Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
324110000 | Meter protection or fraud combatting | 24 |
20080258708 | Control Meter with Safety Deactivation - Control meter for controlling the supply of services, in particular the supply of electric energy, having a support base, anchored with which is a main power supply line, and a metering group detachable from the support base and with a measurement apparatus interposed between the main power supply line and a subscriber line. A safety anchorage is provided for preventing fraudulent manipulations at the control meter and comprises mechanical means associated with the metering group and movable into a locking position for engagement with the support base when the metering group is mounted on the support base, and an interrupter for generating an activation signal upon activation by the mechanical means, wherein the mechanical means is arranged to activate the interrupter when the mechanical means is released from the locking position for detaching the metering group from the support base. The invention allows to positively obstruct acts of fraud and thus to provide a control meter which is able to permit the remote-control of the “open/closed” state in situations of fraud or rather attempted fraud and is capable of unequivocally proving the occurrence of fraud or attempted fraud. | 10-23-2008 |
20080258709 | System and method for detecting the presence of an unsafe line condition in a disconnected power meter - A method of detecting the presence of an unsafe line condition at a power metering device is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining if a disconnect switch is in the open position, and measuring a first voltage at a first load contact. The method measures a second voltage at a second load contact and determines if the first voltage is greater than a first voltage threshold or less than a second voltage threshold. The method further determines if the second voltage is greater than the first voltage threshold or less than the second voltage threshold. The method indicates that an unsafe condition exists if either the first voltage is greater than the first voltage threshold, or first voltage is less than the second voltage threshold or the second voltage is greater than the first voltage threshold or the second voltage is less than the second voltage threshold, when the disconnect switch is in the open position. | 10-23-2008 |
20090146641 | ELECTRONIC TAMPER DETECTION CIRCUIT FOR AN ELECTRICITY METER - An electronic meter tamper detection system and method for sensing the removal of an electricity meter from a meter socket and generating a tamper signal when such removal is detected. The tamper detection circuit includes a control unit having an energy storage device that is charged during normal operation of the electricity meter. When power is interrupted to the electricity meter, the control unit applies a charging voltage to a voltage regulating device within the electricity meter. The voltage regulating device can be charged only when the electricity meter is installed within the meter socket. After applying the charging voltage to the voltage regulating device, the control unit senses whether the voltage regulating device has been charged. If the voltage regulating device has not been charged, the control unit indicates that the meter has been removed from the meter socket. | 06-11-2009 |
20090261812 | Current Sensing Assembly - An electrical current sensing assembly comprises: a conductive input substrate with a generally planar contact surface; a conductive output substrate with a generally planar contact surface proximate and substantially parallel to the input substrate contact surface; a conductive current sense path extending from the input substrate contact surface to the output substrate contact surface with a sense path cross sectional area generally normal to electrical current flow; a conductive current bypass path extending from the input substrate contact surface to the output substrate contact surface with a bypass path cross sectional area generally normal to electrical current flow; and an electrical current sensing device proximate the current sense path for sensing electrical current passing through the current sense path; wherein the ratio of the current passing through the bypass path to the current passing through the sense path is proportional to the ratio of the bypass path cross sectional area to the sensing path cross sectional area to limit current in the sensing path to the measurement range of the current sensing device. | 10-22-2009 |
20090315535 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING ELECTRICITY THEFT - A method for detecting electricity theft in an electricity meter is provided. The method includes determining a first power outage at the meter and determining whether load energy is flowing through the meter after power has been restored to the meter after the first power outage. The method also includes determining a second power outage at the meter, wherein the second power outage occurs after the first power outage, and determining whether load energy is flowing through the meter after power has been restored to the meter after the second power outage. The method also includes outputting an indication of a potential electricity theft based on the determinations of whether no load energy was flowing through the meter after the first power outage and whether load energy was flowing through the meter after the second power outage. | 12-24-2009 |
20100090680 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING A TERMINAL ASSEMBLY FOR COUPLING TO A METER MOUNTING SOCKET - An intelligent electronic device having a terminal assembly for coupling the IED, e.g., a revenue meter, to a meter mounting socket. The assembly includes a housing including a generally planar, rigid base, the base including at least one opening and at least one circuit board having at least one electrically conducting terminal surface mounted thereon, the at least one electrically conducting terminal extending through the at least one opening of the base to mate with at least one matching jaw of a detachable meter mounting device coupled to the electrical circuit. | 04-15-2010 |
20120062210 | Process for Detecting Energy Theft - The present invention relates generally to detecting energy theft within an energy distribution system and more particularly to systems and methods for detecting energy discrepancies in voltages and/or currents reported by electric meters present in a distribution circuit, without requiring installation of additional hardware at the transformer. Typically, the location of each of at least two meters is determined with respect to a transformer. The line resistances within the distribution circuit are determined starting with a line resistance farthest from the transformer. Estimated line voltages are determined for at least one electric meter using the estimated line resistances, and the estimated voltages are compared to actual voltage readings for the at least one electric meter. The existence of line loss is determined based on this comparison. | 03-15-2012 |
20120074927 | Electronic Tamper Detection in a Utility Meter Using Magnetics - An arrangement for use in a utility meter includes a switch, a processing circuit, and a magnetic element. The switch is supported on a first meter structure. The switch has at least a first and second state. The switch is configured to transition from a first state to a second state responsive to a detected magnetic field of a first polarity, and to transition from a second state to a first state responsive to a detected magnetic field of a second polarity. The processing circuit is operably coupled to determine whether the switch is in the first state or the second state. The magnetic element is supported on a second meter structure configured to be physically connected to the first meter structure, the magnetic element positioned such that removal of the second meter structure from the first meter structure causes the magnetic element to expose the switch to a magnetic field of the first polarity. | 03-29-2012 |
20120126787 | MAGNETIC SHIELD FOR CURRENT TRANSFORMER IN ELECTRONIC WATT-HOUR METER - An electronic watt-hour meter; a current transformer operatively coupled to the electronic watt-hour meter; a first shield on a first side of the current transformer; and a second shield on a second side of the current transformer, wherein the second side is substantially parallel to the first side, wherein the first shield and the second shield each include a substantially magnetically permeable and conductive metal. | 05-24-2012 |
20120126788 | ENERGY METER - The energy meter for measuring the amount of electrical energy consumed includes an electrical display ( | 05-24-2012 |
20130076340 | REED SWITCH CHAIN TO DETECT METER TAMPERING - Aspects of the invention provide for detecting tampering with an electronic utility meter. In one embodiment, aspects of the invention include an electronic utility meter, comprising a metering circuit enclosed within a cover; a switch chain including at least one reed switch operatively coupled to the metering circuit, and positioned around an inner circumference of the cover; and a sensor enclosed within the cover, coupled to the switch chain, the sensor sensing the at least one three reed switch closing in response to a user interaction with the electronic utility meter. | 03-28-2013 |
20130119974 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TAMPER DETECTION IN A UTILITY METER - Systems and methods for detecting the removal of a meter cover are provided. For example, a tamper-detect energy meter may include metering circuitry, a processor, a tamper detect switch, and a cover with a switch interface surface. The tamper detect switch may be triggered from an open circuit state to a closed circuit state as the switch interface surface of the cover contacts the tamper detect switch during removal. | 05-16-2013 |
20130169266 | METER DISCONNECT RELAY - In one aspect, a modular meter disconnect relay is described. One embodiment of the relay is comprised of a base; a solenoid situated within the base, wherein the base maintains a portion of the solenoid stationary and allows a plunger of the solenoid to move within the base; a shuttle, wherein the shuttle is operably connected to and moved by the plunger of the solenoid and wherein the shuttle can be moved within the base; and, one or more disconnect switches that are opened or closed by movement of the shuttle, wherein the solenoid comprises a solenoid body, a spring and a magnet, wherein the spring is used to provide additional force to the plunger when moving out of the solenoid body and the magnet is used to latch the plunger when the plunger is forced to within close proximity of the magnet within the solenoid body. | 07-04-2013 |
20130241532 | Power Management Arrangement and Method in a Utility Meter - A method of controllably disconnecting a utility power service from a load includes generating in a metrology circuit of a meter metering information regarding electrical power provided to the load from the utility power service. The meter includes a service switch having a controller to controllably interrupt a connection between the utility power service and the load. The method also includes connecting an energy storage device to the controller responsive to a service disconnect command. The method further includes connecting at least a portion of the metrology circuit to the energy storage device and disconnecting a meter power supply from the portion of the metrology circuit responsive to a power interruption detection signal. | 09-19-2013 |
20130314074 | MEASUREMENT DEVICE - To provide a measurement device which allows long-term accurate measurement of voltage without adversely affecting a device under test, by ensuring a predetermined level of resistance to ESD and reducing leakage current. A measurement device includes a probe needle for contacting a device under test, a first FET for detecting voltage of the device under test, and a protection circuit for protecting the first FET from static electricity. The protection circuit includes a second FET having an oxide semiconductor film as a channel formation region. | 11-28-2013 |
20130328545 | END CAP FOR TEST SWITCH IN WATT HOUR METER HOUSING - An end barrier that may be retroactively attached to a test switch is shown. End barrier includes extending caps to cover screws which are used to fasten the test switch to a utility box. | 12-12-2013 |
20140125316 | MECHANICAL SWITCH ACTIVITY DETECTION ON POWER OUTAGE - 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. | 05-08-2014 |
20140218010 | METER COLLAR FOR PLUG-IN CONNECTION OF DISTRIBUTED POWER GENERATION - An electric power meter collar with external electrical connection points enables expedited connection of distributed energy resources to the customer premises or the electric power grid. The meter collar is installed between an electric meter and the meter socket box that the meter would otherwise plug into at the site of a customer who receives two-phase service from an electrical utility company, and has electrical connection points that are electrically upstream and downstream of the meter. It enables “plug and play” connection of on-site power generation resources since the collar includes both a receptacle for a “plug” from on site power generation and overcurrent protection. | 08-07-2014 |
20150355237 | Measuring System for Continuously Monitoring a High-Voltage Bushing - A measuring system for continuously monitoring a high-voltage bushing provides for multi-stage, secure protection. The system includes a measuring circuit, a connection plug, a connection cable, and a three-stage protective circuit. When overvoltages occur at the measurement connection, each protective stage can produce a short circuit at the measurement connection to limit the voltage. A first protective stage responds at a response voltage U | 12-10-2015 |
20150377927 | Cover Removal Switch Having Lever-Arm - A meter cover removal detection arrangement includes a switch element, a pivoting lever arm, a meter cover and a plunger. The switch element has first and second positions, and conducts electricity between first and second contacts in only one of the first position and the second position. The pivoting lever arm has two arm positions, and is operably coupled to cause the switch element to be in the second position when the lever arm is in a second arm position. The lever arm engages a spring that biases the level arm toward the second arm position. The meter cover has an inward extending cam. The plunger has first and second plunger positions, and is operably coupled to hold the pivoting lever arm in the first arm position when the plunger is in the first plunger position. The cam engages the plunger to hold the plunger in the first plunger position when the meter cover is installed on a meter base. The cam is disengaged from the plunger when the meter cover is removed. | 12-31-2015 |
20160084884 | Service Switch With High Current Arc Protection - An arrangement for use in a utility meter includes an actuator element configured for linear movement. The actuator is operably coupled to receiving moving power from a prime mover, and includes a plurality of receptacles for corresponding contact arms of a switch within an electricity meter. Each receptacle is defined by an outer bar, an inner bar, and opposing stiffening elements. The outer bar is configured to engage a first surface of a contact arm element when the switch is in a first position, and the inner bar configured to engage a second surface of the contact arm element when the switch is in a second position. | 03-24-2016 |
20160161539 | ELECTRICITY THEFT DETECTION SYSTEM - A method, system, and apparatus for detecting electricity theft are disclosed. Electricity theft is the practice of stealing electrical power from a provider. Violators are not charged for the total number of kilowatt-hours actually used, causing lost revenue for both utility companies and retail electricity providers. The method, system, and apparatus may comprise providing power to a plurality of end user destinations from one power source, selecting one destination for testing, and switching off all of the end user destinations except for the selected destination. The method, system, and apparatus may further comprise sensing the current from the power source, sensing the current returning from the selected destination, and determining the difference. The presence of electricity theft can be determined if the current entering the system is not the same as the current returning from the system. | 06-09-2016 |
20220137109 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING AND REPORTING TAMPERING OF AN ENERGY METER - This disclosure relates to a method and apparatuses for detecting and reporting suspected tampering of an energy meter to a utility. The method and apparatus uses a plurality of sensors to obtain data relating to one or more input parameters based on the type of input signal. The input parameters are mapped with a tamper type to provide a classification of one or more output parameters. The output parameters are compared to one or more operating conditions of the energy meter to identify one or more suspected tampers. Any suspected tampers are reported to the utility. | 05-05-2022 |
20220141431 | CONTROL DEVICE, MULTI-PROJECTION SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD OF CONTROL DEVICE - A control device configured to communicate with a first projector which projects a first image in a first projection area, and a second projector which projects a second image in a second projection area having a first overlap area overlapping the first projection area to make the first projector and the second projector perform an edge blending process includes a reception section for receiving input of designation information including a direction in which an overlap width, a generation section for generating first overlap information including information representing first side in the first overlap area and information representing the overlap width of the first overlap area, and second overlap information including information representing second side in the first overlap area and the information, and a transmission section for transmitting the first overlap information to the first projector, and the second overlap information to the second projector. | 05-05-2022 |