Solid-State Register Flow Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional utility meters experience inaccuracies in flow measurement, particularly at low and high flow rates, which affect the accuracy of usage accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A solid-state register (SSR) with a microcontroller is used to determine the average flow rate and apply a correction factor from a compensation table to improve measurement accuracy, allowing real-time compensation for inaccuracies in flow measurement during usage accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional mechanical registers are used for usage accumulation, then the device structure is simple and reliable, but measurement precision deteriorates at low and high flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical odometer-style register with a solid-state register (SSR) that uses electronic components including a microcontroller, memory, and magnetic coupling to the measuring element. This substitution eliminates mechanical gears and moving parts in the register, enabling implementation of flow compensation algorithms that improve measurement accuracy across varying flow rates without mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements flow compensation by dynamically adjusting the pulse count to usage conversion based on measured flow rate parameters. The microcontroller determines average flow rate over a measurement period and applies correction factors from compensation tables, changing the accumulation parameter based on actual flow conditions to maintain accuracy across different operating ranges
2Measurement precision
If flow compensation algorithms are implemented in real-time, then measurement precision improves, but use of energy increases due to additional processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements flow compensation by accumulating pulse counts over a defined measurement period and determining average flow rate periodically rather than continuously. This periodic processing approach reduces microcontroller activity and energy consumption while still providing accurate compensated usage accumulation over time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-calculates and stores compensation factors in compensation tables during manufacturing or initialization. During operation, the microcontroller simply looks up the appropriate compensation factor based on measured flow rate ranges rather than performing complex real-time calculations, significantly reducing processing energy requirements
3Measurement precision
If solid-state register with compensation is used, then measurement precision improves across all flow rates, but device complexity increases due to additional electronics and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the solid-state register to perform multiple functions: basic pulse counting, flow rate determination, compensation factor selection, and usage accumulation. The same microcontroller and memory resources handle both simple counting operations and complex compensation calculations, eliminating the need for separate dedicated circuits for each function and reducing overall electronic complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces compensation tables as an intermediary data structure that mediates between the microcontroller's processing capabilities and the mathematical compensation requirements. These pre-computed lookup tables simplify the real-time processing burden while maintaining accuracy, acting as a bridge between measurement data and corrected usage values
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
The solution enhances the overall measurement accuracy of utility meters by compensating for flow rate variations, improving the accuracy of usage accumulation and providing compatibility with various meter types and models.
Implementation Method 1
The solid-state register is magnetically coupled to the measuring device and includes a microcontroller
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies are described herein for compensating for inaccuracies in flow measurement in real-time during accumulation of usage. A pulse count indicating an amount of flow in a meter over a measurement period is read. An average flow rate through the meter for the measurement period is determined and a correction factor is looked up from a table based on the average flow rate. A total usage accumulator for the meter is then updated with the amount of flow over the measurement period based on the pulse count and the correction factor.