Method and apparatus for measuring electricity
First Claim
1. Apparatus for electronically measuring the electricity used by a load comprising:
- (a) means for generating an analog load voltage signal proportional to the instantaneous load voltage, said means being responsive to any positive and negative portions of the load voltage;
(b) means for generating a frequency modulated pulse train of signals in response to the load voltage signal, the instantaneous frequency of the pulses being proportional to the instantaneous amplitude of the load voltage signal;
(c) means for generating an analog load current signal proportional to the instantaneous load current, said means being responsive to any positive and negative portions of the load current; and
(d) logic means for gating the instantaneous load current signal during each pulse of the frequency modulated pulse train, said logic means generating an output signal comprising a train of pulses having a frequency proportional to the instantaneous load voltage and an amplitude proportional to the instantaneous load current, representing the product of the instantaneous load voltage and the instantaneous load current.
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Abstract
The method and apparatus disclosed relates to the electronic measurement of the electricity used by a load. The apparatus generates a rectified voltage signal proportional to the load voltage. A frequency modulated pulse train is generated in response to the load voltage signal, with the frequency of the pulses being proportional to the instantaneous amplitude of the rectified load voltage. A load current signal is generated that is proportional to the load current. A logic circuit gates the load current signal during each pulse of the frequency modulated pulse train to generate a signal representing the product of the instantaneous load voltage and the instantaneous load current. This signal from the logic means may be integrated over time to generate a signal representing the amount of electric energy used by the load. A method for practicing this invention is also disclosed.
35 Citations
33 Claims
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1. Apparatus for electronically measuring the electricity used by a load comprising:
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(a) means for generating an analog load voltage signal proportional to the instantaneous load voltage, said means being responsive to any positive and negative portions of the load voltage; (b) means for generating a frequency modulated pulse train of signals in response to the load voltage signal, the instantaneous frequency of the pulses being proportional to the instantaneous amplitude of the load voltage signal; (c) means for generating an analog load current signal proportional to the instantaneous load current, said means being responsive to any positive and negative portions of the load current; and (d) logic means for gating the instantaneous load current signal during each pulse of the frequency modulated pulse train, said logic means generating an output signal comprising a train of pulses having a frequency proportional to the instantaneous load voltage and an amplitude proportional to the instantaneous load current, representing the product of the instantaneous load voltage and the instantaneous load current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for electronically measuring the electricity at a load comprising:
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(a) means for generating a first analog load electric signal proportional to an instantaneous load condition, said means being responsive to any positive and negative portions of the load condition; (b) means for generating a frequency modulated pulse train of signals in response to the first analog signal, the instantaneous frequency of the pulses being proportional to the instantaneous amplitude of the first analog signal; (c) means for generating a second analog load electric signal, and (d) logic means for gating the instantaneous second analog signal during each pulse of the frequency modulated pulse train to generate an output signal, said output signal comprising a train of pulses having a frequency proportional to the instantaneous first signal and an amplitude proportional to the instantaneous second signal, representing the product of the instantaneous first signal and the instantaneous second signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of electronically measuring the electricity used by a load, the method comprising:
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(a) generating an analog load voltage signal in response to an input voltage signal proportional to the instantaneous load voltage and any positive and negative portions of the load voltage; (b) generating a frequency modulated pulse train signal in response to the load voltage signal, the instantaneous frequency of the pulses being proportional to the instantaneous amplitude of the load voltage signal; (c) generating an analog load current signal proportional to the instantaneous load current and any positive and negative portions of the load current; and (d) gating the instantaneous load current signal during each pulse of the frequency modulated pulse train to generate an output signal, said output signal comprising a train of pulses having a frequency proportional to the instantaneous load voltage and an amplitude proportional to the instantaneous load current, representing the product of the instantaneous load voltage and the instantaneous load current. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification