Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable and light-weight device which performs precise measurement and is designed to be used as a mobile device that can determine the electric meters of different brands and models that conduct faulty measurement without having to disconnect them from the mains.

Background of the Invention

A wide variety of brands, models and a great number of electric meters are used to measure the electrical energy consumed by the electronic devices at places such as home, work place, etc. The said electric meters are divided into two groups, namely electromechanical and electronic meters according to their structures.

Electronic type meters, i.e. smart meters, usually include thereon a display screen, an optical port, connectors, a RS 485 output port and active/reactive pulse LEDs (light emitting diodes).

When the active, inductive, capacitive energy measured by the said electric meters reaches a certain value determined by the meter constant, the electric meters make it visible to the outside world as the light pulse produced by the corresponding pulse LED. The occurrence frequency of the light pulse is determined by the value which is called the meter constant and whose unit is impulse/kWh. Since the said pulses occur on real time basis, usually the best way to understand the meter measurement is to use the pulse frequency. Since the said electric meters break down and make erroneous measurements by time, it is necessary to test the errors in these meters. Meters that make erroneous measurements can be removed from their place and tested in a laboratory. However, there are not enough laboratories available to test all of these meters, and only the meters with major damages or the meters that the customers complain can be tested. Therefore, mobile test devices, which are portable and which determine the measurement errors of the meters, are designed to test the faulty meters.

The said mobile meter test devices (handheld terminals) communicate with a pulse sensor mounted on the meter for testing purposes in a wired manner, and after the said pulse sensor is mounted to the meters, determines how much energy measurement is performed through the pulse LEDs that flash at specific intervals according to the energy consumed by the meters. During that procedure, the current and voltage information of the meter is obtained through the wired connection established between the handheld terminal and the electric meters. As a result of the test, energy measurement and the meter's measurement data are compared, and thus it is understood whether the meter measures erroneously.

In the state of the art, it may be impossible to mount the pulse sensors of the current mobile test devices o different types of meters, because arrangement of meters of different models and sizes side by side prevents mounting of the pulse sensors (see KR100803084B1 - Figure.1). Again in these applications, the pulse LEDs of the electric meters can be located in very different places due to the variety of the brands and models of meters. Therefore, when the current designs are mounted to the electric meters, it is difficult to match the pulse sensor with the pulse LED of the meter. Furthermore, in these applications, since the data transfer between the mobile test devices and the meter is provided by cables, this causes piles of cables in the mobile test devices. Since processes like connecting/removing these cables into/from the handheld terminal cause loss of time, they cause the number of meter tests that will be conducted by the operators in a unit time to decrease and the energy losses resulting from faulty measurements of the meters to continue for some time.

Problems Solved by the Invention

The mobile meter test device of the present invention is a device which is connected to the operational meters from outside without disconnecting them and which conducts energy measurement by using current-voltage information of the meters. It compares the calculated power and energy information with the information of the energy measured by the meter, thereby revealing whether the meter has conducted a faulty measurement.

The mobile meter test device of the present invention is a lightweight, user friendly product that can be easily used by the test personnel. With this product, the meters can be tested much more easily and the energy losses caused by faulty measurements of the meters can be minimized. In the present invention, the user interface of the handheld terminal is simple enough to allow use by any field worker. It can be used widely in the distribution sector.

The designed device requires sensors and electronic load to monitor the operation of the panel mounted meters. These units, which will be integrated to the meter on the panel, communicate via Bluetooth and transmit the read / write information to the handheld terminal.

The mechanical design of the pulse sensor of the mobile meter test device is realized such that it is a gooseneck type which can be temporarily adhered onto any meter and can be easily moved and fixed. In this way, it is enabled to test meters of many different brands and models.

The mobile meter test device is connected to the connector points of the meters by means of voltage probes and thereby receives the voltage information. It also measures the current information by means of clamp type current transformers which are connected to the cables that are connected to the meters.

The mobile meter test device includes an optical communication sensor which communicates via Bluetooth and is designed as a wireless unit. Unlike the current mobile test devices, during the test, all the information about the meter can be obtained from the optical communication sensor and thus the energy measurement can be conducted. The users can start the test from the handheld terminal and can see the result of the test.

With Mobile Meter Test Device, it is aimed to allow the filed operators to see the measurement accuracy. In addition, a detailed report is prepared in the background for each test that is performed. This report also includes different values such as the serial number of the meter on which the test is performed and the time when the test is performed. This feature enables to collect data more easily and to store the collected data together with the measurement results of the meter.

Detailed Description of the Invention

A mobile meter test device developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures wherein,

Figure 1 is a view of the mobile meter test device.

Figure 2a is a front view of the electronic load.

Figure 2b is a perspective view of the electronic load.

Figure 3a is a side view of the pulse sensor.

Figure 3b is a bottom view of the pulse sensor.

Figure 3c is a top view of the pulse sensor.

Figure 3d is a bottom view of the pulse sensor used in an alternative embodiment of the invention. Figure 3e is a bottom view of the pulse sensor shown in Figure 3d.

Figure 4a is a perspective view of the optical communication sensor.

Figure 4b is a front view of the optical communication sensor shown in Figure 4a.

Figure 4c is a perspective view of the optical communication sensor from another angle.

Figure 5a is a top view of the energy sensor.

Figure 5b is a perspective view of the energy sensor.

Figure 6a is a front view of the handheld terminal.

Figure 6b is a bottom view of the handheld terminal.

Figure 6c is a right-hand view of the handheld terminal.

Figure 6d is a left-hand view of the handheld terminal.

Figure 6e is a front view of the charging dock.

The components in the figures are given reference numbers as follows:

1. Mobile meter test device

2. Electronic load

2.1. Connection interface

2.2. On/Off switch

2.3. Handle

2.4. Fan

3. Pulse sensor

3.1. Gooseneck

3.2. Light sensor

3.3. Base

3.4. Adhesive

3.5. Clip

4. Optical communication sensor

4.1. Optical reader

4.2. Magnet 5. Energy sensor

5.1. Data input interface

5.2. Notification area

5.3. On/Off button

6. Handheld terminal

6.1. Display

6.2. Keypad

6.3. Charging input port

7. Charging dock

S. Electric meter

E. Meter display

L. Pulse LED

O. Optical port

P. RS-485 output port

K. Connector

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a mobile meter test device (1), which enables to test whether the electric meters (S) having optical ports (O), connectors (K) and pulse LEDs (L) have conducted faulty measurement, comprises

an electronic load (2) having a connection interface (2.1) for connecting to the output connectors (K) of the electric meter (S) via a cable, a control unit, a resistive load, a capacitive load and a wireless data communication module; a pulse sensor (3) having a flexible gooseneck (3.1) to be fixed from one end thereof and to be aligned with the pulse LED (L) from the other end thereof; a light sensor (3.2) which is located on a main body fixed to one end of the gooseneck (3.1) and which detects the light emitted from the pulse LED (L); a control unit which is adapted to conduct energy measurement with respect to the frequency of the light emitted from the pulse LED (L) and to transmit it via a wireless data communication module; and a battery; an optical communication sensor (4) having an optical reader (4.1) that enables to receive the information regarding the electric meter (S) from the optical port (O); a control unit adapted to transmit the data received by the optical reader (4.1) via a wireless data communication module; and a battery, an energy sensor (5) having a data input interface (5.1) for receiving the current and voltage information pertaining to the electric meter (S) by the help of the current transformers and voltage probes; a control unit adapted to conduct energy measurement with respect to the current and voltage information received from the data input interface (5.1) and to transmit it via a wireless data communication module; and a battery;

a handheld terminal (6) having a wireless data communication module in order to establish wireless data communication with the electronic load (2), pulse sensor (3), optical communication sensor (4) and the energy sensor (5); a control unit adapted to compare the measurement data received from the pulse sensor (3) and the energy sensor (5) thereby determining whether the electric meter (S) has conducted a faulty measurement; a display (6.1) for displaying the error results generated by the control unit; a battery; and a keypad (6.2).

The electronic load (2), the handheld terminal (6), the active-reactive pulse sensor (3), the optical communication sensor (4) and the energy sensor (5), which are located in the mobile meter test device (1) shown in Figure 1, are not positioned in a single device body; instead these components, which have different tasks, are also physically separated from each other, and data communication between the handheld terminal (6) and these components is provided in a wireless manner.

When sufficient energy is not drawn from the electric meter (S), the said electronic load (2) shown in Figures 2a and 2b is connected to the electric meter (S) by using a cable one end of which is connected to the output connectors (K) of the electric meter (S) and the other end of which is connected to the connection interface (2.1) on the main body. The said electronic load (2) can be used as three- phase or single-phase and is designed to be able to generate three impulses during the test according to variable meter constants. The power required to operate the electronic load (2) is received from the mains, thus there is no battery provided on it.

In one embodiment of the present invention, on the main body of the electronic load (2), there is also provided a handle (2.3) to allow the operator to carry the main body, a fan (2.4) for cooling the hardware within the main body, and an on/off switch (2.2) for turning on/off the electronic load (2).

The active-reactive pulse sensor (3) shown in figure 3a-3e detects the amount of energy measured by the electric meter (S) during the test taking advantage of the frequency of the pulses generated in the pulse LEDs (L) of the electric meters (S).

In one embodiment of the invention, the light sensor (3.2) in the pulse sensor (3) is fixed on one end of the gooseneck (3.1) having a flexible body which can be easily twisted, bended and folded, and can easily be shaped; and there is provided a double-sided adhesive (3.4) on the bottom of a base (3.3) located on the other end of the gooseneck (3.1). By means of the said gooseneck (3.1), the pulse sensor (3) can be temporarily adhered to a flat surface (e.g. on the meter) and easily moved, and can be adjusted as desired towards the pulse LEDs (L) located at different parts of the electric meters (S) of different models (Figs. 3a-3c).

In another embodiment of the invention, the light sensor (3.2) located on the pulse sensor (3) is fixed to one end of the said gooseneck (3.1) and the other end of the gooseneck (3.1) is designed in the form of a clip (3.5). Hence, it is possible to fix the gooseneck (3.1) and thus the pulse sensor (3) by fastening them to planes having a certain wall thickness (for example the top / bottom / side wall of the electrical panels) and to adjust them as desired towards the pulse LEDs (L) located at different parts of the electric meters (S) of different models (Figure 3d- 3e). The optical communication sensor (4) shown in Figures 4a-4c is used to acquire, by means of its optical reader (4.1), all information regarding the electric meter (S) (such as (index information, serial number, meter constant, date and time information, test time information, system battery status, maximum demand measurement range, body cover opening information, tariff information, etc.) stored in the memory unit of the electric meter (S) from the optical port (O) of the electric meters (S). The acquired measurement data and the data of the electric meter (S) are transmitted to the handheld terminal (6) by means of the control unit via the wireless data communication module.

Since generally the optical ports (O) of the electric meters (S) are designed using metal material, the said optical communication sensor (4) is attached to the optical port (O) by the help of a magnet (4.2). The said magnet (4.2) may be fixed to the inside or the front part of the main body of the optical communication sensor (4).

The energy sensor (5) shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b is a measurement unit which measures the energy during the test such as an electric meter (S) by taking the current and voltage information without disconnecting the electric meter (S). The energy sensor (5) can be started and stopped by means of an on/off button (5.3) provided on the energy sensor (5). The energy sensor (5) preferably includes a data input interface (5.1) preferably on the front face of the main body. The current information of the electric meter (S) is received by using clamp type current transformers, one end of which is connected to the cables connected to the electric meter (S) and the other end of which is connected to the data input interface (5.1); while the voltage information is received by the help of the voltage probes, one end of which is connected to the connector (K) points of the electric meters (S) and the other end of which is connected to the data input interface (5.1). The control unit in the main body, after performing the energy measurement calculation using the current and voltage information obtained by means of the said current transformers and voltage probes, transfers the calculated energy information to the handheld terminal (6) via the wireless data communication module.

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is also an RS-485 port on the energy sensor (5) and it is connected to the RS-485 output ports (P) of the electric meters (S) including RS-485 output port (P) by cable connection, thereby reaching the electric meter (S) records and information by means of the optical port (O) and this information can be transferred to the handheld terminal (6) by the control unit via the wireless data communication module.

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is a notification area (5.2) on the energy sensor (5), in which there are symbols illuminated by LEDs from behind symbolizing statuses such as on/off, battery, wireless connection, etc. Thus, the user is visually provided with notifications such as on/off status of the device, the status of the battery therein, whether or not wireless connection is established, etc.

The handheld terminal (6) shown in Figures 6a-6d is the unit wherein the meter measurement data received from the pulse sensor (3) and the actual measurement data obtained by means of the energy sensor (5) are received in a wireless manner and compared. The test is started and stopped using the keypad (6.2) on the handheld terminal (6), and the test results generated by the control unit are displayed on the display (6.1) of the handheld terminal (6). The handheld terminal (6) establishes a wireless connection with the concerned units and starts the test according to the commands received at the beginning of the test (e.g. is the electronic load (2) connected or not?).

In one embodiment of the invention, the wireless data communication module used for data communication between the handheld terminal (6) and the electronic load (2), the pulse sensor (3), the optical communication sensor (4) and the energy sensor (5) is preferably a Bluetooth module. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the wireless data communication module can be selected from the group comprising a WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) module, a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) module, a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) module, a 3G (3rd Generation) module, a 4G (4th Generation) module and similar modules.

In the test process, the pulse sensor (3), the optical communication sensor (4) and the energy sensor (5) transfer the results of their measurements upon establishing wireless communication with the handheld terminal (6). When sufficient energy is not drawn from the electric meter (S), an electronic load (2) is also connected to the output connectors (K) of the electric meter (S). At the end of the test, the control unit in the handheld terminal (6) compares the respective measurements and calculates the error rate of the electric meters (S) in terms of percentage (%) and displays this error rate on the display (6.1) of the handheld terminal (6). In addition, a detailed report of the tests performed in the background is also prepared by the control unit of the handheld terminal (6) by using the said measurement data and the meter information. This report includes various information such as the serial number of the meter on which the test is performed; the time when the test is performed; information about whether the serial number of the meter is faulty, whether the date and time of the meter are faulty, whether the system battery is empty, whether the maximum demand measurement interval is faulty, whether the body cover is opened previously, whether there is a deformation in the tariff information, whether the measurement circuit is faulty, whether the supply circuit is faulty; the status of the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display; and information about whether the physical status of the meter is faulty. Furthermore; the active power, reactive power, apparent power, pulse sensor measurement values and error rates measured during the load test are also shown.

In one embodiment of the invention, a charging input port (6.3) is provided on the underside of the main body of the handheld terminal (6), and the said handheld terminal (6) is fitted into a charging dock (7) wherein the battery in the main body can be charged.

In one embodiment of the invention, the batteries in the handheld terminal (6), the pulse sensor (3), the optical communication sensor (4) and the energy sensor (5) are rechargeable batteries, and these batteries can also be charged without being removed from the main bodies of the aforementioned components thanks to a charging input interface such as an adapter input, a USB input, etc. provided on the said components.

In one embodiment of the invention, the control units provided in the handheld terminal (6), the pulse sensor (3), the optical communication sensor (4) and the energy sensor (5) may be a processor such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, etc.