CA1118497A - Programmable ac electric energy meter having radiation responsive external data interface - Google Patents
Programmable ac electric energy meter having radiation responsive external data interfaceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1118497A CA1118497A CA000323882A CA323882A CA1118497A CA 1118497 A CA1118497 A CA 1118497A CA 000323882 A CA000323882 A CA 000323882A CA 323882 A CA323882 A CA 323882A CA 1118497 A CA1118497 A CA 1118497A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- data
- radiations
- light
- enclosure
- radiation
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R21/00—Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R21/00—Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor
- G01R21/133—Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor by using digital technique
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An electric energy meter has a programmable time based measuring system carried in a sealed enclosure for mounting the meter at a metering location. A radiation sensitive external data interface receives and transmits data encoded radiations through a transparent communications window of the enclosure. Pulse data is processed by the external data interface in serial data bit transmissions in and out of the measuring system for programming, readout and resting of the system.
An electric energy meter has a programmable time based measuring system carried in a sealed enclosure for mounting the meter at a metering location. A radiation sensitive external data interface receives and transmits data encoded radiations through a transparent communications window of the enclosure. Pulse data is processed by the external data interface in serial data bit transmissions in and out of the measuring system for programming, readout and resting of the system.
Description
47,853 PROGRAMMABLE AC ELECTRIC ENERGY METER
HAVING RADIATION RESPONSIVE EX~ERNAL
DATA INTERFACE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An electric energy meter has a programmable time based measuring system carried in a sealed enclosure for mounting the meter at a metering location. A radiation sensitive external data interface receives and transmits data encoded radiations through a transparent communications window of the enclosure. Pulse data is processed by the external data interface in serial data bit transmissions in and out of the measuring system for programming, readout and testing of the system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
.. . . ... _ _ Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to an external data com-munication arrangement for a programmable AC electric energy meter having a sealed enclosure and more particularly to such an arrangement including a transparent communications window portion of the enclosure for receiving and trans-mitting coded radiations into and from a radiation sénsitive external data interface.
D r~E~ion of the Prior Art:
Induction watthour meters including electromech-anical meter movements are almost un~versally used for use as electric energy billing meters. The use of such induc-tion watthour meters are well established because of their high degree of accuracy, mass production by economical manufacturing techniques, high reliability during many years of service under widely varying ambient operating conditions, and simple and easy installation. Presently, solid state 47,853 electronic circuits are increasingly being used since the size and cost of complex electronic circuits have been substantially reduced by the use of large-scale integration circuit techniques and such circuits have been found to have increasing reliability and extended ambient operating ranges of operation. Accordingly, it is sometimes possible to utilize electronic circuits to replace all or portions of the prior electromechanical meter movement of induction watthour meters. The use of such circuits provides the advantages of larger varieties of different modes of measur-ing operations, including measurements of different para-meters of electric energy consumption and the ability to separately perform such measurements at different time of usage periods corresponding to the on and off peak load conditions of an electric utility distribution system supplying the electric energy being measured.
~o~7 o6~
In Patent No. 4,007,0~1, issued February 28, 1978, for A Digitally Processing And Calculating AC Electric Energy Measuring System, and assigned to the assignee of this invention, an all solid state electronic metering clrcuit is described and claimed utilizing a microprocessor forming a digital sequence controller and calculator sub-system. A program read-only memory (ROM) and a data random access memory (RAM) are disclosed for use with the micro-processor based system. The metering system is an integral package intended to receive certain analog voltage and current signals to be measured and to also receive integral timing pulses so as to produce a number of different meas-uring output signals and to also provide a visual readout display representing such signals. Manual switch inputs are 47,853 ~ ~1 8~ ~ ~
also provided for the selection o~ one of the different parameters being made ~or visual display. The aforementioned system does not disclose a method of transmitting and receiving program data information. As is known in the use of such programmable processors, the ability to change or add program data information ~s sometimes found desirable.
me program data must be supplied through an external data interface not disclosed in the aforementioned patent.
Since billing meters incorporating solid state electronic circuits are required to perform in the same ambient environments as are the prior all-electromechanical types of induction meters and to be attachable at existing meter sockets, the same general type of meter enclosures are required. These enclosures typically include a base and a transparent cup-shaped cover attached to the base. me cover ls usually made of a transparent glass or impact resistant transparent plastic material to protect the metering system from environmental conditions and to protect the system from unauthorized access thereto. When an electronic programmable electr~c energy measuring system is housed ~n such an enclosure, it is desirable to maintain the protective and securing features of the enclosure while providing external connections thereto when required. In U.S. Patent No. 4,110,814 issued August 29, 1978, and as~igned to the assignee of this in~ention, a watthour meter enclosure is disclosed wherein an opening is provided in the side of the enclosure to form a passage for wire conductor~ connected to an electronic meter encoding circuit for remote meter reading systems.
In U.S. Patent No. 4,050,020 A Multiple Rate t~ 47,853 Electrical Energy Metering System ls disclosed having a pro-grammable digital logic control circuit. The system further includes a circulating memory incorporating a programmable timing circuit arrangement. A socket type connector is dis-closed for receivng a plug associated with a portable pro-grammer and tester unit used to transmit data to the memory portion of the system. The programmer plug is insertable through the face of the cup-shaped meter cover and a removable lock or seal is required to prevent unauthorized access to the socket connecter.
While the aforementioned physical connections through the meter enclosure are often quite satisfactory, it ls sometimes desirable to further protect the metering circuits by avoiding the necessity of providing openings through the enclosure.
An optical reader for externally programming a microprocessor is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,056,711, wherein optically coded patterns of reflecting and non-reflecting indicia are positioned over optical transducers of the reader. Coded impulses from the transducers produce address and data to random access memories of the programming system. In U.S. Patent No. 3,789,193, machine readable indications are sensed by an optical reader which transmits corresponding data pulses to a computer controller. In U.S.
Patent No. 4,063,083, an optical data link is established between interfacing assemblies by selectively positioning apertures of matrix boards in a fixed optical light path.
Optical data communication is thereby provided between spaced locations.
3 Accordingly, it is desired to transmit and receive ~ 47,853 data to and from an electric energy meter having a pro-grammable measuring system including an associated read-write programmable memory housed in a wea~herproof and tamper resistant enclosure without alteration or interference with the integrity of such an enclosures. It is further desirable to establish radiation responsive type data link with such measuring systems through a transparent communications window portion of a meter enclosure. The radiation data link is desired to be provided by a compact, reliable, and easily assembled arrangement that is simply used and pro-tects against both outdoor environmental conditions and tampering of electric energy measuring systems.
SUMMARY O~ THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention an AC
electric energy meter includes a programmable time based measuring system having a programmed sequence of operation controlled by a metering sequence logic control circuit for effecting different measured values of parameters used to indicate different usage categories of an electric energy quant~ty to be measured. The measuring system is mounted within a watthour meter enclosure including a preselected radlation transparent portion or communications window formed in a meter cover part of the enclosure. The logic control circuit includes an input/output (I/O) unit that is connected to a radiation sensitive external data interface made in accordance with this invention and mounted within the enclosure. A programmable data random access memory (RAM) ls connected to the I/O unit to receive and transmit binary data information required by the logic control circuit to measure the desired electric energy parameters.
_ ", _ ~ 7 47,853 A bidirectional radiation data link is provided through the transparent communications window of the enclosure to transfer external data in and out of the I/0 unit.
Electronic radiation detector means is provided in the external data interface as well as optoelectronic radiation emitter means to translate encoded radiations and electronic coded pulses connected to the I/0 unit. The electronic detector means and emitter means are positioned in optical radiation responsive communication with the transparent communications window portion of the meter enclosure so as to receive and transmit the binary coded radiations to transfer corresponding binary information into and out of the data RAM memory. In a preferred form of the invention, the external data input of the interface includes two optoelectronic radiation detectors connected to external data in and external strobe in terminals of the I/O unit.
Accordingly, the external data output of this interface includes two optoelectronic emitters connected to external data out and external strobe out terminals of the I/O unit.
The optoelectronic emitters and detectors are mounted in spaced relationship from each other and the transparent communications window portion of the meter cover. A radia-tion shielding baffle is provided between the radiation emitters and detectors and the transparent communications window of the cover. The shielding baffle includes separate tunnel apertures each aligned with a separate one of the emitters and detectors to isolate the separate radiations for transmitting non-interfering radiations from and to the detectors and emitters. The communications window portion of' the meter cover includes a recessed indexing arrangement 47,853 for receiving a portable programmer-reader unit in communi-cations registration with the radiation emitters and de-tectors.
External data transfer is performed in a synch-ronous transmission mode utilizing the four electronic radiation detector and emitter devices. The strobe in and strobe out data are used to signal when the transmitting one of the field programmer-reader or the logic control circuit is ready for transmission and the receiving one of the two to effect acknowledge signals when it is in a state to acknowledge and be conditioned for receiving the coded radiation data. Data in and data out data lines are then synchronized to the strobe in and strobe out data lines of the I/0 unit so that data transfer can be accomplished at the desired rate of either the transmitter or receiver of the data.
The external data interface is further capable of providing external control of portions of the meter time based measuring system. In one preferred embodiment, simultaneous radiation stimulation of the two radiation detectors switches an electronic readout display from an inactive to an active display status.
It is a general feature of the present invention to provide a unique communication data link for an electric energy meter having a programmable measuring system housed in a protective enclosure so that no physical connections are required through the enclosure. It is a further feature of this invention to provide an optical radiation link for data programming and testing through the transparent cover of a watthour meter enclosure for communicating in a serial 47,853 synchronous mode of data transfer to the data RAM memory of a metering sequence logic control circuit providing accumu-lation of real time measured values of time of usage par-ameters of an electric energy quantity. A further feature of the invention is to provide for external programming of initial real time data and of preselected time of use time categories data through a radiation data link of an electric energy meter measuring time of use parameters of an AC
electric energy quantity. A still further feature of this invention is to provide an optical radiation data link between a programmable time based measuring system of an electric energy billing meter and a portable programmer-reader which is simply and reliably used for programming, .
testing and reading out of electronically stored measured data and which affords flexibility in varylng the speeds of data transfer and assurance that such data transfer is made in an accurate manner and which further prevents unauthor-ized tampering of the meter.
These and other features and advantages of the pre~ent invention will become apparent from the detailed descrlption of the drawings briefly described hereinafter. -BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates a block schematic diagram of an electric energy meter including a radiation sensitive external data interface made in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the electric energy meter shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top elevational view, partially in section, of a portion of the meter shown in -, -: , ~
~7 47,853 Fig. 2 including the external data interface and a field programmer-reader assembly associated therewith;
Fig. 3A is a diagrammatic view of the meter shown in Fig. 3 and an external radiation control device;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the axls IV-IV of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of arrows of a probe of the programmer-reader assembly shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a time graph of signals occurring in the block schematic diagram of Fig. l; and Figs. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D illustrate flow chart diagrams showing sequences of operation of the meter shown in Fig. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referrlng now to the drawings, and more parti-cularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a block schematic diagram of a programmable AC electric energy meter 10 carried in an enclosure 12 of a type used for housing induction watthour meters and including a predetermined radiation transparent communications window portion 14 described more fully hereinbelow. The meter 10 includes a programmable time based measuring system 15 including a metering sequence loglc control circuit 16. In one preferred embodiment the loglc control circuit is formed by a single-chip micro-computer type MK 3870 available from the Mostek Corporation, Carrollton, Texas 75006. The logic control circuit 16 is operative to calculate and accumulate different measured parameters of an electric energy quantity to be measured and flowing in the conductors 20 and 22. A voltage component V
and a current component I are applied to an electrical energy to pulse rate converter 24. Pulses are produced at _g_ . -8 ~ ~ 47,853 the output of the converter 24 on the conductors 26 and 27which have a pulse rate proportlonal to the rate of elec-trlcal energy consumption-supplied by the conductors 20 and 22. In one preferred form of the lnvention, the converter -24 ls formed by a c = tional lnduction watthour meter -having an~electromagnetlc metering movement drivlng an ;el-ctrooonductive dlsc~at a rate responsive to bhe rate of ~ -consumptlon~of~-l-ctrlc en-rgy ~ A pulse lnltlator is responslve to the~disc rotatlons to produce the pulse output~on;the conductors 26 and 27 The followlng U S
Patent~ 3,733,493~lssued~Mar 15, 1973; 3,878,391 issu-d Aprll 15, 1975;~3,943,498 lssued March 9? 1976; and 4,034,292 l-lssued July 5, 1977,~all assign-d to the assignee of this lnventlon, dlsolos- pulse lnitiator syotems for produclng -~
the doslred puls-s;on~th-~conductors~26 nd 27 It 18 also contemplated that other~-l-otrio~en-rgy to pulse rate ~;~
converter~ may be used,~or~example the~electronic watthour ~;~
meterlng~ clrGults described~in~the~followlng U S Patents 4,056,774 issued ~ove O-r~ , 1977~and 3,764,908 is~ued Octob-r 9, 1973,~both asslgn-d to th-~as~lgne- of this inventlon produce puls-s r sponsive to the rate of electric -~
energy ~low ln a~clrcult to be ea~ur-d ~-The program~ble time~based measuring system 15 is - ;~
further desoribed in U S Patent 4,197j582 issued April 8, 1980 A block dlagram of the loglc control ciroult 16 1 shown ln Flg 1~and is described~more rully in the Mostek ~ubll¢atlon F8 Microprocessor Devices, Single-Chip Mloroco puter MK 3870 dated July, 1977 An input/output (I/0) unit 30 i8 formed by the I/0 port described in the aforementloned Mostek :
., , ,-. . - , . . . .
~ 1~ 8~sr7 47,853 publication. The I/O unit 30 receive~ the conductors 26 and 27 to apply the pulses to the control circuit 16. A
data read-write or random access memory (RAM) 34 is con-nected by bus 36 including plural data lineæ connected to - the I/O unit 30. The data RAM memory 34 includes electronic memory for storage of mathematical constants required in cal¢ulating and~accu~u1ating values of the electric energy ~para eters to be measured from the~pulses from the converter ~ -24. me data RAM 34 also stores real tlme of day informa- -tlon and other programmed~reference time data to effect measurements of tlme o~ usage parameters of the electric energy quantlty~to be measured~at predetermined time Gat egorles or periods whlch correspond to on peak, off peak, and ~houlder peak or high, mid and low rate billing perlods.
The control circuit 16 has the general configu-rat~on as ~hown ln Flg. 1 and descrlbed ln the~aforemen-tloned publi¢atlon. The operation is further described in ., ~ , .
a~orementioned U.S. Patent 4,197,582 1ssued April 8, 1980.
Oenerally, a permanently fixed programmed sequence of . ~
instruction~ ior controlling the steps of operation of the clrcult 16 18 ~tored in a program read-only memory (ROM) 38. A maln data bus 39 lnterconnects the different units of the clrcult 16. An lnternal cloc~ unlt 40 1s connected to an external osclllator crystal XTAL to provide tlming 8ignal~ for lnternal operation of the circuit 16. A timer ; unlt 42 and interrupt logic 44 operate in the event counter mode with Rlxty hertz pulses being applied from a timing clrcult 46 to the external lnterrupt (EXT INT) termlnal of the clrcult 16. Once each second the clrcult updates appropriateones of plural time storing registers in 47,853 the RAM memory 34. The time of day in hours, minutes and seconds is maintained as well as the day of the week and further the day of the year is stored if desired. Electric energy related pulses from the connectors 26 and 27 are processed by operation of the scratch pad register 1 arithmetic-loglc ALU un~t 48, accumuIator and status reg-ister unit 50, the instruction register unit 52 and control logic 56 in the program sequence of the ROM unlt 38 as described in the aforementioned MOSTEK publication. The -circuit 16 totalizes and stores ln the data RAM memory 34 the values of the electric energy parameters to be measured ~ -lncluding kilowatt hours and kilowatt demand for the pre-determined high rate, mid rate and low rate periods during each day. Visual readout of the values measured, totalized, and stored in the RAM memory 34 is made at a vlsual display 60 formed by eight digit display elements of a seven-segment LED type electronic display connected by a data bus 62 to the I/O unit 30. The eight digit display elements are lncluded in two electron display packages type 5082-7414.
20 The stored read-write memory data is also read out in pulse ;~
slgnal by means of the present invention described below.
To effect proper operation of the meter 10, certaln blnary data information must be stored in the RAM
memory 34. The program data memory information must be initially stored, be capable of being changed, be checked to verify the operation of the meter 10. Also, stored data values of the measured electric energy parameters must be capable of being read electronically from the meter. For example, the different time of day measuring periods may be changed for changing the times at whlch different rates of , .
47,853 billing are to be made for both kllowatt hour and kllowatt demand parameters of the electrlc energy tlme o~ usage measurements Also, mathe~atical constants, used by the metering sequence logic control clrcuit 16 to calculate the kilowatt hours and kilowatt demand parameters, are desired to be~cheoked perlodlcally Stlll further, it may be deslred to~check~the tlme~of day whlch ls being calculated by the~control clrcuit~1~6 from ~slgnals appiled from the - timing~circult 44~and~therea~ter~stored ln the RAM unit 34 ~ -~ A portable~;fi-ld~progra~er-reader~66, shown in Fig 3, is used;~to initlally~and periodlcally thereafter, store, read~and~oheck~bln~ry~data informatlon in the RAM
e~ory 34 ~ coded~radlations 68,;70, 72 and 74, des¢rlbed further hereinbelow,~pass througb the preselected radiation transparent~co unlcatlons windo~ 14 of the en-¢losur- 12 to~oouple~r dla*ions~with~a~radiation sensitive oxtornal data lnt-r~ # e 76 Th~term co lcations w~ndow a~usod herein re~ers~to~any~pàrt of the enclosure 12 -, : . ~ , ~
",, ~
through~whlch the ln~ormatl n~or~the radiations 68, 70, ~;~ 20 ~72~nd 74 1 transmitted~and~rec-ived to effect programming t~atlng or readout of data ~ Four conductors or data lines 78, 80, 82, and 84 oonneot~the interface 76 with four pin termlnaIs Or the lnput/output unit 30 for conducting electronic -~ pulso ~lgnals thorebetween Tho llne 78 is deslgnated as a DATA IN lino, the conductor 80 is designated a STROBE IN
Ilne, the conductor 82~;1s connected in series with a DATA
OUT llne and the oonductor 84 is connected in series with a STROBE OUT line In the radiatlon sending portlon of the lnterface 76, rIrst and second radlation emltters 86 and 87 are ' ~y;' ~ .
. . .
47,853 connected to the lines 82 and 84, respectively, and a source of voltage +V. The conductor 82 i5 connected in series with resistor 88 and a transistor amplifier 89 connected to one terminal of the I/0 unit 30. The conductor 84 ls connected -~ -in series with a resistor 92 correspondIng to the resistor 88 and a transistor amplifier 93 corresponding to the ;-amplifier 89 and is further connected to another terminal of the I/0 unit 30. The flrst and second radiation emitters 86 and 87 are preferably optoelectronic type radiation emitters - - -formed by light-emitting diode tLED) devices of a type GE55B. These devices emit light radiations having principal frequencies in the infrared spectrum.
The radiation receiving portion of the interface 76 includes first and second radiation sensors 96 and 97 -, connected in series with the conductors 78 and 80, respect- ~;
ively. The first and second radiation sensors 96 and 97 are each formed by an optoelectronic semiconductor type of a phototransistor type LS 8047 having resistors 98 and 99 connected across the base to emitter circuit thereof and to -~
ground as shown. The radiation sensors 96 and 97 are responsive to electromagnetic radiations 68 and 70 when they are light radiations in the lnfrared frequency region corre~ponding to the light electromagnetic radiations of the emitters 86 and 87. Accordingly, the optoelectronic semi-conductors forming the light-emitting diode radiation emitters 86 and 87 produce electromagnetic radiations 72 and 74 which are light radiations chiefly in the infrared frequency bandwidth.
The radiations 68 and 70 activate the radiation sensors 96 and 97 to produce the DATA IN pulse 102 in the . _ ..
~ ` ~ 47,853 conductor 78 and the STROBE IN pulse 103 in the conductor 80. Accordlngly, the pulses 102 and 103 are applied to terminals of the I/O unit 30. The two terminals of the I/O
unit 30 connected with the conductors 82 and 84 produce DATA
OUT pulses 105 and the STROBE OUT pulses 106 to activate the radiation emitters 86 and 87, respectively, to produce the corresponding electromagnetic light radiations 72 and 74.
A radiation shielding baffle 108 forms a radiation coupling and isolation member extending from the radiation sending and receiving portions of the interface 76 toward the inside of the communications window portion 14 of the enclosure 12 to isolate and couple the separate radiations of the radiation emitters 84 and 86 and the radiation sensors g6 and 97 as described more fully in connection with the description of Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The radiation shield-ing baffle 108 assures that there is no interference between the separate radiations 68, 70, 72, and 74.
In Fig. 2 there is shown a front view of the meter 10 having an enclosure 12 including a cup-shaped transparent cover 109 referred to hereinabove. The fragmentary top cross-sectlonal view of Fig. 3 shows a portion of the meter 10 including the radiation sensitive external data interface unit 76 and the shielding baffle 108 extending in alignment with the preselected communications wlndow portion 14 of the meter cover part 109 of the enclosure 12. The cover 109 is preferably made as shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,846,677 and attached to a base to form a sealed protective enclosure 12 having protective features described in U.S. Patent Nos.
3,337,802 and 3,413,552, both assigned to the assignee of this invention. The meter 10 includes a conventional , .
~ ~ 47,853 induction watthour metering movement, not shown, having a mechanical dial register 110 shown in Fig. 2, for indicating the total kilowatt hour consumption of electrical energy consumption being measured. The watthour metering movement is carried by the base of the enclosure, both not shown, and may be a single-phase type as shown in U.S. Patent No.
3,309,152 issued March 14, 1967, or polyphase type as shown in U.S. Patent. No. 3,683,276 issued August 8, 1972 equipped with a pulse initiator as described in one of the above- , lO mentioned pulse initiator patents. The meter further -encloses the programmable time based electric energy meas- -uring system 15, including the metering sequence logic control circuit 16. The electronic visual display 60 shown in Figs. l and 2, displays the different measured time of day related energy usage parameters and real time data through the front of the meter cover 109. Also in Fig. 3 the radiation sensitive external data interface 76 also has the forward end of the radiation shielding baffle 108 facing the inside of the front of the meter cover behind the preselected window portion 14.
Referring further to Fig. 3, a name plate 111 is mounted in front of first and second circuit boards 112 and 113 carry components of the programmable metering system shown ln Fig. 1 except for the electric energy to pulse rate converter 24 which is formed by a pulse initiator operable from the disc of the induction metering movement as noted hereinabove. The radiation emitters 86 and 87 and the radiatlon sensors 96 and 97 are connected to the pin term-lnals of the I/0 unit 30 of the metering sequence logic 30 control circuit 16 carried on the board 112. The radiation ~ ~ 47,853 sensors and emitters are mounted so as to be received in the rearward end of the shielding baffle 108 and are aligned `
with four straight and tunnel-like cylindrical aperture~
114, 115, 116 and 117 all shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The shielding baffle 108 is shown in Fig. 3 ln elevation while other parts are shown in section. The top radiation emitter 87 and top radiation sensor 96 are shown al1gned with the associated apertures 115 and 114, respectively, of the radiation ~hielding baffle 108. Accordingly, the electro-magnetic radiations 68, 70, 72, and 74 pass through both the ~ -apertures 114, 115, 116, and 117 and through the preselected co~un1catlons window portion 14 of the cover 109 as æhown for the radiations 68 and 74 in Fig. 3.
A control mechanism 120, not forming a part of the pre~ent in~entlon, l~ shown in Fig. 3 as it ls a~sembled in ~ealed relationship to the cover 109 as generally de~oribed in U.S. Patent No. 3,059,181 issued October 16, 1962, and asslgned to the asslgnee of this invention.
To e~fect data communication via the electro-magnotlc light radiations 68, 70, 72, and 74, shown in Fig.
1, a fleld proBr~mor-reader assembly 66 i5 used as shown in Flg~. 3 and 4. The assembly 66 lncludes a probe 134 con-nected by means o~ a cable 136 to a programmer-reader clr¢ult box 137. The probe 134 includes a llght radiation ~endlng and recei~ing data~ interface 138 which i8 comple-menta~y to the external data interiace 76 of the meter 10.
The general circuit arrangement Or the interface 138 is shown in Flg. 1 and described ~urther hereinbelow in conJunction wlth Fig. 4. The forward end 140 of the probe 134 is arranged to mate in a predetermined register-lng orlentatlon wlth the preselected ~ 8~7 47,853 window portion 14 of the meter cover 109. me outer portlon - of the probe 134 includes four straight and tu~nel-like cylindrical apertures 142, 143, 144, and 145 intended for coaxial alignment with the apertures 114, 115, 116,and 117, respectively of the shielding baffle 108. ;~
The preselected window portion 14 of the meter cover 109 includes three arcuately spaced conical recesses :~
150, 152, and 153 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 shows the outline of a cross-sectional view of the index recesses 152 and 153. -~
: 10 mree conical pro~ections 156, 158, and 159 shown in Figs. 3 and 4, project from the forward end 140 of the probe 134.
The index pro~ections 156, 158 and 159 are intended to be received by the index recesses 150, 152, and 153 respect-ively when the probe is manually pressed and held agalnst the outslde of the meter cover 109 at ~he window portion 14.
mus allgned, the tunnel apertures 142, 143, 144, and 145 are coaxially aligned with the apertures 114, 115, 116, and ~ -~
117.~ ~-: me radiation sending and receiving interface 138 of the probe 134 has the circuit configuration as shown in `-~
Flg. 1 for transmitting the radiations 68 and 70 and receiv-lng the radiatlons 72 and 74 in a complementary relationship with the meter data interface 76. The interface 138 in-clude~ fir~t and second radiation emitters 160 and 162 for producing the radiations 68 and 70, respectively, when they are activated. First and second radiation ~ensors 164 and 166 are arranged to be activated by the radlation em~tters 86 and 87, respectively. The radiation emitters 160 and 162 are formed by optoelectronic light-emitting diodes, LED, of the type corresponding to the radiation emitters 86 and 47,853 A -~ and the radlation sensors 164 and 166 are formed by optoelectronic phototransistors of the type corresponding to the type used in radiation sensors 96 and 97. Accordingly, the radiation emitters 160 and 162 are each connected between a source of voltage +V and through resistors 168 and 169 and transistor amplifiers 170 and 171 and connected in series with the associated radiation emitter by conductors 174 and 175 which are connected to terminals of the pro-/3~
grammer-reader circuit~ ; The radiation sensors 164 and 166 are connected by conductors 177 and 178 to separate ~ . -f37 terminals Or the circuit ~
Thus described, it is seen that the mating of the probe 134 with the communications window portion 14 aligns the radiations 68 and 70 from the radiation emitters 160 and 162 of the sending and receiving interface 138 to activate the radlation sensors 96 and 97, respectively, and produçe the DATA IN pulses 102 and the STROBE IN pulses 103 to the I/O unit 30 of the control circuit 16. Correspondingly, the ~ATA OUT pulses 105 and the STROBE OUT pulses 106 from the I/O unit 30 of the control circuit 16 activate the radiation emitters 86 and 87 to produce the light electromagnetic radiations 72 and 74, respectively, to activate the radia-tlon ~ensors 164 and 166 of the probe data interface 138.
The meter 10 is installed in a typical electric energy measuring recepticle such as a meter box, at an electrlc utility company's customer location for measuring the electric energy quantity of conductors 20 and 22 ln Fig.
1. Accordingly, the meter 10 is stationary and fixed in its operating position and many such meters are utilized by an electrlc utility company for billing purposes. The field ~ 7 47,853 programmer-reader assembly 66 is an easily carried unit and ;
a large number of meters are easily programmed and checked by the easy aligning of the probe 134 against the face of the meter at the preselected solid communications window -~
portion 14 in aligned registration with radiation shielding ;~
baffle 108, as shown in Fig. 3. It is understood that the index pro~ections 156, 158 and~159 are inserted into the -~
reoess as 150, 152 and 153 when the probe ls manually ~-pressed against the face of the cover 109 at the window ~
10 portion 14. The operation of the control circuit 16 in- -volves a program described further in connection with the description of Figs. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D, in the program ROM
memory 38 such that the terminals of the I/O unit 30 are connected with conductors 78 and 80 are scanned ~requently durlng the sequence of operation of the control clrcuit 16.
When it is desired to receive data transmlssions from the, ;~ ~
programmer-reader assembly 66 to program and/or check the ;-data RAM memory 34, the sequence of operation of the signals 102, 103, 105, and 106 are shown in Fig. 5. The control clrcuit 16 senses unequal logic states on the DATA IN line 78 and the STROBE IN line 80 when the programmer-reader ~ -assembly 66 is slgnalling with radiations 70 that communi-catlon between the assembly 66 and the programmable electric energy measurlng system 15 is desired.
The data signalling is accomplished by the pro-grammer-reader assembly 66 initiating a synchronous mode of serial data bit transmissions. This allows flexibility in '~ the signalling rates between the assembly ~ and the logic control clrcuit 16. The radiation emitter 162 is activated to produce the light electromagnetic radiations 70 which ..~
~: .
,, , : , , , 47,853 pass through the window portion 14 to actlvate the radiation sensor 97 causing the STROBE IN line to go from a binary one to a binary zero state as shown at time to in Fig. 5. The DATA IN line 78 remains in the binary one state 80 that a difference occurs between the lines 78 and ~ -80 which is sehsed at the I10 unit 30. When the binary zero state is sensed on the line n, the control cirouit 16 initlates the response slgnal 106 on the STROBE OUT line 84 actlvating the radiation emitter 87 producing the light electromagnetic radiations 74 through the meter cover 109 to ~-activate the radiation sensor 166 connected to the circuit . .
137. The program~er-reader circult 37 then is ~ignalled that the loglc control circult 16 is ready to receive data.
Accordingly, th- STROBE OUT pulse 106 shown in Fig. 5 goes irom a binary one to a binary zero~state as shown at time t1. The ilrst desired bit oi blnary data infor ation to be transierred is assumed to be a binary zero 80 that at time ~`
t2 the emltter 160 1n the programmer-reader sending and rec-i~ing interiace 138 is aetivated to produce the light ; 20 radlat10ns 68, which are received~by the radiation sensor 96 in the data lnterface 76 and produce a binary logic zero on a lino 78 as indicated by the pulses 102 in Fig. 5 at the time t2.
me DATA IN on line 78 remains ln the logic binary zero and will remain until tlme t6 for signalling the first zero data blt. At timç t3, the DATA OUT l1ne 82 activates the emitter 86 to transmit the electromagnetic radiation 72 throughout the tlme that data is being received by the external data lnterface 76. At time t4 the STROBE IN line goes high presenting a rising pulse in response to the !~Y
~ . . .- . . . .
~ ~ 47,853 deactivation of the radiation emitter 162 which effects sampling of the logic state of signal 102 occurring on the DATA IN line 78. The I/O unit 30 activates the STROBE OUT
line 84 and the radiation emitter 87 to produce the radia-tions 74 signalling that the sampling of the DATA IN pulse 102 has been completed. This would complete one cycle of transfer of one data bit from the programmer-reader assembly 66 to the logic control circuit 16. At time t6 the STROBE
IN line 103 goes low the binary zero state again indicating 10 another bit is to be transmitted. The STROBE OUT line 84 activates the emitter 87 to go to the binary zero at time t7 acknowledging that the circuit 16 is ready to receive a pulse. The DATA IN line will have been put at the binary state to be transmitted at the time t6 so that when the `
STROBE IN line goes high or to the binary one state, the ~ATA IN line is sampled indicating a binary zero bit indi-A cated at the top line of the graph of signals in Fig.~ and the STROBE OUT line 87 goes high indicating that the second data bit has been sampled. The same sequence of operation 20 continues to produce a serial bit stream having the follow-ing data in~ormation: zero, zero, one, zero, one, one. Then the emitters 160 and 162 are both deenergized so that nelther of the electromagnetic radiations 68 or 70 are transmitted to the radiation sensors 96 and 97 indicating that no further transmission is to be made from the pro-grammer-reader assembly 66. The interface 76 is then returned to a standby condition with the transmitted data belng stored in the data RAM 34.
The data transmissions have a predetermined number 30 of binary data bits. The number of bits received is com-9~ 47,853 pared to the total message length or bits contained in the transmission and when they match the receiving unit is rendered to data transmssion completed status.
When there is a transmission of data from the logic control circuit 16 in the meter 10 to the programmer- -reader assembly 66, the ~equence of operation shown in Fig. ~-;
S , is reversed with the data informatlon transmission from the meter being provided on the STROBE OUT and DATA OUT
lines 82 and 84 corresponding to the operati~on o~f the lines 10 174 and 175 in the interface unit 138 to produce the coded -~
light radiations 68 and 78 which in turn operate as do the aforementioned lines 82 and 84 for receiving data at the meter 10. This meter transmitted mode is used to check the real time data and program constants and to read out the measuring data from the RAM memory 24.
It is apparent by those skilled in the art that an asynchronous data transmission may be provided Oetween the - lnterface units 76 and 138 not requiring the use of the STROBE IN and STROB~ OUT lines 84, however this requires that the data be transferred at a fixed rate rather than different rates utilizing the synchronous transmission described hereinabove. In the synchronous transmission, it i~ apparent that onè unit signals the other unit that it lntends to transmit data, the interrogated unit then res- -ponds an acknowledgment and then each time data is sent there is an exchange of acknowledgments so that the data is transmitted and received in a manner which is most reliable. ~.
The maintalning of the external data interface 76 within the meter enclosure 12 including the meter cover 109 prevents any physical access to the interface 76 so as to prevent :
47,853 111~4`9 7 ,;
tampering or vandalism. Also, as is apparent from the description hereinabove, the interface 76 ls completely electrically lsolated from the other communicating unit formed by the programmer-reader 66 when communicating data to the logic control circuit 16.
Another important feature is provided by the arrangement of the interface unlt 76 in that a conventional and readlly available lncandescent bulb source forms an external radlation control device 182 of light radiations 183 shown in Fig. 3A, forms the external radiation control device that can be shined through the faoe of the cover 109 at the preselected window portion 14 to effect a control operation of the system 5. Incandescent bulbs such as found ln flashlights provide sufficient quanta of in-frared frequencies of radiations 183 that will activate slmNltaneou~ly both the radiation sensors 96 and 97. The control unit 16 is activated in respoDse to both of the lines 78 and 80 each going to a Iow activated condition corresponding to blnary zero states and will activate the readout display 60 so that it will display its numerical ; readout of the various data including the measured para-meters totalized by the control clrcuit 16 and real time rogistrations when otherwise the readout display 60 may be deactivated by the control circuit 16. A normal operation of the readout display 60 may be that it is only activated ,, for displaying between the hours of six a.m. and six p.m.
each day. If it is des~red to have the readout display 60 activated, the conventional incandescent light source such as provided by a flashlight that can produce the light ;~
electromagnetic radiations 183 which correspond to applying the radiations 68 and 70 simultaneously to produce simul-~, .
47,853 ~18497 taneously occurring inputs on the lines 78 and 80 mls signals the control clrcult 16 to turn on the readout display 60 ln the hours other than from slx p.m. to æix a.m.
It 18 contemplated that the readout display 60 may be excluslvely activated by the si~ltaneous inputs rather than cycled on and off by the oontrol clrcuit 16.
Referring now to the Figæ. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D there are shown flow dlagrams of~routlnes or sequences of operation of the measuring system as established by the flxed program ROM memory 38. As noted above the measuring system is normally operatlng in either the maln routine, shown ln Fig.
6A, or, in a timer interrupt~routine shown in Fig. 6B.
After eacb slxty pulses from the slxty hertz timlng circuit 46 shown ln Flg. 1, the main routine ls lnterrupted at one second lntervals so the loglc control circuit 16 will update the real time storage reglsters in the RAM memory 34. At lnltlal power supply energizatlon, the~po~wer on clear start-up operations occur at the beginning of the main routine of $he entry step 190. At the following decislon step 192, the programmed constants are checked and an error mode i8 :~
establlshed at step 194 if there ls no check. A power fail declslon 196 prepares the ~ystem for a power outage con-dltlon as descrlbed more fully in the above-identified U.S. Patent 4,197,582. me tlme is updated and then stored ln the non-volatile data memory 24 at steps 198 and 200. If no power outage is occurring, the reoccurring principal operations of the main routine are to load the constants data from RAM memory, at step 202, into the logic control clrcult 16 and go to a display service subroutine at step 204 to dlsplay the real - , . - ~ ~ -. .
~ 47,853 time and measured values. Thereafter, the metering pulse inputs from the pulse rate converter 24 are sampled and the pulse data is stored in step 206. Important to the present invention is the programmer link subroutine at step 208 where the logic control circuit 16 samples to detect whether external data is to be received at the external data inter- ~-face 76. This subroutine is data interface 76. This subroutine is described further in connection with the description of Fig. 6C. The steps 202 through 208 cycli-cally reoccur with short interrupts provided by the routine shown in Fig. 6B.
The timer interrupt is entered at the beginning step 210 every one second interval. The time and day is ad~usted as required at steps 212 and 214. The decision step 216 determines whether a seven-day or 365-day mode is being used and, if so, the day of the year is ad~usted at step 218. Then the rate selection subroutine step 220 checks the current real time against the times at which the dif-ferent rates or categories of measurements are to change and effect the change if required. This routine is then done at step 222.
The programmer link subroutine 208 of Fig. 6A is shown in further detail in Fig. 6C for effecting the sequence of operation represented by the graph of signals shown in - Fig. 5 and described hereinabove. The subroutine is entered at step 224 and steps 226 and 228 check both the STROBE IN
and DATA IN signals 103 and 102, respectively, to see if they are different. If not, the subroutine returns to the main routlne of Fig. 6A at step 230 and if true, the sub-routine continues to initiate a data receive sequence at .
~ 4 ~ ~ 47,853 step 232. The step 234 checks if the signal 103 is active at a low true and returns to the main routine while checking and testing at decision step 236. When the signal is active, the data logic of signal 102 is saved at step 238 and the STROBE OUT signal 106 is then outputted low true at step 240. The change in state of the signal 103 is awaited at step 242 and decision step 244. When signal 103 goes high, the data signal 102 is sampled at step 246 and acknowl-edged by step 248 by the change in state of the signal 106 going high. The decision step 250 tests if all the data bits have been received by comparing to a counter which decremented one count with each received data bit. If not equal to zero, the subroutine returns to steps 234 through 250 at step 252 until all the predetermined number of data bits have been received. When input data is completed the subroutine returns to the main routine at step 254. An exact complementary sequence is provided to transmit data from the meter 10 to the programmer-reader assembly 66 through the radiation communication link described above.
The flow chart of Fig. 6D shows the subroutine for actlvating the readout display 60 in response to the ex-ternal radiation control device 182 in Fig. 3. When the maln routine reaches the step 204 the display service subroutine is entered at step 256 in Fi~. 6D. The decision step 258 checks the existing time of day and checks it against a preselected time. If true, the steps 260 and 262 efffect activation of the readout display 60. The subroutine then returns to the main routine of Fig. 6A at the exiting step 264. If the decision step 258 is false, the control clrcuit 16 tests both of the DATA IN and STROBE IN data 7 47,853 lines at step 266. If both lines are active, as provided by the radiations 183 from the source 182, the decision step 268 is true and the display is activated by steps 260 and 262. If the decision step 268 is false, the subroutine `
exits at step 264. The sequence of operations of the G~
subroutine in Fig. i provides activation of the display 60 ~
without any physical access to the circuit 16 through an ~:
opening of the meter enclosure 12.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention is - -10 described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in ` .
the art that other modifications and alternative arrange-ments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
. . . .
HAVING RADIATION RESPONSIVE EX~ERNAL
DATA INTERFACE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An electric energy meter has a programmable time based measuring system carried in a sealed enclosure for mounting the meter at a metering location. A radiation sensitive external data interface receives and transmits data encoded radiations through a transparent communications window of the enclosure. Pulse data is processed by the external data interface in serial data bit transmissions in and out of the measuring system for programming, readout and testing of the system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
.. . . ... _ _ Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to an external data com-munication arrangement for a programmable AC electric energy meter having a sealed enclosure and more particularly to such an arrangement including a transparent communications window portion of the enclosure for receiving and trans-mitting coded radiations into and from a radiation sénsitive external data interface.
D r~E~ion of the Prior Art:
Induction watthour meters including electromech-anical meter movements are almost un~versally used for use as electric energy billing meters. The use of such induc-tion watthour meters are well established because of their high degree of accuracy, mass production by economical manufacturing techniques, high reliability during many years of service under widely varying ambient operating conditions, and simple and easy installation. Presently, solid state 47,853 electronic circuits are increasingly being used since the size and cost of complex electronic circuits have been substantially reduced by the use of large-scale integration circuit techniques and such circuits have been found to have increasing reliability and extended ambient operating ranges of operation. Accordingly, it is sometimes possible to utilize electronic circuits to replace all or portions of the prior electromechanical meter movement of induction watthour meters. The use of such circuits provides the advantages of larger varieties of different modes of measur-ing operations, including measurements of different para-meters of electric energy consumption and the ability to separately perform such measurements at different time of usage periods corresponding to the on and off peak load conditions of an electric utility distribution system supplying the electric energy being measured.
~o~7 o6~
In Patent No. 4,007,0~1, issued February 28, 1978, for A Digitally Processing And Calculating AC Electric Energy Measuring System, and assigned to the assignee of this invention, an all solid state electronic metering clrcuit is described and claimed utilizing a microprocessor forming a digital sequence controller and calculator sub-system. A program read-only memory (ROM) and a data random access memory (RAM) are disclosed for use with the micro-processor based system. The metering system is an integral package intended to receive certain analog voltage and current signals to be measured and to also receive integral timing pulses so as to produce a number of different meas-uring output signals and to also provide a visual readout display representing such signals. Manual switch inputs are 47,853 ~ ~1 8~ ~ ~
also provided for the selection o~ one of the different parameters being made ~or visual display. The aforementioned system does not disclose a method of transmitting and receiving program data information. As is known in the use of such programmable processors, the ability to change or add program data information ~s sometimes found desirable.
me program data must be supplied through an external data interface not disclosed in the aforementioned patent.
Since billing meters incorporating solid state electronic circuits are required to perform in the same ambient environments as are the prior all-electromechanical types of induction meters and to be attachable at existing meter sockets, the same general type of meter enclosures are required. These enclosures typically include a base and a transparent cup-shaped cover attached to the base. me cover ls usually made of a transparent glass or impact resistant transparent plastic material to protect the metering system from environmental conditions and to protect the system from unauthorized access thereto. When an electronic programmable electr~c energy measuring system is housed ~n such an enclosure, it is desirable to maintain the protective and securing features of the enclosure while providing external connections thereto when required. In U.S. Patent No. 4,110,814 issued August 29, 1978, and as~igned to the assignee of this in~ention, a watthour meter enclosure is disclosed wherein an opening is provided in the side of the enclosure to form a passage for wire conductor~ connected to an electronic meter encoding circuit for remote meter reading systems.
In U.S. Patent No. 4,050,020 A Multiple Rate t~ 47,853 Electrical Energy Metering System ls disclosed having a pro-grammable digital logic control circuit. The system further includes a circulating memory incorporating a programmable timing circuit arrangement. A socket type connector is dis-closed for receivng a plug associated with a portable pro-grammer and tester unit used to transmit data to the memory portion of the system. The programmer plug is insertable through the face of the cup-shaped meter cover and a removable lock or seal is required to prevent unauthorized access to the socket connecter.
While the aforementioned physical connections through the meter enclosure are often quite satisfactory, it ls sometimes desirable to further protect the metering circuits by avoiding the necessity of providing openings through the enclosure.
An optical reader for externally programming a microprocessor is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,056,711, wherein optically coded patterns of reflecting and non-reflecting indicia are positioned over optical transducers of the reader. Coded impulses from the transducers produce address and data to random access memories of the programming system. In U.S. Patent No. 3,789,193, machine readable indications are sensed by an optical reader which transmits corresponding data pulses to a computer controller. In U.S.
Patent No. 4,063,083, an optical data link is established between interfacing assemblies by selectively positioning apertures of matrix boards in a fixed optical light path.
Optical data communication is thereby provided between spaced locations.
3 Accordingly, it is desired to transmit and receive ~ 47,853 data to and from an electric energy meter having a pro-grammable measuring system including an associated read-write programmable memory housed in a wea~herproof and tamper resistant enclosure without alteration or interference with the integrity of such an enclosures. It is further desirable to establish radiation responsive type data link with such measuring systems through a transparent communications window portion of a meter enclosure. The radiation data link is desired to be provided by a compact, reliable, and easily assembled arrangement that is simply used and pro-tects against both outdoor environmental conditions and tampering of electric energy measuring systems.
SUMMARY O~ THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention an AC
electric energy meter includes a programmable time based measuring system having a programmed sequence of operation controlled by a metering sequence logic control circuit for effecting different measured values of parameters used to indicate different usage categories of an electric energy quant~ty to be measured. The measuring system is mounted within a watthour meter enclosure including a preselected radlation transparent portion or communications window formed in a meter cover part of the enclosure. The logic control circuit includes an input/output (I/O) unit that is connected to a radiation sensitive external data interface made in accordance with this invention and mounted within the enclosure. A programmable data random access memory (RAM) ls connected to the I/O unit to receive and transmit binary data information required by the logic control circuit to measure the desired electric energy parameters.
_ ", _ ~ 7 47,853 A bidirectional radiation data link is provided through the transparent communications window of the enclosure to transfer external data in and out of the I/0 unit.
Electronic radiation detector means is provided in the external data interface as well as optoelectronic radiation emitter means to translate encoded radiations and electronic coded pulses connected to the I/0 unit. The electronic detector means and emitter means are positioned in optical radiation responsive communication with the transparent communications window portion of the meter enclosure so as to receive and transmit the binary coded radiations to transfer corresponding binary information into and out of the data RAM memory. In a preferred form of the invention, the external data input of the interface includes two optoelectronic radiation detectors connected to external data in and external strobe in terminals of the I/O unit.
Accordingly, the external data output of this interface includes two optoelectronic emitters connected to external data out and external strobe out terminals of the I/O unit.
The optoelectronic emitters and detectors are mounted in spaced relationship from each other and the transparent communications window portion of the meter cover. A radia-tion shielding baffle is provided between the radiation emitters and detectors and the transparent communications window of the cover. The shielding baffle includes separate tunnel apertures each aligned with a separate one of the emitters and detectors to isolate the separate radiations for transmitting non-interfering radiations from and to the detectors and emitters. The communications window portion of' the meter cover includes a recessed indexing arrangement 47,853 for receiving a portable programmer-reader unit in communi-cations registration with the radiation emitters and de-tectors.
External data transfer is performed in a synch-ronous transmission mode utilizing the four electronic radiation detector and emitter devices. The strobe in and strobe out data are used to signal when the transmitting one of the field programmer-reader or the logic control circuit is ready for transmission and the receiving one of the two to effect acknowledge signals when it is in a state to acknowledge and be conditioned for receiving the coded radiation data. Data in and data out data lines are then synchronized to the strobe in and strobe out data lines of the I/0 unit so that data transfer can be accomplished at the desired rate of either the transmitter or receiver of the data.
The external data interface is further capable of providing external control of portions of the meter time based measuring system. In one preferred embodiment, simultaneous radiation stimulation of the two radiation detectors switches an electronic readout display from an inactive to an active display status.
It is a general feature of the present invention to provide a unique communication data link for an electric energy meter having a programmable measuring system housed in a protective enclosure so that no physical connections are required through the enclosure. It is a further feature of this invention to provide an optical radiation link for data programming and testing through the transparent cover of a watthour meter enclosure for communicating in a serial 47,853 synchronous mode of data transfer to the data RAM memory of a metering sequence logic control circuit providing accumu-lation of real time measured values of time of usage par-ameters of an electric energy quantity. A further feature of the invention is to provide for external programming of initial real time data and of preselected time of use time categories data through a radiation data link of an electric energy meter measuring time of use parameters of an AC
electric energy quantity. A still further feature of this invention is to provide an optical radiation data link between a programmable time based measuring system of an electric energy billing meter and a portable programmer-reader which is simply and reliably used for programming, .
testing and reading out of electronically stored measured data and which affords flexibility in varylng the speeds of data transfer and assurance that such data transfer is made in an accurate manner and which further prevents unauthor-ized tampering of the meter.
These and other features and advantages of the pre~ent invention will become apparent from the detailed descrlption of the drawings briefly described hereinafter. -BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates a block schematic diagram of an electric energy meter including a radiation sensitive external data interface made in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the electric energy meter shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top elevational view, partially in section, of a portion of the meter shown in -, -: , ~
~7 47,853 Fig. 2 including the external data interface and a field programmer-reader assembly associated therewith;
Fig. 3A is a diagrammatic view of the meter shown in Fig. 3 and an external radiation control device;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the axls IV-IV of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of arrows of a probe of the programmer-reader assembly shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a time graph of signals occurring in the block schematic diagram of Fig. l; and Figs. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D illustrate flow chart diagrams showing sequences of operation of the meter shown in Fig. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referrlng now to the drawings, and more parti-cularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a block schematic diagram of a programmable AC electric energy meter 10 carried in an enclosure 12 of a type used for housing induction watthour meters and including a predetermined radiation transparent communications window portion 14 described more fully hereinbelow. The meter 10 includes a programmable time based measuring system 15 including a metering sequence loglc control circuit 16. In one preferred embodiment the loglc control circuit is formed by a single-chip micro-computer type MK 3870 available from the Mostek Corporation, Carrollton, Texas 75006. The logic control circuit 16 is operative to calculate and accumulate different measured parameters of an electric energy quantity to be measured and flowing in the conductors 20 and 22. A voltage component V
and a current component I are applied to an electrical energy to pulse rate converter 24. Pulses are produced at _g_ . -8 ~ ~ 47,853 the output of the converter 24 on the conductors 26 and 27which have a pulse rate proportlonal to the rate of elec-trlcal energy consumption-supplied by the conductors 20 and 22. In one preferred form of the lnvention, the converter -24 ls formed by a c = tional lnduction watthour meter -having an~electromagnetlc metering movement drivlng an ;el-ctrooonductive dlsc~at a rate responsive to bhe rate of ~ -consumptlon~of~-l-ctrlc en-rgy ~ A pulse lnltlator is responslve to the~disc rotatlons to produce the pulse output~on;the conductors 26 and 27 The followlng U S
Patent~ 3,733,493~lssued~Mar 15, 1973; 3,878,391 issu-d Aprll 15, 1975;~3,943,498 lssued March 9? 1976; and 4,034,292 l-lssued July 5, 1977,~all assign-d to the assignee of this lnventlon, dlsolos- pulse lnitiator syotems for produclng -~
the doslred puls-s;on~th-~conductors~26 nd 27 It 18 also contemplated that other~-l-otrio~en-rgy to pulse rate ~;~
converter~ may be used,~or~example the~electronic watthour ~;~
meterlng~ clrGults described~in~the~followlng U S Patents 4,056,774 issued ~ove O-r~ , 1977~and 3,764,908 is~ued Octob-r 9, 1973,~both asslgn-d to th-~as~lgne- of this inventlon produce puls-s r sponsive to the rate of electric -~
energy ~low ln a~clrcult to be ea~ur-d ~-The program~ble time~based measuring system 15 is - ;~
further desoribed in U S Patent 4,197j582 issued April 8, 1980 A block dlagram of the loglc control ciroult 16 1 shown ln Flg 1~and is described~more rully in the Mostek ~ubll¢atlon F8 Microprocessor Devices, Single-Chip Mloroco puter MK 3870 dated July, 1977 An input/output (I/0) unit 30 i8 formed by the I/0 port described in the aforementloned Mostek :
., , ,-. . - , . . . .
~ 1~ 8~sr7 47,853 publication. The I/O unit 30 receive~ the conductors 26 and 27 to apply the pulses to the control circuit 16. A
data read-write or random access memory (RAM) 34 is con-nected by bus 36 including plural data lineæ connected to - the I/O unit 30. The data RAM memory 34 includes electronic memory for storage of mathematical constants required in cal¢ulating and~accu~u1ating values of the electric energy ~para eters to be measured from the~pulses from the converter ~ -24. me data RAM 34 also stores real tlme of day informa- -tlon and other programmed~reference time data to effect measurements of tlme o~ usage parameters of the electric energy quantlty~to be measured~at predetermined time Gat egorles or periods whlch correspond to on peak, off peak, and ~houlder peak or high, mid and low rate billing perlods.
The control circuit 16 has the general configu-rat~on as ~hown ln Flg. 1 and descrlbed ln the~aforemen-tloned publi¢atlon. The operation is further described in ., ~ , .
a~orementioned U.S. Patent 4,197,582 1ssued April 8, 1980.
Oenerally, a permanently fixed programmed sequence of . ~
instruction~ ior controlling the steps of operation of the clrcult 16 18 ~tored in a program read-only memory (ROM) 38. A maln data bus 39 lnterconnects the different units of the clrcult 16. An lnternal cloc~ unlt 40 1s connected to an external osclllator crystal XTAL to provide tlming 8ignal~ for lnternal operation of the circuit 16. A timer ; unlt 42 and interrupt logic 44 operate in the event counter mode with Rlxty hertz pulses being applied from a timing clrcult 46 to the external lnterrupt (EXT INT) termlnal of the clrcult 16. Once each second the clrcult updates appropriateones of plural time storing registers in 47,853 the RAM memory 34. The time of day in hours, minutes and seconds is maintained as well as the day of the week and further the day of the year is stored if desired. Electric energy related pulses from the connectors 26 and 27 are processed by operation of the scratch pad register 1 arithmetic-loglc ALU un~t 48, accumuIator and status reg-ister unit 50, the instruction register unit 52 and control logic 56 in the program sequence of the ROM unlt 38 as described in the aforementioned MOSTEK publication. The -circuit 16 totalizes and stores ln the data RAM memory 34 the values of the electric energy parameters to be measured ~ -lncluding kilowatt hours and kilowatt demand for the pre-determined high rate, mid rate and low rate periods during each day. Visual readout of the values measured, totalized, and stored in the RAM memory 34 is made at a vlsual display 60 formed by eight digit display elements of a seven-segment LED type electronic display connected by a data bus 62 to the I/O unit 30. The eight digit display elements are lncluded in two electron display packages type 5082-7414.
20 The stored read-write memory data is also read out in pulse ;~
slgnal by means of the present invention described below.
To effect proper operation of the meter 10, certaln blnary data information must be stored in the RAM
memory 34. The program data memory information must be initially stored, be capable of being changed, be checked to verify the operation of the meter 10. Also, stored data values of the measured electric energy parameters must be capable of being read electronically from the meter. For example, the different time of day measuring periods may be changed for changing the times at whlch different rates of , .
47,853 billing are to be made for both kllowatt hour and kllowatt demand parameters of the electrlc energy tlme o~ usage measurements Also, mathe~atical constants, used by the metering sequence logic control clrcuit 16 to calculate the kilowatt hours and kilowatt demand parameters, are desired to be~cheoked perlodlcally Stlll further, it may be deslred to~check~the tlme~of day whlch ls being calculated by the~control clrcuit~1~6 from ~slgnals appiled from the - timing~circult 44~and~therea~ter~stored ln the RAM unit 34 ~ -~ A portable~;fi-ld~progra~er-reader~66, shown in Fig 3, is used;~to initlally~and periodlcally thereafter, store, read~and~oheck~bln~ry~data informatlon in the RAM
e~ory 34 ~ coded~radlations 68,;70, 72 and 74, des¢rlbed further hereinbelow,~pass througb the preselected radiation transparent~co unlcatlons windo~ 14 of the en-¢losur- 12 to~oouple~r dla*ions~with~a~radiation sensitive oxtornal data lnt-r~ # e 76 Th~term co lcations w~ndow a~usod herein re~ers~to~any~pàrt of the enclosure 12 -, : . ~ , ~
",, ~
through~whlch the ln~ormatl n~or~the radiations 68, 70, ~;~ 20 ~72~nd 74 1 transmitted~and~rec-ived to effect programming t~atlng or readout of data ~ Four conductors or data lines 78, 80, 82, and 84 oonneot~the interface 76 with four pin termlnaIs Or the lnput/output unit 30 for conducting electronic -~ pulso ~lgnals thorebetween Tho llne 78 is deslgnated as a DATA IN lino, the conductor 80 is designated a STROBE IN
Ilne, the conductor 82~;1s connected in series with a DATA
OUT llne and the oonductor 84 is connected in series with a STROBE OUT line In the radiatlon sending portlon of the lnterface 76, rIrst and second radlation emltters 86 and 87 are ' ~y;' ~ .
. . .
47,853 connected to the lines 82 and 84, respectively, and a source of voltage +V. The conductor 82 i5 connected in series with resistor 88 and a transistor amplifier 89 connected to one terminal of the I/0 unit 30. The conductor 84 ls connected -~ -in series with a resistor 92 correspondIng to the resistor 88 and a transistor amplifier 93 corresponding to the ;-amplifier 89 and is further connected to another terminal of the I/0 unit 30. The flrst and second radiation emitters 86 and 87 are preferably optoelectronic type radiation emitters - - -formed by light-emitting diode tLED) devices of a type GE55B. These devices emit light radiations having principal frequencies in the infrared spectrum.
The radiation receiving portion of the interface 76 includes first and second radiation sensors 96 and 97 -, connected in series with the conductors 78 and 80, respect- ~;
ively. The first and second radiation sensors 96 and 97 are each formed by an optoelectronic semiconductor type of a phototransistor type LS 8047 having resistors 98 and 99 connected across the base to emitter circuit thereof and to -~
ground as shown. The radiation sensors 96 and 97 are responsive to electromagnetic radiations 68 and 70 when they are light radiations in the lnfrared frequency region corre~ponding to the light electromagnetic radiations of the emitters 86 and 87. Accordingly, the optoelectronic semi-conductors forming the light-emitting diode radiation emitters 86 and 87 produce electromagnetic radiations 72 and 74 which are light radiations chiefly in the infrared frequency bandwidth.
The radiations 68 and 70 activate the radiation sensors 96 and 97 to produce the DATA IN pulse 102 in the . _ ..
~ ` ~ 47,853 conductor 78 and the STROBE IN pulse 103 in the conductor 80. Accordlngly, the pulses 102 and 103 are applied to terminals of the I/O unit 30. The two terminals of the I/O
unit 30 connected with the conductors 82 and 84 produce DATA
OUT pulses 105 and the STROBE OUT pulses 106 to activate the radiation emitters 86 and 87, respectively, to produce the corresponding electromagnetic light radiations 72 and 74.
A radiation shielding baffle 108 forms a radiation coupling and isolation member extending from the radiation sending and receiving portions of the interface 76 toward the inside of the communications window portion 14 of the enclosure 12 to isolate and couple the separate radiations of the radiation emitters 84 and 86 and the radiation sensors g6 and 97 as described more fully in connection with the description of Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The radiation shield-ing baffle 108 assures that there is no interference between the separate radiations 68, 70, 72, and 74.
In Fig. 2 there is shown a front view of the meter 10 having an enclosure 12 including a cup-shaped transparent cover 109 referred to hereinabove. The fragmentary top cross-sectlonal view of Fig. 3 shows a portion of the meter 10 including the radiation sensitive external data interface unit 76 and the shielding baffle 108 extending in alignment with the preselected communications wlndow portion 14 of the meter cover part 109 of the enclosure 12. The cover 109 is preferably made as shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,846,677 and attached to a base to form a sealed protective enclosure 12 having protective features described in U.S. Patent Nos.
3,337,802 and 3,413,552, both assigned to the assignee of this invention. The meter 10 includes a conventional , .
~ ~ 47,853 induction watthour metering movement, not shown, having a mechanical dial register 110 shown in Fig. 2, for indicating the total kilowatt hour consumption of electrical energy consumption being measured. The watthour metering movement is carried by the base of the enclosure, both not shown, and may be a single-phase type as shown in U.S. Patent No.
3,309,152 issued March 14, 1967, or polyphase type as shown in U.S. Patent. No. 3,683,276 issued August 8, 1972 equipped with a pulse initiator as described in one of the above- , lO mentioned pulse initiator patents. The meter further -encloses the programmable time based electric energy meas- -uring system 15, including the metering sequence logic control circuit 16. The electronic visual display 60 shown in Figs. l and 2, displays the different measured time of day related energy usage parameters and real time data through the front of the meter cover 109. Also in Fig. 3 the radiation sensitive external data interface 76 also has the forward end of the radiation shielding baffle 108 facing the inside of the front of the meter cover behind the preselected window portion 14.
Referring further to Fig. 3, a name plate 111 is mounted in front of first and second circuit boards 112 and 113 carry components of the programmable metering system shown ln Fig. 1 except for the electric energy to pulse rate converter 24 which is formed by a pulse initiator operable from the disc of the induction metering movement as noted hereinabove. The radiation emitters 86 and 87 and the radiatlon sensors 96 and 97 are connected to the pin term-lnals of the I/0 unit 30 of the metering sequence logic 30 control circuit 16 carried on the board 112. The radiation ~ ~ 47,853 sensors and emitters are mounted so as to be received in the rearward end of the shielding baffle 108 and are aligned `
with four straight and tunnel-like cylindrical aperture~
114, 115, 116 and 117 all shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The shielding baffle 108 is shown in Fig. 3 ln elevation while other parts are shown in section. The top radiation emitter 87 and top radiation sensor 96 are shown al1gned with the associated apertures 115 and 114, respectively, of the radiation ~hielding baffle 108. Accordingly, the electro-magnetic radiations 68, 70, 72, and 74 pass through both the ~ -apertures 114, 115, 116, and 117 and through the preselected co~un1catlons window portion 14 of the cover 109 as æhown for the radiations 68 and 74 in Fig. 3.
A control mechanism 120, not forming a part of the pre~ent in~entlon, l~ shown in Fig. 3 as it ls a~sembled in ~ealed relationship to the cover 109 as generally de~oribed in U.S. Patent No. 3,059,181 issued October 16, 1962, and asslgned to the asslgnee of this invention.
To e~fect data communication via the electro-magnotlc light radiations 68, 70, 72, and 74, shown in Fig.
1, a fleld proBr~mor-reader assembly 66 i5 used as shown in Flg~. 3 and 4. The assembly 66 lncludes a probe 134 con-nected by means o~ a cable 136 to a programmer-reader clr¢ult box 137. The probe 134 includes a llght radiation ~endlng and recei~ing data~ interface 138 which i8 comple-menta~y to the external data interiace 76 of the meter 10.
The general circuit arrangement Or the interface 138 is shown in Flg. 1 and described ~urther hereinbelow in conJunction wlth Fig. 4. The forward end 140 of the probe 134 is arranged to mate in a predetermined register-lng orlentatlon wlth the preselected ~ 8~7 47,853 window portion 14 of the meter cover 109. me outer portlon - of the probe 134 includes four straight and tu~nel-like cylindrical apertures 142, 143, 144, and 145 intended for coaxial alignment with the apertures 114, 115, 116,and 117, respectively of the shielding baffle 108. ;~
The preselected window portion 14 of the meter cover 109 includes three arcuately spaced conical recesses :~
150, 152, and 153 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 shows the outline of a cross-sectional view of the index recesses 152 and 153. -~
: 10 mree conical pro~ections 156, 158, and 159 shown in Figs. 3 and 4, project from the forward end 140 of the probe 134.
The index pro~ections 156, 158 and 159 are intended to be received by the index recesses 150, 152, and 153 respect-ively when the probe is manually pressed and held agalnst the outslde of the meter cover 109 at ~he window portion 14.
mus allgned, the tunnel apertures 142, 143, 144, and 145 are coaxially aligned with the apertures 114, 115, 116, and ~ -~
117.~ ~-: me radiation sending and receiving interface 138 of the probe 134 has the circuit configuration as shown in `-~
Flg. 1 for transmitting the radiations 68 and 70 and receiv-lng the radiatlons 72 and 74 in a complementary relationship with the meter data interface 76. The interface 138 in-clude~ fir~t and second radiation emitters 160 and 162 for producing the radiations 68 and 70, respectively, when they are activated. First and second radiation ~ensors 164 and 166 are arranged to be activated by the radlation em~tters 86 and 87, respectively. The radiation emitters 160 and 162 are formed by optoelectronic light-emitting diodes, LED, of the type corresponding to the radiation emitters 86 and 47,853 A -~ and the radlation sensors 164 and 166 are formed by optoelectronic phototransistors of the type corresponding to the type used in radiation sensors 96 and 97. Accordingly, the radiation emitters 160 and 162 are each connected between a source of voltage +V and through resistors 168 and 169 and transistor amplifiers 170 and 171 and connected in series with the associated radiation emitter by conductors 174 and 175 which are connected to terminals of the pro-/3~
grammer-reader circuit~ ; The radiation sensors 164 and 166 are connected by conductors 177 and 178 to separate ~ . -f37 terminals Or the circuit ~
Thus described, it is seen that the mating of the probe 134 with the communications window portion 14 aligns the radiations 68 and 70 from the radiation emitters 160 and 162 of the sending and receiving interface 138 to activate the radlation sensors 96 and 97, respectively, and produçe the DATA IN pulses 102 and the STROBE IN pulses 103 to the I/O unit 30 of the control circuit 16. Correspondingly, the ~ATA OUT pulses 105 and the STROBE OUT pulses 106 from the I/O unit 30 of the control circuit 16 activate the radiation emitters 86 and 87 to produce the light electromagnetic radiations 72 and 74, respectively, to activate the radia-tlon ~ensors 164 and 166 of the probe data interface 138.
The meter 10 is installed in a typical electric energy measuring recepticle such as a meter box, at an electrlc utility company's customer location for measuring the electric energy quantity of conductors 20 and 22 ln Fig.
1. Accordingly, the meter 10 is stationary and fixed in its operating position and many such meters are utilized by an electrlc utility company for billing purposes. The field ~ 7 47,853 programmer-reader assembly 66 is an easily carried unit and ;
a large number of meters are easily programmed and checked by the easy aligning of the probe 134 against the face of the meter at the preselected solid communications window -~
portion 14 in aligned registration with radiation shielding ;~
baffle 108, as shown in Fig. 3. It is understood that the index pro~ections 156, 158 and~159 are inserted into the -~
reoess as 150, 152 and 153 when the probe ls manually ~-pressed against the face of the cover 109 at the window ~
10 portion 14. The operation of the control circuit 16 in- -volves a program described further in connection with the description of Figs. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D, in the program ROM
memory 38 such that the terminals of the I/O unit 30 are connected with conductors 78 and 80 are scanned ~requently durlng the sequence of operation of the control clrcuit 16.
When it is desired to receive data transmlssions from the, ;~ ~
programmer-reader assembly 66 to program and/or check the ;-data RAM memory 34, the sequence of operation of the signals 102, 103, 105, and 106 are shown in Fig. 5. The control clrcuit 16 senses unequal logic states on the DATA IN line 78 and the STROBE IN line 80 when the programmer-reader ~ -assembly 66 is slgnalling with radiations 70 that communi-catlon between the assembly 66 and the programmable electric energy measurlng system 15 is desired.
The data signalling is accomplished by the pro-grammer-reader assembly 66 initiating a synchronous mode of serial data bit transmissions. This allows flexibility in '~ the signalling rates between the assembly ~ and the logic control clrcuit 16. The radiation emitter 162 is activated to produce the light electromagnetic radiations 70 which ..~
~: .
,, , : , , , 47,853 pass through the window portion 14 to actlvate the radiation sensor 97 causing the STROBE IN line to go from a binary one to a binary zero state as shown at time to in Fig. 5. The DATA IN line 78 remains in the binary one state 80 that a difference occurs between the lines 78 and ~ -80 which is sehsed at the I10 unit 30. When the binary zero state is sensed on the line n, the control cirouit 16 initlates the response slgnal 106 on the STROBE OUT line 84 actlvating the radiation emitter 87 producing the light electromagnetic radiations 74 through the meter cover 109 to ~-activate the radiation sensor 166 connected to the circuit . .
137. The program~er-reader circult 37 then is ~ignalled that the loglc control circult 16 is ready to receive data.
Accordingly, th- STROBE OUT pulse 106 shown in Fig. 5 goes irom a binary one to a binary zero~state as shown at time t1. The ilrst desired bit oi blnary data infor ation to be transierred is assumed to be a binary zero 80 that at time ~`
t2 the emltter 160 1n the programmer-reader sending and rec-i~ing interiace 138 is aetivated to produce the light ; 20 radlat10ns 68, which are received~by the radiation sensor 96 in the data lnterface 76 and produce a binary logic zero on a lino 78 as indicated by the pulses 102 in Fig. 5 at the time t2.
me DATA IN on line 78 remains ln the logic binary zero and will remain until tlme t6 for signalling the first zero data blt. At timç t3, the DATA OUT l1ne 82 activates the emitter 86 to transmit the electromagnetic radiation 72 throughout the tlme that data is being received by the external data lnterface 76. At time t4 the STROBE IN line goes high presenting a rising pulse in response to the !~Y
~ . . .- . . . .
~ ~ 47,853 deactivation of the radiation emitter 162 which effects sampling of the logic state of signal 102 occurring on the DATA IN line 78. The I/O unit 30 activates the STROBE OUT
line 84 and the radiation emitter 87 to produce the radia-tions 74 signalling that the sampling of the DATA IN pulse 102 has been completed. This would complete one cycle of transfer of one data bit from the programmer-reader assembly 66 to the logic control circuit 16. At time t6 the STROBE
IN line 103 goes low the binary zero state again indicating 10 another bit is to be transmitted. The STROBE OUT line 84 activates the emitter 87 to go to the binary zero at time t7 acknowledging that the circuit 16 is ready to receive a pulse. The DATA IN line will have been put at the binary state to be transmitted at the time t6 so that when the `
STROBE IN line goes high or to the binary one state, the ~ATA IN line is sampled indicating a binary zero bit indi-A cated at the top line of the graph of signals in Fig.~ and the STROBE OUT line 87 goes high indicating that the second data bit has been sampled. The same sequence of operation 20 continues to produce a serial bit stream having the follow-ing data in~ormation: zero, zero, one, zero, one, one. Then the emitters 160 and 162 are both deenergized so that nelther of the electromagnetic radiations 68 or 70 are transmitted to the radiation sensors 96 and 97 indicating that no further transmission is to be made from the pro-grammer-reader assembly 66. The interface 76 is then returned to a standby condition with the transmitted data belng stored in the data RAM 34.
The data transmissions have a predetermined number 30 of binary data bits. The number of bits received is com-9~ 47,853 pared to the total message length or bits contained in the transmission and when they match the receiving unit is rendered to data transmssion completed status.
When there is a transmission of data from the logic control circuit 16 in the meter 10 to the programmer- -reader assembly 66, the ~equence of operation shown in Fig. ~-;
S , is reversed with the data informatlon transmission from the meter being provided on the STROBE OUT and DATA OUT
lines 82 and 84 corresponding to the operati~on o~f the lines 10 174 and 175 in the interface unit 138 to produce the coded -~
light radiations 68 and 78 which in turn operate as do the aforementioned lines 82 and 84 for receiving data at the meter 10. This meter transmitted mode is used to check the real time data and program constants and to read out the measuring data from the RAM memory 24.
It is apparent by those skilled in the art that an asynchronous data transmission may be provided Oetween the - lnterface units 76 and 138 not requiring the use of the STROBE IN and STROB~ OUT lines 84, however this requires that the data be transferred at a fixed rate rather than different rates utilizing the synchronous transmission described hereinabove. In the synchronous transmission, it i~ apparent that onè unit signals the other unit that it lntends to transmit data, the interrogated unit then res- -ponds an acknowledgment and then each time data is sent there is an exchange of acknowledgments so that the data is transmitted and received in a manner which is most reliable. ~.
The maintalning of the external data interface 76 within the meter enclosure 12 including the meter cover 109 prevents any physical access to the interface 76 so as to prevent :
47,853 111~4`9 7 ,;
tampering or vandalism. Also, as is apparent from the description hereinabove, the interface 76 ls completely electrically lsolated from the other communicating unit formed by the programmer-reader 66 when communicating data to the logic control circuit 16.
Another important feature is provided by the arrangement of the interface unlt 76 in that a conventional and readlly available lncandescent bulb source forms an external radlation control device 182 of light radiations 183 shown in Fig. 3A, forms the external radiation control device that can be shined through the faoe of the cover 109 at the preselected window portion 14 to effect a control operation of the system 5. Incandescent bulbs such as found ln flashlights provide sufficient quanta of in-frared frequencies of radiations 183 that will activate slmNltaneou~ly both the radiation sensors 96 and 97. The control unit 16 is activated in respoDse to both of the lines 78 and 80 each going to a Iow activated condition corresponding to blnary zero states and will activate the readout display 60 so that it will display its numerical ; readout of the various data including the measured para-meters totalized by the control clrcuit 16 and real time rogistrations when otherwise the readout display 60 may be deactivated by the control circuit 16. A normal operation of the readout display 60 may be that it is only activated ,, for displaying between the hours of six a.m. and six p.m.
each day. If it is des~red to have the readout display 60 activated, the conventional incandescent light source such as provided by a flashlight that can produce the light ;~
electromagnetic radiations 183 which correspond to applying the radiations 68 and 70 simultaneously to produce simul-~, .
47,853 ~18497 taneously occurring inputs on the lines 78 and 80 mls signals the control clrcult 16 to turn on the readout display 60 ln the hours other than from slx p.m. to æix a.m.
It 18 contemplated that the readout display 60 may be excluslvely activated by the si~ltaneous inputs rather than cycled on and off by the oontrol clrcuit 16.
Referring now to the Figæ. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D there are shown flow dlagrams of~routlnes or sequences of operation of the measuring system as established by the flxed program ROM memory 38. As noted above the measuring system is normally operatlng in either the maln routine, shown ln Fig.
6A, or, in a timer interrupt~routine shown in Fig. 6B.
After eacb slxty pulses from the slxty hertz timlng circuit 46 shown ln Flg. 1, the main routine ls lnterrupted at one second lntervals so the loglc control circuit 16 will update the real time storage reglsters in the RAM memory 34. At lnltlal power supply energizatlon, the~po~wer on clear start-up operations occur at the beginning of the main routine of $he entry step 190. At the following decislon step 192, the programmed constants are checked and an error mode i8 :~
establlshed at step 194 if there ls no check. A power fail declslon 196 prepares the ~ystem for a power outage con-dltlon as descrlbed more fully in the above-identified U.S. Patent 4,197,582. me tlme is updated and then stored ln the non-volatile data memory 24 at steps 198 and 200. If no power outage is occurring, the reoccurring principal operations of the main routine are to load the constants data from RAM memory, at step 202, into the logic control clrcult 16 and go to a display service subroutine at step 204 to dlsplay the real - , . - ~ ~ -. .
~ 47,853 time and measured values. Thereafter, the metering pulse inputs from the pulse rate converter 24 are sampled and the pulse data is stored in step 206. Important to the present invention is the programmer link subroutine at step 208 where the logic control circuit 16 samples to detect whether external data is to be received at the external data inter- ~-face 76. This subroutine is data interface 76. This subroutine is described further in connection with the description of Fig. 6C. The steps 202 through 208 cycli-cally reoccur with short interrupts provided by the routine shown in Fig. 6B.
The timer interrupt is entered at the beginning step 210 every one second interval. The time and day is ad~usted as required at steps 212 and 214. The decision step 216 determines whether a seven-day or 365-day mode is being used and, if so, the day of the year is ad~usted at step 218. Then the rate selection subroutine step 220 checks the current real time against the times at which the dif-ferent rates or categories of measurements are to change and effect the change if required. This routine is then done at step 222.
The programmer link subroutine 208 of Fig. 6A is shown in further detail in Fig. 6C for effecting the sequence of operation represented by the graph of signals shown in - Fig. 5 and described hereinabove. The subroutine is entered at step 224 and steps 226 and 228 check both the STROBE IN
and DATA IN signals 103 and 102, respectively, to see if they are different. If not, the subroutine returns to the main routlne of Fig. 6A at step 230 and if true, the sub-routine continues to initiate a data receive sequence at .
~ 4 ~ ~ 47,853 step 232. The step 234 checks if the signal 103 is active at a low true and returns to the main routine while checking and testing at decision step 236. When the signal is active, the data logic of signal 102 is saved at step 238 and the STROBE OUT signal 106 is then outputted low true at step 240. The change in state of the signal 103 is awaited at step 242 and decision step 244. When signal 103 goes high, the data signal 102 is sampled at step 246 and acknowl-edged by step 248 by the change in state of the signal 106 going high. The decision step 250 tests if all the data bits have been received by comparing to a counter which decremented one count with each received data bit. If not equal to zero, the subroutine returns to steps 234 through 250 at step 252 until all the predetermined number of data bits have been received. When input data is completed the subroutine returns to the main routine at step 254. An exact complementary sequence is provided to transmit data from the meter 10 to the programmer-reader assembly 66 through the radiation communication link described above.
The flow chart of Fig. 6D shows the subroutine for actlvating the readout display 60 in response to the ex-ternal radiation control device 182 in Fig. 3. When the maln routine reaches the step 204 the display service subroutine is entered at step 256 in Fi~. 6D. The decision step 258 checks the existing time of day and checks it against a preselected time. If true, the steps 260 and 262 efffect activation of the readout display 60. The subroutine then returns to the main routine of Fig. 6A at the exiting step 264. If the decision step 258 is false, the control clrcuit 16 tests both of the DATA IN and STROBE IN data 7 47,853 lines at step 266. If both lines are active, as provided by the radiations 183 from the source 182, the decision step 268 is true and the display is activated by steps 260 and 262. If the decision step 268 is false, the subroutine `
exits at step 264. The sequence of operations of the G~
subroutine in Fig. i provides activation of the display 60 ~
without any physical access to the circuit 16 through an ~:
opening of the meter enclosure 12.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention is - -10 described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in ` .
the art that other modifications and alternative arrange-ments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
. . . .
Claims (9)
1. An electric energy meter including a programmable time based measuring system for totalizing measured parameters of electric energy usage by use of stored program data that is transmitted to the meter through binary coded light radiation, said meter comprising:
a sealed enclosure including a cup shaped cover for mounting at a fixed energy metering location and wholly enclosing said measuring system, said cover including an integral and uninterrupted optically transparent portion thereof defining a preselected communications window portion for transmission of separate ones of the coded light radiations through the enclosure, and said communications window portion of said cover further including integral index means having a fixed position thereat for orienting separate paths of the separate binary coded light radiations relative to said communications window portion when transmitted therethrough;
said measuring system including a metering sequence logic control circuit having a data input/output unit and a read-write data memory means for electronically storing meter-ing data and said stored program data and connected to said input/output unit to transfer binary information therebetween;
radiation sensitive external data interface means including first and second light radiation emitters and first and second light radiation sensors for communicating with each of four separate ones of the binary coded light radiations transmitted through said window portion, and connected to said input/output unit for optoelectronically coupling said input/
output unit with the binary coded light radiations; and radiation coupling means having a predetermined aligned position relative to said index means for optically isolating and transmitting the separate paths of said binary coded light radiations within said enclosure between said communications window portion of the enclosure cover and said external data interface means, whereby said input/output unit transfers the stored program data or metering data binary information between said data memory means and said external data interface means when communicating corresponding binary information transmitted by said binary coded radiations.
a sealed enclosure including a cup shaped cover for mounting at a fixed energy metering location and wholly enclosing said measuring system, said cover including an integral and uninterrupted optically transparent portion thereof defining a preselected communications window portion for transmission of separate ones of the coded light radiations through the enclosure, and said communications window portion of said cover further including integral index means having a fixed position thereat for orienting separate paths of the separate binary coded light radiations relative to said communications window portion when transmitted therethrough;
said measuring system including a metering sequence logic control circuit having a data input/output unit and a read-write data memory means for electronically storing meter-ing data and said stored program data and connected to said input/output unit to transfer binary information therebetween;
radiation sensitive external data interface means including first and second light radiation emitters and first and second light radiation sensors for communicating with each of four separate ones of the binary coded light radiations transmitted through said window portion, and connected to said input/output unit for optoelectronically coupling said input/
output unit with the binary coded light radiations; and radiation coupling means having a predetermined aligned position relative to said index means for optically isolating and transmitting the separate paths of said binary coded light radiations within said enclosure between said communications window portion of the enclosure cover and said external data interface means, whereby said input/output unit transfers the stored program data or metering data binary information between said data memory means and said external data interface means when communicating corresponding binary information transmitted by said binary coded radiations.
2. An electric energy meter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cup-shaped cover includes a front face at the closed end thereof including said communications window portion for transmission of the separate binary coded light radiations therethrough, and wherein said index means includes symmetrically spaced recessed portions extending partially into the cover front face adjacent to said communications window portion.
3. An electric energy meter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second light radiation emitters and first and second light radiation sensors includes two light-emitting diode devices and two photo-transistor devices, respectively, and wherein said radiation coupling means includes a shielding baffle means extending between the communications window portion of said cover of said enclosure and said light-emitting diode devices and said photo-transistor devices and includes separate cylindrical apertures extending through said shielding baffle means and being aligned with both said communications window portion of said cover of said enclosure and separate ones of said light-emitting diode devices and said photo-transistor devices for effecting the isolation of the separate radiation paths.
4. An electric energy meter as claimed in claim 3, wherein a first of said photo-transistor devices is effective to receive DATA IN binary coded radiations and the other photo-transistor device is effective to receive STROBE IN binary coded radiations and one of said light-emitting diode devices is effective to produce DATA OUT binary coded radiations and the other light-emitting diode device is effective to produce STROBE OUT binary coded radiations.
5. A bidirectional data communication system for AC electric energy meters mountable at outdoor locations, comprising:
a sealed enclosure forming a protective housing, said sealed enclosure having an integral and uninterrupted portion thereof defining a predetermined communications window portion for coupling a predetermined area of the interior of said enclosure with a plurality of separate binary coded radiations transmitted and received externally of said enclosure, said enclosure further having integral index means having a single indexed relationship relative to the spaced paths of said plu-rality of binary coded radiations;
a programmable time based electric energy measuring system wholly carried in said sealed enclosure for totalizing measured parameters of electric energy on a time of usage basis, said measuring system including a metering sequence logic control circuit and further including an input/output unit operative in response to a predetermined sequence of operation of said metering sequence logic control circuit, said measuring system still further including a read/write data memory means storing real time and calculation constants binary data information and connected to said input/output unit so as to be effective to transfer said binary information to said metering sequence logic control circuit, and said measuring system still further including a radiation responsive external data interface dis-posed at the predetermined interior area of said enclosure so as to have mutually exclusive communicating relationships with the transmitted and received paths of the binary coded radia-tions when transmitted through separate areas of said communi-cations window portion, said external data interface including first and second light radiation emitters and first and second light radiation sensors, and said external interface further being connected to said input/output unit for transfer of exter-nal data therebetween; and programmer-reader means including a probe member including a radiation receiving and sending unit, said unit including first and second light radiation emitters and first and second light radiation sensors having a complementary data transferring relationship to said radiation responsive external data interface of the meter measuring system, said probe member having an integral index means having a complementary relation-ship to said index means of said enclosure for being position-able in a single indexed relationship with said index means of said communications window portion of said enclosure so that said radiation receiving and sending unit of said probe member and said external data interface of said meter are in a mutual communicating relationship through said spaced paths of said plurality of binary coded radiations for effecting transfer of data information storage in said memory means for a predetermined time based electric energy metering operation of said metering sequence logic control circuit.
a sealed enclosure forming a protective housing, said sealed enclosure having an integral and uninterrupted portion thereof defining a predetermined communications window portion for coupling a predetermined area of the interior of said enclosure with a plurality of separate binary coded radiations transmitted and received externally of said enclosure, said enclosure further having integral index means having a single indexed relationship relative to the spaced paths of said plu-rality of binary coded radiations;
a programmable time based electric energy measuring system wholly carried in said sealed enclosure for totalizing measured parameters of electric energy on a time of usage basis, said measuring system including a metering sequence logic control circuit and further including an input/output unit operative in response to a predetermined sequence of operation of said metering sequence logic control circuit, said measuring system still further including a read/write data memory means storing real time and calculation constants binary data information and connected to said input/output unit so as to be effective to transfer said binary information to said metering sequence logic control circuit, and said measuring system still further including a radiation responsive external data interface dis-posed at the predetermined interior area of said enclosure so as to have mutually exclusive communicating relationships with the transmitted and received paths of the binary coded radia-tions when transmitted through separate areas of said communi-cations window portion, said external data interface including first and second light radiation emitters and first and second light radiation sensors, and said external interface further being connected to said input/output unit for transfer of exter-nal data therebetween; and programmer-reader means including a probe member including a radiation receiving and sending unit, said unit including first and second light radiation emitters and first and second light radiation sensors having a complementary data transferring relationship to said radiation responsive external data interface of the meter measuring system, said probe member having an integral index means having a complementary relation-ship to said index means of said enclosure for being position-able in a single indexed relationship with said index means of said communications window portion of said enclosure so that said radiation receiving and sending unit of said probe member and said external data interface of said meter are in a mutual communicating relationship through said spaced paths of said plurality of binary coded radiations for effecting transfer of data information storage in said memory means for a predetermined time based electric energy metering operation of said metering sequence logic control circuit.
6. A bidirectional data communication system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said enclosure portion including the communications window portion further includes at least one recessed area defining said index means and said probe member includes at least one extending projection having a shape complementary to said recessed area to define the index means thereof so as to be receivable in said recessed area so that said external data interface of said measuring system and said receiving and sending unit of said probe member are in registra-tion for communicating the binary data radiations therebetween.
7. A bidirectional data communication system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first and second light radiation sensors and said first and second light radiation emitters of said external data interface of said measuring system includes first and second photo-transistor devices and first and second light-emitting diode devices, respectively, and wherein said first and second light radiation emitters and said first and second light radiation sensors of said radiation receiving and sending unit of said probe member includes third and fourth light-emitting diode devices in optical communication with said first and second photo-transistors of the external data interface and includes third and fourth photo-transistor devices in optical communication with said first and second light-emitting diodes of said external data interface of said measuring system, respectively, so as to effect four separate optical communication paths between said probe member and said measuring system.
8. A bidirectional data communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said four communication paths include a DATA IN path, a STROBE IN path, a DATA OUT path, and a STROBE OUT path, and wherein the binary coded information of said radiations includes consecutively occurring pulses in said STROBE IN and said STROBE OUT paths between said measuring system and said programmer-reader means when a binary pulse is provided in said DATA IN path therebetween for communicating data between the programmer-reader means and the measuring system in a synchronous mode of serial data transmission.
9. An electric energy meter including a programmable time based measuring system for totalizing measured parameters of electric energy usage by use of stored program data that is transmitted to the meter through binary coded light radiations, said meter comprising:
a sealed enclosure for mounting at a fixed energy metering location and wholly enclosing said measuring system, said enclosure including an integral and uninterrupted optically transparent portion thereof defining a preselected communications window portion for transmission of a plurality of the coded light radiations through the enclosure;
said measuring system including a metering sequence logic control circuit having a data input/output unit and a read-write data memory means for electronically storing metering data and said stored program data and being connected to said input/output unit to transfer binary information therebetween;
radiation sensitive external data interface means including first and second light radiation emitters and first and second light radiation sensors for selectively communicating with each of four separate ones of the binary coded radiations transmitted through said window portion and being connected to said input/output unit for effecting optoelectronic coupling between said input/output unit and the coded radiations;
electronic readout display means connected to said input/output unit for visually displaying numerical values of the metering data accumulated in said read-write data memory means, said metering sequence logic control circuit further including means cyclically activating and deactivating said readout display means in a programmed sequence, and still further including means responsive to continuous external light radiations transmitted through said window portion and effective to produce the simultaneous activation of said first and second radiation sensors for effecting activation of said readout display means when in an inactivated state so as to provide visual displays at other than the programmed cycles of activation thereof.
a sealed enclosure for mounting at a fixed energy metering location and wholly enclosing said measuring system, said enclosure including an integral and uninterrupted optically transparent portion thereof defining a preselected communications window portion for transmission of a plurality of the coded light radiations through the enclosure;
said measuring system including a metering sequence logic control circuit having a data input/output unit and a read-write data memory means for electronically storing metering data and said stored program data and being connected to said input/output unit to transfer binary information therebetween;
radiation sensitive external data interface means including first and second light radiation emitters and first and second light radiation sensors for selectively communicating with each of four separate ones of the binary coded radiations transmitted through said window portion and being connected to said input/output unit for effecting optoelectronic coupling between said input/output unit and the coded radiations;
electronic readout display means connected to said input/output unit for visually displaying numerical values of the metering data accumulated in said read-write data memory means, said metering sequence logic control circuit further including means cyclically activating and deactivating said readout display means in a programmed sequence, and still further including means responsive to continuous external light radiations transmitted through said window portion and effective to produce the simultaneous activation of said first and second radiation sensors for effecting activation of said readout display means when in an inactivated state so as to provide visual displays at other than the programmed cycles of activation thereof.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/891,997 US4298839A (en) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-03-31 | Programmable AC electric energy meter having radiation responsive external data interface |
| US891,997 | 1978-03-31 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1118497A true CA1118497A (en) | 1982-02-16 |
Family
ID=25399189
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000323882A Expired CA1118497A (en) | 1978-03-31 | 1979-03-21 | Programmable ac electric energy meter having radiation responsive external data interface |
Country Status (10)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4298839A (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS5855455B2 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU527830B2 (en) |
| BE (1) | BE875244A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR7901875A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1118497A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2911800A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2421387B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2018440B (en) |
| MX (1) | MX146187A (en) |
Families Citing this family (77)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2486248A1 (en) * | 1980-07-01 | 1982-01-08 | Merlin Gerin | DIGITAL DOSIMETER FOR MEASURING AND CONTROLLING IONIZING RADIATION, EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTO-ELECTRONIC LINK TRANSMISSION DEVICE |
| US4360879A (en) * | 1980-08-28 | 1982-11-23 | The Valeron Corporation | Power measuring device |
| US4491793A (en) * | 1980-09-24 | 1985-01-01 | General Electric Company | Detachable magnetic coupler communication apparatus |
| JPS5798171A (en) * | 1980-12-09 | 1982-06-18 | Nippon Denso Co Ltd | Portable type storage device |
| US4465970A (en) * | 1981-02-26 | 1984-08-14 | General Electric Company | Method and apparatus for multiple rate metering of electrical energy |
| EP0076809B2 (en) * | 1981-02-26 | 1990-01-24 | General Electric Company | Multiple rate electrical energy metering apparatus |
| US4443853A (en) * | 1981-03-25 | 1984-04-17 | United Technologies Corporation | Optical digital servo control system |
| US4491789A (en) * | 1981-08-14 | 1985-01-01 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Electrical energy meter having a cover-mounted time-of-day multifunction register |
| US4509128A (en) * | 1982-04-16 | 1985-04-02 | Sangamo Weston, Inc. | Solid-state electrical-power demand register and method |
| US4495596A (en) * | 1982-06-10 | 1985-01-22 | Rockwell International Corporation | Data accumulator and transponder with power back-up for time of day clock |
| US4491791A (en) * | 1982-12-13 | 1985-01-01 | General Electric Company | Sensing switch for a detachable communications probe |
| US4491792A (en) * | 1982-12-13 | 1985-01-01 | General Electric Company | Sensing switch for a magnetically coupled communications port |
| US4584527A (en) * | 1983-03-25 | 1986-04-22 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | AC electric energy meter having shielded radiation responsive data interface |
| GB2148565B (en) * | 1983-10-20 | 1987-07-22 | Jel Energy Conservation Servic | Monitoring devices |
| JPS6098914A (en) * | 1983-11-04 | 1985-06-01 | ノ−・オイル施設園芸株式会社 | Culture house |
| JPS60104267A (en) * | 1983-11-11 | 1985-06-08 | Toshiba Corp | Electric energy measuring device |
| US4621330A (en) * | 1984-02-28 | 1986-11-04 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Programming system for programmable time registering electric energy meters |
| JPS60187866A (en) * | 1984-03-07 | 1985-09-25 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Transaction quantity counter display |
| US4642634A (en) * | 1984-09-18 | 1987-02-10 | Ncr Corporation | Optical encoder |
| US4654588A (en) * | 1984-10-05 | 1987-03-31 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Time-of-use watt-hour meter with demand profile capability |
| US4707679A (en) * | 1984-10-22 | 1987-11-17 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Magnetic tamper detector |
| US4713610A (en) * | 1984-11-29 | 1987-12-15 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Electric meter with improved sensing head assembly |
| US4780910A (en) * | 1984-12-12 | 1988-10-25 | Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. | Display for a remote receiver in an electrical utility load management system |
| US5099348A (en) * | 1984-12-12 | 1992-03-24 | Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. | Display for remote receiver in a utility management system |
| US4639728A (en) * | 1985-09-16 | 1987-01-27 | Sangamo Weston, Inc. | Method of and system for accumulating verifiable energy demand data from remote electricity meters |
| US4700379A (en) * | 1985-12-18 | 1987-10-13 | The Boeing Company | Aircraft communications apparatus |
| US4904995A (en) * | 1986-01-21 | 1990-02-27 | Emerson Electric Co. | Integrated remote electricity meter transponder and combination |
| JPS62280655A (en) * | 1986-05-29 | 1987-12-05 | Shikoku Electric Power Co Inc | Electronic wattmeter |
| US4792677A (en) * | 1986-08-29 | 1988-12-20 | Domestic Automation Company, Inc. | System for use with a utility meter for recording time of energy use |
| US4783623A (en) * | 1986-08-29 | 1988-11-08 | Domestic Automation Company | Device for use with a utility meter for recording time of energy use |
| US5001417A (en) * | 1987-06-01 | 1991-03-19 | Abbott Laboratories | Apparatus for measuring electrolytes utilizing optical signals related to the concentration of the electrolytes |
| US4914420A (en) * | 1988-03-03 | 1990-04-03 | Siemens Transmission Systems, Inc. | Telecommunication system including a remote alarm reporting unit |
| US5014213A (en) * | 1988-04-20 | 1991-05-07 | Domestic Automation Company, Inc. | System for use with polyphase utility meters for recording time of energy use |
| US4868893A (en) * | 1988-05-11 | 1989-09-19 | Transdata, Inc. | System for remote, interactive communication with a metal under ambient sunlight conditions |
| US4977329A (en) * | 1988-05-23 | 1990-12-11 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Arrangement for shielding electronic components and providing power thereto |
| JPH0275969A (en) * | 1988-09-13 | 1990-03-15 | Tokyo Electric Power Co Inc:The | Electronic watthour meter |
| US5010335A (en) * | 1988-11-29 | 1991-04-23 | Schlumberger Industries, Inc. | Optical port multiplexer for electric metering equipment |
| US5066906A (en) * | 1989-09-22 | 1991-11-19 | Landis & Gyr Metering, Inc. | Time of use register for use with a utility meter |
| US5049810A (en) * | 1989-09-22 | 1991-09-17 | Landis & Gyr Metering, Inc. | Watt-hour meter cover with battery hatch reset switch and optical communication port |
| DE3933356A1 (en) * | 1989-10-06 | 1991-04-18 | Licentia Gmbh | ELECTRICITY COUNTER |
| US5155614A (en) * | 1990-03-02 | 1992-10-13 | Duncan Industries Parking Control Systems Corp. | Low-power demodulating receiver with amplifier stages sharing the same bias current |
| US5027056A (en) * | 1990-04-05 | 1991-06-25 | General Electric Company | Multifunction register enclosure for energy meter |
| US5057767A (en) * | 1990-04-05 | 1991-10-15 | General Electric Company | Optical communications light shield for energy meter |
| US5371511A (en) * | 1990-12-27 | 1994-12-06 | General Electric Company | Method for approximating the notion of a rotatable disk of an electrical energy meter |
| US5184064A (en) * | 1991-03-25 | 1993-02-02 | Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. | Encapsulated meter with optical programmer |
| JP2763421B2 (en) * | 1991-07-01 | 1998-06-11 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Method of manufacturing display device using test pattern signal generator |
| EP0529757A1 (en) * | 1991-08-30 | 1993-03-03 | General Electric Company | Enclosure |
| US5537029A (en) * | 1992-02-21 | 1996-07-16 | Abb Power T&D Company Inc. | Method and apparatus for electronic meter testing |
| MX9206230A (en) * | 1992-02-21 | 1993-09-01 | Abb Power T & D Co | IMPROVEMENTS IN AN ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY METER AND METHODS FOR THE USE OF THE SAME. |
| US5457621A (en) | 1992-02-21 | 1995-10-10 | Abb Power T&D Company Inc. | Switching power supply having voltage blocking clamp |
| CA2117588C (en) | 1992-02-28 | 1998-08-25 | Jeffrey A. Hubbell | Photopolymerizable biodegradable hydrogels as tissue contacting materials and controlled-release carriers |
| US5469153A (en) * | 1992-10-30 | 1995-11-21 | General Electric Company | Method of serially processing binary characters asynchronously received by an electrical energy meter |
| AU681384B2 (en) * | 1993-02-12 | 1997-08-28 | Ekstrom Industries, Inc. | Remote automatic meter reading apparatus |
| US20020186000A1 (en) * | 1993-03-26 | 2002-12-12 | Briese Forrest Wayne | Electronic revenue meter with automatic service sensing |
| US5442281A (en) * | 1993-06-01 | 1995-08-15 | Enscan, Inc. | Method and apparatus for deriving power consumption information from the angular motion of a rotating disk in a watt hour meter |
| CA2134510C (en) * | 1993-11-26 | 2003-01-28 | Mark J. Plis | Method and apparatus for executing a command in a plurality of electrical metering devices |
| US5831428A (en) * | 1993-11-30 | 1998-11-03 | Square D Company | Metering unit with integrated user programmable logic |
| US5742045A (en) * | 1994-10-26 | 1998-04-21 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force | Apparatus using diode laser logic to form a configurable optical gate system |
| RO120431B1 (en) | 1996-10-22 | 2006-01-30 | Abb Power T & D Company Inc. | Electric energy meter |
| CH691418A5 (en) * | 1997-01-31 | 2001-07-13 | Siemens Metering Ag | Externally supplied device with an electronic display and / or a communication interface. |
| US6885185B1 (en) | 1998-12-01 | 2005-04-26 | Itron Electricity Metering, Inc. | Modular meter configuration and methodology |
| US6825776B2 (en) * | 1999-08-09 | 2004-11-30 | Power Measurement Ltd. | External I/O and communications interface for a revenue meter |
| US6832339B1 (en) | 2000-05-12 | 2004-12-14 | General Electric Company | Methods and apparatus for programming a solid-state meter |
| US7212360B2 (en) * | 2003-11-28 | 2007-05-01 | Sony Corporation | Information processing equipment and data transfer method |
| US7355867B2 (en) | 2004-08-17 | 2008-04-08 | Elster Electricity, Llc | Power supply for an electric meter having a high-voltage regulator that limits the voltage applied to certain components below the normal operating input voltage |
| US7298134B2 (en) * | 2004-10-12 | 2007-11-20 | Elster Electricity, Llc | Electrical-energy meter adaptable for optical communication with various external devices |
| US8739148B2 (en) * | 2007-02-09 | 2014-05-27 | Elster Electricity, Llc | Automated meter reading system |
| US8717007B2 (en) * | 2008-10-10 | 2014-05-06 | Electro Industries/Gauge Tech | Intelligent electronic device having a terminal assembly for coupling to a meter mounting socket |
| KR101000710B1 (en) * | 2008-10-20 | 2010-12-10 | 한국전력공사 | Power meter based on system on chip |
| US8242449B2 (en) * | 2010-04-13 | 2012-08-14 | Elster Solutions, Llc | Light activated configuration of environmentally sealed metering products |
| DE102013001832A1 (en) * | 2013-02-04 | 2014-08-07 | Emh Metering Gmbh & Co. Kg | Electricity meter e.g. electronic electricity meter for use in site by service technician, has board that comprises test pad with contact points provided on opening of upper housing portion and made to contact with test adapter |
| US11009922B2 (en) | 2015-02-27 | 2021-05-18 | Electro Industries/Gaugetech | Wireless intelligent electronic device |
| US10048088B2 (en) | 2015-02-27 | 2018-08-14 | Electro Industries/Gauge Tech | Wireless intelligent electronic device |
| US9897461B2 (en) | 2015-02-27 | 2018-02-20 | Electro Industries/Gauge Tech | Intelligent electronic device with expandable functionality |
| KR101977399B1 (en) * | 2015-07-28 | 2019-05-13 | 엘에스산전 주식회사 | System of providing an electric energy information and method thereof |
| US10426068B1 (en) | 2019-01-24 | 2019-09-24 | Jesse I. Danielson | Collapsible radiation shield |
| CN112595871A (en) * | 2021-01-07 | 2021-04-02 | 上海感藩电子科技有限公司 | Electric shock prevention ammeter case with illumination function |
Family Cites Families (20)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3258692A (en) * | 1966-06-28 | Switching device | ||
| US3380064A (en) * | 1965-10-07 | 1968-04-23 | Norris | Automatic utilities billing system |
| US3503061A (en) * | 1966-07-20 | 1970-03-24 | Gen Electric | Telemetering system with optoelectronic coupling between transmission line and meter |
| CH528740A (en) * | 1971-02-01 | 1972-09-30 | Landis & Gyr Ag | Scanning device on an electricity meter |
| US3789193A (en) * | 1972-01-07 | 1974-01-29 | Ncr | Price setting keys and method of transferring price to printer |
| US4072399A (en) * | 1973-07-05 | 1978-02-07 | Corning Glass Works | Passive optical coupler |
| US4083083A (en) * | 1975-06-05 | 1978-04-11 | Duncan Creations, Inc. | Machine for cutting poultry into selectively variable portions |
| US4056711A (en) * | 1975-10-24 | 1977-11-01 | William Paul Lamar | Method and apparatus for programming microprocessors |
| US4081746A (en) * | 1975-11-06 | 1978-03-28 | Westinghouse Electric Corporation | Multiple rate meter |
| US4063083A (en) * | 1976-04-21 | 1977-12-13 | Wade Thomas Cathey | Data communication system using light coupled interfaces |
| US4119948A (en) * | 1976-04-29 | 1978-10-10 | Ernest Michael Ward | Remote meter reading system |
| GB1584159A (en) * | 1976-06-10 | 1981-02-04 | Sandstedt G | Data transfer and storage system |
| US4082999A (en) * | 1976-06-30 | 1978-04-04 | Anthony Gail Staker | Programmable variable-rate electric adapting device for watt-hour meters |
| DE2631509B2 (en) * | 1976-07-09 | 1978-04-27 | Heliowatt Werke Elektrizitaets-Gesellschaft Mbh, 1000 Berlin | Procedure for the automatic checking of meters |
| DE2633181A1 (en) * | 1976-07-22 | 1978-01-26 | Heliowatt Werke | Electro-optical user display for electronically based meters - is suitable for kilowatt hour meters in which max. value counter triggers cumulative storage network |
| DE2635346B2 (en) * | 1976-08-03 | 1979-02-08 | Heliowatt Werke Elektrizitaets-Gesellschaft Mbh, 1000 Berlin | direction |
| US4050020A (en) * | 1976-09-17 | 1977-09-20 | General Electric Company | Multiple rate electrical energy metering system and method |
| US4110814A (en) * | 1976-12-29 | 1978-08-29 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Watthour meter enclosure for use in remote meter reading packages |
| US4104533A (en) * | 1977-02-28 | 1978-08-01 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Wideband optical isolator |
| US4077061A (en) * | 1977-03-25 | 1978-02-28 | Westinghouse Electric Corporation | Digital processing and calculating AC electric energy metering system |
-
1978
- 1978-03-31 US US05/891,997 patent/US4298839A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1979
- 1979-03-14 GB GB7908974A patent/GB2018440B/en not_active Expired
- 1979-03-21 AU AU45285/79A patent/AU527830B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1979-03-21 CA CA000323882A patent/CA1118497A/en not_active Expired
- 1979-03-26 DE DE19792911800 patent/DE2911800A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1979-03-28 BR BR7901875A patent/BR7901875A/en unknown
- 1979-03-28 FR FR7907834A patent/FR2421387B1/en not_active Expired
- 1979-03-29 MX MX177121A patent/MX146187A/en unknown
- 1979-03-30 JP JP54038294A patent/JPS5855455B2/en not_active Expired
- 1979-03-30 BE BE0/194346A patent/BE875244A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| MX146187A (en) | 1982-05-21 |
| AU4528579A (en) | 1979-10-04 |
| JPS5855455B2 (en) | 1983-12-09 |
| BE875244A (en) | 1979-10-01 |
| BR7901875A (en) | 1979-11-27 |
| FR2421387A1 (en) | 1979-10-26 |
| FR2421387B1 (en) | 1985-06-21 |
| JPS54134473A (en) | 1979-10-18 |
| GB2018440B (en) | 1982-09-22 |
| AU527830B2 (en) | 1983-03-24 |
| GB2018440A (en) | 1979-10-17 |
| DE2911800A1 (en) | 1979-10-04 |
| US4298839A (en) | 1981-11-03 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA1118497A (en) | Programmable ac electric energy meter having radiation responsive external data interface | |
| US4571691A (en) | Watt-hour meter with fiber optics tamper detector | |
| US7495555B2 (en) | Magnetic field sensing for tamper identification | |
| US4301508A (en) | Digital processing system for time-of-day and demand meter display | |
| US5053766A (en) | Telemetering system for electrical power consumed by various users | |
| US4467434A (en) | Solid state watt-hour meter | |
| US4350980A (en) | Electric meter consumption and demand communicator | |
| US4829596A (en) | Programmable controller with fiber optic input/output module | |
| US5422565A (en) | Method and system for sensing removal of a utility meter from its socket | |
| CA1068342A (en) | Direction sensitive opto-electronic pulse initiator for electrical meters | |
| CA1233523A (en) | Optical encoder | |
| US5691715A (en) | Method and apparatus for detecting fraudulent power line communications signal | |
| US4963820A (en) | Energy meter | |
| GB2183852A (en) | Utility meter | |
| EP0777203B1 (en) | Improvements in or relating to modular gas meters | |
| US4281325A (en) | Positive feedback meter pulse initiator | |
| US4514685A (en) | Integrating circuit for use with Hall effect sensors having offset compensation means | |
| US4884022A (en) | Voltage testing device attachable to the blade terminals of a power meter | |
| US5113130A (en) | Testing operation of electric energy meter optics system | |
| US5268633A (en) | Testing operation of electric energy meter optics system | |
| EP0742442B1 (en) | Improvements in or relating to modulised utility meters | |
| CN209327558U (en) | A kind of function detection device for intelligent electric meter | |
| EP0076809B1 (en) | Multiple rate electrical energy metering apparatus | |
| GB2144220A (en) | Pick-up device for a meter and a metering system | |
| ES8609863A1 (en) | Assembly for remotely controlling the credit of an automatic gaming machine by means of pulses. |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |