Power metering module

• US RE40,889 E1
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avery D. Long, David C. Carlson, Jason M. Thurmond, Jeffrey J. Farago, Kenneth L. Mcmahon, Robert C. Ditmore, Thomas J. Seifert
• Original Assignee: Avery D. Long, David C. Carlson, Jason M. Thurmond, Jeffrey J. Farago, Kenneth L. Mcmahon, Robert C. Ditmore, Thomas J. Seifert
• Inventors: Seifert, Thomas J., Thurmond, Jason M., McMahon, Kenneth L., Carlson, David C., Ditmore, Robert C., Farago, Jeffrey J., Long, Avery D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, PARESH H
• Application Number:
  US11/392,924
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 324/74
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2513 Arrangements for monitoring electric power systems, e.g. power lines or loads; Logging
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique

Abstract

A metering module for use in a power circuit monitoring system including a circuit monitor having a processor for processing data related to power signals, said metering module comprising at least one sensor for sensing a predetermined property of a power signal and for producing a corresponding sensor signal, and a modular metering circuit for producing data corresponding to said sensor signal for input into said circuit monitor, wherein said metering module is selectively detachable and replaceable relative to said circuit monitor to permit one or more of testing, calibration and repair of said metering module thereby minimizing any interruption in operation of said circuit monitor.

Claims

1. A power monitoring system comprising:

a circuit monitor having a processor for processing data related to power signals; and

a metering module comprising;

a housing;

at least one sensor for sensing a predetermined property of a power signal and for producing a corresponding sensor signal; and

a modular metering circuit for producing data corresponding to said sensor signal for input into said circuit monitor;

wherein said metering module is separately housed, detachable and replaceable relative to said circuit monitor and directly opposing said circuit monitor to permit one or more of testing, calibration and repair of said metering module independently of said circuit monitor, wherein said metering module is responsive to control signals, and receives power from said circuit monitor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said modular metering circuit further includes at least one analog to digital converter for digitizing said sensor signal.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said modular metering circuit further comprises substantially all of a set of preconditioning circuitry for power signals, including substantially all components requiring calibration, in order to maintain accuracy of the metering module.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said property of a power signal comprises one or more voltages.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said property of a power signal comprises one or more currents.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said property of a power signal comprises one or more currents.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said metering module is responsive to control signals, and receives power from said circuit monitor.

8. The system of claim 1, said metering module and further including a non-volatile memory for storing one or both of calibration coefficients and analog-to-digital factors.

16. The metering module of claim 8 and 9, further including a non volatile memory for storing one or both of calibration coefficients and analog-to-digital factors.

32. The metering module of claim 16, wherein said non-volatile memory is an EEPROM.

9. A metering module for use in a power circuit monitoring system including a circuit monitor having a processor for processing data related to power signals, said metering module comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing a predetermined property of a power signal and for producing a corresponding sensor signal; and

a modular metering circuit for producing data corresponding to said sensor signal for input into said circuit monitor;

a fixed connector that directly connects to a corresponding connector of said circuit monitor,

wherein said metering module is separately housed, detachable and replaceable relative to said circuit monitor to permit one or more of testing, calibration and repair of said metering module independently of said circuit monitor, wherein said metering module is responsive to control signals and receives power from said circuit monitor via said fixed connector.

10. The system metering module of claim 9 wherein said modular metering circuit further includes at least one analog to digital converter for digitizing said sensor signal.

11. The system metering module of claim 9 wherein said modular metering circuit further comprises substantially all of a set of preconditioning circuitry for power signals, including substantially all components requiring calibration, in order to maintain accuracy of the metering module.

12. The system metering module of claim 9 wherein said property of a power signal comprises one or more voltages.

13. The system metering module of claim 9 wherein said property of a power signal comprises one or more currents.

14. The system metering module of claim 12 wherein said property of a power signal comprises one or more currents.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein said metering module is responsive to control signals, and receives power from said circuit monitor.

17. A power monitoring method comprising:

processing data related to power signals at a circuit monitor;

and

in a metering module comprising;

, sensing a predetermined property of a power signal and for producing a corresponding sensor signal;

and

in said metering module, producing data corresponding to said sensor signal for input into said circuit monitor;

and

separately housing, detaching and replacing said metering module relative to said circuit monitor to permit one or more of testing, calibration and repair of said metering module independently of said circuit monitor; and

connecting said metering module to said circuit monitor such that said metering module directly opposes said circuit monitor, wherein said control module provides control signals and power for said metering module.

18. The method of claim 17 further including digitizing said sensor signal at said metering module.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said predetermined property of a power signal comprises one or more voltages.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said predetermined property of a power signal comprises one or more currents.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said predetermined property of a power signal comprises one or more currents.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein said control module providing control signals and power for said metering module.

23. The method of claim 17 and further including storing one or both of calibration coefficients and analog-to-digital conversion factors in a non-volatile memory at said metering module.

24. A method of metering for use in a power circuit monitoring system including a circuit monitor having a processor for processing data related to power signals, said metering method comprising:

sensing, in a metering module, a predetermined property of a power signal and for producing a corresponding sensor signal;

and

in said metering module, producing data corresponding to said sensor signal for input into said circuit monitor;

and

separately housing, detaching and replacing said metering module relative to said circuit monitor to permit one or more of testing, calibration and repair of said metering module independently of said circuit monitor, wherein said metering module further comprises a connector, said circuit monitor further including a complementary connector positioned to engage said connector when said metering module is connected to said circuit monitor via said connectors; and

receiving in said metering module one or both of control signals and power signals from said circuit monitor via said connectors.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said metering module circuit further includes an analog to digital converter for digitizing said sensor signal.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said predetermined property of a power signal comprises one or more voltages.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein said predetermined property of a power signal comprises one or more currents.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said predetermined property of a power signal comprises one or more currents.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein said metering module providing control signals and power for said metering module.

30. The method of claim 24 and further including storing one or both of calibration coefficients and analog-to-digital conversion factors in a non-volatile memory at said metering module.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein said connecting includes connecting a fixed connector of said metering module to engage a corresponding connector of said circuit monitor.

33. The method of claim 24, further comprising directly connecting said metering module to power lines to be monitored by said power circuit monitoring system.