# US 11,309,727 B2 · Utility meter with solar-powered real-time clock > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,309,727 B2 - Document ID: US11309727B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/830,961 - Filed: 2020-03-26 - Published: 2021-09-30 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-26 - Assignees: Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc. - Applicants: Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc. - Inventors: Anibal Diego Ramirez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309727B2 ## CPC - H02J 1/10: Parallel operation of DC sources - H02J 7/855: {with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery} - G01D 4/00: Tariff metering apparatus (in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00) - G01D 4/02: Details - G01R 22/06: by electronic methods - G06F 1/14: Time supervision arrangements, e.g. real time clock - G06F 1/305: {in the event of power-supply fluctuations} - H02J 7/345: {using capacitors as storage or buffering devices} - H02J 7/35: with light sensitive cells - H02J 9/061: {for DC powered loads} - G01R 22/066: {Arrangements for avoiding or indicating fraudulent use} - Y02B 10/70: Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies - Y02B 70/34: Smart metering supporting the carbon neutral operation of end-user applications in buildings - Y04S 20/30: Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A utility meter includes a real-time clock (RTC), a supercapacitor, a power supply, and a set of photodiodes. The RTC keeps time utilized for time stamps applicable to events that occur during alternating current (AC) power outages of the utility meter, and the supercapacitor powers the RTC. The power supply operates in an active mode responsive to an AC line voltage meeting a threshold and, when in the active mode, charges the supercapacitor to power the RTC. The set of photodiodes absorbs energy from ambient light and charges the supercapacitor to power the RTC. Thus, the supercapacitor is configured to be charged based on the power supply and based on the set of photodiodes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A utility meter comprising: a real-time clock (RTC) configured to keep time utilized for time stamps applicable to events that occur during alternating current (AC) power outages of the utility meter; a supercapacitor configured to power the RTC; a power supply configured to operate in an active mode responsive to an AC line voltage meeting a threshold and further configured, in the active mode, to charge the supercapacitor to power the RTC; and a set of photodiodes configured to absorb energy from ambient light and to charge the supercapacitor to power the RTC; wherein the supercapacitor is configured to charge based on the power supply and based on the set of photodiodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the set of photodiodes comprises two or more photodiodes connected in series. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The utility meter of claim 2, further comprising a linear regulator connected to an output of the power supply, wherein an output of the linear regulator is connected to a supercapacitor charger to charge the supercapacitor, and wherein the set of photodiodes is connected to the supercapacitor charger to charge the supercapacitor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The utility meter of claim 3, further comprising a Schottky diode connecting the set of photodiodes to the supercapacitor charger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The utility meter of claim 1, further comprising a metrology electronics assembly configured to measure consumption of a resource, wherein the set of photodiodes is mounted on a side of the metrology electronic assembly on a printed circuit board of the utility meter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The utility meter of claim 1, further comprising a cover over a printed circuit board of the utility meter, the cover defining an opening configured to allow the ambient light to reach the set of photodiodes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The utility meter of claim 6, further comprising a lens fitted into the opening of the cover of the utility meter, the lens configured to focus light onto the set of photodiodes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the supercapacitor is configured to power the RTC over two or more days during which the power supply is inactive. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the supercapacitor is configured to power one or more sensors while the power supply is inactive. ### Claim 10 A method for powering a real-time clock (RTC) of a utility meter, the method comprising: running, by the utility meter, an RTC configured to keep time utilized for time stamps applicable to events that occur during alternating current (AC) power outages of the utility meter; charging, by a power supply of the utility meter when the power supply is active due to receiving a sufficient AC line voltage, a supercapacitor configured to power the RTC; powering, by the supercapacitor, the RTC based on energy provided by the power supply; charging, by a set of photodiodes, the supercapacitor based on energy absorbed from ambient light; and powering, by the supercapacitor when the power supply is inactive, the RTC based on energy provided by the photodiodes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the set of photodiodes comprises two or more photodiodes connected in series. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the utility meter comprises a linear regulator connected to an output of the power supply, wherein an output of the linear regulator is connected to a supercapacitor charger to charge the supercapacitor, and wherein the set of photodiodes is connected to the supercapacitor charger to charge the supercapacitor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the utility meter comprises a Schottky diode connecting the set of photodiodes to the supercapacitor charger. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising measuring, by a metrology electronics assembly, consumption of a resource, wherein the set of photodiodes is mounted on a side of the metrology electronic assembly on a printed circuit board of the utility meter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the utility meter comprises a housing covering at least a portion of a printed circuit board of the utility meter, the housing defining an opening configured to allow the ambient light to reach the set of photodiodes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the utility meter comprises a lens fitted into the opening of the housing, the lens configured to focus light onto the set of photodiodes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the supercapacitor is configured to power the RTC over two or more days during which the power supply is inactive. ### Claim 18 A method comprising: installing in a device a real-time clock (RTC) configured to keep time utilized for time stamps applicable to events that occur during alternating current (AC) power outages of the device; installing in the device a supercapacitor configured to power the RTC; installing in the device a power supply configured to operate in an active mode responsive to an AC line voltage meeting a threshold and further configured, in the active mode, to charge the supercapacitor to power the RTC; and installing in the device a set of photodiodes configured to absorb energy from ambient light and to charge the supercapacitor to power the RTC; wherein the supercapacitor is configured to charge based on the power supply and based on the set of photodiodes; and wherein the device is utilizable as a utility meter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: connecting an input of a linear regulator to an output of the power supply; connecting an output of the linear regulator to an input of a supercapacitor charger to charge the supercapacitor; and utilizing a Schottky diode to connect the set of photodiodes to the supercapacitor charger to charge the supercapacitor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: mounting the set of photodiodes on a side of a metrology electronics assembly on a printed circuit board of the device; fitting a lens into a housing of the device; and installing the housing with the lens over the side of the metrology electronics assembly on the printed circuit board.