Abstract: An arrangement for providing power in a utility meter includes a power supply and at least one capacitor. The power supply is configured to convert input AC voltage to a DC bias voltage, and is further configured to provide the bias voltage to metering circuitry within the utility meter. The metering circuitry includes an analog to digital converter and at least one processor. The capacitor is operably coupled to provide power to the RF transmitter at least when power requirements of the RF transmitter exceed an amount of power available from the power supply.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing power in a utility meter includes a power supply and at least one capacitor. The power supply is configured to convert input AC voltage to a DC bias voltage, and is further configured to provide the bias voltage to metering circuitry within the utility meter. The metering circuitry includes an analog to digital converter and at least one processor. The capacitor is operably coupled to provide power to the RF transmitter at least when power requirements of the RF transmitter exceed an amount of power available from the power supply.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a utility meter assembly including a plurality of meter components configured for measuring and collecting data, and including a transceiver operative for signal communications over a network; a faceplate, with meter reading information displayed on the front; an exterior cover; and an internal dipole antenna situated within the exterior cover. The internal dipole antenna is typically situated away from the meter components, so as to minimize interference by the meter components. The internal dipole antenna is typically tuned for optimal matching impedance in an 850 MHz or 1900 MHz receiving band, so that the desired receiving band Standing Wave Ration (SWR) is achieved, and also a specified minimum radiated power threshold is maintained.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a utility meter assembly comprising: a plurality of meter components configured for measuring and collecting data, wherein the meter components include a transceiver operative for signal communications over a network; a faceplate, configured such that meter reading information is displayed on the front of the faceplate; an exterior cover configured to enclose the meter components and the faceplate, wherein the faceplate is forward of the plurality of meter components; and an internal dipole antenna situated within the exterior cover, wherein the internal dipole antenna is beyond the front of the faceplate and toward the front of the utility meter assembly. The internal dipole antenna is typically situated away from the meter components, so as to minimize interference by the meter components.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a utility meter assembly comprising: a plurality of meter components configured for measuring and collecting data, wherein the meter components include a transceiver operative for signal communications over a network; a faceplate, configured such that meter reading information is displayed on the front of the faceplate; an exterior cover configured to enclose the meter components and the faceplate, wherein the faceplate is forward of the plurality of meter components; and an internal dipole antenna situated within the exterior cover, wherein the internal dipole antenna is beyond the front of the faceplate and toward the front of the utility meter assembly. The internal dipole antenna is typically situated away from the meter components, so as to minimize interference by the meter components.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing power in a utility meter includes a power conversion circuit and a bank of capacitors. The power conversion circuit is operable to provide power to metering circuitry within the utility meter, the power conversion circuit having a maximum output current. The bank of capacitors is operably coupled to a power supply input of the radio frequency transmitter, the bank of capacitors configured to provide current in excess of the maximum output current during transmission by the radio frequency transmitter to supply power to the radio frequency transmitter.

Abstract: A method compensates for measurement errors of an external transformer coupled between an electricity meter and one or more power lines. The method includes a first step of obtaining at least one error rating for the external transformer. The method also includes the step of storing data representative of the at least one error rating in a memory within the meter. At some point the electricity meter is coupled to the external transformer. The method further includes the step of employing the meter to obtain at least one electricity consumption measurement value, the at least one electricity consumption value including either a sampled current value or a sampled voltage value. Finally, the method includes the step of causing the meter to adjust the at least one electricity consumption measurement value using at least a portion of the stored data.

Abstract: The invention involves systems and methods of providing energy to land-based telemetry devices wherein the energy storage and power conditioning system is comprised of an input power supply, an energy storage element, an output supply and a control system. The input power supply provides energy to the output power supply and charges the energy storage element. The energy storage element is comprised of one or more UltraCaps and supplies energy to the output power supply at times of peak need and when the primary energy source to the input power supply is removed. The control system adjusts the voltage supplied to the energy storage element by the input power supply according to changes in the ambient temperature to compensate for changes in the internal equivalent series resistance of the UltraCaps caused by the change in ambient temperature. The output power supply provides energy to the land-based telemetry device.

Abstract: An electricity meter performs a self-calibration operation. According to an exemplary embodiment, the meter includes a measurement circuit for generating power information representative of measured power. A controller is operably coupled to the measurement circuit and includes an input for receiving reference standard information. The controller compares the power information generated by the measurement circuit to the reference standard information and generates a compensation signal in dependence upon the comparison. The compensation signal is used to calibrate the measurement circuit. Preferably, the meter is capable of being electrically connected to, and calibrated concurrently with at least one other meter.

Abstract: The invention involves systems and methods of providing energy to land-based telemetry devices wherein the energy storage and power conditioning system is comprised of an input power supply, an energy storage element, an output supply and a control system. The input power supply provides energy to the output power supply and charges the energy storage element. The energy storage element is comprised of one or more UltraCaps and supplies energy to the output power supply at times of peak need and when the primary energy source to the input power supply is removed. The control system adjusts the voltage supplied to the energy storage element by the input power supply according to changes in the ambient temperature to compensate for changes in the internal equivalent series resistance of the UltraCaps caused by the change in ambient temperature. The output power supply provides energy to the land-based telemetry device.

Abstract: An electricity meter performs a self-calibration operation. According to an exemplary embodiment, the meter includes a measurement circuit for generating power information representative of measured power. A controller is operably coupled to the measurement circuit and includes an input for receiving reference standard information. The controller compares the power information generated by the measurement circuit to the reference standard information and generates a compensation signal in dependence upon the comparison. The compensation signal is used to calibrate the measurement circuit. Preferably, the meter is capable of being electrically connected to, and calibrated concurrently with at least one other meter.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing power in a utility meter includes a power conversion circuit and a bank of capacitors. The power conversion circuit is operable to provide power to metering circuitry within the utility meter, the power conversion circuit having a maximum output current. The bank of capacitors is operably coupled to a power supply input of the radio frequency transmitter, the bank of capacitors configured to provide current in excess of the maximum output current during transmission by the radio frequency transmitter to supply power to the radio frequency transmitter.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter for generating samples at a first sample rate includes a noise generator, a summing circuit, a conversion circuit, and a low pass filter. The noise generator is configured to generate a noise signal having a signal bandwidth, the signal bandwidth including a high frequency that exceeds the first sample rate. The summing circuit is configured to sum the noise signal with an input signal in order to generate a composite signal. The conversion circuit is configured to convert the composite signal to a first digital signal, the conversion circuit using a sampling rate that exceeds the first sample rate. The low pass filter is operable to filter the first digital signal and to generate a second digital signal having the first sample rate.

Abstract: A revenue accuracy meter and a method are provided for measuring the amount and quality of power received by a power customer across electrical power lines. The revenue accuracy meter preferably has a variation determiner for determining undesired variations in an electrical signal representative of power received by the power customer during a plurality of predetermined time periods. A power usage measurer is coupled in electrical communication with the variation determiner for measuring the power usage of a customer responsive to an electrical signal representative of a customer load. The meter further has a communications interface coupled in electrical communication with the variation determiner and the power usage measurer for communication signals representative of the power variations and the power usage.

Abstract: The invention is for an optical communication apparatus for bidirectionally transmitting and receiving supervisory and audio signals. The apparatus includes a telephone line interface unit that receives electric audio and supervisory signals and converts them to optical signals. It is also includes means for receiving optical signals representing audio and supervisory signals. A data unit receives the optical audio and supervisory signals from the interface unit and converts them to electric audio and supervisory signals, and also includes means for receiving electric audio signals and supervisory signals and converting them to corresponding optical signals. An optical link connects the telephone line interface unit and data unit for bidirectional optical communication. A method of practicing the invention is also included.

Abstract: A charge balance voltage-to-frequency converter utilizes CMOS circuitry to provide a digital pulse output proportional to an analog input signal. The converter approaches a desired charge balance by cycling between a charging and a discharging state. A clock signal provided by a stable oscillator is applied to a clock input of a CMOS D-type flip-flop. The analog input signal effectively is fed to a non-inverting input of an integrating amplifier. The output of the integrating amplifier is fed to the D input of the flip-flop, which input has a threshold level. The Q output of the flip-flop is connected via a voltage divider to an inverting input of the integrating amplifier. This configuration eliminates the need for a dual polarity power supply. When the output of the integrating amplifier rises above the threshold level of the D input, on the next rising edge of the clock signal, the flip-flop sends feedback pulses to the inverting input, thus beginning the discharge state.

Abstract: A magnetic circuit, such as used in a magnetic recording head, or with a Hall-effect device, is biased by applying signals having noise-like properties to the magnetic circuit. Since the biasing signals will be effectively uncorrelated with other signals being applied to the magnetic circuit, the biasing signals cannot introduce an offset in the applied signals which might otherwise cause distortion. In addition, the spectrum of the biasing signals is broadband and of low amplitude. As a result, the biasing signals are unlikely to cause interference with other nearby electrical components.

Abstract: A system for measuring power in an electrical distribution circuit having at least three wires includes a Hall-effect generator directly coupled to one of the live wires of the circuit and current transformers coupled to the other live wires of the circuit. The output of each current transformer is magnetically linked to the Hall-effect generator. The excitation current for the Hall-effect generator is derived from the line potential between the live wires. The Hall-effect generator acts to produce an output whose magnitude is directly proportional to the product of the vector sums of the currents flowing in the live wires and the potential between the live wires. This power indicative output may be accumulated to produce an indication of energy consumed by a load connected to the live wires. A high frequency A.C. bias is applied to the Hall generator in order to linearize the output of the generator.

Abstract: A gain switching apparatus for a signal is controlled by a switching function formed as a function of the signal. The apparatus is provided with a circuit for reducing errors due to common frequency components in the switching function and in the signal being switched thereby. In order to reduce DC error resulting from multiplication of the switching function by a parameter representing the switched signal, the common frequency component of the switching function is substantially eliminated and replaced by a component at a frequency which is a multiple of the common frequency. A simplified logic circuit is provided to perform the frequency multiplication and the resultant error reduction.