Programmable electrical energy meter and methods therefor
First Claim
1. Apparatus for electronically metering electrical energy, said electrical energy comprising voltage and current characteristics, wherein voltage and current signals representative of said voltage and current characteristics are provided, said apparatus comprising:
- a first processor, connected to receive said voltage and current signals, for determining electrical energy from said voltage and current signals and for generating an energy signal representative of the electrical energy determination;
a second processor, connected to said first processor, for receiving said energy signal, for generating an indication signal representative of said energy signal;
an option connector, connected to said first processor and said second processor, whereby said energy signal is provided to said option connector and a communication connection is provided between said option connector and said second processor; and
a power supply, connected to receive said voltage signal, for generating a power signal, said power signal being provided to said option connector, whereby a power connection is provided, said power supply comprising a semi-regulated power source, a regulated power source and a non-volatile power source and wherein an electrical ground is provided, said option connector further providing a semi-regulated power connection, a regulated power connection, a non-volatile power connection and an electrical ground connection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for metering electrical energy are disclosed in an electronic meter. Such meter includes a first processor for determining electrical energy from voltage and current signals and for generating an energy signal representative of the electrical energy determination and a second processor for receiving the energy signal and for generating an indication signal representative of said energy signal. An option connector is connected to the first and second processors, whereby the energy signal is provided to the option connector and a communication connection is provided between the option connector and the second processor. It is preferred for the option connector to be provided power signals such used by the meter in order to power any electronic components which may be connected to the option connector. It is also preferred to provide the option connector with certain operation signals such as a power fail signal, a master reset signal, an end of demand signal, and a KYZ signal. It is still further preferred to provide the option connector with the potential to communicate with various components of the meter, such as serial data communication, communication signals transmitted and received through an optical port and display signals. It is also preferred for the first processor to include a comparator, connected to receive a precision voltage and a reference voltage, wherein a comparator signal is generated whenever the reference voltage exceeds the precision voltage.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. Apparatus for electronically metering electrical energy, said electrical energy comprising voltage and current characteristics, wherein voltage and current signals representative of said voltage and current characteristics are provided, said apparatus comprising:
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a first processor, connected to receive said voltage and current signals, for determining electrical energy from said voltage and current signals and for generating an energy signal representative of the electrical energy determination; a second processor, connected to said first processor, for receiving said energy signal, for generating an indication signal representative of said energy signal; an option connector, connected to said first processor and said second processor, whereby said energy signal is provided to said option connector and a communication connection is provided between said option connector and said second processor; and a power supply, connected to receive said voltage signal, for generating a power signal, said power signal being provided to said option connector, whereby a power connection is provided, said power supply comprising a semi-regulated power source, a regulated power source and a non-volatile power source and wherein an electrical ground is provided, said option connector further providing a semi-regulated power connection, a regulated power connection, a non-volatile power connection and an electrical ground connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus for electronically metering electrical energy, said electrical energy comprising voltage and current characteristics, said apparatus comprising:
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voltage sensing means for sensing the voltage characteristics of said electrical energy; a current sensor comprising a plurality of current transformers for sensing the current characteristics of said electrical energy; a first processor, connected to said voltage sensor and said current sensor, for determining electrical energy from said voltage and current signals and for generating an energy signal representative of the electrical energy determination; a second processor, connected to said first processor, for receiving said energy signal and for generating an indication signal representative of said energy signal; and an option connector, connected to said first processor and said second processor, whereby said energy signal is provided to said option connector and a communication connection is provided between said option connector and said second processor. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. Apparatus for electronically metering electrical energy, said electrical energy comprising voltage and current characteristics, wherein voltage and current signals representative of said voltage and current characteristics are provided, said apparatus comprising:
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a first processor, connected to receive said voltage and current signals, for determining electrical energy from said voltage and current signals and for generating an energy signal representative of the electrical energy determination, said first processor comprising a memory for the storage of instructions, said first processor performing electrical energy determinations in response to the execution of said instructions; modification means, connected to said first processor, for modifying the instructions executed by said first processor; and an option connector, connected to said modification means, whereby said execution signal is provided to said modification means through said option connector. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. Apparatus for electronically metering electrical energy, said electrical energy comprising voltage and current characteristics, wherein voltage and current signals representative of said voltage and current characteristics are provided, said apparatus comprising:
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a first processor, connected to receive said voltage and current signals, for determining electrical energy from said voltage and current signals and for generating an energy signal representative of the electrical energy determination; a second processor, connected to said first processor, for receiving said energy signal, for generating an indication signal representative of said energy signal, said second processor also generating a KYZ signal in relation to said energy signal, said KYZ signal being representative of the flow of electrical energy; and an option connector, connected to said first processor and said second processor, whereby said energy signal and said KYZ signal are provided to said option connector and a communication connection is provided between said option connector and said second processor. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. Apparatus for electronically metering electrical energy, said electrical energy comprising voltage and current characteristics, wherein voltage and current signals representative of said voltage and current characteristics are provided, said apparatus comprising:
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a first processor, connected to receive said voltage and current signals, for determining electrical energy from said voltage and current signals and for generating an energy signal representative of the electrical energy determination, said first processor comprising a memory for the storage of instructions, said first processor performing electrical energy determinations in response to the execution of said instructions; modification means, connected to said first processor, for modifying the instructions executed by said first processor; and an optical port, connected to said modification means, whereby said execution signal is provided to said modification means through said optical port.
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Specification