Meter data gathering and transmission system

• US 4,782,341 A
• Filed: 04/04/1986
• Issued: 11/01/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: M&FC Holding, LLC (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Inventors: Gray, Bruce E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FATAHI YAR, MAHMOUD
• Application Number:
  US06/848,287
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.18, 340/870.07, 340/870.31, 340/825.14, 340/825.30, 340/310 A, 340/310 R, 364/483, 364/192, 346/14 MR, 235/380
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/27 for representing the result of count in the form of electric signals, e.g. by sensing markings on the counter drum

Abstract

A utility data gathering system is disclosed as comprising a register including a series of index members coupled to a meter mechanism. Each index member includes a plurality of contacts and a switch arm moveable with its index member. The meter mechanism is responsive to utility consumption for moving the index members to positions indicative of the utility consumed, whereby each switch arm completes in normal operation a circuit with just one of its plurality of contacts dependent upon the position of its index member. A digital computer is programmed for performing first and second scans of each contact of each index member to obtain corresponding first and second sets of data indicative of a completed circuit through the switch arm and contacts of each index member. The completed circuit data obtained from each of the first and second scans are compared and if the circuit data of the first and second scans are different, an alarm manifestation is generated.

Claims

1. A bi-directional signal transmission system for outputting data signals and for receiving a power and control signal comprising a series of signal bursts occurring at a first, relatively low frequency, each signal burst comprising a plurality of pulses occurring at a second, relatively high frequency and an envelope, said system comprising:

(a) inductive coupling means for inputting said power and control signal in a first direction through said inductive coupling means and for outputting said data signals in a second, opposite direction through said inductive coupling means;

(b) envelope detecting means coupled to said inductive coupling means for receiving said power and control signal and responsive to said envelopes for providing corresponding control signals of said first low frequency;

(c) data processing means coupled to receive said control signals from said envelope detecting means for effecting data processing to provide said data signals; and

(d) means coupled to said inductive coupling means and to said data processing means and responsive to each of said control signals for outputting said data signals in said second direction through said inductive coupling means at a time between the occurrences of said signal bursts.

2. The bi-directional signal transmission system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data processing means is implemented by a digital computer comprising memory means for storing a program and means responsive to selected of said control signals for executing said program to provide said data signals, said first low frequency being set within the capability of said executing means to execute said program, said second high frequency set above said capacity of said executing means and sufficiently high for efficient transmission of said plurality of pulses through said inductive coupling means.

3. The bi-directional signal transmission system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said data processing means comprise meter means, said executing means executing said program to access and gather data from said meter means.

4. A bi-directional signal transmission system comprising:

(a) means for generating a data signal; and

(b) inductive coupling means coupled to said data generating means for transmitting a power and control signal in a first direction through said inductive coupling means to said data generating means and said data signal in a second direction opposite to said first direction through said inductive coupling means, said power and control signal comprising a plurality of signal bursts occurring at a first, relatively low frequency, each of said signal bursts comprising a plurality of pulses occurring at a second, relatively high frequency, each signal burst having an envelope;

(c) said data generating means comprising means coupled to receive said power and control signal from said inductive coupling means for detecting said envelopes of said signal bursts to provide corresponding control signals, and means responsive to selected of said control signals for generating and applying said data signal via said inductive coupling means in said second direction at a time between the occurrences of said signal bursts to reduce the interference between said data signal and said power and control signal.

5. The bi-directional signal transmission system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second high frequency is set such that said plurality of signal pulses is transmitted efficiently by said inductive coupling means.

6. The bi-directional signal transmission system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said data generating means is implemented by a digital computer comprising a memory for storing a data gathering and a transmission program, means responsive to selected of said control signals for executing said transmission program.

7. The bi-directional signal transmission means as claimed in claim 4, wherein said inductive coupling means comprises first and second separable coils, said first coil being coupled to receive said data signal for generating a first corresponding field, said second coil being coupled to receive said power and control signal for generating a second corresponding field, whereby when said first and second coils are disposed within each others fields in an inductively coupled relationship, said data signal is induced in said second coil and said power and control signal is induced in said first coil.

8. The bi-directional signal transmission system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said inductive coupling means comprises a coil coupled to receive said data signal for generating a corresponding first field and there is further included means for selectively disposing said inductive coupling means within a second field corresponding to said power and control signal, whereby said power and control signal is induced in said coil.

9. A meter transponder for accessing a meter to provide digital signals indicative of the meter output and to be solely energized by a power and control signal comprising a series of signal bursts occurring at a first, relatively low frequency, each signal burst comprising a plurality of pulses occurring at a second, relatively high frequency and an envelope, said meter transponder comprising:

(a) inductive coupling means for inputting said power and control signal in a first direction through said inductive coupling means and for outputting said digital signal in a second, opposite direction through said inductive coupling means;

(b) envelope detecting means coupled to said inductive coupling means for receiving said power and control signal and responsive to said envelopes for providing corresponding control signals of said first low frequency;

(c) power conversion means coupled to said inductive coupling means to receive said power and control signal and responsive to said plurality of second high frequency pulses for energizing solely the elements of said meter transponder, said second high frequency being set so that said plurality of pulses is efficiently converted by said power

(d) generating means responsive to selected of said control signals for accessing said meter and for generating and applying said digital signal to said inductive coupling means at a time between the occurrences of said signal bursts.

10. The meter transponder as claimed in claim 9, wherein said generating means is implemented by a digital computer comprising memory means for storing a program and means responsive to selected to said control signals for executing said program to obtain said meter output and to form said digital signals, said first low frequency being set within the capability of said executing means to execute said program.

11. A data processing system powered and controlled in response to an inputted power and control signal, said power and control signal comprising a plurality of signal bursts occurring at a first, relatively low frequency, each signal burst comprising a plurality of pulses of a second, relatively high frequency and a detectable envelope, said data processing system comprising:

(a) inductive means for coupling said power and control signal to said data processing systems;

(b) power conversion means coupled to receive said power/control signal from said inductive coupling means and responsive to said pulses of said second high frequency for providing power to at least selected elements of said data processing system;

(c) envelope detector means coupled to receive said power and control signal from said inductive coupling means for detecting said envelopes of said first frequency for generating corresponding control signals in response thereto; and

(d) a digital computer including memory means, means responsive to selected of said control signals for executing a program stored in said memory means, said first low frequency being set to be compatible with the capacity of said executing means to execute said program, and generating means responsive to selected of said control signals for generating and applying a digital signal to said inductive coupling means at a time between the occurrences of said signal bursts.

12. The data processing system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said generating means generates a binary signal comprised of a sequence of bits, said generating means responsive to each of said control signals for applying a selected number of said bits to said inductive coupling means.