Gas Meter Wakeup Signaling for Sleep-Mode Leak Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas meters in sleep mode may not detect gas leaks and fail to communicate with gas detectors or head end systems, leading to potential gas leaks and data communication gaps.
Innovation Solution
A system where a gas detector sends a wakeup signal to the gas meter at 451.4 MHz, allowing the gas meter to switch to 915 MHz for communication with the gas detector and head end system, enabling the gas meter to compare gas levels with a threshold, close the gas valve if necessary, and report data periodically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the gas meter operates in sleep mode to conserve battery energy, then battery life is extended, but the gas meter cannot detect gas leaks or communicate with gas detectors and head end systems
Solution Approach 1:
The gas detector continuously monitors gas levels and prepares leak detection data in advance. When a leak is detected or periodically, the detector sends a wakeup signal to the gas meter before the meter would otherwise remain in sleep mode, ensuring leak detection capability is activated only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas detector acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between continuous monitoring needs and the gas meter's power-saving sleep mode. The detector remains active, detects leaks, and triggers communication only when the gas meter needs to be awakened, thus maintaining reliability while preserving energy.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the gas meter remains in sleep mode, then power consumption is reduced, but communication with gas detectors and head end systems is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous communication, the system uses periodic wakeups triggered by gas leak detections or scheduled intervals. The gas meter wakes up periodically to exchange data with the gas detector and head end system, then returns to sleep mode, maintaining data communication capability while minimizing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas detector prepares and buffers data for communication in advance. When the gas meter wakes up, the data is already ready for immediate transmission, eliminating communication interruptions while keeping the meter in sleep mode most of the time.
3Reliability
If the gas meter continuously monitors gas levels, then gas leak detection reliability is improved, but battery energy is depleted faster
Solution Approach 1:
The gas detector serves as an intermediary monitoring device that remains continuously active to detect gas leaks. The gas meter itself remains in sleep mode most of the time, waking up only when the detector signals a leak or at periodic intervals. This distributes the monitoring energy burden to the detector while preserving the meter's battery life.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the gas meter to continuously monitor and communicate, the system uses partial action where the gas detector performs continuous monitoring and the gas meter performs intermittent checks. This excessive monitoring by the detector ensures reliability while the meter's reduced activity conserves battery energy.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system includes a gas detector to detect a gas leak and notify a gas meter of a gas level of the gas leak. The gas meter receives the notification about the gas leak from the gas detector, and compares the gas level detected by the gas detector with a threshold level. The gas meter determines if the detected gas level is greater than the threshold level to determine whether to turn off a gas valve due to the detected gas level. The system also includes a head end system configured to receive notification of the detected gas level and status of the gas valve from the gas meter.