Abstract:
A configurable buss element for an electricity meter includes a conductive piece of metal formed into a series of contact connectors and a network of elongate conductors extending between and among the series of contact connectors. Each of the plurality of contact connectors is configured to contact a circuit element of an electricity meter. The network of elongate conductors is operable to provide connectivity between the contact connectors and select portions of the conductive piece of metal in one of a plurality of connectivity configurations, each of the connectivity configurations corresponding to an electricity meter configuration, the select one of the plurality of connectivity configurations defined by a predetermined set of discontinuities introduced in the network of elongate conductors.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/409,966, filed Sep. 11, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to electricity meters, and more particularly to connection interfaces between a circuit board in the meter and electrical elements that are not typically mounted to a circuit board. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Meters are used to measure electricity consumption. 
     To this end, they include sensor devices that connect to and or interact with the utility power lines (sensor equipment) and electronic circuits for performing various calculations using signals generated by the sensor devices. 
     Sensor devices typically include blades received by meter socket jaws and provide a mechanically and electrically sound connection for handling large currents and voltages. The blades are often connected within the meter by large current carrying conductors. Sensor devices may also include current measurement devices, which can include a sensing coil of some sort. Voltage and current signals are obtained from these devices and provided to a circuit board that may include a/d converters and processing circuits that perform metering calculations. 
     One source of cost in the meter is the connection between the sensor devices and the electronic circuitry on the circuit board. Sensor devices are too large to be on circuit board. Typically, sensor devices are mounted to the housing below circuit board and then wire connections are provided to the circuit board. Wires are soldered or connected by terminals. 
     The manufacturing process of wiring sensor devices to a printed circuit board in a meter has drawbacks, including the labor cost of individually connecting wires, as well as potential quality problems, e.g., difficult to run wires and manipulate them in the small interior. 
     One alternative is provided by Schlumberger. This meter has preformed mounts for sensors, and leaf spring terminals that extend upward form the sensors to the circuit board. Although this meter alleviates the drawbacks of handwiring, it still has drawbacks. 
     One problem is that a custom mount must be made for each meter form. In particular, different meters often have different blade and sensor configurations. Specifically, various standardized meter forms have been defined that require different wiring and connections between and among the blade and sensor elements. The different meter forms result from the fact that electrical service is provided in different ways to different customers, and the methods of measuring these different types of services changes. 
     By way of example,  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c ,  1   d ,  1   e ,  1   f ,  1   g  and  1   h  show different sensor wiring configurations for different meter forms. Each of  FIGS. 1   a - 1   h  shows a representation of a meter base  12  showing the layout of the current blades  14  and a schematic diagram of the connections within the meter base  12 , including transformers/coils, potential blades  18  and neutral blades  18   a . In addition, many meter forms include switchable potential links  19  as is known in the art. 
       FIG. 1   a  shows a form  16 / 15 S four wire wire meter configuration,  FIG. 1   b  shows a form  25 S three wire meter configuration,  FIG. 1   c  shows a form  45 S three wire configuration, and  FIG. 1   d  shows a  12 S three wire configuration. The meter forms illustrated in  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d  are known as “self-contained” meter forms because the meter blades connect directly to the power lines. By contrast  FIGS. 1   e - 1   h  illustrated transformer-rated meter forms, which couple to the power lines through a transformer. Specifically,  FIG. 1   e  shows a form  29 S four wire configuration,  FIG. 1   f  shows a form  36 S four wire configuration,  FIG. 1   g  shows a form  56 S three wire configuration, and  FIG. 1   h  shows a form  9 / 8 S four wire configuration. Such meter forms and their configurations as represented in  FIGS. 1   a - 1   h  are well known in the art. 
     Because different meter forms require different blade and sensor wiring connections, the use of customized base mounts requires that different base mounts be created for each form, which is not always a cost effective solution because of the tooling costs and logistical costs of manufacturing and maintaining several custom designs. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a method of reducing the amount of labor involved in wiring sensor devices of electricity meters to the smaller components on the circuit boards of utility meters that does not require custom molds and manufacturing techniques for each different meter form. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the above described need, as well as others, by providing a connector buss that includes a conductive form from which a plurality of connector configurations may be readily formed. In particular, the conductive form has a series of contact connectors for receiving meter sensor devices, and a network of conductors in between. By selectively introducing discontinuities in particular ones of the conductors, different meter form connections may be created. 
     A first embodiment of the invention is a configurable buss element for an electricity meter that includes a conductive piece of metal formed into a series of contact connectors and a network of elongate conductors extending between and among the series of contact connectors. Each of the plurality of contact connectors is configured to contact a circuit element of an electricity meter. The network of elongate conductors is operable to provide connectivity between the contact connectors and select portions of the conductive piece of metal in one of a plurality of connectivity configurations, each of the connectivity configurations corresponding to an electricity meter configuration, the select one of the plurality of connectivity configurations defined by a predetermined set of discontinuities introduced in the network of elongate conductors. 
     The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1   a - 1   h  show wiring diagrams for various metering forms; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary meter that incorporates aspects of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a partially exploded perspective view of an exemplary mechanical structure of the meter of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a configurable interface in accordance with aspects of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a top plan view of a conductive piece of metal that may be used in configurable interface of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a configurable interface in accordance with aspects of the invention; and 
         FIG. 7  shows a top plan view of a conductive piece of metal that may be used in configurable interface of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 2  shows a schematic block diagram of a meter  100  that incorporates aspects of the present invention. The meter  100  is configured to measure energy delivered to a load via power lines  110 . The meter  100  includes sensor devices  112 , a configurable interface  114 , and an electronic measurement circuit  116 . The sensor devices  112  connect to power lines  110  and generate signals representative of the voltage and current waveforms on the power lines  110 . To this end, the sensor devices  112  include one or more current blades, such as the current blades  14  of  FIGS. 1   a - 1   h . The sensor devices  112  may further include voltage and current sensing and/or scaling devices as is well known in the art. 
     The electronic measurement circuit  116  is a circuit disposed on one or more supports, such as one or more circuit boards (see e.g. the circuit board  154  of  FIG. 3 ). The electronic measurement circuit  116  is a circuit configured to determine a measurement of the amount of energy being consumed by the load using the signals representative of the current and voltage waveform received from the sensor devices. To this end, the electronic measurement circuit  116  is connected to receive a voltage measurement signal for one or more phase of the power line received from the sensor devices  112 , and is further connected to receive a current measurement signal for one or more phases of the power line received from the sensor devices  112 . 
     The configurable interface  114  provides an electrical connection between one or more of the sensor devices and the electronic measurement circuit  116 . The configurable interface  116  has a standard interface to the electronic measurement circuit  116 , a standard interface to the sensor devices  112 , and provides a configurable set of connections between the standard sensor interface and the standard measurement circuit interface. In the embodiment described herein, the configurable interface  114  primarily provides voltage or potential measurement connections between the sensor devices  112  and the electronic measurement circuit  116 . Current measurement connections are provided independent of the configurable interface  114 , as illustrated by line  114   a  of  FIG. 2 . However, it will be appreciated that current measurement connections may also made through the configurable interface  114  if desired. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the meter  100  is shown in  FIG. 3 . In particular,  FIG. 3  shows a partial exploded perspective view of an exemplary meter  100  that incorporates aspects of the invention. Like elements of  FIGS. 2 and 3  employ like reference numbers. 
     The meter  100  includes an exemplary housing that includes a base support  120 , an intermediate support  122  and a cover support  124 . The base support  120  is configured to mate with a standard ANSI meter socket, not shown, and is operably to mechanically couple to the intermediate support  122  and the cover support  124 . The base support  120 , the ANSI meter socket, the intermediate support  122  and the cover support  124  are aligned in a first direction, referred to herein as the axial direction. 
     The base support  120  may suitably be a molded structure generally comprising a platform  126  and a set of supports  128 . The platform  126  generally forms the bottom wall of the meter, and generally extends in one or more planes that are normal to the axial direction. A number of features are molded into the platform  126  that facilitate support of various elements of the meter  100 . The nature and extent of these features will necessarily vary from meter to meter and would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Nevertheless, at least some of the features are openings  130  through which the current blades  14   a ,  14   a ′,  14   b ,  14   b ′,  14   c  and  14   c ′ may extend. The supports  128  extend axially downward from the platform  126 . 
     The base support  120  has an outline shape which refers to the general shape the base support in the plane normal to the axial direction. In the exemplary embodiment described herein, the outline shape is generally circular. However, it will be appreciated that the outline shape of the base support  120  may be rectangular or some other shape. In ANSI meters, however, the outline shape will typically be circular. 
     The intermediate support  122  is an enclosure or cover that fits over the platform  126  of the base support  120 . The intermediate support  122  includes a top shelf  131  and a cylindrical sidewall  132  extending axially downward from the top shelf  131 . The sidewall  132  and top shelf  131  define a cavity  134  between the platform  126  and the top shelf  131 . 
     The configurable interface  114  is disposed within the cavity  134 , and is supported by or on the platform  126 . The configurable interface  114  includes a conductive piece of metal  136  attached to a support member  138 . In the embodiment described herein, the support member  138  is constructed of molded plastic, preferably polypropylene. The support member  138  is further preferably overmolded onto the conductive piece of metal  136  to partially encapsulate the conductive piece of metal  136 . 
     The conductive piece of metal  136  is formed to define a number of contact connectors (connectors  140   a ,  140   b , and  140   c  are shown in  FIG. 3 ) and a network of elongate connectors  142 . Each of the contact connectors is configured to receive a portion of a sensor blade, such as a current or voltage blade of a utility meter. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the connectors  140   a ,  140   b ,  140   c  are located such that they will receive the current blades of most self-contained meter forms, such as those shown in  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d . The network elongate connectors  142  is arranged such that selective portions may be punched in any of a plurality of connector configurations that correspond to a particular meter form. 
     In particular, as discussed above, the conductive piece of metal  136  has uniform contact connectors (e.g.  140   a ,  140   b ,  140   c ) that can receive current blades arranged for use in a number of meter forms. The conductive piece of metal  136  furthermore has uniform circuit board contact outputs (e.g. contact output  144   c  of  FIG. 5 ) that are electrically connected to the circuit board  154  discussed further below. For each meter form, different connections must be made between the circuit board contact outputs, current blades and even transformer or switch connections. The circuit board contact outputs (see outputs  144   a - 144   d  of  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) allow voltage or potential measurements from the sensor blades and/or devices to be provided to the measurement circuit  116  on the circuit board  154 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the conductive piece of metal  136  (see also  FIG. 5 ) also includes a number of screw terminals  158   a - 158   h  (only  158   f  and  158   h  shown in  FIG. 3 ). These screw terminals  158   a - 158   h  allow for connection of neutral blades  18   a , potential link switches  19 , which may or may not be used depending on the meter form. 
     For example,  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d  show various meter forms that generally employ similar (and compatible) current blade layouts, but have different connection requirements. For example, in  FIG. 1   a , the  16 S meter generally defines that potential measurements should be taken from the outputs of the potential link switches  19  as well as the neutral blade  18   a , while in  FIG. 1 , the  45 S meter form generally defines that potential measurements should be taken from potential blades  18  and the neutral blade  18   a . In  FIG. 1   b , the  25 S meter form defines that potential measurements should be taken directly from the current blades  14  and the neutral blade  18   a , while in  FIG. 1   d , the  12 S meter form defines that potential measurements should be taken from one current blade  14 , one potential link switch  19 , and one of three possible neutral blade positions  18   a.    
     The conductive piece of metal  136  is designed such that the network of elongate conductors  142  may be readily configured to provided the connection requirements for each of those meter forms. To configure the conductive piece of metal  136  for a particular meter form, select portions of the metal are cut out or punched out. The select punch out configuration connects predefined receptacles for current blades  14 , potential blades  18 , neutral blades  18   a  and potential links  19  with predefined output contacts (e.g.  144   a - d  of  FIG. 4 ). 
     Preferably, the conductive piece of metal  136  is a phosphor bronze stamping. It will be appreciated that one or more of the conductors of the network of elongate connectors  142  may be included primarily to ensure that the conductive piece of metal  136  may be formed and manipulated as a single piece. In other words, some of the elongate conductors may never be intended to provide an electrical connection, but function as a bridge section that holds the conductive piece of metal  136  together as a unit. Portions of such elongate conductors are then punched out (along with other conductors not necessary for the meter form) after the support member  138  is secured to (e.g. overmolded onto) the conductive piece of metal  136 . 
     Further detail regarding the specific embodiment of the conductive piece of metal  136  and the support member  138  of  FIG. 3  are provided below in connection with  FIGS. 4 and 5 . An alternative embodiment of a conductive piece of metal and support member suitable for various forms of transformer-rated meters are provided below in connection with  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
     Referring again to the general assembly of the meter  100  of  FIG. 3 , the support member  138  includes a number of openings  146   a - 146   d  that provide access to the circuit board contact outputs  144   a - 144   d , respectively (outputs  144   a ,  144   b , and  144   d  shown in  FIG. 4  only). Extending generally axially upward from each of the openings  146   a - 146   d  is a corresponding leaf spring conductor  148   a - 148   d . Each leaf spring conductor  148   a - 148   d  provides an electrical connection between the circuit board contact outputs  144   a - 144   d  of the conductive piece of metal  136  to analog inputs of the circuit board  154 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the meter  100  includes three pairs of meter blades,  14   a  and  14   a ′,  14   b  and  14   b ′,  14   c  and  14   c ′. Each pair is connected by a conductive bar referred to as a current coil. Thus, meter blade pair  14   a ,  14   a ′ is connected by the current coil  150   a , meter blade pair  14   b ,  14   b ′ is connected by the current coil  150   b , and the meter blade pair  14   c ,  14   c ′ is connected by the current coil  150   c . In many embodiments, such as the one illustrated in  FIG. 3 , each meter blade pair and its corresponding current coil is formed as a single metal bar. Current blades, their positioning within the meter, and suitable types of construction are well known in the art. 
     In the embodiment described herein, three current transformers  152   a ,  152   b , and  152   c  are in a current sensing relationship with the current coils  150   a ,  150   b  and  150   c , respectively. Specifically, the current transformer  152   a  is in the form of a toroid, and includes a center opening through which a portion of the current coil  150   a  and or current blade  14   a  passes. The current transformers  152   b ,  152   c  are configured in an analogous manner. 
     In the assembled meter  100 , the current coils  150   a ,  150   b  and  150   c , and the current transformers  152   a ,  152   b  and  150   c  all reside within the cavity  134  between the top plate  131  of the intermediate support  122  and the configurable interface  114 . However, the blades  14   a ,  14   a ′,  14   b ,  14   b ′,  14   c  and  14   c ′ all extend axially through the configurable interface  114  and through the platform  126  to the exterior of the meter  100 . The blades  14   a ,  14   a ′,  14   b ,  14   b ′,  14   c  and  14   c ′ extend axially downward from the platform  126  so that they may be received by standard meter socket, not shown, but which is well known in the art. 
     When the meter  100  in installed in a suitable meter socket, the blades  14   a ,  14   a ′ are positioned to be connected in the path of the phase A power line, the blades  14   b ,  14   b ′ are positioned to be connected in the path of the phase B power line, and the blades  14   c ,  14   c ′ are positioned to be connected in the path of the phase C power line. As a consequence, the phase A current flows through, and the phase A voltage is present on, the current blades  14   a ,  14   a ′ and the current coil  150   a . Similarly, the phase B current flows through, and the phase B voltage is present on, the current blades  14   b ,  14   b ′ and the current coil  150   b , and the phase C current flows through, and the phase C voltage is present on, the current blades  14   c ,  14   c ′ and the current coil  150   c.    
     It is noted that select of the current blades (e.g  14   a ) pass through and make electrical contact with select contact connectors (e.g.  140   a ) of the configurable interface  114 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the current blades  14   a ,  14   b , and  14   c  pass through and make contact with, respectively, contact connectors  140   a ,  140   b , and  140   c . The current blade  14   b ′ also passes through another contact connector  140   d , not shown in  FIG. 3  (see  FIG. 4 ). The particular current blade and current transformer configuration of  FIG. 3  corresponds to a  16 / 15 S meter form, such as illustrated in  FIG. 1   a.    
     Referring again to the intermediate support  122 , the top shelf  131  supports a printed circuit board  154  on which at least a portion of the electronic measurement circuit  116  resides. The top shelf  131  includes openings  156   a ,  156   b  and  156   c  through which the leaf spring connectors  148   a ,  148   b , and  148   c  pass, thereby allowing contact of the leaf spring connectors  148   a ,  148   b , and  148   c  with select predetermined input locations on the printed circuit board  155 . The leaf spring connector  148   d  passes through a similar opening in the top shelf  131 , not visible in  FIG. 3 . Additional openings, not shown, may be provided to allow the leads from the current transformers  152   a ,  152   b  and  152   c  to pass to the circuit board  154 . 
     As discussed above, the embodiment of the meter  100  shown in  FIG. 3  is shown as a  16 S meter form, which corresponds to the  FIG. 1   a  standard wiring diagram. In a  16 S meter form, voltage measurements are taken from each phase voltage with respect to a neutral. Specific to the meter form (see  FIG. 1   a ), the voltage measurements are typically taken at the output of the potential link as is known in the art. To this end, in the meter  100  of  FIG. 3 , the contact connectors  140   a ,  140   b , and  140   c  obtain the phase A, B and C voltages, respectively. The conductive piece of metal  136 , which will have been previously punched out in a predetermined pattern defined for a  16 S meter form, will provide the phase A voltage to the leaf spring connector  148   a  through the output contact  144   a  (see  FIG. 4 ). The conductive piece of metal  136  will similarly provide the phase B voltage to the leaf spring connector  148   b  through the output contact  144   b  (see  FIG. 4 ), and provide the phase C voltage to the leaf spring connector  148   c  through the output contact  144   c . In a  16 S meter form, each of the above connections further occurs through a potential link, not shown, connected to two of the screw terminals  158   b - 158   g.    
     As is known in the art, the meter  100  includes a neutral potential blade (see representative blade  18   a  of  FIG. 1   a ). Although not shown in  FIG. 3 , such a blade would typically be secured to the platform  126  in an industry standard location, and extends axially downward through the platform  126  to the exterior of the meter  100 . The neutral blade is connected to one of the screw terminals  158   a - 158   h , and specifically screw terminal  158   g  in the  16 S meter form. Alternatively, a wire lead (or other type of connector) would be provided to a predetermined position on the conductive piece of metal  136 . In any event, the neutral blade is electrically connected to the leaf spring connector  148   d.    
     Thus, because of the configuration of the conductive piece of metal  136 , the leaf spring connectors  148   a ,  148   b ,  148   c  and  148   d  provide to the measurement circuit  116  on the circuit board  154  the phase A, B, and C potentials. The measurement circuit  116  then uses this information along with phase A, B and C current information provided by the current transformers  152   a ,  152   b  and  152   c  to perform various energy-related calculations. 
     The cover support  124  is a generally cylindrical body that covers over the intermediate support  122  and the interior  134 . In an exemplary embodiment, the cover support  124  supports an LCD display  125 . However, it will be appreciated that a display may alternatively be supported on the intermediate support  124 , or by still another support member, not shown. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show in greater detail the configurable interface  114  of  FIG. 3 . In general, the configurable interface  114  is suitable for self-contained meter forms, and specifically, forms  1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c , and  1   d . The conductive piece of metal  136  includes a set of contact connectors  140   a ,  140   b ,  140   c  and  140   d , each having a center opening generally configured to receive a standard current or potential blade. Each of contact connectors  140   a ,  140   b ,  140   c  and  140   d  include inward extensions within the center opening that engage an inserted sensor blade. The inward extensions deform slightly when the blade is inserted, and tend to urge the blade toward the other inward extensions located on the opposite side of the center opening. 
     The contact connector  140   a  receives the phase A current blade in each self-contained meter form of  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d . The contact connector  140   b  receives the phase B current blade in the  16 S form, and receives a phase A high potential blade in the  45 S form. The contact connector  140   c  receives the phase C meter form in all forms in  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d . and the contact connector  140   d  receives the phase B current coil in the  16 S form, and receives the phase A low potential blade in the  45 S form. 
     The output contacts  144   a - 144   d  represent slightly width extensions on the network of elongate conductors  142 . The output contact  144   a  provides a phase A voltage output to the circuit board  154  in forms  16 S,  25 S and  12 S. The output contact  144   a  provides phase A high potential voltage output to the circuit board in form  45 S. The output contact  144   b  provides the phase B voltage output to the circuit board  154  in form  16 S, and provides the phase A low potential voltage output to the circuit board  154  in form  45 S. The output contact  144   c  provides a phase C voltage output in all self-contained forms of  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d . The output contact  144   d  provides a neutral connection in all forms of  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d.    
     The screw terminal  158   a  connects to a neutral blade in forms  25 S and  12 S. The screw terminals  158   b ,  158   c  connect to a potential link in the  16 S form, as do the screw terminals  158   d ,  158   e . The screw terminals  158   f ,  158   g  connect to a potential link in meter forms  16 S and  12 S. The screw terminal  158   g  connects to a neutral blade in forms  16 S,  45 S and  12 S. The screw terminal  158   h  connects to a phase C potential blade in form  45 S. 
     The network of elongate conductors  142  are configured as shown, or in a similar manner, to connect the various elements described above. Portions of the network of elongate conductors  142  may be selectively cut or removed such that the remaining connections provide the connectivity defined for one of the self-contained meter forms. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily determine how to cut the elongate conductors  142 .  FIG. 4  shows a number of cut-out blanks  162  formed in the support  138 . The location of these cut-out blanks  162  provides an indication of possible locations at which the network of conductors  142  may be cut. The cut-out blanks  162  are preferably of lesser thickness than other portions of the support  138  in order to facilitate punching out of those portions. 
     Referring again to the network of conductors  142 , the cut-outs or punch outs should be of sufficient length to prevent phase to phase arcing across the space formed by the cut-out. By way of example, the cut-outs should be at least four tenths of an inch long. The cut-out blanks  162  should have at least this length to facilitate a proper length punch out. It is noted that adjacent (i.e. parallel) conductors of the network  142  may be closer than four tenths if the support  138  is molded around the conductive piece of metal  136 . In such a case (or if the support  138  is potted around the metal  136 ), the support acts as a guard against phase to phase arcing. 
     By way of example, to form a  16 S meter, punches should be made through the network of conductors  142  (and the cutout blanks  162 ) at the cutout blanks  162   a ,  162   b ,  162   c ,  162   d ,  162   l ,  162   j ,  162   k ,  162   g  and  162   h , at a minimum. 
     Using the above described configuration as an example, the concept may be applied to the transformer-rated forms of  FIGS. 1   e - 1   h  using the configurable interface of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In  FIG. 7 , the contact connectors  240   a - 240   g  receive potential blades and optionally KYZ blades, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1   e - 1   h . Cutouts  262 may be used to ensure that the proper KYZ blades are connected to KYZ outputs  248   a - c , and that the potential blades are connected to the corresponding outputs  144   a - 144   d.    
     Because self-contained meters generally only obtain voltage measurements from potential blades (and not a combination of current blades, potential blades, and potential links), the implementation of the cutouts in  FIG. 1   e - 1   f  is more readily discerned from inspection of  FIGS. 1   e - 1   f ,  6  and  7 . Accordingly, further description is not necessary. 
     It will be appreciated that the exact configuration of the network of connectors  142  in either embodiment may take a nearly infinite number of forms and accomplish the same result. Accordingly, broad aspects of the invention do not contemplate the exact layout of the network of conductors  142 , so long as they may be configured to connect the other elements of the conductive piece of metal and may be cut out in patterns to establish connection configurations between sensor blades and output contacts to a circuit board.