Abstract: An apparatus for sensing the current in a power line of a power system and systems incorporating the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus may comprise an enclosure providing a window operable to permit the passage of the power line therethrough. The apparatus may further comprise an active current transformer set within the enclosure and operative to produce a scaled version of the current. The apparatus may further comprise an amplifier coupled with the active current transformer and operative to reduce the phase shift and ratio error between the current and the scaled version of the current. The apparatus may further comprise a powering current transformer set within the enclosure and operative to receive power from the power line on a primary winding and deliver power on a secondary winding.

Abstract: A power management integrated circuit for monitoring a parameter of a power system is disclosed. The integrated circuit comprises an analog front end operative to receive and at least one of amplify, attenuate and filter analog signals representative of at least one of voltage and current in a power system to produce modified analog signals. The integrated circuit further comprises an analog to digital converter coupled with the analog front end. The analog to digital converter is operative to produce digital signals representative of the modified analog signals. The integrated circuit further comprises logic coupled with the analog to digital converter, operative to receive the digital signals and produce a power parameter. The comprises a processor core. The integrated circuit further comprises a random access memory coupled with the logic and operative to store the power parameter. The logic is operative to implement a setpoint to detect when the power parameter is outside a determined range.

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 IED includes a power monitoring circuit operative to monitor a parameter of a portion of a power distribution system and generate an analog signal representative thereof. A processor couples with the power monitoring circuit and operates to receive the analog signal and at least one of quantify and report the monitored parameter. The processor further includes an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit having a non-volatile memory operative to store program code for the processor. A digital processing core couples with the non-volatile memory and operates to execute the stored program code to implement the quantifying and reporting functions. A volatile memory couples with the processing core and operates to store working data code for the digital processing core during execution of the stored program code.

Abstract: A cover for use on an electric meter is disclosed which includes an optical port which aids in transmission of optical signals from an optical transmitter, such as a light emitting diode, to an optical receiver, such as a photodiode or similar. The optical port further includes lenses located in the optical transmission path to focus the optical signal, either convergently or divergently, proximate to the optical receiver thereby improving signal reception.

Abstract: A cover for use on an electric meter is disclosed which includes an optical port which aids in transmission of optical signals from an optical transmitter, such as a light emitting diode, to an optical receiver, such as a photodiode or similar. The optical port further includes lenses located in the optical transmission path to focus the optical signal, either convergently or divergently, proximate to the optical receiver thereby improving signal reception.

Abstract: Power quality detection, monitoring, reporting, recording and communication in a revenue accuracy electrical power meter is disclosed. 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. 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. The power supply also enables the meter to initiate and complete a shut-down routine allowing the storage of he recorded and computed data. Further, a separate power supply utilizing a capacitive storage bank is utilized to operate a communications device when the operating power is lost.

Abstract: A time synchronization device and method is provided for synchronizing an internal clock of the power monitor. The internal clock may be adjusted to a periodically stable frequency according to a calculated counting error. Also, a time of the internal clock may be synchronized to a universal time, the time of the internal clock advancing at a determined rate. The determined rate may be adjusted if the internal time differs from the universal time plus a processing time.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) is disclosed for managing, measuring and controlling the distribution of electric power. The IED includes an enclosure. The enclosure houses electrical circuitry and a transformer that includes windings. A resin is set within the enclosure. The resin electrically isolates the windings of the transformer from analog circuitry. A central processing unit is housed within the enclosure. The central processing unit is coupled to the analog circuitry and operative to calculate at least one power management function. At least one of a display and a communications interface is housed within the enclosure and coupled to the central processing unit.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (“IED”) includes at least one function module that performs a specified function or feature. The function module operates to perform a power management function in conjunction with IED. The IED operates with a one key code corresponding to the power management function. The key code operates to enable or disable the power management function.

Abstract: A revenue meter includes electronics for measuring the delivery of electrical energy from an energy supplier to a consumer through an electric circuit. An interface link connects to the revenue meter. An I/O and communications device connects the interface link to the electric circuit. The I/O and communications device uses a serial interface to communicate with the revenue meter. The I/O and communications device provides one or more of analog inputs and outputs, digital inputs and outputs, and communications ports.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) includes a base module having a power monitoring circuit operative to monitor a parameter of a portion of a power distribution system and generate an analog signal representative thereof. The base module also includes a processor coupled with the power monitoring circuit, the processor having an analog to digital converter operative to convert the analog signal to a digital signal representative thereof. The processor operates to implement a first power management functionality and generate first power management data. At least one of a display and a communications interface couple with the processor and communicate the first power management data external to the IED. A first interface couples with the processor and the communications interface. The first interface operates to receive a first external function module.

Abstract: A time synchronization device and method for synchronizing an internal clock of the power monitor to a periodically stable frequency. Cycles of the periodically stable frequency are counted after each elapse of a predetermined time period. The elapse of the predetermined time period defines a present window and a previous window. A counting error and a change in counting error are calculated, wherein the change in counting error is the difference of a counting error calculated for the present window and a counting error calculated for the previous window. The present method detects when a change in counting error is within a predetermined range. When the counting error is within the predetermined range, the internal clock of the power monitor is adjusted to the line frequency according to the counting error calculated for the present window.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) includes a power monitoring circuit operative to monitor a parameter of a portion of a power distribution system and generate an analog signal representative thereof. An analog to digital converter couples with the power monitoring circuit and operates to convert the analog signal to a digital signal representative thereof. A processor couples with the analog to digital converter and operates to implement power management functionality and generate power management data. The IED also includes a first non-volatile memory operative to store first program code for execution by the processor. The processor operates to access a second non-volatile memory in the external function module via the interface. The second non-volatile memory includes a second program code and operates to replace the first program code in the first non-volatile memory with the second program code.

Abstract: An IED includes a power monitoring circuit operative to monitor a parameter of a portion of a power distribution system and generate an analog signal representative thereof. A processor couples with the power monitoring circuit and operates to receive the analog signal and at least one of quantify and report the monitored parameter. The processor further includes an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit having a non-volatile memory operative to store program code for the processor. A digital processing core couples with the non-volatile memory and operates to execute the stored program code to implement the quantifying and reporting functions. A volatile memory couples with the processing core and operates to store working data code for the digital processing core during execution of the stored program code.

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: A power meter is disclosed for determining power parameters for power lines having periodic 3-phase voltage and current signals distributed to a plurality of power equipment. The 3-phase voltage and current signals have a fundamental frequency. The power lines are connected to at least one transducer which generates analog signals representing the voltage and current signals. The power meter includes receiving circuitry which can be connected to the at least one transducer to receive the analog signals. An analog to digital converter receives the output signal from the receiving circuitry and converts the voltage and current signals to digital data representing the analog signals. A processor receives the digital data and includes logic for calculating the power parameters. The power meter compensates for errors caused by not sampling synchronous to the fundamental frequency of the signals.

Abstract: A power meter is disclosed for determining power parameters for power lines having periodic 3-phase voltage and current signals distributed to a plurality of power equipment. The 3-phase voltage and current signals have a fundamental frequency. The power lines are connected to at least one transducer which generates analog signals representing the voltage and current signals. The power meter includes receiving circuitry which can be connected to the at least one transducer to receive the analog signals. An analog to digital converter receives the output signal from the receiving circuitry and converts the voltage and current signals to digital data representing the analog signals. A processor receives the digital data and includes logic for calculating the power parameters. The power meter compensates for errors caused by not sampling synchronous to the fundamental frequency of the signals.