Patent Publication Number: US-11650235-B2

Title: Power metering transducer system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/369,339 filed Dec. 5, 2016, which claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/CN2014/079247, filed Jun. 5, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to methods, devices, system, and computer-readable media for power metering. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Power metering systems can be utilized to determine a power consumption of a number of power consuming devices. For example, power metering systems can be utilized to determine power consumption of a building (e.g., office building, house, etc.) and/or power consuming devices of the building. 
     Power metering systems can utilize transducers to convert a signal that is one form to a signal in a different form. For example, transducers can be used in sensor devices to convert received electrical pulses to a quantity of power utilized and/or consumed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is an example of a system for power metering according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is an example of a system for power metering according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is an example of a diagram of a device for power metering according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is an example of a diagram of a device for power metering according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Devices, methods, systems, and computer-readable media for power metering are described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include a power metering device, comprising a number of sensors configured to output pulses corresponding to a quantity of power consumed over a period of time, a first module configured to receive the pulses from the number of sensors, and meter power consumption using the output pulses. In addition the power metering device includes a second module configured to communicate with the number of sensors using a plurality of communication protocols. 
     The power metering systems described herein can include a multi-device system that includes at least two physical devices that are detachable. The first device can have a relatively limited functionality as compared to the second device. For example, in some embodiments, the first device can be limited to metering power consumption. That is, the first device may not be capable of providing communication protocols, determining diagnostics of the system, among other functions. 
     The second device can couple to the first device and utilize a power supply that is connected to the first device. The second device can have a relatively high functionality compared to the first device. For example, the second device can include a plurality of communication protocols that can be utilized to perform a plurality of functions. 
     Utilizing a multi-device power metering system as described herein can have many advantages. For example, the first device can be installed as permanent or semi-permanent device to perform a basic metering of power. Additionally, a number of users can be provided with the second device to add the additional functionality provided by the second device when the additional functionality is desired. In this example, an organization (e.g., electric company, etc.) can install relatively basic devices (e.g., first device) at a lower cost than installing more advanced devices (e.g., second device) at all locations. That is, a number of first devices can be installed at all or some of the locations that an organization needs power metering and a number of second devices can be produced and assigned to technicians. The number of second devices can be a smaller quantity than the number of first devices to save costs. 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof. The drawings show by way of illustration how one or more embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced. 
     These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice one or more embodiments of this disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that process changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     As will be appreciated, elements shown in the various embodiments herein can be added, exchanged, combined, and/or eliminated so as to provide a number of additional embodiments of the present disclosure. The proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure, and should not be taken in a limiting sense. 
     The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Similar elements or components between different figures may be identified by the use of similar digits. 
     As used herein, “a” or “a number of” something can refer to one or more such things. For example, “a number of sensors” can refer to one or more sensors. Additionally, the designator “N”, as used herein, particularly with respect to reference numerals in the drawings, indicates that a number of the particular feature so designated can be included with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       FIG.  1    is an example of a system  100  for power metering according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The system  100  can include a power supply  106  coupled to a device  102 , and a device  104  coupled to device  102 . The device  102  and the device  104  can be individual physical devices that can be coupled together via a latch  116  to connect a number of contacts of the device  102  and the device  104 . The number of contacts can enable communication between the device  102  and the device  104 . In addition, the number of contacts can enable power from the power supply  106  to be transferred to power the device  104 . 
     In some embodiments, the devices  102  and  104  can include a number of modules (e.g., software modules, etc.) that can be executed by a processor to perform a number of functions. For example, the device  102  can include modules to meter (e.g., determine) power consumption (e.g., quantity of electrical energy consumed, etc.) using received pulse outputs from a number of sensors  108 - 1 ,  108 - 2 , . . . ,  108 -N. Sensors  108 - 1 ,  108 - 2 , . . . ,  108 -N can be coupled to device  102 , as shown in  FIG.  1   , and/or be considered a part of device  102 . The received pulse outputs can correspond to a quantity of power (e.g., electrical energy) that is utilized and/or consumed by a number of power consuming devices over a period of time. In some embodiments, the quantity of power that is utilized and/or consumed can be measured in kilowatt-hours. 
     The number of sensors  108 - 1 ,  108 - 2 , . . . ,  108 -N can include a variety of different types of sensors that can sense the quantity of power consumed by the power consuming devices. For example, the number of sensors can include split-core sensors and/or solid-core sensors. In addition the number of sensors can be a variety of different sizes and/or have different detection ranges. In some embodiments, the device  102  can include a number of terminals that couple the device  102  to the number of sensors  108 - 1 ,  108 - 2 , . . . ,  108 -N. In some embodiments, the number of terminals of the device  102  can correspond to a particular sensor size and/or sensor type. 
     In some embodiments, device  102  can use a KYZ interface to meter a number of sensor pulse outputs. In a KYZ interface, the Y and Z wires are switch contacts, shorted to K for a measured amount of energy. In addition, when one contact closes the other contact opens to provide count accuracy security. Each contact change of state is considered one pulse. The frequency of pulses indicates the power demand. The number of pulses indicates energy metered (e.g., power consumption, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, the device  102  can have a relatively limited functionality as compared to device  104 . For example, the device  102  can be limited to metering power consumption for a particular area (e.g., building, house, area within a building, etc.). That is, in some embodiments, the device  102  can be a relatively simple meter (e.g., kilowatt meter, etc.) that is not able to perform relatively advanced functions including, but not limited to: display settings, display diagnostics, display information relating to the system  100 , receive setting changes, receive setup information, receive protocols, and send protocols, among other functions. 
     The device  102  can include a mount  114 , as shown in  FIG.  1   . The mount  114  can include a mounting device such as a Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) rail mount. A DIN rail mount can be a mount comprising a metal rail of a type used for mounting circuit breakers and industrial control equipment inside equipment racks. The DIN rail mount can be made from cold rolled carbon steel sheet with a zinc-plated and chromated bright surface finish. In addition, or alternatively, the mount  114  can be a free hanging mount. Furthermore, the mount  114  can be a panel mount to mount the device  102  into a cut out of a panel, box, or frame. 
     The mount  114  can be a permanent or semi-permanent mount to attach the device  102  to a rail, panel, box, frame, or other device, depending on the application. For example, the mount  114  can be attached to a rail of a server and/or data center via a DIN rail mount. 
     As described herein, the device  104  can be detachable from the device  102 . A user (e.g., technician, repairman, system administrator, etc.) can utilize the device  104  to attach to device  102  and utilize additional functionality to the system  100  in embodiments where the device  104  is detachable from the device  102 . For example, the device  102  can be a permanent or semi-permanent device that meters power in the system  100 , and a user can attach the device  104  when additional functionality is desired for the system  100 . Thus, the additional functionality can be reserved for users that have the device  104  and/or users that have permission to utilize the additional functionality provided by the device  104 . It can be advantageous to limit permanent functionality within the system  100 . 
     In addition, it can be advantageous to add additional functionality to a system (e.g., system  100 ) that is currently utilizing the device  102  in combination with sensors  108 - 1 ,  108 - 2 , . . . ,  108 -N. For example, a system can utilize a device  102  to meter the power consumption, and a user can attach a device  104  to change settings of the system by attaching the device  104  and utilize the user interface  112  and/or display  110  to change the settings of the system. In addition, there can be cost benefits of installing the device  102  at a plurality of locations and utilizing the device  104  to increase functionality of the devices  102  at each of the plurality of locations. 
     As described herein, the device  104  can include and/or add additional functionality to the device  102 . The additional functionality can include, but is not limited to: displaying (e.g., to a user) information relating to the system  100 , setting up the settings of system  100 , debugging, determining, and/or displaying to diagnostic information relating to the system  100  (e.g., diagnostic information relating to the sensors of system  100 ), browsing and/or displaying information relating to the system  100  (e.g., information communicated from the sensors of system  100 ), retrieving power consumption data (e.g., from a system coupled to device  104 ), providing a plurality of communication protocols, and/or utilizing multiple communication protocols simultaneously to meter the power consumption. For example, the device  104  can use a plurality of communication protocols including, but not limited to: EZ7, EZ7 Ethernet, Modbus RTU, BACnet MS/TP, Modbus TCP/IP, and/or LonWorks, among other communication protocols to communicate with sensors  108 - 1 ,  108 - 2 , . . . ,  108 -N. Providing the plurality of communication protocols can provide additional functionality to the device  102  and/or system  100  by enabling a user to communicate with other devices (e.g., device  102 , sensors  108 - 1 ,  108 - 2 , . . . ,  108 -N, etc.) within the system  100 . In some embodiments, the plurality of communication protocols can be utilized by the device  104  simultaneously to meter the power consumption. That is, the device  104  can send and/or receive different communication protocols within the system  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the user interface  112  of device  104  is the only user interface that comprises a number of input devices (e.g., buttons, touchscreen, etc.) to communicate with other devices (e.g., device  102 , sensors  108 - 1 ,  108 - 2 , . . . ,  108 -N, etc.) within the system  100 . That is, in some embodiments, communication with system  100  is limited when the device  104  is not coupled to device  102 . For example, a user may not be able to change settings of the system  100  when device  104  is not coupled to device  102 . 
     The device  104  can increase a detection range of the number of sensors  108 - 1 ,  108 - 2 , . . . ,  108 -N (e.g., from approximately 25 amps to approximately 3,200 amps) by altering a number of settings of the system  100 . Approximately, as used herein, indicates a value within 1-2 amps. That is, approximately 25 amps can include a range consisting of values between 23 amps and 27 amps. 
     As described herein, the multi-device (e.g., device  102  and device  104 , including more than one physical device  102 ,  104 , etc.) system  100  enables a user to provide a first set of functionality when the device  104  is not coupled to device  102  and a second set of functionality when the device  104  is coupled to device  102 . As described herein, the first set of functionality can be more limited than the second set of functionality. The more limited functionality can be utilized to prevent users that are not permitted to change settings and/or view data for the system  100 . In addition, or alternatively, the first set of functionality can be previously installed for a system  100  and the second set of functionality can enable additional functionality in the field by attaching the device  104 . That is, additional functionality can be utilized without having to remove device  102  and move the device  102  to a different location in order to browse information and/or change settings for the system  100 . 
       FIG.  2    is an example of a system  200  for power metering according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The system  200  can be a “back view” or a “side view” of the system  100  as described in reference to  FIG.  1   . 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a mount  214 . As described herein in reference to mount  114  in  FIG.  1   , the mount  214  can be a DIN mount. The mount  214  can be attachable and/or detachable from a rail system of a server and/or data center to permanently or semi-permanently attach device  202  to the rail system. Other mounts can be utilized to attach the device  202  to a rail system or other object based on a particular application. 
     As described herein, it can be advantageous to have a device  202  permanently or semi-permanently attached to the system  200  and enable a detachable device  204  that can add additional functionality when the additional functionality is needed. 
       FIG.  3    is an example of a diagram of a device  302  (e.g., device  102  as referenced in  FIG.  1   ) for power metering according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The device  302  can include a power supply  306  to provide electrical energy to the processor  328  (e.g., microcontroller, TP SAM3S from Linear Technology) and/or the converter  324 . The converter  324  can include an analog to digital converter (A/D converter). An A/D converter can be a device that converts a continuous physical quantity (e.g., value, etc.) such as voltage and/or current  322  to a digital number that represents the physical quantity&#39;s amplitude. 
     The A/D converter can be coupled to the processor  328 . The value of the physical quantity can be sent to the processor  328  to meter the voltage and/or current  322 . The physical quantity can be sent to the processor  328  (e.g., computing device) via a number of pulse outputs  320  (e.g., the pulse outputs from sensors  108 - 1 ,  108 - 2 , . . . ,  108 -N previously described in connection with  FIG.  1   ). As described herein, the pulse outputs  320  can be utilized to meter a power consumption for a particular voltage and/or current  322  usage. 
     Device  302  includes a memory  327  and the processor  328  coupled to memory  327 . Memory  327  can be any type of storage medium that can be accessed by processor  328  to perform various examples of the present disclosure. For example, memory  327  can be a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions (e.g., computer program instructions) stored thereon that are executable by processor  328  to retrieve power consumption data with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Memory  327  can be volatile or nonvolatile memory. Memory  327  can also be removable (e.g., portable) memory, or non-removable (e.g., internal) memory. For example, memory  327  can be random access memory (RAM) (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and/or phase change random access memory (PCRAM)), read-only memory (ROM) (e.g., electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and/or compact-disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), flash memory, a laser disc, a digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical disk storage, and/or a magnetic medium such as magnetic cassettes, tapes, or disks, among other types of memory. 
     Further, although memory  327  is illustrated as being located in device  302 , embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. For example, memory  327  can also be located internal to another computing resource (e.g., enabling computer readable instructions to be downloaded over the Internet or another wired or wireless connection). 
     Device  302  can also include a user interface  310 . User interface  310  can include, for example, a display (e.g., a screen). The display can be, for instance, a touch-screen (e.g., the display can include touch-screen capabilities). User interface  310  can provide (e.g., display and/or present) information to a user of device  302 . For example, user interface  310  can provide displays previously described metering information in connection with  FIGS.  1  and  2    to the user. 
     Additionally, device  302  can receive information from the user of computing device  302  through an interaction with the user via user interface  310 . For example, device  302  can receive input from the user via user interface  310 . The user can enter the input into device  302  by touching the display of user interface  310  in embodiments in which the display includes touch-screen capabilities (e.g., embodiments in which the display is a touch screen). In some embodiments, the power consumption of the voltage and/or current usage can be displayed to a user via the user interface  310  (e.g., LED display, etc.) of device  302 . 
     The device can also include a connector  326  that can be utilized to couple device  302  to a different device (e.g., device  404  as described in connection with  FIG.  4   , etc.). The connector  326  can be utilized to transfer information between device  302  and the device that is coupled to device  302  via connector  326 . For example, the connector  326  can be utilized to transfer metering information that is determined by device  302  to a second device (e.g., device  404  as described in connection with  FIG.  4   , etc.). 
       FIG.  4    is an example of a diagram of a device  404  (e.g., device  104  as referenced in  FIG.  1   ) for power metering according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     The device  404  can include a connector  450  that can connect the device  404  to a different device (e.g., device  102  as referenced in  FIG.  1   ). For example, the device  404  can represent a first device (e.g., device  104  as referenced in  FIG.  1   ) that can be coupled to a second device (e.g., device  102  as referenced in  FIG.  1   ) via the connector  450 . The connector  450  can transfer information and/or data to and/or from a different device that is coupled to device  404  using the connector  450 . In some embodiments, the connector  450  can transfer power (e.g., electrical power, etc.) to power the different device. In some embodiments, the device represented by diagram  404  can add additional functionality to a different device and/or system when the device is coupled via the connector  450 . 
     The device  404  can include a processor  448  (e.g., microcontroller, T2/T5 LPC2388 from NXP Semiconductors). The processor  448  can provide the pulse output  454  as described herein to determine a power consumption. In addition, the processor  448  can determine and accommodate for reactive power by monitoring phase loss  452 . 
     The device  404  can include other features of a computing device including, but not limited to: an RS485 input/output  458 , random access memory  456  (e.g., SRAM, RAM, DRAM, etc.), Ethernet port  442 , data flash  444 , display (e.g., liquid crystal display)  410 , user interface  412  (e.g., buttons, touchscreen, etc.), and/or super cap  446 , among other features of a computing device. 
     A computing device for power metering according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure can be, for example, device  104  as referenced in  FIG.  1   , a laptop computer, or a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, etc.), among other types of computing devices. As described herein, a computing device (e.g., device  404 ) can include memory that can be any type of storage medium that can be accessed by processor  448  to perform various examples of the present disclosure. For example, memory can be a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions (e.g., computer program instructions) stored thereon that are executable by processor  448  to retrieve power consumption data via a the connector  450  from a different device (e.g., device  102  as referenced in  FIG.  1   ) with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     The features of the device represented by diagram  404  can be utilized to provide additional functionality to a different device that is coupled to the connector  450 . For example, the user interface  412  and display  410  can be utilized to change a number of settings for a system. As described herein, a user interface  412  can receive information from the user of computing device  404  through an interaction with the user via user interface  412 . For example, device  404  can receive input from the user via user interface  412 . 
     As described herein, the device represented by diagram  404  can be a portable device that can brought to a permanently or semi-permanently attached device and add additional functionality to the permanently or semi-permanently attached device when the device represented by device  404  is coupled via the connector  450 . In some embodiments, the device  404  can utilize a power supply that is coupled to the permanently or semi-permanently attached device to power the device  404  utilizing the connector  450 . For example, the device  404  may not have a connection to a power supply (e.g., connection to an outlet power supply, connection to a battery power supply, etc.) and can utilize the connector  450  to receive power from the permanently or semi-permanently attached device that includes a connection to a power supply (e.g., A/C power supply, D/C power supply, etc.). 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same techniques can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments of the disclosure. 
     It is to be understood that the above description has been made in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combination of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. 
     The scope of the various embodiments of the disclosure includes any other applications in which the above structures and methods are used. Therefore, the scope of various embodiments of the disclosure should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in example embodiments illustrated in the figures for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the embodiments of the disclosure require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. 
     Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.