Intelligent electronic device having a touch sensitive user interface

• US 10,330,713 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EI Electronics LLC (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Electro Industries/Gaugetech
• Inventors: Banhegyesi, Tibor, Kagan, Erran
• Primary Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hagos, Eyob
• Application Number:
  US13/792,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20140180613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,297 Days
• Field of Search: 702 61
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/065 related to mechanical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/066 Arrangements for avoiding or indicating fraudulent use
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/10 using digital techniques

Abstract

An intelligent electronic device (IED) having a touch sensitive user interface is provided. The intelligent electronic device includes a housing; at least one sensor coupled to the electric circuit and configured to measure at least one parameter of the electrical circuit and generate at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one parameter; at least one analog to digital converter coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to receive the at least one analog signal and convert the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal; at least one processor configured to receive the at least one digital signal and calculate at least one power parameter of the electrical circuit; and an user interface configured to receive input from a user, the user interface including at least one touch sensitive sensor configured to detect the user input.

Claims

1. An intelligent electronic device for monitoring power usage of an electrical circuit of a power distribution system comprising:

a housing including a surface, the surface including at least one first contact disposed thereon;

a transparent cover removably disposed over at least a portion of the housing;

at least one sensor disposed in the housing and coupled to the electric circuit and configured to measure at least one parameter of the electrical circuit and generate at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one parameter;

at least one analog to digital converter disposed in the housing and coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to receive the at least one analog signal and convert the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal;

at least one processor disposed in the housing and configured to receive the at least one digital signal and calculate at least one power parameter of the electrical circuit;

a display disposed on a portion of the housing and visible through the transparent cover; and

a user interface including a plurality of touch sensitive sensors and at least one second contact disposed on a surface of the transparent cover facing the housing, wherein the user interface and display do not overlap as viewed through the transparent cover, the plurality of touch sensitive sensors coupled to the at least one second contact, such that when the transparent cover is disposed over the housing, the at least one second contact and the at least one first contact are electrically coupled, the plurality of touch sensitive sensors configured to detect a user input applied to an outer surface of the transparent cover without removing the transparent cover from the housing, the user interface being coupled to at least one controller via the at least one first contact that determines a location of the user input in relation to the plurality of touch sensitive sensors and tracks movement of the user input from the location along the outer surface of the transparent cover to determine a gesture user input,

wherein the at least one controller detects the user input at approximately zero crossing times of waveforms of the electric circuit of the power distribution system to reduce interference.

2. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the display is configured to display measured and calculated data.

3. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a charge-transfer capacitive sensor.

4. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a surface capacitance sensor.

5. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a projected capacitance sensor.

6. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a resistive sensor.

7. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is an optical sensor.

8. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is an acoustic wave sensor.

9. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the housing is selected from the group consisting of a panel meter type housing, a switchboard type meter housing and a A-base type meter housing.

10. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is coupled to the at least one touch sensitive sensor, the at least one controller provides a voltage to the at least one touch sensitive sensor to generate a sense field on the outer surface of the generally cylindrical, transparent cover.

11. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 1, wherein at least one touch sensitive sensor is transparent and disposed over the display when the transparent cover is disposed over the housing.

12. A socket based revenue meter comprising:

a generally cylindrical housing including a surface, the surface including at least one complementary contact disposed thereon;

a base coupled to the housing including at least one terminal mateable with matching jaws of a detachable meter mounting device for connecting the meter to a power line of a power distribution system;

a generally cylindrical, transparent cover having an open end and a closed end, the cover being removably disposed over the housing and the open end being mateable with the base;

at least one sensor disposed in the housing and coupled to at least one terminal configured for measuring at least one parameter of the power line and generating at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one parameter;

at least one analog to digital converter disposed in the housing and coupled to the at least one sensor configured for receiving the at least one analog signal and converting the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal;

at least one processor disposed in the housing and configured for receiving the at least one digital signal and calculating energy consumption in the electrical circuit;

a display disposed on the surface of the housing and visible through the generally cylindrical, transparent cover; and

a user interface disposed on an inner surface of the closed end of the generally cylindrical, transparent cover, the user interface including at least one touch sensitive sensor and at least one contact, the at least one touch sensitive sensor coupled to the at least one contact, such that when the generally cylindrical, transparent cover is disposed over the housing and mated to the base, the at least one contact and the at least one complementary contact are electrically coupled, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is configured to detect a user input applied to an outer surface of the generally cylindrical, transparent cover when the generally cylindrical, transparent cover is mated to the base to enable the user to interact with the display,

wherein the user interface is coupled to a user interface controller via the at least one complementary contact, the user interface controller configured to determine a location of the user input in relation to the at least one touch sensitive sensor and tracks movement of the user input from the location along the outer surface of the generally cylindrical, transparent cover to determine a gesture user input, and

wherein the user interface controller detects the user input at approximately zero crossing times of waveforms of the power line of the power distribution system to reduce interference.

13. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a charge-transfer capacitive sensor.

14. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a surface capacitance sensor.

15. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a projected capacitance sensor.

16. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is a resistive sensor.

17. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is an optical sensor.

18. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is an acoustic wave sensor.

19. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the user interface controller provides a voltage to the at least one touch sensitive sensor to generate a sense field on the outer surface of the generally cylindrical, transparent cover.

20. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 12, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is transparent and disposed over the display when the transparent cover is disposed over the housing.

21. A socket based revenue meter comprising:

a generally cylindrical housing;

a base coupled to the housing including at least one terminal mateable with matching jaws of a detachable meter mounting device for connecting the meter to a power line of a power distribution system;

a generally cylindrical, transparent cover having an open end and a closed end, the generally cylindrical, transparent cover being removably disposed over the housing and the open end being mateable with the base;

at least one sensor disposed in the housing and coupled to at least one terminal of the base configured for measuring at least one parameter of the power line and generating at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one parameter;

at least one analog to digital converter disposed in the housing and coupled to the at least one sensor configured for receiving the at least one analog signal and converting the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal;

at least one processor disposed in the housing and configured for receiving the at least one digital signal and calculating energy consumption in the electrical circuit; and

a user interface including at least one touch sensitive sensor disposed on an inner surface of the generally cylindrical, transparent cover configured to detect a user input applied to an outer surface of the generally cylindrical, transparent cover,

wherein the generally cylindrical, transparent cover includes at least one conductive trace disposed on the inner surface coupling the at least one touch sensitive sensor to at least one contact on a rim of the open end of the generally cylindrical, transparent cover and the base includes at least one complementary contact on an outer peripheral edge of the base for coupling to the at least one contact on the rim of the open end of the generally cylindrical, transparent cover when the generally cylindrical, transparent cover is mated to the base, the at least one complementary contact of the base being electrically coupled to a user interface controller such that the user interface is in communication with the user interface controller,

wherein the user interface controller is configured to determine a location of the user input in relation to the at least one touch sensitive sensor and tracks movement of the user input from the location along the outer surface of the generally cylindrical, transparent cover to determine a gesture user input and detects the user input at approximately zero crossing times of waveforms of the power line of the power distribution system to reduce interference.

22. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 21, further comprising a user interface controller coupled to the at least one touch sensitive sensor, the user interface controller provides a voltage to the at least one touch sensitive sensor to generate a sense field on the outer surface of the generally cylindrical, transparent cover.

23. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 21, wherein the at least one complementary contact is configured for making electrical contact with the at least one contact.

24. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 21, wherein the at least one complementary contact is configured for making a contact-less type connection with the at least one contact.

25. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 21, wherein the at least one contact and at least one complementary contact are resilient type contacts.

26. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 21, wherein the at least one conductive trace is transparent conductive ink.

27. The socket based revenue meter as in claim 21, further comprising a display disposed on a surface of the housing, wherein the at least one touch sensitive sensor is transparent and disposed over the display when the transparent cover is disposed over the housing.

28. An intelligent electronic device for monitoring power usage of an electrical circuit of a power distribution system comprising:

a housing including a surface, the surface including at least one first contact disposed thereon;

a transparent cover removably disposed over at least a portion of the housing;

at least one sensor disposed in the housing and coupled to the electric circuit and configured to measure at least one parameter of the electrical circuit and generate at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one parameter;

at least one analog to digital converter disposed in the housing and coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to receive the at least one analog signal and convert the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal;

at least one processor disposed in the housing and configured to receive the at least one digital signal and calculate at least one power parameter of the electrical circuit;

a display disposed on a portion of the housing and visible through the transparent cover; and

a user interface including a plurality of touch sensitive sensors and at least one second contact disposed on a surface of the transparent cover facing the housing, the plurality of touch sensitive sensors coupled to the at least one second contact, such that when the transparent cover is disposed over the housing, the at least one second contact and the at least one first contact are electrically coupled, the plurality of touch sensitive sensors configured to detect a user input applied to an outer surface of the transparent cover without removing the transparent cover from the housing, the user interface being coupled to at least one controller via the at least one first contact that determines a location of the user input in relation to the plurality of touch sensitive sensors and tracks movement of the user input from the location along the outer surface of the transparent cover to determine a gesture user input.

29. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 28, wherein the plurality of touch sensitive sensors include at least one of a charge-transfer capacitive sensor, a surface capacitance sensor, a projected capacitance sensor, a resistive sensor, an optical sensor and/or an acoustic wave sensor.

30. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 28, wherein the housing is selected from the group consisting of a panel meter type housing, a switchboard type meter housing and a A-base type meter housing.

31. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 28, further comprising a base coupled to the housing including at least one terminal mateable with matching jaws of a detachable meter mounting device for connecting the intelligent electronic device to the electrical circuit of the power distribution system,

wherein the cover is a generally cylindrical, transparent cover having an open end and a closed end, the generally cylindrical, transparent cover being removably disposed over the housing with the open end being mateable with the base and the plurality of touch sensitive sensors being disposed on an inner surface of the closed end.

32. The intelligent electronic device as in claim 28, wherein at least one touch sensitive sensor is transparent and positioned on the surface of the transparent cover such that the at least one touch sensitive sensor is disposed over the display when the transparent cover is disposed over the housing.