REMOTE METER READING SYSTEM

• US 3,705,385 A
• Filed: 12/10/1969
• Issued: 12/05/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James E. Batz
• Original Assignee: James E. Batz
• Inventors: Batz, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US04/883,890
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 340/150-152,171,147 179/2DP,15FS,15BL 325/8 343/6.8,180
• 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: H04Q 9/14 Calling by using pulses
• 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 system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data registers including a mobile or stationary transmitter for transmitting coded signals representing the identification number of a register to be read and a transponder at each register location for receiving the identification signals and responsive to readout signals transmitted from the transmitter to transmit back to the transmitter data signals representing the reading of the interrogated register.

Claims

1. A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices, comprising:

control station means having means for providing interrogate signals of a predetermined frequency for effecting the read out of the information at a selected indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including receiver means and data means enabled by said interrogate signals coupled to said receiver means to provide data signals which represent the information at the selected indicating device, and data transmit means including locked oscillator means having first and second inputs, first means for coupling said interrogate signals to said first locked oscillator input and to said receiver means, and second means connected to the second input of said locked oscillator and controlled by each of said data signals to vary the gain of said locked oscillator means over a predetermined range which includes the gain value at which a plurality of frequency signals which are related in frequency to the interrogate signals are generated for transmission Back to said control station means.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said means of said control station means includes carrier signal generating means for generating carrier signals and readout signal generating means for generating readout signals for modulating said carrier signals to provide said interrogate signals.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 in which said locked oscillator means generates frequency signals which are side bands of said carrier signals modulated by said readout signals.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3 in which certain ones of said data signals represent logic 1 levels and certain others of said data signals represent logic 0 levels, said second means being responsive to said data signals to effect the generation by said locked oscillator of first and second sets of sidebands of said carrier signals to represent logic 1 and logic 0 data signals respectively.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4 in which said second means includes first oscillator means, second oscillator means and switch means responsive to each of said certain ones of said data signals to enable said first oscillator means to effect the generation of said first set of sidebands and to each of said certain other data signals to enable said second oscillator means to effect the generation of said second set of sidebands.

6. A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices comprising:

control station means having select means for providing carrier signals of a predetermined frequency and select and read out signals for modulating said carrier signals to permit transmission of said select and readout signals to said data indicating devices for selecting one of said indicating devices and for controlling the read out of the information at a selected indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including receiver means and data means responsive to said read out signals coupled to said receiver means to provide data signals which represent the information at the selected indicating device, data transmit means including locked oscillator means, input means for coupling said carrier signals to said receiver means and to said locked oscillator means, and quenching modulator means controlled by said data signals for providing variable drive signals for said locked oscillator means to enable said locked oscillator means to amplify said carrier signals for coupling to said receiver means over said input means and to generate side bands of said carrier signals.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6 in which said quenching modulator means includes means selectively controlled by said data signals for effecting the generation of different sets of sidebands to represent said data signals.

8. A system for selectively obtaining a predetermined pattern of bits representative of information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices, comprising:

control station means having select means for transmitting interrogate signals including select signals and bit readout signals to said data indicating devices for selecting one of said indicating devices and reading out each bit of the information at said selected indicating device under the control of the bit readout signals, one bit being read out for each readout signal provided at said data indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including data means enabled by said select means to provide data signals which represent the information at the indicating device, said data means including data storage means for storing said data signals and means for serially gating said readout signals into said data storage means as said read out signals are received at said transponder for serially reading out said data signals, and data transmit means including locked oscillator means controlled by each of the data signals, as said data signals are read out, to transmit frequency signals to said control station means indicating the information provided by said indicating device.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 in which said select means includes carrier signal generating means for providing carrier signals for transmission between said control station means and said indicating devices to serve as a transmission medium for said select and readout signals.

10. A system set forth in claim 9 in which said data means further includes signal receiving means having detect means for separating said select and readout signals from said carrier signals.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 in which said data transmit means further includes drive means for said locked oscillator means responsive to said data signals for driving said locked oscillator means to effect the generation of frequency signals by said locked oscillator means which are sidebands of said carrier signals.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11 in which said transponder includes means for coupling said frequency signals generated by said locked oscillator means to said signal receiving means whereby said frequency signals reinforce the carrier signals being received thereby increasing the sensitivity of said signal receiving means.

13. A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices, comprising:

control station means having select means for providing select signals for selecting one of said indicating devices and for providing readout signals comprised of a predetermined number of interrogate data bits for controlling the readout of the information at said selected indicating device from said control station means, a transponder for each indicating device including data means enabled by each of said readout signals to provide a corresponding output data bit which represents correspondingly information at the selected indicating device, said data means including data storage means for storing said output data bits and means for gating each of said interrogate data bits into said data storage means for effecting serial readout of said output data bits, and data transmit means including signal generating means controlled by the output data bits as gated by the interrogate data bits, to generate frequency signals having a like number of bits for transmission to said control station means.

14. A system as set forth in claim 13 in which said data means includes encoder means for encoding the information at said indicating devices to provide said data signals.

15. A system as set forth in claim 14 in which said information is encoded in a two out of five code.

16. A system as set forth in claim 13 in which said control station means includes means for establishing a transmission path over a communication line connecting said select means and the selected one of said indicating devices for passing said readout signals to said selected indicating device and for passing said frequency signals to said control station means.

17. A system as set forth in claim 14 in which said data means includes transfer means for providing parallel transfer of said data signals from said encoding means to said data storage means.

18. A system as set forth in claim 17 in which said data means includes means enabled by said select means for energizing said transfer means to effect said parallel transfer of said data signals.

19. A system for selectively obtaining a predetermined pattern of bits representative of information from a plurality of remotely located indicating devices comprising:

control station means having select means for selecting one of said indicating devices said control station means including bit readout control signal means for providing readout signals for effecting the bit-by-bit readout of the information at said selected indicating device with each bit being read out under the control of the readout signals, one bit being read out of the selected indicating device by one readout signal and means for establishing a transmission patH over a communication line connecting said select means and the selected one of said indicating devices for passing said read out signals to said selected indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including data means enabled by said interrogate means for providing data signals which represent the information at the indicating device, said data means including data storage means for storing said data signals and means for serially gating each of said readout signals into said data storage means for effecting the readout of said data signals, and data transmit means including signal generating means controlled by said data signals, as each of said data signal is read out, to send frequency signals over said transmission path to said control station means, indicating the information provided by said indicating device.

20. A system as set forth in claim 19 in which said signal generating means includes oscillator means controlled by said data signals to generate frequency signals of first and second frequencies for representing said data signals.

21. A system as set forth in claim 19 in which data means includes switch means enabled by said interrogate means for effecting the energization of said data storage means.

22. A system as set forth in claim 20 in which said data storage means comprises a multi-stage shift register having parallel data entry gate means for gating said data signals into said shift register in parallel.

23. A system as set forth in claim 22 in which said data means further includes means controlled by said switch means for enabling said parallel data entry gate means upon selection of said indicating device by said interrogate means.

24. A system for selectively obtaining a predetermined pattern of bits representative of information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices comprising:

control station means having select means for transmitting select signals to said indicating devices for selecting one of said indicating devices and for thereafter transmitting readout signals to said indicating devices for effecting the bit-by-bit readout of the information at said selected indicating device each bit being read out at said indicating device under the control of said select means, a transponder for each indicating device including data storage means, means for providing data signals which represent the information at the indicating device, recognition means responsive to said select signals for effecting the gating of said data signals and to said data storage means, gate means for serially gating said read out signals into said data storage means to effect the serial read out of said signals, and data transmit means controlled by each of the data signals read out of said data storage means to transmit frequency signals to control station means provided by said indicating device.

25. A system as set forth in claim 24 in which said transponder includes means responsive to the leading one of said select signals transmitted by said control station means for effecting the energization of said data storage means.

26. A system as set forth in claim 24 in which said select signals are coded to represent an identification number for the selected indicating device, said gate means being effective to gate said select signals into said data storage means, the recognition means of the selected indicating device transponder being operable in response to the storage of select signals representing said identification number in said data storage means to effect the gating of said data signals into said data storage means.

27. A system as set forth in claim 26 in which said transponder includes means responsive to said select signals to generate gating signals for enabling said gate means to gate said select signals into said data storage means, and responsive to said readout signals to generate further gating signals for enabling said gate means to gate said readout signals into data storage means.

28. A syStem as set forth in claim 24 which includes further gate means responsive to said recognition means for gating said data signals into said data storage means in parallel.

29. A system as set forth in claim 26 in which said transponder includes transmitter latch means controlled by said recognition means whenever said selected indicating device is selected to be read out to provide an energizing potential for said data transmit means to permit the transmission of said frequency signals to said control station means.

30. A system as set forth in claim 24 in which said data transmit means includes locked oscillator means and drive means for providing drive signals for said locked oscillator means for effecting the generation of said frequency signals by said locked oscillator means.

31. A system as set forth in claim 30 in which said locked oscillator means includes semiconductor means and in which said drive means provides varying drive signals for said semiconductor means for driving said semiconductor means through successive regions of operation so that said semiconductor means functions as a high gain amplifier, as an oscillator, and is then cut off, said frequency signals being generated while said semiconductor means is operating as a high gain amplifier.

32. A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices, comprising;

control station means having select means for providing carrier signals and select tones of first and second frequencies for selectively modulating said carrier signals to permit transmission of said select tones to said indicating devices for selecting one of said indicating devices, and for thereafter providing further carrier signals modulated by readout tones of said first frequency to permit transmission of said readout tones to said indicating devices for effecting the readout of the information at said selected indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including means for providing data signals which represent the information at the indicating device, means for detecting said select and readout tones, first tone detecting means for providing a first select output signal for each select tone of said first frequency detected and a readout output signal for each readout tone detected, second tone detecting means for providing a second select output signal for each select tone of said second frequency detected, shift register means, recognition means responsive to said first select output signals for effecting the gating of said data signals into said shift register means, gate means for serially gating said readout output signals into said shift register means to effect the serial readout of said data signals, and data transmit means controlled by each of said data signals read out of said shift register means to transmit frequency signals to said control station means, indicating the information provided by said indicating device.

33. A system as set forth in claim 32 in which said data transmit means includes locked oscillator means.

34. A system as set forth in claim 33 in which said data transmit means further includes drive means for said locked oscillator means responsive to said data signals for driving said locked oscillator means to effect the generation of frequency signals which are sidebands of said carrier signals.

35. A system as set forth in claim 34 in which said gate means is effective to gate said first select output signals into said shift register means for enabling said recognition means.

36. A system as set forth in claim 35 in which said transponder includes further gate means controlled by said recognition means for effecting the parallel entry of said data signals into said shift register means.

37. A system as set forth in claim 36 in which said transponder includes clock pulse generating means responsive to said select output signals and said readout output signals for providing gating pulses for enabling said gate means And said further gate means.

38. A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices, comprising:

control station means having select means for wirelessly transmitting interrogate signals including select signals and read out signals to said data indicating devices for selecting one of said indicating devices and effecting the readout of the information at said selected indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including data means enabled by said select means to provide data signals which represent the information at the indicating device, said data means including data storage means for storing said data signals and means for serially gating said readout signals into said data storage means as said readout signals are received at said transponder for serially reading out said data signals, and data transmit means including RF locked oscillator means controlled by each of the data signals, as said data signals are read out, to wirelessly transmit frequency signals to control station means indicating the information provided by said indicating device.

39. A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices, comprising:

control station means having select means for providing RF carrier signals and select tones of first and second frequencies for selectively modulating said RF carrier signals to permit wireless transmission of said select tones to said indicating devices for selecting one of said indicating devices, and for thereafter providing further RF carrier signals modulated by readout tones of said first frequency to permit transmission of said readout tones to said indicating devices for effecting the readout of the information at said selected indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including means for providing data signals which represent the information at the indicating device, means for detecting said select and readout tones, first tone detecting means for providing a first select output signal for each select tone of said first frequency detected and the readout output signal for each readout tone detected, second tone detecting means for providing a second select output signal for each select tone of said second frequency detected, shift register means, recognition means responsive to said first select output signals for effecting the gating of said data signals into said shift register means, gate means for serially gating said read out output signals into said shift register means to effect the serial readout of said data signals, and data transmit means controlled by each of said data signals read out of said shift register means to wirelessly transmit frequency signals to said control station means, indicating the information provided by said indicating device.

40. A system for selectively obtaining information from a plurality of remotely located data indicating devices comprising:

control station means having means for providing interrogate signals for effecting the read out of the information at a selected indicating device, a transponder for each indicating device including receiver means for receiving interrogate signals and data means responsive to the received interrogate signals to provide data signals which represent the information at the selected indicating device, and data transmit means having locked oscillator means including semiconductor means, quenching modulator means controlled by said data signals for providing variable bias signals for varying the operation point of said semiconductor means so that said semiconductor means is operable to function consecutively as a low gain amplifier, a high gain amplifier, an oscillator and then to be cut off, and coupling means for coupling the received interrogate signals to said locked oscillator means to enable said locked oscillator means to generate frequency signals which are side bands of said interrogate signals whenever said semiconduCtor means is biased for operation as a high gain amplifier.

41. A system as set forth in claim 40 wherein certain ones of said data signals provided by said data means represent the logic 1 levels and other ones of said data signals represent logic 0 levels, and said quenching modulator means is responsive to said certain ones of said data signals to provide bias signals of a first frequency for said semiconductor means and is responsive to said other ones of said data signals to provide bias signals of a second frequency for said semiconductor means and in which said locked oscillator means is responsive to the bias signals of said first frequency to generate a first set of side band signals representing logic 1 data levels and in response to bias signals of said second frequency to generate a second set of side band signals representing logic 0 data levels.

42. A system as set forth in claim 40 wherein said locked oscillator means is operable to amplify the interrogate signals coupled to said locked oscillator means and in which said coupling means includes means for coupling the amplified interrogate signals to said receiver means, whereby the amplified interrogate signals reinforce the interrogate signals provided by said control station means thereby increasing the sensitivity of said receiver means.

43. A system as set forth in claim 40 in which said coupling means includes a tuned circuit connected to the locked oscillator means.

44. A system as set forth in claim 43 in which said coupling means includes an attenuation network connected between said tuned circuit and said receiver means.

45. A system including a mobile unit having means selectively obtaining information from a remotely located device, said mobile unit having transmitter means for providing signals of a predetermined frequency in the direction of said remotely located device, said remotely located device comprising a transponder including receiver means and identification means responsive to said received frequency signals transmitted by said mobile unit to provide identification signals which identify the remotely located device, and transmit means including locked oscillator means having first and second inputs, first means for coupling said received frequency signals to said first locked oscillator input at the said receiver means, and second means connected to the second input of said locked oscillator and controlled by each of said identification signals to vary the gain of said locked oscillator means over a predetermined range to thereby modify the received frequency signals with identification information for transmission back to said mobile unit.

46. A system as set forth in claim 45 wherein said second means includes quenching modulator means controlled by said identification signals to provide variable drive signals to enable said locked oscillator means to amplify said frequency signals for coupling to said receiver means over said first means and to generate side bands of said frequency signals for transmission back to said mobile unit.

47. A system as set forth in claim 45 wherein said second means includes quenching modulator means controlled by said identification signals to provide first and second drive signals, and means for coupling said drive signals to said locked oscillator means to provide first and second signals in a preselected sequence representing the identification of said remotely located device.

48. A system as set forth in claim 45 wherein said first means includes antenna means, first signal coupling means connected between said antenna means and the first input of said locked oscillator means, whereby the received frequency signals are amplified by said locked oscillator means, and second signal coupling means connected between said antenna means and said receiver means to couple said received signals to said receiver means along with the frequency signals as amplified by said locked oscillator means to thereby reinforce said Received frequency signals.

49. A system including a mobile unit having means for selectively obtaining information from a remotely located device, said mobile unit having transmitter means for providing signals of a predetermined frequency in the direction of said remotely located device, said remotely located device comprising a transponder including receiver means, identification means responsive to said received frequency signals transmitted by said mobile unit to provide identification signals which identify the remotely located device, and transmit means including locked oscillator means, input means for coupling said frequency signals to said receiver means and to said locked oscillator means, and quenching modulator means controlled by said identification signals for providing variable drive signals for said locked oscillator means to enable said locked oscillator means to amplify said frequency signals for coupling to said receiver means over said input means and to generate side bands of said frequency signals representing an identity of said remotely located device.