Abstract: Users desire to normalize raw data from meter load profile acquisition systems against some attributes (i.e., properties) of a facility, such as the number of employees. The facility area, and the number of products produced would be additional potential attributes for consideration. Normalization involves dividing a load profile channel such as kiloWatt hours by a determined facility attribute to obtain a new data set, for example, such as “kWh/Employee.” The present modelization allows a user to define a set of attributes and manage their value over time to refine the facility model. Keeping track of the attributes over time provides increased accuracy in the resulting data. The model is managed by a user interface which can be refined over time as the facility evolves. Data comprising sets of attributes over time may persist within the system for later retrieval.

Abstract: A Hall effect sensor or device may be used in a variety of embodiments, such as measuring current within an associated conductor by helping to measure flux density within a gap of a ferromagnetic power meter core, such as in a power meter. A high linearity interface for a Hall effect device is provided for minimizing offset effects without using complicated electronic circuits. Hall effect device is characterized by first and second opposing surfaces, first and second device inputs, and first and second device outputs. A substrate is layered adjacent to one of the first and second opposing surfaces of the Hall effect device and is electrically connected to an output pin of the Hall effect device to eliminate any effects caused by asymmetry of the voltage appearing in the channel relative to the substrate.

Abstract: The spectral absorption of a body, placed between a source for emitting electromagnetic radiation and a detector for detecting the radiation, is measured. The technique includes emitting the electromagnetic radiation in a determined spectral range towards the body, filtering the electromagnetic radiation, and detecting the electromagnetic radiation attenuated by the absorption due to the body and deducing therefrom a measure of the spectral absorption of the body. The filtering and detection steps are implemented by a detector of the quantum type. The technique also applies to determining the calorific value of a gas, for measuring the energy of electromagnetic radiation, and an apparatus for implementing the technique.

Abstract: An improved inner component board arrangement and corresponding assembly for an electric utility meter is disclosed The enhanced structure offers comprehensive stability and protection of circuit boards and corresponding electronic components within an integrated meter assembly. The arrangement generally includes at least two printed circuit boards housed in a casing structure. Various projections extend from the casing structure to effectively position and secure the printed circuit boards within an overall component assembly, Specific projections employed for positioning the circuit boards include tapered locator pins and respective mating holes as well as key projections that interconnect with slots located in selected circuit boards. Snaps project from casing components to securely constrain the circuit boards within the component assembly. Established orientation of various components and projections significantly facilitates the meter assembly process.

Abstract: “A Hall effect sensor or device may be used in a variety of embodiments, such as measuring current within an associated conductor by helping to measure flux density within a gap of a ferromagnetic power meter core, such as in a power meter. A high linearity interface for a Hall effect device is provided for minimizing offset effects without using complicated electronic circuits. Hall effect device may include a substrate, first and second device inputs, and first and second device outputs. The substrate of the Hall effect device may be connected electrically to an output pin of the Hall device to eliminate any effects caused by asymmetry of the voltage appearing in the channel relative to the substrate. The net effect of the high linearity interface is to eliminate any adverse effects to linearity of the system, especially at low magnetic flux levels where the output voltage of the Hall device would be relatively small compared to the offset voltage levels involved.

Abstract: An integrated structure that offers improved casing for an electric utility meter is disclosed. The improved structure uses a minimum number of parts required for proper functionality of a meter casing, and excludes the use of screws, clips or other additional parts that make meter disassembly a tedious procedure. The meter casing generally includes a baseplate, at least two inner covers for housing and protecting electronic components for an electric utility meter, an outer cover, and pluralities of projections extending from the covers for interconnection of casing components and stabilization of the integrated casing structure. The various electronic components of the meter generally include electronic circuit boards and current transformers. The various projections enable snap-fit connections between the baseplate and an inner cover, between inner covers, and between inner covers and an outer cover.

Abstract: A meter interface unit (MIU) for use in sending, via RF or other suitable type of transmission, utility consumption information from a utility meter to a remote location. The MIU includes an antenna electrically coupled to a transmitter device. A microprocessor is operative to initiate reading of usage information from the meter encoder associated with the meter and control transmission of that information at selected times. The microprocessor implements functions to determine which of several known types of meter encoders is present. The meter encoder data is then read and converted to the desired transmission protocol. Power management circuitry is provided to limit application of power to the encoder, except when usage information is being obtained. The power management circuitry may also include step-up circuitry to convert a lower voltage level supplied by a power source to a higher voltage level needed by the encoder.

Abstract: Apparatus and methodology for radio utility meter reading processing of data acquisition for use with an automatic billing system involves a utility meter transmitter antenna system installed at or near ground level. An RF utility meter communication apparatus transmits utility meter data to a remote utility meter data collection unit from an underground pit box. The pit box includes a utility meter and has a generally ground level pit lid with an opening therethrough. An antenna element has an upper member extending at least partly through such pit lid opening. A depending base of the antenna element extends from the upper element and passes through the pit lid opening into the underground pit box. The depending antenna element is capacitively coupled or provided with some other form of non-mechanical coupling to the output of an RF transmitter also included within the pit box.

Abstract: Conventional AMR and DA/DSM systems typically suffer from a lack of extensibility due to the monolithic nature of the master station software. In contrast, this patent describes a system that is comprised of small modules connected using a component object model. This system allows straightforward extension in the areas of applications, communications, metering devices, and databases without requiring recompilation or relinking of the system. Furthermore, this system allows commercial applications such as spreadsheets, word processors, statistical packages, report generators, et cetera to be integrated directly with this system, and allows extension and customization of the system using such packages. Such a flexible open architecture is very attractive to utilities in that it allows easy extension by the utility or other third party developers without the involvement of the original authors of the system.

Abstract: The application discloses a processing system that includes a processor configured to qualify, based at least in part upon meta information, environmental status information extracted from signals received from a plurality of remote sensors, each of the sensor signals being indicative of the condition of a respective environment being monitored by a corresponding one of the sensors. The processor preferably is configured to generate a report of the status of a plurality of physically distributed environments based at least in part upon correlation of environmental status information extracted from a plurality sensor signals indicative of the condition of a plurality of respective monitored environments with information relating to the activities of one or more entities authorized to interact with the monitored environments. Methods of processing information received from a plurality of remote sensors also are disclosed.

Abstract: A Hall effect sensor or device may be used in a variety of embodiments, such as measuring current within an associated conductor by helping to measure flux density within a gap of a ferromagnetic power meter core, such as in a power meter. A high linearity interface for a Hall effect device is provided for minimizing offset effects without using complicated electronic circuits. First and second levels of modulation relative to line frequency are used to synchronize Hall effect device input switching circuits and feedback loops for improved elimination of offset signals or noise from the ultimate system output. The substrate of the Hall effect device may be connected electrically to an output pin of the Hall device or to a separate virtual ground to eliminate any effects caused by asymmetry of the voltage appearing in the channel relative to the substrate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an antenna has two annular conductive elements separated by a slot, and a third conductive element connecting the annular conductive elements together at at least one end of the slot. In another embodiment, an antenna has two generally parallel conductive elements of different heights separated by a slot, and a third conductive element connecting the conductive members together at at least one end of the slot.

Abstract: A serrated slot antenna includes two annular conductors separated by a slot having a serrated edge. A shorting post connects the annular conductors to each other at some point along the slot. The slot antenna can be made, e.g., by affixing conductive tape to a flexible substrate, photoetching a pattern in the copper-clad surface of a flexible substrate, or machining material from a conductive tubing.

Abstract: A meter for measuring electricity usage for a given load includes a housing and two light sources disposed in the housing and configured to output light at a predetermined frequency. Two light receivers are disposed in the housing so that a light path is defined between each light source and its respective light receiver. Each light receiver is configured to receive the light from its light source and to output a signal responsively thereto. A rotatable member is disposed in the housing in the light paths and is rotatable responsively to the electricity usage. The member has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion transmits incident light while the second portion blocks light. The first portion and the second portion are defined on the member so that the member modulates the light as it rotates. A filter circuit in communication with the light receiver is configured to receive the output signal from the light receiver and to detect therefrom modulation of the light by the rotatable member.

Abstract: Method and apparatus facilitate improved sensing of tampering of an electrically powered device, such as an electric watt-hour meter installed at a residence for metering the amount of electric energy consumed at the residence. The detected tampering involves an effort to remove the electric meter from its power socket, to interrupt the metering of electric energy consumption, or to otherwise gain access for diverting electric energy. Removal of the electric meter from its power socket interrupts power to the meter. The method and apparatus senses motion of the meter and sets a “Tamper Flag” in a non-volatile memory. The “Tamper Flag” is saved (i.e., is not cleared from the non-volatile memory) if loss of power to the meter occurs within a predetermined period of time. The “Tamper Flag” is cleared if there is no loss of power to the meter within the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An improved process ensures to the extent possible that the usage memory of an electronically-based electricity meter is always in a state that most recent data may be retrieved. Two separate areas or pages of memory are maintained and updated as to quantitative consumptions, e.g., kiloWatt-hour. Preferably a non-volatile form of memory is used. The older of the two data memories is updated, based on a data validation check. The approach ensures that a previous value is always retained, to prevent full data loss in the event that the power goes down. If one area of memory becomes corrupted, the other value can be retrieved and verified so as to prevent loss of both memory areas, before a subsequent data reading (such as kWh or a unit of time for a kW reading). Use of a relatively smaller unit of measure prevents any significant adverse affects to the accuracy of the value stored. In other words, the maximum data lost is limited to the chosen unit of measure since the most recent previous update.

Abstract: An arrangement for radio utility meter reading processing of data acquisition for use with an automatic billing system involves a water meter transmitter antenna system installed at or near ground level in an outdoor environment. A radio frequency utility meter communication apparatus transmits utility meter data to a remote utility meter data collection unit from an underground pit box. The pit box receives a utility meter and has a generally ground level pit lid with an opening therethrough. An antenna element has an upper member extending at least partly through the pit lid opening and received thereabove. A depending base of the antenna element extends from the upper element and passes through the pit lid opening into the underground pit box. The antenna element is at least partly exposed to its surrounding environment.

Abstract: The system provides a way to use a single RF channel in a cellular, RF meter reading system. In order to avoid adjacent cell concentrator interference while reducing the overall time required to perform repetitive tasks such as meter reading and performing load survey reads, the system has each of the concentrators send out a general command to all of the meter interface units ("MIUs") in its cell, and the MIUs then each send back their data in turn. In order to accomplish that result, the MIUs in each cell are preprogrammed to transmit a preset time period (different for each MIU in a particular cell) following receipt of the general command requesting data.