Patent ID: 6313756
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
In a method for controlling an electric meter on which a module can be mounted for cooperating with a basic counting mechanism in the electric meter through a bidirectional optical transmission device having a bidirectional optical transmission path for an optical transmission beam, the improvement which comprises:influencing the bidirectional optical transmission path for detecting a type of module mounted on the meter, and at least one of:a) reflecting the optical transmission beam into an optical receiver unit of the electric meter with a 1:1 reflection device disposed in the transmission path;b) modifying a transmission beam emitted by an optical transmitter unit of the module, with the transmission beam of the electric meter, through an optical receiver unit of the module, if a passive module without its own processing controller is mounted; andc) starting a processor with the transmission beam of the electric meter through an optical receiver unit of the module and the processor modulating a transmission beam of the module, if an active module with a built-in processor controller is mounted.