Redundant precision time keeping for utility meters
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for generating precision clock information, comprising:
- a source of power line timing information;
a source of externally-generated precision time information;
a timing circuit coupled to the source of externally-generated precision time information to receive a precision time signal therefrom, the timing circuit operable to generate clock information based on the precision time signal, the timing circuit further operable to generate clock information based on the power line timing information, the timing circuit comprising an accumulator, the accumulator including an output, a first input, a second input, and a third input;
a source of clocking signals operable to generate a clocking signal having a frequency exceeding a frequency of the precision time signal, and wherein the timing circuit is further operable to generate the clock information based on the clocking signal; and
, wherein the accumulator increments a value stored therein based on the second input and the third input;
the accumulator is operable to receive a precision time pulse at the first input;
the accumulator is operable to generate a timing output signal at the output when the value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
the accumulator is operable to generate a timing output signal at the output when the accumulator receives the precision time pulse.
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Abstract
An apparatus for generating precision time signals includes a source of power line timing information, a source of precision time signals, and a timing circuit. The timing circuit is coupled to the source of precision time signals to receive a precision time signal there from, and is operable to generate clock information based on the precision time signal. The timing circuit is further operable to generate clock information based on the power line timing information.
112 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for generating precision clock information, comprising:
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a source of power line timing information;
a source of externally-generated precision time information;
a timing circuit coupled to the source of externally-generated precision time information to receive a precision time signal therefrom, the timing circuit operable to generate clock information based on the precision time signal, the timing circuit further operable to generate clock information based on the power line timing information, the timing circuit comprising an accumulator, the accumulator including an output, a first input, a second input, and a third input;
a source of clocking signals operable to generate a clocking signal having a frequency exceeding a frequency of the precision time signal, and wherein the timing circuit is further operable to generate the clock information based on the clocking signal; and
,wherein the accumulator increments a value stored therein based on the second input and the third input;
the accumulator is operable to receive a precision time pulse at the first input;
the accumulator is operable to generate a timing output signal at the output when the value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
the accumulator is operable to generate a timing output signal at the output when the accumulator receives the precision time pulse.
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2. An electricity meter operable to obtain data related to energy consumption, the meter comprising;
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a sensor circuit operable to generate voltage and current measurement signals;
a measurement circuit operable to generate energy consumption data from the voltage and current measurement signals;
a source of power line timing information;
a source of externally-generated precision time information;
a timing circuit coupled to the source of externally-generated precision time information to receive a precision time signal therefrom, the timing circuit operable to generate clock information based on the precision time signal, the timing circuit further operable to generate clock information based on the power line timing information;
a memory operable to store at least some energy consumption data and a time record associated therewith, the time record generated in part using the clock information. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification