Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080234957 | Intelligent Electronic Device and Method Thereof - An intelligent electronic device (IED) having a gain control unit adapted to selectively regulate operating ranges of output signals of a sensing circuit of the device is described. In one embodiment, the IED is a digital electric power and energy meter, which operating ranges for supply voltages and supply currents of electrical services may be adjusted to match pre-determined ranges for input signals of a data acquisition system or a data processing module of the meter. | 09-25-2008 |
20080238713 | Electronic meter having user-interface and central processing functionality on a single printed circuit board - A digital electrical power and energy meter integrates a primary processing module and a user interface module onto a single printed circuit board to reduce overall meter size, assembly time, and cost. | 10-02-2008 |
20090154071 | CURRENT INPUTS INTERFACE FOR AN ELECTRICAL DEVICE - According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an electrical power meter, is disclosed. The electrical power meter includes a housing for containing electrical circuitry therein, the housing including at least one of voltage and current inputs, the housing including passages extending entirely therethrough, wherein the passages are configured to receive a CT lead therethrough, and wherein the CT leads are not electrically connected to the electrical circuitry therein; and a face plate operatively supported on a surface of the housing, wherein the face plate includes at least one of displays, indicators and buttons. It is envisioned that the through passages are located along a side of the housing. | 06-18-2009 |
20090212764 | TEST PULSES FOR ENABLING REVENUE TESTABLE PANEL METERS - A panel meter including an energy test pulse device that enables the panel meter to be used for revenue applications and eliminates the need for two separate meters, one for panel indication, and the other for energy and revenue applications. The electrical panel meter including at least one sensor configured for measuring an electrical parameter; at least one analog-to-digital converter coupled to the at least one sensor for converting the measured electrical parameter to a digital signal; a display for continuously displaying at least one electrical parameter; a processor configured to receive the digital signal and calculate an amount of energy consumed; and a test pulse circuit configured to receive the calculated amount and generate a plurality of pulses equal to the calculated amount, wherein each of the plurality of pulses is equal to a predetermined amount of energy. | 08-27-2009 |
20090265124 | Intelligent Electronic Device for Providing Broadband Internet Access - An intelligent electronic device for monitoring and determining an amount of electrical power usage by a consumer, or end user, and for providing broadband Internet access to the consumer. The intelligent electronic device includes at least one sensor coupled to an electric circuit configured for measuring at least one power parameter of the electrical circuit and generating at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one power parameter; at least one digital to analog converter 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; a processor configured for receiving the at least one digital signal and calculating energy consumption in the electrical circuit; and a gateway configured for receiving data transmissions imposed on the electrical circuit and for demodulating the imposed data transmission for providing data communications. | 10-22-2009 |
20100046545 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUS COMMUNICATION ON MODBUS AND DNP 3.0 OVER ETHERNET FOR ELECTRONIC POWER METER - A system and method is provided for simultaneous communications on Modbus and DNP 3.0 over Ethernet for an electronic power meter. The system incorporates one or more protocol wrappers to provide compatibility with both Modbus and DNP based applications. The system removes the appropriate wrappers and routes the incoming data packet to its destination. Additionally, the system also wraps outgoing response packets with the appropriate protocol wrapper based on the related data packet wrappers. | 02-25-2010 |
20100057387 | CURRENT INPUTS INTERFACE FOR AN ELECTRICAL DEVICE - According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an electrical power meter, is disclosed. The electrical power meter includes a housing for containing electrical circuitry therein, the housing including at least one of voltage and current inputs, the housing including passages extending entirely therethrough, wherein the passages are configured to receive a CT lead therethrough, and wherein the CT leads are not electrically connected to the electrical circuitry therein; and a face plate operatively supported on a surface of the housing, wherein the face plate includes at least one of displays, indicators and buttons. It is envisioned that the through passages are located along a side of the housing. | 03-04-2010 |
20100076616 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE CAPABLE OF OPERATING AS A USB MASTER DEVICE AND A USB SLAVE DEVICE - An intelligent electronic device (IED), e.g., an electrical power meter, having at least one removable memory device for storing data sensed and generated by the intelligent electronic device is provided. The IED includes a housing; at least one sensor; at least one analog-to-digital converter; at least one processing unit coupled to the at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to receive the digital data and store the digital data in a removable memory; and at least one device controller coupled to the at least one processing unit, the at least one device controller including an interface disposed on the housing for interfacing with the removable memory, wherein the at least one device controller is operative as a USB master or USB slave device controller. | 03-25-2010 |
20100138001 | SYSTEM AND METHOD UTILIZING VIRTUAL SWITCHING FOR UPGRADING MULTIFUNCTION DEVICES - A system and method utilizing virtual switching in an electrical panel meter or multifunction device is provided. The virtual switching enables the meter or multifunction device to be upgraded or downgraded through a switching signal, by activating or deactivating multiple operative functions that are to be performed in the meter or multifunction device, such as operative functions for substation automation. Accordingly, when the upgrade or downgrade is necessary, the meter or multifunction device does not have to be replaced. | 06-03-2010 |
20100179777 | TEST PULSES FOR ENABLING REVENUE TESTABLE PANEL METERS - A panel meter including an energy test pulse device that enables the panel meter to be used for revenue applications and eliminates the need for two separate meters, one for panel indication, and the other for energy and revenue applications. The electrical panel meter including at least one sensor configured for measuring an electrical parameter; at least one analog-to-digital converter coupled to the at least one sensor for converting the measured electrical parameter to a digital signal; a display for continuously displaying at least one electrical parameter; a processor configured to receive the digital signal and calculate an amount of energy consumed; and a test pulse circuit configured to receive the calculated amount and generate a plurality of pulses equal to the calculated amount, wherein each of the plurality of pulses is equal to a predetermined amount of energy. | 07-15-2010 |
20100324845 | Intelligent electronic device with enhanced power quality monitoring and communication capabilities - An intelligent electronic device (IED) has enhanced power quality and communications capabilities. The power meter can perform energy analysis by waveform capture, detect transient on the front end voltage input channels and provide revenue measurements. The power meter splits and distributes the front end input channels into separate circuits for scaling and processing by dedicated processors for specific applications by the power meter. Front end voltage input channels are split and distributed into separate circuits for transient detection, waveform capture analysis and revenue measurement, respectively. Front end current channels are split and distributed into separate circuits for waveform capture analysis and revenue measurement, respectively. | 12-23-2010 |
20110035338 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING USER-AUTHENTICATING CAPABILITIES - An intelligent electronic device (IED) includes a user authentication module configured for authenticating authorized users of the IED and preventing an access by non-authorized personnel to a user-selectable portion of operational features of the IED. In exemplary embodiments, the user authentication module includes a database of information authenticating an authorized user and a sensor acquiring user-identifying information (e.g., a biometric sensor, a reader of magnetic, holographic, RFID, or smart ID cards, or a keypad). In one application, these techniques are implemented in IEDs such as electrical power and energy meters and used to control access to reset, configuration, billing, communication, and data acquisition/processing functions of the meters. | 02-10-2011 |
20110231121 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING UNIVERSAL ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONALITY FOR POWER METERS - A system and method for providing an additional option function to existing functionality of a meter device configured for measuring parameters of energy is provided. The meter device is coupled with an option device for exchanging data between the meter and the option devices along at least one data path, including exchanging initialization data provided by the option device between the meter device and the option device, wherein the initialization data is useable by the meter device for configuring the meter device to be in condition to operate with the option device. The data exchanged between the meter device and the option devices are processed by at least one processor. Upon the coupling of the devices and the exchanging of the initialization data, the meter device is operated with the option device for adding the option function to existing functionality of the meter device. | 09-22-2011 |
20110270551 | METERING DEVICE WITH CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY AND METHOD THEREOF - A metering device of a power substation and method are provided for operating on a secondary analog waveform output by a transformer assembly receiving a primary waveform. The method includes stepping down the secondary waveform and generating a corresponding output signal; operating on the corresponding output signal for generating a corresponding first digital signal having a value proportional to the corresponding output signal and within a first range; and operating on the corresponding output signal for generating a corresponding second digital signal having a value proportional to the corresponding output signal and within a second range. The method further includes processing the first digital signal and outputting a corresponding first output signal; processing the second digital signal and outputting a corresponding second output signal; processing the first and second output signals; and generating output corresponding to the processing of the first and second output signals. | 11-03-2011 |
20110299418 | ON-LINE WEB ACCESSED ENERGY METER - An electrical metering system capable of performing multiple metering functions, collecting data, and wirelessly provides the collected metering data to a utility operator. In the electrical metering system, at least one computing device for initiating a request for data. A first modem connects the computing device to an infrastructure. A wireless embedded modem for wirelessly connects an electric meter to an infrastructure, and the wireless electric modem receives a request from the computing device and wirelessly transmits the metering data to the computing device, thereby initiating the request. | 12-08-2011 |
20120010831 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING A PROGRAMMABLE DISPLAY - An intelligent electronic device (IED) having a programmable display is provided. The present disclosure provides for defining screens of a display on a revenue based energy meter. The method utilizes Modbus registers and defines a programming technique wherein a user can custom make any desired screen for every application based on what a user needs. The programming utilizes Modbus registers maps to allow for the customizable screens. Moreover, the display interface allows for customized labeling to provide notice and information to users as to measured parameters other than electricity that the meter might be accumulating such as steam, water, gas or other type of commodity. | 01-12-2012 |
20120026006 | METER HAVING A COMMUNICATION INTERFACE FOR RECEIVING AND INTERFACING WITH A COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A meter is provided having a communication interface for receiving and interfacing with a communication device for transmitting measurement and other data to a central computer station via the communication device. The meter includes a measurement module for obtaining measurement data and a processor having a memory for storing application software for communicating the measurement and other data to the communication interface. The data are then provided to the communication device via the communication interface. The communication device is preferably a plug-and-play PCMCIA-type card or other type of memory card having a processor and a connection port for connecting to a port adaptor of the communication interface for receiving the data via the connection port-port adaptor connection. The communication device further includes communication circuitry for communicating the received data to the central computer station via one or more communications networks according to a communications protocol pre-programmed within the processor. | 02-02-2012 |
20120029850 | Intelligent Electronic Device for Providing Broadband Internet Access - An intelligent electronic device for monitoring and determining an amount of electrical power usage by a consumer, or end user, and for providing broadband Internet access to the consumer. The intelligent electronic device includes at least one sensor coupled to an electric circuit configured for measuring at least one power parameter of the electrical circuit and generating at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one power parameter; at least one digital to analog converter 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; a processor configured for receiving the at least one digital signal and calculating energy consumption in the electrical circuit; and a gateway configured for receiving data transmissions imposed on the electrical circuit and for demodulating the imposed data transmission for providing data communications. | 02-02-2012 |
20120078555 | Intelligent Electronic Device and Method Thereof - An intelligent electronic device (IED) having a gain control unit adapted to selectively regulate operating ranges of output signals of a sensing circuit of the device is described. In one embodiment, the IED is a digital electric power and energy meter, which operating ranges for supply voltages and supply currents of electrical services may be adjusted to match pre-determined ranges for input signals of a data acquisition system or a data processing module of the meter. | 03-29-2012 |
20120187770 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZING MULTIPLE GENERATORS WITH AN ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - Systems and method for synchronizing power generators with a power grid are provided. One system among various implementations includes a plurality of synchronization modules, wherein each synchronization module corresponds to one power generator. The synchronization modules are configured to output a control signal to adjust a frequency of the respective power generator to correspond with the frequency of the existing power grid. The system also includes a central controller in communication with the plurality of synchronization modules. The central controller is configured to determine a propagation delay with respect to each synchronization module. The propagation delay is a measure of time for a signal to propagate from the respective synchronization module to the central controller. The central controller is further configured to send a control signal to each synchronization module to control when each synchronization module connects the respective power generator to the existing power grid. | 07-26-2012 |
20120209552 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENHANCED POWER QUALITY MONITORING AND COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES - An intelligent electronic device (IED) has enhanced power quality and communications capabilities. The power meter can perform energy analysis by waveform capture, detect transient on the front end voltage input channels and provide revenue measurements. The power meter splits and distributes the front end input channels into separate circuits for scaling and processing by dedicated processors for specific applications by the power meter. Front end voltage input channels are split and distributed into separate circuits for transient detection, waveform capture analysis and revenue measurement, respectively. Front end current channels are split and distributed into separate circuits for waveform capture analysis and revenue measurement, respectively. | 08-16-2012 |
20120224575 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUS COMMUNICATION ON MODBUS AND DNP 3.0 OVER ETHERNET FOR ELECTRONIC POWER METER - A system and method is provided for simultaneous communications on Modbus and DNP 3.0 over Ethernet for an electronic power meter. The system incorporates one or more protocol wrappers to provide compatibility with both Modbus and DNP based applications. The system removes the appropriate wrappers and routes the incoming data packet to its destination. Additionally, the system also wraps outgoing response packets with the appropriate protocol wrapper based on the related data packet wrappers. | 09-06-2012 |
20120226454 | POWER METER HAVING MULTIPLE ETHERNET PORTS - A power meter or other electrical device is provided having two independent and communicatively isolated Ethernet ports. The first Ethernet port is addressable by a first unique identifier and is configured for enabling full access to the power meter via an internal LAN. This enables a LAN operator to remotely access the power meter via the internal LAN for performing metering functions, such as full telemetry, control and programming. The second Ethernet port is addressable by a second unique identifier and is configured for being connected to the Internet. Since the second Ethernet port is communicatively isolated from the first Ethernet port, a user can access the power meter via the Internet, but cannot access the internal LAN by connecting to the power meter via the Internet. | 09-06-2012 |
20130031201 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS FOR NETWORK TOPOLOGIES - Systems and methods for communicating data from an IED on an internal network to a server, a client or device on an external network through a firewall are provided. | 01-31-2013 |
20130158918 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENHANCED POWER QUALITY MONITORING AND COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY - An intelligent electronic device IED has enhanced power quality and communications capabilities. The IED can perform energy analysis by waveform capture, detect transient on the front-end voltage input channels and provide revenue measurements. The IED splits and distributes the front-end input channels into separate circuits for scaling and processing by dedicated processors for specific applications by the IED. Front-end voltage input channels are split and distributed into separate circuits for transient detection, waveform capture analysis and revenue measurement, respectively. Front-end current channels are split and distributed into separate circuits for waveform capture analysis and revenue measurement, respectively. | 06-20-2013 |
20130198245 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COLLECTING, ANALYZING, BILLING, AND REPORTING DATA FROM INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICES - Systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, billing and reporting data from intelligent electronic devices are provided. Also, systems and methods for managing sensor data are provided. In some embodiments, a system for managing sensor data may include intelligent electronic devices, a server, a plurality of client devices, and a network. Each of the intelligent electronic devices is configured to obtain sensor data related to power parameters distributed to a load. The server is configured to receive the sensor data from the plurality of intelligent electronic devices and store the sensor data in a database. Each client device is configured to retrieve the sensor data from the database. The network enables communication among the server, the plurality of intelligent electronic devices, and the plurality of client devices. | 08-01-2013 |
20130204450 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COLLECTING, ANALYZING, BILLING, AND REPORTING DATA FROM INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICES - Systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, billing and reporting data from intelligent electronic devices are provided. The intelligent electronic devices include at least one sensor configured to measure at least one parameter of an electrical distribution system and output a signal indicative of the measured at least one parameter; at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to receive the output signals and convert the output signal to a digital signal; and at least one processing device configured to execute a plurality on instructions to implement a general purpose operating system for executing at least two applications, each application configured to implement a predetermined functionality based on the at least one parameter of the electrical distribution system, wherein each of the applications is independent of the other application. In one aspect, the intelligent electronic devices include a network discovery module configured to detect communication settings of a network. | 08-08-2013 |
20130205022 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING METER INFORMATION IN A NETWORK OF INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICES - Systems and methods are provided for managing software scripts. One system comprises one or more meters, each configured to measure parameters of a commodity. The system also comprises a server and a plurality of client devices. The server is in communication with the one or more meters by way of a communication network and is configured to receive and store the measured parameters from the one or more meters. The client devices communicate with the server via the communication network. Also, the system includes a base device in communication with the client devices. The base device is configured to store one or more functional chains, each of the one or more functional chains comprising software code defining a plurality of functional actions to be performed in a specific sequence. The base device comprises an interface that allows the plurality of client devices to reference the functional chain. | 08-08-2013 |
20130297840 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE CAPABLE OF OPERATING AS A USB MASTER DEVICE AND A USB SLAVE DEVICE - An intelligent electronic device (IED), e.g., an electrical power meter, having at least one removable memory device for storing data sensed and generated by the intelligent electronic device is provided. The IED includes a housing; at least one sensor; at least one analog-to-digital converter; at least one processing unit coupled to the at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to receive the digital data and store the digital data in a removable memory; and at least one device controller coupled to the at least one processing unit, the at least one device controller including an interface disposed on the housing for interfacing with the removable memory, wherein the at least one device controller is operative as a USB master or USB slave device controller. | 11-07-2013 |
20130314246 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING AUDIBLE AND VISUAL INTERFACE - An intelligent electronic device having an audible and visual interface for providing audible and visual instructions to a user in an event of an alarm or trouble indication in the electrical power system. The intelligent electronic device includes at least one sensor configured for measuring at least one power parameter of an electrical circuit and generating at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one power parameter; at least one analog to digital converter for receiving the at least one analog signal and converting the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal; a processor configured for receiving the at least one digital signal and detecting at least one event occurring in the electrical circuit; and an interface configured for providing instructions associated to the at least one detected event. The instructions may be in the form of text, audio and/or video. | 11-28-2013 |
20130329768 | BLUETOOTH-ENABLED INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An intelligent electronic device (IED), e.g., an electrical power meter, having wireless communication capabilities, e.g., Bluetooth connectivity, for transmitting and receiving data without a hardwire connection is provided. A system and method for retrieving revenue metering data from at least one IED, e.g., a revenue meter, are also provided. The system includes at least one intelligent electronic device including a transceiver configured for receiving calculated energy consumption data from a processor and transmitting the calculated energy consumption data via a spread-spectrum frequency hopping technique; and a data collection device configured for receiving the calculated energy consumption data from the at least one intelligent electronic device in response to supplying a pairing passkey to the intelligent electronic device. | 12-12-2013 |
20140085103 | ON-LINE WEB ACCESSED ENERGY METER - An electrical metering system capable of performing multiple metering functions, collecting data, and wirelessly provides the collected metering data to a utility operator. In the electrical metering system, at least one computing device for initiating a request for data. A first modem connects the computing device to an infrastructure. A wireless embedded modem for wirelessly connects an electric meter to an infrastructure, and the wireless electric modem receives a request from the computing device and wirelessly transmits the metering data to the computing device, thereby initiating the request. | 03-27-2014 |
20140100801 | Intelligent Electronic Device and Method Thereof - An intelligent electronic device (IED) having a gain control unit adapted to selectively regulate operating ranges of output signals of a sensing circuit of the device is described. In one embodiment, the IED is a digital electric power and energy meter, which operating ranges for supply voltages and supply currents of electrical services may be adjusted to match pre-determined ranges for input signals of a data acquisition system or a data processing module of the meter. | 04-10-2014 |
20140180613 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING A TOUCH SENSITIVE USER INTERFACE - 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. | 06-26-2014 |
20140181924 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING USER-AUTHENTICATING CAPABILITIES - An intelligent electronic device (IED) includes a user authentication module configured for authenticating authorized users of the IED and preventing an access by non-authorized personnel to a user-selectable portion of operational features of the IED. In exemplary embodiments, the user authentication module includes a database of information authenticating an authorized user and a sensor acquiring user-identifying information (e.g., a biometric sensor, a reader of magnetic, holographic, RFID, or smart ID cards, or a keypad). In one application, these techniques are implemented in IEDs such as electrical power and energy meters and used to control access to reset, configuration, billing, communication, and data acquisition/processing functions of the meters. | 06-26-2014 |
20140222357 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENHANCED POWER QUALITY MONITORING AND COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY - An intelligent electronic device IED has enhanced power quality and communications capabilities. The IED can perform energy analysis by waveform capture, detect transient on the front-end voltage input channels and provide revenue measurements. The IED splits and distributes the front-end input channels into separate circuits for scaling and processing by dedicated processors for specific applications by the IED. Front-end voltage input channels are split and distributed into separate circuits for transient detection, waveform capture analysis and revenue measurement, respectively. Front-end current channels are split and distributed into separate circuits for waveform capture analysis and revenue measurement, respectively. | 08-07-2014 |
20150019148 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ENHANCED POWER QUALITY MONITORING AND COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES - An intelligent electronic device (IED) has enhanced power quality and communications capabilities. The power meter can perform energy analysis by waveform capture, detect transient on the front end voltage input channels and provide revenue measurements. The power meter splits and distributes the front end input channels into separate circuits for scaling and processing by dedicated processors for specific applications by the power meter. Front end voltage input channels are split and distributed into separate circuits for transient detection, waveform capture analysis and revenue measurement, respectively. Front end current channels are split and distributed into separate circuits for waveform capture analysis and revenue measurement, respectively. | 01-15-2015 |
20150070507 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING IMAGE CAPTURE CAPABILITIES - An intelligent electronic device (IED) includes an image capture module configured for capturing images or video in a location of the IED. The IED may also include a heat sensor for sensing heat inside or outside a housing of the IED. In one application, these techniques are implemented in IEDs such as electrical power and energy meters and used to control access to reset, configuration, billing, communication, and data acquisition/processing functions of the meters. Additionally, image processing techniques are employed by the IED to detect events in an electrical distribution system and implement control functions thereof. | 03-12-2015 |