US3761878A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Installation for reading at a distance information in local stations
Assignee: Compteurs Schlumberger SA
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Filing: 1972-02-11
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Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1992-02-11
Abstract
Abstract The installation is intended for reading at a distance information contained in local stations connected in cascade, and is particularly applicable to the remote reading of meters. The installation comprises a central station having a clock signal generator and a device for receiving and/or recording the information, each connected to the various local stations by a common conductor. In each local station there is a parallel to series conversion device, synchronised by the clock signals, and having its parallel inputs connected to the local source of information and its serial output connected to one of the two inputs of a logic blocking circuit; a pulse counter to which are applied the clock signals; and a bistable flip flop. This flip flop has two inputs, one of which is an unblocking input and is connected to the preceding local station and the other of which is a blocking input and is connected to the output of the pulse counter and to the following local station. The flip flop also has a trigger input to which are applied the clock signals, and an output connected to the second input of the blocking circuit, the other output being connected to the reset to zero terminal of the pulse counter. The output of the blocking circuit is connected to the receiving and/or recording device of the central station.
Inventors
- 👤 P Georget
- 👤 M Gauthier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q9/00; H04Q9/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
In a system having a central station and a local station in a chain of local stations, an apparatus for sequentially recording at the central station serial data signals converted from parallel data signals representative of numerical quantities at the local station, the system comprising: a parallel to series converter connected to each local source of parallel data signals; transmission line means for conducting the serial data signals to the central station; a gate coupling said parallel to series converter to said transmission line means, said gate having a first input terminal connected to the output of said converter, and a second input terminal for inhibiting the flow of the serial data signals through said gate; means generating clock timing signals for synchronizing the operation of the system; means for generating a start signal at the central station for initiating the operation of the first local station in the chain of local stations; counter means connected to said source of clock timing signals for generating a counter output signal upon reaching a predetermined count, said predetermined count representing a numerical value at least equal to the maximum numerical quantity represented by the data source signal, said counter output signal from each local station constituting the start signal for the next local station in the chain after the first; and bistable switch means for providing an enabling signal to said gate and for starting said counter upon switching to a first state in response to a start signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
In a system having a central station and a local station in a chain of local stations, an apparatus for sequentially recording at the central station serial data signals converted from parallel data signals representative of numerical quantities at the local station, the system comprising: a parallel to series converter connected to each local source of parallel data signals; transmission line means for conducting the serial data signals to the central station; a gate coupling said parallel to series converter to said transmission line means, said gate having a first input terminal connected to the output of said converter, and a second input terminal for inhibiting the flow of the serial data signals through said gate; means generating clock timing signals for synchronizing the operation of the system; means for generating a start signal at the central station for initiating the operation of the first local station in the chain of local stations; counter means connected to said source of clock timing signals for generating a counter output signal upon reaching a predetermined count, said predetermined count representing a numerical value at least equal to the maximum numerical quantity represented by the data source signal, said counter output signal from each local station constituting the start signal for the next local station in the chain after the first; and bistable switch means for providing an enabling signal to said gate and for starting said counter upon switching to a first state in response to a start signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said means for gneerating a start signal further includes a delay circuit for generating a start signal upon application of power to the local stations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein the start signal generated upon application of power to the local station resets said counters in each of said local stations to zero, and wherein a delay circuit responsive to said start signal generates a delayed signal for enabling said coupling gate and for initiating the counting of said counter in the first local station of a chain of local stations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 whrein said counter output signal from said counter means of the last local station in a chain of local stations deenergizes the power source at the central station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said parallel to series converter comprises a shift register for registering the instantaneous values of the parallel data signals at the instant of time when said bistable switch means switches to its first state, said shift register transfering the data signals to said coupling gate in serial formation and in synchronism with the signals from said source of clock timing signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said counter means in each local station is preset to a predetermined count that is related to the number of bits of information to be transmitted by each local station, respectively, said preset counter means generating the start signal for each local station after the first.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said parallel to series converter includes logic means for generating serial data signals representative of the local station address said address signals being inserted in sequence with the serial data signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the central station further comprises: first counter means connected to said transmission line means for counting and totalizing the serial data signals received from all local stations, second counter means being connected to said means for generating clock timing signals for totalizing said clock timing signals; and means for comparing the count of said first and said second counter means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said parallel to series converter comprises a shift register whose input is connected to the source of data signals and whose serial output signals are connected to said coupling gate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |