Electronic electric meter for networked meter reading

• US 6,538,577 B1
• Filed: 02/23/1999
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nap, Kimbel A., Ehrke, Lance A., Dresselhuys, Donn R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US09/242,792
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.01, 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/637, 340/10.31, 340/825.52, 324/157, 324/116, 375/130, 370/401
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/45 Utility meters networked together within a single building
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/008 Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
• 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: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

An electronic electric meter for use in a networked automatic meter reading environment. The electric meter retrofits into existing meter sockets and is available for new meter installations for both single phase and three phase electric power connections. The meter utilizes an all electronic design including a meter microcontroller, a measurement microcontroller, a communication microcontroller and spread spectrum processor, and a plurality of other communication interface modules for communicating commodity utilization and power quality data to a utility. The electric meter utilizes a modular design which allows the interface modules to be changed depending upon the desired communication network interface. The meter measures electricity usage and monitors power quality parameters for transmission to the utility over a two-way 900 MHz spread spectrum local area network (LAN) to a remotely located gateway node. The gateway node transmits this data to the utility over a commercially available fixed wide area network (WAN). The meter also provides direct communication to the utility over a commercially available network interface that plugs into the meter'"'"'s backplane or bus system bypassing the local area network communication link and gateway node.

Claims

1. An electronic electric meter comprising:

an electronic transducer for measuring commodity utilization and monitoring power quality;

a meter microcontroller coupled to said electronic transducer for interpreting said commodity utilization data and said power quality information;

a measurement microcontroller coupled to said meter microcontroller for processing said commodity utilization data and said power quality information;

a two-way wireless transceiver coupled to said measurement microcontroller for selectively transmitting commodity utilization data and power quality information from the meter to a remote gateway node over a local area network (LAN), and for receiving data requests from said remote gateway node over the local area network (LAN); and

at least one communication network module coupled to said measurement microcontroller for selectively transmitting commodity utilization data and power quality information from the meter to a utility service provider over a wide area network (WAN), and for receiving data requests from said utility service provider over the wide area network (WAN), such that the electric meter can selectively transmit commodity utilization data and power quality information over either the WAN or the LAN.

2. The electric meter according to claim 1 wherein the communication network module is removable from said meter and interchangeable with other communication network modules.

3. The electric meter according to claim 2 wherein the communication network module is a narrowband personal communication services (PCS) module.

4. The electric meter according to claim 2 wherein the communication network module is a power line carrier (PLC) module.

5. The electric meter according to claim 1 wherein the two-way wireless transceiver selectively receives commodity utilization data from other meters including wireless transceivers such that the electric meter communicates commodity utilization data to the utility service provider from multiple meters.

6. The electric meter of claim 5 wherein the electric meter communicates commodity utilization data to the utility service provider over the wide are network (WAN).

7. The electric meter according to claim 1 wherein the measurement microcontroller is operable to selectively transmit the commodity utilization data and the power quality information over either the local area network (LAN) or the wide are network (WAN).

8. An electronic electric meter comprising:

an electronic transducer for measuring commodity utilization and monitoring power quality;

a measurement microcontroller coupled to said electronic transducer for processing said commodity utilization data and power quality information for communication to a utility service provider;

a two-way wireless transceiver coupled to said measurement microcontroller for selectively transmitting commodity utilization data from the meter over a local area network (LAN), and for receiving data requests from a remote communication node over the local area network (LAN); and

at least one network interface module coupled to said measurement microcontroller for selectively transmitting commodity utilization data and power quality information from the meter to the utility service provider over a wide area network (WAN), and for receiving data requests form said utility service provider over the wide are network (WAN), such that the electric meter can selectively transmit commodity utilization data and power quality information over either the WAN or the LAN.

9. The electric meter according to claim 8 wherein the communication network module is removable from said meter and interchangeable with other communication network modules.

10. The electric meter according to claim 9 wherein the communication network module is a narrowband personal communication services (PCS) module.

11. The electric meter according to claim 8 wherein the communication network module is a power line carrier (PLC) module.

12. The electric meter according to claim 8 wherein the two-way wireless transceiver selectively receives commodity utilization data from other meters including wireless transceivers such that the electric meter can communicate commodity utilization data to the utility service provider from multiple meters.

13. The electric meter of claim 12 wherein the electric meter communicates commodity utilization data to the utility service provider over the wide are network (WAN).

14. The electric meter according to claim 8 wherein the measurement microcontroller is operable to selectively transmit the commodity utilization data and the power quality information over either the local area network (LAN) or the wide are network (WAN).

15. An electronic electric meter comprising:

an electronic transducer for measuring commodity utilization and monitoring power quality;

a meter microcontroller coupled to said electronic transducer for interpreting said commodity utilization data and said power quality information;

a measurement microcontroller coupled to said meter microcontroller for processing said commodity utilization data and said power quality information;

a two-way wireless transceiver coupled to said measurement microcontroller for transmitting commodity utilization data and power quality information from the meter to a utility service provider over a local area network (LAN), and for receiving data requests from said utility service provider over the local area network (LAN);

wherein the measurement microcontroller is operable to receive a shut-off signal from the utility service provider, wherein the wireless transceiver generates an alarm signal upon detection of measured commodity utilization after the receipt of the shut-off signal from the utility service provider; and

a disconnect relay operatively positioned between the electric meter and a supply of electricity, the disconnect relay being operable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the disconnect relay disconnects the electric meter from the supply of electricity line in the open position, wherein the disconnect relay is moved to the open position upon generation of the alarm signal by the measurement microcontroller after receipt of the shut-off signal.

16. The electric meter according to claim 15 further comprising at least one communication network module coupled to the measurement microcontroller for selectively transmitting the commodity utilization data and the power quality information from the meter to the utility service provider over a wide area network (WAN), and for receiving data requests from the utility service provider over the wide area network (WAN), wherein the communication network module transmits the alarm signal to the utility service provider.

17. The electric meter according to claim 15 wherein the electronic transducer includes a current transducer and a voltage transducer for sensing commodity usage.

18. The electric meter according to claim 15 wherein said two-way wireless transceiver includes a spread spectrum processor coupled to said communications microcontroller for enabling said electric meter to transmit and receive data utilizing a spread spectrum communication technique, and an RF transceiver coupled to said spread spectrum processor and said communication microcontroller for transmitting commodity utilization data from the meter and for receiving interrogation signals from the gateway node.

19. The electric meter according to claim 15 wherein said electric meter is programmable.