Patent ID: 8731854
Filing Date: 2014-05-20
Classification: G01D,G01R,H02J,Y02B,Y02E,Y04S

Abstract:
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; 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; an external device positioned remote from the electrical utility meter, the external device including a receiver configured to receive the RF signal, wherein the external device is a load control device, a rate indicator device, or an end-of-interval device; wherein the processing circuit and the wireless transmitter are retained within a meter housing of an electrical utility meter; and 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.