Mechanical switch activity detection on power outage
First Claim
1. A circuit arrangement for use in a utility meter;
- a mechanical switch having a closed position and an open position, the mechanical switch configured to be at least temporarily in the closed position when a meter cover is moved, the mechanical switch configured to be in the open position when the meter cover is installed on the meter base, the mechanical switch operably coupled to generate a close signal when the mechanical switch is in the closed position;
a first circuit output operably coupled to receive the close signal;
a latch circuit operably coupled to receive the close signal, the latch circuit configured to generate a latched signal responsive to receiving the close signal, the latched signal latched for a predetermined time; and
a second circuit output operably coupled to receive the latched signalwhereinthe predetermined time corresponds to a wake-up time of a processing circuit, said wake-up time including at least time to power up an oscillator circuit of the processing circuit and at least time sufficient for stabilization of the oscillator circuit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit arrangement for use in a utility meter includes a mechanical switch, a processor device, and a latch circuit. The mechanical switch has a closed position and an open position, and is supported by a meter housing. The mechanical switch is operably coupled to generate a close signal when the mechanical switch is in the closed position. The processor device has a first processor input and a second processor input. The first processor input is operably coupled to receive the close signal. The latch circuit is operably coupled to receive the close signal and generate a latched signal responsive thereto. The latch circuit is configured to latch the latched signal for a predetermined time, the predetermined time corresponding to a wake-up time of the processor device. The latch circuit is operably coupled to provide the latched signal to the second processor input.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A circuit arrangement for use in a utility meter;
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a mechanical switch having a closed position and an open position, the mechanical switch configured to be at least temporarily in the closed position when a meter cover is moved, the mechanical switch configured to be in the open position when the meter cover is installed on the meter base, the mechanical switch operably coupled to generate a close signal when the mechanical switch is in the closed position; a first circuit output operably coupled to receive the close signal; a latch circuit operably coupled to receive the close signal, the latch circuit configured to generate a latched signal responsive to receiving the close signal, the latched signal latched for a predetermined time; and a second circuit output operably coupled to receive the latched signal wherein the predetermined time corresponds to a wake-up time of a processing circuit, said wake-up time including at least time to power up an oscillator circuit of the processing circuit and at least time sufficient for stabilization of the oscillator circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A circuit arrangement for use in a utility meter;
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a mechanical switch having a closed position and an open position, the mechanical switch supported by a meter housing, the mechanical switch operably coupled to generate a close signal when the mechanical switch is in the closed position; a processor device having a first processor input and a second processor input, the first processor input operably coupled to receive the close signal, the processor device having an internal oscillator circuit; a latch circuit operably coupled to receive the close signal and generate a latched signal responsive thereto, the latch circuit configured to latch the latched signal for a predetermined time, the predetermined time corresponding to a wake-up time of the processor device, the latch circuit operably coupled to provide the latched signal to the second processor input; and
wherein said wake-up time including at least time to power up the internal oscillator circuit of the processing circuit and at least time sufficient for stabilization of the internal oscillator circuit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising;
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employing a mechanical switch having a closed position and an open position to detect a physical condition of a utility meter while a processing device of the utility meter is in a sleep mode; providing a close signal using the mechanical switch in the closed position to a first processor input of the processing device; providing the close signal to a latch circuit; transitioning the processing device from the sleep mode to a different mode responsive to the close signal at the first processor input, said transitioning including powering up an oscillator circuit of the processing circuit and stabilizing of the oscillator circuit; using the latch circuit to generate a latch output signal responsive to the close signal, the latch output signal having a duration exceeding that of the close signal and exceeding a duration of the transitioning of the processing device from the sleep mode to the different mode; providing the latch output signal to the processing device. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification