Remote data read system

• US 5,485,150 A
• Filed: 10/05/1992
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamatake-Honeywell Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yamatake-Honeywell Company Limited
• Inventors: Hisanaga, Tetsuo, Kajita, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Razavi, Michael T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan V.
• Application Number:
  US07/956,797
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.08, 340/870.11, 340/870.31, 340/870.32, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.52, 340/825.54 , 340/825.44, 340/539, 455/254, 455/63, 455/127, 455/95, 324/142
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/04 using magnetically coupled devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A remote data read system includes a plurality of accumulators including first transmission/reception sections of an electromagnetic induction type, and a handy terminal including a second transmission/reception section of an electromagnetic induction type. The plurality of accumulators accumulate accumulation values representing amounts of consumed power, gas, tap water, or the like, and output accumulated value data in response to data request signals transmitted thereto. The first transmission/reception sections receive external data request signals, and output accumulation value data in response to the data request signal. The handy terminal outputs the data request signal to read an accumulation value from the accumulator and displays input accumulation value data. The second transmission/reception section outputs the data request signal to the first transmission/reception section, and receives the accumulation value data output from the first transmission/reception section.

Claims

1. A remote data reading system comprising:

at least one accumulator for accumulating data representing an amount under measurement;

wherein each accumulator includes first transmission/reception means of an electromagnetic induction type for receiving a data request signal, and for sending data in response to the data request signal;

wherein each of the accumulators further includes a first memory adapted for storing an accumulated amount, an accumulated identification code, and a previously read accumulation amount;

wherein each of the accumulators transmits the accumulated amount, the accumulator identification code, and the previously read accumulation amount together in response to the data request signal; and

a portable, hand-held terminal for reading and displaying data from the accumulator, the hand-held terminal second transmission/reception means of an electro magnetic induction type for sending the data request signal to the first transmission/reception means, and for receiving the data from the first transmission/reception means;

wherein the hand-held terminal further includes a second memory adapted for storing the accumulated identification code, unique to each accumulator, for identifying each of the accumulators and adapted for storing the previously read accumulated amount for each accumulator.

wherein the hand-held terminal is adapted to check on the basis of the received accumulator identification code and the previously read accumulated amount whether the received data is from a target accumulator;

wherein the hand-held terminal transmits the data request signal including the accumulator identification code of a target accumulator and the previously read accumulated amount of the target accumulator,

wherein each of the accumulators updates/stores the accumulated amount data transmitted to the hand-held terminal as a new accumulated identification code, in the first memory, and the hand-held terminal reads the accumulated amount from the target accumulator in a next read operation by using the accumulated amount data stored in the first memory.

2. System according to claim 1 wherein said hand-held terminal comprises means for reducing transmission power to prevent interference when said accumulators are arranged adjacent to each other.

3. A remote data reading system comprising:

at least one accumulator for accumulating data representing an amount under measurement;

wherein each accumulator including first transmission/reception means of an electromagnetic induction type for receiving a data request signal, and for sending data in response to the data request signal;

wherein each of the accumulators further includes a first memory adapted for storing an accumulated amount, an accumulated identification code, and a previously read accumulation amount;

wherein each of the accumulators transmits the accumulated amount, the accumulator identification code, and the previously read accumulation amount together in response to the data request signal; and

a portable, hand-held terminal for reading and displaying data from the accumulator, the hand-held terminal second transmission/reception means of an electro magnetic induction type for sending the data request signal to the first transmission/reception means, and for receiving the data from the first transmission/reception means;

wherein the hand-held terminal further includes a second memory adapted for storing the accumulated identification code, unique to each accumulator, for identifying each of the accumulators and adapted for storing the previously read accumulated amount for each accumulator,

wherein the hand-held terminal transmits the data request signal including the accumulator identification code of a target accumulator and the previously read accumulated amount of the target accumulator,

wherein the accumulator in which the accumulator identification code and the previously read accumulated amount coinciding with the transmitted accumulator identification code and transmitted previously read accumulated amount are stored in the first memory, responds to the data request signal and transmits the data;

wherein each of the accumulators updates/stores the accumulated amount data transmitted to the hand-held terminal as a new accumulated identification code, in the first memory, and the hand-held terminal reads the accumulated amount from the target accumulator in a next read operation by using the accumulated amount data stored in the first memory.

4. System according to claim 3 wherein said hand-held terminal comprises means for reducing transmission power to prevent interference when said accumulators are arranged adjacent to each other.