Electronic meter with enhanced thermally managed communications systems and methods

• US 7,084,783 B1
• Filed: 08/13/2002
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Lindqvist, Lars A., Melvin, Waymon A. Jr., Shuey, Kenneth C., Cunningham, Charles Jr., Murphy, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, KIMBERLY YVETTE
• Application Number:
  US10/217,397
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 34087002-87011, 375/219, 455/557, 370/487
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/24 Housings ; Casings for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• 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

Abstract

An electronic meter that is capable of handling an analog cellular phone or radio modem under the meter cover provides significant improvements in the thermal management and power handling that is associated with a circuit switched wireless device. The electronic meter comprises a power supply capable of delivering the transmitter power plus the associated losses due to transmitter efficiency. It is desirable to deliver the high power over a wide range of AC input voltages (typically from about 90 to 530 VAC). The meter packaging allows the power supply and the analog cellular modem to operate in an enclosed metering package without exceeding the operating temperatures of the electronic components. The packaging adapts to increased steady state (idle) conditions as well as increased transmit conditions.

Claims

1. An electronic energy meter, comprising:

an electronics housing module comprising;

an analog cellular modem;

a power supply in electrical connection with the analog cellular modem; and

a current transformer housing positioned to receive the analog cellular modem and a battery.

2. The electronic energy meter of claim 1, further comprising a power supply heatsink connected between the power supply and the electronics housing module.

3. The electronic energy meter of claim 1, wherein the analog cellular modem comprises a cellular radio in electrical connection with a modem board.

4. The electronic energy meter of claim 3, further comprising an RF module disposed on the cellular radio.

5. The electronic energy meter of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises a front end connected to receive an input voltage, and a switching regulator to provide an output voltage to the analog cellular modem.

6. The electronic energy meter of claim 5, wherein the front end comprises a rectifier connected to receive the input voltage, a surge protector to receive a rectified signal from the rectifier, and a filtering circuit to filter an output signal of the surge protector and provide a filtered signal to the switching regulator, and the switching regulator comprises a transformer, a feedback device, an intermediate switch, and a controller.

7. The electronic energy meter of claim 6, further comprising a power supply heatsink connected between the feedback device and the intermediate switch of the power supply and the electronics housing module.

8. The electronic energy meter of claim 1, further comprising an external antenna interface board connected to the analog cellular modem.

9. The electronic energy meter of claim 1, further comprising a thermally conductive and compressive material disposed on a portion of the outer surface of the electronics housing module.

10. The electronic energy meter of claim 9, wherein heat generated by the power supply and the analog cellular modem is conducted outside of the electronic energy meter via the electronics housing module and the thermally conductive and compressive material.

11. The electronic energy meter of claim 1, wherein the power supply is capable of delivering power over a range of AC input voltages between about 90 VAC and about 530 VAC.

12. An electronic energy meter, comprising:

an integral analog cellular modem;

a power supply in electrical connection with the analog cellular modem capable of delivering power over a range of AC input voltages between about 90 VAC and about 530 VAC; and

a current transformer housing positioned to receive the analog cellular modem and a battery.

13. The electronic energy meter of claim 12, further comprising an electronics housing module at least partially containing the analog cellular modem and the power supply.

14. The electronic energy meter of claim 13, further comprising:

a power supply heatsink connected between the power supply and the electronics housing module to conduct heat from the power supply; and

a thermally conductive and compressive material disposed on a portion of the outer surface of the electronics housing module wherein heat generated by the power supply and the analog cellular modem is conducted outside of the electronic energy meter via the electronics housing module and the thermally conductive and compressive material.

15. The electronic energy meter of claim 12, wherein the analog cellular modem comprises a cellular radio and a modem board.

16. The electronic energy meter of claim 12, wherein the analog cellular modem comprises an RF module.

17. The electronic energy meter of claim 12, wherein the power supply comprises:

a front end comprising;

a rectifier connected to receive an input voltage,

a surge protector to receive a rectified signal from the rectifier, and

a filtering circuit to filter an output signal of the surge protector; and

a switching regulator that receives a filtered signal from the filtering circuit and provides an output voltage to the analog cellular modem.

18. The electronic energy meter of claim 12, further comprising an external antenna interface board connected to the analog cellular modem.