Importance

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Abstract

The utility meter is a microprocessor-based circuit using Hall effect electric current sensors to measure power usage by residential and commercial customers. An analog signal from the Hall effect sensor is converted to a digital signal which is fed to the microprocessor for analysis and storage in random access memory. Using a real time clock, the microprocess or determines time of use information which is also stored in random access memory. The memory may be remotely interrogated via a telephone line or serial communication link. If desired, the meter can receive utility usage inputs from other utility meters, such as water, gas, etc. and to fire and intrusion alarms. To effect a submetering configuration useful in apartment complexes, institutional and manufacturing applications, a mutiplicity of meters are multiplexed to a data collection computer which is in turn networked with other data collection computers to a central billing computer.

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First Claim