Abstract: A real-time energy monitoring system which monitors the energy consumption of a residence or business. The system includes a device located in an interface module for sensing the instantaneous value of the energy being measured by the utility meter. The system also includes a photo-transistor which receives the reflected light from a black stripe on the rotating aluminum disk. The photo-transistor produces a signal corresponding to the instantaneous energy usage. A transmitter is coupled to the phototransistor for encoding and transmitting the digital signal. A receiver receives and decodes the transmitted digital signal. A display unit displays the real-time energy consumption data to a user.

Abstract: A surface mountable coaxial solder interconnect. The invention provides a small, low-cost, passively self-aligning, high-frequency electronic interconnect adapted to mass production and method. The invention includes a substrate, a signal conductor, and an annular conductor. The substrate incorporates an annular pad and a signal pad substantially centered within the annular pad. The signal conductor includes reflowed solder and is wetted to the signal pad. Similarly, the annular conductor includes reflowed solder and is wetted to the annular pad. The invention may also provide a second substrate substantially parallel to the first substrate that includes a second annular pad and a second signal pad substantially centered within the second annular pad. In such a case, the signal conductor is also wetted to the second signal pad, and, similarly, the annular conductor is also wetted to the second annular pad. The method of the invention includes obtaining a mask and a substrate.

Abstract: A micro-photonics device is described that includes a substrate and a plurality of optical and electrical components mounted on the substrate. The optical and electrical components form a transmitter and a receiver. A wall is mounted on the substrate to physically separate some of the components from other components to prevent electrical and optical interference between the transmitter and receiver. The wall mounted on the substrate may also be mounted with electrical and optical components of the micro-photonics device. In this case, the wall physically separates the components mounted on the substrate from the components mounted on the wall to prevent electrical and optical interference. Moreover, the wall with the mounted components may simply be attached to a side surface of the substrate.