Automatic service type recognition in electrical utility meter

• US 6,629,046 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1999
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Landis and Gyr LLC (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Anderson, Christopher L., Bond, Randal K., Slaven, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, CRAIG S
• Application Number:
  US09/397,351
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57, 702/60-65, 702/79-81, 702/90, 702/189, 324/74, 324/76.11, 324/76.77, 324/86, 324/110, 324/500
• US Class Current: 702/61
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1333 adapted for special tariff measuring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and arrangement for use in an electrical utility meter, the electrical utility meter operable to be connected to a plurality of electrical service types. The arrangement is operable to identify a present service type, the present service type being one of the plurality of electrical service types to which the electrical utility meter is connected. The arrangement comprises: conversion circuit for obtaining measured voltage magnitude and phase angle data for a plurality of phases in a polyphase electrical system; a memory; and a processor connected to said memory and said conversion circuit. The processor is operable to execute programming steps stored in the memory to receive the measured voltage magnitude and phase angle data from the conversion circuit and identify the present electrical service type based on the measured voltage magnitude and phase angle data.

Claims

1. In an electrical utility meter, the electrical utility meter operable to measure power consumption, a method of identifying a present electrical service type, the method comprising:

a) obtaining measured voltage phase angle data based on a time difference between a first zero crossing of a first voltage measurement signal from a first phase of a polyphase electrical system and a second zero crossing of a second voltage measurement signal from a second phase of a polyphase electrical system; and

b) automatically identifying the present electrical service type based at least in part on the measured phase angle data.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying information identifying the present electrical service type.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of using the meter display to request an operator for verification of the present electrical service type.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of using the present electrical service type in subsequent electric utility meter diagnostic operations.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of performing an adjustment on the electrical utility meter, the adjustment corresponding to the present electrical service type, the adjustment increasing a metering accuracy of the electrical utility meter.

6. In an electrical utility meter, the electrical utility meter operable to measure power consumption, a method of identifying a present electrical service type, the method comprising:

a) obtaining measured voltage phase angle data for a plurality of phases in a polyphase electrical system;

b) automatically identifying the present electrical service type based at least in part on the measured voltage phase angle data;

c) displaying information identifying the present electrical service type on a meter display.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of displaying information identifying the present electrical service type.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of using the meter display to request an operator for verification of the present electrical service type.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:

step a) further comprises obtaining measured voltage magnitude data for the plurality of phases of the polyphase electrical system; and

step b) further comprises automatically identifying the present electrical service type based at least in part on the measured voltage magnitude data.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of using the present electrical service type in subsequent electric utility meter diagnostic operations.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of performing an adjustment on the electrical utility meter, the adjustment corresponding to the present electrical service type, the adjustment increasing a metering accuracy of the electrical utility meter.

12. An arrangement for use in an electrical utility meter, the electrical utility meter operable to be connected to a plurality of electrical service types, the arrangement operable to identify a present service type, the present service type being one of the plurality of electrical service types to which the electrical utility meter is connected, the arrangement comprising:

a) a conversion circuit for obtaining measured voltage magnitude and phase angle data for a plurality of phases in a polyphase electrical system;

b) a memory;

c) a display;

d) a processor connected to each of the memory, the conversion circuit, and the display, the processor operable to execute programming steps stored in the memory to receive measured voltage phase angle data from the conversion circuit,

identify the present service type based on the measured voltage magnitude and phase angle data, and

cause the display to display the information identifying the present electrical service type.

13. The arrangement of claim 12 wherein the processor is further operable to execute programming steps stored in memory to request an operator for verification of the present service type.

14. The arrangement of claim 13 wherein the processor is further operable to execute programming steps stored in memory to:

obtain measured voltage magnitude data for the plurality of phases of the polyphase electrical system; and

identify the present electrical service type based at least in part on the measured voltage magnitude data.

15. The arrangement of claim 12 wherein the processor is further operable to execute programming steps stored in memory to perform an adjustment on the electrical utility meter, the adjustment corresponding to the present electrical service type, the adjustment increasing a metering accuracy of the electrical utility meter.