IP Library Granted Patent US 8,587,290
Granted Patent B2
US 8,587,290 · App. 13/074,399 · Granted Nov 19, 2013

Method, system and device of phase identification using a smart meter

Inventors: Balakrishna Pamulaparthy (Andhra Pradesh, IN); George Paul Gerdan (Beaconsfield Upper, AU)
Assignee: General Electric Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,587,290
App. No.
13/074,399
Granted
Nov 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, devices and systems of phase identification for a meter. One aspect includes a method of phase identification for a smart meter. One embodiment of the method includes connecting a device to at least a first phase of a poly-phase electrical system; metering at least the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to for electrical consumption information using a meter; storing a first phase identifier for the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to in a memory associated with the meter; and transmitting at least the first phase identifier over a network operably connected with the meter.

Claims (51)

1. A method of phase identification for a meter comprising: connecting a device to at least a first phase of a poly-phase electrical system;

metering at least the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to for electrical consumption information using a meter;

storing a first phase identifier for the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to in a memory associated with the meter; and

transmitting at least the first phase identifier over a network operably connected with the meter; wherein connecting the device to at least the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system comprises connecting an electrical load to the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system using one or more switches.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical load is a single-phase electrical load.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein connecting the device to the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system comprises connecting a load control relay to the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system using one or more switches.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the poly-phase electrical system provides electrical service to a poly-phase electrical load.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

switching the device such that the device is connected to at least a second phase of the poly-phase electrical system using one or more switches;

metering at least the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to for electrical consumption information using the meter;

storing a second phase identifier for the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to in the memory associated with the meter; and

transmitting at least the second phase identifier over the network operably connected with the meter.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein switching the device such that the device is connected to at least the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system comprises automatically switching the device from the first phase to the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system using the meter.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein storing the second phase identifier for the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to in the memory associated with the meter comprises automatically storing the second phase identifier when the device is switched from the first phase to the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system.

8. A meter comprised of

one or more switches, wherein the one or more switches are used to connect a device to at least a first phase of a poly-phase electrical system;

metering components, wherein the metering components are used to meter at least the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to for electrical consumption information;

a memory;

at least one network interface; and

a processor, wherein the processor is operably connected with the one or more switches, the metering components, the memory and the at least one network interface, wherein the processor is configured to:

store a first phase identifier for the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to in the memory; and

retrieve the first phase identifier for the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to from the memory and transmit at least the first phase identifier over a network operably connected with the meter using the network interface.

9. The meter of claim 8 , wherein the device comprises an electrical load and the one or more switches are used to connect the electrical load to at least the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system.

10. The meter of claim 9 , wherein the electrical load is a single-phase electrical load.

11. The meter of claim 8 , wherein the device is a load control relay and the one or more switches are used to connect the load control relay to the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system.

12. The meter of claim 8 , wherein the poly-phase electrical system provides electrical service to a poly-phase electrical load.

13. The meter of claim 8 , wherein the one or more switches are used to switch the device such that the device is connected to at least a second phase of the poly-phase electrical system such that the metering components meter at least the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to for electrical consumption information using the meter; and the processor is further configured to:

store a second phase identifier for the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to in the memory associated with the meter; and

retrieve the second phase identifier for the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to from the memory and transmit at least the second phase identifier over the network operably connected with the meter using the network interface.

14. The meter of claim 13 , wherein the one or more switch are automatic switches controlled by the processor and switching the device such that the device is connected to at least the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system comprises automatically switching the device from the first phase to the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system using the one or more switches.

15. The meter of claim 13 , wherein the one or more switches are operably connected with the processor such that storing the second phase identifier for the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to in the memory associated with the meter comprises automatically storing the second phase identifier in the memory when the device is switched from the first phase to the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system.

16. A system comprised of:

a computing device;

a network, wherein the computing device is operably connected with the network; and

a meter, said meter comprised of:

one or more switches, wherein the one or more switches are used to connect a device to at least a first phase of a poly-phase electrical system;

metering components, wherein the metering components are used to meter at least the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to for electrical consumption information;

a memory;

at least one network interface that operable connects the meter with the network; and

a processor, wherein the processor is operably connected with the one or more switches, the metering components, the memory and the at least one network interface, wherein the processor is configured to:

store a first phase identifier for the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to in the memory; and

retrieve the first phase identifier for the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to from the memory and transmit at least the first phase identifier to the computing device over the network operably connected with the meter using the network interface.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the device comprises an electrical load and the one or more switches are used to connect the electrical load to at least the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the electrical load is a single-phase electrical load.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the device is a load control relay and the one or more switches are used to connect the load control relay to the first phase of the poly-phase electrical system.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the poly-phase electrical system provides electrical service to a poly-phase electrical load.

21. The system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more switches are used to switch the device such that the device is connected to at least a second phase of the poly-phase electrical system such that the metering components meter at least the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to for electrical consumption information using the meter; and the processor is further configured to:

store a second phase identifier for the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to in the memory associated with the meter; and

retrieve the second phase identifier for the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to from the memory and transmit at least the second phase identifier to the computing device over the network operably connected with the meter using the network interface.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the one or more switch are automatic switches controlled by the processor and switching the device such that the device is connected to at least the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system comprises automatically switching the device from the first phase to the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system using the one or more switches.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein the one or more switches are operably connected with the processor such that storing the second phase identifier for the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system that the device is connected to in the memory associated with the meter comprises automatically storing the second phase identifier in the memory when the device is switched from the first phase to the second phase of the poly-phase electrical system.

Assignments (9)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 5, 2018
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: MRH METERS LLC
Reel/Frame 046117/0792 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2018
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ACLARA TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ACLARA METERS LLC
Reel/Frame 045245/0231 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 30, 2016
From: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC
To: ACLARA TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ACLARA METERS LLC F/K/A MRH METERS LLC
Reel/Frame 039880/0908 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 30, 2016
From: ACLARA TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ACLARA METERS LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039872/0227 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 18, 2016
From: MRH METERS LLC
To: ACLARA METERS LLC
Reel/Frame 037852/0418 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2015
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: MRH METERS LLC (F/K/A LJF METERS LLC)
Reel/Frame 037398/0877 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 22, 2015
From: MRH METERS LLC
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 037362/0603 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2015
From: MRH METERS LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 037359/0375 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2011
From: PAMULAPARTHY, BALAKRISHNA; GERDAN, GEORGE PAUL
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 026041/0600 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120249121A1 · Oct 4, 2012