US6262672B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reduced cost automatic meter reading system and method using locally communicating utility meters
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1998-08-14
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Granted: 2001-07-17
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Expires: 2018-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A low cost and easy to assemble communicating utility meter provides selectable measurement, calibration, display, and communications means so as to be re-configurable based on several factors including; harmonic content of the power signal measured, LCD display alternatives, time of use measurements, bandpass filter settings, power quality measurements, PLC communications alternatives, radio frequency communications alternatives, optical communications alternatives, and hard wire communications alternatives.
Inventors
- 👤 Glen William Brooksby
- 👤 Daniel David Harrison
- 👤 Daniel Arthur Staver
- 👤 Ertugrul Berkcan
- 👤 Ralph Thomas Hoctor
- 👤 Wolfgang Daum
- 👤 II Kenneth Brakeley Welles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q9/00; G; G01; G01D; G01D4/00; G01D4/002; G01D4/004; G01R; G01R22/00; G01R21/00; G01R21/133; H04Q2209/00; H04Q2209/30; H04Q2209/40; H04Q2209/43; H04Q2209/60; H04Q2209/80; H04Q2209/82; H04Q2209/823; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B90/00; Y02B90/20; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A re-configurable utility meter, having a current signal and having a voltage signal, said utility meter comprising: a current sensor; a voltage sensor; a DSP coupled to said current sensor and coupled to said voltage sensor, said DSP programmable by soft keys for selection of functions, said DSP comprising: a high pass filter for filtering noise from the current sensor signal; a phase corrector coupled to said high pass filter, wherein said phase corrector is adapted to correct phase error in the current sensor signal; a gain corrector coupled to said phase corrector, wherein said gain corrector is adapted to correct for gain error in the current sensor signal; and a re-configurable power measurement block for computing real power, reactive power, or apparent power, based on said soft key selection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A re-configurable utility meter, having a current signal and having a voltage signal, said utility meter comprising: a current sensor; a voltage sensor; a DSP coupled to said current sensor and coupled to said voltage sensor, said DSP programmable by soft keys for selection of functions, said DSP comprising: a high pass filter for filtering noise from the current sensor signal; a phase corrector coupled to said high pass filter, wherein said phase corrector is adapted to correct phase error in the current sensor signal; a gain corrector coupled to said phase corrector, wherein said gain corrector is adapted to correct for gain error in the current sensor signal; and a re-configurable power measurement block for computing real power, reactive power, or apparent power, based on said soft key selection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a Time of Use (TOU) function, wherein said TOU function may be selected to generate a plurality of signals indicative of energy usage over specified units of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a demand function, wherein said demand function may be selected to generate a plurality of signals indicative of the rate of energy usage over specified units of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an LCD display, wherein said LCD display may be selected to display power usage in two ways including the display of alpha-numeric data and binary enunciation of the rate of energy consumption.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a calibration function, wherein said calibration function may be selected to generate at least one calibration signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 1 , wherein said current sensor comprises a differentiating current sensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 6 , wherein said DSP further comprises an integrator coupled to said high pass filter, wherein said integrator is adapted to integrate the current sensor signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
A re-configurable utility meter, having a voltage signal and having a current signal, said utility meter comprising: a current sensor; a voltage sensor; a DSP coupled to said current sensor and coupled to said voltage sensor, said DSP programmable by soft keys for selection of functions, said DSP comprising: a high pass filter for filtering noise from the voltage sensor signal; a phase corrector coupled to said high pass filter, wherein said phase corrector is adapted to correct phase error in the voltage sensor signal; a current gain corrector coupled to said phase corrector, wherein said gain corrector is adapted to correct for gain error in the voltage sensor signal; and a re-configurable power measurement block for computing real power, reactive power, or apparent power, based on said soft key selection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
131 words
A re-configurable utility meter, having a voltage signal and having a current signal, said utility meter comprising: a current sensor; a voltage sensor; a DSP coupled to said current sensor and coupled to said voltage sensor, said DSP programmable by soft keys for selection of functions, said DSP comprising: a high pass filter for filtering noise from the voltage sensor signal; a phase corrector coupled to said high pass filter, wherein said phase corrector is adapted to correct phase error in the voltage sensor signal; a current gain corrector coupled to said phase corrector, wherein said gain corrector is adapted to correct for gain error in the voltage sensor signal; and a re-configurable power measurement block for computing real power, reactive power, or apparent power, based on said soft key selection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a Time of Use (TOU) function wherein said TOU function may be selected to generate a plurality of signals indicative of energy usage over specified units of time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a demand function, wherein said demand function may be selected to generate a plurality of signals indicative of the rate of energy usage over specified units of time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 8 , further comprising an LCD display, wherein said LCD display may be selected to display power usage in two ways including the display of alpha-numeric data and binary enunciation of the rate of energy consumption.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a calibration function, wherein said calibration function may be selected to generate at least one calibration signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
204 words
A re-configurable utility meter, having a current signal and having a voltage signal, said utility meter comprising: a current sensor; a voltage sensor; a DSP coupled to said current sensor and coupled to said voltage sensor, said DSP programmable by soft keys for selection of functions, said DSP comprising: a current high pass filter for filtering noise from the current sensor signal; a current phase corrector coupled to said current high pass filter, wherein said current phase corrector is adapted to correct phase error in the current sensor signal; a current gain corrector coupled to said current phase corrector, wherein said current gain corrector is adapted to correct for gain error in the current sensor signal; a voltage high pass filter for filtering noise from the voltage sensor signal; a voltage phase corrector coupled to said voltage high pass filter, wherein said voltage phase corrector is adapted to correct phase error in the voltage sensor signal; a voltage gain corrector coupled to said voltage phase corrector, wherein said voltage gain corrector is adapted to correct for gain error in the voltage sensor signal; and a re-configurable power measurement block for computing real power, reactive power, or apparent power, based on said soft key selection.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
204 words
A re-configurable utility meter, having a current signal and having a voltage signal, said utility meter comprising: a current sensor; a voltage sensor; a DSP coupled to said current sensor and coupled to said voltage sensor, said DSP programmable by soft keys for selection of functions, said DSP comprising: a current high pass filter for filtering noise from the current sensor signal; a current phase corrector coupled to said current high pass filter, wherein said current phase corrector is adapted to correct phase error in the current sensor signal; a current gain corrector coupled to said current phase corrector, wherein said current gain corrector is adapted to correct for gain error in the current sensor signal; a voltage high pass filter for filtering noise from the voltage sensor signal; a voltage phase corrector coupled to said voltage high pass filter, wherein said voltage phase corrector is adapted to correct phase error in the voltage sensor signal; a voltage gain corrector coupled to said voltage phase corrector, wherein said voltage gain corrector is adapted to correct for gain error in the voltage sensor signal; and a re-configurable power measurement block for computing real power, reactive power, or apparent power, based on said soft key selection.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 13 , further comprising a Time of Use (TOU) function, wherein said TOU function may be selected to generate a plurality of signals indicative of energy usage over specified units of time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 13 , further comprising a demand function, wherein said demand function may be selected to generate a plurality of signals indicative of the rate of energy usage over specified units of time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 13 , further comprising an LCD display, wherein said LCD display may be selected to display power usage in two ways including the display of alpha-numeric data and binary enunciation of the rate of energy consumption.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 13 , further comprising a calibration function, wherein said calibration function may be selected to generate at least one calibration signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 13 , wherein said current sensor comprises a differentiating current sensor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The re-configurable utility meter as recited in claim 18 , wherein said DSP further comprises an current integrator coupled to said current high pass filter, wherein said current integrator is adapted to integrate the current sensor signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-16 | 2005-01-15 | 2005-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-16 | 2009-01-15 | 2009-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-16 | 2013-01-15 | 2013-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |