INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING A TOUCH SENSITIVE USER INTERFACE

• US 20140180613A1
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EI Electronics LLC (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Electro Industries/Gaugetech
• Inventors: Banhegyesi, Tibor, Kagan, Erran
• Granted Patent: US 10,330,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/61
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/065 related to mechanical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/066 Arrangements for avoiding or indicating fraudulent use
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/10 using digital techniques

Abstract

An intelligent electronic device (IED) having a touch sensitive user interface is provided. The intelligent electronic device includes a housing; at least one sensor coupled to the electric circuit and configured to measure at least one parameter of the electrical circuit and generate at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one parameter; at least one analog to digital converter coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to receive the at least one analog signal and convert the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal; at least one processor configured to receive the at least one digital signal and calculate at least one power parameter of the electrical circuit; and an user interface configured to receive input from a user, the user interface including at least one touch sensitive sensor configured to detect the user input.

Claims

1. An intelligent electronic device for monitoring power usage of an electrical circuit comprising:

a housing;

at least one sensor coupled to the electric circuit and configured to measure at least one parameter of the electrical circuit and generate at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one parameter;

at least one analog to digital converter coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to receive the at least one analog signal and convert the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal;

at least one processor configured to receive the at least one digital signal and calculate at least one power parameter of the electrical circuit; and

an user interface configured to receive input from a user, the user interface including at least one touch sensitive sensor configured to detect the user input.

2. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the user interface further includes a display configured to display measured and calculated data.

3. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 2, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is transparent and disposed over the display.

4. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 2, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a charge-transfer capacitive sensor.

5. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 2, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a surface capacitance sensor.

6. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 2, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a projected capacitance sensor.

7. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 2, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a resistive sensor.

8. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 2, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is an optical sensor.

9. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 2, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is an acoustic wave sensor.

10. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 2, wherein the housing is selected from the group consisting of a panel meter type housing, a switchboard type meter housing and a A-base type meter housing.

11. A socket based revenue meter comprising:

a generally cylindrical housing;

a base coupled to the housing including at least one terminal mateable with matching jaws of a detachable meter mounting device for connecting the meter to a power line of a power distribution system;

at least one sensor coupled to at least one terminal configured for measuring at least one parameter of the power line and generating at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one parameter;

at least one analog to digital converter coupled to the at least one sensor configured for receiving the at least one analog signal and converting the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal;

at least one processor configured for receiving the at least one digital signal and calculating energy consumption in the electrical circuit; and

an user interface configured to receive input from a user, the user interface including at least one touch sensitive sensor configured to detect the user input.

12. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 11, further comprising a generally cylindrical cover having an open end and a closed end, the cover being disposed over the housing and the open end being mateable with the base.

13. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the user interface is disposed on the housing and accessible through the cover.

14. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the user interface is disposed on an inner surface of closed end of the cover.

15. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 14, wherein the cover includes at least one conductive trace extending from the user interface to at least one contact on a rim of the open end.

16. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 15, wherein the base includes at least one complementary contact for making electrical contact with the at least one contact on the rim of the open end of the cover.

17. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 15, wherein the base includes at least one complementary contact for making a contact-less type connection with the at least one contact on the rim of the open end of the cover.

18. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 16, wherein the at least one complementary contact is electrically coupled to the at least one processor.

19. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 16, wherein the at least one contact and at least one complementary contact are resilient type contacts.

20. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 15, wherein the at least one conductive trace is transparent conductive ink.

21. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 13, wherein a surface of the cover is located a predetermined distance from the user interface.

22. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a charge-transfer capacitive sensor.

23. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a surface capacitance sensor.

24. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a projected capacitance sensor.

25. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a resistive sensor.

26. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is an optical sensor.

27. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is an acoustic wave sensor.