Patent classifications
G01R22/066
Protection system for an electric meter
A protection system described herein includes a first connector, a second connector, and a voltage-limiter device. The first connector is configured to connect to a first load-side terminal of an electric meter, and the second connector is configured to connect to a second load-side terminal of the electric meter. In a circuit between the first connector and the second connector, the voltage-limiter device is configured to clamp a voltage between the first and second load-side terminals at a trigger voltage, to prevent a greater voltage from reaching the electric meter when a service-disconnect switch of the electric meter is open and an external voltage greater than the trigger voltage is applied to a load side of the electric meter. The voltage-limiter device provides a conductive path in parallel with a customer premises associated with the electric meter when the voltage between first and second connectors reaches the trigger voltage.
EMI RESISTANT, OPTIMIZED ANTENNA
One embodiment is a device, which comprises a cable attached at a first end to a radio module, the cable having a plurality of electro-magnetic interference (EMI) resistant elements connected at a plurality of positions, a radial board wherein the cable is attached thereto at a second end, and an antenna connected to the radial board, the antenna being configured to receive power from the radio module and to radiate.
METHOD FOR PREVENTING THEFT OF ENERGY IN ELECTRICITY METERS THAT ARE INSTALLED INVERTED
A system includes a sensor configured at a first position to sense an orientation of an electricity meter. The electricity meter can be configured at a second position. The electricity meter can be configured at a normal orientation to measure delivered energy sent to one or more locations and received energy received from the one or more locations. The electricity meter can be configured at an inverted orientation to identify and measure the delivered energy sent to the one or more locations and the received energy received from the one or more locations. The sensor is configured to identify when the electricity meter is in the normal orientation, and when the electricity meter is in the inverted orientation. A display is configured within the electricity meter.
CLASSIFICATION OF MAGNET TAMPERING CONDITIONS ON A METERING DEVICE
A method and system for detecting tampering of an energy meter can involve, in a first phase: gathering magnetic field sample data, an average magnetic field strength, a minimum magnetic field strength, and a maximum magnetic field strength from a magnetic field condition applied to an energy meter by a magnetic sensor that measures a magnetic field in one or more directions, and using learning coefficients calculated from the magnetic field sample data and the average magnetic field strength, the minimum magnetic field strength, and the maximum magnetic field strength to classify with a classifier, magnet tampering conditions with respect to the energy meter. In a second phase, a magnet tamper event can be identified with respect to the energy meter when the magnet tampering condition classified by the classifier is greater than a magnetic detection threshold.
Estimation, despite a fraud, of the power consumed on a phase
A power estimation method is implemented in a three-phase electricity meter, and includes the steps of: detecting a fraud falsifying a first voltage measurement on a first phase; acquiring a second voltage measurement on a second phase, the second voltage measurement not being falsified by the fraud; estimating a first phase shift between the first phase voltage and a first phase current, by using a first phase shift estimation between the first phase voltage and the second phase voltage; estimating at least one first electrical power consumed on the first phase from a first current measurement on the first phase, of the second voltage measurement, and of the first phase shift.
Reference less glitch detection circuitry with autocalibration
Detection circuitry for an integrated circuit (IC) includes voltage divider circuitry, comparison circuitry, and calibration circuitry. The voltage divider circuitry receives a power supply signal and output a first reference voltage signal and a supply voltage signal based on the power supply signal. The comparison circuitry compares the first reference voltage signal and the supply voltage signal to generate an output signal. The calibration circuitry alters one or more parameters of the voltage divider circuitry to increase a voltage value of the supply voltage signal based on the comparison of the first reference voltage signal with the supply voltage signal.
Utility meter enclosure with dual position locks
A utility meter assembly having a base that is secured to a front cover. The assembly includes a dual locking system having a first locking position and a second locking position. In the first locking position, the front cover is removably secured with the base. In the second locking position, the front cover is permanently secured with the base to prevent separation of the two components unless one or both components are destroyed.
METHOD, SYSTEM AND SOFTWARE PRODUCT TO IDENTIFY INSTALLATIONS LIKELY TO EXHIBIT AN ELECTRICAL NON-CONFORMITY
A method, a system and a tangible product and non-transitory computer program are provided to automatically identify electrical installations in an electrical distribution system that are likely to exhibit an electrical non-conformity (ENC). The method requires only electrical profiles collected from meters and IT tools, without the need for any other sub-metering equipment. The method includes the steps of recovering electrical profiles generated by the meters; applying algorithmic processing associated with indicators of an ENC on the profiles; and identifying electrical installations likely to exhibit an ENC, according to the indicators that have met their target conditions. The method may include the recovery of local meteorological data and nominal data related to the electrical installations to confirm or deny that the identified electrical installations are likely to be non-conforming.
Classification of magnet tampering conditions on a metering device
A method and system for detecting tampering of an energy meter can involve, in a first phase: gathering magnetic field sample data, an average magnetic field strength, a minimum magnetic field strength, and a maximum magnetic field strength from a magnetic field condition applied to an energy meter by a magnetic sensor that measures a magnetic field in one or more directions, and using learning coefficients calculated from the magnetic field sample data and the average magnetic field strength, the minimum magnetic field strength, and the maximum magnetic field strength to classify with a classifier, magnet tampering conditions with respect to the energy meter. In a second phase, a magnet tamper event can be identified with respect to the energy meter when the magnet tampering condition classified by the classifier is greater than a magnetic detection threshold.
Switch-mode power supply control circuit and method for tampering detection in a power meter
One or more embodiments relate to a switch-mode power supply control circuit that can be used to provide power to regular single phase or three phase energy meter, while also offering a simple low cost method to detect a magnetic tampering event that usually occurs on energy meter. In one example, the switch-mode power supply for the energy meter is a flyback type switch mode power supply comprising a power switch, a switching controller, and a slew rate based magnetic field detection circuit which is configured to enable a magnetic tampering detection signal that can be communicated to the switching controller. Upon detection of a magnetic tampering event, the power supply and the supporting circuitry can raise the switching frequency of the power switch in order to provide more power to the output or cutoff power to the consumer's power outlet and even report the tampering event to the power station.