Patent ID: 7511470

Claim:
A tamper detection circuit for detecting the removal of an electricity meter from a meter socket connected between a voltage source and an electrical load at a subscriber location, the tamper detection circuit comprising: a voltage regulating device positioned between the voltage source and the electrical load for regulating the voltage source to provide an output voltage from the meter to the electrical load, the voltage regulating device being operable only when the electricity meter is installed in the socket; a switching device positioned between the voltage source and the voltage regulating device, the switching device being operable between an open condition and a closed condition, wherein the voltage source is disconnected from the voltage regulating device when the switching device is in the open condition; a voltage sensing circuit connected to the voltage regulating device to provide a discharge path for the voltage regulating device when the switching device is in the open condition; and a control unit coupled to the switching device and the voltage sensing circuit, wherein the control unit is operable to control the condition of the switching device between the open condition and the closed condition and monitor the voltage sensing circuit when the switching device is in the open condition.