Load side voltage sensing for AMI metrology
First Claim
1. An electricity meter for use within an advanced metering system having and operating relative to a network, other meters, user interfaces, and central collection functionality, comprising:
- a line side which receives electrical service when connected to said meter;
a load side, downstream from said meter line side, which electrically connects with an electrical load when connected to said meter;
a detection circuit, upstream from said meter load side and downstream from said meter line side, for detecting the presence of electricity at said meter load side;
a remote disconnect switch, upstream from said detection circuit and downstream from said meter line side, controllably actuated for electrically connecting and disconnecting said meter line side relative to said meter load side, so that electrical service when present at said meter line side is, respectively, electrically connected with, and disconnected from, an electrical load when present at said meter load side;
metrology, downstream from said meter line side and upstream from said meter load side, for monitoring the consumption or production of electricity vis-a-vis electrical service and electrical load associated with said meter; and
a bidirectional communications link, linking said meter and a network operating relative to an advanced metering system, such that data may be communicated regarding actuation of said remote disconnect switch and presence of electricity at said meter load side;
wherein said detection circuit is configured to determine whether the presence of electricity has been detected at the meter load side after actuation of the remote disconnect to electrically disconnect the meter line side relative to the meter load side; and
if the presence of electricity has been detected at the meter load side, to determine whether the phase angle of the line side voltage is the same as that of the load side voltage, so as to determine whether the source of electricity detected at the meter load side is different from that for the electrical service connected to the meter line side.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are apparatus and methodologies for providing improved functionality of a meter in a 2-way communications arrangement, such as an Advanced Metering System (AMS) or Infrastructure (AMI). More particularly, the present technology relates to methodologies and apparatus for providing load side voltage sensing for utility meters which preferably are operable with remote disconnect features in an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) open operational framework. The present subject matter provides enhanced capabilities resulting in improved functionality, increased safety, and greater economy vis-à-vis fraud detection for individual metrology components in an open operational framework. Meters per the present subject matter utilize a detection circuit, which is situated generally downstream of a remote disconnect functionality. Such detection circuit is able to sense whether voltage exists or doesn'"'"'t exist at such relatively downstream, or load side location. Providing such functionality allows for: (a) verification that a remote disconnect switch did open subsequent to an instruction or command to do so, (b) identification of possible user fraud, as would possibly be reflected by the presence of voltage at a time when the remote disconnect switch is open, (c) verification that the remote disconnect switch did re-close after having been given an instruction or command to close, and (d) verification of lack of voltage present before re-closing such remote disconnect switch, which serves an important safety feature.
179 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An electricity meter for use within an advanced metering system having and operating relative to a network, other meters, user interfaces, and central collection functionality, comprising:
-
a line side which receives electrical service when connected to said meter; a load side, downstream from said meter line side, which electrically connects with an electrical load when connected to said meter; a detection circuit, upstream from said meter load side and downstream from said meter line side, for detecting the presence of electricity at said meter load side; a remote disconnect switch, upstream from said detection circuit and downstream from said meter line side, controllably actuated for electrically connecting and disconnecting said meter line side relative to said meter load side, so that electrical service when present at said meter line side is, respectively, electrically connected with, and disconnected from, an electrical load when present at said meter load side; metrology, downstream from said meter line side and upstream from said meter load side, for monitoring the consumption or production of electricity vis-a-vis electrical service and electrical load associated with said meter; and a bidirectional communications link, linking said meter and a network operating relative to an advanced metering system, such that data may be communicated regarding actuation of said remote disconnect switch and presence of electricity at said meter load side; wherein said detection circuit is configured to determine whether the presence of electricity has been detected at the meter load side after actuation of the remote disconnect to electrically disconnect the meter line side relative to the meter load side; and
if the presence of electricity has been detected at the meter load side, to determine whether the phase angle of the line side voltage is the same as that of the load side voltage, so as to determine whether the source of electricity detected at the meter load side is different from that for the electrical service connected to the meter line side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A methodology for improved functionality of an electricity meter used within an advanced metering system having and operating relative to a network, other meters, user interfaces, and central collection functionality, comprising:
-
providing an electricity meter having; a line side for receiving electrical service; a load side, downstream from the meter line side, for electrically connecting with an electrical load; a detection circuit, upstream from the meter load side and downstream from the meter line side, for detecting the presence of electricity at the meter load side; a remote disconnect switch, upstream from the detection circuit and downstream from the meter line side, for controllably actuating for electrically connecting and disconnecting the meter line side relative to the meter load side, so that electrical service when present at the meter line side is, respectively, electrically connected with, and disconnected from, an electrical load when present at the meter load side; metrology, downstream from the meter line side and upstream from the meter load side, for monitoring the consumption or production of electricity vis-a-vis electrical service and electrical load associated with the meter; and a bidirectional communications link, linking the meter and a network operating relative to an advanced metering system; connecting electrical service to the meter line side; and connecting an electrical load to the meter load side, such that data may be communicated across the network regarding actuation of the remote disconnect switch and presence of electricity at the meter load side; wherein the methodology further comprises actuating the remote disconnect switch so as to electrically disconnect the meter line side relative to the meter load side;
subsequently determining whether the presence of electricity has been detected at the meter load side; and
if the presence of electricity has been detected at the meter load side, determining whether the phase angle of the line side voltage is the same as that of the load side voltage, so as to determine whether the source of electricity detected at the meter load side is different from that for the electrical service connected to the meter line side. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. Methodology for an advanced metering system with added functionality based on meter load side sensing, comprising:
-
providing a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise electricity meters, each of such electricity meters having a line side for receiving electrical service;
a load side, downstream from the meter line side, for electrically connecting with an electrical load;
a detection circuit, upstream from the meter load side and downstream from the meter line side, for detecting the presence of electricity at the meter load side;
a remote disconnect switch, upstream from the detection circuit and downstream from the meter line side, for controllably actuating for electrically connecting and disconnecting the meter line side relative to the meter load side, so that electrical service when present at the meter line side is, respectively, electrically connected with, and disconnected from, an electrical load when present at the meter load side; and
metrology, downstream from the meter line side and upstream from the meter load side, for monitoring the consumption or production of electricity vis-a-vis electrical service and electrical load associated with the meter;providing a network including central collection functionality; configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central collection functionality and each of the plurality of end devices; connecting electrical service to the meter line side of at least one of such electricity meters; and
connecting an electrical load to the meter load side of such at least one electricity meter, such that data may be communicated across the network regarding actuation of the remote disconnect switch thereof and presence of electricity at the meter load side thereof;wherein the methodology further comprises actuating the remote disconnect switch so as to electrically disconnect the meter line side relative to the meter load side;
subsequently determining whether the presence of electricity has been detected at the meter load side; and
if the presence of electricity has been detected at the meter load side, determining whether the phase angle of the line side voltage is the same as that of the load side voltage, so as to determine whether the source of electricity detected at the meter load side is different from that for the electrical service connected to the meter line side. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An advanced metering system with added functionality based on meter load side sensing, comprising:
-
a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise electricity meters, each of such electricity meters having a line side for receiving electrical service;
a load side, downstream from the meter line side, for electrically connecting with an electrical load;
a detection circuit, upstream from the meter load side and downstream from the meter line side, for detecting the presence of electricity at the meter load side;
a remote disconnect switch, upstream from the detection circuit and downstream from the meter line side, for controllably actuating for electrically connecting and disconnecting the meter line side relative to the meter load side, so that electrical service when present at the meter line side is, respectively, electrically connected with, and disconnected from, an electrical load when present at the meter load side; and
metrology, downstream from the meter line side and upstream from the meter load side, for monitoring the consumption or production of electricity vis-a-vis electrical service and electrical load associated with the meter;a network including central collection functionality, and configured for bi-directional communications between the central collection functionality and each of said plurality of end devices, such that data may be communicated across said network regarding actuation of the remote disconnect switch of an electricity meter and presence of electricity at the meter load side thereof; wherein said detection circuit is configured to determine whether the presence of electricity has been detected at the meter load side after actuation of the remote disconnect to electrically disconnect the meter line side relative to the meter load side; and
if the presence of electricity has been detected at the meter load side, to determine whether the phase angle of the line side voltage is the same as that of the load side voltage, so as to determine whether the source of electricity detected at the meter load side is different from that for the electrical service connected to the meter line side. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
-
Specification