Method of detecting tamper of an electric meter

• US 6,362,745 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Comverse Technology, Inc. (Verint Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Davis, Glenn A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/568,699
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 340/637, 340/870.02, 340/3.34, 324/110
• US Class Current: 340/637
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/22 Arrangements for detecting or reporting faults, outages or leaks
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/065 related to mechanical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/066 Arrangements for avoiding or indicating fraudulent use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

An electric meter tamper detection system for sensing removal of an electric meter from a corresponding meter socket and for generating a tamper signal is disclosed. In this system, the tamper signal is relayed to a headend when the electric meter—connected in series with and monitoring current flour through at least one conductor—has been removed from the meter socket. At least one resistor is electrically connected to the line-side of the conductor. A light emitting diode is electrically coupled to the resistor and to the load-side of the conductor. A transistor receives the tamper signal from the light emitting diode when the electric meter is removed from the meter socket. A microprocessor is coupled to the transistor, receives the tamper signal from the transistor, and relays the tamper signal to said headend. Thus, the headend is immediately notified if and when the electric meter is removed from its meter socket. A modular meter based utility gateway enclosure which resides between a power meter and a meter socket of a residence or other building supports multiple interchangeable local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) interface cards is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of detecting tamper of an electric meter, comprising the steps of:

connecting a tamper detection sensor to a source side of the electric meter;

generating a tamper signal with the tamper detection sensor when the electric meter is removed from a corresponding socket; and

notifying a headend that the electric meter has been removed upon generation of the tamper signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of connecting the tamper detection sensor includes the steps of coupling a resistor to a conductor and coupling a light emitting diode to the resistor and the conductor;

and the step of generating the tamper signal includes the step of producing light from the light emitting diode when the electric meter is removed.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of notifying the headend includes the steps of:

receiving the tamper signal from the tamper detection sensor with a transistor; and

activating a relaying means coupled to the transistor, the relaying means relaying a tamper indication signal to the headend.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of notifying the headend includes the steps of:

receiving the tamper signal from the tamper detection sensor with a transistor; and

activating a relaying means connected to the transistor, the relaying means relaying a tamper indication signal to the headend.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of electrically isolating the tamper detection sensor and a communication device, the communication device being used to notify the headend.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

connecting the electric meter in-line with a power conductor; and

monitoring current flow through the power conductor with the electric meter.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electric meter is connected in-line with and monitoring current flow through a first power conductor and a second power conductor, the first power conductor having a line-side and a load-side, the second power conductor having a line-side and a load-side, and the step of connecting the tamper detection sensor includes the steps of:

coupling a first resistor to the line-side of the first power conductor and to the load-side of the second power conductor;

coupling a second resistor to the line-side of the second power conductor;

coupling a first light emitting diode to the second resistor and the load-side of the second power conductor, the first light emitting diode generating a first tamper signal when the electric meter is removed; and

coupling a second light emitting diode in parallel with the first light emitting diode, the second light emitting diode generating a second tamper signal when the electric meter is removed.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of notifying the headend includes the steps of:

receiving the first and second tamper signals with a transistor;

outputting an alarm from the transistor when either the first tamper signal or the second tamper signal has been generated;

receiving the alarm with a microprocessor; and

establishing a communication link between the microprocessor and the headend.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of connecting the tamper detection sensor includes the steps of:

coupling a first resistor to a line-side of a first power conductor;

coupling a first light emitting diode in series with the first resistor; and

coupling the first light emitting diode to a line-side of a second power conductor.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of connecting the tamper detection sensor further includes the step of coupling a second light emitting diode in parallel with the first light emitting diode, the second light emitting diode having an opposite orientation than the first light emitting diode.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of connecting the tamper detection sensor further includes the step of coupling a second resistor between the first light emitting diode and the line side of the second power conductor.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of connecting the tamper detection sensor further includes the step of coupling a second resistor between the first and second light emitting diodes and the line side of the second power conductor.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of notifying the headend includes the steps of:

configuring a data packet; and

delivering the data packet to the headend over a communication network.