CIRCUIT BOARD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates broadly to a circuit board. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a circuit board and a method of making a circuit board to be fitted in an S-type meter socket.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Many energy customers have an energy disconnect switch installed at the customer premises. The energy disconnect switch enables power to be switched on or off at the premises. One example of a disconnect switch is a ripple-control relay for allowing selective disabling of water heating appliances.

Most energy customers also have an energy meter installed at the customer premises. The energy meter measures the energy consumption of the customer premises, which is used by energy companies to charge the customer for the amount of energy used.

It is necessary for energy consumption data from the energy meter to be forwarded or transferred to the energy company. The most common method of doing so at present is by way of contracted meter reading personnel. In this method, meter reading personnel physically visit a customer site to make a meter reading before transmitting energy consumption data back to the energy company via a conventional network.

There have been industry moves more recently toward remote meter reading. In one instance, consumption data is transmitted automatically to the energy company over a cellular network, such as over Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) or over General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). In particular, the consumption data may form part of a message that can be sent to the energy company using the Short Message Service (SMS). In another instance the consumption data is transmitted over a wireless mesh network such as provided by CellNet®.

The energy disconnect switch, the energy meter and other equipment at the premises, such as those for remote meter reading, are generally referred to as customer premises equipment

(CPE). An electric energy meter or watthour meter, for instance, is typically located in either an A-type housing, which is a unitary unit in which the watthour meter is fixedly mounted, or an S-type meter socket, which has jaw contacts or jaws to removably receive terminal contacts of the watthour meter. Other CPEs are typically housed in separate individual housings.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a circuit board and a method of making a circuit board which allow an integrated installation of CPEs in existing S-type meter sockets and/or which at least provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term 'circuit board' generally denotes a printed circuit board (PCB) with one or more surfaces having thereon printed electrically-conductive pathways and a plurality of connection points electrically-connected to the pathways, with the connection points being adapted to receive a plurality of electronic components.

As used herein, the term 'S-type meter socket' generally denotes a socket that is adapted to removably receive terminals of a socket-type meter, such as a watthour meter, to measure or monitor the consumption of electric energy by a premises. S-type meter sockets comprise a plurality of jaws, connectors and a housing or collar to receive socket-type meters. A well- known standard for meter sockets is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard. ANSI-compliant S-type meter sockets typically have a circular collar, with four or five jaws extending from the base to removably receive the socket-type meter terminals. Various denominations of S-type meter sockets include Sl, S2 and S 12.

In a first aspect, the present invention comprises a circuit board comprising one or more holes on the circuit board for mounting the circuit board in an S-type meter socket, wherein the circuit board has a substantially circular shape or a substantially cruciform shape that is adapted to be received in the S-type meter socket, and is shaped either to allow four jaws of the S-type meter socket to pass through the board or to allow the board to be received between the four jaws.

In a second aspect, the present invention comprises a circuit board comprising one or more holes for mounting the circuit board in an S-type meter socket, wherein the circuit board has a substantially circular shape or a substantially cruciform shape that is adapted to be received in the S-type meter socket, and wherein the circuit board includes four openings arranged to receive four jaws of the S-type meter socket.

Preferably, the circuit board further comprises one or more additional openings arranged to receive a fifth jaw from the S-type meter socket. In one form, the circuit board includes break-away portions that, once broken, form the one or more additional openings. In a preferred form, three break-away portions are provided at 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions on the board.

In a third aspect, the present invention comprises a method of making a circuit board, the method comprising the steps of: printing electrically-conductive pathways and locating a plurality of connection points on one or more surfaces of the circuit board; cutting the circuit board so as to allow four jaws of an S-type meter socket to pass through the circuit board or to allow the circuit board to be received between the four jaws; cutting the circuit board so as to provide the circuit board with a substantially circular shape or a substantially cruciform shape that can be received in the S-type meter socket; and making one or more holes in the circuit board for mounting the circuit board in the S- type meter socket.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention comprises a method of making a circuit board, the method comprising the steps of: printing electrically-conductive pathways and locating a plurality of connection points on one or more surfaces of the circuit board; cutting the circuit board so as to provide four openings to receive four jaws of an S- type meter socket; cutting the circuit board so as to provide the circuit board with a substantially circular shape or a substantially cruciform shape that can be received in the S-type meter socket; and making one or more holes in the circuit board for mounting the circuit board in the S- type meter socket.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of cutting the circuit board so as to provide one or more openings to receive a fifth jaw from the S-type meter socket.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of further cutting the circuit board so as to provide one or more break-away portions that, when broken, form one or more openings to receive a fifth jaw from the S-type meter socket.

The term 'comprising' as used in this specification means 'consisting at least in part of, that is to say when interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features. Where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Preferred forms of the circuit board and method of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a preferred form circuit board, meter socket and energy meter;

Figures 2 to 7 show outlines of various forms of the circuit board of the invention;

Figure 8 shows a preferred form of the circuit board of the invention;

Figure 9 shows the circuit board of Figure 8 installed in an S-type meter socket; and

Figure 10 shows a flow chart of the preferred form method of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED FORMS

Figure 1 includes an S-type meter socket 10. Meter socket 10 is disposed within socket housing 12. Housing 12 includes a circuit breaker (not shown) mounted within the base of the housing. The housing 12 shown in the figure is a ring-style housing in which a raised mounting flange 14 is formed on a front cover of housing 12 and spaced a short distance from the surface of the cover. Mounting flange 14 surrounds an aperture through which the meter socket 10 is removably disposed. Alternatively the meter socket 10 is mounted in a socket having a ringless style cover in which a raised annulus surrounds an aperture in the socket cover.

Also shown in Figure 1 is an energy meter also known as watt hour meter 20. This meter 20 typically includes a transparent dome 22 formed of glass or plastic surrounding the internal meter components. Meter dome 22 seats on a base having a peripheral mounting flange surrounded by for example a meter cover 24. Extending outwardly from the base of the cover are one or more mating contacts for example 26b, 26c, as well as 26a and 26d (obscured).

Meter socket 10 includes two pairs of mating contacts shown at 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d. Contacts 26 of meter 20 plug into mating contacts 16 of the meter socket 10.

It will be appreciated that the number of contacts on meter 20 and mating contacts on socket 10 will vary depending upon the type of electric service at a particular user site.

As shown also in Figure 1 a circuit board 30 is shaped to fit onto meter socket 10 around mating contacts 16. Circuit board is typically mounted on the circuit breaker (not shown) which fits into housing 12. Circuit board 30 is more particularly described below. Also shown is an RF board 40 suitable for transmitting consumption data over a wireless mesh network such as a CellNet network.

The Preferred Forms of the Circuit Board

Referring to Figure 2, a schematic of one form of the circuit board of the present invention is shown. Although the circuit board, indicated as 200, is represented only with simple shading, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the board 200, as with most printed circuit boards (PCBs), includes electrically-conductive pathways that are printed on one or more surfaces on the board and that connect a plurality of connection points. As will be known in

the art, electronic components can be connected to the connection points to form a printed circuit assembly (PCA).

The board 200 is designed to be received in an S-type meter socket 210. As such, the board is adapted or shaped so that it can be fitted within the confines of the S-type meter socket 210. In the form shown in Figure 2, a substantially circular substrate 200 is provided.

As noted earlier, the S-type meter socket 210 enables the connection of an electric meter to measure the consumption of electric energy by a premises. To do this, S-type meter sockets include four or more jaws to receive terminals from socket-type electric meters. Typically, S- type meter sockets have four jaws. To accommodate the four jaws of the S-type meter socket 210, the board 200 is provided with four openings 220. In particular, the openings 220 are arranged to allow the four jaws of the S-type meter socket 210 to pass through the board 200.

Dashed lines labelled 'a' define four notional sectors of the substrate. Each sector is of substantially equal area. As shown in Figure 2, four openings 220 are each positioned within respective sectors of the substrate.

To secure the board 200 in the S-type meter socket 210, a hole 230 is provided as a mounting point. While only one mounting point is shown, skilled persons will appreciate that two or more mounting points may be provided if desired, as will be described later.

Figure 3 shows another form of the circuit board of the present invention. In this form, the board 300 has a pentagonal shape that is substantially circular. It will be appreciated by skilled persons that the term 'substantially circular' as used herein covers not only shapes that are curved to approximate a circle, but also angled shapes with four or more sides that approximate the curvature of a circle to some degree.

Figure 4 shows a further form of the circuit board of the present invention. The circuit board 400 shown has an octagonal shape, and is adapted or sized so as to fit inside the meter socket 210. The octagonal shape is also a substantially circular shape as it approximates to some degree the shape of a circle. As before, openings 410 are provided within respective sectors of the substrate to allow the four jaws of the S-type meter socket 210 to pass through the

board 400. The mounting point 420 in this figure is shown located adjacent the side of the board 400.

In some instances, an S-type meter socket may be provided with a fifth jaw, which may be positioned either in the 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock or 9 o'clock position in the meter socket. To accommodate the fifth jaw when present, the circuit board 400 may be provided with one or more openings to receive the fifth jaw from the meter socket. In the form shown in Figure 4, the circuit board 400 includes break-away or frangible portions 430 that, once broken, form the one or more openings for the fifth jaw. The break-away portions 430 are preferably arranged at 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions on the board 400. Dashed lines labelled 'b' define four notional sectors. The frangible portions are each positioned within respective sectors of the substrate. Where the position of the fifth jaw of the meter socket is known, the board 400 may be provided with only one break-away portion at a position corresponding to the known position.

It is not necessary for the circuit board of the present invention to be provided with openings or apertures as such for installation in an S-type meter socket, as exemplified in the embodiment of Figure 5. The circuit board 500 shown has a cruciform shape and is sized to be received in the S-type meter socket 210. Board 500 includes four arms of substantially equal length. The arms define four sectors of substantially equal areas. In this form, the board 500 is received between the four jaws of the S-type meter socket, whose positions are shown in phantom lines.

Where the S-type meter socket includes a fifth jaw, the circuit board 500 may be provided with one or more openings to receive the fifth jaw. In the form shown, the circuit board 500 includes a break-away portion 510 that, once broken, forms an opening for the fifth jaw at the 6 o'clock position. As before, it may be desirable to form three break-away or frangible portions that are arranged at the 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions to ensure the board can be properly installed in a variety of meter sockets that may have the fifth jaw positioned differently. Each frangible portion is positioned within respective arms of the board. Circuit board 500 also includes mounting points 520.

Figure 6 shows a variation of the board of Figure 5. Although it has a cruciform-shaped structure, the board 600 shown in Figure 6, with variations in the form of further board areas

bridging extensions of the cruciform shape, has a substantially circular shape. Circuit board 600 includes mounting point 610.

The benefit of providing further board areas by making variations to the cruciform shape is that there is space to accommodate more electronic components on the board. This, in turn, means that more sophisticated circuits and CPEs can be attached to the board.

Another way in which to vary the cruciform shape of Figure 5 is shown in Figure 7. The board 700 shown in the figure has a substantially cruciform shape with additional board areas provided at the ends of the cruciform extensions. As before, the board 700 is received between the four jaws of the S-type meter socket, whose positions are shown in phantom lines.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the term 'substantially cruciform' covers not only shapes that are strictly or mainly cruciform, but also shapes that resemble a cruciform that may or may not include additional features.

To accommodate a fifth jaw, the board 700 includes up to three break-away portions 710 at positions of 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock on the board 700. The break-away portions 710 can be selectively broken away, depending on the location of the fifth jaw in the S-type meter socket.

The board 700 includes two holes 720 as mounting points. In one form, one hole is used to mount the board 700 to the collar of the S-type meter socket, while the other hole is used to attach the board 700 to another CPE, such as a disconnect switch, in the meter socket. Given the variety of mounting points illustrated in Figures 2 to 7, a skilled person will appreciate that the mounting points may comprise one or more holes locatable in a variety of locations on the board, and that the specific examples illustrated are only examples.

Referring to Figure 8, the preferred form circuit board is shown generally as 800. The circuit board 800 has a substantially cruciform shape, similar to that illustrated in Figure 7. When installed in an S-type meter socket, the four jaws of the meter socket will extend through the areas marked A, B, C and D such that the board 800 is received between the jaws.

The board 800 is also provided with three break-away portions 810. In the form shown, none of the break-away portions 810 have been broken off to form an opening to receive a fifth jaw of the meter socket.

Three mounting points 820 are provided for attaching the board 800 to the collar of the S-type meter socket. By allowing for three separate mounting positions at the extremities of the board 800, in particular in positions of 3 o'clock, 9 o'clock and 12 o'clock on the board, there is a greater likelihood that the board 800 will be able to be mounted in any meter socket, regardless of the manufacturer of the meter socket.

Mounting apertures 830 are provided for attaching the board 800 to any other CPE in the S- type meter socket. In the form shown, apertures 830 receive screws that attach to another board carrying electronic components adapted to transmit energy consumption data over, for example, an RF mesh composite network back to a base station.

Figure 9 shows the circuit board 800 of Figure 8 assembled and installed in an S-type meter socket 900. In particular, the board 800 has been assembled with electronic components and has been attached to the flange 910 of the meter socket 900 via the 12 o'clock mounting point. The circuit board 800 is shown received between the four jaws 920 of the meter socket 900.

As visible in Figure 9, the circuit board 800 has mounted thereon various electronic components to implement metering technology that are designed to monitor and record electricity usage. The circuit therefore includes inputs to receive information from one or more meters (e.g. for gas, electricity or water). The circuit board may also include circuitry for allowing pre or post-payment options for energy use, for connecting a user display terminal, or for storing consumption data. The circuit board may also be connected to circuitry for connecting to a Wide Area Network (WAN) backbone. In the preferred form, the circuitry allows data relating to electricity usage to be transmitted over an RF mesh composite network.

The Preferred Form Method

The flow chart of Figure 10 shows the preferred form method of the invention. The method begins in step 1000, where conductive pathways are printed and connection points for

electronic components are located on a circuit board. The method then proceeds to step 1010, where the circuit board is cut so as to either allow four jaws of an S-type meter socket to pass through the circuit board or to allow the circuit board to be received between the four jaws. This can be done, for instance, by cutting holes or openings in the board (as illustrated in Figures 2-4), or by shaping the board to provide areas to receive the four jaws (as illustrated in Figures 5-8).

In step 1020, the method involves cutting the circuit board so as to provide the circuit board with a substantially circular shape or a substantially cruciform shape that can be received in the S-type meter socket. This step may form part of step 1010, where the board is shaped to provide areas to receive the four jaws. Persons skilled the art will appreciate the multitude of ways in which step 1020 can be done, given the example and non-limiting shapes illustrated in Figures 2 to 8.

In step 1030, the circuit board is provided with one or more holes to securely mount the circuit board in the meter socket.

While the above steps have been described and illustrated in a specific order, it is not always necessary to follow this order. For instance, the cutting in steps 1010 and 1020 may be combined. Alternatively, steps 1010 to 1030 may be performed to suitably shape the board before step 1000 is carried out to print the conductive paths. Similarly, the making of one or more holes in step 1030 may be performed before the cutting of the board in steps 1010 and 1020. The method of the present invention therefore should not be limited to the order illustrated in the figure.

One benefit of the invention described above is that it provides a circuit board in a standard uniform shape. The circuit is configured so that it is able to fit into different S-type meter sockets. It is intended that the circuit board described above is able to fit into any variation of S-type meter socket regardless of the number and positioning of jaws and other connectors within the socket. This in term enables greater functionality to be added to existing meters by fitting additional circuit boards within the associated meter sockets.

The foregoing describes the invention including preferred forms thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof, as defined by the accompanying claims.