Low-power-consumption water meter handheld machine circuit based on intelligent water meter

Abstract

The invention provides a low-power-consumption water meter handheld machine circuit based on an intelligent water meter, and relates to the field of water meters, the low-power-consumption water meter handheld machine circuit comprises a controller, a first communication circuit, a second communication circuit and a power supply circuit; wherein the first communication circuit is coupled with the controller, and the first communication circuit is configured to perform information interaction with the intelligent water meter so as to perform meter reading on the intelligent water meter to obtain meter reading data and transmit the meter reading data to the controller; the second communication circuit is coupled with the controller, and the second communication circuit is configured to perform information interaction with a water meter management terminal so as to transmit the meter reading data received by the controller from the first communication circuit to an external water meter management terminal; the power supply circuit is coupled with the controller, the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit, and the power supply circuit is configured to supply power to the controller, the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit under the control of the controller. The problem that the intelligent water meter cannot report meter reading data when the environment signal is poor is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of water meter technology, specifically to a low-power handheld circuit for a smart water meter. Background Technology

[0002] With societal development, smart water meters are gradually replacing traditional water meters and becoming the mainstream. The smart water meter field includes, but is not limited to, NB-IoT water meters, CAT.1 water meters, LoRaWAN water meters, and WMBUS water meters. Currently, when the signal strength of a smart water meter is weak, it may fail to report meter reading data. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main purpose of this disclosure is to provide a low-power handheld circuit for smart water meters to improve the problem that smart water meters cannot report meter reading data when the environmental signal is poor.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, a first aspect of this disclosure provides a low-power water meter handheld circuit based on a smart water meter. This low-power water meter handheld circuit includes: a controller, a first communication circuit, a second communication circuit, and a power supply circuit. The first communication circuit is coupled to the controller and configured to: interact with the smart water meter to read meter data and transmit the data to the controller; the second communication circuit is coupled to the controller and configured to: interact with a water meter management terminal to transmit the meter data received by the controller from the first communication circuit to an external water meter management terminal; the power supply circuit is coupled to the controller, the first communication circuit, and the second communication circuit and configured to: supply power to the controller, the first communication circuit, and the second communication circuit under the control of the controller.

[0005] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the power supply circuit includes: a power supply, a power supply voltage terminal, an LDO, and a first switch. The power supply voltage terminal supplies power to the controller, the first communication circuit, and the second communication circuit under the control of the controller. The input terminal of the LDO is coupled to the power supply, and the output terminal of the LDO is coupled to the power supply voltage terminal. The LDO is configured to convert the power supply voltage of the power supply to obtain a power supply voltage for supplying power to the power supply voltage terminal. The first terminal of the first switch is coupled to the power supply, and the second terminal of the first switch is coupled to the power supply voltage terminal. The first switch is configured to conduct when the power supply voltage is lower than a first set voltage, allowing the power supply to directly supply power to the power supply voltage terminal without going through the LDO.

[0006] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the power supply circuit further includes: a first voltage sampling circuit coupled to the power supply, the first voltage sampling circuit being configured to sample the power supply voltage of the power supply; the first voltage sampling circuit is further configured to: trigger a first switch to turn off when the power supply voltage of the power supply is detected to be greater than or equal to a first set voltage; and trigger a first switch to turn on when the power supply voltage is detected to be less than the first set voltage.

[0007] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the first voltage sampling circuit includes: a first resistor, a second resistor, and a comparison trigger unit. A first end of the first resistor is coupled to a power supply. A first end of the second resistor is coupled to a second end of the first resistor via a first voltage sampling point, and the second end of the second resistor is coupled to a first ground terminal. The comparison trigger unit is coupled to the first voltage sampling point and the control electrode of a first switch. The comparison trigger unit is configured to: compare the sampled voltage of the first voltage sampling point with the magnitude of a second set voltage; when the sampled voltage of the first voltage sampling point is greater than the second set voltage, send a shutdown control signal to the control electrode of the first switch to control the first switch to turn it off; when the sampled voltage of the first voltage sampling point is less than or equal to the second set voltage, send a conduction control signal to the control electrode of the first switch to control the first switch to conduct. The first set voltage is determined based on the second set voltage and the resistance values ​​of the first and second resistors.

[0008] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the first communication circuit includes: a first LoRaWAN module and a second LoRaWAN module coupled to a controller, wherein the communication frequency band of the first LoRaWAN module is a first frequency band, and the communication frequency band of the second LoRaWAN module is a second frequency band different from the first frequency band; wherein the controller is capable of controlling the communication frequency band of the first communication circuit to switch between the first frequency band and the second frequency band.

[0009] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the controller includes: a main control MCU and a touch button circuit with touch buttons; wherein the controller is configured to: when the first communication circuit and / or the second communication circuit are not working, the main control MCU shuts down the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit to put the low-power water meter handheld circuit into a sleep state; receive a power-on touch action signal that triggers the first communication circuit and / or the second communication circuit through the touch buttons, transmit the power-on touch action signal to the main control MCU through the touch button circuit, and enable the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit through the main control MCU to put the low-power water meter handheld circuit into a power-on state; and receive a frequency band selection action signal input by the user to select the communication frequency band of the first communication circuit through the touch buttons, transmit the frequency band selection action signal to the main control MCU through the touch button circuit, and control the communication frequency band of the first communication circuit to switch between the first frequency band and the second frequency band through the main control MCU.

[0010] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the power supply circuit further includes a battery, and the touch button circuit includes: a third resistor, a first diode, a second switch, a third switch, and a touch chip; wherein, the first end of the third resistor is coupled to the power supply voltage terminal, and the second end of the third resistor is coupled to the interrupt pin of the main control MCU; the positive terminal of the first diode is coupled to the second end of the third resistor and the interrupt pin; the first terminal of the second switch is coupled to the negative terminal of the first diode and the control terminal of the third switch, the second terminal of the second switch is coupled to the second ground terminal, and the control terminal of the second switch is coupled to the power control pin of the main control MCU; the first terminal of the third switch is coupled to the battery power supply terminal, and the second terminal of the third switch is coupled to the power supply; the touch chip has a touch button and a switch pin, the negative terminal of the first diode is coupled to the switch pin, and when the touch button receives a power-on touch action signal, the touch chip outputs a low level through the switch pin, thereby pulling down the level of the interrupt pin; when the main control MCU detects that the level of the interrupt pin is pulled low, it controls the second switch to conduct through the power control pin, thereby controlling the third switch to conduct, so that the battery power supply terminal supplies power to the power supply.

[0011] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the touch button circuit further includes a second voltage sampling circuit, which includes a fourth resistor, a fifth resistor, and a first voltage-stabilizing capacitor. The first terminal of the fourth resistor is coupled to the second terminal of the third switch and the power supply. The first terminal of the fifth resistor is coupled to the second terminal of the fourth resistor through a second voltage sampling point, which is coupled to the battery voltage sampling pin of the main control MCU. The second terminal of the fifth resistor is coupled to a third ground terminal. The first terminal of the first voltage-stabilizing capacitor is coupled to the second voltage sampling point, and the second terminal of the first voltage-stabilizing capacitor is coupled to the third ground terminal.

[0012] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the controller includes a serial port debugging circuit, which includes a fourth switch, a sixth resistor, and a debugging serial port. The first terminal of the fourth switch is coupled to the power supply voltage terminal and the debugging pin of the main control MCU, and the second terminal of the fourth switch is coupled to the fourth ground terminal. The first terminal of the sixth resistor is coupled to the control terminal of the fourth switch, and the second terminal of the sixth resistor is coupled to the fourth ground terminal. The debugging serial port includes an activation pin, which is coupled to the first terminal of the sixth resistor and the control terminal of the fourth switch. The fourth switch is an NPN transistor. When the debugging serial port is coupled to an external debugging device, the debugging device pulls the level of the activation pin high, thereby triggering the fourth switch to conduct, so that the debugging pin of the main control MCU is pulled low, thereby triggering the main control MCU to enter the serial port debugging state. When the debugging serial port is not coupled to an external debugging device, the fourth switch is turned off, so that the debugging pin of the main control MCU is pulled high, thereby triggering the main control MCU to exit the serial port debugging state.

[0013] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the second communication circuit is a Bluetooth circuit; and / or, the low-power water meter handheld circuit further includes a charging circuit, which includes a dual-color indicator light circuit and a charging interface for plugging into an external charging device. The charging interface is on / off coupled to the input terminal of the LDO, and the charging interface is coupled to the battery interface of the battery through the dual-color indicator light circuit. The battery interface is coupled to the battery power supply terminal. The dual-color indicator light circuit includes a dual-color indicator light coupled to the charging interface and a light control circuit coupled between the dual-color indicator light and the battery interface. The light control circuit and the dual-color indicator light are configured such that when the battery is charging, the light control circuit controls the first color indicator light of the dual-color indicator light to illuminate; after the battery is fully charged, the light control circuit controls the second color indicator light of the dual-color indicator light to illuminate.

[0014] The low-power water meter handheld circuit based on a smart water meter provided in this disclosure embodiment is responsible for transmitting meter reading data between the water meter management terminal and the smart water meter. When the smart water meter is located in an environment with poor signal, is far from the water meter management terminal, or has poor communication stability with the water meter management terminal, the low-power water meter handheld circuit provided in this disclosure embodiment can forward the meter reading data to the water meter management terminal, thereby improving the problem of smart water meters potentially failing to report meter reading data. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments or related technologies of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic block diagram of a low-power water meter handheld circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2 This is a schematic block diagram of a low-power water meter handheld circuit according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 3 An exemplary circuit diagram of a power supply circuit provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 4 An exemplary circuit diagram of a first communication circuit provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 5 An exemplary circuit diagram of a second communication circuit provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 6 An exemplary circuit diagram of a touch button circuit provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 7 An exemplary circuit diagram of a controller provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 8 An exemplary circuit diagram of a charging circuit provided in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0017] It should be noted that the elements in the attached diagram are schematic and not drawn to scale.

[0018] Figure label: 100-Low Power Water Meter Handheld Circuit 101-Controller 102 - First communication circuit 103 - Second communication circuit 104-Power supply circuit; 105-Main control MCU; 106-Charging circuit 107 - First LoRaWAN Module 108 - Second LoRaWAN Module 200-Smart Water Meter 300-Water Meter Management Terminal Detailed Implementation

[0019] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present disclosure, the technical solutions of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0020] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this disclosure are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of this disclosure described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0021] In this disclosure, the terms "upper," "middle," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily used to better describe this disclosure and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a particular orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a particular orientation.

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this subject matter pertains. It will be further understood that terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries shall be interpreted as having the meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and in the relevant art, and shall not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal form unless otherwise explicitly defined herein. As used herein, the statement of “connecting” or “coupling” two or more parts together shall mean that these parts are directly joined together or joined through one or more intermediate components.

[0023] In all embodiments of this disclosure, the controlled intermediate terminal of the switch is referred to as the control electrode, and the other two terminals of the switch are referred to as the first electrode and the second electrode, respectively. The switch in this disclosure can be a switching transistor such as, but not limited to, a MOSFET or a bipolar transistor.

[0024] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this disclosure can be combined with each other. This disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0025] Example 1 To address the aforementioned issues, this disclosure provides a low-power handheld circuit for smart water meters, aiming to improve the problem of smart water meters being unable to report meter reading data when the ambient signal is poor. Figure 1 A schematic block diagram of a low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1 As shown, the low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 includes: a controller 101, a first communication circuit 102, a second communication circuit 103, and a power supply circuit 104; wherein, the first communication circuit 102 is coupled to the controller 101, and the first communication circuit 102 is configured to: interact with the smart water meter 200 to read the meter data from the smart water meter 200, and transmit the meter reading data to the controller 101; the second communication circuit 103 is coupled to the controller 101, and the second communication circuit 103 is configured to: interact with the water meter management terminal 300, thereby transmitting the meter reading data received by the controller 101 from the first communication circuit 102 to the external water meter management terminal 300; the power supply circuit 104 is coupled to the controller 101, the first communication circuit 102, and the second communication circuit 103, and the power supply circuit 104 is configured to: supply power to the controller 101, the first communication circuit 102, and the second communication circuit 103 under the control of the controller 101.

[0026] In the above-described solution, a low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 based on a smart water meter 200 is provided. The low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 is responsible for transmitting meter reading data between the water meter management terminal 300 and the smart water meter 200. When the smart water meter 200 is in an environment with poor signal, is far from the water meter management terminal 300, or has poor communication stability with the water meter management terminal 300, the low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 provided in this embodiment can forward the meter reading data to the water meter management terminal 300. For example, the low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 can be positioned closer to the smart water meter 200 than the water meter management terminal 300, so that the smart water meter 200 forwards its acquired meter reading data to the low-power water meter handheld circuit 100, which then forwards the data to the water meter management terminal 300. Alternatively, by employing different first communication circuits 102 and second communication circuits 103, the communication capability of the second communication circuit 103 can be made stronger than that of the first communication circuit 102. This allows the meter reading data acquired by the smart water meter 200 to be reliably and stably forwarded to the water meter management terminal 300 using a relay signal enhancement method. This improves the problem of the smart water meter 200 potentially failing to report meter reading data.

[0027] The following combination Figures 1 to 8 A detailed description is provided of the low-power handheld circuit 100 for the smart water meter 200. It should be understood that... Figures 1 to 8 This description is only intended for the low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 based on the smart water meter 200 and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 based on the smart water meter 200.

[0028] For example, refer to Figure 2 The first communication circuit 102 can use a LoRaWAN module to match the communication module of a smart water meter 200 that is conventionally equipped with a LoRaWAN module, thereby enabling communication with more types of smart water meters 200.

[0029] For example, refer to Figure 2 The second communication circuit 103 can adopt a Bluetooth circuit, which takes advantage of the strong communication capability and low power consumption of the Bluetooth circuit to extend the working time of the low power water meter handheld circuit 100, while ensuring that it can reliably forward the meter reading data received from the smart water meter 200 to the water meter management terminal 300.

[0030] There are various ways to set up the water meter management terminal 300. For example, it can be set up using, but is not limited to, mobile terminals, laptop terminals, and desktop computer terminals, to manage the meter reading data of one or more smart water meters 200.

[0031] For example, refer to Figure 2 The controller 101 may include a main control MCU 105, which controls the power supply circuit 104 to supply power to the first communication circuit 102 and the second communication circuit 103. For example, when the first communication circuit 102 and / or the second communication circuit 103 are not working, the main control MCU 105 may shut down the first communication circuit 102 and the second communication circuit 103 to put the low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 into a sleep state.

[0032] There are several ways to configure the power supply circuit 104, and some of these methods are illustrated below.

[0033] For example, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 The power supply circuit 104 may include: a power supply Von, a power supply voltage terminal VCC, an LDO (U3), and a first switch Q1. The power supply voltage terminal VCC supplies power to the controller 101, the first communication circuit 102, and the second communication circuit 103 under the control of the controller 101. The input terminal Vin of the LDO (U3) is coupled to the power supply Von, and the output terminal Vout of the LDO (U3) is coupled to the power supply voltage terminal VCC. The LDO (U3) is configured to convert the power supply voltage Von of the power supply Von to obtain the power supply voltage VCC that supplies power to the power supply voltage terminal VCC. The first terminal of the first switch Q1 is coupled to the power supply Von, and the second terminal of the first switch Q1 is coupled to the power supply voltage terminal VCC. The first switch Q1 is configured to conduct when the power supply voltage Von of the power supply Von is lower than a first set voltage, allowing the power supply Von to supply power directly to the power supply voltage terminal VCC without going through the LDO (U3). This minimizes voltage loss when the power supply voltage Von is low, allowing the low-power water meter's handheld circuit 100 to operate for a longer period and extending its lifespan. By monitoring the power supply voltage Von, when Von falls below a first set voltage, the first switch Q1 is directly activated, significantly reducing the threshold voltage for Von to turn on and increasing the operating time.

[0034] For example, refer to Figure 3The power supply circuit 104 may further include a first voltage sampling circuit coupled to the power supply Von, configured to sample the power supply voltage Von. The first voltage sampling circuit is further configured to: when the power supply voltage Von is detected to be greater than or equal to a first set voltage, trigger a first switch Q1 to turn off, allowing power supply Von to indirectly supply power to the power supply voltage terminal VCC via LDO (U3), thereby ensuring the stability of the power supply voltage VCC. When the power supply voltage Von is detected to be less than the first set voltage, trigger the first switch Q1 to turn on, allowing power supply Von to directly supply power to the power supply voltage terminal VCC without going through LDO (U3). By setting the first voltage sampling circuit, the power supply voltage Von can be monitored in real time, facilitating timely switching between the two power supply methods: power supply Von directly supplying power to the power supply voltage terminal VCC without going through LDO (U3), and power supply Von indirectly supplying power to the power supply voltage terminal VCC via LDO (U3).

[0035] There are several ways to configure the first voltage sampling circuit, and some of them are illustrated below.

[0036] For example, refer to Figure 3 The first voltage sampling circuit may include a first resistor R6, a second resistor R12, and a comparison trigger unit N2. The first terminal of the first resistor R6 is coupled to the power supply Von. The first terminal of the second resistor R12 is coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor R6 through the first voltage sampling point, and the second terminal of the second resistor R12 is coupled to a first ground terminal. The comparison trigger unit N2 is coupled to the first voltage sampling point and the control electrode of the first switch Q1. The comparison trigger unit N2 is configured to: compare the sampled voltage of the first voltage sampling point with the magnitude of a second set voltage; when the sampled voltage of the first voltage sampling point is greater than the second set voltage, send a turn-off control signal to the control electrode of the first switch Q1 to control the first switch Q1 to turn off; when the sampled voltage of the first voltage sampling point is less than or equal to the second set voltage, send a turn-on control signal to the control electrode of the first switch Q1 to control the first switch Q1 to turn on; the first set voltage is determined based on the second set voltage and the resistance values ​​of the first resistor R6 and the second resistor R12.

[0037] For example, refer to Figure 3The LDO (U3) can be a 3.3V LDO, which converts the input power supply voltage Von into a stable 3.3V supply voltage VCC, maintaining the stability of the supply voltage VCC. When the power supply voltage Von is lower than a first set voltage, the comparator trigger unit N2 outputs a low-level control signal at pin 1, triggering the first switch Q1 (a PMOS transistor) to turn on, allowing Von to directly supply power to the supply voltage VCC. Conversely, when the power supply voltage Von is greater than or equal to the first set voltage, the comparator trigger unit N2 outputs a high-level or high-impedance control signal at pin 1, triggering the first switch Q1 (a PMOS transistor) to turn off, allowing Von to indirectly supply power to the supply voltage VCC via the LDO (U3).

[0038] refer to Figure 3 The first and second set voltages can be adjusted by changing the ratio of the resistance values ​​of the first resistor R6 and the second resistor R12. When the battery powering the power supply Von is insufficient, the power supply voltage Von is low. The sampling voltage of the first voltage sampling point sensed by pin 2 of the comparison trigger unit N2 is lower than the second set voltage (lower level). Pin 1 of the comparison trigger unit N2 outputs a low level as a conduction control signal, the first switch Q1 is turned on, and the power supply Von is directly output to the supply voltage terminal VCC through the first switch Q1. This minimizes voltage loss when the power supply voltage Von is low, allowing the low-power water meter handheld device to work for a longer time and improving its service life. Conversely, when the battery supplying power to power source Von has a high charge, the power supply voltage Von is high. The sampling voltage of the first voltage sampling point sensed by pin 2 of the comparison trigger unit N2 is greater than or equal to the second set voltage. Pin 1 of the comparison trigger unit N2 outputs a high level or high impedance state as a shutdown control signal. The first switch Q1 shuts off power source Von and indirectly supplies power to the power supply voltage terminal VCC through LDO (U3).

[0039] There are various ways to configure the first communication circuit 102, and some of these methods are described below as examples.

[0040] For example, refer to Figure 4 The first communication circuit 102 may include a LoRaWAN communication circuit. For example, refer to... Figure 4The first communication circuit 102 may include a first LoRaWAN module 107 and a second LoRaWAN module 108 coupled to the controller 101. The communication frequency band of the first LoRaWAN module 107 is a first frequency band, and the communication frequency band of the second LoRaWAN module 108 is a second frequency band different from the first frequency band. The controller 101 can control the switching of the communication frequency band of the first communication circuit 102 between the first and second frequency bands. Using dual-band meter reading improves the frequency band compatibility of the low-power water meter handheld device with the smart water meter 200.

[0041] For example, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 6 The first communication circuit 102 supports dual-band communication and can be adjusted and selected via touch buttons (KT1) or other control methods of the controller 101, thereby switching between the first and second frequency bands of the first communication circuit 102. Figure 4 As shown, J6 and J7 are the first LoRaWAN module plug-in interfaces for the first frequency band, used to plug in and connect the first LoRaWAN module 107. J4 and J5 are the second LoRaWAN module plug-in interfaces for the second frequency band, used to plug in and connect the second LoRaWAN module 108. This interface design allows for easier switching of the frequency band used by the first communication circuit 102, significantly reducing design costs.

[0042] For example, refer to Figure 5 and Figure 7 The second communication circuit 103 can be a Bluetooth circuit. The Bluetooth circuit communicates with the microcontroller MCU 105 (the main controller) via a serial port to obtain the meter reading data received by the controller 101 from the first communication circuit 102. The Bluetooth circuit can connect to the Bluetooth module of the water meter management terminal 300, such as, but not limited to, a mobile phone, and interact with the data through the app of the water meter management terminal 300. The meter reading data received by the controller 101 from the first communication circuit 102 is forwarded to the platform of the water meter management terminal 300 via the second communication circuit 103 to complete the meter reading function.

[0043] For example, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 6 and Figure 7The controller 101 may include a main control MCU 105 and a touch button circuit with a touch button (KT1). The controller 101 is configured to: when the first communication circuit 102 and / or the second communication circuit 103 are not working, the main control MCU 105 shuts down the first communication circuit 102 and the second communication circuit 103, putting the low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 into a sleep state. This reduces the power consumption of the low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 to only a few uA, significantly improving its standby time. For example, the pass-through function of the low-power water meter handheld circuit can be activated by controlling the touch button (KT1) of the touch button circuit. In the default non-working state, the microcontroller MCU 105 disables the Bluetooth function (as the second communication circuit 103) and the LoRaWAN module function (as the first communication circuit 102), putting the low-power water meter handheld circuit into a sleep state. The power consumption of the low-power water meter handheld circuit is only a few uA, significantly improving its standby time.

[0044] For example, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 The controller 101 can also be configured to: receive a power-on touch action signal triggering the first communication circuit 102 and / or the second communication circuit 103 via a touch button (KT1); transmit the power-on touch action signal to the main control MCU 105 via the touch button circuit; and enable the first communication circuit 102 and the second communication circuit 103 via the main control MCU 105, thereby putting the low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 into a power-on state. By controlling the touch button (KT1) of the touch button circuit, the pass-through function of the low-power water meter handheld circuit is activated, thereby controlling the low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 to be in a power-on state, thus waking up the low-power water meter handheld circuit and facilitating user power-on. Furthermore, thanks to the sealed and waterproof advantage of the touch button (KT1) without an external interface, the low-power water meter handheld circuit provided in this embodiment has no external interfaces other than the charging interface, greatly improving the product's waterproof rating.

[0045] For example, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 6 and Figure 7The controller 101 can also be configured to: receive a frequency band selection action signal input by the user to select the communication frequency band of the first communication circuit 102 via a touch button (KT1); transmit the frequency band selection action signal to the main control MCU 105 via the touch button circuit; and control the main control MCU 105 to switch the communication frequency band of the first communication circuit 102 between the first frequency band and the second frequency band. Thus, the touch button (KT1) can switch the communication frequency band of the first communication circuit 102 between the first frequency band and the second frequency band, making it convenient for the user to set the communication frequency band of the first communication circuit 102.

[0046] There are several ways to configure the touch button circuit. Some of these methods are illustrated below.

[0047] For example, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 The power supply circuit 104 may also include a battery VBATT. The touch button circuit includes: a third resistor R4, a first diode D3, a second switch Q2, a third switch Q3, and a touch chip U6; wherein, the first terminal of the third resistor R4 is coupled to the power supply voltage terminal VCC, and the second terminal of the third resistor R4 is coupled to the interrupt pin Vdrop of the main control MCU 105; the positive terminal of the first diode D3 is coupled to the second terminal of the third resistor R4 and the interrupt pin Vdrop; the first terminal of the second switch Q2 is coupled to the negative terminal of the first diode D3 and the control terminal of the third switch Q3, the second terminal of the second switch Q2 is coupled to the second ground terminal, and the control terminal of the second switch Q2 is coupled to the power control pin PowCtrl of the main control MCU 105; the first terminal of the third switch Q3 is coupled to the battery power supply. The battery power supply terminal VBATT is connected to the power supply Von via the second terminal of the third switch Q3. The touch chip U6 has a touch button (KT1) and a switch pin (Key&Key1). The negative terminal of the first diode D3 is connected to the switch pin (Key&Key1). When the touch button (KT1) receives a power-on touch action signal, the touch chip U6 outputs a low level through the switch pin (Key&Key1), thereby pulling down the level of the interrupt pin Vdrop. When the main control MCU105 detects that the level of the interrupt pin Vdrop is pulled low, it controls the second switch Q2 to conduct through the power control pin PowCtrl, thereby controlling the third switch Q3 to conduct, so that the battery power supply terminal VBATT supplies power to the power supply Von.

[0048] For example, refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7The microcontroller MCU105, acting as the main controller, has an interrupt pin, Vdrop. The touch button circuit is coupled to this interrupt pin. By default, Vdrop is pulled high through a 200K resistor R4. When the low-power water meter handheld device needs to operate, a finger touches the touch button (KT1) to input a power-on touch signal. The switch pins (Key1 and Key) of the touch chip U6 output a low level, thus pulling the interrupt pin Vdrop low. When the MCU105's I / O interface detects that the interrupt pin Vdrop is low, the corresponding function can be enabled. For example, when the I / O interface of the main control MCU105 detects that the level of the interrupt pin Vdrop is high, the microcontroller, acting as the main control MCU105, pulls the power control pin PowCtrl high, turns on the second switch Q2, and pulls the gate of the third switch Q3 low. Since the third switch Q3 is a PMOS transistor, the third switch Q3 turns on, thereby opening the path between the battery power supply terminal VBATT and the power supply Von of the subsequent circuit. The battery VBATT supplies power to the power supply Von, so that the power supply voltage terminal VCC can supply power to the first communication circuit 102 and the second communication circuit 103. When the first communication circuit 102 and the second communication circuit 103 have finished working and need to be turned off, the power off touch action signal can be input by pressing and holding the touch button (KT1) for 4~8 seconds. The touch chip U6 will feed back the received power off touch action signal to the microcontroller MCU105, which is the main control MCU. The microcontroller MCU105 will pull the power control pin PowCtrl low, turn off the second switch Q2 and the third switch Q3, thereby cutting off the power supply Von and restoring the low power consumption state.

[0049] For example, refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 The touch button circuit may also include a second voltage sampling circuit, which includes: a fourth resistor R11, a fifth resistor R8, and a first voltage-regulating capacitor C3. The first terminal of the fourth resistor R11 is coupled to the second terminal of the third switch Q3 and the power supply Von. The first terminal of the fifth resistor R8 is coupled to the second terminal of the fourth resistor R11 through the second voltage sampling point. The second voltage sampling point is coupled to the battery voltage sampling pin of the main control MCU105. Figure 6 BATT_AD in Figure 7In the above-mentioned circuit, the second terminal of the fifth resistor R8 is coupled to the third ground terminal; the first terminal of the first voltage regulator capacitor C3 is coupled to the second voltage sampling point, and the second terminal of the first voltage regulator capacitor C3 is coupled to the third ground terminal. That is, the fourth resistor R11 and the fifth resistor R8 are both sampling resistors, which can be used to sample the voltage at the battery power supply terminal VBATT. The first voltage regulator capacitor C3 is a voltage regulator capacitor, which reduces jitter when sampling the voltage at the battery power supply terminal VBATT, making the sampling more accurate.

[0050] For example, refer to Figure 7 In addition to the main control MCU 105, the controller 101 may also include peripheral circuitry. (See reference) Figure 7 The peripheral circuitry may include a program programming circuit, such as... Figure 7 J1 in the programming circuit shown is the programming port. Of course, in addition to this, the peripheral circuit can also include other circuits.

[0051] For example, refer to Figure 7 The peripheral circuit may also include a serial port debugging circuit, which may include: a fourth switch Q5, a sixth resistor R35, and a debugging serial port J2. The first terminal of the fourth switch Q5 is coupled to the power supply voltage terminal VCC and the debugging pin M31_UART_SET of the main control MCU105, and the second terminal of the fourth switch Q5 is coupled to the fourth ground terminal. The first terminal of the sixth resistor R35 is coupled to the control terminal of the fourth switch Q5, and the second terminal of the sixth resistor R35 is coupled to the fourth ground terminal. The debugging serial port J2 includes an activation pin (pin 1 in J2), which is coupled to the first terminal of the sixth resistor R35 and the fourth switch Q5. The control pin of the J2 debugging port is 5. The fourth switch, Q5, is an NPN transistor. When the debugging serial port J2 is coupled to an external debugging device, the device pulls the activation pin (pin 1 in J2) high, triggering the fourth switch Q5 to conduct. This pulls the debugging pin M31_UART_SET of the main MCU105 low, thus putting the main MCU105 into serial port debugging mode. When the debugging serial port J2 is not coupled to an external debugging device, the fourth switch Q5 is turned off, pulling the debugging pin M31_UART_SET of the main MCU105 high, thus triggering the main MCU105 to exit serial port debugging mode. The external activation method of the debugging serial port J2 facilitates subsequent maintenance and improves its anti-interference capability.

[0052] For example, when not in use, the serial port debugging circuit can configure the debugging serial port J2 to a high-impedance state to prevent external interference from causing abnormalities. When serial communication or debugging is required, the serial port function can be activated by shorting the activation pin (pin 1 of J2) of the debugging serial port J2 to the power supply voltage VCC. For example, when the activation pin (pin 1 of J2) of the debugging serial port J2 is pulled high externally, the fourth switch Q5 is turned on, and the debugging pin M31_UART_SET of the main control MCU105 is pulled low, thereby triggering the main control MCU105 to enter the serial port debugging state. This allows the debugging serial port to be directly connected to the microcontroller pin of the main control MCU105. After the microcontroller of the main control MCU105 detects that the debugging pin M31_UART_SET is low, it reconfigures the serial port function, and the serial port function is enabled, allowing normal communication. When no data is detected after a period of time following the end of communication or debugging (debugging serial port J2 is not coupled to an external debugging device), the fourth switch Q5 is turned off, debugging serial port J2 is closed, the activation pin of debugging serial port J2 (pin 1 in J2) is reconfigured to a high impedance state to prevent external interference, and the debugging pin M31_UART_SET of the main control MCU105 is pulled high to trigger the main control MCU105 to exit the serial port debugging state.

[0053] For example, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 8 The low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 may also include a charging circuit 106, which includes a dual-color indicator light circuit and a charging interface for connecting to an external charging device (such as...). Figure 8 The TYPE-C in the diagram represents a charging interface. This charging interface is coupled to the battery interface J3 of the battery VBATT via a dual-color indicator circuit. Battery interface J3 is coupled to the battery power supply terminal VBATT. The dual-color indicator circuit includes a dual-color indicator light D5 coupled to the charging interface and a lighting control circuit U2 coupled between the dual-color indicator light D5 and the battery interface J3. The lighting control circuit U2 and the dual-color indicator light D5 are configured such that: when the battery VBATT is charging, the lighting control circuit U2 controls the first color indicator light of the dual-color indicator light D5 to illuminate; after the battery VBATT is fully charged, the lighting control circuit U2 controls the second color indicator light of the dual-color indicator light D5 to illuminate. Using a rechargeable battery VBATT makes it convenient to use and eliminates the need to replace the battery VBATT.

[0054] For example, refer to Figure 8In this embodiment, a TYPE_C charging interface is used for power supply (Von) and battery (VBATT) charging. D5 is a dual-color indicator light, and J3 is the battery interface J3 for battery (VBATT) (this battery interface J3 also serves as the interface for charging battery (VBATT)). When battery (VBATT) is charging, the CHRG pin of the lighting control circuit U2 outputs a low level, and the first color indicator light (red LED) of the dual-color indicator light D5 lights up. When battery (VBATT) is fully charged, the CHRG pin of the lighting control circuit U2 becomes high-impedance, the STDBY pin of the lighting control circuit U2 outputs a low level, and the second color indicator light (green LED) of the dual-color indicator light D5 lights up.

[0055] For example, the charging interface can be on / off coupled to the input Vin of the LDO (U3). For example, refer to... Figure 3 Under normal circumstances, the second diode D4 in the circuit is not soldered to the input terminal Vin of the LDO (U3). The charging interface first charges the battery VBATT, and then the battery VBATT supplies power to the power supply Von. Power is only supplied directly to the charging interface when direct power is required. Figure 3 The second diode D4 in the circuit will be soldered to the input terminal Vin of the LDO (U3) to allow for compatibility.

[0056] Regarding the type of charging interface, it can be such as, but not limited to, Type-C or USB. Regarding the type of battery VBATT, it can be such as, but not limited to, lithium batteries. Using a standard Type-C or USB charging interface is sufficient for convenient charging.

[0057] It should be understood that the low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 based on the smart water meter 200 disclosed herein may include other components besides those shown above, and these solutions are all within the protection scope of the low-power water meter handheld circuit 100 based on the smart water meter 200 disclosed herein. For example, the above embodiments of this disclosure only describe part of the circuit structure in the accompanying drawings, while the circuit structures of other parts in the accompanying drawings are also within the protection scope of the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0058] Example 2 This disclosure provides a low-power handheld water meter device, see reference. Figures 1 to 8 The low-power water meter handheld device includes any of the low-power water meter handheld device circuits 100 based on the smart water meter 200 provided in Embodiment 1 of this disclosure.

[0059] For example, the low-power water meter handheld device can be installed at a location within a set distance range from the smart water meter 200. The smart water meter 200 can be installed inside a water well, while the low-power water meter handheld device can be installed outside the water well. When the smart water meter 200 is located in an environment with poor signal, is far from the water meter management terminal 300, or has poor communication stability with the water meter management terminal 300, the low-power water meter handheld device circuit 100 provided in this embodiment can forward the meter reading data to the water meter management terminal 300, thereby improving the problem that the smart water meter 200 may be unable to report meter reading data.

[0060] For example, the low-power water meter handheld device can also be a portable terminal device. Staff can carry the handheld device to the vicinity of the smart water meter 200. When the smart water meter 200 is in an environment with poor signal, is far from the water meter management terminal 300, or has poor communication stability with the water meter management terminal 300, the handheld device circuit 100 can forward meter reading data to the water meter management terminal 300, thereby improving the problem of the smart water meter 200 potentially failing to report meter reading data. This method changes the meter reading process, increases the convenience of meter reading, and allows meter reading to be completed without opening the water meter well, greatly saving time.

[0061] From the above description, it can be seen that the present invention achieves the following technical effects: (1) Reduces static power consumption and improves standby time. (2) Changes the meter reading method and increases the convenience of meter reading. Meter reading can be completed without opening the water meter well, which greatly saves meter reading time. (3) Uses dual-band meter reading, which improves the frequency band compatibility of the low-power water meter handheld device with the meter. (4) The debugging serial port adopts an external activation method, which provides convenience for subsequent maintenance and improves the anti-interference of the debugging serial port. (5) Uses voltage monitoring. When the voltage is lower than a certain value, it directly turns on through the MOS tube, which greatly reduces the threshold voltage of conduction and improves the working time. (6) Uses a rechargeable battery, which is convenient to use. There is no need to replace the battery. It can be charged with a common TYPE-C charging interface, which makes it more convenient to use.

[0062] Unless otherwise expressly indicated by the context, the singular form of words used herein and in the appended claims includes the plural form, and vice versa. Thus, when referring to the singular, the plural form of the corresponding term is generally included. Similarly, the terms “comprising” and “including” shall be interpreted as including rather than exclusively. Likewise, the terms “including” and “or” shall be interpreted as including unless such interpretation is expressly prohibited herein. Where the term “example” is used herein, particularly when it follows a set of terms, the “example” is merely exemplary and illustrative and should not be considered exclusive or extensive.

[0063] Further aspects and scope of adaptation become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that various aspects of this disclosure may be implemented individually or in combination with one or more other aspects. It should also be understood that the descriptions and specific embodiments herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0064] Several embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail above. However, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the embodiments of this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. The scope of protection of this disclosure is defined by the appended claims. Although embodiments of this disclosure have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, and all such modifications and variations fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A low-power handheld circuit for a smart water meter, characterized in that, include: Controller; A first communication circuit coupled to the controller is configured to: interact with the smart water meter to read the meter reading data from the smart water meter and transmit the meter reading data to the controller. A second communication circuit coupled to the controller is configured to: interact with a water meter management terminal to transmit the meter reading data received by the controller from the first communication circuit to an external water meter management terminal. A power supply circuit coupled to the controller, the first communication circuit, and the second communication circuit is configured to supply power to the controller, the first communication circuit, and the second communication circuit under the control of the controller.

2. The low-power water meter handheld circuit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply circuit includes: power supply; The power supply voltage terminal supplies power to the controller, the first communication circuit, and the second communication circuit under the control of the controller. The LDO has its input terminal coupled to the power supply and its output terminal coupled to the power supply voltage terminal. The LDO is configured to convert the power supply voltage of the power supply to obtain a power supply voltage that supplies power to the power supply voltage terminal. A first switch, wherein a first pole of the first switch is coupled to the power supply, and a second pole of the first switch is coupled to the supply voltage terminal; the first switch is configured to: when the power supply voltage of the power supply is lower than a first set voltage, the first switch is turned on, and the power supply supplies power directly to the supply voltage terminal without going through the LDO.

3. The low-power water meter handheld circuit as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The power supply circuit also includes: A first voltage sampling circuit coupled to the power supply, the first voltage sampling circuit being configured to sample the power supply voltage of the power supply; The first voltage sampling circuit is further configured to: trigger the first switch to turn off when the power supply voltage of the power source is detected to be greater than or equal to the first set voltage; and trigger the first switch to turn on when the power supply voltage is detected to be less than the first set voltage.

4. The low-power water meter handheld circuit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first voltage sampling circuit includes: A first resistor, the first end of which is coupled to the power supply; The second resistor has a first end coupled to the second end of the first resistor through a first voltage sampling point, and the second end of the second resistor is coupled to a first ground terminal. The comparison trigger unit is coupled to the first voltage sampling point and the control electrode of the first switch; The comparison trigger unit is configured to: compare the sampled voltage of the first voltage sampling point with the magnitude of the second set voltage; when the sampled voltage of the first voltage sampling point is greater than the second set voltage, send a shutdown control signal to the control electrode of the first switch to control the first switch to shut down; when the sampled voltage of the first voltage sampling point is less than or equal to the second set voltage, send a conduction control signal to the control electrode of the first switch to control the first switch to conduct; the first set voltage is determined based on the second set voltage, the resistance values ​​of the first resistor and the second resistor.

5. The low-power water meter handheld circuit as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first communication circuit includes: A first LoRaWAN module coupled to the controller, wherein the communication frequency band of the first LoRaWAN module is a first frequency band; A second LoRaWAN module is coupled to the controller, and the communication frequency band of the second LoRaWAN module is a second frequency band different from the first frequency band; The controller is capable of controlling the communication frequency band of the first communication circuit to switch between the first frequency band and the second frequency band.

6. The low-power water meter handheld circuit as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The controller includes: a main control MCU and a touch button circuit with touch buttons; The controller is configured as follows: When the first communication circuit and / or the second communication circuit is not working, the main control MCU shuts down the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit to put the low-power water meter handheld circuit into a sleep state. The touch button receives a power-on touch signal that triggers the first communication circuit and / or the second communication circuit. The touch button circuit transmits the power-on touch signal to the main control MCU, and the main control MCU activates the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit, thereby putting the low-power water meter handheld circuit into a power-on state. The touch button circuit receives a frequency band selection action signal input by the user to select the communication frequency band of the first communication circuit. The touch button circuit transmits the frequency band selection action signal to the main control MCU, and the main control MCU controls the communication frequency band of the first communication circuit to switch between the first frequency band and the second frequency band.

7. The low-power water meter handheld circuit as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The power supply circuit also includes a battery, and the touch button circuit includes: The third resistor has its first end coupled to the power supply voltage terminal and its second end coupled to the interrupt pin of the main control MCU. A first diode, the positive terminal of which is coupled to the second terminal of the third resistor and the interrupt pin; The second switch and the third switch are connected as follows: the first terminal of the second switch is coupled to the negative terminal of the first diode and the control terminal of the third switch; the second terminal of the second switch is coupled to the second ground terminal; and the control terminal of the second switch is coupled to the power control pin of the main control MCU. The first terminal of the third switch is coupled to the battery power supply terminal of the battery, and the second terminal of the third switch is coupled to the power supply. A touch chip having the touch button and a switch pin, wherein the negative terminal of the first diode is coupled to the switch pin, and when the touch button receives the power-on touch action signal, the touch chip outputs a low level through the switch pin, thereby pulling down the level of the interrupt pin; When the main control MCU detects that the level of the interrupt pin is pulled low, it controls the second switch to be turned on through the power control pin, thereby controlling the third switch to be turned on, so that the battery power supply terminal of the battery supplies power to the power source.

8. The low-power water meter handheld circuit as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The touch button circuit further includes a second voltage sampling circuit, which includes: A fourth resistor, wherein the first terminal of the fourth resistor is coupled to the second terminal of the third switch and the power supply; The fifth resistor has its first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the fourth resistor via a second voltage sampling point. The second voltage sampling point is coupled to the battery voltage sampling pin of the main control MCU. The second terminal of the fifth resistor is coupled to the third ground terminal. A first voltage-stabilizing capacitor, the first end of which is coupled to the second voltage sampling point, and the second end of which is coupled to the third grounding terminal.

9. The low-power water meter handheld circuit as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The controller includes a serial port debugging circuit, which includes: The fourth switch has its first terminal coupled to the power supply voltage terminal and the debug pin of the main control MCU, and its second terminal coupled to the fourth ground terminal. A sixth resistor, the first end of which is coupled to the control electrode of the fourth switch, and the second end of which is coupled to the fourth ground terminal; A debugging serial port, the debugging serial port including an activation pin, the activation pin being coupled to the first end of the sixth resistor and the control electrode of the fourth switch; The fourth switch is an NPN transistor. When the debugging serial port is coupled to an external debugging device, the debugging device pulls the level of the activation pin high to trigger the fourth switch to conduct, so that the debugging pin of the main control MCU is pulled low to a low level, thereby triggering the main control MCU to enter the serial port debugging state. When the debugging serial port is not coupled to an external debugging device, the fourth switch is turned off, so that the debugging pin of the main control MCU is pulled high, thereby triggering the main control MCU to exit the serial port debugging state.

10. The low-power water meter handheld circuit as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The second communication circuit is a Bluetooth circuit; and / or, The low-power water meter handheld circuit also includes a charging circuit, which includes a dual-color indicator circuit and a charging interface for connecting to an external charging device. The charging interface is on / off coupled to the input terminal of the LDO. The charging interface is coupled to the battery interface of the battery through the dual-color indicator circuit. The battery interface is coupled to the power supply terminal of the battery. The dual-color indicator circuit includes: a dual-color indicator coupled to the charging interface, and a light control circuit coupled between the dual-color indicator and the battery interface. The lighting control circuit and the dual-color indicator light are configured such that: when the battery is being charged, the lighting control circuit controls the first color indicator light of the dual-color indicator light to illuminate; after the battery is fully charged, the lighting control circuit controls the second color indicator light of the dual-color indicator light to illuminate.

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