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Patent US3899774A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3899774A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Interrogation of remote stations
Assignee: Elster Metering Holdings Ltd
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Filing: 1973-05-04
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Granted: 1975-08-12
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Expires: 1993-05-04
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for reading remote sources of information, such as meters, is located at a remote station and is operated by interrogation signals transmitted via a telephone line from an interrogator at a local exchange. The apparatus includes a primary route selector and secondary route selectors connected to respective outputs of the primary route selector. Each secondary route selector has a plurality of outputs, to each of which at least one meter reading circuit is connected. The primary route selector detects a first interrogation signal, coded with information representing a predetermined secondary route selector, and provides an electrical path to that secondary selector for subsequent signals. A second interrogation signal is applied to the predetermined secondary selector to provide an electrical path for subsequent signals to a predetermined output thereof. Finally, a predetermined reading circuit, connected to the predetermined output of the secondary selector and represented by coded information in a third interrogation signal, reads the associated meter and transmits the reading back to the local exchange.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander J Binnie
- 👤 Kenneth Bowdell
- 👤 Philip James Clark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:40
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
Apparatus for reading sources of information connected thereto and for transmitting information from the sources to a remote interrogator in response to an interrogation signal, containing coded instructions from the interrogator, comprising: a data transmission line; route selector means remote from the interrogator and connected to the interrogator by said data transmission line, said route selector means having an input terminal electrically connected to said transmission line and a plurality of output terminals, and being for establishing an electrical path, upon receiving a first coded interrogation signal via said transmission line from the interrogator, from said input terminal to a particular one of said plurality of output terminals as directed by the coded instructions in said first interrogation signal; at least one reading circuit means electrically connected to each of said plurality of output terminals of said route selector means, each reading circuit means having input means electrically connected to a respective one of the sources of information, for reading said information from a respective one of the sources selected in response to a third coded interrogation signal upon receiving said third coded interrogation signal from said interrogator via said route selector means; means for generating a coded signal representative of the information of the source in response to said third coded signal; and coupling means independent of said route selector means for applying said generated coded signal to said transmission line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
Apparatus for reading sources of information connected thereto and for transmitting information from the sources to a remote interrogator in response to an interrogation signal, containing coded instructions from the interrogator, comprising: a data transmission line; route selector means remote from the interrogator and connected to the interrogator by said data transmission line, said route selector means having an input terminal electrically connected to said transmission line and a plurality of output terminals, and being for establishing an electrical path, upon receiving a first coded interrogation signal via said transmission line from the interrogator, from said input terminal to a particular one of said plurality of output terminals as directed by the coded instructions in said first interrogation signal; at least one reading circuit means electrically connected to each of said plurality of output terminals of said route selector means, each reading circuit means having input means electrically connected to a respective one of the sources of information, for reading said information from a respective one of the sources selected in response to a third coded interrogation signal upon receiving said third coded interrogation signal from said interrogator via said route selector means; means for generating a coded signal representative of the information of the source in response to said third coded signal; and coupling means independent of said route selector means for applying said generated coded signal to said transmission line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
209 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said route selector means comprises: a primary route selector gating means, having an input terminal and a plurality of output terminals; a plurality of secondary route selector gating means each having an input terminal connected to a respective one of the said plurality of output terminals of said primary route selector gating means, and a plurality of output terminals; said primary route selector gating means being for establishing an electrical path for a second coded interrogation signal, received from the interrogator via said transmission line, from said input terminal thereof to a respective one of said output terminals thereof as indicated by said first coded interrogation signal, upon receipt of said first interrogation signal from said interrogator thereby providing an electrical path from said input terminal of said primary route selector gating means to said input terminal of a respective one of said plurality of secondary route selector gating means; and said respective one of said plurality of secondary route selector gating means being for establishing an electrical path for said third interrogation signal from said input terminal thereof to a respective one of said output terminals thereof as indicated by said second coded interrogation signal, upon receipt of said second coded interrogation signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
182 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said route selector means comprises: an input register means for receiving said first binary coded interrogation signal, consisting of binary bits, from said transmission line; gating means having input means electrically connected to said input register, for selecting a first portion of said binary coded first interrogation signal, in response to the receipt of a second portion of said binary coded first interrogation signal in said input register; route decoder means having second interrogation signal input means electrically connected to the input means of said route selector means and output means electrically connected to respective output terminals of the route selector means, and being for decoding said first portion of said first binary coded interrogation signal and electrically connecting said second interrogation signal input means to a respective one of Said output terminals of said route selector means in response to the decoding of said first portion of said binary coded first interrogation signal; and means for transferring said first portion of said first binary coded interrogation signal from said input register to said route decoder means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus of claim 2, wherein each said reading circuit means comprises: encoder means connected to a source of information for encoding and transferring the information contained in the source upon receipt of a trigger signal; source selector gating means for comparing said third coded interrogation signal with a signal representative of a source of data information and upon coincidence thereof providing said trigger signal to said encoder means; generator means for receiving the information transferred from said encoder means and for generating a signal representative of the information; and coupling means independent of said route selector means, for transmitting said signal representative of said information to said transmission line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus of claim 4, wherein each reading circuit means reads information representative of the identity of the source of the information as well as the information itself and provides an indicator signal to said generating means for generating a coded response signal representative of the source and the information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said data transmission line comprises a telephone transmission line to a single telephone unit, and said route selector means is connected in parallel with said single telephone unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3484694A
Cited
US3553376A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |