Low-power-consumption remote meter reading system
By combining LoRa wireless communication and GPRS/NB-IoT modules, a low-power remote meter reading system has been developed, solving the problems of high power consumption and poor signal coverage in existing remote meter reading systems. This system achieves low-cost, stable, and efficient data transmission and management, adapts to complex environments, and improves meter reading efficiency and accuracy.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202520483097.X
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-10
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-03-19
AI Technical Summary
Existing remote meter reading systems suffer from high power consumption and poor signal coverage, especially in remote areas or scenarios with weak signals, which can lead to data transmission interruptions or delays, increasing the energy consumption and maintenance costs of the equipment.
By combining LoRa wireless communication technology with a GPRS/NB-IoT communication module, and through a combination design of a data acquisition terminal, a concentrator, and a server, low-power remote meter reading is achieved. The LoRa module is used for data acquisition and transmission, and the concentrator uploads data to the server via the GPRS/NB-IoT module. Low-power power supply design and data verification mechanism are adopted to ensure data accuracy and stability.
It achieves low power consumption and long-distance communication, adapts to complex environments, ensures long-term stable operation of equipment and accurate data transmission, reduces system deployment and maintenance costs, improves meter reading efficiency and accuracy, supports access to multiple types of meters and expandability, and meets the needs of different users.
Smart Images
Figure CN223899297U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a low-power remote meter reading system. Background Technology
[0002] Traditional meter reading primarily relies on manual door-to-door reading, a method plagued by low efficiency, high costs, and susceptibility to errors. With societal development and accelerated urbanization, the drawbacks of manual meter reading have become increasingly apparent. On one hand, manual meter reading demands significant manpower and time, especially in large residential or commercial areas where meter readers must visit each household, resulting in low efficiency. On the other hand, manual meter reading is susceptible to human error, such as reading mistakes and recording errors, leading to inaccurate data.
[0003] With the development of IoT technology, remote meter reading systems are becoming increasingly common. However, existing remote meter reading systems mostly use communication technologies such as GPRS and NB-IoT, which suffer from high power consumption and poor signal coverage in practical applications. In some remote areas or scenarios with weak signals, such as mountainous areas or basements, GPRS and NB-IoT signals may not provide stable coverage, leading to data transmission interruptions or delays. Furthermore, the high power consumption of communication modules increases the energy consumption and maintenance costs of the equipment. For some battery-powered terminal devices, battery life has become a key factor limiting their application. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a low-power remote meter reading system to solve the problems of high power consumption and poor signal coverage in the existing technology.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides a low-power remote meter reading system, including a data acquisition terminal, a concentrator, and a server. The data acquisition terminal includes a first microcontroller, a first LoRa wireless communication module, a metering instrument interface, and a first power supply module. The concentrator includes a second microcontroller, a second LoRa wireless communication module, a GPRS / NB-IoT communication module, and a second power supply module. The server includes a database, a data analysis module, and a user interface.
[0006] Preferably, the data acquisition terminal is used to acquire data from metering instruments and transmit the data to the concentrator via its internal first LoRa wireless communication module;
[0007] The concentrator is used to receive data sent by the data acquisition terminal and upload the data to the server through its internal GPRS / NB-IoT communication module;
[0008] The server is used to receive data uploaded by the concentrator and to store, analyze, and process the data.
[0009] Preferably, the first microcontroller is used to control the operation of the data acquisition terminal, the first LoRa wireless communication module is used to communicate wirelessly with the concentrator, the metering instrument interface is connected to metering instruments, the metering instruments include water meters, electricity meters and gas meters, and the first power module is used to supply power to the data acquisition terminal.
[0010] Preferably, the second microcontroller is used to control the operation of the concentrator, the second LoRa wireless communication module is used to communicate wirelessly with the data acquisition terminal, the GPRS / NB-IoT communication module is used to communicate with the server, and the second power module is used to supply power to the concentrator.
[0011] Preferably, the database is used to store the data uploaded by the concentrator, the data analysis module is used to analyze and organize the stored data, and the user interface is used to display the data and analysis results.
[0012] Preferably, both the first LoRa wireless communication module and the second LoRa wireless communication module are RA-02LoRa spread spectrum 433MHz wireless modules with built-in SX1278LoRa module IPEX antennas.
[0013] Preferably, the first power module converts the voltage to 3.3V via a low-power buck converter.
[0014] Preferably, the second power module first converts the voltage to 12V through a Mean Well switching power supply, and then steps it down to 3.3V through a low dropout linear regulator to power the concentrator.
[0015] Preferably, the database is a MySQL relational database, the data analysis module uses the Django framework based on Python, the user interface is a web interface, and the data and analysis results are displayed using the Echarts chart library.
[0016] Therefore, the present invention employs the aforementioned low-power remote meter reading system, which has the following beneficial effects:
[0017] (1) This utility model adopts LoRa wireless communication technology, which has the advantages of low power consumption, long distance communication, strong penetration capability, high reliability and multiple communication methods. It can adapt to complex environments and different scenarios, ensure long-term stable operation of equipment and accurate data transmission, and also meet diverse needs.
[0018] (2) The module cost of this utility model is low, the system structure is simple, the deployment and maintenance cost is low, and it is easy to promote; it supports the access of multiple types of instruments, has strong scalability, can meet the needs of different users, and supports the access of new devices or functions in the future.
[0019] (3) The low power consumption design and wireless communication method of this utility model reduce energy consumption and cable usage, which is in line with the concept of environmental protection. At the same time, it has the function of centralized data management, which can monitor and analyze data in real time, realize intelligent decision-making, and improve service experience.
[0020] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Attached Figure Description
[0021] Figure 1 This is an overall structural block diagram of an embodiment of a low-power remote meter reading system of this utility model;
[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall layout of an embodiment of a low-power remote meter reading system according to this utility model. Detailed Implementation
[0023] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0024] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this utility model shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this utility model pertains. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in this utility model do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed following the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.
[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, a low-power remote meter reading system includes a data acquisition terminal, a concentrator, and a server. The data acquisition terminal includes a first microcontroller, a first LoRa wireless communication module, a metering instrument interface, and a first power supply module. The data acquisition terminal is used to collect data from the metering instrument and send the data to the concentrator through its internal first LoRa wireless communication module.
[0026] The first microcontroller is used to control the operation of the data acquisition terminal. In this embodiment, the first microcontroller can be an STM32L432KC, which is a low-power microcontroller based on the ARM Cortex-M4 core. It has abundant peripheral resources and high processing performance, which can meet the control requirements of the data acquisition terminal and effectively reduce power consumption.
[0027] The first LoRa wireless communication module is used for wireless communication with the concentrator. The first LoRa wireless communication module adopts the RA-02LoRa spread spectrum 433MHz wireless module, which has a built-in SX1278 LoRa module IPEX antenna. It has the characteristics of long-distance transmission, low power consumption and strong anti-interference ability, and is suitable for wireless communication with the concentrator in a community environment.
[0028] The metering instrument interface is connected to metering instruments, including water meters, electricity meters, and gas meters. In this embodiment, a universal interface circuit is designed to be compatible with common water meters (such as the LXSY80-150E smart water meter from Ningbo Water Meter Co., Ltd.), electricity meters (such as the DDS3366 single-phase smart electricity meter from Huali Technology Co., Ltd.), and gas meters (such as the IC card diaphragm gas meter J2.5 from Chengdu Qinchuan Internet of Things Technology Co., Ltd.).
[0029] The first power module is used to power the data acquisition terminal. It uses two AA alkaline batteries and a TI TPS62740 low-power buck converter to convert the battery voltage to the 3.3V required by the system, ensuring the long-term stable operation of the data acquisition terminal.
[0030] The concentrator includes a second microcontroller, a second LoRa wireless communication module, a GPRS / NB-IoT communication module, and a second power supply module. The concentrator is used to receive data sent by the data acquisition terminal and upload the data to the server through its internal GPRS / NB-IoT communication module.
[0031] The second microcontroller is used to control the operation of the concentrator. In this embodiment, the Renesas Electronics RL78 / G13 microcontroller is selected. It has the characteristics of high performance and low power consumption, and can efficiently control the operation of the concentrator and process data from the data acquisition terminal.
[0032] The second LoRa wireless communication module is used for wireless communication with the data acquisition terminal. It also uses the RA-02LoRa spread spectrum 433MHz wireless module, with a built-in SX1278 LoRa module IPEX antenna to ensure reliable communication with the data acquisition terminal.
[0033] The GPRS / NB-IoT communication module is used to communicate with the server. In this utility model, the GPRS / NB-IoT communication module selected is the Quectel BC28 module. This module supports the NB-IoT communication protocol and has the characteristics of low power consumption and wide coverage. It can stably upload the data received by the concentrator to the server.
[0034] The second power module is used to power the concentrator. It uses 220V AC input, first converts the voltage to 12V through Mean Well switching power supply S-35-12, and then steps it down to 3.3V through LM1117-3.3 low dropout linear regulator to power the concentrator, ensuring that the concentrator reduces power consumption while operating stably.
[0035] The server includes a database, a data analysis module, and a user interface. The server is used to receive data uploaded by the concentrator and to store, analyze, and process the data.
[0036] The database is used to store the data uploaded by the concentrator. In this embodiment, the database is a MySQL relational database, which is open source, stable and efficient. It can store a large amount of meter reading data and support complex data query and analysis operations.
[0037] The data analysis module is used to analyze and organize the stored data. It is developed using the Django framework based on Python and uses data analysis libraries such as Pandas and NumPy to analyze and organize the data stored in the database, such as statistically analyzing usage trends and detecting abnormal data.
[0038] The user interface is used to display data and analysis results. In this embodiment, the user interface is developed using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript technologies, and combined with the Echarts chart library to display data and analysis results in an intuitive chart format, making it convenient for users to view and manage.
[0039] The workflow of this utility model system is as follows:
[0040] The STM32L432KC microcontroller in the data acquisition terminal uses a timer to control the metering instrument interface to read data from water meters, electricity meters, and gas meters. The data is then transmitted to the concentrator via the RA-02 LoRa wireless communication module. Due to its low-power design, the data acquisition terminal remains in sleep mode most of the time, only briefly waking up when acquiring and transmitting data, effectively reducing power consumption and extending battery life.
[0041] The RL78 / G13 microcontroller of the concentrator receives data sent by the data acquisition terminal through the RA-02LoRa wireless communication module. After performing preliminary verification and processing on the received data, it uploads the data to the server through the NB-IoT network using the BC28 module.
[0042] Verification and organization include:
[0043] Data format verification: The concentrator checks whether the received data conforms to a specific format according to a pre-set data protocol. For example, it checks whether the start and end bits of the data frame are correct, and whether the length of the data field meets the requirements. If the data format is incorrect, the data will be discarded and an error feedback will be sent to the data acquisition terminal, requesting retransmission.
[0044] Data integrity verification: The CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) algorithm is used to verify data integrity. After receiving data, the concentrator calculates a checksum using the same CRC algorithm and compares it with the checksum carried in the data. If they match, the data is considered complete; if they do not match, it is determined that an error occurred during transmission, and the data is discarded and retransmitted.
[0045] Data accuracy verification: Based on the measuring instrument's range and historical data patterns, the reasonableness of the collected data is judged. For example, if the instantaneous flow rate or cumulative usage of the water meter exceeds the normal range, or shows abnormal fluctuations compared to recent historical data, the concentrator will mark the data and confirm it through manual review or re-collection.
[0046] Data processing: The concentrator sorts and organizes the verified data in chronological order, and categorizes and summarizes data from different metering instruments within the same time period. For example, it organizes the data from each water meter, electricity meter, and gas meter within each hour into corresponding datasets, facilitating subsequent uploading to the server for storage and analysis.
[0047] After receiving the data uploaded by the concentrator, the server stores it in a MySQL database. The data analysis module periodically reads data from the database for analysis and processing, generating various reports and charts. Users can access the server through a web browser to view real-time meter readings, historical usage data, and various analysis results in the user interface, enabling real-time monitoring and management of water, electricity, and gas usage.
[0048] Therefore, this utility model adopts the aforementioned low-power remote meter reading system, which uses LoRa wireless communication technology combined with other optimized designs. It effectively solves the shortcomings of traditional meter reading methods and existing remote meter reading systems, and can achieve stable and efficient data transmission even in complex environments. It reduces meter reading costs, improves meter reading efficiency and accuracy, and provides a more feasible and practical solution for the field of remote meter reading.
[0049] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of this utility model and not to limit it. Although the utility model has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can still be made to the technical solution of this utility model, and these modifications or equivalent substitutions cannot cause the modified technical solution to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solution of this utility model.
Claims
1. A low-power remote meter reading system, characterized in that: The system includes a data acquisition terminal, a concentrator, and a server. The data acquisition terminal includes a first microcontroller, a first LoRa wireless communication module, a metering instrument interface, and a first power supply module. The concentrator includes a second microcontroller, a second LoRa wireless communication module, a GPRS / NB-IoT communication module, and a second power supply module. The server includes a database, a data analysis module, and a user interface.
2. The low-power remote meter reading system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The data acquisition terminal is used to collect data from the metering instrument and transmit the data to the concentrator through its internal first LoRa wireless communication module. The concentrator is used to receive data sent by the data acquisition terminal and upload the data to the server through its internal GPRS / NB-IoT communication module; The server is used to receive data uploaded by the concentrator and to store, analyze, and process the data.
3. The low-power remote meter reading system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first microcontroller is used to control the operation of the data acquisition terminal, the first LoRa wireless communication module is used to communicate wirelessly with the concentrator, the metering instrument interface is connected to metering instruments, including water meters, electricity meters and gas meters, and the first power module is used to supply power to the data acquisition terminal.
4. The low-power remote meter reading system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second microcontroller is used to control the operation of the concentrator, the second LoRa wireless communication module is used to communicate wirelessly with the data acquisition terminal, the GPRS / NB-IoT communication module is used to communicate with the server, and the second power module is used to supply power to the concentrator.
5. The low-power remote meter reading system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The database is used to store the data uploaded by the concentrator, the data analysis module is used to analyze and organize the stored data, and the user interface is used to display the data and analysis results.
6. The low-power remote meter reading system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the first LoRa wireless communication module and the second LoRa wireless communication module use the RA-02LoRa spread spectrum 433MHz wireless module, with a built-in SX1278LoRa module IPEX antenna.
7. The low-power remote meter reading system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first power module converts the voltage to 3.3V through a low-power buck converter.
8. The low-power remote meter reading system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second power module first converts the voltage to 12V through a Mean Well switching power supply, and then steps it down to 3.3V through a low dropout linear regulator to power the concentrator.
9. A low-power remote meter reading system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The database used is a MySQL relational database, the data analysis module uses the Django framework based on Python, the user interface is a web interface, and the data and analysis results are displayed using the Echarts chart library.