Granted Patent B2

US 8,143,879 · App. 12/345,702 · Granted Mar 27, 2012

Abstract

Claims (23)

1. A multi-phase electrical power distribution network, comprising:

a substation;

a signal generator for providing signals at different frequencies on each of a plurality of phases leaving the substation, wherein each of the plurality of phases operates at a frequency that is different from the signal generator frequencies; and

a signal discriminator for detecting each of the provided signals at a consumer of the electrical power.

2. The network recited in claim 1 , further comprising a meter including the signal discriminator.

3. The network recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the signals comprises a different alternating signal.

4. The network recited in claim 3 , wherein each of the alternating signals comprises a frequency less than about 60 Hz.

5. The network recited in claim 4 , wherein the signal discriminator comprises a digital filter.

6. The network recited in claim 5 , further comprising a meter including the signal discriminator.

7. The network recited in claim 3 , wherein each of the alternating signals comprises a frequency less than about 50 Hz.

8. The network recited in claim 3 , wherein each of the alternating signals comprises a frequency less than about 25 Hz.

9. The network recited in claim 3 , wherein each of the alternating signals comprises a frequency less than about 10 Hz.

10. An electrical smart meter comprising a signal discriminator for receiving a power signal from a substation having a first frequency and determining a phase to which the meter is connected, wherein the phase operates at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency.

11. The electrical smart meter recited in claim 10 , wherein the signal comprises an alternating signal.

12. The electrical smart meter recited in claim 11 , wherein the signal discriminator comprises at least one filter.

13. The electrical smart meter recited in claim 12 , wherein the alternating signal comprises a frequency of less than 60 Hz.

14. A method of meter phase identification, comprising:

generating signals at different frequencies on each of a plurality of phases from a substation;

receiving one of the signals at a consumer meter; and

discriminating the received signal for determining to which of the plurality of phases the meter is connected.

15. The method recited in claim 14 , wherein each of the signals comprises and alternating signal.

16. The method recited in claim 15 , wherein each of the alternating signal comprises a frequency less than 60 Hz.

17. The method recited in claim 16 , wherein the discriminating step further comprises filtering the signal.

Assignments (8)