Mode activation using light detection

1. A method for activating one or more operating modes of a register in a meter, the method comprising steps of:

operating the register in a first mode;

detecting, by a microcontroller in the register, a first lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a first detection period;

upon detecting the first lighting condition, operating the register in a second mode;

detecting, by the microcontroller, a second lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a second detection period;

upon detecting the second lighting condition, operating the register in a third mode;

detecting, by the microcontroller, a third lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a third detection period; and

upon detecting the third lighting condition, operating the register in the second mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first mode comprises a sleep mode and wherein operating the register in the second mode comprises activating, by the microcontroller, a display of the register.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the register in the second mode comprises displaying, by a display connected to the microcontroller, normal consumption information and wherein operating the register in the third mode comprises displaying, by the display, test consumption information.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting an unintentional lighting condition by performing steps of:

taking, by the microcontroller, a plurality of light readings over a period of time;

determining, by the microcontroller, a number of light readings that indicate a lighted condition;

comparing, by the microcontroller, the number of light readings indicating a lighted condition to a steady-state threshold;

upon determining that the number of light readings indicating a lighted condition falls below the steady-state threshold, determining that the unintentional lighting condition is detected; and

upon determining the unintentional lighting condition, continue operating the register in the first mode.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the unintentional lighting condition comprises an indication that the register is exposed to fluorescent lighting.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first detection period is three seconds comprising of three transitions of light to dark and three transitions of dark to light.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the register further comprises an optical sensor configured to provide an output to the microcontroller.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the optical sensor is configured to determine light utilizing a light threshold and determine dark utilizing a dark threshold.

9. A computer-readable storage medium having processor-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processing unit, cause the processing unit to:

operate a register in a first mode;

detect a first lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a first detection period;

take a plurality of light readings over a period of time;

determine a number of light readings that indicate a lighted condition;

compare the number of light readings indicating a lighted condition to a steady-state threshold;

upon determining that the number of light readings indicating a lighted condition falls below the steady-state threshold, determine that an unintentional lighting condition is detected and continue to operate the register in the first mode;

upon detecting the first lighting condition and determining that the number of light readings indicating a lighted condition is above the steady-state threshold, operate the register in a second mode;

detect a second lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a second detection period;

upon detecting the second lighting condition and determining that the number of light readings indicating a lighted condition is above the steady-state threshold, operate the register in a third mode;

detect a third lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a third detection period; and

upon detecting the third lighting condition and determining that the number of light readings indicating a lighted condition is above the steady-state threshold, operate the register in the second mode.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the first mode comprises a sleep mode and wherein operating the register in the second mode comprises activating a display of the register.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein operating the register in the second mode comprises causing a display of the register to display normal consumption information and wherein operating the register in the third mode comprises causing the display to display test consumption information.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the processing unit is implemented in a solid-state register of a water meter assembly.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the unintentional lighting condition comprises an indication that the register is exposed to fluorescent lighting.

14. A register for use in a meter, the register comprising:

an optical sensor configured to generate outputs indicative of detected light levels; and

a microcontroller connected to the optical sensor, the microcontroller configured to

operate the register in a first mode;

detect a first lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a first detection period;

upon detecting the first lighting condition, operate the register in a second mode;

detect a second lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a second detection period;

upon detecting the second lighting condition, operate the register in a third mode;

detect a third lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a third detection period; and

upon detecting the third lighting condition, operate the register in the second mode.

15. The register of claim 14 , wherein the microcontroller is further configured to:

take a plurality of light readings over a period of time;

determine a number of light readings that indicate a lighted condition;

compare the number of light readings indicating a lighted condition to a steady-state threshold;

upon determining that the number of light readings indicating a lighted condition falls below the steady-state threshold, determine that an unintentional lighting condition is detected; and

upon detecting the unintentional lighting condition, continue operating the register in the first mode.

16. The register of claim 15 , wherein the unintentional lighting condition comprises an indication that the register is exposed to fluorescent lighting.

17. The register of claim 14 , wherein the optical sensor is configured to determine light utilizing a light threshold and determine dark utilizing a dark threshold.