Abstract: A utility meter adapted to communicate with a device external to the utility meter comprises a meter housing, a first port, a second port and a processor. The first port is adapted to receive signals transmitted from outside the meter housing. The second port is connected to a communications module associated with the meter. The communications module is adapted to communicate with the device external to the utility meter. A processor is connected to the first port and the second port. The processor is configured to pass signals received at the first port to the communications module through the second port.

Abstract: An electricity meter includes an input circuit operable to generate signals representative of a line voltage waveform and a line current waveform. A processing circuit is connected to the input circuit and is operable to generate energy consumption data based on the input signals. A communications circuit is also connected to the processing circuit. The communications circuit includes an optical receiver having a single photo-transistor, a single capacitor and two resistors. The photo-transistor is operable to act as a switching device that allows varying amounts of current to pass in association with received light pulses. This action allows light signals received by the photo-transistor to be converted into electrical signals. The electrical signals are passed across the first resistor. These electrical signals are differentiated by the capacitor and the second resistor to filter out low frequency signals created by ambient light.

Abstract: A current coil arrangement in an electricity meter includes first and second current coils. The first current coil has two current blades and a middle portion extending therebetween. The two current blades are configured to be received by a utility meter socket device. The middle portion and the current blades are integrally formed of a conductive material. The first current coil is asymmetrical about the midpoint between the two current blades, and is disposed at least partially within the electricity meter. The second current coil is disposed at least partially within the electricity meter. The second current coil constructed substantially identical to the first current coil.

Abstract: An arrangement includes an A/D converter and a processing circuit. The A/D converter is configured to generate digital samples of voltage and current waveforms in a polyphase electrical system. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive the digital samples from the A/D converter. The processing circuit is further configured to combine a value substantially equal to two times the magnitude of the phase A current sample with the phase C current sample to generate a first value, and generate a VA calculation using the first value and at least one other value. The processing circuit is further configured to provide information representative of the VA calculation to one of a group consisting of a display, a communication circuit, and a billing calculation unit.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for use in an electrical utility meter that includes a metering unit, a service disconnect circuit, and a housing assembly. The service disconnect circuit has a connected state that operably couples utility power lines to a load, and a disconnected state and as armed state that operably decouples the utility power lines from the load. The housing assembly is disposed over the metering unit and the service disconnect circuit, and has at least one electronic indicator visible to an outside of the housing assembly. The electronic indicator is operable to provide a visual signal representative of the service disconnect circuit in the armed state. The housing further includes an externally accessible actuator operably connected to the service disconnect circuit to change the service disconnect switch from the armed state to the connected state.

Abstract: A utility meter comprises a measurement circuit configured to measure commodity consumption and provide consumption data. A memory in the meter is configured to store meter data including the consumption data. The memory includes a plurality of memory segments, each of the plurality of memory segments protected by a different password. The meter further comprises a receiver configured to receive a memory request and an associated password from a source external to the utility meter. A controller in the meter is configured to grant or deny the memory request depending upon the associated password received from the source external to the utility meter.

Abstract: An electricity meter for monitoring electric power consumed from a service line is disclosed. The electricity meter includes a power consumption metering system for measuring the amount of power consumed from the service line, a peripheral device providing a non-critical function, a power converter, and a load management system. The metering system includes a controller and data storage for storing power consumption data. The power converter provides an unregulated voltage output at the terminals of a capacitor for powering the metering system. The load management system selectively couples and decouples the peripheral device from the power converter. The load management system senses the unregulated voltage to determine whether to couple or decouple the peripheral device. A load management system for an electricity meter and a method of managing the loads on the power system of an electricity meter are also disclosed.

Abstract: An arrangement includes a liquid crystal display having a length, a width and a thickness. The arrangement further includes an integrally formed housing having a display receptacle, the display receptacle including retention members operable to retain the liquid crystal display in length, width and thickness dimensions. The arrangement also includes a flexible conductor device operably connected between the liquid crystal display and a circuit board.

Abstract: A configurable buss element for an electricity meter includes a conductive piece of metal formed into a series of contact connectors and a network of elongate conductors extending between and among the series of contact connectors. Each of the plurality of contact connectors is configured to contact a circuit element of an electricity meter. The network of elongate conductors is operable to provide connectivity between the contact connectors and select portions of the conductive piece of metal in one of a plurality of connectivity configurations, each of the connectivity configurations corresponding to an electricity meter configuration, the select one of the plurality of connectivity configurations defined by a predetermined set of discontinuities introduced in the network of elongate conductors.

Abstract: An utility meter is provided. The meter includes a base and a first barrier operably associated with the base. The base and the first barrier define a first compartment between the base and the first barrier. The meter also includes a heat generating component positioned in the first compartment and operably associated with the base. The meter also includes a second barrier extending from the base. The second barrier and the first barrier define a second compartment between the second barrier and the first barrier. The meter further includes an arrangement for moving heat connected to the heat generating component and extending from the first compartment to the second compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring energy consumption includes an input circuit and a processing circuit. The input circuit is operable to generate a first digital signal representative of a line voltage waveform and a second digital signal representative of a line current waveform. The processing circuit is operable to generate energy consumption data based on the first digital signal and the second digital signal. The processing circuit is further operable to generate a first pulse waveform having a plurality of output pulses based on the energy consumption data, each output pulse corresponding to a quantity of energy consumed, the first pulse waveform having a select one of a plurality of modes. The processing circuit is further operable to provide the first pulse waveform to a meter output.

Abstract: A current transformer assembly includes a current transformer and an insulation cup. The current transformer has a core and a first coil in a flux inducing relationship with the core. The core includes an opening defining a void configured to receive at least a second coil. The insulation cup includes a first part and a second part, the first part configured to mechanically couple to the second part such that the first part and the second part substantially encapsulate the current transformer. An interior portion of the insulation cup is disposed between the core and void.

Abstract: An electricity meter for monitoring electric power consumed from a service line is disclosed. The electricity meter includes a power consumption metering system for measuring the amount of power consumed from the service line, a peripheral device providing a non-critical function, a power converter, and a load management system. The metering system includes a controller and data storage for storing power consumption data. The power converter provides an unregulated voltage output at the terminals of a capacitor for powering the metering system. The load management system selectively couples and decouples the peripheral device from the power converter. The load management system senses the unregulated voltage to determine whether to couple or decouple the peripheral device. A load management system for an electricity meter and a method of managing the loads on the power system of an electricity meter are also disclosed.

Abstract: An arrangement for use in a utility meter includes a non-volatile memory and an RF transceiver. The non-volatile memory has a first and a second port, the first port configured to obtain commodity consumption data. The radio frequency (RF) transceiver is configured to receive and RF signal from an external source and obtain energy from the RF signal and provide the energy to a bias voltage input of the non-volatile memory. The RF transceiver is further operable to perform a data transfer operation responsive to the received RF signal, the data transfer operation including a transfer of meter-related data between the non-volatile memory and the RF transceiver using the second port of the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: An arrangement for obtaining measurable voltage signals in a utility meter includes a first connection to a phase of a power line, a second connection to a reference of a power line, a voltage divider circuit, and a series inductor. The voltage divider circuit is disposed on a circuit board and is coupled between a first node and the second connection. The voltage divider circuit has an output configured to provide measurable voltage signals to a circuit operable to generate voltage measurement information. The series inductor is disposed apart from the circuit board and is configured for current limiting. The series impedance element is coupled between the first connection and the first node.

Abstract: A tamper detection arrangement in a meter having a service disconnect switch employs a voltage sense circuit that requires only a single connection to digital processing circuitry for the feeder lines of typical residential service. In one embodiment, the voltage sense circuit includes an isolation device that electrically isolates the processing device from the line voltages. The voltage sense circuit senses a voltage on the feeder lines and is operable to generate a voltage detection signal having a characteristic representative of whether line voltage from the electrical power lines is present on the feeder lines.

Abstract: An electricity meter for monitoring electric power consumed from a service line is disclosed. The electricity meter includes a power consumption metering system for measuring the amount of power consumed from the service line, a peripheral device providing a non-critical function, a power converter, and a load management system. The metering system includes a controller and data storage for storing power consumption data. The power converter provides an unregulated voltage output at the terminals of a capacitor for powering the metering system. The load management system selectively couples and decouples the peripheral device from the power converter. The load management system senses the unregulated voltage to determine whether to couple or decouple the peripheral device. A load management system for an electricity meter and a method of managing the loads on the power system of an electricity meter are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electricity meter for monitoring electric power consumed from a service line is disclosed. The electricity meter includes a power consumption metering system for measuring the amount of power consumed from the service line, a peripheral device providing a non-critical function, a power converter, and a load management system. The metering system includes a controller and data storage for storing power consumption data. The power converter provides an unregulated voltage output at the terminals of a capacitor for powering the metering system. The load management system selectively couples and decouples the peripheral device from the power converter. The load management system senses the unregulated voltage to determine whether to couple or decouple the peripheral device. A load management system for an electricity meter and a method of managing the loads on the power system of an electricity meter are also disclosed.

Abstract: A metering arrangement includes a meter housing, a source of energy signals, a source of gas flow signals, a source of temperature signals, and a processing circuit. The meter housing is securedly supported proximal to a facility receiving utility commodities. The processing circuit is disposed within the meter housing, and is operably connected to the source of energy signals, the source of gas flow signals, and the source of temperature signals. The processing circuit is operable to generate electrical energy consumption metering information from the energy signals. The processing circuit is further operable to generate corrected gas consumption information based on the received gas flow signals and the received temperature signals.

Abstract: An electricity meter for monitoring electric power consumed from a service line is disclosed. The electricity meter includes a power consumption metering system for measuring the amount of power consumed from the service line, a peripheral device providing a non-critical function, a power converter, and a load management system. The metering system includes a controller and data storage for storing power consumption data. The power converter provides an unregulated voltage output at the terminals of a capacitor for powering the metering system. The load management system selectively couples and decouples the peripheral device from the power converter. The load management system senses the unregulated voltage to determine whether to couple or decouple the peripheral device. A load management system for an electricity meter and a method of managing the loads on the power system of an electricity meter are also disclosed.