Apparatus for communicating utility usage related information from a utility usage location to a portable utility usage registering device
First Claim
1. Apparatus for communicating information relating to utility usage at a utility usage location to a portable utility usage registering device, comprising means for, when enabled, providing an electrical signal indicative of utility usage, an inductive coil adapted to receive said electrical signal indicative of utility usage for providing a localized magnetic field which changes in accordance therewith, whereby a portable magnetic field detector associated with said portable utility usage registering device may be disposed within said field so as to detect said magnetic field and thus receive information relating to utility usage, and means for enabling said electrical signal providing means in response to a signal induced in said inductive coil by said portable utility usage registering device.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus are disclosed for communicating utility usage information from a utility usage location to a portable utility usage registering device (22). A utility usage detection circuit (10) is provided at the utility usage location. The circuit is connectable to a conventional utility meter (12), e.g., a natural gas meter, and provides an electrical signal indicative of utility usage. This signal is applied across a first inductive coil (23), which is mounted at the utility usage location such that the resulting magnetic field is accessible. A matching coil (36) is associated with the portable utility usage registering device and is housed such that it may be positioned within the magnetic field produced by the first inductive coil. When thus positioned the electrical signal produced by the circuit (10) is induced in the matching coil as a result of mutual inductance between the two coils. The electrical signal is thus communicated to the portable utility usage registering device without utilizing conventional electrical connectors, which are susceptible to corrosion, dirt contamination, etc.
74 Citations
19 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for communicating information relating to utility usage at a utility usage location to a portable utility usage registering device, comprising means for, when enabled, providing an electrical signal indicative of utility usage, an inductive coil adapted to receive said electrical signal indicative of utility usage for providing a localized magnetic field which changes in accordance therewith, whereby a portable magnetic field detector associated with said portable utility usage registering device may be disposed within said field so as to detect said magnetic field and thus receive information relating to utility usage, and means for enabling said electrical signal providing means in response to a signal induced in said inductive coil by said portable utility usage registering device.
- 12. Apparatus for communicating utility usage information to a portable utility usage registering device from a utility usage location, comprising an inductive coil adapted to be coupled to said portable utility usage registering device for providing thereto signals induced across said coil by externally applied magnetic fields, whereby said utility usage information may be communicated to said portable utility usage device by generating a magnetic field which changes in accordance with said information and disposing said inductive coil in said magnetic field, and further comprising means for applying a signal across said coil such that said coil generates its own magnetic field for notifying apparatus at said utility usage location that said portable utility usage registering device is prepared to receive said information.
- 15. Apparatus for communicating information relating to utility usage from a utility usage location to a portable utility usage registering device, comprising first means adapted to be installed at said utility usage location for generating a localized magnetic field which changes in a manner representative of utility usage information, and second means adapted to be coupled to and carried about with said portable utility usage registering device for being disposed within and detecting changes in said localized magnetic field generated by said first means, said second means thus detecting said utility usage information.
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19. Apparatus for determining utility usage at a utility usage location, and for electrically communicating a related utility usage signal to a portable utility usage recording device carried from one utility usage location to another, comprising:
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counter means responsive to utility usage for accumulating a count representative of total utility usage, triggerable modulator means for, when triggered, modulating a carrier signal in accordance with said count, coil means mountable in a readily accessible location and coupled to said modulator means for receiving said modulated carrier therefrom, said coil means providing a magnetic field which varies in accordance with said modulated carrier, said magnetic field being accessible such that a portable magnetic field responsive means associated with said portable utility usage recording device can be disposed within said magnetic field so as to receive said modulated carrier therefrom, and receiver means responsive to signals magnetically induced in said coil means by said portable utility usage recording device for triggering said modulator means in response thereto.
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Specification