Apparatus for electronically measuring or distributing electrical energy

• US 7,639,000 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Lowe, Coy Stephen, Hyder, Charles Craig, Fouquet, Christophe Jean Andre, Briese, Forrest Wayne, Schlarb, John Murray
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Vinh P
• Application Number:
  US11/943,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20080068005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 324/142
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 3/08 with provision for safeguarding the apparatus, e.g. against abnormal operation, against breakdown
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1331 Measuring real or reactive component, measuring apparent energy
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1335 Tariff switching circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/00 Arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. electricity meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/10 using digital techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/04 of instruments for measuring time integral of power or current
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• 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 integral electronic revenue meter system diagnostics package including a microprocessor, storage memory, preselect series of system diagnostic tests, and recording any results which exceed predefined programmable thresholds, and display means for displaying error and/or diagnostic messages identifying selected diagnostic data and/or errors discovered in the meter tests during a predefined period is included as part of an electricity revenue meter of the type used for collecting metering data for a utility which uses such data for billing purposes. The system automatically senses the type of electrical service in which the revenue meter is installed when the revenue meter is installed in a socket at the customer'"'"'s premises.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electronically measuring or distributing electrical energy, said apparatus comprising:

at least one analog-to-digital converter connected to phases of an electrical service, said converter configured to obtain digital samples of the voltage component and the current component of said electrical service;

a memory for storing reference information for at least one type of electrical service;

a microprocessor interfaced with said at least one analog-to-digital converter and said memory;

wherein said microprocessor is configured to calculate a voltage phase angle value for the voltage component for at least one phase of said electrical service by use of said digital samples; and

wherein said microprocessor is further configured to use said digital samples and said reference information to perform a Current Transformer check.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is configured to store in said memory a count of the number of Current Transformer error conditions detected.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1, said apparatus further comprising a display, said microprocessor configured to generate an error message on said display if said microprocessor detects a Current Transformer error condition.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said error message is one of (a) an error message that is locked on said display until said apparatus is manually reset and (b) an error message that is cleared if said microprocessor determines that a Current Transformer error condition no longer exists.