SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING POWER TO A POWER METER CONNECTED TO A POWER LINE

• US 20120126790A1
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corinex Communications Corporation
• Original Assignee: Corinex Communications Corporation
• Inventors: SOBOTKA, Peter, SHI, Xiao Ming, LONG, Yan
• Granted Patent: US 9,018,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/119
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0007 Frequency selective voltage or current level measuring measuring frequency G01R23/00; testing attenuation in line transmission systems H04B3/48; monitoring testing in transmission systems H04B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/165 Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/42 AC power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/546 Combination of signalling, telemetering, protection circuits for remote indication of supply or distribution network condition H02J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a meter for monitoring usage of power provided by a power transmission system to a site. The meter comprises: a meter module connected to a power feed associated with the power transmission system to provide readings relating to the power; a messaging module to provide messages to the power transmission system; a connection to an alternating current (AC) power supply; a rectifier circuit connected to the AC power supply to generate a direct current (DC) power signal; a capacitive circuit connected to an output of the rectifier circuit, the capacitive circuit including a capacitor for storing a voltage for temporarily providing replacement power for the rectifier circuit; and a switching regulator circuit connected to the output of the rectifier circuit and the capacitive circuit, the switching regulator converting the DC voltage signal to a stepped down voltage signal for the meter module.

Claims

1. A meter for monitoring usage of power provided by a power transmission system to a site, said meter comprising:

a meter module connected to a power feed associated with said power transmission system to provide readings relating to said power;

a messaging module to provide messages to said power transmission system;

a connection to an alternating current (AC) power supply;

a rectifier circuit connected to said AC power supply to generate a direct current (DC) power signal;

a capacitive circuit connected to an output of said rectifier circuit, said capacitive circuit including a capacitor for storing a voltage for temporarily providing replacement power for said rectifier circuit; and

a switching regulator circuit connected to said output of said rectifier circuit and said capacitive circuit, said switching regulator converting said DC voltage signal to a stepped down voltage signal for said meter module.

2. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

when said AC power supply fails, said capacitive circuit provides a voltage to said switching regulator through said capacitor and a resistor network to provide power for said switching regulator.

3. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said messaging module generates and sends a message to said power transmission system alerting of failure of said AC power supply.

4. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said meter module maintains an internal clock for synchronization with a clock maintained by a head end.

5. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said meter module adjusts said internal clock with said clock maintained by said head end when a discrepancy between said internal clock and said clock maintained by said head end is detected.

6. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a voltage detection circuit connected to said capacitive circuit to detect a low voltage condition where an output from said capacitive circuit drops below an operational threshold for said meter and to generate a low voltage signal upon detection of said drop; and

a message generation module for receiving said low voltage signal and for generating a power loss message for transmission to circuit connected to said capacitive circuit to said power transmission system.

7. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said a power loss message is carried on a message carrier having a carrier frequency between approximately 2 MHz and 30 MHz to bridge a discontinuity in said power transmission system.

8. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 7, wherein upon detection of said low voltage condition, said meter module:

tracks an unsynchronized time for said meter, said unsynchronized time beginning at a time associated with detection of said low voltage condition.

9. The meter for monitoring usage of power as claimed in claim 8, wherein upon a re-boot of said meter, said meter module:

compares said unsynchronized time with a clock maintained by a head end.

10. A method for monitoring usage of power provided by a power transmission system to a site at a meter, said method comprising:

charging a capacitive circuit located between a rectifier circuit connected to an alternating current (AC) power supply for said meter that generates a direct current (DC) power signal for said meter and a switching regulator circuit connected to said output of said rectifier circuit, said switching regulator converting said DC voltage signal to a stepped down voltage signal for said meter module; and

when said AC power supply fails, discharging said capacitive circuit to provide a voltage to said switching regulator.

11. The method for monitoring usage of power provided by a power transmission system to a site at a meter as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

generating and sending a message to said power transmission system from said meter alerting of failure of said AC power supply.

12. The method for monitoring usage of power provided by a power transmission system to a site at a meter as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

maintaining an internal clock in said meter for synchronization with a clock maintained by a head end; and

adjusting said internal clock with said clock maintained by said head end when a discrepancy between said internal clock and said clock maintained by said head end is detected.

13. The method for monitoring usage of power provided by a power transmission system to a site at a meter as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

detecting a low voltage condition where an output from said capacitive circuit drops below an operational threshold for said meter; and

generating and sending a power loss message upon detection of said low voltage condition to said power transmission system,

wherein;

said power loss message is carried on a message carrier having a carrier frequency between approximately 2 MHz and 30 MHz to bridge a discontinuity in said power transmission system.