IP Library Granted Patent US 8,837,101
Granted Patent B2
US 8,837,101 · App. 13/210,499 · Granted Sep 16, 2014

Voltage-modifying device for electric meter

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,837,101
App. No.
13/210,499
Granted
Sep 16, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the invention provide for qualifying a new meter with specific power supply requirements. In one embodiment, aspects of the invention include a system, including: an electric meter having a housing; and a voltage-modifying device connected to the electric meter for modifying a received voltage, such that the electric meter operates in accordance with a predetermined power supply requirement, wherein the voltage-modifying device is located within the electric meter housing or external to the electric meter housing.

Claims (23)

1. A system, comprising:

an electric meter having a housing, wherein the electric meter includes an adapter terminal; and

a voltage-modifying device connected to the electric meter for modifying a received voltage, such that the electric meter operates in accordance with a predetermined power supply requirement, wherein the voltage-modifying device is located within the electric meter housing or external to the electric meter housing, and wherein the voltage-modifying device connects to the electric meter via the adapter terminal, wherein the adapter terminal provides a voltage feedback directly to the electric meter separate from a power supply.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage-modifying device includes an overvoltage transient protection module.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the overvoltage transient protection module includes a circuit that is configured to turn off power to the electric meter in response to the received voltage exceeding the predetermined power supply requirement.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage-modifying device includes a high voltage, step-down module.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the high voltage, step-down module includes a circuit that is configured to decrease the received voltage in response to the received voltage exceeding the predetermined power supply requirement.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage-modifying device includes a low voltage, step-up module.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the low voltage, step-up module includes a circuit that is configured to increase the received voltage in response to the received voltage not meeting the predetermined power supply requirement.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage-modifying device includes a buck-boost converter.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the buck-boost converter includes a circuit that is configured to, in response to the received voltage exceeding the predetermined power supply requirement, decrease the received voltage, and, in response to the received voltage not meeting the predetermined power supply requirement, increase the received voltage.

10. A system, comprising:

a power supply;

an electric meter including an electronic board within a housing, wherein the electric meter includes an adapter terminal; and

a voltage-modifying device connected to the electronic board and the power supply, the voltage-modifying device for modifying a received voltage from the power supply, such that the electric meter operates in accordance with a predetermined power supply requirement, wherein the voltage-modifying device is located within the electric meter housing or external to the electric meter housing, and wherein the voltage-modifying device connects to the electric meter via the adapter terminal, wherein the adapter terminal provides a voltage feedback directly to the electric meter separate from a power supply.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the voltage-modifying device includes an overvoltage transient protection module.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the overvoltage transient protection module includes a circuit that is configured to turn off power to the electric meter in response to the received voltage exceeding the predetermined power supply requirement.

13. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the voltage-modifying device includes a high voltage, step-down module.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the high voltage, step-down module includes a circuit that is configured to decrease the received voltage in response to the received voltage exceeding the predetermined power supply requirement.

15. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the voltage-modifying device includes a low voltage, step-up module.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the low voltage, step-up module includes a circuit that is configured to increase the received voltage in response to the received voltage not meeting the predetermined power supply requirement.

17. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the voltage-modifying device includes a buck-boost converter.

18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the buck-boost converter includes a circuit that is configured to, in response to the received voltage exceeding the predetermined power supply requirement, decrease the received voltage, and, in response to the received voltage not meeting the predetermined power supply requirement, increase the received voltage.

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 Sep 7, 2011
From: ROUAUD, DIDIER GILBERT
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 026863/0225 →