The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 07, 2014
Filed:
Feb. 13, 2013
Sensus Usa Inc., Raleigh, NC (US);
Michael R. Brown, Mandeville, LA (US);
William R. Mazza, Jr., Harrison City, PA (US);
Andrew James Bryce Dudding, Cary, NC (US);
Sensus Spectrum LLC, Raleigh, NC (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus that monitors and controls the operation of an electricity meter, and modifies at least one temperature threshold for determining when an alarm message should be transmitted or an electrical connection in the meter should be disconnected. The method and apparatus includes a plurality of sensors that detect temperatures in various locations within the electricity meter. The method and apparatus compares at least one detected temperature to at least one threshold, and operates an alarm or a switch when the detected temperature exceeds the threshold. The method and apparatus determines an average rate of change for at least one temperature according to a short-term temperature average over a first number of samples of the temperature, and a long term-term temperature average over a second number of samples of the temperature. The second number of samples is different from the first number of samples. The method and apparatus reduces the threshold when the average rate of change exceeds a predetermined amount.