Intelligent utility meter system

Abstract

A data processor type utility meter for electricity, and/or water, gas and therms, is provided with a display which successively displays any or all of the following: (1) the meter serial number, (2) cumulative kilowatt hours, (3) present kilowatts being used, (4) current cost or remaining credit in dollars for utility servies used, (5) "Time of Use" hours and rates, (6) power phase angle, (7) maximum power drawn (or "Demand") during predetermined intervals, (8) clock and calendar, (9) water usage/cost, (10) gas usage/cost, (11) load profiles, (12) a power diversion detection indication, and (13) power co-generation data. The system includes a basic meter unit having a 16 digit alphanumeric display, a CPU, and associated solid state circuitry, which may be mounted on the outside of a house or building in the conventional meter location. Alternatively, the meter unit may be pole mounted or buried. Power line carrier is provided to communicate with external equipment, including a remote display unit inside the user's home or other building to permit convenient viewing of the displayed information. A meter reader/programmer can access and retrieve or modify information in the basic meter unit using power line carrier or optical (infrared) coupling; and credit card payment arrangements are included in the card reader of the remote inside display unit. The voltage and current is sampled 1024 times per second or about 16.67 times during each power cycle to provide an accurate indication of power drawn. Inputs from other utilities are supplied from suitable sensors or computed from sample rate data. Special analog-to-digital circuit control and sensing arrangements provide full utilization of the digital circuitry and lead to an economical complete system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.