Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
An electric meter configured to compute an amount of energy consumed by a load powered by a mains voltage, comprising: a separable housing; a split-core current transformer located within said housing that is configured to inductively sense an amount of current flowing through a conductor coupled to said load, said transformer comprising a metallic core that includes: first and second spaced sections, oppositely disposed, each of said first and second sections being surrounded by wound coils; and a removable portion comprising third and fourth elongated sections that are configured to form an opposite side of said metallic core, and that are substantially a same length as said first and second sections; said first and second sections being configured to receive and slideably engage with said third and fourth elongated sections to form a rectangular core having a central opening; said conductor being located within said central opening such that said wound coils are configured to generate a coil output signal proportional to the amount of current flowing through said conductor; and processing circuitry that is configured to be responsive to said coil output signal from said wound coils and said mains voltage such that said processing circuitry computes the amount of energy being consumed by the load coupled to said conductor and to generate an electrical output signal corresponding to the amount of energy being consumed by said load.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
An electric meter configured to compute an amount of energy consumed by a load powered by a mains voltage, comprising: a separable housing; a split-core current transformer located within said housing that is configured to inductively sense an amount of current flowing through a conductor coupled to said load, said transformer comprising a metallic core that includes: first and second spaced sections, oppositely disposed, each of said first and second sections being surrounded by wound coils; and a removable portion comprising third and fourth elongated sections that are configured to form an opposite side of said metallic core, and that are substantially a same length as said first and second sections; said first and second sections being configured to receive and slideably engage with said third and fourth elongated sections to form a rectangular core having a central opening; said conductor being located within said central opening such that said wound coils are configured to generate a coil output signal proportional to the amount of current flowing through said conductor; and processing circuitry that is configured to be responsive to said coil output signal from said wound coils and said mains voltage such that said processing circuitry computes the amount of energy being consumed by the load coupled to said conductor and to generate an electrical output signal corresponding to the amount of energy being consumed by said load.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The meter of claim 1 wherein said electrical output signal includes a series of pulses having a frequency that is proportional to said amount of energy being consumed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The meter of claim 1 wherein said computed amount of energy being consumed is expressed in watt-hours.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The meter of claim 1 wherein said computed amount of energy being consumed is expressed in var-hours.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The meter of claim 1 wherein said electrical output signal from said processing circuitry also includes a frequency of said mains voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The meter of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry is located within said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The meter of claim 1 further comprising communication circuitry configured to transmit said electrical output signal from said processing circuitry to a central data collector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The meter of claim 7 wherein said communication circuitry comprises a serial data interface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The meter of claim further comprising signal treatment circuitry operatively positioned to receive said coil output signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The meter of claim 9, wherein said signal treatment circuitry electrically isolates said mains voltage from said processing circuitry.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The meter of claim 10 further comprising an opto-coupler that is configured to perform said isolation.