Apparatus and method for reading utility meters
US5619192A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 14, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 8, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 14, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY04S20/30
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electronic meter reader having a transmitter and antenna for inductively transmitting alternating current power in any selected one of a plurality of frequencies. The reader further includes a receiver for inductively receiving meter reading data from the meter being read represented by a load modulation of the transmitted frequency. A bandpass filter limits the bandwidth of the modulation frequency. The power transmitted by the transmitter may also be used by the meter to generate and transmit data representative of the meter reading back to the reader. A second receiver is also provided for inductively receiving reading data from the meter in the form of a modulated frequency generated by the meter. The reader includes a microprocessor and program which control the generation of a plurality of interrogation signal formats, and which decode a plurality of received data formats.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.