Autonomous pulse reading and recording system
First Claim
1. An autonomous pulse reading and recording system for expediting collective and individualized reading of water, gas and/or electricity consumption meters, each of said meters generating pulse signals indicative of the consumption measured by each meter, the system also for transferring said pulse signals to a central computer for processing, comprising:
- a plurality of pulse storage units for storing said generated pulse signals, one of each connected to each of the meters, each of said pulse storage units being identified by a unique identification code, each of said pulse storage units having an independent electrical power supply power to the pulse storage units for storing said pulse signals;
a first read-out means for receiving the pulse signal information indicative of the number of pulses stored to said pulse storage units;
a connector means integrally attached to at least one of said pulse storage units for simultaneously connecting said pulse storage units to said first read-out means, said first read-out means sending control signals to query each of said pulse storage units through said connector means such that said pulse storage units will respond by transferring the number of said stored pulse signals and said unique identification codes to said first read-out means, said pulse signals and said identification codes being stored in said read-out means and subsequently transferred to said central computer by said first read-out means, said first read-out means providing electrical power to said pulse storage units when connected thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An autonomous pulse reading and recording system is aimed at expediting centralised reading of meters generating or sending out pulses, likewise expediting consumption billing. The system is specifically useful for water, gas or electricity meters, but can likewise be used for telephone or telex meters or those used in any other system generating or sending out pulses. The system carries out a wholly automatic serial reading of a number of meters, avoiding possible human errors. Serial reading of the various meters can be effected from a distance, by radio or merely using a portable readout processor or normal computer. Another object of the system is to allow simple and inexpensive increase of the number of meters to be read out.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An autonomous pulse reading and recording system for expediting collective and individualized reading of water, gas and/or electricity consumption meters, each of said meters generating pulse signals indicative of the consumption measured by each meter, the system also for transferring said pulse signals to a central computer for processing, comprising:
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a plurality of pulse storage units for storing said generated pulse signals, one of each connected to each of the meters, each of said pulse storage units being identified by a unique identification code, each of said pulse storage units having an independent electrical power supply power to the pulse storage units for storing said pulse signals; a first read-out means for receiving the pulse signal information indicative of the number of pulses stored to said pulse storage units; a connector means integrally attached to at least one of said pulse storage units for simultaneously connecting said pulse storage units to said first read-out means, said first read-out means sending control signals to query each of said pulse storage units through said connector means such that said pulse storage units will respond by transferring the number of said stored pulse signals and said unique identification codes to said first read-out means, said pulse signals and said identification codes being stored in said read-out means and subsequently transferred to said central computer by said first read-out means, said first read-out means providing electrical power to said pulse storage units when connected thereto. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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2. An autonomous pulse reading and recording system as in claim 22 further comprising:
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a consolidator module housing at least one of said pulse storage units; a fixed unit having a first transmitter/receiver, said fixed unit connected to said consolidator module; said system further comprising a remote read-out unit connected to said first transmitter/receiver and to said consolidator module; a mobile unit having a second transmitter/receiver and comprising a portable computer containing identification information for a plurality of said meters; a portable remote read-out unit within said mobile unit and connected to said second transmitter/receiver, such that when said mobile unit is in proximity to said fixed unit said mobile unit will transmit identifications codes to said fixed unit connected through said connector means to said pulse storage units such that said pulse storage units will transfer the number of stored pulse signals to said mobile unit through said consolidator modules. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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11. An autonomous pulse reading and recording system for expediting collective and individualized reading of a plurality of meters that generate pulse signals indicative of the consumption measured by said meters, said system being constructed such that reading is effectuated in one of a direct mode and a radio transmission mode, comprising:
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a central computer for processing said pulse signals received from the meters; means for storing said generated pulse signals comprising a plurality of pulse storage units one each connected to each of the meters, each of said pulse storage units being constructed to connect to a number of other of said pulse storage units, each of which is also connected to a respective meter; a consolidator module housing a predetermined group of said pulse storage units; a first read-out unit; a connector means in said module for simultaneously connecting said group of pulse storage units to said first read-out unit, said first read-out unit sending control signals to query each of said pulse storage units through said connector means such that said pulse storage units will respond by transferring the number of said stored pulse signals to said first read-out unit, said number of pulse signals being stored in said read-out unit and subsequently transferred to said central computer; said module being constructed to connect to another consolidator module such that said first read-out unit receives pulse signals from substantially all of said pulse storage units connected to said modules; wherein each of said pulse storage units comprises an application specific integrated circuit having binary meters through which said respective meter is connected, said binary meters being connected to a series of latch recorders to make an independent reading of said binary meters, said binary meters being connected to logic gates through which the first read-out unit is connected, said pulse storage unit being provided with a series of input used to read meter identification information, such that when the pulse storage unit is queried by the first read-out unit the contents of the binary meters and the identification information are transferred to said read-out unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An autonomous pulse reading and recording system for expediting collective and individualized reading of a plurality of meters that generate pulse signals indicative of the consumption measured by said meters, said system being constructed such that reading is effectuated in one of a direct mode and a radio transmission mode, comprising:
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a central computer for processing said pulse signals received from the meters; means for storing said generated pulse signals comprising a plurality of pulse storage units one each connected to each of the meters, each of said pulse storage units being constructed to connect to a number of other of said pulse storage units, each of which is also connected to a respective meter; a consolidator module housing a predetermined group of said pulse storage units; a first read-out unit; a connector means in said module for simultaneously connecting said group of pulse storage units to said first read-out unit, said first read-out unit sending control signals to query each of said pulse storage units through said connector means such that said pulse storage units will respond by transferring the number of said stored pulse signals to said first read-out unit, said number of pulse signals being stored and processed in said read-out unit and subsequently transferred to said central computer; said module being constructed to connect to another consolidator module such that said first read-out unit receives the number of stored pulse signals from substantially all of said pulse storage units connected to said modules; wherein the first read-out unit comprises a portable reader processor having a portable computer connected to a sounding rod for connection to the consolidator module in order to read from the pulse storage units directly.
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17. An autonomous pulse reading and recording system for expediting collective and individualized reading of a plurality of meters that generate pulse signals indicative of the status of said meters, said system being constructed such that reading is effectuated in one of a direct mode and a radio transmission mode, comprising:
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a central computer for processing said pulse signals received from the meters; means for storing said generated pulse signals comprising a plurality of pulse storage units one each connected to each of the meters, each of said pulse storage units being constructed to connect to a number of other of said pulse storage units, each of which is also connected to a respective meter; a consolidator module housing a predetermined group of said pulse storage units; a first read-out unit; a connector means in said module for simultaneously connecting said group of pulse storage units to said first read-out unit, said first read-out unit sending control signals to query each of said pulse storage units through said connector means such that said pulse storage units will respond by transferring the number of said pulse signals to said first read-out unit, said pulse signals being stored and processed in said read-out unit and subsequently transferred to said central computer; said module being constructed to connect to another consolidator module such that said first read-out unit receives the number of stored pulse signals from substantially all of said pulse storage units connected to said modules; wherein each of said pulse storage units has a battery, the first read-out unit being provided with a battery means that powers said read-out unit and each of the pulse storage units when said pulse storage units are queried such that consumption of said batteries in said pulse storage units is minimized.
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Specification