Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – Via radiant energy beam
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-27
2001-11-06
Edward, Jr., Timothy (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
Via radiant energy beam
C340S870020, C340S870190, C340S870280, C250S551000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06313756
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for controlling an electric meter on which a module can be mounted, and to an electric meter with a mountable module.
An electric meter is known from Published European Patent Application EP 0 752 589 A1 to have an interior which is subdivided into at least two portions, that are separate from one another. One portion serves to receive components of the measurement mechanism that need to be calibrated, while the other portion serves to hold a display. That separation makes it possible to replace the display if needed, without the necessity of rechecking the calibration of the entire meter.
It is also known that electric meters can be equipped with various accessories, so that the meters can be used in manifold ways. An optical transmission device, for instance, is provided for functional cooperation of the respective accessory with the meter. It is also necessary that the meter be supplied before measurement with the appropriate information as to what type of accessory has been coupled to it, so that it can perform the proper measurement for that accessory.
The method of the prior art is not unproblematic, in the sense that the required information for measurement in conjunction with the accessory must first be input manually into the meter, and incorrect inputs can lead to incorrect measurements.
An electric meter on which a module can be mounted through a bidirectional interface is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,514. There a meter result is read out of the basic counting mechanism into the module.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method for controlling an electric meter, and an electric meter, which overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known methods and devices of this general type.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, 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, which comprises influencing or varying the bidirectional optical transmission path for detecting a type of module (accessory) mounted on the meter. This is carried out by at least one of reflecting the optical transmission beam (emitted by the optical transmitter unit of the electric meter) into an optical receiver unit of the electric meter with a 1:1 reflection device disposed in the transmission path, if no module is mounted or only an empty or cover module is mounted; modifying a transmission beam emitted by an optical transmitter unit of the module (modulation in a certain way, turning on/off, etc.), 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 or coupled to the electric meter; and/or starting a processor (program sequence, etc.) with the transmission beam of th e electric meter through an optical receiver unit of the module for in turn modulating a transmission beam of the module, if an active module with a built-in processor controller is mounted.
The active or “smart” module will accordingly respond intelligently through the optical transmitter unit of the electric meter, once a certain question pulse is present, and send appropriate optical information, with a very specific stated task or a digital identifier or data exchange, back to the base module (the electric meter). The module detection of the electric meter is thus performed in the manner of “sending a telegram”.
Automatic module detection is thus advantageously achieved through the use of this method, without having to set the electric meter manually to the particular accessory module connected thereto.
In accordance with another mode of the invention, the transmission beam of the electric meter is modulated in a certain way so that above all if no module is mounted or an empty or cover module is mounted, the meter can distinguish between light from an external source and reflection.
In accordance with a further mode of the invention, the transmission beam of the electric meter may also be pulsed so that the meter can distinguish between light from an external source and reflection.
In accordance with an added mode of the invention, the optical transmitter unit of the passive module outputs a continuous optical signal or a continuous light pulse, so that this signal can be controlled in a simple way, that is it can be interrupted or modulated, by the transmission pulse of the electric meter.
With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided an electric meter, comprising a basic counting mechanism; a housing at which a module can be mounted; and a bidirectional optical transmission device for coupling the module, the transmission device having an optical transmitter unit, and the transmission device having an optical receiver unit for receiving a transmission beam to be influenced for detecting a type of module mounted at a given time. The transmission device may be associated with a reflection device for reflecting the optical transmission beam of the transmitter unit into the optical receiver unit, if no module, an empty module or a cover module is mounted. The transmission device may be associated with a passive module lacking its own processor controller and having an optical transmitter unit emitting a transmission beam and an optical receiver unit through which the transmission beam of the transmitter unit passes and modifies the transmission beam emitted by the optical transmitter unit of the module (modulation, turning on/off, etc.). The transmission device may be associated with an active module having a built-in processing controller with a processor, an optical transmitter unit emitting a transmission beam and an optical receiver unit through which the transmission beam of the transmitter unit passes and starts the processor (program sequence, etc.), in turn modulating the transmission beam emitted by the optical transmitter unit of the module.
The electric meter for performing the method includes not only a basic counting mechanism but also an output unit, in particular a display device. The various modules can be mounted on or coupled to the housing of the electric meter and cooperate with the basic counting mechanism through the bidirectional optical transmission path.
To that end, a detent device is provided on the electric meter or the modules, to assure an optimal optical transmission path.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, in order to guard against contamination or damage, it is advantageous for the empty or cover module coupled to the electric meter to cover the active or passive module. To that end, the housing of the electric meter may, for instance, include a reception chamber that is formed by the empty module and/or can be closed by the cover module. An active and/or passive module can be placed in the reception chamber.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, a ripple-control receiver is provided as the active module, which serves to receive and further process ripple-control signals.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, a predetermined tariff program is stored in memory in each active module, so that various tariff structures can be administered and executed through the electric meter.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, various measurement modules that serve to generate maximum values and load profiles are contemplated as the active module or passive module.
In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, an active module with various inputs for controlling the tariffs and synchronizing measured values are connected to the electric meter.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, relay outputs are provided on the module for transmitting
Edward, Jr. Timothy
Greenberg Laurence A.
Lerner Herbert L.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Stemer Werner H.
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