Billing recorder with non-volatile solid state memory
First Claim
1. Data recording apparatus for providing a record of event measurement data from at least one data source comprising:
- input means for receiving data signals representing said event measurement data;
timing means for generating time reference signals representative of real time;
controller means for receiving said data signals from said input means and being responsive to said time reference signals for generating real time data signals defining time intervals and for generating data word signals representative of the quantity of data signals received during each time interval;
first memory means having a plurality of storage locations for storing said real time data signals and said data word signals associated with said intervals for each of a number of said intervals which comprise a collection period; and
second memory means comprising non-volatile, solid state memory means, which retains stored data in the absence of power to said second memory means and memory control circuit means responsive to said controller means for transferring said real time data signals and said data word signals accumulated in said first memory means to said non-volatile memory means at the end of a collection period for storing the same in predetermined relation.
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Abstract
A billing recorder for providing a record of customer usage of electricity has a controller which may include a microprocessor for receiving and processing pulses from an electric meter. Data from one or more input channels is temporarily stored in random access memory by the controller in data words representative of energy consumed in predetermined time ("demand") intervals. The accumulated measurement ("event") data and time reference data are transferred to a non-volatile, solid state memory at the end of relatively long collection periods which comprise a number of demand intervals. The solid state preferably is energized by the controller only during data transfers. The entire memory module is removable for processing at a central location, and it is replaced with a new one when it is removed. During memory replacement, which may occur at most times with minor exception, the processor prepares a special Removal Record and transfers that record to predetermined locations on the memory module being removed. The processor also prepares a special Insertion Record for the new module. The cumulative counts recorded on these special records as well as the normal records establish reliable data continuity. A field test enables testing of the meter, data inputs and processing circuitry in the field. Further, the identification data (I.D.) may be set on the recorder in the field after installation or replacement. Provisions are made for incorporating various options such as Daylight Savings Time, one or two input channels and operation on 50 or 60 Hz. line frequency.
243 Citations
53 Claims
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1. Data recording apparatus for providing a record of event measurement data from at least one data source comprising:
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input means for receiving data signals representing said event measurement data; timing means for generating time reference signals representative of real time; controller means for receiving said data signals from said input means and being responsive to said time reference signals for generating real time data signals defining time intervals and for generating data word signals representative of the quantity of data signals received during each time interval; first memory means having a plurality of storage locations for storing said real time data signals and said data word signals associated with said intervals for each of a number of said intervals which comprise a collection period; and second memory means comprising non-volatile, solid state memory means, which retains stored data in the absence of power to said second memory means and memory control circuit means responsive to said controller means for transferring said real time data signals and said data word signals accumulated in said first memory means to said non-volatile memory means at the end of a collection period for storing the same in predetermined relation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. Data recording apparatus for providing a record of event measurement data from a data source, comprising:
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input means for receiving serial data signals representing said event measurement data from said source; timing means for generating time reference signals representative of real time; data processing means responsive to said time reference signals for generating real time data signals indicating collection periods and for accumulating said input data signals during sequential collection periods of predetermined time and generating data words representative of said signals received during said collection periods; signal storage means including memory control circuit means and removable solid state memory means, said control circuit means being responsive to said data processing means for storing said data words and said real time data signals in said solid state memory means after each collection period in normal data records when a given collection period does not include the insertion or removal of said solid state memory means, and for storing partial records including an insertion data record following insertion of said solid state memory means into said apparatus, and a removal data record prior to removal of said solid state memory means from said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. Data recording apparatus for providing a record of event measurement data from a data soruce, comprising:
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input means for receiving serial data signals representing said event measurement data from said source; timing means for generating time reference signals representative of real time; signal processing means responsive to said time reference signals for generating first timing signals representative of collection periods of a first duration; said signal processing means further receiving said data signals from said input means and accumulating said data signals during each of said collection periods and generating data words representative of said signals received during said periods; first signal storage means under control of said signal processing means for temporarily storing said data words and associated first timing signals during a collection period; second signal storage means including solid state non-volatile memory means and memory control circuit means responsive to said signal processing means for transferring the data words and said first timing signals from said first signal storage means to said non-volatile memory means during access times after each collection period; and said processing means de-energizing said second signal storage means between said access times, and said second signal storage means retaining the data words stored therein when said second signal storage means is deenergized.
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35. Data recording apparatus for providing a record of event measurement data from a data source comprising:
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input means for receiving data signals from said source representing said event measurement data; controller means for receiving said data signals from said input means and for generating data words representative of the number of data signals received from said source during a given interval of tme; non-volatile solid state signal storage means for storing said data words; energizing means connected to a source of power for deriving power signals for selectively energizing said controller means and said signal storage means; said controller means including timing means for generating timing signals indicating writing intervals during which the data words processed by said controller means are stored in said signal storage means; and said energizing means including power switching means responsive to said controller means for energizing said signal storage means only during writing intervals, and in the absence of energizing signals, said non-volatile signal storage means retaining the data words stored therein.
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36. Data recording apparatus for providing a record of event measurement data from a data source comprising:
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input means for receiving serial data signals representing said event measurement data from said source; timing means for providing time reference signals; signal processing means responsive to said time reference signals for generating first timing signals representative of collection periods of a first duration, second timing signals representative of demand intervals synchronized with said first timing signals, each collection period including a plurality of said demand intervals, and calendar data words for identifying each collection period; said signal processing means further receiving said data signals from said input means and accumulating said data signals during each of said demand intervals of each collection period and generating a plurality of demand interval data words each representative of the number of data signals received during an associated demand interval; and signal storage means including non-volatile solid state memory means, which retains stored data in the absence of power to said memory means and memory control circuit means responsive to said signal processing means for storing said calendar data words in a predetermined location in said memory means and storing said demand interval data words serially after each collection period, said apparatus characterized in that memory locations for said data words are associated with a known demand interval. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 41)
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40. Data recording apparatus for providing a record of event measurement data from a plurality of data sources, comprising:
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input means for receiving serial data signals representing said event measurement data from said data sources over separate data channels; timing means for providing time reference signals; signal processing means responsive to said time reference signals for generating first timing signals representative of collection periods of a first duration, and second timing signals representative of demand intervals synchronized with said first timing signals, each collection period including a plurality of said demand intervals, and calendar data words representative of times identifying each collection period; said signal processing means further receiving said data signals from said input means and accumulating said data signals during each of said demand intervals and generating demand interval data words representative of the number of data signals received over one of said data channels during an associated demand interval; and storage means including non-volatile solid state memory means, which retains stored data in the absence of power to said memory means and memory control circuit means responsive to said signal processing means for storing said calendar data words in a predetermined location in said memory means and for storing said demand interval data words in association with said calendar data words after each collection period.
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42. In a data recorder for recording event measurement data signals from at least one data source, said data recorder having at least first and second input data channels, the improvement comprising controller means including a programmed data processor means for receiving said data signals over said first data channel and for generating data words representative of the quantity of data signals received in predetermined time intervals;
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solid state memory means; memory control circuit means for transferring said data word signals to said memory means for storing the same; selection means for generating an external signal representative of a first option desired by a user whereby said data recorder is enabled to receive event measurement data signals from a further data source over said second data channel; said data processor means being responsive to said external selection signal for implementing the selected user option under program control. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. Data recording apparatus for providing a record of event measurement data from a data source, comprising:
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input means for receiving serial data signals representing said event measurement data from said source; timing means for generating time reference signals representative of real time; data processing means receiving said data signals from said input means and being responsive to said time reference signals for accumulating said input data signals during sequential collection periods of predetermined time and generating event data words representative of the quantity of said data signals received during said collection periods, and calendar data words identifying each collection period; and signal storage means including memory control circuit means and a plurality of removable solid state memory means each adapted to be associated with said data processing means for storing said event and calendar data words for a plurality of collection periods comprising a billing period, said memory means adapted to be removed from said apparatus after a billing period for processing of said recorded data; said data processing means storing said event and calendar data words in said solid state memory means after each collection period in Normal Data Records when a given collection period does not include the insertion or removal of said memory means, each Normal Data Record being associated with a known calendar time period and including recorded data representative of a running total count of measured events up to the end of the collection period with which the Normal Data Record is associated. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification