Intelligent utility meter system
First Claim
1. An intelligent electrical utility meter system installation comprising:
- means for sampling current and voltage and for calculating power consumption at least 600 times per second;
alphanumeric display means for succesively displaying utility information; and
means including circuitry connected to said sampling means for supplying to said display means for successive display, the following information;
(a) the meter identification or serial number;
(b) the data and time;
(c) the present power being used;
(d) cumulative kilowatt hours;
(e) current billing status; and
(f) the time of use hours for reduced power costs.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A data processor type utility meter for electricity, and/or water, gas and therms, is provided with a display which successively displays any or all of the following: (1) the meter serial number, (2) cumulative kilowatt hours, (3) present kilowatts being used, (4) current cost or remaining credit in dollars for utility servies used, (5) "Time of Use" hours and rates, (6) power phase angle, (7) maximum power drawn (or "Demand") during predetermined intervals, (8) clock and calendar, (9) water usage/cost, (10) gas usage/cost, (11) load profiles, (12) a power diversion detection indication, and (13) power co-generation data. The system includes a basic meter unit having a 16 digit alphanumeric display, a CPU, and associated solid state circuitry, which may be mounted on the outside of a house or building in the conventional meter location. Alternatively, the meter unit may be pole mounted or buried. Power line carrier is provided to communicate with external equipment, including a remote display unit inside the user'"'"'s home or other building to permit convenient viewing of the displayed information. A meter reader/programmer can access and retrieve or modify information in the basic meter unit using power line carrier or optical (infrared) coupling; and credit card payment arrangements are included in the card reader of the remote inside display unit. The voltage and current is sampled 1024 times per second or about 16.67 times during each power cycle to provide an accurate indication of power drawn. Inputs from other utilities are supplied from suitable sensors or computed from sample rate data. Special analog-to-digital circuit control and sensing arrangements provide full utilization of the digital circuitry and lead to an economical complete system.
221 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An intelligent electrical utility meter system installation comprising:
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means for sampling current and voltage and for calculating power consumption at least 600 times per second; alphanumeric display means for succesively displaying utility information; and means including circuitry connected to said sampling means for supplying to said display means for successive display, the following information; (a) the meter identification or serial number; (b) the data and time; (c) the present power being used; (d) cumulative kilowatt hours; (e) current billing status; and (f) the time of use hours for reduced power costs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An intelligent utility meter system installation for measuring A.C. electric energy having repetitive A.C. cycles, comprising:
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(1) an "outside" principal meter unit including; (a) means for sampling current and voltage and for calculating power consumption at least 300 times per second;
said sampling occurring asynchronously and not in any fixed timed relationship with respect to the A.C. electricity cycles;(b) said outside unit further including means for determining the total kilowatt hours used, and the present billing status; and (c) alphanumeric display means for displaying power being used, total kilowatt hours and present billing status; (2) a remote "inside" unit including; (a) alphanumeric means for displaying the information displayed by said "outside" unit; (b) means for selectively retaining a desired continuously updated display; and (c) means for reading a credit card and automatically changing the billing status information within the intelligent utility meter as credit card information is read; and (3) said system including means for determining both the magnitude and direction of the electric power passing through said meter system. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification