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Method and apparatus for capturing energy from a meter reading device

  • US 9,151,654 B2
  • Filed: 04/26/2011
  • Issued: 10/06/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A register associated with a meter and operative to record and report flow data for a commodity, comprising:

  • a reading device interface configured for operatively coupling to a reading device that is intermittently coupled to the register for establishing communication sessions with the register to read out metered quantity data from the register;

    one or more sensors operative to generate sensor signals, in response to the flow of the commodity through the meter;

    a controller operative to generate and store the metered quantity data, based on receiving and processing the sensor signals as they occur, and further operative to establish a communication session with the reading device, in response to detecting that the reading device is coupled to the register, and to output the metered quantity data via the reading device interface during the communication session, in accordance with a predetermined protocol; and

    a storage capacitor coupled to the reading device interface and operative to power the controller from stored charge during each communication session with the reading device and during the intervals between the communication sessions, based on charging from a voltage provided by the reading device during each communication session.

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