Programmable Display Screens for Revenue Meters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing revenue meters lack the ability to customize displays to meet the diverse regulatory requirements across different jurisdictions and utility company guidelines, necessitating a programmable interface that can adapt to various measurement parameters and configurations.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent electronic device (IED) with a programmable display that utilizes Modbus registers to allow users to customize screens, add custom scaling and formulas, and display data from various parameters such as electricity, steam, water, or gas, using a communication device for network connectivity and programming via protocols like TCP/IP, FTP, and HTTP.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed display configuration is used in revenue meters, then the device structure remains simple and reliable, but the meter cannot adapt to diverse regulatory requirements and utility company guidelines across different jurisdictions
Solution Approach 1:
The display configuration is made dynamic and reconfigurable through a programmable interface that allows different screen layouts, data presentations, and alarm configurations to be loaded based on specific regulatory requirements and utility guidelines, enabling the same hardware to adapt to multiple jurisdictions without physical modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The revenue meter incorporates a universal programmable display system that can be configured to meet various regulatory standards and utility requirements through software programming, allowing a single device design to serve multiple functions and compliance scenarios across different regions
2Adaptability or versatility
If the display is made programmable to meet diverse requirements, then adaptability improves, but the device complexity and programming requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The programmable display system includes self-configuration capabilities where the meter can be programmed through standardized interfaces using Modbus registers, allowing users to define custom screens by mapping available data points to display elements without requiring complex external programming hardware or extensive software development
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables customization through parameter-based configuration where display screens are defined by modifying register values and data mappings rather than changing hardware architecture, allowing flexible adaptation to different requirements by changing software parameters rather than physical structure
3Adaptability or versatility
If custom scaling and formulas are added to Modbus registers, then the measurement and display flexibility improves, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The meter performs preliminary processing of raw data from Modbus registers by applying scaling factors and formulas during data acquisition and storage, so that the processed and scaled values are readily available for display without requiring complex real-time calculations during the display rendering phase
Data Source
AI summary
An intelligent electronic device (IED) having a programmable display is provided. The present disclosure provides for defining screens of a display on a revenue based energy meter. The method utilizes Modbus registers and defines a programming technique wherein a user can custom make any desired screen for every application based on what a user needs. The programming utilizes Modbus registers maps to allow for the customizable screens. Moreover, the display interface allows for customized labeling to provide notice and information to users as to measured parameters other than electricity that the meter might be accumulating such as steam, water, gas or other type of commodity.