Electric utility automated distribution apparatus with improved data display
First Claim
1. Remote terminal apparatus for use in an electric utility power line communications system for carrying control commands relating to the transmission and consumption of electric energy from a central station to a remote location, said apparatus comprising:
- receiving means at said remote location for deriving said control means;
control means connected to said receiving means for executing control functions in response to said control commands;
means connected to said control means for generating data representative of the status of said receiving means location;
memory means connected to said status data generating means for storing said status data in a digital form;
a display generator for generating a composite video signal corresponding to an alphanumeric representation of digital signals applied to an input thereof;
means for coupling the input of said display generator to said memory means; and
video display means coupled to said display generator for providing a visual display of said alphanumeric representation, whereby said status data is displayed to an operator at said receiving means location.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A load management terminal for an electric utility automated distribution system includes a receiver for receiving central commands sent from an electric utility central station by power line carrier signals. A control unit is connected to the receiver for executing the commands such as load shedding and remote metering. The terminal includes means for generating data at the remote site representative of the results of the executed commands and for storing the status data in a memory device. A video signal generator converts the status data into a composite video signal which is supplied to a modulator to produce a standard RF television signal. The terminal is selectively connected to the television receiver of an electric utility customer, whereby the metering and load shed status data is displayed on the customer television receiver.
57 Citations
17 Claims
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1. Remote terminal apparatus for use in an electric utility power line communications system for carrying control commands relating to the transmission and consumption of electric energy from a central station to a remote location, said apparatus comprising:
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receiving means at said remote location for deriving said control means; control means connected to said receiving means for executing control functions in response to said control commands; means connected to said control means for generating data representative of the status of said receiving means location; memory means connected to said status data generating means for storing said status data in a digital form; a display generator for generating a composite video signal corresponding to an alphanumeric representation of digital signals applied to an input thereof; means for coupling the input of said display generator to said memory means; and video display means coupled to said display generator for providing a visual display of said alphanumeric representation, whereby said status data is displayed to an operator at said receiving means location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An automated distribution system load management terminal located at an electric utility customer location comprising:
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receiving means for receiving carrier signals modulated with automated distribution commands and for deriving said commands from said carrier signals, said carrier signals being transmitted by a central station that is operatively associated with said load management terminal by a power line; control means connected to said receiving means for executing said commands; memory means for storing digital data; metering means connected to said control means for measuring the consumption of electric energy at said customer location and for storing digital data representative of said consumption in said memory means in response to said commands; means connected to said memory means for generating video signals representative of digital data applied to the input of said generating means; and video display means connected to said generating means for providing a visual display of the digital data applied to the input of said generating means; whereby a visual display of information relating to the consumption of electrical energy is provided. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A remote terminal for an electric utility automated distribution system for providing communication between a central station and a remote location, said terminal comprising:
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a receiving means for receiving carrier signals modulated with automated distribution commands and for deriving said commands from said carrier signals; digital processing means for executing said control commands and for generating digital data representative of the status of said remote location; memory means connected to said digital processing means for storing said digital data; means connected to said memory means for generating a composite video signal corresponding to digital data supplied to its input; and video display means connected to said video signal generating means for providing a visual display of the information contained in said composite video signal.
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13. Apparatus for testing load management terminals of electric utility automated distribution system, comprising:
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input means for receiving operator actions to initiate a load management terminal test; processing means connected to said input means for generating automated distribution test commands in response to test initiating actions; transmitter means connected to said processing means for generating signals containing said test commands for an associated load management terminal under test; means for receiving automated distribution signals generated by an associated load management terminal in response to said test commands; memory means for storing data related to said operator actions and data contained in said received automated distribution signals; means connected to said memory means for generating a composite video signal representative of the contents of said memory means; and video display means connected to said video signal generating means for providing a visual display of the data carried by said composite video signal. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. Electric utility automated distribution apparatus comprising:
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a load management terminal adapted to receive automated distribution commands from an electric utility central station, said load management terminal comprising digital processor means for performing control functions in response to said commands, memory means for storing status data relating to the execution of said commands, and means for generating a video signal representative of the contents of said memory means; and a test terminal comprising input means for receiving operator action to initiate a test of said load management terminal, transmitter means coupled to said load management terminal for generating automated distribution test command signals in response to said operator actions, means for coupling said video signal generator means to said test terminal, and a video display device connected to said coupling means for providing a visual display of the data contained in said video signal; whereby the contents of said load management terminal memory means are displayed by said video display device of said test terminal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification