Utility power meter
A utility meter comprises an electromechanical metering portion connectable to a power drop to a premises and an electronic portion coupled to the electromechanical portion. The electromechanical portion comprises a rotating disk portion rotating at speeds proportional to power flow through said meter. The electronic portion comprises an interface coupled to the rotating disk, a controller coupled to the interface for accumulating power usage data over predetermined intervals, a memory coupled to the controller for storing power usage data, and a modem interface for coupling the controller to a public network. The controller is programmably operative to automatically establish a connection via the modem interface for uploading power usage data stored in the memory.
1. A utility meter, comprising:
an electromechanical metering portion connectable to a power drop to a premises; and
an electronic portion coupled to said electromechanical portion;
said electromechanical portion comprising a rotating disk portion, said disk rotating at speeds proportional to power flow through said meter;
said electronic portion comprising: an interface coupled to said rotating disk; a controller coupled to said interface for accumulating power usage data over predefined intervals; a memory coupled to said controller for storing said power usage data; a modem interface for coupling said controller to a public network; said controller programmably operative to automatically establish a connection via said modem interface for uploading of said power usage data stored in said memory.
2. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said connection is an Internet connection.
3. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said connection is a TCP/IP connection.
4. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said electronic portion comprises rate software for determining a rate plan for use with said controller to provide said power usage data.
5. A meter in accordance with claim 4 , wherein:
said rate plan is a time of use plan.
6. A meter in accordance with claim 4 , wherein:
said rate plan is a flat rate plan.
7. A meter in accordance with claim 4 , wherein:
said rate software is loaded into said electronic portion via said modem interface.
8. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said electronic portion comprises a unique electronic serial number embedded in said meter, said serial number being readable by said controller.
9. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said electronic portion comprises a real-time clock coupled to said controller.
10. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said interface coupled to said rotating disk comprises an optical coupler.
11. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said electronic portion comprises an infrared data interface coupled to said controller.
12. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said modem interface comprises a wide area network interface.
13. A meter in accordance with claim 12 , wherein:
said wide area network interface comprises at least one of analog modem functionality, cellular telephone modem functionality, satellite communication functionality, 2 way paging functionality, and power line carrier functionality.
14. A meter in accordance with claim 13 , wherein:
said connection is an Internet connection.
15. A meter in accordance with claim 13 , wherein:
said connection is a TCP/IP connection.
16. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said electronic portion comprises a display module for providing electronically generated human readable outputs of energy consumption.
17. A meter in accordance with claim 16 , wherein:
said display module comprises a display disposed within said meter.
18. A meter in accordance with claim 16 , wherein:
said display module comprises a display physically remote from said meter.
19. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , comprising:
a unique identification number displayed on said meter.
20. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said electronic portion comprises a non-volatile memory storing an initialization and self-test program;
said controller executing said initialization and self-test program under predetermined conditions.
21. A meter in accordance with claim 20 , wherein:
said controller automatically establishing a TCP/IP connection via said modem interface to send a predetermined message after executing said initialization and self-test program.
22. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said controller is responsive to command information received via said modem interface to upload data from said meter.
23. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said controller downloads meter configuration information via said modem interface;
said controller being operable to utilize said configuration information to control at least power usage information obtained by said meter for uploading via said modem interface.
24. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said electronic portion comprises a communications interface.
25. A meter in accordance with claim 24 , wherein:
said communications interface comprises an optical link.
26. A meter in accordance with claim 25 , wherein:
said controller is responsive to information received via said communication interface to receive premise identification information.
27. A meter in accordance with claim 26 , wherein:
said controller automatically transmits said premise identification information from said meter via said modem interface.
28. A meter in accordance with claim 25 , wherein:
said controller downloads configuration information via said optical link.
29. A meter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said electronic portion comprises memory storing at least one telephone number for an Internet service provider.
30. A method in accordance with claim 29 , wherein:
said controller automatically utilizes said at least one telephone number to access a server via said modem interface.