Robert P Mason

US Patent:

6393547, May 21, 2002

Filed:

Sep 14, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/152879

Inventors:

Robert Charles Mason - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

Square D Company - Palatine IL

International Classification:

G06F 300

US Classification:

712 39, 710 8

Abstract:

A circuit for efficiently time-sharing the output and input configuration of a microprocessor I/O pin. The circuit includes a microprocessor having at least one I/O pin which can be selectively reconfigured for either output or input functions, a pull-up resistor, a dropping resistor and an output device. The pull-up resistor, dropping resistor and output device each have a common electrical connection at a terminal connected to the selected I/O pin. The pull-up resistor also has a terminal connected to the regulated power supply (Vcc) of the circuit. An input device or configuration switch, which is selectable between a first state and a second state, has one terminal connected to the dropping resistor and a second terminal connected to a point of the circuit at ground potential. The selected I/O pin is normally configured as an output pin for controlling the output device. At one or more intervals, as determined by a software program, the selected I/O pin will be reconfigured for input and will read the status of the input device.

US Patent:

7176807, Feb 13, 2007

Filed:

Sep 24, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/948929

Inventors:

Sean M. Scoggins - Raleigh NC, US
Stuart Mills - Knightdale NC, US
Robert T. Mason - Raleigh NC, US
Andrew J. Borleske - Garner NC, US
Kathryn J. Smith - Raleigh NC, US
Dileep Rudran - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

Elster Electricity, LLC - Raleigh NC

International Classification:

G08C 15/06
G08B 23/00

US Classification:

34087002, 702 61

Abstract:

Methods and systems of enforcing a demand reset in a meter that communicates via a wireless network. When billing data is received by a server, it is accompanied by a demand reset counter. The counter is compared to a counter stored on the server. If they received counter is less than the server counter, it is determined that the meter missed a demand reset. The server then instructs the meter to perform a billing read and to perform a demand reset to ensure that accurate demand data is received by the server.

US Patent:

20040001532, Jan 1, 2004

Filed:

Jun 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/183936

Inventors:

Robert Mason - Raleigh NC, US
Rodney Hemminger - Raleigh NC, US
Eugene Hodges - Holly Springs NC, US
Brent Brian - Clayton NC, US

International Classification:

H04B001/713

US Classification:

375/136000

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a frequency hopping spread spectrum transceiver. The transceiver includes a microcontroller; a transmitter having a voltage controlled oscillator, a direct digital synthesizer, and a power amplifier; and a receiver having an amplifier, a mixer, an IF amplifier, a demodulator, and a data slicer. When transmitting, the transmitter sends a preamble that allows the receiving device to detect the signal and lock to it to receive the data. When receiving, the receiver first scans all channels and sorts them based on a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) and then attempts to lock to the channel with the strongest RSSI value by first sampling the received signal to verify the preamble, then synchronizing to the bit edges of the received signal, then detecting the start of a Start Frame Delimiter (SFD), decoding bits to verify a valid SFD and then sampling data bits to receive the data.

US Patent:

20040113810, Jun 17, 2004

Filed:

Jun 28, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/185074

Inventors:

Robert Mason - Raleigh NC, US
Eugene Hodges - Holly Springs NC, US
Kathryn Smith - Raleigh NC, US
Andrew Borleske - Raleigh NC, US

International Classification:

G08B023/00

US Classification:

340/870020, 709/200000

Abstract:

The invention includes an electronic utility meter, a data collector/meter and a method for communicating data in an automated meter reading system. The inventive method includes communicating data with a network and a first electronic utility meter, and communicating the data with the first electronic utility meter and one or more other meters.

US Patent:

20050237221, Oct 27, 2005

Filed:

Apr 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/832037

Inventors:

Brent Brian - Clayton NC, US
Andrew Borleske - Garner NC, US
Robert Mason - Raleigh NC, US

International Classification:

G08B023/00
G08C015/06

US Classification:

340870020

Abstract:

The system includes a number of first meters, which are typically battery powered transmit only devices. The system includes a number of two-way meters, which are operable to both transmit and receive data. The first meters transmit their data to the collector either directly or indirectly via the two-way meters, which serve as intermediaries. Multiple records from each first meter may be stored at each of the two-way meters, thereby ensuring that records from a one-way meter will not be blocked when an attempt is made to forward them to the collector. Furthermore, multiple records from each first meter may be stored at the collector, thereby enabling the transmission and storage of meter records in a number of different formats. Additionally, records from each first meter are marked to reflect a sequence in which they are generated, thereby ensuring that the collector will store the most recent data records available.

US Patent:

20050239414, Oct 27, 2005

Filed:

Apr 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/831903

Inventors:

Robert Mason - Raleigh NC, US
Andrew Borleske - Garner NC, US

International Classification:

H04Q007/00

US Classification:

455069000

Abstract:

A dynamic self-configuring system for collecting metering data comprises a collector meter. The collector meter scans for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the collector and registers such meters as level one meters. The collector transmits instructions to the level one meters to scan for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the level one meters. The collector registers meters that respond as level two meters. A qualification threshold used in the registration process is adjustable.

US Patent:

20060071812, Apr 6, 2006

Filed:

Sep 29, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/953847

Inventors:

Robert Mason - Raleigh NC, US
Eugene Hodges - Holly Springs NC, US
Kathryn Smith - Raleigh NC, US
Andrew Borleske - Raleigh NC, US

International Classification:

G08C 15/06
G08B 23/00

US Classification:

340870020

Abstract:

The invention includes an electronic utility meter, a data collector/meter and a method for communicating data in an automated meter reading system. The inventive method includes communicating data with a network and a first electronic utility meter, and communicating the data with the first electronic utility meter and one or more other meters.

US Patent:

20060217936, Sep 28, 2006

Filed:

Sep 27, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/236479

Inventors:

Robert Mason - Raleigh NC, US
Andrew Borleske - Garner NC, US
Kenneth Shuey - Zebulon NC, US

Assignee:

Elster Electricity LLC - Raleigh NC

International Classification:

G06F 11/00

US Classification:

702188000

Abstract:

A system for determining a service outages and restorations that includes an outage management server (OMS) that generates reports outages and restoration information for metering endpoints. The outages may be caused by faults at various locations in the distribution network. The metering endpoint may include a transmitter having a battery backup that transmits the outage information upon a failure to detect a voltage at the endpoint. The transmission of the information may be filtered based on configurable criteria. The metering endpoints may also inform the OMS when power is restored. Thus, a utility may better service its customers by focusing manpower efforts using the outage and restoration information generated by the OMS.