Water Meter Sensor System for DIY Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated water metering systems face barriers such as complexity and cost, requiring professional installation, tools, and technical expertise, which limits their adoption in residential, commercial, and industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
A fluid meter sensor system that is easy to install, requiring no tools or expertise, comprising a sensor, communications interface, microprocessor, and power source, which infers flow rates and transmits signals for real-time water usage monitoring, and can be calibrated manually or automatically, allowing integration with existing water meters and remote reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing automated water metering systems are implemented, then water usage monitoring capability is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase due to requiring professional installation, tools, and technical expertise
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: a sensor unit that attaches to the water meter, a wireless communication module, and a power source. This segmentation allows the monitoring system to be added as a simple attachment rather than replacing the entire metering infrastructure, eliminating the need for professional installation while maintaining monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A wireless communication intermediary is introduced between the water meter sensor and the monitoring system. This allows data transmission without physical wiring or complex electrical connections, enabling DIY installation while achieving automated monitoring. The intermediary decouples the sensing function from the communication function, simplifying overall system installation.
2Productivity
If existing automated water metering systems are implemented, then real-time monitoring is achieved, but cost increases due to requiring professional installation and technical expertise
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be self-configuring and self-calibrating. The sensor automatically detects water meter parameters and configures communication protocols without requiring technical expertise. This self-service design eliminates the need for professional installation while maintaining real-time monitoring productivity, thereby reducing installation costs.
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional mechanical wiring and electrical connections are replaced with wireless communication technology. This substitution eliminates the need for complex installation procedures, specialized tools, and technical expertise, while maintaining real-time data transmission capability for monitoring productivity.
3Ease of operation
If simple sensor attachment is used, then ease of installation is improved, but measurement reliability may worsen due to potential signal weakness from distant attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic signal processing and adaptive threshold detection that adjusts to varying signal conditions. This allows the sensor to maintain reliable measurement even when attached at different distances from the water meter, preserving both ease of installation and measurement reliability through software-based compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts sensing parameters such as detection threshold, sampling rate, and signal filtering based on measured signal strength. This parameter adaptation ensures reliable operation across varying installation configurations, maintaining reliability while preserving the simplicity of attachment-based installation.
Data Source
AI summary
Water meter sensing systems and methods of use are provided herein. A system includes a sensor that mounts to a fluid meter, the sensor measuring analog or digital fluid flow measurements of the fluid meter, a communications interface that transmits and receives data, a microprocessor that is communicatively coupled with the fluid sensor and the communications interface, and a component enclosure that includes a power source that powers both the fluid sensor and a communications interface. The microprocessor infers a flow rate based on the analog or digital fluid flow measurements and generates fluid flow signals, the fluid flow signals being transmitted to a receiving system.