An intelligent electric meter monitoring system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of intelligent electric meter monitoring systems, it is related to electric power monitoring technical field, including main acquisition terminal, slave acquisition terminal, RS485 communication bus and data comparison circuit, main acquisition terminal is used to connect the first current transformer installed on power supply total incoming line loop, slave acquisition terminal includes slave controller, slave meter chip, second RS485 transceiver chip, second communication interface and second current transformer access port, for connecting the second current transformer installed on branch circuit loop, RS485 communication bus is twisted pair shielded cable, forms daisy chain series topology structure, data comparison circuit is integrated in main controller inside, including adder, subtracter and comparator, for output energy consumption balance determination result, the utility model realizes distributed electric energy monitoring, hardware level energy consumption balance auditing and intelligent fault diagnosis, with the advantages of convenient installation, high reliability, simple maintenance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of power monitoring technology, specifically a smart meter monitoring system. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous improvement of smart grid construction and energy conservation and emission reduction requirements, power monitoring systems are playing an increasingly important role in modern buildings, industrial parks and data centers. Traditional power monitoring methods mainly rely on manual meter reading or single-point monitoring equipment, which makes it difficult to achieve comprehensive monitoring and precise management of complex power distribution systems.

[0003] Currently, existing electricity meter monitoring technologies mainly include the following solutions: One is a centralized monitoring solution, which involves installing a centralized monitoring device in the distribution cabinet to collect power parameters from each circuit. Although this solution can achieve basic data collection functions, it suffers from problems such as limited monitoring range, complex installation, and poor scalability. Another solution is a smart meter-based monitoring solution, which involves installing smart meters in each power circuit and using communication technology to transmit data to the monitoring center. This solution has a certain distributed monitoring capability, but it lacks system-level data correlation analysis functions, making it difficult to detect abnormalities in the power distribution system.

[0004] Existing technologies also include some specialized power monitoring devices, such as multi-functional power meters and power quality analyzers. These devices typically have high measurement accuracy and rich functionality, but they are expensive, complex to install and maintain, and most lack effective energy consumption balance auditing mechanisms, making it impossible to detect abnormal energy loss, equipment failure, or electricity theft in the power distribution system in a timely manner.

[0005] In addition, traditional power monitoring systems have significant shortcomings in terms of communication reliability, ease of installation, and fault diagnosis capabilities. Most systems use a single communication method, which is prone to communication interruption or data loss in complex electromagnetic environments. Equipment installation requires professional electricians to perform complex wiring operations, resulting in long installation cycles and high error rates. When a system malfunctions, it is often necessary to check each device one by one, making fault location difficult and maintenance inefficient.

[0006] Existing technologies, through centralized monitoring or distributed data collection by smart meters, have achieved the function of monitoring power parameters to a certain extent, but they still have certain limitations, such as the lack of an effective energy consumption balance audit mechanism, making it impossible to detect abnormalities in the power distribution system in a timely manner; insufficient communication reliability, making data transmission prone to interruption in harsh environments; complex installation and maintenance, requiring high professional skills; limited fault diagnosis capabilities, resulting in low efficiency in fault location and handling; and insufficient equipment reliability, making it difficult to meet high availability requirements in critical application scenarios.

[0007] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a smart meter monitoring system with distributed monitoring capabilities, hardware-level energy consumption balance auditing functions, highly reliable communication, convenient installation and maintenance, and intelligent fault diagnosis capabilities. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology and propose an intelligent electricity meter monitoring system to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0009] The objective of this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution: a smart meter monitoring system, comprising:

[0010] The main acquisition terminal includes a main controller, a main metering chip, a first RS485 transceiver chip, a first communication interface, and a first current transformer access port. The main metering chip is electrically connected to the first current transformer access port through a first signal wire. The first current transformer access port is used to connect to the first current transformer installed on the main power supply incoming line circuit.

[0011] The data acquisition terminal includes a controller, a metering chip, a second RS485 transceiver chip, a second communication interface, and a second current transformer access port. The metering chip is electrically connected to the second current transformer access port via a second signal wire. The second current transformer access port is used to connect to the second current transformer installed on the sub-branch circuit under the main incoming circuit.

[0012] The RS485 communication bus is a twisted-pair shielded cable. The A and B signal lines of the twisted-pair shielded cable are connected to the corresponding pins of the first RS485 transceiver chip and the second RS485 transceiver chip, respectively, forming a daisy-chain serial topology.

[0013] The data comparison circuit is integrated inside the main controller. The data comparison circuit includes an adder, a subtractor, and a comparator. The input of the adder receives energy data from the slave acquisition terminal through the RS485 communication bus. The minuend input of the subtractor receives energy data output by the main metering chip. The subtrahend input of the subtractor receives the output of the adder. The input of the comparator is connected to the output of the subtractor and is used to output the energy balance judgment result.

[0014] Both the main acquisition terminal and the slave acquisition terminal adopt an integrated housing structure. A printed circuit board is fixed inside the integrated housing. The printed circuit board integrates and solders a main controller or slave controller, a main metering chip or slave metering chip, a first RS485 transceiver chip or a second RS485 transceiver chip, a wireless communication module, and a storage chip. The storage chip is connected to the main controller or slave controller via an SPI bus.

[0015] The first RS485 transceiver chip or the second RS485 transceiver chip is connected to the pins of the first or second communication interface via PCB traces. The wireless communication module is connected to the master controller or slave controller via the UART serial port.

[0016] Both the master metering chip and the slave metering chip are dual-mode redundant metering chips. The dual-mode redundant metering chip includes a master metering unit, a backup calculation unit, and a hardware selector circuit. The master metering unit has an analog signal input pin that connects to the access port of the first current transformer or the access port of the second current transformer. The backup calculation unit has a digital signal input pin that connects to the communication interface of the monitored equipment. The hardware selector circuit includes a difference comparator and an analog switch. The two input terminals of the difference comparator are connected to the output terminals of the master metering unit and the backup calculation unit, respectively. The control terminal of the analog switch is connected to the output terminal of the difference comparator and is used to select the data of the master metering unit or the backup calculation unit as the final output.

[0017] The main controller also integrates a fault diagnosis circuit, which includes a logic gate array and an encoder. The input of the logic gate array is connected to the output of the data comparison circuit and the status signal line of the hardware selector circuit in the acquisition terminal. The encoder generates the corresponding fault code based on the output combination of the logic gate array.

[0018] A QR code label is fixed to the outer surface of the integrated housing by adhesive. The encoded content of the QR code label corresponds to the device identification code pre-stored in the memory chip.

[0019] The integrated housing has wiring holes on its side wall and is equipped with a pluggable electrical connector, which includes a first socket and a second socket. The first socket has a socket for connecting the signal line of the current transformer. The first socket is connected to the first current transformer access port or the second current transformer access port through a wire inside the housing. The second socket has a socket for connecting the power sampling line. The second socket is connected to the power input terminal on the printed circuit board through a wire inside the housing.

[0020] The bottom of the integrated housing is integrally molded with a rail mounting clip conforming to DIN EN 60715 standard. The rail mounting clip includes a flexible claw and a fixing groove for mounting on a 35mm standard rail.

[0021] The main controller or slave controller integrates a scan trigger signal receiving circuit and a data reading circuit. The scan trigger signal receiving circuit has an external signal input terminal, and the data reading circuit is connected to the data output terminal of the storage chip to read the device identification code and send it out through the data output terminal of the wireless communication module.

[0022] The wireless communication module is either an NB-IoT communication module or a 4G communication module. The communication module has an antenna interface, which is connected to an external antenna via a coaxial cable.

[0023] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0024] This invention adopts a master-slave network architecture design, achieving a technological breakthrough in distributed power monitoring. Compared with the traditional single-point monitoring method, this architecture can simultaneously monitor the power consumption of the main power supply line and each branch circuit, obtaining detailed power distribution information. The master acquisition terminal, as the core node of the network, is responsible for data aggregation and analysis, while the slave acquisition terminals are distributed at each monitoring point to collect local data, forming a complete monitoring network. This design not only improves the comprehensiveness and accuracy of monitoring, but also provides users with a scientific basis for energy management, offering more refined power management capabilities compared to traditional solutions.

[0025] This invention employs an RS485 communication bus to construct a daisy-chain serial topology, which has excellent communication performance. The application of twisted-pair shielded cable ensures stable communication in harsh industrial environments, with a transmission distance of up to 1200 meters. It supports the connection of up to 32 device nodes, meeting the monitoring needs of large buildings and industrial facilities. The differential signal transmission method of the RS485 bus has strong anti-interference capabilities, maintaining communication reliability and real-time performance in environments with strong electromagnetic interference. The communication error rate is lower than that of traditional single-ended signal transmission methods.

[0026] This utility model uses a data comparison circuit to realize the energy consumption balance audit function. The data comparison circuit is integrated inside the main controller. Through the coordinated work of adders, subtractors and comparators, it calculates the difference between total power consumption and individual power consumption in real time. When the difference exceeds the preset threshold, an alarm message is generated immediately. It has a fast response speed and high audit accuracy, and can promptly detect abnormalities in the power distribution system, such as equipment failure, abnormal line loss or the existence of unmonitored loads, thus providing a strong guarantee for the safe operation of the power system.

[0027] This invention adopts an integrated shell structure design, integrating key components such as the main controller, metering chip, communication chip, and storage chip onto the same printed circuit board, simplifying system complexity. The four-layer PCB design has dedicated power and ground layers, ensuring circuit stability and anti-interference performance. The integrated design not only reduces the size and weight of the equipment but also improves system reliability, reduces the risk of connection point failures, and lowers maintenance costs. In addition, this invention adopts a standard guide rail mounting buckle design, realizing standardized installation of the equipment. The design of elastic claws and fixed slots allows the equipment to be quickly and reliably installed on standard guide rails without the need for special tools.

[0028] The enhanced system integration fault diagnosis circuit adopts a hardware implementation of logic gate array and encoder, which can intelligently identify and classify 256 different fault types. The accurate fault codes enable maintenance personnel to quickly locate the cause and location of the fault, avoiding the tedious process of troubleshooting one by one in traditional systems. The fault handling time is reduced by more than 60%, improving the maintainability and maintenance efficiency of the system. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 The system architecture of this utility model Figure 1 ;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a diagram of the data acquisition terminal architecture of this utility model;

[0031] Figure 3 The system architecture of this utility model Figure 2 . Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solution of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this utility model without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0033] It should be noted that the directional concepts of "left", "right", "up", "down", "front", "back", "inner", and "outer" in the following scheme are all relative directions, and will not be listed one by one here.

[0034] Example 1:

[0035] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown in the figure, this embodiment provides a basic smart meter monitoring system. The system mainly consists of four core parts: a master acquisition terminal, a slave acquisition terminal, an RS485 communication bus, and a data comparison circuit. It can realize real-time monitoring of the power supply system and energy consumption balance auditing functions.

[0036] Specifically, the smart meter monitoring system includes a main acquisition terminal, which serves as the core node of the entire monitoring network and is responsible for aggregating and processing all electrical energy data. The main acquisition terminal integrates a main controller, which employs a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 microprocessor, featuring rich peripheral interfaces and powerful data processing capabilities. The main controller connects to a main metering chip via an internal bus. This main metering chip is a high-precision dedicated electrical energy metering chip, such as the ADE7758 or similar products, capable of accurately measuring three-phase electrical energy with an accuracy of 0.1%. The main acquisition terminal also features a first RS485 transceiver chip, using the MAX485 or SP485 series, which offers excellent anti-interference capabilities and long-distance transmission characteristics. The first communication interface is designed as a standard RJ45 interface for easy on-site wiring connections. The first current transformer access port uses a screw-type terminal block design, enabling reliable connection to the secondary signal lines of external current transformers.

[0037] The main metering chip is electrically connected to the first current transformer access port through a specially designed first signal wire. This signal wire adopts a shielded twisted-pair structure to effectively suppress the influence of external electromagnetic interference on weak current signals. In practical applications, the first current transformer access port is connected to the first current transformer installed on the main power supply incoming line circuit. This current transformer usually adopts a through-hole or open structure, and the transformation ratio is determined according to the actual load current. Common specifications include 100A / 5A, 200A / 5A, etc. Through this connection method, the main acquisition terminal can obtain key electrical parameters such as current, voltage, and power of the main power supply incoming line in real time.

[0038] The system has multiple slave acquisition terminals. The structure of each slave acquisition terminal is basically similar to that of the master acquisition terminal, but the functions are different. Each slave acquisition terminal includes a slave controller, which also uses a 32-bit microprocessor, but is mainly responsible for local data acquisition and communication with the master acquisition terminal. The slave controller is connected to a slave metering chip, which is the same model as the master metering chip to ensure the consistency of measurement accuracy. The slave acquisition terminal is equipped with a second RS485 transceiver chip, a second communication interface, and a second current transformer access port. The technical specifications of these components are consistent with the corresponding components of the master acquisition terminal.

[0039] The metering chip is electrically connected to the second current transformer access port via the second signal wire. The connection method is the same as that of the main acquisition terminal. The second current transformer access port is used to connect the second current transformers installed on each branch circuit under the main incoming circuit. These current transformers monitor the power consumption of different loads such as air conditioning system, lighting system, UPS equipment, and server equipment. Through this sub-metering method, the system can obtain detailed power distribution information.

[0040] The RS485 communication bus is the key communication medium connecting various acquisition terminals. This bus is constructed using twisted-pair shielded cable, which has good anti-interference performance and transmission distance characteristics. The A and B signal lines of the twisted-pair shielded cable are connected to the corresponding pins of the first RS485 transceiver chip and each of the second RS485 transceiver chips, forming a standard daisy-chain serial topology. In this network topology, the master acquisition terminal is located at the beginning of the network, and each slave acquisition terminal is connected in series. A 120Ω terminating resistor is set at the end of the network to eliminate signal reflection. This topology supports the connection of up to 32 device nodes, and the transmission distance can reach 1200 meters.

[0041] The data comparison circuit is fully integrated inside the main controller. It realizes the energy consumption balance audit function through hardware and software collaboration. The data comparison circuit includes three functional modules: adder, subtractor and comparator. These modules are implemented by the main controller's internal arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and dedicated digital signal processing unit. The adder is responsible for accumulating the power data received from each slave acquisition terminal through the RS485 communication bus to generate the total power consumption of each item. The minuend input of the subtractor receives the total incoming power data output by the main metering chip, and the subtraction input receives the output result of the adder. The difference between the total power consumption and the individual power consumption is obtained through subtraction. The comparator compares the difference output by the subtractor with a preset threshold. When the difference exceeds the threshold range, the energy consumption imbalance judgment result is output.

[0042] Both the main acquisition terminal and the slave acquisition terminal adopt a unified integrated housing structure design. The housing is made of flame-retardant ABS engineering plastic, which has good insulation performance and mechanical strength. A printed circuit board is fixedly installed inside the integrated housing. The printed circuit board adopts a four-layer board structure with a dedicated power layer and ground layer design to ensure the stability and anti-interference performance of the circuit. The main controller or slave controller, main metering chip or slave metering chip, first RS485 transceiver chip or second RS485 transceiver chip, wireless communication module and storage chip and other key components are integrated and soldered on the printed circuit board through surface mount technology.

[0043] The memory chip is an EEPROM type non-volatile memory with a capacity of 64KB. It is connected to the master or slave controller through a standard SPI bus interface. The SPI bus adopts a four-wire connection method, including clock line (SCK), master output slave input line (MOSI), master input slave output line (MISO), and chip select line (CS). The bus operating frequency is set to 10MHz to ensure the reliability and real-time performance of data transmission.

[0044] The first or second RS485 transceiver chip is connected to the pins of the first or second communication interface via PCB traces on the printed circuit board. The PCB traces adopt a differential pair design with a line width of 0.2mm and a line spacing of 0.2mm. The impedance is controlled within the range of 120Ω±10% to ensure signal integrity. The wireless communication module is an industrial-grade module that supports NB-IoT or 4G networks. It is connected to the master or slave controller via a standard UART serial port. The UART interface is configured with communication parameters of 115200 baud rate, 8 data bits, no parity bit, and 1 stop bit.

[0045] The bottom of the integrated housing is manufactured using a one-piece molding process, forming a guide rail mounting clip structure that conforms to the DIN EN 60715 standard. This clip includes two key components: a flexible claw and a fixing slot. The flexible claw is made of polyoxymethylene (POM) material, which has good elasticity and wear resistance. The size of the fixing slot precisely matches the geometry of a 35mm standard DIN guide rail. During installation, simply align the terminal device with the guide rail and lightly press the flexible claw to achieve a reliable mechanical fixation. The installation process is simple and quick, requiring no additional fasteners.

[0046] Depending on the application environment, the wireless communication module can be either an NB-IoT communication module or a 4G communication module. The NB-IoT module is suitable for scenarios that do not require high data transmission rates but need wide coverage and low power consumption, while the 4G module is suitable for applications that require higher data transmission rates and real-time performance. The communication module has a standard antenna interface, which adopts the form of SMA or IPEX connectors. An external antenna is connected through a 50Ω characteristic impedance coaxial cable. The antenna model is selected according to the operating frequency band. The NB-IoT band uses a 900MHz or 1800MHz antenna, while the 4G band uses an 800MHz~2600MHz broadband antenna.

[0047] In actual operation, the system first completes the initial configuration. After each acquisition terminal is powered on, it automatically performs hardware self-test and network registration. The main acquisition terminal acts as the network master station and periodically sends data acquisition instructions to each slave acquisition terminal. The acquisition cycle can be set according to application requirements, with a typical value of 15 minutes. After receiving the instruction, the slave acquisition terminal immediately reads the power data of the local metering chip and reports the data to the main acquisition terminal through the RS485 bus. After collecting the data from all slave acquisition terminals, the main acquisition terminal starts the data comparison circuit to perform energy consumption balance calculation.

[0048] Specifically, the data comparison circuit first inputs the power data reported from each acquisition terminal into the adder for accumulation, and then obtains the total power consumption E. 分 Simultaneously, the main acquisition terminal reads the power data from its own main metering chip to obtain the total incoming power consumption E. 总The subtractor calculates the difference between the two, ΔE = E 总 - E 分 The comparator compares the difference with a preset balance threshold (usually set to 5% of the total power consumption). When |ΔE| ≤ the threshold, the system determines that the energy consumption balance is normal; when |ΔE| > the threshold, the system determines that there is an energy consumption imbalance, immediately generates an alarm message and reports it to the remote monitoring platform through the wireless communication module.

[0049] The system adopts a master-slave network architecture to realize distributed power monitoring. Compared with the traditional single-point monitoring method, it can provide more detailed and accurate power consumption information, providing a scientific basis for energy management. Secondly, RS485 bus communication technology ensures the reliability and real-time performance of data transmission, and can maintain stable communication performance even in harsh industrial environments. Thirdly, the hardware-level data comparison circuit design enables the energy consumption balance audit function to have higher response speed and accuracy, and can promptly detect abnormalities in the power distribution system, such as equipment failure, abnormal line loss, or unmonitored loads. Fourthly, the integrated housing design and standardized DIN rail installation method simplify the installation and maintenance of the equipment, and reduce the complexity and cost of system deployment. Fifthly, the combination of wired and wireless dual communication methods ensures the stability of the local network and achieves reliable connection with the remote monitoring platform, meeting the communication needs of different application scenarios.

[0050] In a real-world application case of an office building, this basic smart meter monitoring system was successfully implemented. The office building has a total floor area of ​​12,000 square meters and 15 floors. The main electrical equipment includes lighting systems, air conditioning systems, elevators, office equipment, etc. The system deployment plan is to install one main acquisition terminal in the main distribution cabinet of the building and 15 slave acquisition terminals in the distribution boxes on each floor to monitor the power consumption of each floor. The first current transformer connected to the main acquisition terminal monitors the total incoming current of the building, and the second current transformer connected to each slave acquisition terminal monitors the power current of each floor.

[0051] After the system was put into operation, it enabled comprehensive monitoring of the building's electricity consumption. Through the energy balance audit function of the data comparison circuits, maintenance personnel could monitor the electricity consumption of each floor in real time and promptly detect any anomalies. In the third month of operation, the system detected abnormally high electricity consumption on the 12th floor. Upon investigation, it was found that some electrical equipment on that floor was not included in the monitoring scope. Monitoring equipment was promptly installed, improving the monitoring system. In addition, the system helped the property management establish detailed electricity consumption records, providing accurate data support for developing energy-saving measures and allocating electricity costs. Statistics show that after using the monitoring system, the building's overall energy management efficiency improved by 25%, and electricity expenses decreased by 8%, fully demonstrating the system's practical value and economic benefits.

[0052] Example 2:

[0053] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, this embodiment provides an enhanced smart meter monitoring system. Based on the architecture of the basic smart meter monitoring system in Embodiment 1, this system adds dual-mode redundant metering technology, intelligent fault diagnosis function, automatic identification and configuration capability, and convenient wiring design, forming a highly reliable and easy-to-maintain advanced power monitoring solution, which is particularly suitable for critical application scenarios with extremely high requirements for system reliability and ease of operation and maintenance.

[0054] Specifically, this enhanced smart meter monitoring system inherits the master-slave network architecture of the basic system, including core components such as the master acquisition terminal, slave acquisition terminal, RS485 communication bus, and data comparison circuit. Based on this, the system's main technological innovation lies in the dual-mode redundancy design of the metering chip. Both the master and slave metering chips adopt a dual-mode redundancy chip structure. This chip integrates three key functional modules: a master metering unit, a backup computing unit, and a hardware selector circuit. The master metering unit uses traditional analog signal processing and has an analog signal input pin that connects to either the first or second current transformer input port. This pin is designed as a differential input structure, effectively suppressing common-mode interference and ensuring accurate acquisition of weak current signals. The input impedance of the analog signal input pin is designed to be 1MΩ, the input voltage range is ±10V, and the sampling accuracy reaches 16 bits, meeting the accuracy requirements of 0.1-level energy metering.

[0055] The backup computing unit employs digital signal processing and features a digital signal input pin that connects to the communication interface of the monitored equipment. This pin supports multiple communication protocols, including standard power communication protocols such as Modbus RTU and DL / T645. The digital signal input pin uses opto-isolation design with an isolation voltage of 3000V, effectively preventing damage to the system from external electrical faults. The backup computing unit has a built-in high-performance 32-bit DSP processor that can analyze the communication data of the monitored equipment in real time and extract key parameters such as energy, power, voltage, and current as a backup data source for the main metering unit.

[0056] The hardware selector circuit is the core of the dual-mode redundancy design, comprising two key components: a difference comparator and an analog switch. The difference comparator is built using a high-precision operational amplifier IC, such as the OPA2277 or similar products, featuring ultra-low offset voltage (typically 2μV) and extremely low temperature drift (typically 0.1μV / ℃). The two inputs of the difference comparator are connected to the outputs of the main metering unit and the backup computing unit, respectively, to compare the differences between the two metering data in real time. When the relative error between the two data is less than a set threshold (usually 1%), the system operates normally and selects the data from the main metering unit as the output. When the relative error exceeds the threshold, the system automatically determines that the main metering unit is faulty and immediately switches to the backup computing unit. The analog switch uses a low on-resistance CMOS switch chip, such as the ADG1414 or similar products, with an on-resistance of less than 1Ω and a switching time of less than 100ns, ensuring fast and accurate data switching. The control terminal of the analog switch is connected to the output of the difference comparator, automatically selecting the data from the main metering unit or the backup computing unit as the final output based on the comparison result.

[0057] The main controller also integrates an advanced fault diagnosis circuit. This circuit achieves intelligent fault identification and classification through hardware logic. The fault diagnosis circuit consists of two core parts: a logic gate array and an encoder. The logic gate array is implemented using programmable logic devices such as CPLDs or FPGAs, like the XC9536XL or similar products, which have abundant logic resources and flexible configuration capabilities. The input terminals of the logic gate array are connected to the output terminals of the data comparison circuit and the status signal lines of the hardware selector circuits in each slave acquisition terminal, enabling real-time monitoring of multiple key status parameters of the system. The output terminal of the data comparison circuit provides an energy balance status signal, outputting a high level when an energy imbalance is detected. The status signal lines of the hardware selector circuit provide metering mode switching information, indicating whether the main metering unit or the backup computing unit is currently in use.

[0058] The encoder generates corresponding fault codes based on the output combinations of the logic gate array. This encoder is implemented using a priority encoder 74HC148 or a similar chip. The fault codes use an 8-bit binary encoding method, which can represent 256 different fault types. Typical fault codes include: 0x01 indicating a single slave terminal metering fault, 0x02 indicating multiple slave terminals malfunctioning simultaneously, 0x04 indicating a master terminal metering fault, 0x08 indicating a communication fault, and 0x10 indicating a severe energy imbalance. The system also supports the identification of combined faults, such as 0x05 indicating that both slave and master terminal faults exist simultaneously. Through this precise fault classification mechanism, maintenance personnel can quickly locate the cause of the fault, greatly improving fault handling efficiency.

[0059] A QR code label is fixed to the outer surface of the integrated housing using a special industrial adhesive. This label is made of high-temperature resistant and moisture-proof PET material, which has good weather resistance and durability. The QR code label uses the QR code encoding format and has a data capacity of up to 2953 bytes, which is sufficient to store detailed information about the device. The encoded content of the QR code label corresponds strictly to the device identification code pre-stored in the storage chip, forming a dual verification mechanism for the device identity. The device identification code uses the UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) ​​format and is 32 hexadecimal characters long, ensuring global uniqueness. The identification code contains key information such as device model, production batch, manufacturing date, and hardware version, which facilitates the full life cycle management of the device.

[0060] The integrated housing features standardized wiring holes with a diameter of φ8mm, precision-machined on its sidewalls. Equipped with rubber sealing rings, these holes offer IP54-level protection. Inside the housing is an innovative pluggable electrical connector design, comprising two independent connection units: a first socket and a second socket. The first socket is specifically designed for connecting current transformer signal lines, employing a 4-pin design that supports three-phase current signals and one neutral signal. The socket's internal gold-plated contacts have a contact resistance of less than 10mΩ, ensuring reliable transmission of weak signals. The first socket connects to either the first or second current transformer input port via a shielded wire inside the housing. This shielded wire uses RVVP 4×0.5mm² specifications, providing excellent anti-interference performance.

[0061] The second socket is specifically designed for connecting power sampling lines. It features a 6-pin design, supporting three-phase voltage signals and three power lines. The socket is designed with a reverse insertion protection structure to ensure correct wiring and safety. The second socket connects to the power input terminal on the printed circuit board via a dedicated wire inside the housing. This wire uses UL-certified flame-retardant cable, meeting the safety requirements for industrial applications. The pluggable connector design greatly simplifies on-site wiring. Installers do not need to perform complex terminal wiring operations; they only need to insert the pre-made connector plug into the corresponding socket to complete the electrical connection, improving installation efficiency.

[0062] The main controller or slave controller integrates advanced scan trigger signal receiving circuit and data reading circuit to realize the automatic identification and configuration functions of the equipment. The scan trigger signal receiving circuit has an external signal input terminal, which adopts an optocoupler isolation design and supports a wide voltage range input from 3.3V to 24V. When the on-site installer uses a dedicated scanning device (such as a barcode scanner or mobile APP) to scan the QR code label on the surface of the equipment, the scanning device will send a pulse signal to the trigger signal input terminal to activate the automatic configuration program of the equipment.

[0063] The data reading circuit is directly connected to the data output terminal of the storage chip and adopts high-speed DMA (Direct Memory Access) technology, which can complete the reading operation of the device identification code within 100ms. The read device identification code is processed by the main controller to generate a configuration data packet containing device information, network configuration parameters, metering parameters, etc. This data packet is sent out through the data output terminal of the wireless communication module to the remote device management platform. After receiving the configuration data packet, the device management platform automatically assigns a network address to the device, sets metering parameters, and establishes data acquisition tasks. The entire configuration process does not require manual intervention, which improves the automation level of system deployment.

[0064] When the system starts up, each acquisition terminal first performs a comprehensive hardware self-test, including functional verification of key components such as the main metering unit, backup computing unit, hardware selector circuit, and fault diagnosis circuit. The self-test process uses a built-in standard signal source to input known test signals to the main metering unit and backup computing unit respectively to verify the metering accuracy and data consistency. When the error of the two metering data is within the allowable range, the system determines that the hardware status is normal and selects the main metering unit as the primary channel by default. When the error exceeds the threshold, the system automatically marks the faulty module and generates the corresponding fault code.

[0065] In normal operation mode, the dual-mode redundant metering chip continuously performs parallel metering. The main metering unit acquires the secondary side signal of the current transformer in real time through the analog signal input pin. After processing steps such as A / D conversion, digital filtering, and power calculation, accurate power data is generated. At the same time, the backup calculation unit establishes a connection with the communication interface of the monitored equipment through the digital signal input pin and periodically reads the power data inside the equipment as a reference. The difference comparator in the hardware selector circuit continuously compares the two data and calculates the relative error. When the relative error is less than 1%, the system maintains the current state; when the relative error is between 1% and 5%, the system generates a warning message but does not switch channels; when the relative error exceeds 5%, the system immediately performs a channel switching operation and generates a fault alarm.

[0066] The fault diagnosis circuit continuously monitors the system status throughout the entire operation. The logic gate array collects status signals from multiple information sources, such as the data comparison circuit, hardware selector circuit, and communication status monitoring, in real time to form a comprehensive fault judgment matrix. The encoder generates accurate fault codes based on different combinations of the fault matrix. For example, when an abnormality is detected in the metering data of a single slave acquisition terminal, the encoder outputs a 0x01 fault code; when multiple slave acquisition terminals are detected to be abnormal at the same time, it outputs a 0x02 fault code; when the dual-mode redundant metering of the master acquisition terminal itself is abnormal, it outputs a 0x04 fault code. The system can also identify compound faults, such as when communication interruption and metering abnormality occur simultaneously, it outputs a 0x18 combined fault code.

[0067] Dual-mode redundancy metering technology ensures high reliability of metering functions. Even if the main metering channel fails, the system can still maintain normal power monitoring functions through the backup channel, ensuring data continuity and integrity. This design is particularly suitable for critical application scenarios where monitoring interruption is not allowed, such as data centers, hospital operating rooms, and financial trading centers. Secondly, intelligent fault diagnosis function greatly improves the maintainability of the system. Through accurate fault codes, maintenance personnel can quickly identify the fault type and location, avoiding the tedious process of troubleshooting one by one in traditional systems, reducing fault handling time by more than 60%. Thirdly, automatic identification and configuration functions significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of system deployment. Device identification and parameter configuration can be completed by scanning a QR code, avoiding errors that may occur during manual configuration, reducing equipment deployment time by 70%. Fourthly, the pluggable electrical connector design greatly simplifies on-site installation work. Even non-professionals can quickly complete the electrical connection of the equipment, reducing the skill level requirements for installers and reducing the probability of installation errors.

[0068] In a large data center, the enhanced smart meter monitoring system successfully demonstrated its outstanding performance. The data center covers an area of ​​8,000 square meters, has 600 standard server racks, and a total installed power of 4MW. It has extremely high requirements for the reliability of power supply and the stability of monitoring system. The data center adopts a power supply architecture with dual mains power and UPS backup power, and is equipped with a complete power distribution system, including high-voltage power distribution room, low-voltage power distribution room, and multi-level power distribution equipment such as row head power distribution cabinet.

[0069] The system deployment plan involves installing two main data acquisition terminals (as backups) in the main power distribution cabinet of the data center, and 60 slave data acquisition terminals in each row head power distribution cabinet. This enables precise monitoring of the power consumption of every 10 racks. The first current transformer connected to each main data acquisition terminal monitors the total incoming current of the data center, with a transformation ratio of 2000A / 5A, which can cover the full-load operation of the data center. The second current transformer connected to each slave data acquisition terminal monitors the outgoing current of each row head cabinet, with a transformation ratio of 200A / 5A, ensuring accurate metering of the power consumption of each group of racks.

[0070] After the system was put into operation, it demonstrated excellent reliability and intelligence. In the first month of operation, the system detected three metering anomalies, all of which were successfully handled through dual-mode redundant metering technology. The first anomaly occurred in cabinet #15 of the A section, where the current sampling circuit of the main metering unit drifted, causing the metering data deviation to exceed 3%. The hardware selector circuit immediately detected the anomaly and automatically switched to the backup computing unit. The entire switching process was completed within 50ms, ensuring the continuity of data acquisition. At the same time, the fault diagnosis circuit generated a 0x01 fault code, and the maintenance personnel immediately received the alarm information and completed the replacement of the faulty equipment within 30 minutes.

[0071] The second anomaly occurred at the main incoming line monitoring point in Zone B. Due to a lightning strike, a momentary overvoltage occurred in the secondary circuit of the current transformer. The front-end protection circuit of the main metering unit was activated, temporarily interrupting the acquisition of analog signals. The system automatically switched to the backup computing unit and maintained the power monitoring function by reading the communication data of the upstream smart meter. Throughout the entire fault handling process, data acquisition was not interrupted, ensuring the continuity of energy consumption management.

[0072] The third anomaly was a compound fault. Both data acquisition terminals in Zone C experienced communication interruption simultaneously, and the main metering unit of one of the devices also malfunctioned. The fault diagnosis circuit accurately identified this compound fault mode and generated a 0x0A combined fault code (0x02+0x08). Based on the fault code, the maintenance personnel quickly located the specific faulty device and fault type, and completed the fault recovery within 45 minutes.

[0073] After implementing the enhanced smart meter monitoring system, the system's availability reached 93.2%, exceeding the availability level of traditional monitoring systems. The automatic configuration function played a crucial role in system expansion. When adding new racks to the data center, configuration of new monitoring devices can be completed simply by scanning the device's QR code, reducing configuration time from 30 minutes to 3 minutes. The pluggable connector design significantly reduced the installation error rate; no wiring errors occurred during the installation of 60 devices. Dual-mode redundant metering technology ensured high reliability of critical power consumption data, providing a reliable data foundation for accurate billing and energy optimization in the data center. Statistics show that after using this monitoring system, the data center's power management accuracy improved to 99.5%, with significant energy consumption optimization and annual electricity cost savings of 8%, fully demonstrating the immense value of the enhanced smart meter monitoring system in critical application scenarios.

[0074] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model. It should be understood that the present utility model is not limited to the form disclosed herein and should not be regarded as an exclusion of other embodiments. It can be used in various other combinations, modifications and environments, and can be modified within the scope of the concept described herein through the above teachings or related technologies or knowledge. Modifications and changes made by those skilled in the art that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present utility model should be protected within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A smart meter monitoring system, characterized in that, include: The main acquisition terminal includes a main controller, a main metering chip, a first RS485 transceiver chip, a first communication interface, and a first current transformer access port. The main metering chip is electrically connected to the first current transformer access port through a first signal wire. The first current transformer access port is used to connect to the first current transformer installed on the main power supply incoming line circuit. The data acquisition terminal includes a controller, a metering chip, a second RS485 transceiver chip, a second communication interface, and a second current transformer access port. The metering chip is electrically connected to the second current transformer access port via a second signal wire. The second current transformer access port is used to connect to a second current transformer installed on a branch circuit under the main incoming circuit. The RS485 communication bus is a twisted-pair shielded cable. The A and B signal lines of the twisted-pair shielded cable are respectively connected to the corresponding pins of the first RS485 transceiver chip and the second RS485 transceiver chip, forming a daisy-chain serial topology. A data comparison circuit, integrated within the main controller, includes an adder, a subtractor, and a comparator. The input of the adder receives energy data from the slave acquisition terminal via the RS485 communication bus. The minuend input of the subtractor receives energy data output from the main metering chip. The subtrahend input of the subtractor receives the output of the adder. The input of the comparator is connected to the output of the subtractor, used to output the energy balance determination result.

2. The smart meter monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the main acquisition terminal and the slave acquisition terminal adopt an integrated housing structure. A printed circuit board is fixed inside the integrated housing. The main controller or slave controller, the main metering chip or slave metering chip, the first RS485 transceiver chip or the second RS485 transceiver chip, the wireless communication module and the storage chip are integrated and soldered on the printed circuit board. The storage chip is connected to the main controller or slave controller through the SPI bus.

3. The smart meter monitoring system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first RS485 transceiver chip or the second RS485 transceiver chip is connected to the pins of the first communication interface or the second communication interface through PCB traces, and the wireless communication module is connected to the master controller or the slave controller through the UART serial port.

4. The smart meter monitoring system according to claim 3, characterized in that: Both the master metering chip and the slave metering chip are dual-mode redundant metering chips. The dual-mode redundant metering chip includes a master metering unit, a backup computing unit, and a hardware selector circuit. The master metering unit has an analog signal input pin that connects to the access port of the first current transformer or the access port of the second current transformer. The backup computing unit has a digital signal input pin that connects to the communication interface of the monitored device. The hardware selector circuit includes a difference comparator and an analog switch. The two input terminals of the difference comparator are respectively connected to the output terminals of the master metering unit and the backup computing unit. The control terminal of the analog switch is connected to the output terminal of the difference comparator and is used to select the data of the master metering unit or the backup computing unit as the final output.

5. The smart meter monitoring system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The main controller also integrates a fault diagnosis circuit, which includes a logic gate array and an encoder. The input of the logic gate array is connected to the output of the data comparison circuit and the status signal line of the hardware selector circuit in the data acquisition terminal. The encoder generates a corresponding fault code based on the output combination of the logic gate array.

6. The smart meter monitoring system according to claim 5, characterized in that: A QR code label is fixed to the outer surface of the integrated housing by adhesive, and the encoded content of the QR code label corresponds to the device identification code pre-stored in the storage chip.

7. A smart meter monitoring system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The integrated housing has wiring holes on its side wall and is equipped with a pluggable electrical connector, which includes a first socket and a second socket. The first socket has a socket for connecting a current transformer signal line and is connected to the first current transformer access port or the second current transformer access port via a wire inside the housing. The second socket has a socket for connecting a power sampling line and is connected to the power input terminal on the printed circuit board via a wire inside the housing.

8. The smart meter monitoring system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The bottom of the integrated housing is integrally formed with a guide rail mounting buckle, which includes an elastic claw and a fixing groove for mounting on a standard guide rail.

9. A smart meter monitoring system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The main controller or slave controller integrates a scan trigger signal receiving circuit and a data reading circuit. The scan trigger signal receiving circuit has an external signal input terminal, and the data reading circuit is connected to the data output terminal of the storage chip to read the device identification code and send it out through the data output terminal of the wireless communication module.

10. A smart meter monitoring system according to claim 9, characterized in that: The wireless communication module is an NB-IoT communication module or a 4G communication module. The communication module has an antenna interface, which is connected to an external antenna via a coaxial cable.

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