ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, SMART ELECTRICITY METERS, AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING LOCAL POWER CONNECTION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrical power distribution system, comprising:
- an electricity meter connected to power lines on one side and an electrical load on the other side, the electricity meter having a meter housing, and a processor, memory, a communications module, a sensor, and a service disconnect switch within the meter housing; and
a communication and control system configured to communicate with the electricity meter and operational to communicate one or more thresholds to the electricity meter, andwherein the electricity meter is operable, when conditions established by the one or more thresholds are not met, to open the service disconnect switch and automatically disconnect the electrical load.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical power distribution system having an electricity meter connected to power lines on one side and a load on the other side, the electricity meter enabling automatic disconnection and/or reconnection as determined by one or more thresholds stored in memory of the electricity meter. Electricity meters having an automatic disconnect feature are disclosed as are methods of connecting the electrical power distribution system. Other aspects are disclosed.
74 Citations
32 Claims
-
1. An electrical power distribution system, comprising:
-
an electricity meter connected to power lines on one side and an electrical load on the other side, the electricity meter having a meter housing, and a processor, memory, a communications module, a sensor, and a service disconnect switch within the meter housing; and a communication and control system configured to communicate with the electricity meter and operational to communicate one or more thresholds to the electricity meter, and wherein the electricity meter is operable, when conditions established by the one or more thresholds are not met, to open the service disconnect switch and automatically disconnect the electrical load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. An electrical power distribution system, comprising:
-
an electricity meter connected to power lines on one side and an electrical load on the other side, the electricity meter having a meter housing, and a processor, memory, a communications module, a sensor, and a service disconnect switch contained within the meter housing; a communications network adapted to send a communication signal to the electricity meter and receive a communication signal from the electricity meter; a communications server connected to the communications network to manage messages sent over the communications network; a controls server for initiating control commands and other information to be sent to the electricity meter, a distribution management server adapted to provide status of the electrical power distribution system to the controls server; and a database device having a database adapted to store information about the electricity meter and other devices connected to the load side of the electricity meter, the database storing one or more thresholds programmed into each electricity meter for use in automatic disconnection wherein the controls computer is operable to automatically synchronizes the one or more threshold values between the database and the memory of the electricity meter by sending messages over the communications network, and wherein the second computer server is connected to one or more electrical generation or storage devices connected to the load side of the meter via a communications network for sending information and control signals to the generation or storage device and receiving information from the generation or storage device.
-
-
31. An electricity meter, comprising:
a meter housing containing a communications module configured to receive one or more thresholds; a memory adapted to store the one or more thresholds; a sensor adapted to measure a parameter of the power lines; a processor adapted to compare the parameter or a value derived therefrom to the one or more thresholds; and a service disconnect switch automatically operable to open if the parameter or the value derived therefrom fails to meet conditions established by the one or more thresholds.
-
32. A method of controlling electricity power connection, comprising:
-
providing an electricity meter having a meter housing containing, a communications module configured to receive one or more thresholds, a memory adapted to store the one or more thresholds, a sensor adapted to measure a parameter of the power lines, a processor adapted to compare the parameter or a value derived therefrom to the one or more thresholds, and a service disconnect switch; and automatically opening the service disconnect switch if the parameter or the value derived therefrom fails to meet conditions established by the one or more thresholds.
-
Specification