Remote meter reading system
First Claim
1. A remote meter reading system for reading meters over unconventional lines such as telephone lines or the like comprising:
- digital pulse generating means for generating a digital pulse representing incremental movements of said meter;
connecting means connecting such digital pulse generating means to said meter;
counting means for counting the pulses from said digital pulse generating means;
storage means for storing the counts from said counting means;
scanning means for scanning said storage means and converting said counts stored in said storage means to digital information for transmission over said phone lines;
logic detection means for detecting the logic state of the output from said storage means;
tone generating means connected to said logic detecting means;
said tone generating means generating a plurality of tones in a predetermined frequency range representing logic zero or logic one;
whereby usage recorded by a utility meter may be remotely read.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for remote reading of meters such as utility meters comprised of an encoder for generating and storing pulses which can be interrogated as needed to determine usage or for load information. The encoder is comprised of a pulse generator connected to the meter for generating a pulse for each incremental movement of the meter which is then converted to binary coded digital data and stored. A two tone oscillator is provided for reading the stored data over telephone lines. An inhibit circuit inhibits the outputs of the two tone oscillators when the phone line is in use or when there are disturbances on the line.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A remote meter reading system for reading meters over unconventional lines such as telephone lines or the like comprising:
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digital pulse generating means for generating a digital pulse representing incremental movements of said meter; connecting means connecting such digital pulse generating means to said meter; counting means for counting the pulses from said digital pulse generating means; storage means for storing the counts from said counting means; scanning means for scanning said storage means and converting said counts stored in said storage means to digital information for transmission over said phone lines; logic detection means for detecting the logic state of the output from said storage means; tone generating means connected to said logic detecting means; said tone generating means generating a plurality of tones in a predetermined frequency range representing logic zero or logic one; whereby usage recorded by a utility meter may be remotely read. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification