Smart Meter Gateway Assembly with Wireless Sub-1 GHz Connection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart meter gateway arrangements require a cumbersome data cable connection for reliable data transmission, especially when retrofitting homes with intelligent electricity meters, and often necessitate separate hardware units, which complicates installation and integration with home area networks.
Innovation Solution
A wireless connection between intelligent consumption meters and gateway devices operating in a frequency range below 1 GHz allows for the gateway device to be located in the living area, enabling integration with home area networks and functioning as a smart home device, with optional backup power supply to maintain data flow during power outages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a data cable connection is used between the smart meter gateway and the HAN, then reliable data transmission is achieved, but installation complexity increases and retrofitting effort is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with a wireless communication system. The smart meter gateway uses wireless interfaces (WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wireless protocols) to communicate with HAN devices, eliminating the need for physical data cables running from the power distribution box to living areas. This substitution maintains data transmission reliability while dramatically simplifying installation and retrofitting processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the data transmission function from the power distribution box location and relocates it to wireless communication capability within the gateway. By separating the data communication path from the physical cable infrastructure, the system allows the gateway to remain in the power distribution box while wirelessly connecting to HAN devices in living areas, thus eliminating the need for cable laying.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a data cable is laid from the power distribution box to the living area, then connection to HAN and WAN is enabled, but installation effort and complexity are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes wireless communication infrastructure for physical cable installation. The gateway provides network connection capability through wireless interfaces, eliminating the need to lay data cables from the power distribution box to living areas. This reduces installation complexity from requiring cable routing through walls and ceilings to simply configuring wireless connections.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate hardware units are used for smart meter gateway and HAN devices, then functional separation is achieved, but the number of devices and integration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the smart meter gateway multi-functional by equipping it with both power management capabilities (maintaining reliable power supply from the power distribution box) and wireless HAN interface capabilities (connecting to smart home devices). This universal gateway consolidates multiple functions into a single device, reducing the total number of devices while maintaining functional separation through modular software architecture.
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 simplifies installation, reduces the number of devices needed, and allows for efficient data transmission through house walls and ceilings, integrating smart meter functions with smart home technology, while ensuring continuous data flow even during power failures.
Implementation Method 1
the connection between the consumption meter and the gateway device taking place in a frequency range of less than 1 GHz
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement (1) comprising a smart meter (10) and a gateway device (20), wherein the meter (10) wirelessly transmits the measurement data it collects to the gateway device (20) and the gateway device (20) has an interface (23) for connecting to the Internet for forwarding the measurement data to a central server, wherein the meter (10) and gateway device (20) are arranged apart from each other, the connection between the meter (10) and gateway device (20) takes place in a frequency range below 1 GHz and the gateway device (20) comprises at least one sensor (22) for detecting at least one property of the immediate surroundings of the gateway device (20).The gateway device (20) is designed to act on the immediate environment via at least one actuator and/or intelligent building technology (50) connected to the gateway device (20), depending on specifications that can be stored in the gateway device (20) and the properties that have been recorded.