Abstract: An electrical meter including a housing including a socket interface operable to connect to a facility. The meter further including a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of the electrical meter. The meter further including a controller having an electronic processor and a memory. The electronic processor is configured to receive, from the sensor, a signal indicative of the electrical characteristic, determine, based on the signal, presence of a hot socket, and output an alert based on determining presence of the hot socket.

Abstract: A metering system including a utility meter having a processing circuit and a communication module interface. The metering system also includes a communication module electronically coupled to the utility meter via the communication module interface. The communication module interface is configured to transmit information to, and receive information from, the utility meter. The processing circuit of the utility meter includes one or more electronic processors that are configured to receive a first message from the communication, read a header frame of the first message, and determine a message type of the first message based on the header frame. The electronic processors are also configured to verify the first message based on the determined message type, and process the first message based on the determined message type.

Abstract: A light dimming system includes one or more lights and includes a local light controller that includes a dimming controller and a processing circuit, the dimming controller configured to provide an output to the one or more light drivers. One or more electronic processors are configured to receive a dimming input value indicating a desired dimming level for the one or more lights. The processors are further configured to determine a configuration of the one or more light drivers, wherein the configuration defines whether the one or more light drivers utilize a non-linear dimming curve or a linear dimming curve, and provides the dimming controller a dimming level to output a dimming control signal to the one or more light drivers equivalent to the received dimming input value based on a non-linear or linear calculation.

Abstract: A light dimming system includes one or more lights and includes a local light controller that includes a dimming controller and a processing circuit, the dimming controller configured to provide an output to the one or more light drivers. One or more electronic processors are configured to receive a dimming input value indicating a desired dimming level for the one or more lights. The processors are further configured to determine a configuration of the one or more light drivers, wherein the configuration defines whether the one or more light drivers utilize a non-linear dimming curve or a linear dimming curve, and provides the dimming controller a dimming level to output a dimming control signal to the one or more light drivers equivalent to the received dimming input value based on a non-linear or linear calculation.

Abstract: An energy harvesting device (CTH) installed in an electrical distribution system (EDS) for powering ancillary electrical devices (AD) used in the distribution system. The device includes a first voltage regulator circuit (CC) configured to produce a voltage matched to a power curve of a current transformer (CT) to which the device is electrically coupled. The device also includes a second and separate voltage regulator circuit (SVR) which continuously operates to maximize the amount of electrical energy recovered from the current transformer.

Abstract: A circularly polarized, multiband, and wideband antenna and can communicate with a GPS system. The antenna may include a driving element, first, second and third conductive parasitic elements electrically connected to the driving element, and a ground plane. The parasitic elements are provided with different lengths to provide for wider band operation with multiple resonant frequencies. The radiated wave has a low angle of propagation and travels for at least 1-2 miles.

Abstract: Systems for determining a phase of a device coupled to an electrical distribution system. The system includes a number of gateway devices configured to transmit a synchronization signal. The gateway device receives a node response message from a first node device that includes a duration value indicating a time between a receipt of the transmitted synchronization signal and a detected zero crossing. The gateway device compares the duration value against duration values received from node devices with a known phase connection and determines a phase of the first node device based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system for determining a phase of a power supply coupled to a metering device. The system includes a collection device in electronic communication with a metering device connected to a power distribution network and having a memory and one or more electronic processors. The electronic processors are configured to receive a first beacon signal and measure a phasor in response to receiving the first beacon signal. The phasor is stored in the memory along with an identification value associated with the device that transmitted the first beacon signal and a first time. The electronic processors receive a second beacon signal, and extract data from the request message. The electronic processors determine whether the extracted time matches the first time and based on determining that the extracted time matches the first time stored in the memory, calculate a phase by comparing the reference phasor data to the stored phasor.

Abstract: An electric utility meter including a Hall Effect sensor configured to sense a magnetic field proximate the electric utility meter. The electric utility meter also includes a controller having an electronic processor, the controller configured to receive a signal indicative of a magnitude of the magnetic field proximate the electric utility meter from the sensor, determine whether the magnitude of the magnetic field exceeds a first magnitude threshold and whether a threshold flag has been set, set the threshold flag when the threshold flag has not been set and the magnitude exceeds the first magnitude threshold, determine an amount of time for which the magnitude has exceeded the first magnitude threshold when the threshold flag has been set, and generate an alert indicative of a magnetic tamper event when the amount of time exceeds a time threshold.

Abstract: A utility meter includes an electrical conductor portion, a service switch, and a heat sink. The electrical conductor portion provides electrical communication between a supply line terminal and a load line terminal, and the supply line terminal electrical communication an electrical source. The service switch is selectively operable to interrupt electrical communication between the supply line terminal and the load line terminal. The heat sink is in thermal communication with the electrical conductor portion to dissipate heat generated by a current passing through the electrical conductor portion between the supply line terminal and the load line terminal.

Abstract: A sensor unit includes an orientation sensor, an electronic processor coupled to the orientation sensor, and memory coupled to the electronic processor and storing support structure configuration data and instructions. The instructions, when executed by the electronic processor, cause the sensor unit to monitor a position of a conductor support structure associated with the sensor unit based on data from the orientation sensor and generate an alert message responsive to determining that the position violates a position threshold. The position threshold is generated based on the support structure configuration data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting faults in a power distribution network are described. In an aspect, the systems and methods determine a probability that each node of the network is powered and a probability that each distribution line in the network is faulted. In another aspect, the systems and methods determine the probabilities by transmitting a signal over a power distribution network with an active sounding system. In an additional aspect, the systems and methods determine the probabilities by utilizing collected data coupled to the power distribution network.

Abstract: An emergency wayfinding device including a lighting controller, a lighting circuit, and a light emitting element. The emergency wayfinding device may draw electricity through a twist-lock plug or draw it from a power source such a battery or a photovoltaic cell. The wide-area communications device is in electrical communication with a connected lighting controller and is configured to send and receive signals or messages to and from a central broadcasting device as well as other emergency wayfinding devices. The lighting controller is configured to change a property of light emitted from a light emitting element based upon signals or messages received by a wide-area communications device. The wide-area communications device communicates a received message or signal to the lighting controller and the lighting controller generates a lighting control signal or message.

Abstract: An optimized, energy-sensitive system and method for fulfilling various data needs of gas utilities. In particular, the disclosure relates to optimized methods for discovering and reacting to an alarm. In one aspect, when an alarm is triggered a telemetry unit automatically alters its operating mode to begin transmitting live pressure reads every minute instead of every hour, as typically performed. This variance in operation eliminates the need for a user to monitor a pipeline system for an incoming alarm and manually request data by initiating a live communication session.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a combination faceplate antenna holder for an electric utility meter.

Abstract: A system includes at least one processor to receive a second public key, a first random number, and a second random number, and store the second public key, the first random number, and the second random number in an installation record, perform key agreement with a first private key and the second public key to determine a MasterSecret, perform key expansion with the MasterSecret, the first random number, and the second random number to generate a client authentication key, a server authentication key, a client encryption key, and a server encryption key, and store the client authentication key, the server authentication key, the client encryption key, and the server encryption key and delete the MasterSecret.

Abstract: An electric utility meter including a three-axis Hall Effect sensor configured to detect the presence of a magnetic field in two or more directions surrounding the electric utility meter. The electric utility meter also includes a controller having an electronic processor. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of an abnormal magnetic field proximate the electric utility meter from the three-axis Hall Effect sensor, determine an amount of time for which the abnormal magnetic field has been detected, and log a magnetic field tamper event in an event log when the amount of time for which the abnormal magnetic field has been detected exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A circularly polarized, multiband, and wideband antenna and can communicate with a GPS system. The antenna may include a driving element, first, second and third conductive parasitic elements electrically connected to the driving element, and a ground plane. The parasitic elements are provided with different lengths to provide for wider band operation with multiple resonant frequencies. The radiated wave has a low angle of propagation and travels for at least 1-2 miles.

Abstract: A light dimming system includes one or more lights and includes a local light controller that includes a dimming controller and a processing circuit, the dimming controller configured to provide an output to the one or more light drivers. One or more electronic processors are configured to receive a dimming input value indicating a desired dimming level for the one or more lights. The processors are further configured to determine a configuration of the one or more light drivers, wherein the configuration defines whether the one or more light drivers utilize a non-linear dimming curve or a linear dimming curve, and provides the dimming controller a dimming level to output a dimming control signal to the one or more light drivers equivalent to the received dimming input value based on a non-linear or linear calculation.

Abstract: Improved power line management is provided by the systems and methods disclosed herein that accurately measures voltage in a power distribution system. In various embodiments, the system may include one or more sensor units, each coupled to the power lines using a capacitive or resistive voltage divider to yield a voltage at a sensor unit that is within a measurable range. In one aspect, this voltage may also be used to power the sensor unit and/or other devices coupled to it.