MEANS FOR ACTIVATING AND CONTROLLING A REMOTE METER READING SYSTEM

• US 3,609,691 A
• Filed: 03/08/1968
• Issued: 09/28/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Victor E. Stewart Jr
• Original Assignee: Victor E. Stewart Jr
• Inventors: Stewart, Victor E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Slobasky, Michael
• Application Number:
  US04/711,705
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 340/151,150
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C

Abstract

A system for the automatic remote reading of utility meters including a position encoder and transponder having a plurality of position coding means coupled to the meter being read and oscillator means for generating tones in accordance with the positions of the respective position coding means. A centrally located remote transponder exciter provides a voltage signal for energizing the transponder and for controlling circuit means in said transponder to thereby control the order of operation of the position coding means and oscillator means.

Claims

1. A data transmitting system comprising:

an exciting means for producing a control signal having a first level produced for a selected duration and a second level produced for a selected duration following the duration of the first level;

a transponder means connectable to receive and responsive to the control signal comprising a first information means for producing a first information output signal in response to the first level control signal, a second information means for producing a second information output signal in response to the second level control signal, and a reference means for producing a reference output signal in response to the first level control signal; and

a timing means for controlling the reference means and the first information means to effect operation of said reference means during a first selected portion of the duration of the first level control signal to thereby produce the reference output signal during said first selected portion and to operate the first information means during a second selected portion of the duration of said first level control signal to thereby produce the first information output signal during said second selected portion.

2. A data transmitting system according to claim 1 wherein said second selected portion follows said first selected portion of the control signal.

3. A data transmitting system comprising:

a first information register means;

a second information register means;

a first coding means for producing a first coded output indicating the state of the first information register means;

a second coding means for producing a second coded output indicating the state of the second information register means;

an exciting means for producing a control signal having a first level and a second level;

a transponder means connectable to be responsive to the control signal comprising a first information means responsive to the first coded output for proDucing a first information output signal indicative of the state of the first information means in response to the first level control signal, and a second information means responsive to the second coded output for producing a second information output signal indicative of the state of the second information register means in response to the second level control signal, and a reference means for producing a reference output signal in response to the first level control signal; and

a timing means for controlling the reference means and the first information means to operate said reference means during a selected portion of the first level control signal to thereby produce the reference output signal during said selected portion and to operate said first information means during at least part of the remaining portion of said first level control signal to thereby produce the first information output signal during said part of said remaining portion.

4. A data transmitting system according to claim 3 wherein the exciting means consecutively produces the first level control signal for a selected duration and the second level control signal for a selected duration.

5. A data transmitting system according to claim 4 wherein said second selected portion follows said first selected portion of the duration of the control signal.

6. A data transmitting system as defined in claim 3 also comprising transmitting means for transmitting the information output signals to a central location remote from said transponder means.

7. A data transmitting system as defined in claim 3 in which said first and second information register means are connected to respond to a utility meter.

8. A data transmitting system as defined in claim 6 in which said transmitting means comprises telephone lines, and said control signal comprises an electrical voltage signal and said levels are voltage levels applied to said telephone lines.

9. A data transmitting system as defined in claim 3 wherein said control signal is a voltage signal with said first level having one polarity and said second level having another polarity and said reference means is responsive to the one polarity to initiate production of the reference output signal;

said timing means is responsive to said one polarity to initiate after a time delay the first information signal indicative of the state of said first register means; and

said second information means is responsive to the other polarity to initiate production of the second information signal indicative of the state of said second register means.

10. A data transmitting system as defined in claim 3 in which said first and second information register means are connected to the register elements of a utility meter.

11. A data transmitting system as defined in claim 3 wherein said control signal is a voltage signal with said first level voltage signal having a positive polarity and said second level voltage signal having a negative polarity.

12. A data transmitting system comprising:

an exciting means for producing a control signal having a first level and a second level;

a transponder means connectable to receive and responsive to the control signal comprising a first information means for producing a first information output signal in response to the first level control signal, a second information means for producing a second information output signal in response to the second level control signal, a reference means for producing a reference output signal in response to the first level control signal; and

a timing means for controlling the reference means and the first information means to effect operation of said reference means during a first selected portion of the duration of the first level control signal to thereby produce the reference output signal during said first selected portion and to operate the first information means during a second selected portion of the duration of said first level control signal to thereby produce the first information output signal during said second selected portion.