# US 12,181,501 B2 · Systems for detecting temperature and current events in a power grid and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,501 B2 - Document ID: US12181501B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/164,238 - Filed: 2023-02-03 - Published: 2023-06-29 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-09 - Assignees: Sensus Spectrum, LLC - Applicants: Sensus Spectrum, LLC - Inventors: Andrew Dudding - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181501B2 ## CPC - G01K 1/026: {arrangements for monitoring a plurality of temperatures, e.g. by multiplexing} - G01R 22/061: {Details of electronic electricity meters} - G01K 3/005: {Circuits arrangements for indicating a predetermined temperature (fire detection G08B17/00)} - G01R 15/20: using galvano-magnetic devices, e.g. Hall-effect devices {, i.e. measuring a magnetic field via the interaction between a current and a magnetic field, e.g. magneto resistive or Hall effect devices} - G01R 19/1659: {to indicate that the value is within or outside a predetermined range of values (window) (G01R19/16514, G01R19/16519, G01R19/16528 and G01R19/16533 take precedence)} - G01R 22/068: {Arrangements for indicating or signaling faults} - G01R 19/165: Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values - G01R 22/063: {related to remote communication} - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A system that detects temperature and current events in a power grid is provided. The system includes a magnetic field sensor associated with an electric meter, a first temperature sensor associated with the electric meter, a plurality of bus bars connected to the electric meter and at least one temperature sensor uniquely associated with each of the plurality of bus bars. The system detects a magnetic field and compares the detected magnetic field to an expected magnetic field threshold or magnetic field threshold range to provide a magnetic field comparison result and the system detects a plurality of temperatures and compares the detected plurality of temperatures to expected temperature thresholds or temperature threshold ranges to provide a temperature comparison result. The system determines if a notification should be sent based on the magnetic field comparison result and/or the temperature comparison result. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system that detects temperature and current events in a power grid, the system comprising: a magnetic field sensor associated with an electric meter; a first temperature sensor associated with the electric meter; a plurality of bus bars connected to the electric meter; at least one temperature sensor uniquely associated with each of the plurality of bus bars; wherein the system detects a magnetic field and compares the detected magnetic field to an expected magnetic field threshold or magnetic field threshold range in the system to provide a magnetic field comparison result; wherein the system detects a plurality of temperatures and compares the detected plurality of temperatures to expected temperature thresholds or temperature threshold ranges in the system to provide a temperature comparison result; and wherein the system determines if a notification should be sent based on at least one of the magnetic field comparison result and the temperature comparison result, wherein at least one current sensor uniquely associated with each of the plurality of bus bars; wherein the system detects a plurality of currents and compares the detected plurality of currents to expected current thresholds or current threshold ranges in the system to provide a current comparison result, and wherein the system determines if the notification should be sent based on the current comparison result. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system provides the magnetic field comparison result and the current comparison result before the system provides the temperature comparison result. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the system provides the magnetic field comparison result and the current comparison result, and, after a time delay, the system provides the temperature comparison result. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the time delay is from about 30 seconds to one minute. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system provides the magnetic field comparison result before the system provides the temperature comparison result. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system provides the magnetic field comparison result, and, after a time delay, the system provides the temperature comparison result. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the time delay is from about 30 seconds to one minute. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a printed circuit board assembly, the first temperature sensor and the magnetic field sensor being connected to the printed circuit board assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An electric meter comprising: the system of claim 1. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an event generating module, wherein the event generating module is configured to: receive magnetic field readings from the magnetic field sensor; receive current readings from the at least one current sensor associated each of the plurality of bus bars; calculate expected temperature ranges for each of the received current readings; receive temperature readings from the at least one temperature sensor associated with the meter; and compare the calculated temperature ranges and the received temperature readings to determine if received temperature readings exceed the calculated temperature readings. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a communications module, wherein if it is determined that a notification should be sent based on the at least one of the magnetic field comparison result and the temperature comparison result, the communications module issues the notification to a remote location. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein multiple magnetic field thresholds are established for the system; wherein multiple temperature thresholds are established for the system; wherein when at least one of a first of the multiple magnetic field thresholds and a first of the temperature thresholds are exceeded, a warning is transmitted by the communications module; and wherein when at least one of a second higher magnetic field threshold and a second higher temperature threshold are exceeded, an alarm is transmitted by the communications module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system determines if a notification should be sent based on the magnetic field comparison result and the temperature comparison result. ### Claim 14 A method for detecting temperature and current events in a system including a power grid, the system including a magnetic field sensor, at least one temperature sensor associated with an electric meter; a plurality of bus bars connected to the electric meter; at least one temperature sensor uniquely associated with each of the plurality of bus bars, the method in the system comprising: detecting a plurality of temperatures and magnetic fields in the system using the sensors; comparing the detected plurality of temperatures and magnetic fields to expected thresholds or threshold ranges for temperatures and magnetic fields, respectively, in the system to provide a temperature comparison result and a magnetic field comparison result, respectively; and determining if a notification should be sent based on at least one of the temperature comparison result and the magnetic field comparison result, further comprising: providing at least one current sensor uniquely associated with each of the plurality of bus bars; wherein the system detects a plurality of currents and compares the detected plurality of currents to expected current thresholds or current threshold ranges in the system to provide a current comparison result, and wherein the system determines if a notification be sent based on the current comparison result. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving magnetic field readings from the magnetic field sensor; receiving current readings from the at least one current sensor associated each of the plurality of bus bars; calculating expected temperature ranges for each of the received current readings; receiving temperature readings from the at least one temperature sensor associated with the meter; and comparing the calculated temperature ranges and the received temperature readings to determine if received temperature readings exceed the calculated temperature readings. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising issuing a notification to a remote location if it is determined that a notification should be sent based on the temperature comparison result and magnetic field comparison result. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: establishing multiple magnetic field thresholds for the system; establishing multiple temperature thresholds for the system; transmitting a warning when at least one of a first of the multiple magnetic field thresholds and a first of the multiple temperature thresholds is exceeded; and transmitting an alarm when at least one of a second higher magnetic field threshold and a second higher temperature threshold is exceeded.