Meter driving device

• US 6,177,878 B1
• Filed: 04/29/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited
• Inventors: Tamura, Shigeaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Asongwed, Anthony A.
• Application Number:
  US09/068,004
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.07, 340/517, 340/478, 340/471, 340/475, 340/488, 340/870.39, 340/459, 340/870.37, 340/425.5, 340/310, 307/10.1, 307/108
• US Class Current: 340/3.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J

Abstract

Electronic components other than a meter unit are classified and integrated into plural electronic component units. Input/output ports (attach-and-detach means) permitting the detachable electronic component units to be mounted to and detached from the meter unit are provided. This meter unit includes a meter block having a control portion and a power supply portion. The control portion controls the electronic component units. The power supply portion supplies electric power to the electronic component units. The electronic component units are controlled and electrically energized via the input/output ports.

Claims

1. A meter driving device comprising:

a meter unit;

electronic components classified and integrated into plural electronic component units;

attach-and-detach means permitting the electronic component units to be mounted to and detached from said meter unit, said electronic component units being controlled and electrically energized via said attach-and-detach means;

a control portion for controlling said electronic component units, said control portion being mounted in said meter unit; and

a power supply portion for supplying electric power to said electronic component units, said power supply portion being mounted in said meter unit,

wherein there are further provided identification means for permitting said meter unit to identify the kinds of said electronic component units by itself.

2. A meter driving device according to claim 1, wherein the identification means includes means for identifying electronic component units by measuring a potential of an attached electronic component unit.

3. A meter driving device comprising:

a meter unit having a plurality of input/output ports;

electronic components classified and integrated into plural electronic component units;

attach-and-detach means permitting the electronic component units to be mounted to and detached from said meter unit, said electronic component units being controlled and electrically energized via said attach-and-detach means;

a control portion mounted in said meter unit for controlling said electronic component units, and

a power supply portion mounted in said meter unit for supplying electric power to said electronic component units,

wherein the control portion monitors the input/output ports of the meter unit to identify the electronic component units attached to the meter unit.

4. A meter driving device according to claim 3, wherein the control portion further comprises a plurality of input terminals corresponding to input/output ports of the meter unit.

5. A meter driving device according to claim 4, wherein the control portion monitors a potential of the input terminals of the control portion to identify the electronic component units mounted to the meter unit through the input/output ports.