Optical scanner and sensor for monitoring power consumption
US4678907A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 1984 |
| Grant date | Jul 7, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R11/24
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical scanner/pulse iniator used for deriving power consumption data from a power meter has a pair of light sources modulated by a square wave having a repetition rate R and an OFF period P. The light beams produced by the light sources are positioned to reflect off of spatially separated points on the rotor (disc) in a power meter so that as the rotor rotates a non-reflective stripe will block the light beams one after the other. A first light sensor is positioned to receive the first light beam after being reflected off the rotor and provides an output signal indicating when the first beam is OFF for a period of time that greater than P. A second light sensor is positioned to receive the second light beam after being reflected by the rotor and it also provides an output signal indicating when the second beam is OFF for a period of time greater than P. An output circuit receiving the output signal indications from first and second sensors provides an output pulse upon receiving an indication from each of the first and second light sensors. And, the accumulation of these pulses is the power consumption data required.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.