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Automatic remote meter reading and control system

  • US 4,135,181 A
  • Filed: 01/30/1976
  • Issued: 01/16/1979
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1976
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A remote automatic utility meter reading system for reading the measurement of a commodity over a power line comprising;

  • (a) a control center for transmitting commands of first and second types and receiving measurement data, each of said commands having first and second address portions and a function code portion;

    (b) a control unit interconnecting said control center with a power line for transferring said commands and measurement data between said control center and said power line, said control unit including,(1) address recognition means responsive to the contents of the first address portion of said commands to effect the transfer of those commands to said power line which contain an address recognized by said address recognition means, and(2) means responsive to the contents of the function code portion of a command of said second type to enable said control unit to transfer said measurement data from said power line to said control center; and

    (c) a plurality of addressable transponder units connected to said power line, each simultaneously responsive to commands provided thereto from said control unit, each of said transponder units including,(1) a meter including an encoder, said encoder generating data signals representative of a commodity reading measured by said meter,(2) a plurality of function code identifiable storage means, and(3) decode means responsive to the commands transmitted by said control center to effect the simultaneous carrying out of functions in each of said transponder units as specified by the function code portion of said commands when said decode means recognizes the address of said control unit as specified by the contents of the first address portion and further recognizes an address assigned to said transponder units as specified by the contents of the second address portion of said commands, said decode means, in response to a command of said first type, selectively effecting the storage of data signals from said encoder, as said measurement data, into an identified one of said storage means of each transponder unit as specified by the contents of the function code portion of the command of said first type, and in response to the contents of the function code portion of a command of said second type, simultaneously effecting the transfer of the measurement data from a one of the storage means in each transponder unit as identified by the function code portion of the command of said second type, the measurement data being simultaneously transferred to said control center via said control unit.

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