Retrofitting device providing automatic reading capability for metering systems
First Claim
1. A retrofitting assembly and optical sensing system providing automatic reading capability for utility meters, comprising,a plurality of fiber optic cables;
- an optical pattern mounted to a moving member of one of said utility meters;
a cable lens joined to one set of terminal ends of said fiber optic cables and facing said optical pattern;
a number of interrogation pulses for initiating reading sequence;
a number of pulsed sources of light, triggered by said interrogation pulses, for generating light signals which travel through said fiber optic cable and onto said optical pattern;
a light sensing device for converting light pulses reflected from said optical pattern to electrical signals;
a number of digital coincidence detectors for receiving said electrical signals from said light sensing device for gating said electrical signals with said interrogation pulse;
a digital time domain difference detector for differentially calculating outputs received from said number of digital coincidence detectors; and
a control module for accumulating and electronically manipulating said differentially calculated output received from said digital time domain difference detector.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a retrofitting assembly and system providing automatic reading capability for gas, electric power, and water meters. The assembly includes a differential sensing system which recognizes and stores the angular position of an optical pattern mounted onto a rotating member of a meter. Light pulses stemming from pulsed sources travel through fiber optic cables on their way to the optical pattern. A Sensing/Transmitting/Receiving module generates, processes, and stores the pulses sent to and received from the optical pattern. Also disclosed is a billing system which may be built around the retrofitted or modified meters.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A retrofitting assembly and optical sensing system providing automatic reading capability for utility meters, comprising,
a plurality of fiber optic cables; -
an optical pattern mounted to a moving member of one of said utility meters; a cable lens joined to one set of terminal ends of said fiber optic cables and facing said optical pattern; a number of interrogation pulses for initiating reading sequence; a number of pulsed sources of light, triggered by said interrogation pulses, for generating light signals which travel through said fiber optic cable and onto said optical pattern; a light sensing device for converting light pulses reflected from said optical pattern to electrical signals; a number of digital coincidence detectors for receiving said electrical signals from said light sensing device for gating said electrical signals with said interrogation pulse; a digital time domain difference detector for differentially calculating outputs received from said number of digital coincidence detectors; and a control module for accumulating and electronically manipulating said differentially calculated output received from said digital time domain difference detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification