WO2008006966A2

WO2008006966A2 - Communication interface for electricity meter

Info

Publication number: WO2008006966A2
Application number: PCT/FR2007/001163
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frédéric Castellanet; Pierre André GENEL
Original assignee: Letsact
Priority date: 2006-07-13
Filing date: 2007-07-05
Publication date: 2008-01-17
Also published as: FR2903800B1; WO2008006966A3; FR2903800A1; EP2041895A2

Abstract

The communication interface according to the invention comprises a light guide (6), a first end of which is linked to a send/receive module (5) while the second end is linked to a transmission module (10) so as to ensure the transfer of the information exchanged between the two modules (5) and (10), the send/receive module (5) comprising an assembly face (7) intended, in said assembled position, to be applied coaxially to the assembly face of an optical head (1) of the meter, this assembly face (7) comprising a window, preferably circular, opposite which in said assembled position the send and receive facilities (2, 3) of the optical head (1) are disposed, irrespective of the orientation of the send/receive module (5) in relation to the optical head (1).

Description

COMMUNICATION INTERFACE FOR ELECTRICITY COUNTER.

The present invention relates to a communication interface making it possible to exchange information between an electricity meter equipped with an optical head and an entity concerned with the management of this counter, this entity possibly being able to consist, for example, of a control center. management, a person responsible for reading the meters or a user who wants to know his electricity consumption.

The invention applies more particularly, but not exclusively, to the teletransmission of meter reading and, optionally, the remote maintenance of this meter.

In general, it is known that, at present, a large number of electricity meters are equipped with an optical head capable of communicating with a device used to read the meter. This optical head comprises a controllable light source such as a light emitting diode and an optoelectronic detector such as a phototransistor, this source and this detector opening at a circular coupling face. Of course, this source and this detector are connected to an electronic circuit for managing the counter.

The meter reading device consists of a housing containing an electronic circuit and a transmission / reception module connected to this circuit electronic through flexible conductors. This module comprises a circular coupling face into which a light source and an optoelectronic detector suitable for the source and the detector of the optical head of the meter. The distance between the light source and the detector of the module is the same as that which separates the light source and the detector from the optical head.

The temporary fixing of the transmission / reception module on the optical head is provided by magnetic coupling by means of permanent magnets provided on at least one of the two assembly faces. During the survey, the operator applies coaxially arranging the assembly face of the transmitting / receiving module to that of the optical head. It must then orient the transmitting / receiving module, so that its light source is opposite the detector of the optical head and its detection member is opposite the light source of the optical head.

Of course, if the orientation of the module is not good communication between the module and the optical head will be defective or, at worst, will not be established.

The object of the invention is more particularly to provide a communication interface involving:

a transmission / detection module equipped with means enabling it to be fixed on the optical head of the meter, by avoiding the aforementioned orientation problem,

a transmission module comprising an electronic processing circuit designed so as to transmit the information coming from the transmission / reception module (or intended for it) to an entity wishing to use this information, a flexible link whose first end is connected to the transmission / reception module while the second end is connected to the transmission module, this flexible link ensuring the transfer of information exchanged between the two modules. According to the invention, this flexible connection consists of a light guide, the transmission / reception module comprises an assembly face intended to be applied coaxially on the assembly face of the optical head of the counter, this face assembly comprising a window, preferably circular, facing which are arranged the transmission and reception members of the optical head, regardless of the orientation of the transmission / reception module vis-à-vis the optical head, in the applied and centered position of said faces.

Furthermore, the transmission / reception module comprises an optical assembly for concentrating the light beams emitted by the counter emission member on the said first end of the light guide and allowing the light signals emitted by this first end. , to illuminate the entire window (so as to make the bidirectional transmission of the light signals, independent of the orientation of the transmitting / receiving module on the optical head).

The transmission module will, for its part, comprise a light radiation emitting member and a receiving member and an optical assembly allowing the receiver to receive the light signals emitted by the second end of the light guide and at this second end, receiving the light signals emitted by the transmitting member of the transmission module.

Advantageously, the aforesaid light guide may consist of an optical fiber or a bundle of optical fibers. In the latter case, the optical assembly of the transmission / reception module may consist of a development of the end of the optical fiber bundle ring-shaped section.

The transmission module may comprise a processor, connected to the transmitting member and to the optoelectronic receiver, via appropriate matching circuits. This processor may be connected to a telephone circuit, possibly wireless, for example of GSM type so as to allow remote control and remote transmission of information available at the optical head of the meter.

Furthermore, this control module may optionally include an optical head similar to that of the meter, so as to allow a meter monitoring officer to make readings from the transmission module, in the same way as if it was the optical head of the meter.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a communication interface;

Figures 2 and 3 are views for highlighting the principle of operation of the terminal shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the terminal shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows another variant involving a bundle of optical fibers;

Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a transmission module incorporating a GSM type of telephone circuit.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the communication interface equips the optical head 1 with an electricity meter of which only the part of the front face comprising the head 1 has been represented.

This head 1 comprises an emission member 2 of a light beam such as for example a light emitting diode and a receiving member 3 of a light beam. This optical head 1 allows an exchange of information by optical coupling with galvanic isolation, according to a predefined protocol such as the "FLAG" protocol. These two transmitting and receiving members 2, 3 are arranged facing an assembly face 4 of the meter housing which has a circular transparent window. These two members 2, 3 are off-center with respect to the central axis of this window so that an exchange of information of the optical head 1 with a transmission / reception module of a conventional survey device involves an assembly. of this module on the optical head in a predetermined orientation.

As previously mentioned, the invention proposes a communication interface involving a transmitting / receiving module 5 which can couple or even be fixed on the optical head 1 regardless of its orientation relative thereto.

In this example, this transmission / reception module is connected to a transmission module via a flexible light guide 6 such as an optical fiber. It comprises a housing in which one of the ends of the optical fiber 5 engages and has, opposite this end, a face assembly 7 provided with a preferably circular transparent window whose diameter is greater than the distance separating the transmitting and receiving members 2, 3 of the optical head 1.

Between the window and the end 8 of the optical fiber 6 is provided an optical schematized here by a convergent lens 9 which concentrates the light signals emitted by the transmitter module on the transmission / reception face 5 of the optical fiber 6 (FIG. 2). In contrast, this optic 9 disperses the beams emitted by the optical fiber 6, so as to cover the surface of the window of the assembly face 7 (FIG. 3).

Thanks to these arrangements, the orientation of the transmission / reception module 5 is made independent of that of the optical head 1. The transmission / reception module 5 can therefore be fixed, for example, by gluing on the optical head 1 coaxially to it without having to make an orientation adjustment.

The transmission module 10 comprises a housing 11 in which the second end 12 of the light guide 6 engages. Inside this housing 11, the emitter / receiver face 12 'of this second end 12 of the light guide 6 is arranged facing a light emitting member 13 and a light receiving member 14. An adaptation optic, shown schematically by a convergent lens 15, is disposed between the face 12 and the two members 13 and 14. This adaptation optic 15 is designed so that the light emitted by the transmitting member 13 is concentrated on the face 12 'of the light guide 6 (FIG. 3) and that the light signal, emitted by the face 12 ', covers an area in which are the members 13 and 14 (Figure 2).

As is illustrated in FIG. 6, the electrical signals emitted by the members 13 and 14 can be applied after processing in circuits 16 and 17 to a microprocessor 18 which manages a telephone transmission circuit, for example GSM 19, programmed to exchange information with a management center.

In this example, the transmission module 10 comprises an optical head 20 similar to that of the meter and which comprises a transmitting member 21 and a receiving member 22 of light signals respectively connected to the microprocessor by means of adaptation circuits. respective 23, 24.

Thanks to these provisions it becomes possible to perform readings of the meter and possibly tests of good operation, by remote transmission from the management center.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

Thus, the optical assembly of the transmission / reception module 26 may comprise, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a reflector 27, for example an elliptical reflector, so as to obtain a 90 ° return of the light beams emitted by the optical head 1 or by the light beam. transmitting / receiving face 28 of the optical fiber 29.

In this case, at the transmission / reception module 26, the end of the optical fiber can be oriented perpendicularly to the optical axis of the optical head 1.

With this arrangement, it becomes possible to produce relatively flat transmission / reception modules 26 in which the optical fiber 29 does not protrude perpendicular to the optical head 1.

Furthermore, the light guide 30 used may consist of a bundle of optical fibers. In this case, the optical assembly provided in the transmitting / receiving module may consist of a crown-shaped section 31 of section 31. The transmitting / receiving face of this crown-shaped expansion 31 has a mean diameter substantially equal to the average distance between the transmitting / receiving members 2, 3 of the optical head 1. Thus it is possible to fix the module transmission / reception 33 coaxially to the optical head 1 without having to worry about its orientation.

At the level of the transmission module 34, the optical assembly consists of the division of the optical fiber bundle into two branches 35, 36 whose ends are respectively arranged in line with the transmitting / receiving members 37, 38.

Claims

claims

1. Communication interface for exchanging information between an electricity meter equipped with an optical head (1) and an entity concerned with the management of this counter, the optical head (1) comprising two members respectively transmitting and receiving (2, 3) light signals propagating through an assembly face of said optical head (1) on which can be assembled and, possibly, to fix said communication interface, said interface comprising:

a transmitting / receiving module (5) equipped with means allowing its assembly (4) on the optical head (1) of the counter to occupy an assembled position,

a transmission module (10) separated from the transmission / reception module (5) and comprising an electronic processing circuit designed to transmit the information originating from the transmission / reception module (5) or to the transmission / reception module (5). -this,

a flexible link constituted by a light guide (6) of which at least one first end (8) is connected to the transmission / reception module (5), while at least one second end (12) is connected to the module of transmission (10), this flexible link ensuring the transfer of information exchanged between the two modules (5) and (10),

the transmission / reception module (5) comprising an assembly face (7) intended to come, in said assembled position, to be coaxially applied to the assembly face of the optical head (1) of the counter,

characterized in that

the transmitting and receiving elements (2, 3) are distinct and off-center with respect to the central axis of the assembly face of the optical head (I) ₅ - The assembly face (7) comprises a window, preferably circular, opposite which in said assembled position, the transmitting and receiving members (2, 3) of the optical head (1) are arranged,

said transmitting / receiving module (5) comprises means for transferring information optically between the transmitting member (2) and the receiving member (3), and at least one end of the light guide (8),

the assembly device between the optical head and the transmission / reception module is designed to allow any orientation of the optical head with respect to the transmission / reception module.

2. Interface according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for providing information transfer optically between on the one hand the transmitting member (2) and the receiving member (3), and at least one end of the light guide (8) comprises an optical assembly (9) for concentrating the light beams emitted by the emission member (2) of the counter onto at least a first end of the light guide (8) and allowing the light signals emitted by this first end (8) to illuminate the entire window.

3. Interface according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transmission module (10) comprises a light beam emitting element (13) and a receiving member (14), and an optical mounting (15) allowing the receiver to receive the light signals emitted by at least one second end (12) of the light guide (8) and, at this second end, to receive the light signals emitted by the transmitting member (13). ) of the transmission module (10).

4. Interface according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid light guide (6) consists of an optical fiber.

5. Interface according to claim 4, characterized in that said means for providing information transfer optically between on the one hand the transmitting member (2) and the receiving member (3), and at least one end of the light guide (8) comprises a reflector (27), and in that the first end (28) of the optical fiber (29) extends perpendicularly to the optical axis of the head optical (1).

6. Interface according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the aforesaid light guide (6) comprises a bundle of optical fibers (29).

7. Interface according to claim 6, characterized in that the means for ensuring the transfer of information optically between on the one hand the transmitting member (2) and the receiving member (3), and on the other hand, at least one end of the light guide (8) within the transmitting / receiving module (33) consists of a crown-shaped section (32) of a section (32) of said optical fiber bundle (29). ).

8. Interface according to claim 7, characterized in that within the transmission module (34) the optical fiber bundle is divided into two branches (37, 38) whose ends are respectively arranged to the right of the transmitting organs / receiving (37, 38) of the transmission module (34).

9. Interface according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid transmission module (10) comprises a processor connected to the transmitting member and the optoelectronic receiver. via appropriate adaptation circuits, this processor being connected to an optionally wireless telephone circuit, for example of the GSM type, so as to allow remote control and remote transmission of the information available at the optical head of the meter.

10. Interface according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid transmission module (10) comprises a processor connected to the transmitting member and the optoelectronic receiver via appropriate matching circuits and a optical head (20) similar to that of the counter having a transmitting member (21) and a light signal receiving member (22) respectively connected to the microprocessor (19) via respective matching circuits (23, 24).

11. Interface according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the transmitting / receiving module (5) is permanently fixed on the optical head (1) of the counter.