Revenue meter with a graphic user interface being operative to display scalable objects

• US 6,798,191 B1
• Filed: 08/09/1999
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Power Measurement Ltd. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Power Measurement Ltd. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Macfarlane, I. Ross, Hirschbold, Markus F., Cowan, Peter C., Jonker, Rene T., Giles, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATIDAR, JAY M
• Application Number:
  US09/370,757
• Time in Patent Office: 1,877 Days
• Field of Search: 361/659, 361/672, 361/681, 361/664, 361/730, 340/870.02, 324/157, 324/156, 324/142, 324/116, 324/115, 324/110, 324/103.R, 439/876, 439/83, 327/74, 298/45, 702/60-62, 228/266
• US Class Current: 324/157
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/065 related to mechanical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/523 by an interconnection through aligned holes in the boards or multilayer board
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/116 Lands, clearance holes or other lay-out details concerning the surrounding of a via
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09627 Special connections between adjacent vias, not for grounding vias redundant conductors or connections H05K2201/0979
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09854 Hole or via having special cross-section, e.g. elliptical
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/3447 Lead-in-hole components H05K3/3415 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/3468 Applying molten solder
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/429 Plated through-holes specially for multilayer circuits, e.g. having connections to inner circuit layers

Abstract

A revenue meter includes electronics for measuring the delivery of electrical energy from an energy supplier to a consumer through an electric circuit. A meter cover encloses the revenue meter. A keypad is located on the meter cover, and connects to the revenue meter to access the revenue meter without requiring removal of the meter cover.

Claims

1. A revenue meter for measuring the delivery of electrical energy from an energy supplier to a consumer through an electric circuit, the revenue meter comprising:

a graphic user interface connected with the revenue meter, said graphic user interface being operative to display scalable alphanumeric and graphical objects;

a meter cover operative to enclose the revenue meter and said graphic user interface, said meter cover further operative to be sealed to prevent removal of said meter cover and indicate tampering with said revenue meter; and

a context adaptable input device located on said meter cover and connected with the revenue meter, said context adaptable input device being operative to interact with said graphic user interface without removing said meter cover.

2. The revenue meter according to claim 1 wherein said context adaptable input device comprises a keypad.

3. The revenue meter according to claim 2, further including intermediate actuators to mechanically connect said keypad with said graphic user interface of the revenue meter.

4. The revenue meter according to claim 2, wherein said keypad further includes a web portion which allows a plunger of said keypad to move in a direction generally perpendicular to said keypad.

5. The revenue meter according to claim 4 wherein the keypad is elastic.

6. The revenue meter according to claim 2, further including a compression plate operative to compress said keypad to said meter cover, to provide a water tight seal.

7. The revenue meter according to claim 6, wherein said compression plate includes a locating portion operative to align said keypad to at least one intermediate actuator, said at least one immediate actuator operative to mechanically connect said keypad with said graphic user interface of the revenue meter.

8. The revenue meter according to claim 2 wherein said keypad comprises keypad buttons.

9. The revenue meter according to claim 2 wherein said meter cover includes alignment means for aligning said context adaptable input device to intermediate actuators, said immediate actuators operative to mechanically connect said keypad with said graphic user interface of the revenue meter.

10. The revenue meter according to claim 9 wherein said alignment means comprises a compression plate with a locating portion.

11. The revenue meter according to claim 1 wherein said context adaptable input device comprises a touch screen.

12. The revenue meter according to claim 1 wherein said context adaptable input device comprises a mouse.

13. The revenue meter according to claim 1 wherein said context adaptable input device comprises a track ball.

14. The revenue meter according to claim 1 wherein said context adaptable input device comprises a light pen.

15. The revenue meter according to claim 1 wherein said context adaptable input device comprises a membrane switch.

16. The revenue meter according to claim 1 wherein said context adaptable input device comprises a joystick.

17. The revenue meter according to claim 1 wherein said context adaptable input device comprises a dial.

18. The revenue meter according to claim 1 wherein the revenue meter is programmed to scroll through a series of preset displays and wherein a user may use said context adaptable input device to interrupt said scrolling.

19. The revenue meter according to claim 18 wherein said revenue meter is programmed such that said user can scroll through one or more previously displayed screens in the revenue meter using said context adaptable input device.

20. The revenue meter according to claim 1, further comprising:

bayonet terminals disposed on the revenue meter mateable with matching jaws of a detachable meter mounting device; and

a seal connected between the revenue meter and said detachable meter mounting device, said seal operative to prevent removal of the revenue meter and indicate tampering with the revenue meter.

21. The revenue meter according to claim 1, further comprising:

terminals disposed on a bottom side of the revenue meter for coupling the revenue meter with the electric circuit;

a terminal cover for covering said terminals; and

a first seal connected with said meter cover and operative to prevent removal of said meter cover.

22. The revenue meter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a draw-out chassis coupled with the revenue meter and operative to fit within a switchboard enclosure;

terminals disposed on said draw-out chassis for engaging matching terminals within said switchboard enclosure; and

a seal connected with said meter cover and operative to prevent removal of said meter cover and indicate tampering with the revenue meter.

23. The revenue meter according to claim 1 wherein the graphic user interface displays at least one of a scalable text, a rectangle and a chart.

24. A revenue meter for measuring the delivery of electrical energy from an energy supplier to a consumer through an electric circuit, the revenue meter comprising:

a graphic user interface connected with the revenue meter, said graphic user interface operative to display scalable alphanumeric objects;

a meter cover operative to enclose the revenue meter and said graphic user interface, said meter cover further operative to be sealed to prevent removal of said meter cover and indicate tampering with said revenue meter; and

a keypad located on said meter cover and connected with the revenue meter, said keypad being operative to interact with said graphic user interface without removing said meter cover.

25. The revenue meter according to claim 24, wherein said keypad further includes a web portion which allows a plunger of said keypad to move in a direction generally perpendicular to said keypad.

26. The revenue meter according to claim 24, further including intermediate actuators to mechanically connect said keypad with said graphic user interface of the revenue meter.

27. The revenue meter according to claim 26 wherein the keypad is elastic.

28. The revenue meter according to claim 26, further including a compression plate, said compression plate including a locating portion operative to align said keypad to said intermediate actuators.

29. The revenue meter according to claim 24, further including a compression plate operative to compress said keypad to said meter cover and further operative to provide a water tight seal.

30. The revenue meter according to claim 24, further comprising:

bayonet terminals disposed on the revenue meter mateable with matching jaws of a detachable meter mounting device; and

a seal connected between the revenue meter and said detachable meter mounting device, said seal operative to prevent removal of the revenue meter and indicate tampering with the revenue meter.

31. The revenue meter according to claim 24, further comprising:

terminals disposed on a bottom side of the revenue meter for coupling the revenue meter with the electric circuit;

a terminal cover for covering said terminals; and

a first seal connected with said meter cover and operative to prevent removal of said meter cover.

32. The revenue meter according to claim 24, further comprising:

a draw-out chassis coupled with the revenue meter and operative to fit within a switchboard enclosure;

terminals disposed on said draw-out chassis for engaging matching terminals within said switchboard enclosure; and

a seal connected with said meter cover and operative to prevent removal of said meter cover and indicate tampering with the revenue meter.

33. The revenue meter according to claim 24 wherein the graphic user interface displays at least one of a scalable text, a rectangle and a chart.