초록 ▼

An automatic utility meter is provided for collecting, calculating, storing and displaying data correlative of consumption of utility commodities such as electric power, gas, water and the like. In addition, the automatic utility meter includes communication means which allows bi-directional communi

An automatic utility meter is provided for collecting, calculating, storing and displaying data correlative of consumption of utility commodities such as electric power, gas, water and the like. In addition, the automatic utility meter includes communication means which allows bi-directional communication of data to and from a remote computer. The automatic utility meter is a direct replacement for existing electric utility meters and uses direct read circuitry to sample and calculate power directly from the input voltage and current waveforms received from an electric utility company.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] An automatic utility meter, comprising:(a) an internal power supply circuit, said internal power supply circuit having an input, said internal power supply circuit having an output for powering internal components in said utility meter;(b) a voltage transducer, said voltage transdu

[ We claim:] [1.] An automatic utility meter, comprising:(a) an internal power supply circuit, said internal power supply circuit having an input, said internal power supply circuit having an output for powering internal components in said utility meter;(b) a voltage transducer, said voltage transducer having an input for connection across first and second external power supply lines, said voltage transducer having a first output operatively coupled to said input of said internal power supply circuit, said voltage transducer having a second output for providing a first voltage signal;(c) a first current transducer configured for sensing current flow through said first power supply line and outputting a second voltage signal proportional to current flowing through said first power supply line;(d) a second current transducer configured for sensing current flow through said second power supply line and outputting a third voltage signal proportional to current flowing through said second power supply line;(e) sampling means for sampling said first, second and third voltage signals;(f) processing means for processing said sampled voltage signals, and for processing encoded signals from a utility supply meter such as a gas or water meter; and(g) a communications interface operatively coupled to said processing means for transferring data between said processing means and an external computer.