Elster Solutions, LLC Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140327449 | ELECTRICITY METER HOT SOCKET DETECTION - When a poor meter to socket connection occurs, there is the potential for arcing to develop which can result in a hot socket and a fire. Disclosed herein are methods for a meter to detect the occurrence of an arc condition in the socket by analyzing the RF noise on the channels of the communication spectrum used by the meter to communicate within its metering system. For example, by keeping a record of the normal background noise and looking for a broadband increase in the noise on all channels, arc detection can be achieved. Meter quantities such as temperature, current, voltage, and harmonic content may also be used in a standalone manner or in combination with broadband RF noise to detect an arc condition. A disconnect switch within the meter can be opened to remove the arc fault. | 11-06-2014 |
20140269272 | WIRELESS NETWORK COMMUNICATION NODES WITH OPT OUT CAPABILITY - Techniques are disclosed herein for providing wireless network communication nodes with opt-out capabilities. Such capabilities may, for example, allow particular customers to opt out of a typical full-scale communication mode such that their associated equipment operates at least temporarily in a limited communication mode. The limited communication mode may limit customer exposure to emissions resulting from RF communications near their homes or other areas, which may be attractive to customers such as those with health or other emission-related concerns. | 09-18-2014 |
20140184424 | TECHNIQUES FOR CLOCK RECOVERY FOLLOWING A POWER OUTAGE - Clock reference data may be recovered or updated in networks that include line-powered devices and other devices susceptible to power outages. For example, for a mobile information collection network, one or more devices with extended clock holdover may be strategically deployed throughout the mobile information collection network to provide reference clock data. As another example, battery-powered devices may be woken up in order to provide clock reference data to other devices. Alternatively or additionally, the battery-powered devices may be configured to periodically broadcast their clock reference data to other devices. | 07-03-2014 |
20140167735 | IDENTIFYING PHASE CONNECTIONS IN AN ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - Electrical power may be delivered to nodes in a network with a phase that is selected from a plurality of phases. According to various embodiments, the phase with which electrical power may be delivered to a particular node may be determined by varying, or identifying a variation in, the voltage of the electrical power that is delivered to a subset of nodes that is associated with a known phase. A variation in a voltage of the electrical power that is received by the particular node may also be identified. The phase with which the particular node is associated may be determined by correlating the identified voltage variation in the electrical power delivered to the subset of nodes that is associated with the known phase with the identified voltage variation in the electrical power received by the particular node. | 06-19-2014 |
20140161114 | PHASE DETECTION IN MESH NETWORK SMART GRID SYSTEM - A method, wireless network, and device are disclosed for determining the phase with which a device on an electrical distribution network is associated. At least one device on the electrical distribution network may be associated with a known phase out of multiple possible phases. This device may store the phase information in its memory. A control node may initiate a phase scan process to determine the relative phase of other devices with respect to the phase of the control node, including the device that has the known phase association. When the phase scan process encounters the device that has the known phase association, the control node may recognize the known phase and calculate the phase associations of the other devices in the electrical distribution network using delay information stored in the other devices. | 06-12-2014 |
20140141711 | USE OF A MOBILE DATA COLLECTION DEVICE - A mobile interrogator can be used in a system for hybrid employment of fixed network and mobile network communications. The system includes communication nodes. At least some of the communication nodes operate in a fixed network mode using one or more fixed wireless network communication protocols. At least some other of the communication nodes operate in a mobile mode in which they transmit meter data to a mobile device using one or more mobile communication protocols. The mobile device is configured to communicate with the mobile mode communication nodes using the one or more mobile communication protocols and to communicate with the fixed network mode communication nodes using the one or more fixed wireless network communication protocols. As a result, the performance of both fixed and mobile networks can be improved. A hybrid system can be realized that provides a utility company with advantages of both fixed and mobile networks. | 05-22-2014 |
20130278245 | Motorized Electrical Switch Mechanism - A bistable relay may include a pair of contact arms. Each contact arm is configured to have a first end and a second end, such that, when the relay is in the closed position, current flows from the first end to the second ends of each of the contact arms, and when the relay is in an open position, current does not flow from the first ends to the second ends of the contact arms. The relay further includes a motor, a pair of springs, a pair of cams driven by the motor, and a linearly actuating member configured to move the contact arms from the first configuration to the second configuration, the member including a cam follower surface. | 10-24-2013 |
20130275736 | GENERIC AND SECURE AMI END DEVICE CONFIGURATION - A metering device may be configured to communicate with other devices on a plurality of metering communication networks, such as an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network. For example, a metering end device may be programmed or reconfigured via an AMI network. A metering end device may receive, via the AMI network, a program recipe comprising one or more configuration parameters. The program recipe may be specific to the end device and formatted according to a generic program table of the end device. The end device may decrypt and validate the program recipe. The end device may implement the decrypted program recipe to configure the end device with the one or more configuration parameters. | 10-17-2013 |
20130251000 | Synchronous Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum Communications - Methods, systems and metering devices are provided for performing synchronous communication in a frequency hopping communication system without the use of expensive clock circuitry and/or significant amounts of data traffic on the communication system. | 09-26-2013 |
20130215932 | SCALABLE PACKETS IN A FREQUENCY HOPPING SPREAD SPECTRUM (FHSS) SYSTEM - A wireless mesh network, method, and processor-readable storage medium for operating a network are disclosed. In particular, methods are disclosed for operating a wireless mesh network to increase the number of frequency channels used by the system without needing to increase the preamble length. According to various embodiments, a wireless mesh network divides the ISM spectrum into two types of channels: acquisition channels and data channels. An acquisition channel is used to transmit a preamble of a communication packet. One or more data channels are used to transmit a data portion of the communication packet. | 08-22-2013 |
20130175881 | VOLTAGE OR CONTACT CLOSURE SENSOR - An external signal sensor uses a single sensing circuit to detect a DC voltage or an AC voltage or a contact closure. The circuit can sense different isolated signals with relatively low power consumption. According to various embodiments, an isolation transformer has a primary winding that is fed by an oscillator signal. A secondary winding of the isolation transformer is open when no contact closure or AC or DC voltage is present, but is closed when a contact closure is present or when an AC or DC voltage is present. When the secondary winding is open, a status signal at an output of the sensing circuit has a logical high value. When the secondary winding is closed, the status signal has a logical low value. In this way, the same sensing circuit can be used to detect either a contact closure or an AC or DC voltage. | 07-11-2013 |
20130106616 | METER DATA COLLECTION | 05-02-2013 |
20130021956 | SYNCHRONIZED COMUNICATION FOR MESH CONNECTED TRANSCEIVER - A wireless mesh network, method, and processor-readable storage medium for operating a network that has a control node that communicates with a plurality of communication nodes, at least one of which comprises a battery-powered communication node, are disclosed. The battery-powered communication node is associated with an electric meter and is configured to maintain time- and frequency synchronization with an electric meter or with the network, to transmit a message, and to listen for a response to the message during a polling period after the message is transmitted. | 01-24-2013 |
20130010692 | Other Protocol Message Routing Over a Wireless Network of Metering Devices - Methods and apparatus are provided for routing DNP (or other) protocol messages over a network of an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system that employs a different communications protocol. | 01-10-2013 |
20120327695 | Linear Transformer Power Supply - A linear transformer power supply is disclosed that extracts a high level of energy from a linear transformer during the full cycle of AC input voltage. | 12-27-2012 |
20120316809 | VIRTUAL OPTION BOARD FOR USE IN PERFORMING METERING OPERATIONS - Methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for adding functionality to a metering device. A metering device may include a microcontroller (MCU) having separate blocks of memory for storing different types of data. The MCU may store main program code as firmware in one block of the flash memory, while also storing a virtual option board as firmware in a separate block of flash memory. The main program code may be used by the metering device to implement a base level of functionality in the metering device. The virtual option board may be used by the metering device to implement additional functionality. The functionality added by the virtual option board may include customer-specific metering operations and/or market-specific metering operations. | 12-13-2012 |
20120246268 | Internet Protocol Message Routing Over A Wireless Network Of Metering Devices - Methods and apparatus are provided for routing Internet Protocol (IP) messages over a network of an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system that employs a different communications protocol. | 09-27-2012 |
20120201146 | MESH INFRASTRUCTURE UTILIZING PRIORITY REPEATERS AND MULTIPLE TRANSCEIVERS - A wireless mesh network, method, and processor-readable storage medium for using stand-alone repeaters that are designated as having priority over other communication nodes with respect to their service as repeaters are disclosed herein. According to various embodiments, a control node or collector builds a wireless mesh network by first establishing communication paths with the designated priority communication nodes and then with communication nodes that are not designated priority communication nodes. | 08-09-2012 |
20120194174 | Mechanical Packaging and Method for a Single Current Sensor Integrated into an Electricity Meter - An electricity meter comprises a single current sensor with a toroidal coil that has an inner bore extending substantially through the sensor. The meter also has two current conductors that form one of a pair of line-side blades of the meter. The electricity meter also has a disconnect switch with a pair of moveable contacts and a pair of fixed contacts. One of the pairs contacts is electrically connected to the current conductors. The other pair forms a respective load-side blade of the meter. One current conductor passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a first direction relative to its line-side blade and the other current conductor passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a substantially opposite direction relative to its line-side blade so that current passing through the conductors passes through the inner bore of the current sensor in a same direction. | 08-02-2012 |
20120188093 | TEST MODE SUPPORT FOR METERING ACCURACY TESTS - A metering device may be configured to communicate with other devices on a plurality of metering communication networks. To enable such communications across various networks, the metering communication device may use an active utility identifier corresponding to the metering network in which it is actively communicating. The active utility identifier may be changed to a valid utility identifier corresponding to another metering network and which may be associated with the metering communication device itself. The metering communication device may use the changed active utility identifier to communicate with other devices on the other metering network having the valid utility identifier. For example, the metering communication device may change the active utility identifier to enable communication a test network from a production network, a production network to a test network, or a first test network to a second test network. | 07-26-2012 |
20120126793 | POLYPHASE METER WITH FULL SERVICE DISCONNECT SWITCH - A switch sensor apparatus, an electrical meter, and a method of manufacturing an electrical meter are disclosed herein. A polyphase electrical meter incorporates a number of switch sensor apparatuses that each have a current sensor and a relay arranged relatively perpendicularly to each other and electrically connected via an electrical conductor. The switch sensor apparatuses may be arranged in a compact configuration. In this way, a polyphase meter can provide full service disconnect functionality while remaining sufficiently compact to fit in an ANSI standard housing. | 05-24-2012 |
20120089354 | Determining Components of an Electric Service Using Tolerance Ranges - Components of an electric service may be identified by measuring voltage signals relating to the connection of an electrical energy meter connected to the electric service. The voltage signals that may be measured include line to neutral voltages and line to line voltages. The values of the measured line to neutral voltages may be compared to reference information comprising tabulated values that may be tabulated as ratios of nominal service voltages associated with different service types. The values of the measured line to line voltages may be compared to ideal line to line voltages calculated using fixed values from the reference information. | 04-12-2012 |
20120086436 | Determining Components of an Electric Service - Components of an electric service may be identified by measuring voltage signals relating to the connection of an electrical energy meter connected to the electric service. The voltage signals that may be measured include line to neutral voltages and line to line voltages. The values of the measured voltage signals may be compared to reference information comprising tabulated values that may be tabulated as ratios of nominal service voltages associated with different service types. | 04-12-2012 |
20110248169 | Light Activated Configuration of Environmentally Sealed Metering Products - A metering device and a method for reconfiguring the device to satisfy those regulatory agencies that require that a metering device be disassembled in some way prior to allowing any reconfiguration of the device, but do so without breaking or otherwise affecting the environmental sealing of the device. | 10-13-2011 |
20110188656 | KEY MANAGEMENT IN A WIRELESS NETWORK USING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY KEYS - A primary key may be used for a first attempt by a remote node to decrypt incoming messages from a master. In the event the decrypt attempt fails at the remote node, a secondary key may then be used to attempt to decrypt the message. Initially, the primary and secondary keys may be the same. A field tool, such as a hand-held programming unit operated by a technician at a remote node location, may change the secondary key, but may not cause any change to the primary key. The secondary key may remain so changed until a new primary key is verified and/or authenticated and the secondary key is overwritten with the new primary key. The primary key may only be changed/set by the master via an encrypted request. A technician may not use a field tool to change a primary key. | 08-04-2011 |
20110188516 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDING INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN DEVICES CAPABLE OF COMMUNICATING AT DIFFERENT DATA RATES - A method, wireless mesh network and processor-readable storage medium for providing interoperability between devices that are capable of communicating at different data rates are disclosed herein. A start-of-frame delimiter token value in a synchronization header is used to indicate a data rate at which a device is capable of communicating. In certain embodiments, samples are collected around a bit transition and are used to adjust a bit timing of a receiving device to match a bit timing of a transmitting device using a coarse adjustment process and, in some embodiments, a fine adjustment process. In this way, compatibility can be maintained between new devices that can communicate at a relatively fast data rate and legacy devices that communicate at a lower data rate. | 08-04-2011 |
20110188452 | MESH INFRASTRUCTURE UTILIZING ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION PATHS - A wireless mesh network, method, and processor-readable storage medium for maintaining both a primary communication path and an alternative communication path for a communication node are disclosed herein. A control node determines an alternative communication path for each node in communication with the control node and stores, for each node, primary communication path information and alternative communication path information. By maintaining both primary and alternative communication path information, the control node can switch from the primary path to the alternative path when a failure in the primary path is detected. Because the control node determines and stores information relating to the alternative path before the failure occurs, switching from the primary path to the alternative path involves little, if any, delay. | 08-04-2011 |
20110188445 | CLEARING REDUNDANT DATA IN WIRELESS MESH NETWORK - A wireless mesh network, method, and processor-readable storage medium for operating a network that has a control node that communicates with a plurality of communication nodes are disclosed. When the control node receives a broadcast message, the control node broadcasts a “clear” message that causes other communication nodes to clear their copies of the broadcast message from their message queues. By clearing redundant copies of the original broadcast message, the network can conserve bandwidth for other network traffic. | 08-04-2011 |
20110188444 | HIGH PRIORITY DATA READS FOR ACQUISITION OF REAL-TIME DATA IN WIRELESS MESH NETWORK - A wireless mesh network, method, and processor-readable storage medium for operating a network that has a control node that communicates with a plurality of communication nodes are disclosed herein. The control node schedules time-limited sample windows and only collects data that is designated as having a priority, such as voltage data, during those scheduled sample windows. Because the sample window has a defined end point time, the reading software that executes at the head end and that reads data from the collector can follow a known schedule because, by definition, the collector will already be finished collecting priority data when the sample window expires. | 08-04-2011 |
20110187206 | SAFETY INTERLOCKS FOR ELECTRICITY METER CONTROL RELAYS - Safety in an electricity metering environment is improved by providing an additional level of safety interlocking to disconnect switches and other control relays in electricity meters. | 08-04-2011 |
20110175749 | PLANAR DISTRIBUTED ELEMENT ANTENNA ISOLATION BOARD - An antenna isolation circuit, meter reading device, and method of manufacturing an antenna isolation circuit are disclosed herein. A multilayer planar structure antenna isolation circuit uses distributed elements to provide high voltage isolation and RF coupling functions. The distributed elements may be implemented, for example, as multilayer distributed capacitors. In other embodiments, the distributed elements may be implemented as a distributed transformer. | 07-21-2011 |
20100195574 | Other Protocol Message Routing Over a Wireless Network of Metering Devices - Methods and apparatus are provided for routing DNP (or other) protocol messages over a network of an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system that employs a different communications protocol. | 08-05-2010 |