Detecting removal of a modular communication card from a utility meter

A system comprising:

• a utility meter configured to measure consumption of a resource;
• and
• a modular communication card installed on the utility meter and configured to send communications on behalf of the utility meter,
• wherein the utility meter is configured to provide a digital power fail signal to a power fail input of the modular communication card, wherein a microcontroller of a metrology engine of the utility meter is configured to change the digital power fail signal from HIGH to LOW when the utility meter experiences a power outage, and a pull down on the digital power fail signal transitions the digital power fail signal on modular communication card from HIGH to LOW when the modular communication card is removed from the utility meter during normal operation of the utility meter;
• the modular communication card comprising:
• the power fail input configured to receive the digital power fail signal from the utility meter;
• a power supply input configured to receive from the utility meter a power supply signal that powers components of the modular communication card while the modular communication card is installed on the utility meter;
• a supercapacitor;
• a charging circuit configured to charge the supercapacitor when the modular communication card is installed on the utility meter;
• a boost circuit configured to provide a boosted voltage to a radio by boosting a voltage output of the supercapacitor;
• the radio;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• monitor a voltage associated with the supercapacitor and to control the charging circuit to charge the supercapacitor until the voltage reaches a threshold voltage;
• detect a change in the digital power fail signal, wherein the change in the digital power fail signal indicates a loss of power due to either a power outage or a removal of the modular communication card from the utility meter;
• and
• activate, based on the change to the digital power fail signal, an alert system integrated into the modular communication card, wherein the alert systems is configured to:
• responsive to detecting that the power supply signal is outside an operational voltage range right after the detection of the change in the digital power fail signal:
• determine that the loss of power is due to the modular communication card having been removed from the utility meter;
• enable operation of the boost circuit to boost a voltage from the supercapacitor to provide a boosted voltage to a radio of the modular communication card;
• wait for a sustained tamper duration which is predefined and preprogrammed in the modular communication card;
• and
• transmit, by the radio of the modular communication card, an alert indicating the removal of the modular communication card from the utility meter and
• responsive to continuing to receive the power supply signal within the operational voltage range for at least two hundred milliseconds after the change in the digital power fail signal:
• determine that the loss of power is due to a power outage;
• responsive to the power supply signal being outside the operational voltage range, activate the boost circuit to boost a voltage from the supercapacitor to provide a boosted voltage to the radio of the modular communication card;
• wait for a sustained outage duration which is predefined and preprogrammed in the modular communication card;
• and
• transmit, by the radio of the modular communication card, an alert indicating a power outage.