Modular power monitoring system
First Claim
1. A power monitoring system for monitoring characteristics of power transmitted through one or more power lines, said power monitoring system comprisinga meter base includinga processor and associated circuitry for processing signals derived from sensors coupled to said power lines and producing output signals representing selected characteristics of said power transmitted through said power lines, anda housing containing said processor and said associated circuitry and having a first surface adapted to be mounted on a support, and a second surface containing multiple connectors for receiving multiple modules and electrically connecting said modules to said processor and said associated circuitry, andmultiple option modules each of which includesa housing having a first surface containing a connector that is complementary with said multiple connectors in said second surface of said meter base so that any of said option modules can be plugged into any of said multiple connectors in said second surface of said meter base, andcircuitry within said housing of each option module for interconnecting with said processor and said associated circuitry in said meter base,wherein said option modules include a display module for receiving said output signals and displaying said selected characteristics of said power transmitted through said power lines, said display includinga display screen and associated circuitry for receiving said output signals, anda housing having a front surface surrounding said display screen, and a rear surface adapted to be mounted on a flat panel and containing a connector coupled to said circuitry associated with said display screen and mating with said display connector on said first surface of said meter module housing so that said metering module and said display can be mounted on opposite sides of the same panel and connected to each other through an aperture in said panel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power monitoring system for monitoring characteristics of power transmitted through one or more power lines comprises a meter base and multiple option modules. The meter base includes a processor and associated circuitry for processing signals derived from sensors coupled to said power lines and producing output signals representing selected characteristics of the power transmitted through the power lines, and a housing containing the processor and the associated circuitry and having a first surface adapted to be mounted on a DIN rail, and a second surface containing multiple connectors for receiving multiple modules and electrically connecting the modules to the processor and the associated circuitry. Each of the multiple option modules includes a housing having a first surface containing a connector that is complementary with the multiple connectors in the second surface of the meter base so that any of the option modules can be plugged into any of the multiple connectors in the second surface of the meter base, and circuitry within the housing of the option module for interconnecting with the processor and the associated circuitry in the meter base. The first surface of the meter base housing may be adapted for optional mounting on the DIN rail or a flat panel, and contains a connector for mating with a complementary connector on the opposite side of the flat panel through a hole in the flat panel.
45 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A power monitoring system for monitoring characteristics of power transmitted through one or more power lines, said power monitoring system comprising
a meter base including a processor and associated circuitry for processing signals derived from sensors coupled to said power lines and producing output signals representing selected characteristics of said power transmitted through said power lines, and a housing containing said processor and said associated circuitry and having a first surface adapted to be mounted on a support, and a second surface containing multiple connectors for receiving multiple modules and electrically connecting said modules to said processor and said associated circuitry, and multiple option modules each of which includes a housing having a first surface containing a connector that is complementary with said multiple connectors in said second surface of said meter base so that any of said option modules can be plugged into any of said multiple connectors in said second surface of said meter base, and circuitry within said housing of each option module for interconnecting with said processor and said associated circuitry in said meter base, wherein said option modules include a display module for receiving said output signals and displaying said selected characteristics of said power transmitted through said power lines, said display including a display screen and associated circuitry for receiving said output signals, and a housing having a front surface surrounding said display screen, and a rear surface adapted to be mounted on a flat panel and containing a connector coupled to said circuitry associated with said display screen and mating with said display connector on said first surface of said meter module housing so that said metering module and said display can be mounted on opposite sides of the same panel and connected to each other through an aperture in said panel.
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4. A power monitoring system for monitoring characteristics of power transmitted through one or more power lines, said power monitoring system comprising
a meter base including a processor and associated circuitry for processing signals derived from sensors coupled to said power lines and producing output signals representing selected characteristics of said power transmitted through said power lines, and a housing containing said processor and said associated circuitry and having a first surface adapted to be mounted on a support, and a second surface containing multiple connectors for receiving multiple modules and electrically connecting said modules to said processor and said associated circuitry, and multiple option modules each of which includes a housing having a first surface containing a connector that is complementary with said multiple connectors in said second surface of said meter base so that any of said option modules can be plugged into any of said multiple connectors in said second surface of said meter base, and circuitry within said housing of each option module for interconnecting with said processor and said associated circuitry in said meter base, wherein said meter base housing and said option module housings have a dimension that is an integer multiple of a predetermined dimension, so that said housings are all compatible and interchangeable with associated equipment having horizontal dimensions that are integer multiples of said predetermined dimension.
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6. A power monitoring system for monitoring characteristics of power transmitted through one or more power lines, said power monitoring system comprising
a meter base including a processor and associated circuitry for processing signals derived from sensors coupled to said power lines and producing output signals representing selected characteristics of said power transmitted through said power lines, a housing containing said processor and said associated circuitry and having a first surface adapted to be mounted on a support, and a second surface containing multiple connectors for receiving multiple modules and electrically connecting said modules to said processor and said associated circuitry, and multiple option modules each of which includes a housing having a first surface containing a connector that is complementary with said multiple connectors in said second surface of said meter base so that any of said option modules can be plugged into any of said multiple connectors in said second surface of said meter base, and circuitry within said housing of each option module for interconnecting with said processor and said associated circuitry in said meter base, and a current-voltage module comprising a housing, at least one pair of terminals mounted on said housing for connecting said housing to said power lines, a voltage sensor contained in said housing and coupled to said terminals for producing a signal representing the voltage across said power lines, a current sensor contained in said housing and coupled to said terminals for producing a signal representing the current carried by said power lines, analog-to-digital converters contained in said housing and receiving said voltage and current signals for producing corresponding digital signals, and at least one digital signal output terminal receiving said corresponding digital signals from said analog-to-digital converters for supplying said digital signals to said processor for analyzing those digital signals.
Specification