POSITION-ENCODING DEVICE WITH FREQUENCY CODED OUTPUT SIGNALS

• US 3,609,754 A
• Filed: 03/17/1969
• Issued: 09/28/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard E. Riebs
• Original Assignee: Richard E. Riebs
• Inventors: Riebs, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilbur, Maynard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolensky, Michael K.
• Application Number:
  US04/807,560
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 340/347PR,357,147,150,151,177,27R,208 331/137
• US Class Current: 341/7
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/26 with weighted coding, i.e. the weight given to a digit depends on the position of the digit within the block or code word, e.g. there is a given radix and the weights are powers of this radix
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C

Abstract

This invention relates to a position encoder for use in an automatic remote meter-reading system including a pair of coded discs each having a plurality of groups of position-coding elements. A plurality of photocells are disposed between the discs and are arranged to be selectively energized from their opposite sides by individual-illuminating means associated with each disc. The presence or absence of illumination on each photocell is operative to modify the parameters of an oscillating circuit so that the circuit has a different frequency for each position of the coded discs.

Claims

1. A system for reading meters and the like comprising:

a disc connected to intermittently rotate to selected positions in response to selected amounts of movement of a meter, a coded track on the disc having transparent and opaque portions arrayed in a coded relationship and correlated to uniquely indicate each position of the disc, a sensing means for sensing the coded track comprising a group of photosensitive resistances spaced along and adjacent to the coded track on one side of the disc and a controllable light source on the other side of the disc, a control means for selectively activating the light source to thereby activate a selected group of photosensitive resistances, and an oscillator connected to be controlled by the photosensitive resistances to produce a different respective frequency in response to each different group of activated photosensitive resistances, to thereby indicate the position of the disc.

2. A system according to claim 1 also comprising a second disc similar to the first disc and connected to intermittently rotate to consecutivE positions in response to each complete revolution of the first disc and having a similar coded track with coded portions.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein said two discs rotate about the same axis and said light responsive elements are located between the discs.

4. A system according to claim 3 also comprising a second light source with said light sources each located and adjacent a different disc on the side of each disc opposite to the light responsive elements.

5. A system for reading meters comprising:

a member connected to intermittently move selected amounts in response to selected amounts of movement of a meter, a coded track on the member, a controllable light source adjacent the coded track, a group of light-responsive elements adjacent the coded track and responsive to the coded track and to the light source, a control means for activating the energy source to thereby activate selected elements determined by the response of said elements to the coded track, and an oscillator connected to be controlled by the elements to produce a different frequency in response to each respective different combination of activated elements to thereby indicate the position of the member.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein said member is a disc intermittently rotatable about an axis to consecutive positions in response to the movement of the meter.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said energy-responsive elements are light responsive and are selectively spaced along and adjacent to the coded track on one side of the disc and said energy source is a controllable light source on the other side of the disc.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said coded portions are transparent and opaque portions correlated to uniquely indicate each position of the disc.

9. A system according to claim 6 comprising a second disc similar to the first disc and connected to intermittently rotate to consecutive positions in response to each complete revolution of the first disc and having a coded track with coded portions.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein said energy source is a controllable light source and said energy-responsive elements are light-responsive elements.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein said coded portions are transparent and opaque portions correlated to uniquely indicate each position of the disc.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein said two discs rotate about the same axis and said light-responsive elements are located between the discs.

13. A system according to claim 12 also comprising a second light source with said light sources located one adjacent each disc on the side opposite to the light-responsive elements.