Utility meter having primary and secondary communication circuits
AssigneeSiemens Transmission & Distribution, LLC
InventorsGordon R. Burns, Byron J. Slater
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A communication system for a utility meter that has a primary power supply includes a primary communication circuit and a secondary communication circuit. The primary power supply is operable to receive a primary electrical power from a primary power source and generate a primary bias power therefrom. The primary communication circuit is operable to effectuate external communications when the primary electrical power from the primary power source is present. The secondary communication circuit is operable to effectuate external communications when the primary electrical power from the primary power source is interrupted.
Claims26
A communication system for a utility meter, the utility meter including a primary power supply operable to receive a primary electrical power from a primary power source and generate primary bias power therefrom, the communication system comprising:
- a) a primary communication circuit operable to effectuate external communications when said primary electrical power is received by the primary power supply of the utility meter;
- and
- b) a secondary communication circuit operable to effectuate external communications when said primary electrical power from the primary power source is interrupted.
A utility meter having a communication system, comprising:
- a source of commodity consumption signals;
- a measurement circuit operable to generate metering data from the commodity consumption signals;
- a primary power supply operable to receive primary electrical power from a primary power source and generate primary bias power therefrom;
- a primary communication circuit operable to effectuate external communications when said primary electrical power from the primary power source is present;
- and
- a secondary communication circuit operable to effectuate external communications when said primary electrical power from the primary power source is interrupted.
A power disturbance communication method for a utility meter, the utility meter including a primary communication circuit for effecting external communication, the primary communication circuit operably connected to receive primary bias power from a primary power supply, the primary power supply having an arrangement for obtaining a primary electrical power from a primary power source, the power disturbance communication method comprising the steps of:
- a) detecting an interruption in the primary electrical power from the primary power source;
- b) reducing an amount of operation of the primary communication circuit of the utility meter when the primary electrical power from the primary power source is interrupted;
- and
- c) increasing an amount of operation of a secondary communication circuit when the primary electrical power from the primary power source is interrupted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.