| LANDIS+GYR, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120079870 | Shock Detection in a Utility Meter Having Reporting Capability - An arrangement for use in a utility meter includes an accelerometer, a processing circuit, and a source of power. The accelerometer is configured to detect impact force on a utility meter housing. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive information representative of detected shock events from the accelerometer, and is configured to store information regarding detected shock events in a non-volatile memory. The source of power is independent of a main meter power supply, and is operably connected to the processing circuit. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120074927 | Electronic Tamper Detection in a Utility Meter Using Magnetics - An arrangement for use in a utility meter includes a switch, a processing circuit, and a magnetic element. The switch is supported on a first meter structure. The switch has at least a first and second state. The switch is configured to transition from a first state to a second state responsive to a detected magnetic field of a first polarity, and to transition from a second state to a first state responsive to a detected magnetic field of a second polarity. The processing circuit is operably coupled to determine whether the switch is in the first state or the second state. The magnetic element is supported on a second meter structure configured to be physically connected to the first meter structure, the magnetic element positioned such that removal of the second meter structure from the first meter structure causes the magnetic element to expose the switch to a magnetic field of the first polarity. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20110246106 | Utility Meter With Wireless Pulse Output - An arrangement for measuring electrical energy consumption includes an input circuit operable to generate a first signal representative of a line voltage waveform and a second signal representative of a line current waveform. The arrangement further includes a processing circuit operable to generate energy consumption data based on the first signal and the second signal. The processing circuit is further operable to generate a first pulse waveform having a plurality of output pulses based on the energy consumption data, each output pulse corresponding to a quantity of energy consumed. The arrangement further includes a wireless transmitter coupled to the processing circuit, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit an RF signal each time the first pulse waveform changes state. The arrangement also includes an external device positioned remote from the electrical utility meter, the external device including a receiver configured to receive the RF signal. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110242715 | Power Management Arrangement and Method in a Utility Meter - An arrangement for controllably disconnecting a utility power service from a load includes a utility meter housing, a service switch, an energy storage device and a control circuit. The utility meter housing includes metrology circuitry configured to generate metering information regarding electrical power provided to the load. The service switch is configured to controllably interrupt a connection between the utility power service and the load, and has a controller. The control circuit is configured to cause the energy storage device to be connected to the controller responsive to a service disconnect command. The control circuit is further configured to cause a portion of the metrology circuit to be connected to the energy storage device and the meter power supply to be disconnected from the portion of the metrology circuit responsive to a power interruption detection signal. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110196631 | Method of Timing Demand and Time-of-Use Functionality with External Clock Source - A method of associating chronological time with energy consumption includes a step of storing in a utility meter a plurality of energy consumption values, each energy consumption value corresponding to a time interval of a first type. The method also includes obtaining from a source external to the utility meter chronological time information regarding at least one of the plurality of energy consumption values. The method further includes associating each of the energy consumption values with a time interval of the second type, each time interval of the second type associated with at least one chronological time value. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110193569 | Oscillator Circuit with RF Suppression - An oscillator circuit includes a phase-locked loop, a crystal resonator, first and second capacitors, and first and second impedance elements. The phase-locked loop is coupled between a first node and a second node. The crystal resonator is also coupled between the first node and the second node. The first capacitor is coupled between the first node and ground, and the second capacitor is coupled between the second node and ground. The first impedance element is coupled in a first circuit path from the first node to ground through the first capacitor. The second impedance element is coupled in a second circuit path from the second node to ground through the second capacitor. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110121664 | Fault Tolerant Service Switch Operation in a Utility Meter - An arrangement for controllably disconnecting a utility power service from a load includes a meter housing, a service switch, an electrically-powered source of motive force, and energy storage device, and a charging circuit. The meter housing includes metrology circuitry configured to generate metering information regarding electrical power provided to the load. The service switch is configured to controllably interrupt a connection between the utility power service and the load. The electrically-powered source of motive force is configured to cause the service switch to controllably interrupt the connection between the utility power service and the load. The energy storage device is operably connected to provide power to the electrically-powered source of motive force. The charging circuit is configured to provide charging energy to the energy storage device. The energy storage device is configured to provide sufficient power to the electrically-power source of motive force after being at least partially charged by the charging circuit. The arrangement further includes a control circuit configured to provide a first signal to a first switch operably connecting the energy storage device to the electrically powered source of motive force, and to provide a second signal to a second switch operably connecting the charging circuit to the energy storage device. The control circuit is configured to receive a disconnect command signal, and to provide the second signal and the first signal in sequence responsive to receiving the disconnect command signal. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110095625 | Fault Tolerant Service Switch Operation in a Utility Meter - An arrangement for controllably disconnecting a utility power service from a load includes a meter housing, a service switch, an electrically-powered source of motive force, and energy storage device, and a charging circuit. The meter housing includes metrology circuitry configured to generate metering information regarding electrical power provided to the load. The service switch is configured to controllably interrupt a connection between the utility power service and the load. The electrically-powered source of motive force is configured to cause the service switch to controllably interrupt the connection between the utility power service and the load. The energy storage device is operably connected to provide power to the electrically-powered source of motive force. The charging circuit is configured to provide charging energy to the energy storage device. The energy storage device is configured to provide sufficient power to the electrically-power source of motive force after being at least partially charged by the charging circuit. The arrangement further includes a control circuit configured to provide a first signal to a first switch operably connecting the energy storage device to the electrically powered source of motive force, and to provide a second signal to a second switch operably connecting the charging circuit to the energy storage device. The control circuit is configured to receive a disconnect command signal, and to provide the second signal and the first signal in sequence responsive to receiving the disconnect command signal. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20100283452 | Apparatus and Method for Measuring Real Time Clock Accuracy in an Electric Meter - An arrangement for measuring an internal clock within an electricity meter includes an optical communication circuit within the meter, an optical detector external to the meter, and a frequency counter. The optical communication circuit within the electricity meter is operably coupled to receive a pulse output of the meter's internal clock, and is further configured to generate a corresponding optical pulse representative of the pulse output. The optical detector is configured to detect the pulse output via an optical port of the electricity meter. The frequency counter is operably coupled to receive from the optical detector a signal that is representative of the detected pulse output. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100174490 | Seismic Detection in Electricity Meters - An arrangement for recording seismic events includes an electricity meter sensor circuit, a digital processing circuit, and an accelerometer operably connected to the digital processing circuit. The accelerometer is configured to provide signals representative of seismic information to the digital processing circuit. A memory is configured to store data records relating to at least some of the seismic information. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100045479 | REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS FEEDBACK FOR UTILITY METER - A utility meter comprises a measurement circuit configured to measure consumption, a remote communications port, a local communications port, and a meter communications indicator. The meter communications indicator is configured to provide an indication that the meter is communicating with a remote device external to the meter over the remote communications port. The meter communications indicator is also configured to provide an indication that the meter is communicating with a local device external to the meter over the local communications port. The indication that communications are occurring over the local communications port is different from the indication that communications are occurring over the remote communications port. In at least one embodiment, the communications indicator is configured to provide an indication that communications are occurring simultaneously over the remote communications port and the local communications port. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100036625 | Temperature Profiling in an Electricity Meter - An arrangement for use in a utility meter includes a temperature sensor, a memory device, a communication circuit, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive information representative of temperature measurements from the temperature sensor. The processing circuit is configured to store first temperature information associated with a first time period in a first data record in the memory device, the first temperature information derived from one or more of the temperature measurements. The processing circuit is further configured to store subsequent temperature information associated with corresponding subsequent time periods in corresponding other data records in the memory device. The processing circuit is also configure to periodically cause the communication circuit to communicate information representative of the first temperature information and the subsequent temperature information to an external device. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100036624 | STRESS CONDITION LOGGING IN UTILITY METER - An arrangement includes a utility meter housing that contains or supports a first sensor, a second sensor, and a processing circuit. The first sensor is configured to measure a first parameter, the first parameter relating to an environmental condition within the meter housing. The second sensor is configured to measure a second parameter. The processing circuit is operably connected to the first sensor and to the second sensor, and is configured to record information relating to one or more events, each event corresponding to a detection of an out of range condition by each of the first sensor and the second sensor. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100007522 | Programming of a Demand Triggered Service Disconnect Device from a Threshold in Amps - A first embodiment is an arrangement, such as a meter programming device, that includes a memory, a user interface, a communication interface, and a processing circuit. The user interface arrangement is configured to receive user input. The communication interface is configured to communicate with a corresponding communication interface on a utility meter. The processing circuit is configured by software stored in the memory to: receive a user input at the user interface identifying a disconnect threshold as a measure of current; generate a disconnect threshold value as a function of the user input and a service voltage; and provide the disconnect threshold value to the utility meter via the communication interface. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20090015234 | Full wave linear power supply voltage boost circuit - A power supply arrangement for an electricity meter includes an input, a full wave rectifier, and a voltage doubler circuit. The input is configured to receive a periodical input signal. The full wave rectifier is coupled to the input and has a first output. The first output is coupled to a first load of the electricity meter. The voltage doubler circuit is coupled to the input and has a second output coupled to a second load of the electricity meter. The voltage doubler is configured to prevent the flow of current from the second output to the input. | 01-15-2009 |
