Patent ID: 6657424
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
An electric power usage meter adapted to be electrically coupled to an electric power network, the electric power usage meter comprising:a current sensor adapted to be in current sensing relationship with the power network and to produce an analog current signal in response to and representative of current in the power network; an analog-to-digital converter electrically coupled to said current sensor and adapted to convert the analog current signal into a digital current signal; a memory device containing a plurality of instructions; a processor electrically coupled to said memory device and to said analog-to-digital converter and adapted to receive the digital current signal from said analog-to-digital converter; wherein said processor is operable under control of said plurality of instructions to generate a peak positive current value using a plurality of positive digital current signal samples and generate a peak negative current value using a plurality of negative digital current signal samples, and detect the presence of a half-wave rectified load coupled to the power network based on said peak positive current value and said peak negative current value.