Method and components for remote reading of utility meters
US4500870A · kind A · utility
25Cited by
7References
31Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 1981 |
| Grant date | Feb 19, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 29, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01D2205/777
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A utility meter has a plurality of rotating shafts which have angular positions corresponding to the digits of a consumption reading. A cam is attached to that shaft which is associated with the least significant digit. The cam has a light reflecting track. Light from a light source is reflected off the track to a photodetector along an optical path which varies in length in accordance with angular cam position. Electronic circuitry is connected to the light source and photodetector and produces an output signal in digital form which has a frequency related to intensity of light incident upon the photodetector.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.