Method and apparatus for detecting and reporting a power outage
US6628207B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 23, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 30, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 23, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02J9/061
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting a power outage within an energy meter and alerting a remote central computer about the outage using call-in reporting via modem (35) within the meter to a telephone number designated for outage reporting. A primary battery cell or pack (55) is placed inside the meter (40) to operate the modem (35) when line power is lost. The modem (35) switches from a line power source in the meter (40) to the battery source (55) when an outage is detected and is to be reported to the remote central computer as an outage call. The battery source (55) is switched off when the outage is completed or aborted. The number of retries to call to report the power outage and the time period between retries is programmable.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.