Optical encoder
First Claim
1. Encoding apparatus secured to and for use with a utility meter having at least one dial register carried on a shaft and arranged to be responsive to registering of energy consumption, said apparatus comprisingclock means,at least one modular assmebly having at least one dial register axially corresponding and operably coupled to the dial register of the utility meter and having a slotted wheel for movement with the dial register of the modular assembly,radiation source means and means for sensing the radiation source means,means operably associated with the modular assembly for interrupting beams of radiation from said radiation source means,means responsive to detection by the radiation sensing means of interruption of the beams of radiation for outputting signals, andprogrammable means including a serial communications link enabling at least one of a plurality of metering functions to be performed at times set by said clock means for converting the output signals into code form for transmission thereof to a facility remote from the utility meter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical encoder is retrofitted on an existing electric kilowatt utility meter for providing a host of data collection and processing functions performed at the meter site. The encoder permits local observation of the meter dials, and enables remote reading of the dials by use of microprocessor control circuitry as well as providing remote programming of encoder inputs and outputs, demand metering, and period metering. The outputs of successive decades of a polydecade meter are read into the microprocessor and the output data is transmitted via a serial communications link to the remote facility.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. Encoding apparatus secured to and for use with a utility meter having at least one dial register carried on a shaft and arranged to be responsive to registering of energy consumption, said apparatus comprising
clock means, at least one modular assmebly having at least one dial register axially corresponding and operably coupled to the dial register of the utility meter and having a slotted wheel for movement with the dial register of the modular assembly, radiation source means and means for sensing the radiation source means, means operably associated with the modular assembly for interrupting beams of radiation from said radiation source means, means responsive to detection by the radiation sensing means of interruption of the beams of radiation for outputting signals, and programmable means including a serial communications link enabling at least one of a plurality of metering functions to be performed at times set by said clock means for converting the output signals into code form for transmission thereof to a facility remote from the utility meter.
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7. An optical encoder for fitting on the face of and secured to a utility meter having a plurality of dial registers carried on respective shafts and angularly displaceable in a denominational manner and operable for recording the consumption of energy, said encoder comprising
clock means, a printed circuit board carrying a microprocessor and integrated circuits operable therewith, a plurality of module assemblies having light source means and light sensor means, and rotational means comprising a plurality of dial registers axially aligned and operably associated with the utility meter dial registers, said module assemblies including slotted and apertured rotational members connected with the dial registers of the rotational means for interrupting beams of light from the light source means, means responsive to the detection by the sensor means of interruption of the beams of light for translating the readings of the registers into digitally encoded signals, and programmable means including a serial communications line enabling a plurality of metering functions to be performed as timed by said clock means and for addressing one of a plurality of commands directed to said microprocessor for transmission of the encoded signals to a remote facility.
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13. An optical encoder adapted to be retrofit on and secured to a utility meter having a plurality of dial registers carried on respective shafts and angularly movab1e in a denominational manner and responsive to measure consumption of energy, said optical encoder comprising an
interval clock, a printed circuit board carrying a microcomputer and integrated circuit devices operable therewith, a plurality of readout modules having a plurality of dial registers carried on respective shafts and axially aligned in keyed manner and operably coupled to respective dial registers of the utility meter and having light source means and light sensing means in spaced relationship, each of said readout modules including a wheel defining circular oriented slots therein permitting passage of light from said light source means to said light sensing means and including mask means defining apertures therein positioned to interrupt beams of light from the light source means, the rotation of the wheel and mask means providing sequential transmission and interruption of the beams of light, means responsive to the transmission and interruption of the gemas of light for outputting signals indicating rotational movement of the readout module dial registers and of the wheel and the mask means, and means including a serial communications link enabling a plurality of metering functions to be performed as timed by said internal clock and responsive to command signals directed to said microcomputer for converting the output signals into binary code for transmission thereof to a remote facility.
Specification