Metering device with control functionality and method thereof

• US 7,337,081 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2006
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electro Industries/Gauge Tech
• Original Assignee: Electro Industries/Gaugetech
• Inventors: Kagan, Erran
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano; Edward R
• Application Number:
  US11/341,802
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 324/103.R, 324/103.P, 324/115, 324/140.R, 324/140.D, 324/141, 324/142, 324/500, 324/509, 324/510, 324/511, 324/76.11, 340/635, 340/637, 340/638, 340/646, 340/649, 340/650, 340/652, 340/653, 340/660, 340/662, 340/500, 361/1, 361/18, 361/23, 361/30, 361/31, 361/35, 361/38, 361/42, 361/56, 361/57, 361/62, 361/78, 361/79, 361/86, 361/87, 361/88, 361/90, 361/600, 361/601, 361/602, 361/603, 361/659, 361/673, 700/22, 700/286, 700/292, 700/293, 700/294, 700/297, 700/298, 702/57, 702/58, 702/60, 702/61, 702/64, 702/127, 702/187, 702/189, 705/412
• US Class Current: 702/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/10 using digital techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A metering device of a power substation and method are provided for operating on a secondary analog waveform output by a transformer assembly receiving a primary waveform. The method includes stepping down the secondary waveform and generating a corresponding output signal; operating on the corresponding output signal for generating a corresponding first digital signal having a value proportional to the corresponding output signal and within a first range; and operating on the corresponding output signal for generating a corresponding second digital signal having a value proportional to the corresponding output signal and within a second range. The method further includes processing the first digital signal and outputting a corresponding first output signal; processing the second digital signal and outputting a corresponding second output signal; processing the first and second output signals; and generating output corresponding to the processing of the first and second output signals.

Claims

1. A metering device of a power substation operating on a secondary analog waveform output by a transformer assembly receiving a primary waveform, the metering device comprising:

a transformer of the metering device for stepping down the secondary waveform and generating an output signal;

first biasing circuitry for operating on the signal output from the transformer of the metering device for generating a corresponding first digital signal having a value proportional to the signal output from the transformer and within a first range;

second biasing circuitry for operating on the signal output from the transformer of the metering device for generating a corresponding second digital signal having a value proportional to the signal output from the transformer of the metering device and within a second range; and

a processor assembly in operative communication with the first and second biasing circuitry, wherein the processor assembly executes application software for receiving the first and second digital signals, the processor assembly comprising;

a first operational software block for processing the first digital signal and outputting a corresponding first output signal;

a second operational software block for processing the second digital signal and outputting a corresponding second output signal; and

a control software block for processing the first and second output signals and generating corresponding output wherein at least one of the first operational software block, the second operational software block and the control software block monitors at least one software block of the other software blocks for detecting an abnormal condition and resets the software block of the at least one software block associated with the detected abnormal condition.

2. The metering device according to claim 1, wherein the processor assembly further comprises a handler software block for processing the output from the control signal for providing corresponding output to at least one of a communication input/output (I/O) device, a display device, and an indicator device.

3. The metering device according to claim 1, wherein the metering device further comprises a digital to analog converter DAC for receiving the output generated by the control software block and generating a corresponding analog retransmit signal.

4. The metering device according to claim 1, wherein the output generated by the control software block is provided to a device for controlling the device.

5. The metering device according to claim 1, wherein each processor of the processor assembly that executes at least a portion of at least one of the first operational software block, second operational software block, and control software block is disposed in one housing.

6. The metering device according to claim 1, wherein each of the transformer and the first and second biasing circuitry are disposed in one housing.

7. The metering device according to claim 1, wherein the first operational software block performs at least one metering function for measuring energy of the secondary waveform.

8. The metering device according to claim 1, wherein the second operational software block performs a condition detection operation for detecting abnormal properties of the secondary waveform.

9. The metering device according to claim 1, wherein the second range is substantially more than two times the first range.

10. The metering device of claim 1 wherein said processor assembly includes at least one processor.

11. The metering device of claim 1 wherein said metering device is an energy measurement device for measuring real time energy usage.

12. A metering device of a power substation operating on a secondary analog waveform output by a transformer assembly receiving a primary waveform, the metering device comprising:

a transformer of the metering device for stepping down the secondary waveform and generating an output signal;

first biasing circuitry for operating on the signal output from the transformer of the metering device for generating a corresponding first digital signal having a value proportional to the signal output from the transformer and within a first range;

second biasing circuitry for operating on the signal output from the transformer of the metering device for generating a corresponding second digital signal having a value proportional to the signal output from the transformer of the metering device and within a second range; and

a processor assembly in operative communication with the first and second biasing circuitry, wherein the processor assembly executes application software for receiving the first and second digital signals, the processor assembly comprising;

a first operational software block for processing the first digital signal and outputting a corresponding first output signal;

a second operational software block for processing the second digital signal and outputting a corresponding second output signal; and

a control software block for processing the first and second output signals and generating corresponding output wherein the control software block compares the first and second digital signals for detecting a discrepancy there between and generating a corresponding signal.

13. The metering device of claim 12, wherein the processor assembly further comprises a handler software block for processing the output from the control signal for providing corresponding output to at least one of a communication input/output (I/O) device, a display device, and an indicator device.

14. The metering device of claim 12, wherein the metering device further comprises a digital to analog converter DAC for receiving the output generated by the control software block and generating a corresponding analog retransmit signal.

15. The metering device of claim 12, wherein the output generated by the control software block is provided to a device for controlling the device.

16. The metering device of claim 12, wherein each processor of the processor assembly that executes at least a portion of at least one of the first operational software block, second operational software block, and control software block is disposed in one housing.

17. The metering device of claim 12, wherein each of the transformer and the first and second biasing circuitry are disposed in one housing.

18. The metering device of claim 12, wherein the first operational software block performs at least one metering function for measuring energy of the secondary waveform.

19. The metering device of claim 12, wherein the second operational software block performs a condition detection operation for detecting abnormal properties of the secondary waveform.

20. The metering device of claim 12, wherein the second range is substantially more than two times the first range.

21. The metering device of claim 12, wherein said processor assembly includes at least one processor.

22. The metering device of claim 12 wherein said metering device is an energy measurement device for measuring real time energy usage.

23. A metering device of a power substation operating on a secondary analog waveform output by a transformer assembly receiving a primary waveform, the metering device comprising:

a transformer of the metering device for stepping down the secondary waveform and generating an output signal;

first biasing circuitry for operating on the signal output from the transformer of the metering device for generating a corresponding first digital signal having a value proportional to the signal output from the transformer and within a first range;

second biasing circuitry for operating on the signal output from the transformer of the metering device for generating a corresponding second digital signal having a value proportional to the signal output from the transformer of the metering device and within a second range;

said first range and said second range at least partially overlapping; and

a processor assembly in operative communication with the first and second biasing circuitry, wherein the processor assembly executes application software for receiving the first and second digital signals, the processor assembly comprising;

a first operational software block for processing the first digital signal and outputting a corresponding first output signal;

a second operational software block for processing the second digital signal and outputting a corresponding second output signal; and

a control software block for processing the first and second output signals and generating corresponding output.

24. The metering device of claim 23 wherein said processor assembly includes at least one processor.

25. The metering device of claim 23 wherein said metering device is an energy measurement device for measuring real time energy usage.

26. The metering device of claim 23 wherein said metering device includes a display of real time energy usage.

27. The metering device of claim 23 wherein said communications transmits information serially.

28. The metering device of claim 23 wherein said communications transmits information in parallel.

29. The metering device of claim 23 wherein said metering device includes an indicator device.

30. The metering device of claim 23 wherein said energy measurement device includes at least one processor for measuring said real time energy usage.

31. A metering device of a power substation operating on a secondary analog waveform output by a transformer receiving a primary waveform, the metering device comprising:

a transformer of the metering device for stepping down the secondary waveform and generating an output signal;

first biasing circuitry for operating on the signal output from the transformer of the metering device for generating a corresponding first digital signal having a value proportional to the signal output from the transformer and within a first range;

second biasing circuitry for operating on the signal output from the transformer of the metering device for generating a corresponding second digital signal having a value proportional to the signal output from the transformer of the metering device and within a second range; and

a processor assembly in operative communication with the first and second biasing circuitry, wherein the processor assembly executes application software for receiving the first and second digital signals, the processor assembly comprising;

a first operational software block for processing the first digital signal and outputting a corresponding first output signal;

a second operational software block for processing the second digital signal and outputting a corresponding second output signal; and

a control software block for processing the first and second output signals and generating corresponding output;

at least one amplifier having its gain set to eliminate a need for a second transformer.

32. The metering device of claim 31 wherein said processor assembly includes at least one processor.

33. The metering device of claim 31 wherein said metering device is an energy measurement device for measuring real time energy usage.

34. The metering device of claim 31 wherein said metering device includes a display of real time energy usage.

35. The metering device of claim 31 wherein said communications transmits information serially.

36. The metering device of claim 31 wherein said communications transmits information in parallel.

37. The metering device of claim 31 wherein said metering device includes an indicator device.

38. The metering device of claim 31 wherein said energy measurement device includes at least one processor for measuring said real time energy usage.

39. A metering device of a power substation operating on a secondary analog waveform output by a transformer assembly receiving a primary waveform, the metering device comprising:

a transformer of the metering device for stepping down the secondary waveform and generating an output signal;

first biasing circuitry for operating on the signal output from the transformer of the metering device for generating a corresponding first digital signal having a value proportional to the signal output from the transformer and within a first range;

second biasing circuitry for operating on the signal output from the transformer of the metering device for generating a corresponding second digital signal having a value proportional to the signal output from the transformer of the metering device and within a second range; and

a processor assembly in operative communication with the first and second biasing circuitry, wherein the processor assembly executes application software for receiving the first and second digital signals, the processor assembly comprising;

a first operational software block for processing the first digital signal and outputting a corresponding first output signal;

a second operational software block for processing the second digital signal and outputting a corresponding second output signal; and

a control software block for processing the first and second output signals and generating corresponding output; and

said metering device is an energy measurement device for measuring real time energy usage.

40. The metering device of claim 39 wherein said metering device includes a display of real time energy usage.

41. The metering device of claim 39 wherein said communications transmits information serially.

42. The metering device of claim 39 wherein said communications transmits information in parallel.

43. The metering device of claim 39 wherein said metering device includes an indicator device.

44. The metering device of claim 39 wherein said energy measurement device includes at least one processor for measuring said real time energy usage.