Elster Electricity, LLC

Abb Power Td & Company

Abb Automation Gmbh

Michael A Murphy

Kenneth C Shuey

Rodney C Hemminger

Albert H Maxwell, Jr

Richard L Tenor

Thomas J Van Heuklon

Todd Kelsey

Fred F Schleifer

Waymon A Melvin, Jr

Scott J Weikel

Charles Cunningham, Jr

Lars A Lindqvist

Jerry M Kennon

A tamper alarm circuit for detecting a tampered condition of a utility meter is disclosed. The tamper alarm circuit has a transducer coupled to an amplification circuit which is coupled to a detection circuit, the detection circuit generating an alarm condition when the detection circuit determines that a voltage signal generated by the transducer and amplified by the amplification circuit has reached a predetermined threshold.

System and method for detecting tampering of a utility meter

An electronic meter that is capable of handling an analog cellular phone or radio modem under the meter cover provides significant improvements in the thermal management and power handling that is associated with a circuit switched wireless device. The electronic meter comprises a power supply capable of delivering the transmitter power plus the associated losses due to transmitter efficiency. It is desirable to deliver the high power over a wide range of AC input voltages (typically from about 90 to 530 VAC). The meter packaging allows the power supply and the analog cellular modem to operate in an enclosed metering package without exceeding the operating temperatures of the electronic components. The packaging adapts to increased steady state (idle) conditions as well as increased transmit conditions.

Electronic meter with enhanced thermally managed communications systems and methods

A method and apparatus for detecting a power outage within an energy meter and alerting a remote central computer about the outage using call-in reporting via modem ( ) within the meter to a telephone number designated for outage reporting. A primary battery cell or pack ( ) is placed inside the meter ( ) to operate the modem ( ) when line power is lost. The modem ( ) switches from a line power source in the meter ( ) to the battery source ( ) when an outage is detected and is to be reported to the remote central computer as an outage call. The battery source ( ) is switched off when the outage is completed or aborted. The number of retries to call to report the power outage and the time period between retries is programmable.

Method and apparatus for detecting and reporting a power outage

A method and apparatus to detect off-hook and intrusion conditions on a telephone line. A voltage to frequency converter is used to convert the voltage measured between the TIP and RING terminals of a telephone line to a frequency. The voltage is continuously monitored, once during each sample period. The measured frequency is compared to predetermined threshold values to determine the state of the telephone line. The predetermined threshold values are updated in each sample period.

Telecommunications off-hook and intrusion detection method and apparatus

Apparatus and methods are claimed for detecting tampering with a load management terminal, wherein the terminal has a load control relay coupled to a power line for selectably decoupling the load from the power line. One embodiment of the claimed apparatus for detecting tampering comprises a current sensor coupled to the load control relay for sensing whether load current is flowing through the load control relay contacts when the contacts are closed. A timer is provided for measuring elapsed time during which no current is sensed flowing through the closed contacts. An indicator provides an indication of tampering when the elapsed time measured by the timer exceeds a pre-determined time limit. Preferably, in this embodiment, the current sensor comprises a voltage detector coupled to the control coil of the relay for detecting whether an AC voltage has been induced in the control coil by the load current. In another embodiment, a voltage sensor is provided for sensing whether voltage is present across the contacts of the relay when the contacts are open. In yet another embodiment, a suitable resistance is connected to the power line in parallel with the load thermostat to ensure at least a nominal current flow through the load control relay at all times. Tampering is indicated when an interruption in the continuous current flow is detected.

Tamper detection methods and apparatus for load management terminals

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Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Michael A Murphy