| SENSUS USA INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120041696 | Electric Utility Meter To Stimulate Enhanced Functionality - The present disclosure replaces a standard electric utility meter with a meter having a signal sensor, signal generator, and processor platform to stimulate broad software and firmware development innovation. The utility can then select the ‘application’ that best suits their analysis needs. The meter platform consists of 3 layers: physical interfaces, pre-processing resources, and applications processing & database. The physical interfaces include voltage, current, and load sensors, radio and PLC communications, optical, and power control for advanced outage management. The increased processing capabilities combined with signal and data processing allow for true distributed intelligence in the smart grid. The physical layer, pre-processing DSP and firmware form open APIs for third party developers. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120031499 | Method and Apparatus for Controlling Gas Flow via a Gas Shut-Off Valve Assembly - The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for controlling gas flow via a gas shut-off valve assembly. In at least one embodiment, the assembly is configured to drive its shut-off valve from an open position to a closed position, in response to detecting a valve closure condition. The assembly in one or more embodiments operates as an intelligent node in an AMR network, and it interprets a received closure command as a closure condition. Additionally, or alternatively, the assembly detects abnormal operating conditions as the closure condition. Advantageously, the assembly performs initial closure verification, based on detecting movement of the valve into the closed position, and performs subsequent closure verification, based on monitoring downstream gas pressure. In the same or other embodiments, the assembly provides enhanced stand-alone reliability and safety by incorporating one or more valve clearing/cleaning routines into its operations. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120027132 | GFSK RECEIVER ARCHITECTURE AND METHODOLOGY - A Gaussian Frequency Shift Key (GFSK) receiver includes a receiver front end to receive a GFSK-modulated signal and convert the received GFSK-modulated signal to a baseband frequency modulated signal, a channel filter to reduce channel interference which is adjacent to a desired channel of the baseband frequency modulated signal, a demodulator to demodulate the channel filtered baseband modulated signal and to recover a sequence of symbols, a digital filter to reduce inter-symbol interference (ISI) from the sequence of symbols, a slicer to produce symbol decisions based on the filtered sequence of symbols, and a symbol-to-bit mapper to map the symbol decisions to data bits. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20110301894 | Method and System for Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring and Processing - A system and method for use in a non-intrusive load monitoring system to identify specific types of loads and communicate the identified load information to interested parties. The non-intrusive load monitoring system includes an electricity meter that measures load information from a home or facility. The load information is analyzed by comparing the information to a series of load signatures for various known electrical loads to identify the specific type of electric load. Once the type of load is identified, the system utilizes the information to analyze the operation of the load and relay messages to the home owner regarding such operation. The load information may be used by a utility to better predict and manage peak and average electricity consumption over the year. Upon customer authorization, the load identification information may also be relayed to third parties for use in directed sales campaigns and discount promotions. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20100134089 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PHASE LOAD DISCOVERY - A system and method for determining the relative phase of each of a plurality of load meters connected to a three-phase power distribution system. The system includes a gateway that communicates information to and from each of the individual load meters. The gateway generates a timing pulse that is received by each of the load meters. Based upon the delay from the receipt of the timing pulse to the next zero crossing of the single phase power supply received by the meter, the utility can determine the phase of the individual meter. The system can include a feeder meter connected to each phase of the electrical supply system to determine the energy consumption for each of the meters connected to a specific phase. The utility can compare the energy consumption information from the feeder meter to all of the load meters connected to the same phase to determine whether any energy theft is occurring. | 06-03-2010 |
