Plug-in amp/watt power meter

• US 7,677,921 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2009
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reliance Controls Corporation
• Original Assignee: Reliance Controls Corporation
• Inventors: Czarnecki, Neil A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US12/473,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20090230950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 293 Days
• Field of Search: 439/488, 439502-505, 439/517, 320/111, 320/114, 320/115
• US Class Current: 439/517
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/0408 Test fixtures or contact fields; Connectors or connecting adaptors; Test clips; Test sockets G01R1/067 takes precedence; mass production testing systems G01R31/59; testing of connections G01R31/66; for testing printed circuit boards G01R31/2808
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/12 Circuits for multi-testers , i.e. multimeters, e.g. for measuring voltage, current, or impedance at will
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus

Abstract

A power meter has a measuring circuit composed entirely of analog components that measures the instantaneous current draw of one or more electrical devices, such as home appliances. The power meter may be in the form of a hand-held device that includes elongated connections that allow a homeowner to measure the current draw of an electrical device without significant displacement of the electrical device. In addition to measuring current draw, the power meter may provide an estimated wattage consumed by the measured electrical devices.

Claims

1. A display device for providing a visual output of at least one parameter associated with the supply of electrical power to an electrically operated device, comprising:

a housing having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the housing includes a display area for displaying information relating to the at least one parameter associated with the supply of electrical power to the electrically operated device;

circuitry disposed within the housing for providing an output to the display relating to the at least one parameter associated with the supply of electrical power to the electrically operated device;

an elongated cord having a first end connected to the housing and interfacing with the circuitry and a second end having an electrical connector adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power; and

an electrical connection area associated with the rear portion of the housing and interfacing with the circuitry, wherein the electrical connection area is adapted to engage a mating connector of a power cord interconnected with the electrical device; and

wherein power for operation of the electrical device that is available at the source of electrical power is provided to the electrical device via the elongated cord of the display device and transferred to the power cord interconnected with the electrical device through the circuitry.

2. The display device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is configured to determine an instantaneous power consumption of the electrical device.

3. The display device of claim 2 wherein the display area is adapted to display a value indicative of the instantaneous power consumption of the electrical device.

4. The display device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is configured to determine an instantaneous current draw of the electrical device.

5. The display device of claim 4 wherein the display area is adapted to display a value indicative of the instantaneous current draw of the electrical device.

6. The display device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is configured to determine an instantaneous voltage at the source of electrical power.

7. The display device of claim 6 wherein the display area is adapted to display a value indicative of the instantaneous voltage at the source of electrical power.

8. The display device of claim 1 wherein the housing and elongated cord are configured to allow line of sight access to the display area at a location remote from the source of electrical power.

9. A display device for providing a visual output of at least one parameter associated with the supply of electrical power to an electrically operated device, comprising:

a housing;

an electrical parameter measuring circuit disposed in the housing;

a cord extending from the housing and electrically connected to the measuring circuit, and having a connector adapted to engage a source of electrical power; and

a connection area integrally formed in the housing and electrically connected to the electrical parameter measuring circuit, wherein the connection area is adapted to receive an electrical connector of an electrical device.

10. The display device of claim 9 further comprising a display area on the housing generally opposite the connection area, wherein the display area is adapted to display one or more values associated with the of the supply of electrical power to the electrical device.

11. The display device of claim 10 wherein the one or more values include one or more of a wattage value, a current value, or a voltage value.

12. The display device of claim 10 wherein the display area comprises a screen.

13. The display device of claim 10 wherein the connection area is configured to receive a pronged plug associated with a power cord of the electrical device.

14. The display device of claim 10 wherein the cord has a pronged plug adapted to be inserted into a conventional electrical socket.

15. A display device for providing a visual output of at least one parameter associated with the supply of electrical power to an electrically operated device, comprising:

a housing;

an elongated cord extending from the housing and including a plug adapted to be engaged with a conventional electrical outlet;

an electrical receptacle on the housing, wherein the electrical receptacle is adapted to receive a plug of the electrically operated device;

a measuring circuit contained within the housing and electrically interconnected between the cord and the electrical receptacle and adapted to measure a parameter associated with the supply of electrical power to the electrical device; and

a screen on the housing, wherein the screen is adapted to display one or more values indicative of one or more of the parameters associated with the supply of electrical power to the electrical device.

16. The display device of claim 15 wherein the one or more values includes a waif age value, a current value, or a voltage value.