EP0176338A1
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EP
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Time-of-use-meter with a calendar of cyclic events
Assignee: ASEA BROWN BOVERI Inc
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Filing: 1985-09-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A time-of-use meter [Figure 1] is provided with a means (U5, Table III) for storing a plurality of identifiers [Figures 2, 3] that each represent a cyclic event. These cyclic events are described in such a way that a single word of storage is sufficient to represent numerous occurrences of the cyclic event over a period of many years. A microprocessor-based (U4) calendar program is provided with the means for storing a plurality of cyclic event identifiers (50) and special event identifiers (60) in a manner which significantly reduces the required memory storage within the microprocessor and its peripheral memory devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Logan Munday
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R11/00; G01R11/30; G01R11/32; G01R21/00; G01R21/133; G01R21/1333; G06; G06Q; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
An electric meter, comprising: a computer [Fig. 1 (U4)]; means (Y1, U6, U7, U8) for providing a series of pulses, said series of pulses having a preselected frequency, said providing means being operatively connected to said computer; and characterized by: means (US) for storing a plurality of event dates, said storing means comprising means [Fig. 2 (52)] for indicating the day of the year of each of said plurality of event dates, means (54) for defining a function associated with each of said plurality of event dates and means (56) for indicating the occurrence of a preselected one of said plurality of event dates on a particular day of the week, said storing means being independent of the calendar year; means (U5, 18, U4, Table III) for deriving a calculated day of the year, said deriving means being responsive to said pulse providing means; and means (U5, 18, U4, Table IV) for comparing said calculated day of the year to the day of the year of the event dates of said storing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
An electric meter, comprising: a computer [Fig. 1 (U4)]; means (Y1, U6, U7, U8) for providing a series of pulses, said series of pulses having a preselected frequency, said providing means being operatively connected to said computer; and characterized by: means (US) for storing a plurality of event dates, said storing means comprising means [Fig. 2 (52)] for indicating the day of the year of each of said plurality of event dates, means (54) for defining a function associated with each of said plurality of event dates and means (56) for indicating the occurrence of a preselected one of said plurality of event dates on a particular day of the week, said storing means being independent of the calendar year; means (U5, 18, U4, Table III) for deriving a calculated day of the year, said deriving means being responsive to said pulse providing means; and means (U5, 18, U4, Table IV) for comparing said calculated day of the year to the day of the year of the event dates of said storing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The meter as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each of said plurality of event dates is represented by the combined logic states of fifteen binary digits within said storing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The meter as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said preselected frequency is 60 Hz.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The meter as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein: said deriving means is actuated once every second.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The meter as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein: said deriving means is actuated once every four seconds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
152 words
A time of day meter, comprising: a computer [Fig. 1 (U4)] ; means (Y1 ,U7) for providing a stream of pulses to an input part of said computer, said stream of pulses having a preselected frequency; means (U6, U8, U4), responsive to said stream of pulses, for measuring time, said time measuring means comprising means for determining the current hour, current minute, and current day of the year; and characterized by means (U5, Table III) for denoting a plurality of events, said denoting means comprising means [Fig. 2 (52)] for indicating the day of the year for each of said plurality of events and means for defining the functional characteristic (54) of each of said plurality of events: and means (U5, 18, U4, Table IV) for comparing said current day of the year to said day of the year of said denoting means for a preselected one of said plurality of events.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
152 words
A time of day meter, comprising: a computer [Fig. 1 (U4)] ; means (Y1 ,U7) for providing a stream of pulses to an input part of said computer, said stream of pulses having a preselected frequency; means (U6, U8, U4), responsive to said stream of pulses, for measuring time, said time measuring means comprising means for determining the current hour, current minute, and current day of the year; and characterized by means (U5, Table III) for denoting a plurality of events, said denoting means comprising means [Fig. 2 (52)] for indicating the day of the year for each of said plurality of events and means for defining the functional characteristic (54) of each of said plurality of events: and means (U5, 18, U4, Table IV) for comparing said current day of the year to said day of the year of said denoting means for a preselected one of said plurality of events.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The meter of claim 6, further comprising: means (56) for representing a particular day of the week for a preselected one of said plurality of events, said denoting means comprising said representing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The meter of claim 6, wherein: said time measuring means is activated (VDD) at one-second intervals when external electrical power is available (VR1) to said meter and at four-second intervals when external electrical power is not available (Bl) to said meter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for responding to cyclic events, comprising: a microcomputer [Fig. 1 (U4)]; means (Yl, U6, U7, U8) for providing a periodic signal as an input to said microcomputer, said periodic signal having a preselected frequency; means (U4) responsive to said periodic signal for recording the passage of time, said recording means being configured to record current hour, current minute and current day of the year; and characterized by: means (U5, Table III) for storing a plurality of cyclic event identifiers, each of said cyclic event identifiers comprising the day of the year (52) and functional description (54) of a preselected one of a plurality of cyclic events; each of said plurality of cyclic event identifiers being represented by sixteen or fewer binary digits (50) of a solid state memory device; and means (U5, 18, U4, Table IV) for comparing said current day of the year with a preselected one of said plurality of cyclic event identifiers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for responding to cyclic events, comprising: a microcomputer [Fig. 1 (U4)]; means (Yl, U6, U7, U8) for providing a periodic signal as an input to said microcomputer, said periodic signal having a preselected frequency; means (U4) responsive to said periodic signal for recording the passage of time, said recording means being configured to record current hour, current minute and current day of the year; and characterized by: means (U5, Table III) for storing a plurality of cyclic event identifiers, each of said cyclic event identifiers comprising the day of the year (52) and functional description (54) of a preselected one of a plurality of cyclic events; each of said plurality of cyclic event identifiers being represented by sixteen or fewer binary digits (50) of a solid state memory device; and means (U5, 18, U4, Table IV) for comparing said current day of the year with a preselected one of said plurality of cyclic event identifiers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising; means [Fig. 3 (60] for indicating that a preselected one of said plurality of cyclic events is to occur on a specific day of the week, said indicating means being included in each of said plurality of cyclic events.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein: each of said plurality of cyclic event identifiers comprises means (56) for indicating that the associated event will occur on a particular day of the week, said indicating means being algorithmically related to said day of the year of said associated event.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, 10, or 11 further comprising: means (U5) for retaining said plurality of cyclic event identifiers when said comparing means is inactive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said retaining means is a random access memory device cooperatively associated with said microcomputer.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
16 words
An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
16 words
An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2046925A
Cited
GB2069153A
Cited
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