System for automatically reading utility meters from a remote location

• US 4,833,618 A
• Filed: 02/20/1986
• Issued: 05/23/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digitec Telecom
• Original Assignee: Net Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Lin, K. S., Verma, Shiv P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MELNICK, STEVEN A
• Application Number:
  US06/831,404
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 364/483, 364/481, 364/550, 364/551, 364/464, 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 324/118, 379/107, 379/40, 379/41, 379/51, 379/102, 379/105
• US Class Current: 702/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C

Abstract

A system for automatically collecting and storing utility data and transmitting the stored data from the user premises to a remote location. The system comprises interface means for converting the utility usage data into data signals that can be recorded and a microprocessor for storing the utility information and controlling the transmission of the information from the user premises to the central location. The system is provided with the controls to insure that power is used only when system functions are necessary and controls are provided to insure that delivery of information can be obtained by transmission from the user premises to the utility by initiation of a telephone call from the user premises only at pre-determined times or from the remote collection area also at pre-determined times without interferring with the users use of the conventional telephone line.

Claims

1. A device for automatically collecting and storing utility usage data at the utility users premises and transmitting the utility usage data to an information storage facility at a location remote from the users premises comprising:

(a) interface means for converting the utility usage data read by a conventional utility meter into a signal that can be automatically recorded;

(b) a microprocessor means at the user premises for controlling the device and for automatically receiving and recording the data signal generated by the interface means, said microprocessor means having the capacity to be in either a powered down inactive mode or a power active mode and for causing the telephone line to go OFF-HOOK upon receiving a signal emitted from ring detection circuitry for enabling the device to respond to an incoming telephone call before the telephone rings;

(c) means for transmitting the data signal to said microprocessor means;

(d) means for powering the device;

(e) means for energizing said microprocessor means from the powered down inactive mode to the power active mode only when active functions must be performed by said microprocessors;

(f) a telephone line extending from the users premises for automatically transmitting said recorded information from said microprocessor means to the information storage facility at a location remove from the user premises;

(g) a conventional telephone at the user premises connected to said telephone line;

(h) ring detection circuitry having a transistor;

zener diodes and a capacitor in series connected to one lead of the transistor and a resistor connected to another lead of the transistor which ring detection circuitry emits a signal to the microprocessor in several microseconds; and

(i) means to transmit the signal emitted by the ring detection circuitry to the microprocessor.

2. A device for automatically collecting and storing utility usage data at the utility users premises and transmitting the utility usage data to an information storage facility at a location remote from the users premises comprising:

(a) interface means including a sensor for converting the utility usage data read by a conventional utility meter into a data signal that can be automatically recorded;

(b) microprocessor means at the user premises for controlling the device and for automatically receiving and recording the data signal generated by the interface means, said microprocessor means having the capacity to be in either a powered down inactive mode or a powered active mode;

(c) means for transmitting the data signal from the interface means to the microprocessor means;

(d) means for powering the device;

(e) means for energizing the microprocessor means from the powered down inactive mode to the powered active mode only when active functions must e performed by the microprocessor;

(f) means for automatically transmitting said recorded information from the microprocessor means to an information storage facility; and

(g) a first signal line from said sensor in the interface means;

a second signal line form said sensor;

circuitry means for making the first and second signal lines from said sensor of opposite polarity at all times; and

means for detecting the polarities of said first and second signal lines wherein detection of any change in polarity of said signal lines will indicate an inaccurate reading of the utility usage data received by the microprocessor.