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Intelligent electric utility meter

  • US 4,240,030 A
  • Filed: 12/14/1978
  • Issued: 12/16/1980
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1978
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An improved electric utility meter unit of the type having a meter housing, means for connecting the unit to external power lines, means for connecting the power from the lines to the structure to which the meter unit is associated, and electromechanical measuring means for determining the quantity of electricity passing into the structure, wherein the improvement comprises:

  • receptacle means, including a slot in said unit, for receiving a thin rectangular card, such as a credit card, having encodable medium included in its structure;

    circuit means included in said unit for monitoring and regulating the electricity supplied to said structure;

    transducer means for interchanging digital information between said card medium and said circuit means;

    interface means, adapted to work in conjunction with said electromechanical measuring means, for converting the resulting quantity of electricity to a form usable by said circuit means and for transferring said converted quantity to said circuit means; and

    indicator means, controlled by said circuit means, for numerically displaying an indication of the quantity of electricity passing to said structure in a time interval determined upon said insertion of said card.

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