System for use with a utility meter for recording time of energy use
First Claim
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1. A system for use with a watt-hour meter having a rotatable disc for recording energy use, comprising:
- a housing configured to fit within the meter below the disc and securable therein;
sensor means located within said housing for detecting rotation of the disc and generating a signal in response thereto;
an optical sensor port in the top surface of said housing through which said sensor means may detect rotation of the disc;
circuit means within said housing for processing and storing said signal for calculating time of energy use information; and
communication circuit means within said housing for optically transmitting said time of energy use information to a location external of the meter.
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Abstract
A system for use with standard electric meters having a rotatable disc for recording time of energy use. The system includes a housing securable within a meter below the disc. The system also includes sensor means within the housing for detecting rotation of the disc and generating a signal in response thereto. Circuit means are included within the housing to process and store the signal for calculating time of energy use information. The housing also includes a communication circuit means for transmitting the time of energy use information to a location external of the meter.
50 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for use with a watt-hour meter having a rotatable disc for recording energy use, comprising:
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a housing configured to fit within the meter below the disc and securable therein; sensor means located within said housing for detecting rotation of the disc and generating a signal in response thereto; an optical sensor port in the top surface of said housing through which said sensor means may detect rotation of the disc; circuit means within said housing for processing and storing said signal for calculating time of energy use information; and communication circuit means within said housing for optically transmitting said time of energy use information to a location external of the meter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for recording time of energy use for use with standard electric meters having a rotatable disc and a substantially optically transparent cup-shaped cover securable to a base to provide an enclosure, comprising:
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a housing configured to fit within the cover of any standard electric meter below the disc and securable therein; sensor means located within said housing for detecting rotation of the disc and generating a signal in response thereto, said housing including an optical port in the top surface thereof through which said sensor means detects said rotation; circuit means including a microprocessor in said housing for receiving said signal for counting rotations of the disc during an interval of time, determining time of energy use information and storing the same; a display means on a front face of said housing and visible through the cover for displaying time of energy use information; communication circuit means included in said housing and connected in circuit with said circuit means for optically transmitting said time of energy use information through the cover to a location external thereof; an optical data port in the front face of said housing for establishing optical communication between said communication circuit means and said external location; and power supply circuit means within said housing for supplying power to said circuit means and said communication circuit means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification