Patent ID: 9435665
Filing Date: 2016-09-06
CPC Classification: G01D,G01F,G01R

Claim Text:
1. A utility meter, comprising: a main body supporting: metering circuitry configured to monitor consumption of a utility; an emitter configured to emit one or more wavelengths of light; and a detector positioned crosswise from and generally perpendicular to the emitter, the detector configured to receive the emitted light and to generate a signal indicative of the emitted light received at the detector; a meter cover removably attached to the main body and movable from a closed position to an open position relative to the main body, the meter cover including a light modifying feature in communication with a reflective surface, the light modifying feature coupled to an interior surface of the meter cover and configured to alter an orientation of the emitted light by approximately 90 degrees from the reflective surface and direct the emitted light toward the detector when the meter cover is in its closed position and as the meter cover is moved from its closed position to an open position; and a processor communicatively coupled to the emitter and the detector and configured to determine whether the meter cover is in its closed position or in an open position based on the signal generated by the detector, the processor determining the meter cover is in its closed position when the processor receives a signal generated by the detector and that the meter cover is in an open position when the processor does not receive said signal.