DATA ACCUMULATION AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR USE BETWEEN REMOTE LOCATIONS AND A CENTRAL LOCATION

• US 3,731,277 A
• Filed: 06/24/1970
• Issued: 05/01/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chevron Research Company (Chevron Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Ronald L. Krutz, Thomas J. Villella
• Inventors: Krutz, Ronald L., Villella, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US05/049,235
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 340/151R,163R,147R,147LP
• US Class Current: 340/870.03
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/228 using digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C

Abstract

A data accumulation and transmission system wherein a plurality of independent data generators are sequentially triggered in such a manner that the rate of speed of the triggering pulse is much greater than the rate of speed of data production. Double counting is prevented by utilizing the trailing edge of each data pulse to reset the device which the triggering pulse sets. The data is communicated, for example, across a telephonic connection in a highly reliable manner by utilizing a clock to drive the data out of a shift register and to simultaneously gate-in the clock pulses with the data at the sending telephone.

Claims

1. A method for accumulating data pulses produced by a plurality of data pulse generators, wherein each data pulse generator is capable of producing a stream of data pulses independently of all of the other data pulse generators of said plurality, comprising the steps of supplying each data pulse of each stream of data pulse from each data pulse generator to a separate data pulse passing means, sequentially supplying a triggering pulse to each of the data pulse passing means at a frequency greater than the maximum frequency of data pulse generation by each of said data pulse generators, causing each data pulse passing means to produce an output when said data pulse passing means simultaneously senses a data pulse and a triggering pulse on its input side, and causing said data pulse passing means to be insensitive to additional triggering pulses to produce an additional output after it has so simultaneously sensed a data pulse and a triggering pulse until after said data pulse passing means has sensed the falling edge of said last mentioned data pulse, thereafter causing said data pulse passing means to be ready to produce another output upon the simultaneous presence of another data pulse and another triggering pulse at its input side after it has sensed said falling edge of said last mentioned data pulse, whereby said data pulse passing means produces only one output for each data pulse regardless of any additional triggering pulse supplied to said data pulse passing means while each data pulse is present at the input side of said data pulse passing means.

2. The method of claim 1, and filtering each data pulse from a data pulse generator before it is passed to its associated data pulse passing means.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said triggering pulses are produced by decimal counting means, and said sequential operation is achieved by directing triggering pulses from successive decimal numeral locations on said counting means to each of said data pulse passing means sequentially.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said data pulse generators comprising a plurality of retail gasoline dispensing pumps, and each of said pumps includes transducer means for transforming the flow of gasoline therethrough into said steam of data pulses.

5. The method of claim 1, each of said data pulse passing means comprising a bistable multivibrator.

6. A method of communicating a data count from a first location across communication means having at least two channels to a second location, comprising the steps of causing the data count to be present on a shift register at said first location, producing a continuous stream of control pulses at a predetermined frequency, and simultaneously supplying said stream of control pulses to said shift register and to the portion of said communication means at said first location to simultaneously transmit each data bit from said shift register across one of said at least two channels of said communication means together with a control pulse across another of said at least two channels of said communication means to said second location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein aid communication means comprises a telephonic connection between said first and second locations, wherein each data bit is simultaneously transmitted across said communication means together with a control pulse by causing each control pulse by itself to activate the coil of a first relay of a pair of relays, and to simultaneously activate the coil of the second of said pair of relays only if a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'high'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' data bit from said shift register is also present at the input of the coil of said second relay.

8. The method of claim 6, additionally comprising the step of supplying a number on said shift register in addition to the data count thereon to identify said first location to said second location.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said data count is made up of the data counts on a plurality of independent data counters, and wherein said shift register is large enough to simultaneously follow the data counts on all of said plurality of data counters, whereby the data is supplied to said shift register from said counters independently and in parallel and is moved out of said shift register all together and sequentially.

10. A circuit for accumulating data pulses produced by a plurality of data pulse generators, each of said data pulse generators being operable to produce a stream of data pulses independently of all of the other data pulse generators of said plurality, said circuit comprising a data pulse passing means connected to each of said data pulse generators, said circuit comprising timing means which includes clock means for producing a continuous stream of timing pulses at a predetermined frequency, said timing means comprising triggering means driven by said timing pulses for sequentially directing a triggering pulse to each of said data pulse passing means, wherein said predetermined frequency of timing pulse production by said clock means divided by the number of said data pulse generators is greater than the maximum frequency of data pulse generation by each of said data pulse generators;

each of said data pulse passing means being of such a nature that it produces an output upon simultaneously sensing a data pulse and a triggering pulse on its input side, that is is insensitive to additional triggering pulses to produce additional outputs after it has so simultaneously sensed a data pulse and a triggering pulse until after it has sensed the falling edge of said last mentioned data pulse, and that it will be rendered ready to produce another output after it has so sensed the falling edge of said last mentioned data pulse and upon the simultaneous presence thereafter of another data pulse and another triggering pulse;

whereby, said data pulse passing means produces only one output for each data pulse regardless of any additional triggering pulse supplied to said data pulse passing means while each data pulse is present at the input side of said data pulse passing means, and said circuit further comprising means for counting all of the data pulses passing all of said data pulse passing means.

11. The method of claim 10, said clock means including means to produce said timing pulses at different predetermined frequencies.

12. The combination of claim 10, said circuit, with the exclusion of said data pulse generators, comprising solely solid-state electronic components.

13. The combination of claim 10, said data pulse generators comprising a plurality of retail gasoline dispensing pumps, and each of said pumps including transducer means for transforming the flow of gasoline therethrough into said stream of data pulses.

14. The combination of claim 10, each of said data pulse passing means comprising a bistable multivibrator.

15. The combination of claim 14, said circuit comprising a filter interposed between each of said data pulse generators and its associated bistable multivibrator.

16. The combination of claim 10, said triggering means comprising decimal counter means for counting the timing pulses produced by said clock means, said decimal counter sequentially operating each of said data pulses passing means by directing triggering pulses from successive decimal numeral locations thereon to each of said data pulse passing means sequentially.

17. The combination of claim 16, said decimal counter means comprising a BCD counter having its input side connected to said clock means and a one-of-ten decoder having its input side connected to the output side of said BCD counter.

18. The combination of claim 10, data pulse counting means including data pulse conditioning means which comprises a oneshot multivibrator.

19. The combination of claim 10, said data pulse Counting means including data pulse accumulating means which comprises an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'or'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gate having its input side operatively cooperable with the outputs of all of the data pulse passing means.

20. The combination of claim 10, said data pulse counting means comprising a multi-stage BCD counter operatively cooperable with the output sides of all of said data pulse passing means.

21. The combination of claim 10, said data pulse counting means comprising a one-shot multivibrator connected to the output of each of said data pulse passing means, an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'or'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gate having its input connected to the outputs of all of said one-shot multivibrators, and a multi-stage BCD counter connected to the output of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'or'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gate.

22. A system for communicating a data count present on a shift register at a first location across communication means having at least two channels to data receiving means at a second location which is remote from the first location, switch means at said second location for transmitting a transmit command from said second location to said first location across said communication means, clock means at said first location for producing a continuous stream of control pulses at a predetermined frequency, and said first location comprising circuit means for simultaneously supplying said control pulses to both said shift register and said communication means and for interconnecting said shift register and said communication means to simultaneously transmit each bit of data in said shift register across one channel of said communication means and one control pulse across another channel of said communication means to said second location.

23. The combination of claim 22, said circuit means comprising an array of a pair of relays and an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'and'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gate associated with the coil of each of said relays, each of said relays comprising a pair of normally open contacts connected to said communication means in such a manner that closing of said contacts causes a pulse to be transmitted across a separate channel of said communication means, each of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'and'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gates having a pair of inputs, one of the inputs of each of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'and'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gates comprising said continuous stream of control pulses, the second input of one of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'and'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gates comprising a steady signal, the other of said inputs of the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'and'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gates comprising the output of said shift register, circuit means interconnecting the output of each of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'and'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gates with the coil of a respective one of said relays in such a manner as to close the contacts of each of said relays when each of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'and'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gates produces an output pulse, whereby one of said channels of said communication means will transmit one pulse for each control pulse and the other of said channels will simultaneously transmit a pulse only when a high data bit pulse is present at the output of said shift register, and whereby said stream of control pulses also controls the progression of the data bits in said shift register corresponding to the data count on said shift register out of said shift register.

24. The combination of claim 22, said communication means comprising a telephonic connection between said first and second locations.

25. The combination of claim 22, and said shift register further comprising manually controllable means for permitting creation of an additional number on said shift register in addition to the numbers corresponding to said data count, whereby said additional number may be used for purposes of identifying said first location to said second location.

26. The combination of claim 22, said data receiving means comprising a second shift register and means to display the data count received thereon from said first location.

27. The combination of claim 26, said data receiving means further comprising a computer, and means interconnecting said computer and said switch means for causing automatic operation of said switch means.

28. The combination of claim 22, Wherein said data count is made up of the data counts on a plurality of independent data counters, and wherein said shift register is large enough to simultaneously follow the data counts on all of said plurality of data counters, whereby the data is supplied to said shift register from said counters independently and in parallel and is moved out of said shift register all together and sequentially.

29. A system for accumulating data pulses produced by a plurality of data generators and for communicating the accumulated data count from a first location across communication means to a second location remote from said first location, each of said data pulse generators being operable to produce a stream of data pulses independently of all of the other data pulse generators of said plurality, a data pulse passing means connected to each of said data pulse generators, timing means including clock means for producing a continuous stream of timing pulses at a predetermined frequency, said timing means comprising triggering means for sequentially directing a triggering pulse to each of said data pulse passing means, wherein said predetermined frequency of timing pulse production by said clock means divided by the number of said data pulse generators is greater than the maximum frequency of data pulse generation by each of said data pulse generators, each of said data pulse passing means being of such a nature that it is rendered operative to pass a data pulse from its associated data pulse generator therethrough and onto subsequent portions of the system upon receipt of a triggering pulse and of such a nature that is rendered inoperative to so pass a data pulse upon passage therethrough of a selected portion of each data pulse, circuit means for directing all of the data pulses passing all of said data pulse passing means to a shift register to thereby create a data count on said shift register, said shift register being located at said first location, data receiving means at said second location, switch means at said second location for transmitting a transmit command from said second location to said first location across said communication means, said first location comprising said circuit means for supplying said continuous stream of timing pulses to both said shift register and said communication means simultaneously and for interconnecting said shift register and said communication means, whereby said communication means simultaneously transmits each data bit in said shift register together with one timing pulse to said second location.

30. The combination of claim 29, frequency divider means at said first location for changing the predetermined frequency of the timing pulses supplied to said shift register and said communication means, whereby the timing of the data accumulation may be different from the timing of the data transmission.

31. The combination of claim 29, said data pulse generators comprising a plurality of retail gasoline dispensing pumps, and each of said pumps including transducer means for transforming the flow of gasoline therethrough into said stream of data pulses.

32. The combination of claim 29, each of said data pulse passing means comprising a bistable multivibrator.

33. The combination of claim 32, said circuit comprising a filter interposed between each of said data pulse generators and its associated bistable multivibrator.

34. The combination of claim 29, said triggering means comprising decimal counter means for counting the timing pulses produced by said clock means, said decimal counter sequentially operating each of said data pulses passing means by directing triggering pulses from successive decimal numeral locations thereon to each of said data pulse passing means sequentially.

35. The combination of claim 29, and data pulse counting means, said data pulse counting means comprising a one-shot multivibrator connected to the output of each of said data pulse passing means, an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'or'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gate having its input connected to the ouTputs of all of said one-shot multivibrators, and a multi-stage BCD counter connected to the output of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'or'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gate.

36. The combination of claim 29, said circuit means comprising an array of a pair of relays and an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'and'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gate associated with the coil of each of said relays, each of said relays comprising a pair of normally open contacts connected to said communication means in such a manner that closing of said contacts causes a pulse to be transmitted across a separate channel of said communication means, each of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'and'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gates having a pair of inputs, one of the inputs of each of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'and'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gates comprising said continuous stream of control pulses, the second input of one of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'and'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gates comprising a steady signal, the other of said inputs of the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'and'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gates comprising the output of said shift register, circuit means interconnecting the output of each of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'and'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gates with the coil of a respective one of said relays in such a manner as to close the contacts of each of said relays when each of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'and'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' gates produces an output pulse, whereby one of said channels of said communication means will transmit one pulse for each control pulse and the other of said channels will simultaneously transmit a pulse only when a high data bit pulse is present at the output of said shift register, and whereby said stream of control pulses also controls the progression of the data bits in said shift register corresponding to the data count on said shift register out of said shift register.

37. The combination of claim 29, said communication means comprising a telephonic connection between said first and second locations.

38. The combination of claim 29, and said shift register further comprising manually controllable means for permitting creation of an additional number on said shift register in addition to the numbers corresponding to said data count, whereby said additional number may be used for purposes of identifying said first location to said second location.

39. The combination of claim 29, said data receiving means comprising a second shift register and means to display the data count received thereon from said first location.

40. The combination of claim 39, said data receiving means further comprising a computer, and means interconnecting said computer and said switch means for causing automatic operation of said switch means.

41. The combination of claim 29, said plurality of data pulse generators consisting of a plurality of groups of data pulse generators, said circuit including a separate and independent data counter for each group of data pulse generators, wherein said data count is made up of the data counts of said plurality of independent data counters, and wherein said shift register is large enough to simultaneously follow the data counts on all of said plurality of data counters, whereby the data is supplied to said shift register from said counters independently and in parallel and is moved out of said shift register all together and sequentially.