IP Library Granted Patent US 11,740,267
Granted Patent B2
US 11,740,267 · App. 17/180,206 · Granted Aug 29, 2023

Load-side voltage sensing in a power meter

Inventors: Andrew Lancaster (Fair Play, SC); Stephen Ross Sanner (Seneca, SC)
Assignee: Itron, Inc.
G01R22/063G01D4/004G01R35/04H02J3/06
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,740,267
App. No.
17/180,206
Granted
Aug 29, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A load-side voltage detection module for a metrology device includes a plurality of first resistors electrically coupled to a first load-side terminal, the first resistors being in series, a plurality of second resistors electrically coupled to a second load-side terminal, the second resistors being in series, a voltage divider electrically coupled between a first line-side terminal and a second line-side terminal, the voltage divider creating a reference voltage for the load-side voltage detection module, and a pulse generator to generate a pulse based on detection of voltage, the pulse indicating a voltage on at least one of the first load-side terminal or the second load-side terminal, above at least one threshold.

Claims (61)

1. A load-side voltage detection module for a metrology device comprising:

a plurality of first resistors electrically coupled to a first load-side terminal, the first resistors being in series;

a plurality of second resistors electrically coupled to a second load-side terminal, the second resistors being in series and having resistance values different with respect to the first resistors;

a voltage divider electrically coupled between a first line-side terminal and a second line-side terminal, the voltage divider creating a reference voltage for the load-side voltage detection module; and

a pulse generator to generate a pulse based on detection of voltage at at least one of the first load-side terminal and the second load-side terminal, the pulse indicating a voltage on at least one of the first load-side terminal or the second load-side terminal, above at least one threshold.

2. The load-side voltage detection module of claim 1 , wherein the first load-side terminal and the second load-side terminal are in phase or out of phase with respect to one another.

3. The load-side voltage detection module of claim 1 , wherein the pulse generator includes:

a first transistor electrically coupled to the first resistors; and

a second transistor electrically coupled to the second resistors, the first transistor and the second transistor generating the pulse on an isolated output.

4. The load-side voltage detection module of claim 1 , wherein the pulse generator includes:

a first diode;

a second diode in series with the first diode;

a capacitor in parallel with the first diode;

a first transistor;

a second transistor in series with the first transistor, the first transistor and the second transistor being in parallel with the capacitor; and

an optoisolator electrically coupled to the second transistor, the optoisolator generating the pulse on an isolated output.

5. The load-side voltage detection module of claim 1 , wherein the pulse is output to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) of the metrology device.

6. The load-side voltage detection module of claim 1 , wherein the voltage divider creates a virtual ground.

7. A metrology device comprising:

a load-side voltage detection module, the load-side voltage detection module including:

a plurality of first resistors electrically coupled to a first line-side terminal, the first resistors being in series;

a plurality of second resistors electrically coupled to a second line-side terminal, the second resistors being in series and having resistance values different with respect to the first resistors;

a voltage divider electrically coupled between a first line-side terminal and a second line-side terminal, the voltage divider creating a reference voltage for the load-side voltage detection module; and

a pulse generator to generate a pulse based on detection of voltage at at least one of a first load-side terminal and a second load-side terminal, the pulse indicating a voltage on at least one of the first line-side terminal or the second line-side terminal, above at least one threshold.

8. The metrology device of claim 7 , further comprising a load-side voltage disconnect switch electrically coupled to the load-side voltage detection module.

9. The metrology device of claim 7 , wherein the pulse generator includes:

a first diode;

a second diode in series with the first diode;

a capacitor in parallel with the first diode;

a first transistor;

a second transistor in series with the first transistor, the first transistor and the second transistor being in parallel with the capacitor; and

an optoisolator electrically coupled to the second transistor, the optoisolator generating the pulse on an isolated output.

10. The metrology device of claim 7 , wherein the pulse generator includes:

a first transistor electrically coupled to the first resistors; and

a second transistor electrically coupled to the second resistors, the first transistor and the second transistor generating the pulse on an isolated output.

11. The metrology device of claim 7 , wherein the first line-side terminal and the second line-side terminal are out of phase with respect to one another.

12. The metrology device of claim 7 , wherein a sum of values of the first resistors and a sum of values of the second resistors have different total resistance values.

13. The metrology device of claim 7 , wherein the pulse is output to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) of the metrology device.

14. The metrology device of claim 7 , wherein the voltage divider creates a virtual ground.

15. A network, comprising:

a metrology device communicatively coupled within the network; and

a central office communicatively coupled to the metrology device at least in part over a power line,

wherein the metrology device includes:

a metrology unit, the metrology unit including a load-side voltage detection circuit, the load-side voltage detection circuit including:

a plurality of first resistors electrically coupled to a first load-side terminal, the first resistors being in series;

a plurality of second resistors electrically coupled to a second load-side terminal, the second resistors being in series and having resistance values different with respect to the first resistors;

a voltage divider electrically coupled between a first line-side terminal and a second line-side terminal, the voltage divider creating a reference voltage for the load-side voltage detection circuit; and

a pulse generator to generate a pulse based on detection of voltage at at least one of the first load-side terminal and the second load-side terminal, the pulse indicating a voltage on at least one of the first load-side terminal or the second load-side terminal, above at least one threshold.

16. The network of claim 15 , further comprising a load-side voltage disconnect switch electrically coupled to the load-side voltage detection circuit.

17. The network of claim 15 , wherein the pulse generator includes:

a first diode;

a second diode in series with the first diode;

a capacitor in parallel with the first diode;

a first transistor;

a second transistor in series with the first transistor, the first transistor and the second transistor being in parallel with the capacitor; and

an optoisolator electrically coupled to the second transistor, the optoisolator generating the pulse on an isolated output.

18. The network of claim 17 , wherein the pulse generator includes:

a first metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor electrically coupled to the first resistors; and

a second transistor electrically coupled to the second resistors, the first transistor and the second transistor generating the pulse on an isolated output.

19. The network of claim 15 , wherein

the voltage divider creates a virtual ground.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2025
From: ITRON, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 072870/0873 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 19, 2021
From: LANCASTER, ANDREW; SANNER, STEPHEN ROSS
To: ITRON, INC.
Reel/Frame 055339/0209 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63072005 · Aug 28, 2020
Related Publication 20220065905A1 · Mar 3, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,693,319