Electricity: measuring and testing – Measuring – testing – or sensing electricity – per se
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-08
2002-09-10
Sherry, Michael J. (Department: 2829)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Measuring, testing, or sensing electricity, per se
C324S074000, C324S142000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06448753
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a structure of an alternating current meter for measuring the power consumption, and more particularly to an electronic digital measuring structure of the alternating current meter, which is capable of converting the power consumption rate of a power user into a digital signal output. A precision measurement of the power consumption is thus made possible by the digital signal output.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The induction- type alternating current meter is a principal instrument which is used by the power company to measure the power consumption by a power user. The collection of the power consumption data by the power company is done by a person who is hired by the power company to read the meter on site. Such a general practice as described above is not cost-effective and is inefficient at best in view of the fact that the wages and the fringe benefits of the meter-person give an added adminstrative cost, and that the manual reading of the power meter by the meterperson is apt to be erroneous.
The traditional alternating current meter has inherent deficiencies in light of its measurement of the power consumption being done mechanically. There is often a great disparity between a mechanically-measured value and an actual consumption value. As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a prior art alternating current meter
10
comprises a voltage magnet
11
(as shown in
FIG. 2
) capable of generating a movable magnetic field, and a metal disk
12
which is located over the voltage magnet
11
such that the metal disk
12
is induced by the movable magnetic field to turn. As a result, a center shaft
13
of the metal disk
12
actuated to turn by the metal disk
12
in motion. One of tow gears
151
of a counter
15
is meshed with a worm rod
14
which is mounted on the center shaft
13
such that the worm rod
14
turns along with the center shaft
13
. As the revolving speed of the metal disk
12
is transmitted to the counter
15
, the numerical reading is shown by the counter
15
as a result of the cumulative measuring and switching, which are attained by a plurality of gear trains of the counter
15
. In light of the inherent manufacturing tolerance and the error of the engagement ratio of the transmission members of the prior art meter
10
, the numerical reading shown by the counter
15
of the meter
10
is not a reliable reflection of the actual power consumption.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is therefore the primary objective of the present invention to provide a digital meter for measuring the alternating current. The digital meter comprises a light-emitting element and a light sensor for conversion of a power consumption rate into a digital signal, which is then processed by a processing unit such that the power consumption is expressed in various forms, such as watts, cash value, etc.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a digital meter for measuring the power consumption. The digital meter is electronically linked with a local area network via which the power company gathers the power consumption data of a power user without the use of a meter-person.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4158167 (1979-06-01), Tanno et al.
patent: 4301508 (1981-11-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 4933631 (1990-06-01), Eccleston
patent: 5089771 (1992-02-01), Tanguay et al.
patent: 5563515 (1996-10-01), Kako
Hsu Chao Fou
Lin Wei Jen
Chan Raymond Y.
David and Raymond Patent Group
Hollington Jermele M.
Sherry Michael J.
LandOfFree
Digital meter for measuring alternating current does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Digital meter for measuring alternating current, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Digital meter for measuring alternating current will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2832600