Electric meter with dual analog / digital converter

Abstract

An electric meter can have two or more analog / digital converters so that the electric meter can provide additional functions. A first analog / digital converter (ADC) is used by a measurement component of the electric meter and can determine the energy consumption corresponding to the power supplied through the electric meter. The electric meter can have a second ADC different from the first ADC used by the measurement component. The second ADC can have a configuration different from that of the first ADC, such as a different sampling rate or bit depth. The second ADC can be used to provide additional functions, such as determining information about individual devices receiving power through the electric meter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 345,739, filed on May 25, 2022, entitled "ELECTRICAL METER WITH DUAL ANALOG - TO - DIGITAL CONVERTERS" (SAGE - 0008 - P01).

[0002] The above - mentioned application / patent is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Background Art

[0003] Power companies need to supply electricity to customers and measure the amount of electricity or electrical energy supplied to individual customers for billing purposes. For this purpose, electric meters can be used. Electric meters can use electrical sensors to measure aspects of electricity consumption, such as the voltage and current of the electricity provided to the customer.

[0004] Older electric meters may be implemented using analog or mechanical techniques. The amount of electricity consumed can cause a mechanical process, such as the rotation of a dial that records the amount of electricity consumed. Newer electric meters can use digital processing. The output of an electrical sensor can be converted into a digital signal, which can be processed to determine the amount of electricity consumed. The amount of electricity consumed can be stored in the meter or transmitted (e.g., wirelessly) to the power company.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] In some aspects, the technology described herein is an electric meter, comprising: an electric sensor for measuring the electrical characteristics of a power line to a building; a measurement component; a first analog / digital converter that processes the analog output of the electric sensor to generate a first digital signal, where the first digital signal has a first sampling rate and is used by the measurement component of the electric meter; a first processing component of the measurement component that processes the first digital signal to determine the energy consumption value of a device in the building; a second analog / digital converter that processes the analog output of the electric sensor to generate a second digital signal, where the second digital signal has a second sampling rate different from the first sampling rate and is not used by the measurement component of the electric meter; and a second processing component that processes the second digital signal to determine first information corresponding to the power consumption.

[0006] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electric meter, and the first processing component is a first signal processing component.

[0007] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electric meter, and the electric sensor is a current sensor.

[0008] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electric meter, where the first analog / digital converter has a first bit depth and the second analog / digital converter has a second bit depth different from the first bit depth.

[0009] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electric meter, where the first analog / digital converter is part of the measurement component and the second analog / digital converter is external to the measurement component.

[0010] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electric meter, and the first information corresponding to the power consumption includes information regarding the operation of the electrical system connected to the electric meter.

[0011] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electric meter, and the first information corresponding to the power consumption includes information regarding the location of a power outage.

[0012] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electric meter, and the first information corresponding to the power consumption includes identification information regarding a first device within a building.

[0013] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a system comprising: an electrical sensor for measuring electrical characteristics of a power line to a building; a measurement component; a first analog / digital converter that processes an analog output of the electrical sensor to generate a first digital signal, wherein the first digital signal has a first sampling rate and the first digital signal is used by a measurement component of the electric meter; a first processing component of the measurement component that processes the first digital signal to determine an energy consumption value of a device of the building; a second analog / digital converter that processes the analog output of the electrical sensor to generate a second digital signal, wherein the second digital signal has a second sampling rate different from the first sampling rate and the second digital signal is not used by a measurement component of the electric meter; and a second processing component that processes the second digital signal to determine first information corresponding to the power consumption.

[0014] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a system, and the first information corresponding to the power consumption includes information regarding a change in state of a first device within a building.

[0015] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a system, wherein the first information corresponding to the power consumption includes (i) the energy consumption of a first device within a building, and (ii) the energy consumption of a second device within the building.

[0016] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a system that includes a communication component for transmitting the first information to at least one of an electric power company or a customer of the electric power company.

[0017] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a system that includes a second electrical sensor for measuring the electrical characteristics of a second power line to a building, a third analog / digital converter for processing the analog output of the second electrical sensor to generate a third digital signal, wherein the third digital signal is used by a measurement component of an electricity meter, and a fourth analog / digital converter for processing the analog output of the second electrical sensor to generate a fourth digital signal, wherein the fourth digital signal is not used by a measurement component of the electricity meter, and a first processing component processes the third digital signal and a second processing component processes the fourth digital signal.

[0018] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method that includes receiving power consumption data from a measurement component of an electricity meter connected to a building, wherein the power consumption data is calculated using a first analog / digital converter, receiving an analog sensor signal from an electrical sensor, obtaining a digital sensor signal by processing the analog sensor signal with a second analog / digital converter, determining first information corresponding to the power consumption by processing the digital sensor signal, determining an output using the first information and the power consumption data, and providing the output to a user.

[0019] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method, which is implemented by an application processing component of an electric meter.

[0020] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method in which a first analog / digital converter is part of a measurement component and a second analog / digital converter is external to the measurement component.

[0021] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method in which power consumption data is calculated using a first signal processing component of a measurement component, and first information is determined using a second signal processing component external to the measurement component.

[0022] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method in which power consumption data is calculated by processing an analog sensor signal using a first analog / digital converter.

[0023] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method in which power consumption data is calculated by processing a second analog sensor signal from a second electrical sensor with a first analog / digital converter.

[0024] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method in which the first information includes one or more of information regarding the operation of an electrical system connected to an electric meter, information regarding the location of a power outage, identification information regarding a first device within a building, information regarding a change in state of a first device within a building, the energy consumption of a first device within a building, or the energy consumption of a second device within a building.

[0025] The following detailed description of the invention and its specific embodiments can be understood by referring to the following figures:

Brief Description of the Drawings

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] An electricity meter can use digital processing to measure the electricity consumption of devices within a building. The analog output of an electrical sensor can be converted into a digital signal, which can be processed to determine the amount of electrical energy consumption for billing purposes. The part that determines the electricity energy consumption of the electricity meter may be called a measurement component.

[0034] Generally, it is important that the measurement component of the electricity meter provides accurate information regarding electricity consumption. Customers may be confused if they are overcharged for their electricity usage, and the power company may incur losses if they undercharge a customer. Therefore, the electricity meter and the measurement component can be designed with high precision.

[0035] There may be cases where it is desirable for the electricity meter to provide other functions in addition to measuring the amount of electricity energy consumption. For example, the electricity meter can enable the provision of information regarding the electrical system (such as a power line that has experienced a power outage) or information or services for electrical customers (such as using electrical disaggregation to determine information regarding individual devices within a residence).

[0036] Having an electricity meter with such functions brings many benefits to electricity providers and customers. Providing such features as part of an existing measurement component may require additional certification or recertification of the measurement component to ensure its accuracy, and such certification can be costly. Furthermore, the existing processing of the electricity meter (such as analog-to-digital conversion and related signal processing) may not be sufficient to support the desired additional functions.

[0037] An electric meter can use a dual analog / digital converter (ADC) to provide additional functionality without the need to prove costly measurement components. A first set of the ADC can be used by the measurement components to accurately calculate the electrical energy consumption. A second set of the ADC can be used by the application components to provide additional functionality. The second set of the ADC can provide a digital signal that uses a different configuration (e.g., sampling rate and / or bit depth) to provide greater functionality for implementing other functions. As will be appreciated, in certain embodiments disclosed herein, the use of multiple sets of the dual ADC eliminates and / or reduces the impact on the measurement components by imparting additional functionality to the instrument design. In other words, in embodiments of the present disclosure, the meter design can be changed without affecting the metering components, thereby eliminating and / or reducing the need to prove (or reprove) the metering components.

[0038] The technology described in this specification can use any of the technologies described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 707,665, filed May 8, 2015 (now issued as U.S. Patent No. 9,443,195) (SAGE-0002-U01); U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16 / 054,535, filed August 3, 2018 (now issued as U.S. Patent No. 10,750,252) (SAGE-0005-U01); U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 824,174, filed November 28, 2017 (now issued as U.S. Patent No. 10,175,276) (SAGE-0004-U01); U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16 / 179,567, filed November 2, 2018 (now issued as U.S. Patent No. 10,878,343) (SAGE-0006-U01); and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16 / 858,897, filed April 27, 2020 (now issued as U.S. Patent No. 11,536,747 and also published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 0011056A1) (SAGE-0007-U01), each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0039] FIG. 1 is an exemplary system 100 for measuring the electrical energy consumption of devices within a building in which an electric meter 110 is connected to an electrical panel 120 of the building using the electric meter 110. As used herein, a building can include any group of devices that receive electricity, regardless of whether these devices correspond to residences, businesses, and / or other entities, regardless of whether the devices are inside or outside of a structure, and regardless of whether a single electric meter supplies electricity to only some of the devices within the building.

[0040] In the example of FIG. 1, the power company may supply power using a split-phase or single-phase three-wire system. For example, the first distribution line can supply 120 volts of power, and the second distribution line can supply 120 volts of power that is 180 degrees out of phase with the first distribution line. In some cases, a third wire can provide a neutral point (which may or may not be accessible by the meter). Electrical customers can use a single distribution line for some devices and both distribution lines for devices that require 240 volts of electricity. However, the techniques described herein are not limited to split-phase or single-phase three-wire systems and can be used with any suitable distribution system such as single-wire, two-phase, or three-phase electrical systems. As used herein, the term wire includes any wire or wiring used by the power company to supply power to the customer. The term transmission line includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the first distribution line, the second distribution line, or the neutral point.

[0041] The electricity meter 110 can have lead-in terminals for connecting to the lead-in wires (e.g., the first distribution line, the second distribution line, and the neutral point) provided by the power company, and can also have load terminals for connecting to the electrical panel 120. The electricity meter 110 can also have a ground terminal and any other terminals that can be used by the electricity meter. The electrical panel 120 can distribute the power received via the load line to a plurality of circuits within the building using any suitable technique.

[0042] FIG. 2 is an exemplary electric meter 200 that can be used to measure electrical energy consumption. In FIG. 2, line terminals 202 connect the electric meter 200 to an incoming line (e.g., a first distribution line, a second distribution line, or a neutral point), and load terminals 204 connect the electric meter 200 to a load line (e.g., a first distribution line, a second distribution line, or a neutral point). The electric meter 200 can have multiple sets of terminals for multiple incoming and load lines, but only a single pair of terminals is shown for clarity. The electric meter 200 can also include a switch or circuit breaker that allows the power company to disconnect the incoming line from the load line.

[0043] The electric meter 200 can have a sensor 210 for measuring electrical characteristics of a power line (e.g., a first distribution line, a second distribution line, or a neutral line). Any suitable sensor, such as a current sensor and / or a voltage sensor, can be used. The sensor can be implemented using any suitable technology, such as a current shunt, a current transformer, a Hall effect sensor, and / or a Rogowski coil. Each sensor can output an analog signal proportional to the electrical characteristic being measured. For example, the sensor can output an analog signal corresponding to one or more of the current in a distribution line, the voltage between a distribution line and a neutral point, or the voltage between two distribution lines.

[0044] The measurement component 220 can process the analog signal received from the sensor 210 and perform any suitable calculations, such as determining power quality or determining the amount of electrical energy consumed over a period of time. As used herein, the measurement component of an electric meter includes the part of the electric meter that is responsible for calculating an energy consumption value by processing sensor values (or by calculating intermediate values that can be used to calculate an energy consumption value).

[0045] The measurement component 220 can include one or more analog / digital converters such as the ADC 222. The ADC 222 can be implemented using any suitable technology such as a delta-sigma ADC. In some embodiments, the measurement component 220 can have an ADC for each sensor. For example, the measurement component 220 can have a first ADC for a current sensor of a first power distribution line, a second ADC for a voltage sensor of the first power distribution line, a third ADC for a current sensor of a second power distribution line, and so on. Each ADC can output a digital signal proportional to the electrical characteristic being measured (e.g., current or voltage).

[0046] In some embodiments, the digital sensor signals can be adapted to different frequency bands or ranges. For example, a first digital voltage sensor signal can be adapted to measure high-frequency content, and a second digital voltage sensor signal can be adapted to measure low-frequency content. Similarly, a first digital current sensor signal can be adapted to measure high-frequency content, and a second digital current sensor signal can be adapted to measure low-frequency content. Any number of digital sensor signals adapted to measure content in different frequency bands or ranges can be used.

[0047] The measurement component 220 can include a signal processing component 224 that processes the digital signals output by the ADC 222. The signal processing component 224 can be implemented using any suitable technology such as solid-state electronic circuits, microprocessors, integrated circuits, microcontroller units, and / or processors and software. In some embodiments, the signal processing component 224 can calculate the instantaneous power consumption and determine the electrical energy consumption over a certain period using an accumulator and / or integrator. The signal processing component 224 can also perform other operations such as tamper detection, power quality, and / or power factor.

[0048] In some implementation configurations, ADC222 and signal processing component 224 can be implemented as a single component, such as a chip that performs the operations of both ADC222 and signal processing component 224.

[0049] Electric meter 200 can include a communication component 230 for transmitting information to a power company, a customer, or other entity. Communication component 230 can use any suitable communication technology, such as telemetry, infrared communication, low-power radio, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and / or cellular communication.

[0050] Electric meter 200 can include a display component 240 for presenting information on the meter. Display component 240 can include any suitable display, such as an LED, OLED, segmented display, or liquid crystal display. Display component 240 can present any suitable information, such as a power consumption rate.

[0051] Figure 3 is an exemplary electric meter 300 with an application processing component 350 that provides additional functionality.

[0052] Application processing component 350 can receive data from measurement component 220 and be configured to use the data to provide additional functionality or benefits. Application processing component 350 can provide any suitable functionality and / or benefits, which can be provided to a power company, a customer of the power company, and / or a third party (e.g., a manufacturer of a device that consumes power).

[0053] The application processing component 350 can provide any suitable functionality as follows: detection of electricity meter tampering (e.g., by a customer attempting to reduce electricity charges), detection related to the operation of the electrical system (e.g., irregularities in voltage, frequency, or power factor), detection and localization of power outages, detection of electrical faults in the customer's home (e.g., floating neutral point), identification of devices in the customer's home and detection of state changes of these devices (e.g., using electrical disaggregation techniques), and functions related to determining device state changes in the customer's home (e.g., the device is not functioning properly and needs repair, identification of devices consuming a large amount of power, or warning to the user (such as when the refrigerator door is left open)).

[0054] The application processing component 350 can receive any suitable data or information from the measurement component 220. For example, the application processing component 350 can receive sensor measurement values, power consumption rate information, or any other calculation determined from the sensor measurement values.

[0055] In some implementation configurations, the application processing component 350 may not have access to the analog signals output by the sensor 210, and the only source of data can be the data provided by the measurement component 220.

[0056] The application processing component 350 can be implemented using any suitable technology. In some implementation configurations, the application processing component 350 can include a processor 352 such as a central processing unit, or can include multiple processors. The application processing component 350 can include a memory 354 that can include any suitable volatile and / or non-volatile memory. The memory 354 can store any suitable software executed by the processor 352, such as an operating system (e.g., Linux) and other software for implementing any of the functions, features, or applications described herein.

[0057] The application processing component 350 can include a communication component 356 that can be implemented using any suitable communication technology, such as those described for the communication component 230. In some implementation configurations, the application processing component 350 may not be able to access the communication component 230, and thus, may require the communication component 356 for sending and receiving data. In some implementation configurations, the function of the communication component 230 may be insufficient (e.g., the bandwidth is too low), and the communication component 356 may provide functions for improving the operation of the application processing component 350.

[0058] In some implementation configurations, an application (an "app") or software can be installed on the application processing component 350. For example, an electric power company can install an application for its own use, such as to perform a diagnosis of an electrical system. As another example, a customer can install an application (or the electric power company can install the application on behalf of the customer) to provide additional features to the customer, such as the features described herein. In some implementation configurations, an application store (or app store) can be made available to facilitate the installation of applications on the application processing component 350.

[0059] In some cases, an application for execution on the application processing component may require data that the measurement component 220 cannot provide. For example, the ADC 222 of the measurement component 220 can sample an analog signal using parameters such as a first sampling rate and a first bit depth. These parameters may be sufficient for calculating the electrical energy consumption but may be insufficient for other applications. For example, in other applications, it may be necessary to sample the analog sensor signal at a higher sampling rate and / or a higher bit depth.

[0060] FIG. 4 is an example of an electric meter 400 including an application processing component 450 that receives and processes an analog sensor signal. The application processing component 450 can include any of the functions described herein for the application processing component 350.

[0061] The application processing component 450 can include an ADC 417 that processes analog sensor signals to compute digital signals. For example, the application processing component 450 can have a first ADC for a current sensor of a first power distribution line, a second ADC for a voltage sensor of the first power distribution line, a third ADC for a current sensor of a second power distribution line, and others. Each ADC can output a digital signal proportional to the electrical characteristic being measured (e.g., current or voltage). The ADC 417 can have different parameters than the ADC 222. For example, the ADC 417 can have a higher sampling rate and / or bit depth than the ADC 222.

[0062] The application processing component 450 can include a signal processing component 418 that processes the digital signals output by the ADC 417. The signal processing component 418 can be implemented using any suitable technique as described herein for the signal processing component 224. In some implementations, the signal processing component 418 can be configured to process the digital signals output by the ADC 417 (e.g., to handle a larger sampling rate or bit depth with a larger capacity). In some implementations, the operation of the signal processing component 418 may be executed by the processor 352, and the signal processing component 418 may represent a subset of the operations executed by the processor 352. The operation of the signal processing component 418 can include spectral analysis to provide information regarding harmonics of the current and voltage measurements, and / or time-domain analysis of the current and voltage measurements. The signal processing component 418 may be able to process signals at a higher frequency (compared to the processing of the measurement components) to support additional functions and features.

[0063] In some implementation configurations, the application processing component 450 can also receive data from the measurement component 220, such as any of the data described herein. In some implementation configurations, the application processing component 450 may not have access to the data from the measurement component 220. For example, due to manufacturing limitations, the connection between the measurement component 220 and the application processing component may be blocked.

[0064] In some implementation configurations, the application processing component 450 can access the voltage sensor measurements from the sensor 210, but may not have access to the current sensor measurements from the sensor 210 (or vice versa). In such instances, the sensor 210 can be split into, for example, (i) a first sensor accessible by the measurement component 220 and the application processing component 450, and (ii) a second sensor accessible by the measurement component 220 but not by the application processing component 450. For example, if the application processing component 450 is to be able to access the analog current sensor readings, additional certification requirements may arise (to ensure that the power consumption measurements of the electricity meter are not affected), and it may be desirable to avoid the additional certification to reduce manufacturing costs or prevent delays. In such instances, the application processing component 450 can (a) process the voltage sensor measurements from the sensor 210 and not process the current measurements, and (b) process the voltage sensor measurements from the sensor 210 and receive the current sensor measurements via the measurement component 220.

[0065] In some implementation configurations, the application processing component 450 can be configured to access or use the communication component 230 or the display component 240. For example, the application processing component 450 can use the communication component 230 for data communication to a power company, a customer, and / or a third party. One advantage of the application processing component 450 having access to and / or using the communication component 230 is that the administrator / owner / operator of the meter 400 has the ability to send data to and / or receive data from the application processing component 450 without the need for a human to be physically present on the meter 400 side. For example, one non-limiting use case of the meter 400 having an application processing component 450 involving access to and / or use of the communication component 230 includes a power company having hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands, and / or millions of customers, where a plurality of customers have meters installed in their homes in the embodiments disclosed herein. In such a scenario, the power company can push software updates to the application processing component without dispatching employees / technicians to each meter location. Further, the ability to remotely update the application processing component 450 eliminates and / or reduces the need for technicians to physically interact with the meter and / or its corresponding line, and reduces the likelihood of technicians accidentally getting electrocuted.

[0066] The application processing component 450 can also use the display component 240 to present information related to the functionality of the application processing component 450 (e.g., diagnostic information) or an application implemented by the application processing component 450.

[0067] In some cases, the sensor 210 used by the measurement component 220 may not be available to the application processing component. For example, due to manufacturing limitations, the connection between the sensor 210 and the application processing component may be blocked.

[0068] In some cases, an application that is desired to be run on an electric meter may be improved with data that the sensor 210 cannot provide. For example, the application may require sensor measurements with higher accuracy than those provided by the sensor 210. In another example, the application may require a different type of sensor than that provided by the sensor 210 (for example, the sensor 210 combines measurements for two main power supplies into one value, but individual values for each main power supply are required).

[0069] FIG. 5 is an exemplary electric meter 500 having a second set of sensors for an application processing component 550 that receives and processes analog sensor signals. The application processing component 550 can include any of the functions described herein for the application processing component 350 or the application processing component 450.

[0070] The sensor 510 can include any suitable sensor, such as any of the sensors described herein for the sensor 210. The sensor 510 can provide different types of information than the sensor 210 and / or can provide higher accuracy than the sensor 210. The sensor 510 may allow for a greater separation between the operation of the measurement component 220 and the application processing component 550. In some implementations, the output of the sensor 510 may not be accessible to the measurement component 220, and the output of the sensor 210 may not be accessible to the application processing component 550.

[0071] The application processing component 550 can include an ADC 517 and / or a signal processing component 518 that are adapted to the signals provided by the sensor 510. For example, if the sensor 510 provides a higher accuracy signal, the ADC 517 can provide additional features such as higher accuracy, a higher sampling rate, or a higher bit depth. Also, the signal processing component 518 can provide additional processing adapted to the sensor 510 and / or the ADC 517.

[0072] In some implementation configurations, the sensor 510 can include a voltage sensor and may not include a current sensor (or vice versa). As described above, accessing the readings of the current sensor can result in additional certification requirements. In such instances, the application processing component 550 can (a) process the voltage sensor measurements from the sensor 510 and not process any current measurements, or (b) process the voltage sensor measurements from the sensor 510 and receive the current sensor measurements via the measurement component 220.

[0073] In some implementation configurations, the application processing component 550 can receive data from the measurement component 220 or access the communication component 230 and / or the display component 240. For example, the application processing component 550 can receive the power consumption information calculated by the measurement component 220 or receive a sensor signal from the measurement component 220. In some implementation configurations, the application processing component 550 cannot access the data from the measurement component 220 and / or cannot access the communication component 230 or the display component 240.

[0074] The application processing components on the electricity meter can implement various applications. In some cases, the application can use data generated from two or more sets of ADCs (e.g., dual ADCs) and / or two or more sets of sensors.

[0075] Figure 6 is a flowchart of the operation of an exemplary application implemented by an application processing component on an electricity meter using a dual ADC. In Figure 6 and other flowcharts in this specification, the order of steps is exemplary, other orders are possible, not all steps are necessary, and in some implementations, some steps can be omitted or other steps can be added. The process of the flowchart can be implemented by, for example, any of the computers or systems described in this specification.

[0076] In step 610, energy or power consumption data is received by the receiver from the measurement component of the electricity meter. The power consumption data can correspond to, for example, a live stream of power consumption information such as a stream of power consumption values at a rate of 1 per second, where each power consumption value corresponds to the amount of power consumed over a 1-second interval (e.g., the average value of the amount of power consumed over the interval).

[0077] The power consumption data can be calculated by processing an analog sensor signal received from a sensor such as any of the sensors described in this specification. The analog sensor signal can be processed by a first ADC, and the first ADC can be part of the measurement component of the electricity meter. The power consumption data can be calculated using a first signal processing component of the measurement component. The first signal processing component can process the output of the first ADC to calculate the power consumption data.

[0078] In step 620, an analog sensor signal is received. In some implementation configurations, multiple analog signals can be received by a receiver from multiple sensors. One or more analog sensor signals can correspond to any sensor used by an electric meter, such as any of the sensors described herein. The analog signal may be the same analog sensor signal processed by a measurement component, or can be different analog sensor signals (e.g., from different sensors).

[0079] In step 630, a digital sensor signal is obtained by processing the analog sensor signal with a second ADC that is different from the first ADC. The second ADC can be part of an application processing component. Any suitable ADC can be used, such as any of the ADCs described herein. If two or more analog sensor signals are received, two or more ADCs can be used to convert the analog sensor signals into digital sensor signals. The output of the second ADC is not used by the measurement component of the electric meter, and the second ADC is separate from the ADC used by the measurement component of the electric meter. The second ADC may be external to the measurement component of the electric meter.

[0080] The first and second ADCs can perform different types of analog / digital conversion or can be configured with different processing parameters. For example, the first and second ADCs can have different sampling rates and / or different bit depths. In some implementation configurations, the first and second ADCs can process the same analog signal received from the same sensor. In some implementation configurations, the first and second ADCs can process different analog sensor signals received from different sensors.

[0081] In step 640, the digital signal is processed to determine first information corresponding to the power consumption. For example, the first information can correspond to the operation of the electrical system, the power consumption of a customer receiving service via an electricity meter, and / or the power consumption of individual devices. In some implementation configurations, step 640 can be executed by a second signal processing component that is part of the application processing component and different from the first signal processing component. In some implementation configurations, step 640 can be executed by a processor (e.g., a CPU). In some implementation configurations, step 640 can be executed using both the second signal processing component and the processor.

[0082] In some implementation configurations, the first information can include first device information regarding a first device that receives power via an electricity meter. The first device can be any type of device such as an electrical appliance, lighting, a computer, etc. The first device information can include any appropriate information regarding the device, such as any of the device information disclosed in the patents and patent publications incorporated by reference or the following combinations. The first device information can include identification information such as the type of the device (e.g., the device is a dishwasher), the manufacturer of the device (e.g., a Bosch dishwasher), or the model of the device (e.g., a Bosch 500 series dishwasher). The first device information can include a change in the state of the device (e.g., the device is turned on, the device is turned off, or the dishwasher is changed from the washing mode to the rinsing mode). The first device information can include the amount of power consumed by the device (e.g., the dishwasher is consuming 100 watts). The first device information can include information regarding the soundness of the device (e.g., the device is operating normally or the parts of the device are worn and need to be replaced).

[0083] In some implementation configurations, the digital signal can be processed to also determine second information corresponding to the power consumption. The second information can include any of the examples of the first information described above. In some implementation configurations, the second information can include second device information regarding a second device that receives power via an electricity meter. The second device information can include any of the information described above regarding the first device information.

[0084] In step 650, the output is determined using the first information and the power consumption data. Since the first information and the power consumption data are calculated using different ADCs (and in some cases different sensors), the first information and the power consumption data do not always exactly match each other. For example, the first information can indicate that a customer consumed 2.1 kilowatt-hours over a certain time interval, and the power consumption data can indicate that the customer consumed 2.2 kilowatt-hours over the same time interval. In some implementation configurations, the output can resolve any differences between the first value and the power consumption data, such as by using the power consumption data to correct the first information. In some implementation configurations, the output can be the sum of the first information and the power consumption data (for example, the output can include (i) a state change of the first device, which is part of the first information, and (ii) the total amount of energy consumed over a time period, which is part of the power consumption data).

[0085] In some implementation configurations, the first digital sensor signal can be used to determine the energy consumption information of multiple devices within a house. For example, the first digital sensor signal can be processed to computationally calculate (i) the energy consumption of a first device, (ii) the energy consumption of a second device, and (iii) the energy consumption of all other devices receiving power via an electricity meter (collectively referred to as "device energy values" in some cases). The power consumption data received from the measurement component can indicate the total energy consumption value of all devices receiving power via the electricity meter. The sum of the device energy values calculated from the first digital sensor signal must equal the total energy consumption value received from the measurement component. In practice, due to differences in processing paths (e.g., different sensors and / or ADCs), these may not be exactly equal. In step 650, the output may include a corrected version of the device energy values such that these sums equal the total consumption energy value. For example, each of the device energy consumption values can be normalized by dividing by the sum of the device energy consumption values and multiplying by the total energy consumption value.

[0086] In step 660, the output can be presented to the user. The output can be used for any suitable purpose. For example, the output may be provided to an electric power company, a customer, or a third party.

[0087] Figure 7 is a flowchart of the operation of an exemplary application implemented by an application processing component on an electricity meter that does not have access to information from the measurement component of the electricity meter.

[0088] In step 710, an analog sensor signal is received. Step 710 can be implemented using any of the techniques described above for step 620.

[0089] In step 720, a digital sensor signal is obtained by processing the analog sensor signal with a second ADC. Step 720 can be implemented using any of the techniques described above for step 630.

[0090] In step 730, the digital signal is processed to determine first information corresponding to the power consumption. Step 730 can be implemented using any of the techniques described above for step 640.

[0091] In step 740, an output is determined using the first information. The output may be determined using any of the techniques described above for step 650, except that data or information from the measurement component is not used because the application processing component cannot access the data or information of the measurement component.

[0092] In step 750, the output can be presented to the user. The output can be used for any suitable purpose. For example, the output may be provided to a power company, a customer, or a third party.

[0093] In some implementation configurations, the techniques described in this specification can be implemented as described in any combination of the following clauses.

[0094] Clause 1. An electricity meter, comprising an electrical sensor for measuring electrical characteristics of a power line to a building, A measurement component, a first analog / digital converter that processes the analog output of an electrical sensor to generate a first digital signal, wherein the first digital signal has a first sampling rate and is used by the measurement component of the electricity meter, the first analog / digital converter; a first processing component of the measurement component that processes the first digital signal to determine the energy consumption value of a device in a building, the first processing component; a second analog / digital converter that processes the analog output of the electrical sensor to generate a second digital signal, wherein the second digital signal has a second sampling rate different from the first sampling rate and is not used by the measurement component of the electricity meter, the second analog / digital converter; and a second processing component that processes the second digital signal to determine first information corresponding to the power consumption, an electricity meter comprising these components.

[0095] Clause 2. The first processing component is a first signal processing component. The electricity meter according to claim 1.

[0096] Clause 3. The electrical sensor is a current sensor. The electricity meter according to clause 1.

[0097] Clause 4. The first analog-to-digital converter has a first bit depth, and the second analog-to-digital converter has a second bit depth different from the first bit depth. The electricity meter according to clause 1.

[0098] Clause 5. The first analog / digital converter is part of the measurement component, and the second analog / digital converter is external to the measurement component. The electricity meter according to clause 1.

[0099] Clause 6. The first information corresponding to the power consumption includes information regarding the operation of the electrical system connected to the electricity meter. The electricity meter according to clause 1.

[0100] Clause 7. The first information corresponding to the power consumption is the electricity meter described in Clause 1, which includes information regarding the location of the power outage.

[0101] Clause 8. The first information corresponding to the power consumption is the electricity meter described in Clause 1, which includes identification information regarding the first device within the building.

[0102] Clause 9. A system comprising: an electrical sensor for measuring the electrical characteristics of the power line to the building; a measurement component; a first analog / digital converter that processes the analog output of the electrical sensor to generate a first digital signal, wherein the first digital signal has a first sampling rate and the first digital signal is used by the measurement component of the electricity meter; a first processing component of the measurement component that processes the first digital signal to determine the energy consumption value of the devices in the building; a second analog / digital converter that processes the analog output of the electrical sensor to generate a second digital signal, wherein the second digital signal has a second sampling rate different from the first sampling rate and the second digital signal is not used by the measurement component of the electricity meter; a second processing component that processes the second digital signal to determine the first information corresponding to the power consumption; and.

[0103] Clause 10. The first information corresponding to the power consumption is the system described in Clause 9, which includes information regarding the change in the state of the first device within the building.

[0104] Clause 11. The first information corresponding to the power consumption is the system described in Clause 9, which includes (i) the energy consumption of the first device within the building and (ii) the energy consumption of the second device within the building.

[0105] Clause 12. The system according to clause 9, comprising a communication component for transmitting the first information to at least one of an electric power company or a customer of the electric power company.

[0106] Clause 13. A second electrical sensor for measuring the electrical characteristics of a second power line to a building, A third analog / digital converter that processes the analog output of the second electrical sensor to generate a third digital signal, wherein the third digital signal is used by a measurement component of an electricity meter, and the third analog / digital converter, A fourth analog / digital converter that processes the analog output of the second electrical sensor to generate a fourth digital signal, wherein the fourth digital signal is not used by a measurement component of an electricity meter, and the fourth analog / digital converter, Comprising, a first processing component processes the third digital signal, and a second processing component processes the fourth digital signal, The system according to clause 9.

[0107] Clause 14. A method, Receiving power consumption data from a measurement component of an electricity meter connected to a building, wherein the power consumption data is calculated using a first analog / digital converter, and the step, Receiving an analog sensor signal from an electrical sensor, Obtaining a digital sensor signal by processing the analog sensor signal with a second analog / digital converter, Processing the digital sensor signal to determine first information corresponding to the power consumption, Determining an output using the first information and the power consumption data, Providing the output to a user, Including, a method.

[0108] Clause 15. The method according to clause 14, which is implemented by an application processing component of an electricity meter.

[0109] Clause 16. The method according to clause 14, wherein the first analog-to-digital converter is part of the measurement component and the second analog-to-digital converter is external to the measurement component.

[0110] Clause 17. The method according to clause 14, wherein the power consumption data is calculated using the first signal processing component of the measurement component and the first information is determined using the second signal processing component external to the measurement component.

[0111] Clause 18. The method according to clause 14, wherein the power consumption data is calculated by processing the analog sensor signal with a first analog / digital converter.

[0112] Clause 19. The method according to clause 14, wherein the power consumption data is calculated by processing the second analog sensor signal from the second electrical sensor with a first analog-to-digital converter.

[0113] Clause 20. The method according to clause 14, wherein the first information includes one or more of information regarding the operation of the electrical system connected to the electricity meter, information regarding the location of a power outage, identification information of the first device in the building, information regarding a change in the state of the first device in the building, the energy consumption of the first device in the building, or the energy consumption of the second device in the building.

[0114] Only some embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the following claims. All foreign and domestic patent applications and patents, as well as all other publications incorporated herein by reference, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent permitted by law.

[0115] The methods and systems described herein can be deployed, in whole or in part, through a machine that executes computer software, program code, and / or instructions on a processor. The processor can be part of a server, cloud server, client, network infrastructure, mobile computing platform, stationary computing platform, and / or other computing platforms. The processor can be any kind of computer device or processing device capable of executing program instructions, code, binary instructions, and the like. The processor can be any variation, or can include, a signal processor, digital processor, embedded processor, microprocessor, or coprocessor (such as a math coprocessor, graphics coprocessor, communication component, and others) that can directly or indirectly facilitate the execution of program code or program instructions stored thereon. Further, the processor can enable the execution of multiple programs, threads, and code. Threads can be executed simultaneously to enhance the performance of the processor and facilitate the concurrent execution of applications. As an implementation, the methods, program code, program instructions, etc. described herein can be implemented with one or more threads. Threads can spawn other threads that may have an assigned priority associated therewith, and the processor can execute these threads based on priority or other order based on instructions provided to the program code. The processor can include a memory for storing methods, code, instructions, and programs as described herein and elsewhere. The processor can access a storage medium via an interface capable of storing methods, code, instructions as described herein and elsewhere.A storage medium related to a processor for storing a method, program, code, program instructions, or other type of instructions executable by a computer device or processing device can include, but is not limited to, one or more of CD-ROM, DVD, memory, hard disk, flash drive, RAM, ROM, cache, etc.

[0116] The processor can include one or more cores that can improve the speed and performance of a multi-processor. In an embodiment, the process can be a dual-core processor that combines two or more independent cores (referred to as dies), a quad-core processor, other chip-level multi-processors, etc.

[0117] The methods and systems described herein can be deployed, in whole or in part, via a server, cloud server, client, firewall, gateway, hub, router, or other such computer and / or network hardware on which computer software is executed. The software program can be associated with a server that can include other variations such as a file server, print server, domain server, Internet server, intranet server, and secondary server, host server, distributed server, etc. The server can include one or more of a memory, processor, computer-readable medium, storage medium, ports (physical and virtual), communication device, and an interface accessible to other servers, clients, machines, and devices via a wired or wireless medium. The methods, programs, or code described herein and elsewhere can be executed by the server. Further, other devices necessary for the execution of the methods as described in this application can be considered part of the infrastructure related to the server.

[0118] The server can provide an interface to other devices including, but not limited to, clients, other servers, printers, database servers, print servers, file servers, communication component servers, distributed servers, etc. Further, this coupling and / or connection can facilitate remote execution of programs via a network. Networking some or all of these devices can facilitate parallel processing of programs or methods in one or more locations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, any of the devices connected to the server via the interface can include at least one storage medium capable of storing a method, program, code, and / or instructions. The central repository can provide program instructions to be executed on different devices. In this instruction, the remote repository can function as a program code, instruction, and program storage medium.

[0119] The software program can be associated with clients that can include other variant forms such as file clients, print clients, domain clients, Internet clients, intranet clients, and secondary clients, host clients, distributed clients, etc. The client can include one or more of an interface accessible to other clients, servers, machines, and devices via memory, processor, computer-readable medium, storage medium, ports (physical and virtual), communication device, and wired or wireless medium. The methods, programs, or code described herein and elsewhere can be executed by the client. Further, other devices necessary for the execution of the methods as described in this application can be considered part of the infrastructure associated with the client.

[0120] The client can provide an interface to other devices including, but not limited to, servers, other clients, printers, database servers, print servers, file servers, communication component servers, distributed servers, etc. Further, this coupling and / or connection can facilitate remote execution of programs over a network. Networking some or all of these devices can facilitate parallel processing of programs or methods at one or more locations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, any of the devices connected to the client via the interface can include at least one storage medium capable of storing methods, programs, applications, code, and / or instructions. A central repository can provide program instructions to be executed on different devices. In this instruction, the remote repository can function as a program code, instruction, and program storage medium.

[0121] The methods and systems described herein can be deployed, in part or in whole, through a network infrastructure. The network infrastructure can include elements such as computer devices, servers, routers, hubs, firewalls, clients, personal computers, communication devices, routing devices, and other active and passive devices, modules, and / or components as known in the art. Computer devices and / or non-computer devices associated with the network infrastructure can include storage media such as flash memory, buffers, stacks, RAM, ROM, etc., separate from other components. The processes, methods, program codes, instructions described herein and elsewhere can be executed by one or more of the network infrastructure elements.

[0122] The methods, program codes, and instructions described herein and elsewhere can be implemented on a cellular network having a plurality of cells. The cellular network can be either a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) network or a code division multiple access (CDMA) network. The cellular network can include mobile devices, cell sites, base stations, repeaters, antennas, towers, and others. The cellular network can be a GSM, GPRS, 3G, EVDO, mesh, and / or other network type.

[0123] The methods, program codes, and instructions described herein and elsewhere can be implemented on or via a mobile device. The mobile device can include a navigation device, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a laptop, a palmtop, a netbook, a pager, an e-book reader, a music player, etc. These devices can include storage media such as flash memory, buffers, RAM, ROM, etc. and one or more computer devices separately from other components. The computer devices associated with the mobile device can be enabled to execute the program codes, methods, and instructions stored thereon. Alternatively, the mobile device may be configured to execute instructions in cooperation with other devices. The mobile device can interface with a server and communicate with a base station configured to execute program codes. The mobile device can communicate on a peer-to-peer network, a mesh network, or other communication networks. The program code is stored in a storage medium associated with the server and executed by a computer device incorporated in the server. The base station can include a computer device and a storage medium. The storage device can store the program codes and instructions executed by the computer device associated with the base station.

[0124] Computer software, program code, and / or instructions can be stored and / or accessed on a machine-readable medium including, for example, computer components, devices, and recording media that hold digital data used in computing for a time interval, semiconductor storage known as random access memory (RAM), optical disks, hard disks, tapes, drums, cards, and other types of magnetic storage, typically larger-capacity storage for more permanent storage, processor registers, cache memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, optical storage such as CDs, DVDs, flash memory (e.g., flash memory (USB stick or key, etc.), floppy disks, magnetic tape, paper tape, punch cards, stand-alone RAM disks, Zip drives, removable mass storage devices, removable media such as offline; dynamic memory, static memory, read / write storage, mutable storage, read-only, random access, sequential access, location-addressable, file-addressable, content-addressable, network-connected storage, storage area network, barcodes, magnetic ink, and other computer memory.

[0125] The methods and systems described herein can transform physical and / or intangible items from one state to another. Also, the methods and systems described herein can transform data representing physical and / or intangible items from one state to another, such as from usage data to a normalized usage data set.

[0126] Throughout this specification, including flowcharts and block diagrams, the elements described and depicted herein represent logical boundaries between elements. However, in accordance with software or hardware engineering practices, the described elements and their functions may be implemented on a machine via a computer-executable medium having a processor that can execute program instructions stored thereon as a monolithic software structure, as stand-alone software modules, or as modules that employ external routines, code, services, etc., or any combination thereof, and all such implementations can be within the scope of this disclosure. Examples of such machines include, but are not limited to, personal digital assistants, laptops, personal computers, mobile phones, other portable computing devices, medical devices, wired or wireless communication devices, transducers, chips, calculators, satellites, tablet PCs, e-books, gadgets, electronic devices, devices with artificial intelligence, computing devices, network devices, servers, routers, etc. Further, the elements depicted in flowcharts and block diagrams and / or any other arbitrary logical components can be implemented on a machine capable of executing program instructions. Thus, the foregoing drawings and descriptions illustrate the functional aspects of the disclosed system, but the specific arrangement of software for implementing these functional aspects should not be inferred from these descriptions unless explicitly stated or obvious from the context. Similarly, it will be understood that the various steps specified and described above may be varied and the order of the steps may be adapted to the particular application of the technology disclosed herein. All such variations and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. Thus, the description and / or illustration of the order of the various steps should not be understood to require a particular order of execution of these steps unless required by a particular application, explicitly stated, or obvious from the context.

[0127] The above-described methods and / or processes, and their steps, can be implemented in hardware, software, or any combination of hardware and software suitable for a particular application. The hardware can include general-purpose computers and / or dedicated computing devices or particular aspects or components of a particular computing device or particular computing devices. The process can be implemented in one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, embedded microcontrollers, programmable digital signal processors, or other programmable devices, along with internal and / or external memory. The process can also, or instead, be embodied in an application-specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, a programmable array logic, or other devices or combinations of devices configured to process electronic signals. Further, it will be understood that one or more of the processes can be realized as computer-executable code executable on a machine-readable medium.

[0128] The computer-executable code can be created using a structured programming language such as C, an object-oriented programming language such as C++, or any other high-level or low-level programming language (including assembly languages, hardware description languages, and database programming languages and techniques) that can be stored, compiled, or interpreted to be executed on one of the above devices, as well as heterogeneous assemblies of processors, processor architectures, or different combinations of hardware and software, or any other machine capable of executing program instructions.

[0129] Accordingly, in one aspect, each of the methods described above and combinations thereof can be embodied in computer-executable code that, when executed on one or more computer devices, performs the steps thereof. In another aspect, the method may be embodied in a system that performs the steps thereof, may be distributed across devices in many ways, or all functions may be integrated in a dedicated stand-alone device or other hardware. In another aspect, means for performing the steps associated with the processes described above can include any of the hardware and / or software described above. All such permutations and combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0130] All documents referenced herein are hereby incorporated by reference into this specification.

Claims

1. An electricity meter, an electrical sensor for measuring the electrical characteristics of a power line to a building, a measurement component, a first analog / digital converter that processes the analog output of the electrical sensor to generate a first digital signal, the first digital signal having a first sampling rate and being used by the measurement component of the electricity meter, the first analog / digital converter; a first processing component of the measurement component that processes the first digital signal to determine the energy consumption value of a device in the building, the first processing component; a second analog / digital converter that processes the analog output of the electrical sensor to generate a second digital signal, the second digital signal having a second sampling rate different from the first sampling rate and not being used by the measurement component of the electricity meter, the second analog / digital converter; a second processing component that processes the second digital signal to determine first information corresponding to the power consumption; An electricity meter comprising the above.

2. The first processing component is a first signal processing component. The electricity meter according to claim 1.

3. The electrical sensor is a current sensor. The electricity meter according to claim 1.

4. The first analog-to-digital converter has a first bit depth, and the second analog-to-digital converter has a second bit depth different from the first bit depth. The electricity meter according to claim 1.

5. The first analog / digital converter is part of the measurement component, and the second analog / digital converter is external to the measurement component. The electricity meter according to claim 1.

6. The first information corresponding to the power consumption includes information regarding the operation of the electrical system connected to the electricity meter. The electricity meter according to claim 1.

7. The first information corresponding to the power consumption includes information regarding the location of a power outage. The electricity meter according to claim 1.

8. The first information corresponding to the power consumption includes identification information regarding a first device within the building. The electricity meter according to claim 1.

9. A system, an electrical sensor for measuring the electrical characteristics of a power line to a building, a measurement component, A first analog / digital converter that processes an analog output of the electrical sensor to generate a first digital signal, wherein the first digital signal has a first sampling rate and the first digital signal is used by the measurement component of the electricity meter, the first analog / digital converter; A first processing component of the measurement component, the first processing component processing the first digital signal to determine an energy consumption value of a device in the building; A second analog / digital converter that processes an analog output of the electrical sensor to generate a second digital signal, wherein the second digital signal has a second sampling rate different from the first sampling rate and the second digital signal is not used by the measurement component of the electricity meter, the second analog / digital converter; A second processing component that processes the second digital signal to determine first information corresponding to the power consumption; A system comprising the above.

10. The first information corresponding to the power consumption includes information regarding a change in state of a first device in the building. The system according to claim 9.

11. The first information corresponding to the power consumption includes (i) the energy consumption of a first device in the building and (ii) the energy consumption of a second device in the building. The system according to claim 9.

12. A communication component for transmitting the first information to at least one of an electric power company or a customer of the electric power company. The system according to claim 9.

13. A second electrical sensor for measuring electrical characteristics of a second power line to the building; A third analog / digital converter that processes an analog output of the second electrical sensor to generate a third digital signal, wherein the third digital signal is used by the measurement component of the electricity meter, the third analog / digital converter; A fourth analog / digital converter that processes an analog output of the second electrical sensor to generate a fourth digital signal, wherein the fourth digital signal is not used by the measurement component of the electricity meter, the fourth analog / digital converter; Comprising, wherein the first processing component processes the third digital signal and the second processing component processes the fourth digital signal. The system according to claim 9.

14. A method, Receiving power consumption data from a measurement component of an electricity meter connected to a building, wherein the power consumption data is calculated using a first analog / digital converter, Receiving an analog sensor signal from an electrical sensor, Obtaining a digital sensor signal by processing the analog sensor signal with a second analog / digital converter, Processing the digital sensor signal to determine first information corresponding to the power consumption, Determining an output using the first information and the power consumption data, Providing the output to a user, A method comprising the above steps.

15. The method is implemented by an application processing component of an electricity meter. The method according to claim 14.

16. The first analog-to-digital converter is part of the measurement component, and the second analog-to-digital converter is external to the measurement component. The method according to claim 14.

17. The power consumption data is calculated using a first signal processing component of the measurement component, and the first information is determined using a second signal processing component external to the measurement component. The method according to claim 14.

18. The power consumption data is calculated by processing the analog sensor signal with the first analog / digital converter. The method according to claim 14.

19. The power consumption data is calculated by processing a second analog sensor signal from a second electrical sensor with a first analog-to-digital converter. The method according to claim 14.

20. The first information includes one or more of information regarding the operation of the electrical system connected to the electricity meter, information regarding the location of a power outage, identification information of a first device within the building, information regarding a change in the state of a first device within the building, the energy consumption of a first device within the building, or the energy consumption of a second device within the building. The method according to claim 14.

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