Intelligent electronic device having network access

• US 7,979,221 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Power Measurement Ltd. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Power Measurement Ltd. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Hyatt, Geoffrey T., Hancock, Martin A., Dagg, Jordon M., Hirschbold, Markus F., Forth, J. Bradford, Lightbody, Simon H., Gilbert, Bryan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond; Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/899,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 702 61- 64, 702182-185, 702/188, 324/500
• US Class Current: 702/61
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/45 Utility meters networked together within a single building
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/10 using digital techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

An electric power meter is disclosed which includes an analog to digital converter for converting sensed voltage and/or current signals to digital signals corresponding thereto. The meter further comprises storage for storing the digital signals. The meter further comprises a processor for performing power calculations upon the digital signals, and converting the calculations and the digital signals into at least one network protocol. The meter further comprises a network interface for interfacing with an external network. A system for modifying the functionality of the electric power meter is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An intelligent electronic device operable to monitor electrical energy, the intelligent electronic device comprising:

a first metering sensor and a second metering sensor, each of the first and second metering sensors operable to sense electrical energy in one or more conductors and output corresponding electrical signals;

an analog to digital converter coupled with the first and second metering sensors and operative to convert the electrical signals output by the first and second metering sensors to corresponding digital signals;

a memory coupled with the analog to digital converter for storing said digital signals;

at least one central processing unit for performing power calculations on said digital signals, and converting said calculations and said corresponding digital signals into at least one network protocol, said at least one central processing unit being configured to simultaneously execute a plurality of different tasks related to said stored digital signals in response to a plurality of concurrent requests related to results of said different tasks and submitted by multiple users; and

wherein the central processing unit is operable to switch between operation with the first metering sensor and operation with the second metering sensor.

2. The intelligent electronic device of claim 1 wherein the central processing unit is further operable to switch between operation with the first metering sensor and operating with the second metering sensor at the direction of a user of the intelligent electronic device.

3. The intelligent electronic device of claim 1 wherein the central processing unit is further operable to switch between operation with the first metering sensor and operating with the second metering sensor selectively as a function of operating conditions.

4. The intelligent electronic device of claim 1 wherein the central processing unit is further operable to use a combination of the first and second metering sensors.

5. The intelligent electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a digital signal processing circuit coupled with the first and second metering sensors and the central processing unit.

6. The intelligent electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first metering sensor is externally located and positionable away from the intelligent electronic device.

7. The intelligent electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second metering sensor is mounted within the intelligent electronic device.

8. The intelligent electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a communications interface operative to couple the intelligent electronic device with a network wherein the network comprises an Internet Protocol based network, and further wherein the communications interface operatively cooperates with the central processing unit to format and pass commands and information.

9. The intelligent electronic device of claim 8, wherein the network comprises an Internet.

10. The intelligent electronic device of claim 8, wherein the network comprises an intranet.

11. The intelligent electronic device of claim 8, wherein, the network further comprises an email server, a firewall/gateway server and a browser in operable communication with the intelligent electronic device and the server.

12. The intelligent electronic device of claim 8, wherein the server and the intelligent electronic device are operable to communicate with encrypted messages.

13. The intelligent electronic device of claim 8, wherein central processing unit may send and receive data via the communications interface in one of the file transfer protocol, simple object access protocol, extensible markup language or combinations thereof.

14. The intelligent electronic device of claim 8, wherein the communications interface further comprises an Ethernet interface.

15. The intelligent electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first metering sensor and second metering sensor are each one of a voltage sensor or a current sensor.

16. An intelligent electronic device operable to monitor electrical energy, the intelligent electronic device comprising:

a first metering sensor and a second metering sensor, each of the first and second metering sensors operable to sense electrical energy in one or more conductors and output corresponding electrical signals;

an analog to digital converter coupled with the first and second metering sensors and operative to convert the electrical signals output by the first and second metering sensors to corresponding digital signals;

a memory coupled with the analog to digital converter for storing said digital signals;

at least one central processing unit for performing power calculations on said digital signals, and converting said calculations and said digital signals into at least one network protocol, said at least one central processing unit being configured to simultaneously execute a plurality of different tasks related to said stored digital signals in response to a plurality of concurrent requests related to results of said different tasks and submitted by multiple users;

a communications interface operative to couple the intelligent electronic device with a network wherein the network comprises an Internet Protocol based network, and further wherein the communications interface operatively cooperates with the central processing unit to format and pass commands and information;

wherein the central processing unit is operable to switch between operation with the first metering sensor and operation with the second metering sensor.

17. The intelligent electronic device of claim 16, wherein the network comprises an Internet.

18. The intelligent electronic device of claim 16, wherein the network comprises an intranet.

19. The intelligent electronic device of claim 16, wherein, the network further comprises an email server, a firewall/gateway server and a browser in operable communication with the intelligent electronic device and the server.

20. The intelligent electronic device of claim 16, wherein the server and the intelligent electronic device are operable to communicate with encrypted messages.

21. The intelligent electronic device of claim 16, wherein central processing unit may send and receive data via the communications interface in one of the file transfer protocol, simple object access protocol, extensible markup language or combinations thereof.

22. The intelligent electronic device of claim 16, wherein the communications interface further comprises an Ethernet interface.

23. The intelligent electronic device of claim 16, wherein the first metering sensor and second metering sensor are each one of a voltage sensor or a current sensor.