Apparatus for metering at least one type of electrical power over a predetermined range of service voltages
First Claim
1. An electric energy meter for measuring electrical energy usage over a wide dynamic range of standard service voltages, wherein the electrical energy meter is used by an electric utility for customer billing purposes, and wherein the electrical energy meter can be connected to a polyphase electrical service to measure electrical energy on more than one phase, the meter having a power supply comprising:
- a transformer having first, second, and third windings, the power supply being capable of receiving any input voltage within the wide dynamic range of standard service voltages, which input voltage is provided to the first winding so that current flows through the first winding, wherein a voltage across the second winding defines an output of the power supply, wherein a voltage across the third winding defines a sense signal that is representative of the output of the power supply, and wherein the output is regulated based at least in part on the sense signal to provide a predetermined output voltage independent of the input voltage, and wherein the wide range of service voltages include RMS voltages between about 96 Vrms and about 528 Vrms.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for supplying power for use in metering electrical energy over a wide range of voltages with a single meter are disclosed. The wide ranging meter includes a processing unit for processing divided input voltage and a current component in order to determine electrical energy metering values. The processing unit is operable in response to supply voltages. A power supply, connected to receive the undivided voltage component, generates the supply voltages over the wide dynamic range. It is especially preferred for the power supply to include a transformer having first, second and third windings, wherein the undivided voltage component is provided to the first winding and wherein the second winding defines the output of the power supply. A switching member is connected to the first winding for permitting and preventing the flow of current in response to a control signal. A control member generates the control signal in response to the output of the power supply. It is also preferred for the control signal to disable the witch member. It is further preferred for the power supply to include a voltage blocking clamp, connected to the transformer for blocking the voltage applied to the transformer. It is still further preferred for an oscillator to be used to generate an oscillating signal for switching the switching member ON and OFF so that the switching member is provided a substantially constant OFF time.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An electric energy meter for measuring electrical energy usage over a wide dynamic range of standard service voltages, wherein the electrical energy meter is used by an electric utility for customer billing purposes, and wherein the electrical energy meter can be connected to a polyphase electrical service to measure electrical energy on more than one phase, the meter having a power supply comprising:
a transformer having first, second, and third windings, the power supply being capable of receiving any input voltage within the wide dynamic range of standard service voltages, which input voltage is provided to the first winding so that current flows through the first winding, wherein a voltage across the second winding defines an output of the power supply, wherein a voltage across the third winding defines a sense signal that is representative of the output of the power supply, and wherein the output is regulated based at least in part on the sense signal to provide a predetermined output voltage independent of the input voltage, and wherein the wide range of service voltages include RMS voltages between about 96 Vrms and about 528 Vrms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
Specification