Abstract: An alarm management system includes an alarm management system server (“alarm server”), one or more data sources, and one or more system users (and associated user devices), all of which can be communicably connected through a communications network. The system can be configured by defining the data sources and users, defining attributes, assigning and associating attribute values with the data sources and users, and defining alarm conditions in terms of attribute values and measurements. The data sources generate measurement data which is provided to the alarm server, and the alarm server evaluates the data to determine whether the alarm conditions have been met. A data set of data sources matching alarm conditions can be generated and reported to one or more of the users.

Abstract: A branch circuit monitoring system includes a plurality of current sensor modules that are installable in a panelboard. Each of the current sensor modules may be associated with a respective one of a plurality of branch circuits included in the panelboard. Each of the current sensor modules may include a current sensor, operating logic and a communication module. The current sensor may measure a power parameter of the respective branch circuit associated therewith. The operating logic may be coupled with the current sensor and the communication module, and may direct the overall functionality of the current sensor module. The communication module may be operable to communicate with a device external to the current sensor module.

Abstract: A system for modifying the functionality of intelligent electronic devices installed and operating in the field is disclosed. Each of the intelligent electronic devices operates with a software configuration to monitor electrical energy. A copy of the software configurations may be maintained in a database. Changes to the operation of one or more of the intelligent electronic devices may be made as a function of modifications to the database.

Abstract: Devices that couple to high voltage transmission lines obtain power themselves using the body capacitance of an element of the devices. The devices generate a comparatively lower voltage from the current flowing between the high voltage line and the element of the device that generates the body capacitance. The devices can be used to operate sensors that monitor the transmission lines or parameters of the power distribution system, such as current, line temperature, vibration, and the like. The devices can also be used as indicators, such as aircraft warning lights, information signs, etc. In addition, the devices can operate as RF transmission/reception or repeater devices, radar devices, mesh networking nodes, video/audio surveillance, sound emitting devices for scaring animals, drones that traverse the power line, etc. Because the devices operate in response to line voltage rather than current, the devices are reliable even in low current conditions.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) for monitoring at least one power parameter in a power system is disclosed. The IED comprises at least one voltage input operative to be coupled with at least one power line in the power system and operative to sense at least one voltage in the power system. The IED further comprises at least one current input operative to be coupled with the at least one power line and operative to sense a current flowing through the at least one power line. The IED further comprises at least one analog to digital converter coupled to the voltage input and the current input and operative to produce digital samples indicative of the voltage and current. The IED further comprises a processor coupled with the at least one analog to digital converter and operative to calculate the at least one power parameter. The IED further comprises a power supply operative to supply power to the IED.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic device with multiple functionalities that may include multiple secure accesses includes a sensor coupled with a processor. The sensor may sense electrical parameters in an electrical circuit and generate signals indicative of the electrical parameters for the processor. The processor may be configured to concurrently operate multiple intelligent electronic device functionalities. The intelligent electronic device functionalities may each include one or more functions. The functions within one of the intelligent electronic device functionalities may be mutually exclusive. Secure access to one or more of the intelligent electronic device functionalities may be enabled by entry of a user identification.

Abstract: An electric power meter is disclosed. The meter comprises means for digitally sampling voltage and current. The meter further comprises means for storing the digitally sampled voltage and current. The meter further comprises means for performing power calculations upon the digitally sampled voltage and current, and converting the calculations and the digitally sampled voltage and current into at least one network protocol. The meter further comprises means for interfacing with an external network. A system for modifying the functionality of the electric power meter is also disclosed.

Abstract: An energy measurement system including a radio frequency (“RF”) device powered by a solar panel. The RF device comprising a wireless communication port operative to transmit and receive communication over a wireless network of additional RF devices. The energy measurement system able to transmit energy parameters of the RF device over the wireless network.

Abstract: An application for determining energy drivers is disclosed. The application analyzes quantity metadata and energy usage data to determine at least one relationship. The quality of the relationship between quantity metadata and energy usage data is further assessed. Based on the determined relationship and the assessed quality, the energy driver is identified.

Abstract: A power quality analysis system includes a combination of at least one of a power quality parameter value, power quality event properties, non-power quality properties, and time properties. The parameter value and other properties is used to create power quality information that is descriptive of power quality events. The power quality information is easily configured and organized based on the desired options in order to make it more understandable and usable.

Abstract: Power quality detection, monitoring, reporting, recording and communication in a revenue accuracy electrical power meter is disclosed. Transient events are detected by monitoring the wave shape of the electrical power and comparing deviations to a known threshold. Sags and Swells are detected by computing root mean square value over a rolling window and comparing the computed value with a known threshold. Harmonic frequencies and symmetrical components are quantified by a known algorithm and compared with a known threshold. Incoming waveforms are stored to memory. All recorded and computed data is moved to non-volatile storage via direct memory access transfer in the event that a power quality event jeopardizes the operating power of the meter. Further, the meter provides a power supply utilizing high and low capacitive storage banks to supply sufficient energy to survive short duration power quality events which jeopardize the meter's operating power.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for accurately measuring delivered or supplied electrical energy over an extended range of values. In one embodiment, a meter for monitoring the energy at a remote site includes a current sensor for measuring the current supplied to or from the site, and a microprocessor that generates output readings with an enhanced accuracy over a wide range of outputs in response to digital samples received from the sensor. In a one implementation, the meter is configured to provide readings with an accuracy that satisfies the standards IEC 60687 1A 0.5S, IEC 60687 5A 0.5S, ANSI C12.20 Class 20 0.5, and ANSI C12.20 Class 2/10 0.5. In another implementation, the meter is configured to provide readings with an accuracy that satisfies the standards IEC 60687 1A 0.2S, IEC 60687 5A 0.2S, ANSI C12.20 Class 20 0.2, and ANSI C12.20 Class 2/10 0.2.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reclassifying instrument transformers. A line mounted device that includes a sensor that can be attached to a power line. The line mounted device generates data or representations of the power parameters of the power line. A processor in the line mounted device produces modified representations of the power parameters that are transmitted wirelessly to a microprocessor based device. The microprocessor based device also receives second representations of the power parameters from legacy instrumentation. Compensation data is produced based on the modified representations from the line mounted device and the second representations from the legacy instrumentation. The compensation data can be used to compensate or correct the representations of the power parameters from the legacy instrumentation even after the line mounted device is no longer attached to the power line.

Abstract: Systems and methods for grouping mesh networks. Mesh networks enable energy data to be transferred from an energy sensing device to a destination device using various networks and reduces the need to install metering stations. Embodiments of the invention join or group mesh networks that otherwise are not able to communicate. The connections between the grouped mesh networks can be passive using directional antennas or passive antennas or active using higher power RF devices, solar repeaters, mobile mesh devices, etc. The energy data is routed in a smart manner, by performing load balancing at gateways, by monitoring the signal to noise ratio of available communication paths, etc. Mesh clusters can also be created to define low power clusters, address blocking clusters, and frequency based clusters. Grouping clusters facilitates the efficient transfer of energy data from an energy sensing device to a energy management station.

Abstract: Devices that couple to high voltage transmission lines obtain power themselves using the body capacitance of an element of the devices. The devices generate a comparatively lower voltage from the current flowing between the high voltage line and the element of the device that generates the body capacitance. The devices can be used to operate sensors that monitor the transmission lines or parameters of the power distribution system, such as current, line temperature, vibration, and the like. The devices can also be used as indicators, such as aircraft warning lights, information signs, etc. In addition, the devices can operate as RF transmission/reception or repeater devices, radar devices, mesh networking nodes, video/audio surveillance, sound emitting devices for scaring animals, drones that traverse the power line, etc. Because the devices operate in response to line voltage rather than current, the devices are reliable even in low current conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring power in a conductor. A flex circuit may include multiple layers including a voltage sensing layer, a coil layer, and a ground layer. The coil layer includes traces that form a coil structure around a conductor when the flex circuit is wrapped around the conductor. The coil layer generates a voltage that may be integrated to determine a current in the conductor. When the flex circuit is wrapped around the conductor, the voltage sensing layer is closest to the conductor. The voltage sensing layer forms a capacitor with the conductor. Using an adjustable capacitive voltage divider, the voltage of the conductor may be determined from a voltage signal received from the voltage sensing layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ensuring data integrity in a mesh network. A mesh network can include multiple RF devices. Transmitting quality data in or on the mesh network is improved using communication validation functions. The communication validation functions ensure a reliable communication network, preserve data during a network outage, and validate data. The communication validation functions can measure or control data quality within a communication and analysis network. The communication validation function operates to control data quality, for example, by measuring the quality of wireless links, ensuring the presence of redundant links, testing the ability of the mesh network to establish a backup communication path, generating alarms based on communication thresholds, tracking the communication path followed by communication packets, and identifying placement locations for additional RF devices.

Abstract: A power management architecture for an electrical power distribution system, or portion thereof, is disclosed. The architecture includes multiple electronic devices distributed throughout the power distribution system to manage the flow and consumption of power from the system using real time communications. Power management application software and/or hardware components operate on the electronic devices and the back-end servers and inter-operate via the network to implement a power management application. The architecture provides a scalable and cost effective framework of hardware and software upon which such power management applications can operate to manage the distribution and consumption of electrical power by one or more utilities/suppliers and/or customers which provide and utilize the power distribution system.