RFID SEAL FOR SMART ENERGY METERS
FIELD OF INVENTION
Embodiments of the present application illustrates a radio-frequency identification (RFID) seal that allows to perform real time detection of tamper due to breaking of seals by a consumer thereby reducing chances of tamper in field and avoiding losses to utility.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As known in the common art, energy meters are used to measure consumption of electricity at consumer premises. It's a common practice that the authorities associated with any utility seal the energy meters using a seal. These energy meters can only be seen via physical visit and it's hard to detect a tamper that might have been done by the consumer. As described herein, the focus here is on this important aspect of electricity theft which has been a matter of serious concern for the power companies.
The common solution is using the plastic-type seals to protect the energy meter against tampering. The purpose of the plastic-type seals is to guarantee the identity and integrity of the energy meter. However, the seals are easy to reach. Once the seals/sealing wire were broken, it is simple to tamper the energy meter. Therefore, there is a need to achieve more security of power meter, where we need to develop seals that are developed based on new methodologies, that are cost effective, innovative, secure, efficient, and flexible, where such seals guarantee the integrity of power meter and enhance the efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following presents a simplified summary of the subject matter in order to provide a basic understanding of some of the aspects of subject matter embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of the subject matter. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the embodiments or to delineate the scope of the subject matter. Its sole purpose to present some concepts of the subject matter in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In order to achieve an improved security of power meter as mentioned in the background section, a new class of electronic seals based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has been developed. The RFID seal is more cost effective than the smart power meter. Electricity theft has been a matter of serious concern for the power companies and so the RFID seal in this disclosure addresses the need for a cost effective, innovative, secure, efficient, and flexible seal that guarantees the integrity of power meter and enhance the efficiency. Each seal has one Printed Circuit Board (PCB) that has an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip and the Mild Steel (MS)/Stainless Steel (SS) wire of the seal act as antenna. If someone breaks the seal the IC detects the tamper and same can be read using reader device and tamper is detected. Also, in smart meters a user can put the reader IC and keep scanning the RFID seal after an interval of time, once there is tamper RFID reader then sends this information to Utility server using Radio Frequency (RF)/ Cellular technology which is used in smart meters. The RFID seal is more cost effective than the smart power meter. It can be applied to today's environment for achieving the purpose of tamperproof
In view of the above, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) seal disclosed here comprises a main body, a retainer, and an anchor. The main body comprises a PCB that is positioned near a downward portion of the main body and the retainer is designed to be inserted within the main body, wherein the retainer comprises a set of teeth. The anchor comprises a set of locks that are configured to be engaged with the teeth present in the retainer, where a tamper in the RFID seal is detected in the PCB due to the displacement between the retainer and the anchor, and the information regarding the tamper is transmitted to a Utility server.
In an embodiment, a first stage, the PCB is first inserted into the main body, which is followed by the retainer being inserted into the main body and in a second stage the anchor is inserted into the main body so that the set of locks of the anchor engage with the set of teeth of the retainer. In an embodiment, the PCB comprises an IC chip and a seal wire formed of one of mild steel and stainless steel, which functions as an antenna to transmit the information regarding the tamper. In an embodiment, the seal wire is inserted into the main body through a hole positioned on the main body, which passes through the PCB.

In an embodiment, the anchor is pushed so that the complete set of locks are locked into the set of teeth of the retainer, and the seal wire is inserted through an opposite end of the hole of the main body, which passes through a meter sealing hole, wherein the anchor is pushed against the seal wire that passes through from a lower section of the main body to an upper section of the main body along the hole on the main body and the meter sealing hole. In an embodiment, the information regarding the tamper is transmitted to the Utility server via one of Radio Frequency (RF) and Cellular technology.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The following drawings are illustrative of particular examples for enabling systems and methods of the present disclosure, are descriptive of some of the methods and mechanism, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description.
Figure 1 shows concept of the energy meter with the RFID seal, as an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figures 2A-2C show different components of the RFID seal, as an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figures 3A-3E show different stages of the assembly of the RFID seal, showing insertion of the anchor into the main body that contains the retainer positioned within.
Figure 4 shows a process flow diagram that is corresponding to the different stages of assembly of the RFID seal as illustrated in Figures 3A-3E.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may represent both hardware and software components of the system. Further, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present

disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Exemplary embodiments now will be described. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey its scope to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the particular exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.
It is to be noted, however, that the reference numerals used herein illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter, and are therefore, not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the subject matter may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
The specification may refer to "an", "one" or "some" embodiments) in several locations. This does not necessarily imply that each such reference is to the same embodiments), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.
As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "includes", "comprises", "including" and/or "comprising" when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. Furthermore, "connected" or "coupled" as used herein may include operatively connected or coupled. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of the associated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
Figure 1 shows concept of the energy meter with the RFID seal 100, as an embodiment of the present disclosure. The RFID seal 100 is more cost effective than the smart power meter. The RFID seal 100 in this disclosure addresses the need for a cost effective, innovative, secure, efficient, and flexible seal that guarantees the integrity of power meter and enhance the efficiency. Each RFID seal 100 comprises one PCB 102, as shown in Figure 3A, that has an IC chip and the MS/ SS wire 104 of the RFID seal 100, act as antenna. If someone breaks the RFID seal 100 or MS/SS seal wire 104 of the RFID seal 100, the IC detects the tamper and same is read using reader device and tamper is detected. Also, in smart meters a user puts the reader IC and keep scanning the RFID seal 100 after an interval of time. Once there is tamper, the RFID readerl06 sends this information to Utility server 108 using RF/ Cellular technology or the RF cellular module 110 which is used in smart meters. The RFID seal 100 is more cost effective than the smart power meter. The RFID seal 100 can be applied to today's environment for achieving the purpose of tamperproof
Figures 2A-2C show different components of the RFID seal 100, as an embodiment of the present disclosure. The components of the RFID seal 100 comprises a main body 202, a retainer 204, and an anchor 206. The anchor 206 comprises a set of locks 6-6,5-5, and 4-4 that are configured to be engaged with the teeth 1-1, 2-2, and 3-3 present in the retainer 204. The main body 202 comprises the PCB 102 that is positioned near a downward portion of the main body 202. In other words, the retainer 204 is designed to be inserted within the main body 202, where the retainer 204 comprises the set of teeth 1-1, 2-2, and 3-3. Here, a tamper caused because of any outside intervention in the RFID seal 100 is detected in the PCB 102 due to the displacement

between the retainer 204 and the anchor 206, and this information regarding the tamper is transmitted to the utility server 108 as shown in Figure 1.
Figures 3A -3E show different stages of assembly of the RFID seal 100, showing insertion of the anchor 206 into the main body 202 that contains the retainer 204 positioned within. In a first stage, the PCB 102 is first inserted into the main body 202, which is followed by the retainer 204 being inserted into the main body 202 and in a second stage the anchor 206 is inserted into the main body 202 so that the set of locks 6-6,5-5, and 4-4 of the anchor 206 engage with the set of teeth 1-1, 2-2, and 3-3 of the retainer 204. The PCB 102 comprises an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip and a seal wire 104, which is formed of either mild steel or stainless steel, which functions as an antenna to transmit the information regarding the tamper. The seal wire 104 is inserted into the main body 202 through a hole 11-11 positioned on the main body 202, which passes through the PCB 102. The information regarding the tamper is transmitted to the Utility server 108 via, for example, Radio Frequency (RF) and Cellular technology.
The anchor 206 is pushed so that the complete set of locks 6-6,5-5, and 4-4 are locked into the set of teeth 1-1, 2-2, and 3-3 of the retainer 204, and the seal wire 104 is inserted through an opposite end of the hole 11-11 of the main body 202, which passes through a meter sealing hole 10-10, wherein the anchor 206 is pushed against the seal wire 104 that passes through from a lower section 202a of the main body 202 to an upper section 202b of the main body 202 along the hole on the main body 202 and the meter sealing hole 10-10.
As shown in Figure 3A, the PCB 102 is first inserted into the main body 202 and then the retainer 204 is inserted into the main body 202. In the second stage the anchor 206 is inserted into the main body 202 so that the lock section 6-6 of the anchor engages with the retainer teeth 1-1. As shown in Figure 3B, the seal wire 104 is inserted into the main body 202 through the hole 11-11 that passes through the PCB 102. Now as shown in Figure 3C, the anchor 206 is pushed so that all the set of locks 6-6, 5-5, and 4-4 are locked into the set of teeth 1-1, 2-2, and 3-3 of the retainer 204. Now the seal wire 104 is inserted through the opposite end of the main body hole 10-10 that passes through the meter sealing hole 10-10. The anchor 206 is again pushed against the seal wire 104 that passes through the wire up to the next locking section 6-6

with 2-2 and 5-5 along with 1-1. The transition of the seal wire 104 from Figure 3D to 3E indicates that when a tamper occurs, the anchor 206 is displaced from the retainer 204, which causes the seal wire 104 to be disengaged from the main body 202 at an upper section.
Figure 4 shows a process flow diagram that is corresponding to the different stages of assembly of the RFID seal 100 as illustrated in Figures 3A -3E. In a first step, the PCB 102 is inserted 402 in the main body 202 and then the retainer 204 is inserted in main body 202. In a second step, the anchor 206 is inserted 404 into the main body 202 to engage anchor locks 6-6 with retainer teeth 1-1. In a third step, the seal wire 104 is inserted 406 into the main body 202 via hole 11-11 that passes passing through the PCB 102 hole. In a fourth step, the anchor 206 is pushed 408 against seal wire 104 passing through the wire up to next locks 6-6 with 2-2 and 5-5 with 1-1. In a fifth step, the seal wire 104 is inserted 410 via opposite end into main body hole 11-11 passing through meter sealing hole 10-10. In a sixth step, the anchor 206 is pushed 412 again so that all anchor locks 6-6,5-5, and 4-4 are locked with all the retainer teeth 1-1, 2-2, and 3-3.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore, contemplated that such modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as defined.

We Claim:
1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) seal comprising:
a main body that comprises a PCB that is positioned near a downward portion of the main body;
a retainer that is designed to be inserted within the main body, wherein the retainer comprises a set of teeth; and
an anchor that comprises a set of locks that are configured to be engaged with the teeth present in the retainer, wherein a tamper in the RFID seal is detected in the PCB due to the displacement between the retainer and the anchor, wherein the information regarding the tamper is transmitted to a Utility server.
2. The RFID seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in a first stage, the PCB is first inserted into the main body, which is followed by the retainer being inserted into the main body and in a second stage the anchor is inserted into the main body so that the set of locks of the anchor engage with the set of teeth of the retainer.
3. The RFID seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the PCB comprises an IC chip and a seal wire formed of one of mild steel and stainless steel, which functions as an antenna to transmit the information regarding the tamper.
4. The RFID seal as claimed in claim 3, wherein the seal wire is inserted into the main body through a hole positioned on the main body, which passes through the PCB.
5. The RFID seal as claimed in claim 4, wherein the anchor is pushed so that the complete set of locks are locked into the set of teeth of the retainer, and the seal wire is inserted through an opposite end of the hole of the main body, which passes through a meter sealing hole, wherein the anchor is pushed against the seal wire that passes through from a lower section of the main body to an upper section of the main body along the hole on the main body and the meter sealing hole.

6. The RFID seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information regarding the tamper is transmitted to the Utility server via one of Radio Frequency (RF) and Cellular technology.