Apparatus and methods for multi-channel metering
First Claim
1. An apparatus for multi-channel metering of electricity, comprising:
- a meter head that comprises one or more metering points, said meter head located on a secondary side of a transformer and operable to measure electricity usage for a plurality of electricity consumer lines;
a transponder located on a primary side of a transformer, in communication via power line communication with said meter head, operable to transmit data received from said meter head to a remotely located computer, and to transmit to said meter head via power line communication data received from said remotely located computer; and
one or more load control modules in communication with said meter head and operable to actuate each of a plurality of relays, each relay of said plurality of relays operable to connect and disconnect-service on one of said plurality of electricity consumer lines.
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Abstract
In one aspect, the invention comprises a device for measuring electricity usage, comprising: means for remote disconnection via power line communication; means for detection of electricity theft; means for tamper detection; and means for reverse voltage detection. In another aspect, the invention comprises an apparatus for multi-channel metering of electricity, comprising: (a) a meter head operable to measure electricity usage for a plurality of electricity consumer lines; (b) a transponder operable to transmit data received from the meter head via power line communication to a remotely located computer, and to transmit data received via power line communication from the remotely located computer to the meter head; and (c) a load control module operable to actuate connection and disconnection of each of a plurality of relays, each relay of the plurality of relays corresponding to one of the plurality of electricity consumer lines.
182 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for multi-channel metering of electricity, comprising:
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a meter head that comprises one or more metering points, said meter head located on a secondary side of a transformer and operable to measure electricity usage for a plurality of electricity consumer lines; a transponder located on a primary side of a transformer, in communication via power line communication with said meter head, operable to transmit data received from said meter head to a remotely located computer, and to transmit to said meter head via power line communication data received from said remotely located computer; and one or more load control modules in communication with said meter head and operable to actuate each of a plurality of relays, each relay of said plurality of relays operable to connect and disconnect-service on one of said plurality of electricity consumer lines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for remote multi-channel metering of electricity using power line communication, comprising:
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a plurality of metering points located on a secondary side of a transformer and operable to separately measure electricity usage for each of a plurality of electricity consumer lines; said apparatus in communication with a transponder located on a primary side of said transformer and operable to transmit data to and receive data from said transponder via power line communication, said transponder operable to transmit data to and receive data from a remotely located computer; one or more load control modules in communication with said meter head and operable to actuate each of a plurality of relays, each relay of said plurality of relays operable to connect and disconnect-service on one of said plurality of electricity consumer lines; and a box containing said plurality of metering points, said load control module, and said relays, wherein said distribution transformer converts medium tension distribution voltages to low tension voltages appropriate for supplying power to customers, and wherein said apparatus is operable to inject signals onto and receive signals from low voltage power lines that supply customers with electric power;
said signals providing two-way communication between said meter head and said transponder and traversing said distribution transformer.
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Specification