US4233590A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Supplemental energy register
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-02-27
•
Granted: 1980-11-11
•
Expires: 1998-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A supplemental energy register in which successive increments of consumed electrical energy are detected at a kilowatthour meter, and are translated into electrical pulse signals. Digital calculation and display logic is operated by the pulses, either directly or through intermediate transmission over the household network. Kilowatthours are directly accumulated in increments corresponding to those sensed at the meter, while net cost is computed by chain addition utilizing the prevailing cost per increment rate, which is maintained in a keyboard controllable memory. The register may desirably be inserted in the leads connecting an electric utilization device to the local common network.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert F. Gilkeson
- 👤 John B. Blose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R21/00; G01R21/133; G01R21/1333; G01R21/1338; G06; G06Q; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
In a local energy consumer network, apparatus for evaluating cumulative energy consumption and the net cost thereof, comprising: (a) metering means, in circuit with said network, for detecting consumption of successive specified increments of energy, said in circuit metering means providing successive pulses as indicative of current flow; (b) pulse shaper means, responsive to said in circuit metering means, for generating an actuating pulse of predetermined duration, upon detection of each said successive pulse provided by said in circuit metering means; (c) counter means incremented upon each occurrence of a said actuating pulse from said pulse shaper means; (d) means, responsive to said counter means, for producing control pulses in respective response to each said specified increment of said counter means; (e) calculator display means, calibrated at a prevailing rate of cost per said specified increment, for presenting cumulative energy cost increments; and (f) electrically isolating coupling means, responsive to said means for producing control pulses, for incrementing said calculator display means by one of said cost increments per each said control pulse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a local energy consumer network, apparatus for evaluating cumulative energy consumption and the net cost thereof, comprising: (a) metering means, in circuit with said network, for detecting consumption of successive specified increments of energy, said in circuit metering means providing successive pulses as indicative of current flow; (b) pulse shaper means, responsive to said in circuit metering means, for generating an actuating pulse of predetermined duration, upon detection of each said successive pulse provided by said in circuit metering means; (c) counter means incremented upon each occurrence of a said actuating pulse from said pulse shaper means; (d) means, responsive to said counter means, for producing control pulses in respective response to each said specified increment of said counter means; (e) calculator display means, calibrated at a prevailing rate of cost per said specified increment, for presenting cumulative energy cost increments; and (f) electrically isolating coupling means, responsive to said means for producing control pulses, for incrementing said calculator display means by one of said cost increments per each said control pulse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said calculator display means comprises: (a) memory means; (b) display means; and (c) chain addition means, successively actuated by said electrically isolating coupling means, for adding the rate from said memory to a cumulative total, and for displaying a new cumulative total at said display means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said electrically isolating coupling means comprises optical coupling means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 including a driver and display means operatively associated with said accumulator means for displaying accumulated increments of said specified increments of energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said electrically isolating coupling means includes optical coupling means responsive to said means for producing control pulses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as described in claim 5 including a driver and display means operatively associated with said accumulator means for displaying accumulated increments of said specified increments of energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said optical coupling means includes an optical isolator connected to said means for producing control pulses; and wherein said accumulator means includes a decade counter connected to said pulse shaper means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said in circuit metering means includes: a cam actuated switch pair connected within said in circuit metering means and operable to produce an output pulse for each closure thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3221926A
Cited
US3388388A
Cited
US3502980A
Cited
US3624361A
Cited
US3641536A
Cited
US3683343A
Cited
US3846789A
Cited
US3924251A
Cited
US4004097A
Cited
US4080568A
Cited
US4120031A
Cited
US4106095A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-11-11 | 1984-05-12 | 1984-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-11 | 1988-05-12 | 1988-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-11 | 1992-05-12 | 1992-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |