Encoder-type register for an automatic water meter reader
First Claim
1. A combination comprising:
- a meter having a rotatable sweep hand which rotates in response to a material moving relative to the meter; and
a register having at least one sensor fixedly positioned in the path of said rotatable sweep hand and adapted to generate an output signal each time said sweep hand rotates past said sensor, said register also having means to receive the output signal generated by said sensor for providing an indication of the material moving relative to said meter depending upon the number of rotations of said sweep hand past said sensor and the corresponding signals generated by said sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An encoder-type register for an automatic meter reader to be interfaced with a visual read-only register of the kind found in a water meter that measures water consumption. The water meter register has a rotatable sweep hand that carries a magnet and rotates around a register plate in relation to the speed and volume of water moving through the water meter. A plurality of (e.g., three) magnetic (e.g., Hall effect) sensors are fixedly positioned one-after-another in the path of the magnet carried by the rotating sweep hand. The magnetic sensors measure the magnetic field produced by the rotating magnet and generate corresponding output signals. A microprocessor receives the output signals generated by the magnetic sensors whenever the magnet rotates therepast. The microprocessor stores information concerning the number of rotations of the magnet carried by the sweep hand depending upon the direction in which the magnet is being rotated as an indication of water consumption. The microprocessor provides the stored information to a meter interface unit connected to a set of output terminals of the encoder register so that such information can be transmitted from the meter interface unit to a remote data collector over a wireless communication path.
39 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A combination comprising:
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a meter having a rotatable sweep hand which rotates in response to a material moving relative to the meter; and a register having at least one sensor fixedly positioned in the path of said rotatable sweep hand and adapted to generate an output signal each time said sweep hand rotates past said sensor, said register also having means to receive the output signal generated by said sensor for providing an indication of the material moving relative to said meter depending upon the number of rotations of said sweep hand past said sensor and the corresponding signals generated by said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A combination comprising:
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a meter to take a measurement and having a rotatable sweep hand which rotates in response to the measurement taken by said meter, said sweep hand generating a magnetic field as it rotates; and a register having a plurality of magnetic sensors fixedly positioned one-after-another in the path of said rotatable sweep hand and adapted to measure the magnetic field generated by said sweep hand, said plurality of magnetic sensors providing output signals in response to a rotation of said sweep hand therepast whenever the magnitude of the magnetic field generated by said sweep hand and measured by said plurality of magnetic sensors is greater than a predetermined magnitude. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification