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.
1. An arrangement for measuring energy consumption comprising:
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;
a processing circuit operable to generate energy consumption data based on the first signal and the second signal, the processing circuit 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, wherein the first pulse waveform is a KYZ waveform;
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;
wherein the each RF signal includes a message including overhead information and pulse information.
2. The arrangement for measuring energy consumption of claim 1 , wherein the first pulse waveform has a pulse type, and wherein the pulse information includes data identifying the pulse type.
3. The arrangement for measuring energy consumption of claim 2 , wherein the message further includes verification information.
4. The arrangement of claim 3 , wherein the verification information includes a count value, the count value identifying a number of transmissions by the wireless transmitter over a period of time.
5. The arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the count value identifies a number of prior transmissions for the pulse type.
6. The arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the count value identifies a number of prior transmissions for the pulse type.
7. The arrangement for measuring energy consumption of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit and the wireless transmitter are retained within a meter housing of an electrical utility meter.
8. The arrangement for measuring energy consumption of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit the energy consumption data to an automated meter reading (AMR) device in an AMR arrangement, wherein the RF signal transmitted when the first pulse waveform changes state is delivered according to a message protocol that is different from an AMR message protocol.
9. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the RF signal transmitted from the wireless transmitter includes verification information such that the external component can verify that the entire first pulse waveform has been received from the wireless transmitter for a predetermined period of time.
10. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the electrical utility meter is connected to ungrounded electrical service.
11. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter is a first wireless transmitter within the electrical utility meter, and wherein the electrical utility meter further includes at least one second wireless transmitter configured to transmit automatic meter reading data to a remote device using an AMR protocol, and wherein the electrical utility meter further includes an optical port.
12. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the message further includes verification information.
13. The arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the verification information includes a count value, the count value identifying a number of transmissions by the wireless transmitter over a period of time.
14. A utility meter comprising:
an input circuit coupled to ungrounded electrical service, the input circuit operable to generate a first signal representative of a line voltage waveform and a second signal representative of a line current waveform;
a processing circuit operable to generate energy consumption data based on the first signal and the second signal, the processing circuit 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, wherein the first pulse waveform is a KYZ waveform;
a wireless transmitter coupled to the processing circuit, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit an energy consumption signal each time the first pulse waveform changes state, wherein each energy consumption signal is an RF signal;
wherein the each RF signal includes a message including overhead information and pulse information.
15. The utility meter of claim 14 , wherein the message further includes verification information.
16. The arrangement of claim 15 , wherein the verification information includes a count value, the count value identifying a number of transmissions by the wireless transmitter over a period of time.
17. The arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the count value identifies a number of prior transmissions for the pulse type.
18. The utility meter of claim 14 , wherein the processing circuit and the wireless transmitter are retained within a meter housing of an electrical utility meter.
19. The arrangement of claim 14 wherein the wireless transmitter is a first wireless transmitter of the utility meter, and wherein the utility meter further includes at least one second wireless transmitter configured to transmit automatic meter reading data to a remote device using an AMR protocol, and wherein the utility meter further includes an optical port.