Tamper/power failure discrimination method and apparatus

摘要

An electrical utility meter includes a source of energy consumption measurement signals, a removable housing, a measurement circuit, and a tamper protection circuit. The removable housing has an installed position and an uninstalled position. The removable housing further has a power input for receiving electrical power from a power line when in the installed position. The measurement circuit is secured to the housing and is coupled to the source of energy consumption measurement signals to receive energy consumption measurement signals therefrom when the housing is in the installed position. The measurement circuit is configured to generate metering information based at least in part on said measurement signals. The tamper detection circuit is secured to the housing and is operable to detect an interruption of the electrical power to the housing input and determine whether the housing is in the uninstalled position when an interruption of the electrical power to the housing input is detected. <IMAGE>