公开(公告)号：US20230100050A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-30

申请号：US18074902

申请日：2022-12-05

Applicant: ITRON NETWORKED SOLUTIONS, INC.

Inventor： Bruce EDWARDS

IPC: H02J13/00 ,  H01M10/48 ,  H01M10/44 ,  G01R31/367 ,  G01R31/3835 ,  H01M10/0525 ,  H01M16/00 ,  H01M6/14 ,  H02J7/34

Abstract: A battery-powered node includes a primary cell, a secondary cell, and a battery controller. The battery controller includes a current source that draws power from the primary cell to charge the secondary cell. The battery-powered node draws power from the secondary cell across a wide range of current levels. When the voltage of the secondary cell drops beneath a minimum voltage level, the current source charges the secondary cell at a constant current level and a charging signal is sent to the battery-powered node. When the voltage of the second cell exceeds a maximum voltage level, the current source stops charging the secondary cell and the charging signal is terminated. The battery-powered node records the amount of time the charging signal is active, which can be used to determine a battery depletion level for the primary cell. Battery replacement may then be efficiently scheduled based on the depletion level.

公开(公告)号：US10777854B2

公开(公告)日：2020-09-15

申请号：US15890085

申请日：2018-02-06

Applicant: Itron Networked Solutions, Inc.

Inventor： Bruce Edwards

IPC: H02J7/00 ,  H01M10/48 ,  H01M10/44 ,  G01R31/367 ,  G01R31/3835 ,  H01M10/0525 ,  H01M16/00 ,  H01M6/14 ,  H02J7/34 ,  H02J13/00

Abstract: A power system within a battery-powered node includes a primary cell, a secondary cell, and a battery controller. The battery controller includes a constant current source that draws power from the primary cell to charge the secondary cell. The battery-powered node draws power from the secondary cell across a wide range of current levels. When the voltage of the secondary cell drops beneath a minimum voltage level, the constant current source charges the secondary cell and a charging signal is sent to the battery-powered node. When the voltage of the second cell exceeds a maximum voltage level, the constant current source stops charging the secondary cell and the charging signal is terminated. The battery-powered node records the amount of time the charging signal is active and then determines a battery depletion level based on that amount of time. Battery replacement may then be efficiently scheduled based on the depletion level.

公开(公告)号：US10397821B2

公开(公告)日：2019-08-27

申请号：US15452597

申请日：2017-03-07

Applicant: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.

Inventor： Kamal Poorrezaei

IPC: H04W28/02 ,  H04W52/02 ,  H04W84/18

Abstract: A wireless mesh network includes a mesh of continuously-powered devices (CPDs) and a mesh of battery-powered devices (BPDs). The BPDs are organized into hop layers based on hopping distance to the mesh of CPDs. In a medium latency communication mode, a given BPD receives data during a receive window that is scheduled to occur within either the first half of a communication window or the second half of the communication window, depending on the parity of the hop layer where the BPD resides. With this approach, a data packet can traverse one hop of the BPD mesh per communication window. In a low-latency communication mode, a given BPD receives and transmits data according to an alternating pattern that depends on the parity of the hop layer where the node resides. With this technique, a data packet can traverse multiple hops of the BPD mesh within a single communication window. These techniques also are applicable to CPDs and other types of nodes as well.

公开(公告)号：US10096246B2

公开(公告)日：2018-10-09

申请号：US14262669

申请日：2014-04-25

Applicant: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.

Inventor： Dalton Theebaraj Victor ,  James Alexander Howarth ,  George Flammer

IPC: B60Q1/48 ,  G08G1/14 ,  G08G1/095 ,  G01C21/36 ,  G05D1/02

Abstract: A method for directing a vehicle to a parking space within an environment is disclosed. The method includes selecting a parking space from a collection of parking spaces within the environment, further selecting one or more lighting devices within the environment based at least on a location of the selected parking space, and sending a signal to the one or more lighting devices to generate a lighting pattern visible to a driver of the vehicle, where the lighting pattern directs the driver to navigate the vehicle toward the parking space. In addition, the vehicle may be navigated using radio navigation algorithms based on beacon signals broadcasted from streetside devices, such as lighting devices or parking meters.

公开(公告)号：US09961550B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-01

申请号：US12939702

申请日：2010-11-04

Applicant: Raj Vaswani ,  Wilson Chuen Yew Yeung ,  Cristina Seibert ,  Nelson Bruce Bolyard ,  Benjamin N. Damm ,  Michael C. StJohns

Inventor： Raj Vaswani ,  Wilson Chuen Yew Yeung ,  Cristina Seibert ,  Nelson Bruce Bolyard ,  Benjamin N. Damm ,  Michael C. StJohns

IPC: H04L9/32 ,  H04L12/28 ,  H04W12/08 ,  G06F21/33 ,  G06F21/62 ,  H04L29/06 ,  G06F21/60 ,  G07C9/00 ,  H04L9/08 ,  G06Q50/06

CPC classification number: H04W12/08 ,  G06F21/33 ,  G06F21/602 ,  G06F21/629 ,  G06Q50/06 ,  G07C9/00031 ,  H04L9/0897 ,  H04L9/3268 ,  H04L63/10 ,  H04L63/20

Abstract: To provide overall security to a utility management system, critical command and control messages that are issued to components of the system are explicitly approved by a secure authority. The explicit approval authenticates the requested action and authorizes the performance of the specific action indicated in a message. Key components of the utility management and control system that are associated with access control are placed in a physical bunker. With this approach, it only becomes necessary to bunker those subsystems that are responsible for approving network actions. Other management modules can remain outside the bunker, thereby avoiding the need to partition them into bunkered and non-bunkered components. Access to critical components of each of the non-bunkered subsystems is controlled through the bunkered approval system.

公开(公告)号：US12191658B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-07

申请号：US18074902

申请日：2022-12-05

Applicant: ITRON NETWORKED SOLUTIONS, INC.

Inventor： Bruce Edwards

IPC: H02J7/00 ,  G01R31/367 ,  G01R31/3835 ,  H01M6/14 ,  H01M10/0525 ,  H01M10/44 ,  H01M10/48 ,  H01M16/00 ,  H02J7/14 ,  H02J7/34 ,  H02J13/00

Abstract: A battery-powered node includes a primary cell, a secondary cell, and a battery controller. The battery controller includes a current source that draws power from the primary cell to charge the secondary cell. The battery-powered node draws power from the secondary cell across a wide range of current levels. When the voltage of the secondary cell drops beneath a minimum voltage level, the current source charges the secondary cell at a constant current level and a charging signal is sent to the battery-powered node. When the voltage of the second cell exceeds a maximum voltage level, the current source stops charging the secondary cell and the charging signal is terminated. The battery-powered node records the amount of time the charging signal is active, which can be used to determine a battery depletion level for the primary cell. Battery replacement may then be efficiently scheduled based on the depletion level.

公开(公告)号：US11451445B2

公开(公告)日：2022-09-20

申请号：US16604149

申请日：2018-04-10

Applicant: ITRON NETWORKED SOLUTIONS, INC.

Inventor： Brandon Davito

IPC: H04L41/08 ,  H04W4/70 ,  H04L41/0806 ,  H04L67/125 ,  H04L67/00 ,  H04W84/18 ,  H05B47/19 ,  G06K7/14

Abstract: A central controller is configured to obtain a scan of a quick response (QR) code affixed to an internet-of-things (IoT) device. The central controller decodes the QR code to extract various operating parameters associated with the IoT device. The central controller then provisions a device controller for coordinating operation of the IoT device. The central controller configures the device controller based on the operating parameters, thereby allowing the device controller to coordinate operations of the IoT device in a device-specific manner. The central controller may then install the device controller on the IoT device, or cause the device controller to coordinate IoT device operations across a network. With this approach, a technician is no longer required to manually obtain IoT device operating parameters or input those parameters to a central controller, thereby streamlining the IoT device installation process.

公开(公告)号：US11153819B2

公开(公告)日：2021-10-19

申请号：US15889502

申请日：2018-02-06

Applicant: Itron Networked Solutions, Inc.

Inventor： Bruce Edwards

IPC: H02J7/34 ,  H04W52/02 ,  H02J7/00 ,  H04W84/18

Abstract: A battery controller buffers a higher voltage provided by a primary cell in order to charge a secondary cell that operates at a lower voltage. The battery controller includes a storage device that is charged by the primary cell. When the voltage of the storage device reaches a threshold, the battery controller conducts the stored charge into the secondary cell while isolating the secondary cell from the primary cell. The secondary cell, when charged, powers a node that operates with a low voltage.

公开(公告)号：US20210050633A1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-18

申请号：US17020686

申请日：2020-09-14

Applicant: ITRON NETWORKED SOLUTIONS, INC.

Inventor： Bruce EDWARDS

IPC: H01M10/48 ,  H01M10/44 ,  G01R31/367 ,  G01R31/3835 ,  H01M10/0525 ,  H01M16/00 ,  H01M6/14 ,  H02J7/34

Abstract: A power system within a battery-powered node includes a primary cell, a secondary cell, and a battery controller. The battery controller includes a constant current source that draws power from the primary cell to charge the secondary cell. The battery-powered node draws power from the secondary cell across a wide range of current levels. When the voltage of the secondary cell drops beneath a minimum voltage level, the constant current source charges the secondary cell and a charging signal is sent to the battery-powered node. When the voltage of the second cell exceeds a maximum voltage level, the constant current source stops charging the secondary cell and the charging signal is terminated. The battery-powered node records the amount of time the charging signal is active and then determines a battery depletion level based on that amount of time. Battery replacement may then be efficiently scheduled based on the depletion level.

公开(公告)号：US10809288B2

公开(公告)日：2020-10-20

申请号：US14643978

申请日：2015-03-10

Applicant: SILVER SPRING NETWORKS, INC.

Inventor： Charles P. Sum ,  George H. Flammer, III

IPC: G01R25/00 ,  H02J3/00 ,  G01R21/00 ,  H04L29/08 ,  H04L29/06 ,  H04L12/24 ,  H02J13/00 ,  H02J3/24 ,  H04L12/26 ,  H02J3/06

Abstract: Nodes within a wireless mesh network are configured to monitor time series data associated with a utility network, including voltage fluctuations, current levels, temperature data, humidity measurements, and other observable physical quantities. The nodes execute stream functions to process the recorded time series data and generate data streams. The node is configured to transmit generated data streams to neighboring nodes. A neighboring node may execute other stream functions to process the received data stream(s), thereby generating additional data streams. A server coupled to the wireless mesh network collects and processes the data streams to identify events occurring within the network.