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US 12,455,183 B2Granted
Cost effective pressure sensors for gas meters
AssigneeItron Global SARL
InventorGeorge Iliev
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Cost effective pressure sensors for gas meters are described herein. In an example, responsive to an abnormal condition at an ultrasonic metrology unit of a gas meter, rates of pressure sensor operation are increased. In the example, the operations may include: measuring gas-environment pressure values; measuring contemporaneous air-environment pressure values; calculating pressure difference values of the gas-environment pressure values minus the contemporaneous air-environment pressure values; and comparing pressure difference values to one or more threshold values.
Claims23
A gas meter, comprising:
- a metrology printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) located in a gas-environment of the gas meter, wherein the metrology PCBA comprises a first pressure sensor to make at least two gas pressure measurements, wherein a first pressure value is calculated by averaging the at least two gas pressure measurements, wherein averaging the at least two gas pressure measurements comprises:
- averaging a number of gas pressure measurements, wherein the number is based at least in part on performance characteristics of a gas pressure sensor of the metrology PCBA and a barometric pressure sensor of an index PCBA;
- a flow measuring unit (FMU) at least partially located in the gas-environment and in communication with the metrology PCBA;
- and
- the index PCBA being located in an air-environment of the gas meter, wherein a bus connects the index PCBA within the air-environment and the metrology PCBA in the gas-environment, wherein the air-environment and the gas-environment are separated by a portion of an enclosure of the gas meter through which the bus passes, wherein the air-environment has a barometric pressure of atmospheric air, and wherein the index PCBA comprises:
- a processor;
- a memory device in communication with the processor;
- a second pressure sensor to measure a second pressure value;
- and
- commands stored in the memory device and executable by the processor to perform operations comprising:
- receiving, at the index PCBA, the first pressure value from the metrology PCBA;
- calculating a pressure difference value equal to the first pressure value minus the second pressure value;
- comparing the pressure difference value to a threshold value;
- and
- responsive to the pressure difference value exceeding the threshold value, performing an action.
12 more elements
A method of operating a gas meter, comprising:
- averaging at least two gas pressure measurements made at a metrology printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) to thereby calculate a first pressure value, wherein averaging the at least two gas pressure measurements comprises:
- averaging a number of gas pressure measurements, wherein the number is based at least in part on a difference between a first pressure threshold below which indicates low gas pressure and a second pressure threshold above which indicates high gas pressure requiring closure of a gas shutoff valve;
- receiving, at an index PCBA within an air-environment of the gas meter, the first pressure value of gas pressure sent from the metrology PCBA in a gas-environment of the gas meter;
- measuring, at the index PCBA, a second pressure value of atmospheric air pressure within the air-environment of the gas meter;
- calculating, at the index PCBA, a pressure difference value equal to the first pressure value minus the second pressure value;
- comparing, at the index PCBA, the pressure difference value to a threshold value;
- and
- responsive to the pressure difference value exceeding the threshold value, performing an action.
5 more elements
A gas meter, comprising:
- a flow measuring unit (FMU) to measure gas flow and to transmit gas flow data;
- a metrology printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) located in a gas-environment of the gas meter, wherein the metrology PCBA receives the gas flow data, and wherein the metrology PCBA comprises a first pressure sensor to make at least two gas pressure measurements, wherein a first pressure value is calculated by averaging the at least two gas pressure measurements, wherein averaging the at least two gas pressure measurements comprises:
- averaging a number of gas pressure measurements, wherein the number is based at least in part on a difference between a first pressure threshold below which indicates low gas pressure and a second pressure threshold above which indicates high gas pressure requiring closure of a gas shutoff valve;
- an index PCBA located in an air-environment of the gas meter, wherein the index PCBA comprises a second pressure sensor to measure a second pressure value;
- and
- a bus connecting the index PCBA within the air-environment with the metrology PCBA in the gas-environment, and wherein the air-environment and the gas-environment are separated by a portion of an enclosure of the gas meter through which the bus passes;
- wherein a processor of the index PCBA is configured to perform operations comprising:
- calculating a pressure difference value equal to the first pressure value minus the second pressure value;
- comparing the pressure difference value to a threshold value;
- and
- responsive to the pressure difference value exceeding the threshold value, performing an action.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.