Patents by Inventor Charlie E. Minton, III

Charlie E. Minton, III has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8525692
    Abstract: An electricity meter capable of performing a method for limiting an electricity load in communication with the electricity meter is disclosed. The electricity meter includes at least one load control and the electricity meter has one or more predetermined time-of-use tiers. Each of the one or more predetermined time-of-use tiers has a corresponding time-of-use demand threshold. The method comprises determining a present time-of-use tier; determining a present time-of-use demand for the electricity load in the present time-of-use tier; comparing the present time-of-use demand to the time-of-use demand threshold corresponding to the present time-of-use tier; and setting the at least one load control to a de-energize mode when a de-energize condition is satisfied. The de-energize condition may include sub-conditions such as the present time-of-use demand exceeding the time-of-use demand threshold corresponding to the present time-of-use tier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Elster Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Robert T. Mason, Jr., Keith D. Richeson, Charlie E. Minton, III
  • Patent number: 7860672
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring input voltages to meters that are in a wireless metering network. A plurality of entries can be created that include voltage-related information, such as a maximum input voltage or a minimum input voltage. Each meter can further determine whether the input voltage is beyond a predetermined threshold voltage for a duration that might indicate a voltage irregularity in the network. Each meter in the network can be monitored by a collector, which can communicate information to a data collection server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Elster Electricity, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Richeson, Charlie E. Minton, III, Rodney C. Hemminger, Robert T. Mason, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090309756
    Abstract: An electricity meter capable of performing a method for limiting an electricity load in communication with the electricity meter is disclosed. The electricity meter includes at least one load control and the electricity meter has one or more predetermined time-of-use tiers. Each of the one or more predetermined time-of-use tiers has a corresponding time-of-use demand threshold. The method comprises determining a present time-of-use tier; determining a present time-of-use demand for the electricity load in the present time-of-use tier; comparing the present time-of-use demand to the time-of-use demand threshold corresponding to the present time-of-use tier; and setting the at least one load control to a de-energize mode when a de-energize condition is satisfied. The de-energize condition may include sub-conditions such as the present time-of-use demand exceeding the time-of-use demand threshold corresponding to the present time-of-use tier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Elster Electricity, LLC
    Inventors: Robert T. Mason, JR., Keith D. Richeson, Charlie E. Minton, III
  • Publication number: 20090167291
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring input voltages to meters that are in a wireless metering network. A plurality of entries can be created that include voltage-related information, such as a maximum input voltage or a minimum input voltage. Each meter can further determine whether the input voltage is beyond a predetermined threshold voltage for a duration that might indicate a voltage irregularity in the network. Each meter in the network can be monitored by a collector, which can communicate information to a data collection server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Keith Richeson, Charlie E. Minton, III, Rodney C. Hemminger, Robert T. Mason, JR.