Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A metering device may be configured to communicate with other devices in an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system. For example, a metering device may be configured to communicate with a collection device. To enable such communications, a collection device may send a wake-up-tone and/or a request message to a metering device. Based on the request message, a metering device may send data to the collection device. Metering communication networks may be mobile and/or fixed. For example, a mobile collection device may use a wireless signal to interrogate a metering device to retrieve data from the metering device.

Abstract: A current sensing assembly is provided for sensing the current travelling through a current carrying member of a pad mount distribution transformer in a meter network. A current sensor includes a slot having an open end that receives the current carrying member. The sensor includes a conductive coil disposed adjacent the slot that generates an output signal indicating a sensed current level. A retainer member includes a retainer wall that is configured to be inserted into the open end of the slot so as to define a receptacle that captures the current carrying member therein.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An antenna isolation circuit, meter reading device, and method of manufacturing an antenna isolation circuit may employ or be associated with a multilayer planar structure. 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting an electronic measuring device inside the housing a pad mount low voltage distribution power transformer are provided. The space inside a transformer enclosure cover contains the power input and output connections and cables. The electronic measuring device includes a surface mounting assembly that is configured to mount the measuring device at multiple locations of the housing.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.