an input pin, an output pin, a status output pin, an enable pin, and a ground pin. The input pin is connected to the power output terminal of the meter, the output pin is connected to the input terminal of the power circuit, the status output pin is connected to the MCU, and the enable pin is connected to the meter. The meter can turn the current limiting chip off or on through the enable pin. When the current limiting chip is off, it has no voltage or current output. The MCU obtains the operating status of the current limiting chip by detecting the level output of the status output pin.

[0009] As described above, the power self-adjusting wireless meter reading module may optionally have its status output pin connected to the interrupt pin or I / O pin of the MCU.

[0010] As described above, the power self-adjusting wireless meter reading module may optionally include a current limiting threshold setting pin, which is connected to a current limiting resistor.

[0011] As described above, the power self-adjusting wireless meter reading module may optionally have the following characteristics: when the current limiting chip is in constant current mode, the output current is constant; when the current limiting chip is in normal operating mode, the output current varies with the current consumed by the wireless communication module.

[0012] As described above, the power self-adjusting wireless meter reading module may optionally include a wireless transceiver chip connected to an RF power amplifier.

[0013] This invention also provides a method for operating a power self-adjusting wireless meter reading module, comprising the following steps:

[0014] The MCU obtains the operating status of the current limiting chip and determines whether the current limiting chip is in a current limiting state.

[0015] If the current limiting chip is in a current limiting state, the MCU obtains the state of the wireless communication module and determines whether the wireless communication module is in a transmitting state;

[0016] If the wireless communication module is in a transmitting state, the MCU reduces the transmitting power of the wireless communication module when it transmits next; if the wireless communication module is not in a transmitting state, the MCU generates a current limiting alarm signal and sends it to the master station.

[0017] As described above, optionally, after the MCU reduces the transmit power of the wireless communication module, it further determines whether the number of times the power of the wireless communication module has been reduced is greater than a preset number. If so, a current limiting alarm signal is generated and sent to the master station.

[0018] As described above, optionally, after the MCU generates a current limiting alarm signal, it sends the current limiting alarm signal to the electricity meter, and the electricity meter shuts off the current limiting chip, so the current limiting chip has no voltage or current output.

[0019] The present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program being loaded by the MCU and executing the steps of the method described above.

[0020] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, this invention achieves current limiting detection within the wireless communication circuit by setting a current limiting chip. By judging the current limiting status, the transmission power of the wireless communication module can be automatically adjusted based on the status of the current limiting chip to adapt to the load capacity of the electricity meter. This reduces the accuracy requirements of the wireless communication module's factory power calibration. The transmission power can still be adjusted after the module is installed at the factory to adapt to different electricity meters. This maximizes the transmission power to extend the communication distance while ensuring that the current consumed by the wireless communication module does not exceed the load capacity of the electricity meter. It is particularly suitable for the AMI retrofit of existing electricity meters. In the preferred embodiment, current limiting alarm information can be further reported to the master station or the electricity meter, which is beneficial for solving on-site engineering problems and ensuring the normal operation of the electricity meter's metering function. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a circuit block diagram of the wireless meter reading module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a circuit diagram of the current limiting chip according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the working method of the wireless meter reading module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, for ease of explanation, the drawings illustrating the device structure will be partially enlarged without adhering to the general scale. Furthermore, the schematic diagrams are merely examples and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that the drawings are in a simplified form and use non-precise scales, solely for the purpose of conveniently and clearly illustrating the embodiments of the present invention. Additionally, in the description of this application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Terms such as "positive," "negative," "bottom," "upper," and "lower" indicate orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention.

[0026] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can also refer to the internal connection of two components; and they can refer to a wireless connection or a wired connection. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0027] like Figure 1 As shown, the wireless meter reading module in this embodiment includes an MCU, a current limiting chip, a wireless communication module, and a power supply circuit. In this embodiment, the MCU is electrically connected to both the electricity meter and the wireless communication module via a serial port. The MCU controls the wireless communication module to send meter reading data and can obtain the operating status of the wireless communication module, such as whether the wireless communication module is in the transmission process, and can adjust the transmission power of the wireless communication module. The MCU communicates with the electricity meter via the serial port and can send meter reading command signals to the electricity meter. The wireless communication module is used to realize the communication connection between the wireless meter reading module and the concentrator (master station), such as for sending meter reading data and receiving meter reading commands. The power supply circuit supplies power to the wireless communication module and the MCU, while the current limiting chip is powered by the electricity meter.

[0028] The wireless communication module is used to receive meter reading commands from the concentrator and to send meter reading data to the concentrator. In this embodiment, the wireless communication module uses a Sub-GHz general-purpose wireless transceiver chip. The MCU controls the transmission and reception of the wireless transceiver chip via an SPI interface. The wireless transceiver chip internally includes modulation and demodulation circuits. In this embodiment, the output power of the wireless transceiver chip is 20dBm, and the operating current is approximately 100mA. In some embodiments, an RF power amplifier can be connected externally to the TX circuit of the wireless transceiver chip to further increase the wireless transmission power to 30dBm, thereby increasing the communication distance. When the wireless transceiver chip is connected to an RF power amplifier, the operating current of the wireless communication module will approach or exceed 1A.

[0029] The current-limiting chip limits the output current. In this embodiment, the current-limiting chip is used to limit the current output to the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit supplies power to the wireless communication module. When the current supplied to the wireless communication module is large, a higher-power wireless communication module can be used to increase the communication distance and expand the meter reading coverage. The current-limiting chip is located between the meter and the power supply circuit. The current supplied by the meter passes through the current-limiting chip and the power supply circuit before being supplied to the wireless communication module and the MCU.

[0030] In this embodiment, the input pin of the current limiting chip is connected to the power output terminal of the electricity meter, the output pin is connected to the input terminal of the power supply circuit, the status output pin is connected to the MCU, and the enable pin of the current limiting chip is also connected to the electricity meter. The electricity meter in this embodiment can provide a +5V power supply to the wireless meter reading module, with a peak load current of 1A. The MCU in this embodiment is connected to the status output pin of the current limiting chip via an interrupt pin. The current limiting chip uses the high or low level of the status output pin to indicate whether it is in constant current mode or normal operating mode. Thus, the MCU can obtain the operating status of the current limiting chip (current limiting state or normal state) and adjust the transmission power of the wireless communication module according to the operating status of the current limiting chip. It can also further generate a current limiting alarm signal based on the operating status of the current limiting chip. The current limiting chip can be turned off or on via the enable pin connected to the electricity meter. When the current limiting chip is in the off state, it has no voltage or current output.

[0031] The power supply circuit is connected in series after the current limiting chip, which limits the maximum current consumed by the power supply circuit. In this embodiment, when the current consumed by the power supply circuit (wireless communication module) reaches the current limiting threshold set by the current limiting chip, the status output pin of the current limiting chip outputs a low level, indicating that the current limiting chip is in constant current mode (current limiting state); when the current consumed by the power supply circuit (wireless communication module) is less than the current limiting threshold set by the current limiting chip, the status output pin of the current limiting chip outputs a high level, indicating that the current limiting chip is in normal working mode (normal state). The MCU obtains the working status of the current limiting chip by detecting the level of the status output pin of the current limiting chip. In specific applications, the current limiting chip can be a Texas Instruments (TI) TPS2597 or TPS25221 current limiting chip.

[0032] Figure 2 This is a circuit diagram of a current-limiting chip used in this embodiment. Figure 2 As shown, pin 1 (IN pin) of the current limiting chip is connected to the power output pin of the meter as the power input terminal; pin 6 (OUT pin) is connected to the power output terminal of the power circuit as the power output terminal; pin 2 (GND pin) is grounded; pin 3 (EN pin) is the enable pin and is connected to the meter, which can turn off the output current / voltage of the current limiting chip through the enable pin; pin 4 (FAULT pin) is the status output pin, which outputs high and low level signals to the MCU. Each current limiting chip has a set current limiting threshold value, which can be set internally by the chip or further adjusted by an external resistor. In this embodiment, pin 5 (ILIM pin) is used as the current limiting threshold setting pin and is connected to a current limiting resistor (R2). The output current value (current limiting threshold value) of the current limiting chip is set by the size of the current limiting resistor. In other embodiments, the status output pin of the current limiting chip can also be connected to the IO pin of the MCU, and the MCU can obtain the operating status of the current limiting chip by querying the high and low level status of the IO pin.

[0033] The current-limiting chip has an internal MOS switch. In normal operating mode (when the load current is less than the current-limiting threshold), the MOS switch is open, and the current output by the chip is not constant but varies according to the current consumed by the load (wireless communication module). When the load current reaches the current-limiting threshold, the chip enters constant current mode (current-limiting state), and the output voltage decreases until the overload condition is eliminated. The chip also includes a current monitoring circuit to monitor whether the current flowing through it reaches the current-limiting threshold. When the threshold is reached, a low level is output on the FAULT pin. When the chip is in current-limiting mode, the operating current of the wireless communication module equals the meter output current.

[0034] The following is combined with Figure 3 The working method of the power self-adjusting wireless meter reading module in this embodiment will be described, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the method includes the following steps:

[0035] The MCU obtains the operating status of the current limiting chip. If the output of the status output pin of the current limiting chip is continuously low within a preset time, it is determined that the current limiting chip is in the current limiting state. For example, the MCU reads the status of the current limiting chip every 1ms. When it reads that the current limiting chip is in the current limiting state twice in a row, it is determined that the transmission power of the wireless communication module is too high, causing the operating current of the wireless communication module to exceed the current limiting threshold of the current limiting chip, and the current limiting chip is in the current limiting state.

[0036] When the current limiting chip is determined to be in a current limiting state, the MCU obtains the status of the wireless communication module and determines whether the wireless communication module is in a transmitting state.

[0037] If the wireless communication module is in wireless transmission mode, it is determined that the transmission power of the wireless communication module is too high. In the next transmission, the MCU will reduce the transmission power of the wireless communication module according to the preset power level. When the wireless communication module is not in wireless transmission mode, its operating current is relatively small, about 100mA. If the current limiting chip is continuously read as being in current limiting mode while the wireless communication module is not in wireless transmission mode, the MCU will determine that the wireless communication module has an internal short circuit or other abnormal operation, generate a current limiting alarm signal, and send the current limiting alarm signal to the master station through the wireless communication module, and at the same time send it to the meter through the serial port.

[0038] Upon receiving a current-limiting alarm signal, the meter will delay for a preset time before pulling down the enable pin of the current-limiting chip, shutting it down. The current-limiting chip will then have no voltage or current output, protecting the meter's own power metering function. Upon receiving the current-limiting alarm signal, the master station can promptly notify maintenance personnel to handle the situation on-site.

[0039] If the transmission power of the wireless communication module is reduced excessively, the communication distance will not meet the requirements of field use. Therefore, preferably, after the MCU reduces the power of the wireless communication module, the MCU further determines whether the number of times the power of the wireless communication module is reduced is greater than a preset number (e.g., 3 times). If the number of times the power of the wireless communication module is reduced is greater than the preset number and the current limiting chip is still in the current limiting state, it is determined that the wireless communication module is malfunctioning. The MCU generates a current limiting alarm signal and sends the current limiting alarm signal to the master station and the meter.

[0040] When the wireless communication module is not transmitting data, its current consumption is typically low. If the wireless communication module is detected to be in a current-limiting state at this time, it can usually be determined that a short circuit or other abnormal current consumption has occurred within the module, generating a current-limiting alarm. After the alarm is generated, the meter can cut off the module's current to protect the meter's metering function and simultaneously report the issue wirelessly to the main station, enabling the power company to promptly obtain module fault information and notify maintenance personnel to take appropriate measures.

[0041] The present invention also includes a memory connected to the MCU, the memory being used to store computer programs (instructions, programs, code, code sets, or instruction sets), and the MCU being used to call and execute the computer programs stored in the memory to achieve the aforementioned purpose. Figure 3 The method steps shown in the embodiment are described below. For a detailed description of the execution process, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 3 The specific details of the illustrated embodiments will not be elaborated here.

[0042] The memory may include random access memory (RAM) or read-only memory. Optionally, the memory may include non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The memory may include a stored program area and a stored data area, wherein the stored program area may store instructions for implementing an operating system, instructions for at least one function (such as touch function, sound playback function, image playback function, etc.), instructions for implementing the above-described method embodiments, etc.; the stored data area may store data involved in the above-described method embodiments, etc.

[0043] The present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions adapted to be loaded and executed by an MCU as described above. Figure 3 The method steps of the illustrated embodiment.

[0044] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the processes in the above embodiments can be implemented by a computer program instructing related hardware. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, it can include the processes of the embodiments of the above methods. The storage medium can be a magnetic disk, optical disk, read-only memory, or random access memory, etc.

[0045] The wireless meter reading module of this invention incorporates a current-limiting chip. The MCU can acquire the operating status of the current-limiting chip and adjust the power of the wireless communication module accordingly. This allows the wireless communication module to adapt to meters with different load capacities, solving the problem of existing meter reading modules where the meter continuously cycles through transmit-current-limit reset-transmit-current-limit reset when the transmit power is too high and the current consumption is excessive, preventing normal operation. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, this invention can report abnormal states via current-limiting alarms, facilitating on-site troubleshooting.

[0046] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A power self-adjusting wireless meter reading module for meter reading of an electric meter, characterized by, The application relates to a current-limiting chip, a wireless communication module and a power supply circuit. The MCU is connected with the ammeter, the current-limiting chip and the wireless communication module, and is used for acquiring the states of the current-limiting chip and the wireless communication module, controlling the wireless communication module to send meter reading data, and adjusting the transmitting power of the wireless communication module according to the states of the current-limiting chip and the wireless communication module. The current-limiting chip is connected with the ammeter, and is used for limiting the current output to the power supply circuit; the current-limiting chip has a constant current mode and a normal working mode. The wireless communication module is used for realizing the communication between the wireless meter reading module and a master station. The power supply circuit is connected with the current-limiting chip, and supplies power for the MCU and the wireless communication module. The current-limiting chip comprises input pins, output pins, state output pins, enabling pins and ground pins; the input pins are connected with the power output end of the ammeter; the output pins are connected with the input end of the power supply circuit; the state output pins are connected with the MCU; and the enabling pins are connected with the ammeter.

2. The power self-adjusting wireless data collection module of claim 1, wherein: The ammeter can turn off or turn on the current-limiting chip through the enabling pins; when the current-limiting chip is turned off, the current-limiting chip has no voltage and current output. The MCU acquires the working state of the current-limiting chip by detecting the level state output by the state output pins. The state output pins are connected with the interrupt pins or IO pins of the MCU.

3. The power self-adjusting wireless data collection module of claim 2, wherein: The MCU further comprises current-limiting threshold setting pins connected with current-limiting resistors.

4. The power self-adjusting wireless data collection module of claim 2, wherein: When the current-limiting chip is in the constant current mode, the output current is constant; when the current-limiting chip is in the normal working mode, the output current changes with the current consumption of the wireless communication module.

5. The power self-adjusting wireless data collection module of claim 1, wherein: The wireless communication module comprises a wireless transceiver chip connected with a radio frequency power amplifier.

6. The power self-adjusting wireless data collection module of claim 1, wherein: The application further provides a method for controlling the current-limiting chip, the wireless communication module and the power supply circuit.

7. The method of claim 1 to 6, wherein, The MCU acquires the working state of the current-limiting chip, judges whether the current-limiting chip is in the current-limiting state, acquires the state of the wireless communication module, judges whether the wireless communication module is in the transmitting state, and generates a current-limiting alarm signal and sends the current-limiting alarm signal to the master station when the wireless communication module is not in the transmitting state. The MCU further judges whether the power reduction frequency of the wireless communication module is greater than a preset frequency after reducing the transmitting power of the wireless communication module, generates a current-limiting alarm signal and sends the current-limiting alarm signal to the master station when the power reduction frequency of the wireless communication module is greater than the preset frequency. The MCU sends the current-limiting alarm signal to the ammeter, and the ammeter turns off the current-limiting chip, so that the current-limiting chip has no voltage and current output. The computer program is loaded and executed by the MCU to perform the method steps in any one of claims 7 to 9.

8. The method of operation of claim 7, wherein: ​ 9. A method of working according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that: ​ 10. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program, characterized in that: ​

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