Meter data gathering and transmission system
First Claim
1. A method for determining the quantity of utility consumed during a given time period by a utility customer, comprising:
- (a) providing a meter for making a measurement of the amount of utility passing therethrough;
(b) providing a register adapted to supply electrical indications of said measurement;
(c) providing a meter transponder coupled to said register for determining electrical manifestations of the measurement from said indications obtained from said register, said meter transponder being electrically connected to a secondary winding;
(d) allowing passage of the utility through the meter to provide the measurement;
(e) determining the electrical manifestations of the measurement in the meter transponder;
(f) providing a portable interrogator having a primary winding;
(g) bringing the portable interrogator to a position in relation to the meter transponder whereby the secondary winding and the primary winding are disposed such that a signal in either would induce the same signal in the other by inductive coupling;
(h) actuating the portable interrogator and transmitting an electrical signal having a clock pulse component, from the portable interrogator to the meter transponder, by placing the electrical signal on the primary winding whereby it is induced in the secondary winding, thereby activating the meter transponder and causing the meter transponder to obtain said electrical manifestations, and modulate said electrical signals with respect to said clock pulse component, thereby generating a signal representative of the electrical manifestations of the measurement available to the interrogator and placing the signal on the secondary winding; and
(i) determining from the signal the measurement of utility represented thereby.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for determining the quantity of utility consumed during a given time period by a utility customer, comprising:
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(a) providing a meter for making a measurement of the amount of utility passing therethrough; (b) providing a register adapted to supply electrical indications of said measurement; (c) providing a meter transponder coupled to said register for determining electrical manifestations of the measurement from said indications obtained from said register, said meter transponder being electrically connected to a secondary winding; (d) allowing passage of the utility through the meter to provide the measurement; (e) determining the electrical manifestations of the measurement in the meter transponder; (f) providing a portable interrogator having a primary winding; (g) bringing the portable interrogator to a position in relation to the meter transponder whereby the secondary winding and the primary winding are disposed such that a signal in either would induce the same signal in the other by inductive coupling; (h) actuating the portable interrogator and transmitting an electrical signal having a clock pulse component, from the portable interrogator to the meter transponder, by placing the electrical signal on the primary winding whereby it is induced in the secondary winding, thereby activating the meter transponder and causing the meter transponder to obtain said electrical manifestations, and modulate said electrical signals with respect to said clock pulse component, thereby generating a signal representative of the electrical manifestations of the measurement available to the interrogator and placing the signal on the secondary winding; and (i) determining from the signal the measurement of utility represented thereby. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A utility data gathering system comprising;
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an interrogator comprising; means for transmitting an interrogation signal across a single inductive coupling permitting bidirectional communication between a meter transponder and the interrogator, said interrogation signal including a clock signal, means for receiving signals representative of utility consumption data, a meter transponder comprising; register means coupled to a utility meter, for providing consumption signals representing utility consumption data, signal processing means comprising;
means for accessing said register means to obtain said consumption signals, means for modulating said consumption signals in accordance with said clock signal to generate consumption signals representing said utility consumption data, means for transmitting said consumption signals to said interrogator across said single inductive coupling,whereby said interrogator means for receiving further includes means for demodulating said consumption signals to determine said utility consumption data. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A utility data gathering system comprising:
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a utility meter, register means coupled to said utility meter for providing electrical signals representing utility consumption data; identification means coupled to said utility meter for providing electrical signals representing meter identity data; a meter transponder comprising; signal processing means comprising;
means for repeatedly accessing said register means and said identification means to obtain said signals representing said utility consumption data and meter identity data, means for modulating said signals to generate digital signals conveying binary digits, means for transmitting said digital signals to an interrogator via a single inductive coupling, said inductive coupling permitting bidirectional communication between said meter transponder and a remote interrogator,an interrogator comprising; means for effecting communication with said meter transponder via said single inductive coupling, means for transmitting signals requesting said utility consumption data and said meter identity data, means for receiving digital signals from said meter transponder, means for demodulating said digital signals to distinguish between said differing binary digits thereby determining said utility consumption data and said identity data.
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Specification