Power metering module

Abstract

A metering module for use in a power circuit monitoring system including a circuit monitor having a processor for processing data related to power signals, said metering module comprising at least one sensor for sensing a predetermined property of a power signal and for producing a corresponding sensor signal, and a modular metering circuit for producing data corresponding to said sensor signal for input into said circuit monitor, wherein said metering module is selectively detachable and replaceable relative to said circuit monitor to permit one or more of testing, calibration and repair of said metering module thereby minimizing any interruption in operation of said circuit monitor.

1. A power monitoring system comprising:
 a circuit monitor having a processor for processing data related to power signals; and  
 a metering module comprising: 
 a housing;  
 at least one sensor for sensing a predetermined property of a power signal and for producing a corresponding sensor signal; and  
 a modular metering circuit for producing data corresponding to said sensor signal for input into said circuit monitor;  
 
 wherein said metering module is separately housed, detachable and replaceable relative to said circuit monitor and directly opposing said circuit monitor to permit one or more of testing, calibration and repair of said metering module independently of said circuit monitor, wherein said metering module is responsive to control signals, and receives power from said circuit monitor.  
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein said modular metering circuit further includes at least one analog to digital converter for digitizing said sensor signal. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  wherein said modular metering circuit further comprises substantially all of a set of preconditioning circuitry for power signals, including substantially all components requiring calibration, in order to maintain accuracy of the metering module. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1  wherein said property of a power signal comprises one or more voltages. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1  wherein said property of a power signal comprises one or more currents. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 4  wherein said property of a power signal comprises one or more currents. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1  wherein said metering module is responsive to control signals, and receives power from said circuit monitor. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , said metering module and further including a non-volatile memory for storing one or both of calibration coefficients and analog-to-digital factors. 
     
     
       9. A metering module for use in a power circuit monitoring system including a circuit monitor having a processor for processing data related to power signals, said metering module comprising:
 at least one sensor for sensing a predetermined property of a power signal and for producing a corresponding sensor signal; and  
 a modular metering circuit for producing data corresponding to said sensor signal for input into said circuit monitor;  
 a fixed connector that directly connects to a corresponding connector of said circuit monitor, 
 wherein said metering module is separately housed, detachable and replaceable relative to said circuit monitor to permit one or more of testing, calibration and repair of said metering module independently of said circuit monitor, wherein said metering module is responsive to control signals and receives power from said circuit monitor via said fixed connector.  
 
     
     
       10. The system  metering module of  claim 9  wherein said modular metering circuit further includes at least one analog to digital converter for digitizing said sensor signal. 
     
     
       11. The system  metering module of  claim 9  wherein said modular metering circuit further comprises substantially all of a set of preconditioning circuitry for power signals, including substantially all components requiring calibration, in order to maintain accuracy of the metering module. 
     
     
       12. The system  metering module of  claim 9  wherein said property of a power signal comprises one or more voltages. 
     
     
       13. The system  metering module of  claim 9  wherein said property of a power signal comprises one or more currents. 
     
     
       14. The system  metering module of  claim 12  wherein said property of a power signal comprises one or more currents. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 9  wherein said metering module is responsive to control signals, and receives power from said circuit monitor. 
     
     
       16. The metering module of claim  8  and   9 , further including a non volatile memory for storing one or both of calibration coefficients and analog-to-digital factors. 
     
     
       17. A power monitoring method comprising:
 processing data related to power signals at a circuit monitor; and  
 in a metering module comprising:, sensing a predetermined property of a power signal and for producing a corresponding sensor signal; and 
 in said metering module, producing data corresponding to said sensor signal for input into said circuit monitor; and 
 separately housing, detaching and replacing said metering module relative to said circuit monitor to permit one or more of testing, calibration and repair of said metering module independently of said circuit monitor; and  
   connecting said metering module to said circuit monitor such that said metering module directly opposes said circuit monitor, wherein said control module provides control signals and power for said metering module.    
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  further including digitizing said sensor signal at said metering module. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17  wherein said predetermined property of a power signal comprises one or more voltages. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17  wherein said predetermined property of a power signal comprises one or more currents. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19  wherein said predetermined property of a power signal comprises one or more currents. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 17  wherein said control module providing control signals and power for said metering module. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 17  and further including storing one or both of calibration coefficients and analog-to-digital conversion factors in a non-volatile memory at said metering module. 
     
     
       24. A method of metering for use in a power circuit monitoring system including a circuit monitor having a processor for processing data related to power signals, said metering method comprising:
 sensing, in a metering module, a predetermined property of a power signal and for producing a corresponding sensor signal; and  
 in said metering module, producing data corresponding to said sensor signal for input into said circuit monitor; and 
 separately housing, detaching and replacing said metering module relative to said circuit monitor to permit one or more of testing, calibration and repair of said metering module independently of said circuit monitor, wherein said metering module further comprises a connector, said circuit monitor further including a complementary connector positioned to engage said connector when said metering module is connected to said circuit monitor via said connectors; and  
   receiving in said metering module one or both of control signals and power signals from said circuit monitor via said connectors.    
 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24  wherein said metering module circuit further includes an analog to digital converter for digitizing said sensor signal. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 24  wherein said predetermined property of a power signal comprises one or more voltages. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 24  wherein said predetermined property of a power signal comprises one or more currents. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 26  wherein said predetermined property of a power signal comprises one or more currents. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 25  wherein said metering module providing control signals and power for said metering module. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 24  and further including storing one or both of calibration coefficients and analog-to-digital conversion factors in a non-volatile memory at said metering module. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 24 , wherein said connecting includes connecting a fixed connector of said metering module to engage a corresponding connector of said circuit monitor. 
     
     
       32. The metering module of  claim 16 , wherein said non- volatile memory is an EEPROM.   
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 24 , further comprising directly connecting said metering module to power lines to be monitored by said power circuit monitoring system.