Sensor-to-Encoder Conversion for Utility Protocol Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utility industries face challenges in collecting data from sensors like flowmeters and pressure sensors, as these devices often provide analog or digital outputs that are not compatible with existing utility data collection systems requiring specific encoder formatted outputs.
Innovation Solution
A sensor to encoder signal converter is developed, featuring a current sense circuit and microcontroller that transforms sensor signals into formatted strings for selected encoder reader protocols, enabling conversion of analog or digital inputs into encoder formatted data outputs, and includes a power source and encoder modulation circuit for compatibility with various data collection systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sensors provide analog or digital outputs, then the sensors can measure commodity consumption, but the outputs are not compatible with existing utility data collection systems requiring encoder formatted outputs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a signal converter as an intermediary device that receives analog or digital signals from sensors and transforms them into encoder formatted outputs. This mediator bridges the incompatibility between sensor output formats and utility data collection system requirements, enabling seamless integration without modifying the existing data collection infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal converter changes the format parameters of the sensor output signals by transforming analog voltages or digital protocols into encoder-specific formatted outputs. This parameter transformation allows the same sensor to interface with different encoder readers by adjusting the output signal characteristics to match the required protocol specifications.
2Reliability
If a specific meter encoder output format is required for compatibility, then existing utility data collection systems can function, but the ability to collect data from other devices like sewer meters and pressure sensors is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The signal converter is designed with universal functionality to interface with multiple sensor types (flowmeters, pressure sensors, sewer meters) and support various encoder reader protocols. By implementing multiple protocol options and configurable output formats, a single device can serve multiple purposes, expanding data collection capabilities across different utility applications while maintaining reliable encoder format compatibility.
3Device complexity
If sensors directly interface with encoder readers, then the system architecture is simpler, but the signal formats are incompatible
Solution Approach 1:
The signal converter serves as a mediating component positioned between sensors and encoder readers, eliminating the need for complex direct interfacing solutions. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system architecture by providing a standardized conversion point, allowing sensors and encoder readers to communicate through the converter without requiring custom integration logic for each device pair.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows data collection from diverse sensors by converting their outputs into compatible formats, expanding the capabilities of existing data collection networks to include devices not originally designed for specific encoder protocols, thereby enhancing data collection efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the current sense circuit converts the analog signal into a digital signal
Implementation Method 2
the current sense circuit includes a low impedance resistor, a low pass RC circuit, and an operational amplifier
Implementation Method 3
the current sense circuit includes a low impedance resistor, a low pass RC circuit, and an operational amplifier
Data Source
AI summary
An analog or digital to encoder signal converter is provided that includes a current sense circuit, if an analog input, configured to receive an analog signal from a sensor and convert the signal into a digital signal via an analog-to-digital converter. The digital signal is processed to generate an appropriate reading value and an encoder string is made that represents the desired value for data transmission, wherein the string is formatted for a selected, specific encoder reader protocol. In this way, existing data collection systems that require a specific encoder protocol for data transmissions can be expanded to collect data from any sensing device with an analog or digital output, thereby adding value to existing encoder data collection systems by enabling them to collect data from devices other than just the customer billing meters for which the encoder protocol networks were designed.