US 8,774,707 B2Granted

Utility grid wireless node with powered emergency device

AssigneeSilver Spring Networks, Inc.

InventorsGeorge Flammer, III, Eli Marlin

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A wireless node that bridges a wireless communications gap between a first wireless device, such as a smart meter, and a wireless network, such as a smart grid network, by repeating wireless communications received by the wireless node. The wireless node is integrated with another powered device common to buildings to provide a clandestine improvement to wireless communications. Additionally, the wireless node may effect testing of the powered device and provide results of the test wirelessly to remote devices. The wireless node may take the form of an exit sign, an emergency light, a speaker, and a combination of one or more of these devices. The wireless node may also track power consumption of the repeater portion of the wireless node to provide billing credit to power consumers.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A wireless node for repeating wireless communications in an environment having an external power source, the wireless node comprising:

a power terminal for coupling to the external power source;
a powered emergency device (PED) housing at least partially housing a powered emergency device coupled to the power terminal, wherein the power emergency device at least one of conveys audio information, conveys visual information, and provides illumination to an area outside of the PED housing;
a repeater within the PED housing and, the repeater including:
an antenna, and
a repeater controller coupled to the antenna, wherein the repeater controller receives wireless communications from a first device via the antenna, and repeats the wireless communications to a second device via the antenna;
a first AC/DC convertor associated with the repeater and having a direct connection to the power terminal and a direct connection to the repeater;
a first battery coupled to the first AC/DC converter and having a direct connection to the repeater;
and
a second battery associated with the powered emergency device and having independent direct connections to each of the PED and the repeater;
wherein the repeater is configured to draw power from any one of the first AC/DC convertor, the first battery, and the second battery.

7 more elements

A method of repeating wireless communications from a wireless device to a wireless access point with a wireless node, the wireless node including a powered emergency device (PED) housing with a powered emergency device, a power terminal for coupling to an external power source, a first AC/DC converter, a first battery, a second battery, and a repeater including an antenna and a repeater controller, wherein the repeater is within the PED housing, the method comprising:

receiving, from the external power supply, AC power at the power terminal;
converting the AC power to DC power with the first AC/DC converter;
supplying the DC power to the repeater controller and to the powered emergency device;
receiving, via the antenna, wireless communications from the wireless device;
outputting, via the antenna, the wireless communications to the wireless access point;
detecting a power outage of the external power source;
supplying DC power from the second battery to the powered emergency device;
and
controlling the powered emergency device to at least one of convey audio information, convey visual information, and provide illumination to an area outside of the housing,
wherein the first AC/DC convertor is associated with the repeater and has a direct connection to the power terminal and a direct connection to the repeater, the first battery is coupled to the first AC/DC converter and has a direct connection to the repeater;
the second battery is associated with the PED and has independent direct connections to each of the powered emergency device and the repeater, and the repeater is configured to power from any one of the first AC/DC convertor, the first battery, and the second battery.

8 more elements

A method of installing a wireless node in a smart grid communications network comprising:

positioning a smart grid meter, including a wireless communication module, outside of wireless communication range of a smart grid wireless access point;
positioning the wireless node within wireless communication range of both the smart grid wireless access point and the smart grid meter, wherein the wireless node includes
a housing, a power terminal for coupling to an external power source, a first AC/DC converter, a first battery, a second battery, a repeater including an antenna and a repeater controller, and a powered emergency device (PED), wherein the power terminal, the first AC/DC converter, the first battery, the second battery, the repeater, and the powered emergency device are within the housing;
and
wherein the wireless node receives wireless communications from the smart grid meter via an antenna, and repeats the wireless communications to the wireless access point via the antenna, and
wherein the first AC/DC convertor is associated with the repeater and has a direct connection to the power terminal and a direct connection to the repeater, the first battery is coupled to the first AC/DC converter and has a direct connection to the repeater;
the second battery is associated with the powered emergency device and has independent direct connections to each of the powered emergency device and the repeater, and the repeater is configured to draw power from any one of the first AC/DC convertor, the first battery, and the second battery.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/328,764Filed 16 Dec 2011
Published: US 2013/0157559 A120 Jun 2013
Granted: 8 Jul 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G08B 21/12
Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons: responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
G01D 2204/45
Networks; Topology: utility meters networked together within a single building
G01D 2204/47
Networks; Topology: methods for determining the topology or arrangement of meters in a network
H04B 7/155
Active relay systems: ground-based stations