Signal reading system such as for remote reading of meters

Claim 3

For a rotating member with a portion passing a predetermined position during rotation, an indicator comprising: sensing means for sensing the portion and producing signals having signal lengths, a mechanical register for accumulating mechanical motions applied thereto and indicating a value representative of the accumulated motions, amplifier means for responding to the signals and converting the signals to mechanical motions, said amplifier means being coupled to said sensing means so that said amplifier means is arranged to convert the signals sensed by said sensing means to mechanical motions, and coupled to said mechanical register for supplying said mechanical motions to the register so as to cause said register to accumulate the motions of said amplifier means and indicate a value representative of the signals, said amplifier means including: pulse forming means responsive to said sensing means for producing pulses, and converter means responsive to pulses time displaced from each other by a time greater than the signal lengths for converting pulses to the mechanical motions, said converter means being coupled to the pulse forming means to receive the pulses, said pulse forming means including: a clock arrangement for producing clock impulses synchronized with a power line frequency, generator means for producing pulses starting at a synchronizing impulse, blanking means for blanking signals over a given time, said clock arrangement, said blanking means, and said generator means being coupled to each other and to said sensing means to produce pulses synchronized with the clock signals and the signals and for preventing pulses for a predetermined time after a synchronized pulse.

Claim 4

For a rotating member with a portion passing a predetermined position during rotation, an indicator comprising: sensing means for sensing the portion and producing signals having signal lengths, a mechanical register for accumulating mechanical motions applied thereto and indicating a value representative of the accumulated motions, amplifier means for responding to the signals and converting the signals to mechanical motions, said amplifier means being coupled to said sensing means so that said amplifier means is arranged to convert the signals sensed by said sensing means to mechanical motions, and coupled to said mechanical register for supplying said mechanical motions to the register so as to cause said register to accumulate the motions of said amplifier means and indicate a value representative of the signals, said amplifier means including: pulse forming means responsive to said sensing means for producing pulses, and converter means responsive to pulses time displaced from each other by a time greater than the signal lengths for converting pulses to the mechanical motions, said converter means being coupled to the pulse forming means to receive the pulses, said pulse forming means including: a clock arrangement for producing clock impulses synchronized with a power line frequency, generator means for producing pulses starting at a synchronizing impulse, blanking means for blanking signals over a given time, said clock arrangement, said blanking means, and said generator means being coupled to each other and to said sensing means to produce pulses synchronized with the clock signals and the signals and for preventing pulses for a predetermined time after a synchronized pulse.

Claim 5

An indicator as in claim 2, wherein said converter means includes: a stepping motor for moving in rotary steps in response to the pulses, said stepping motor being coupled to the pulse forming means for receiving the pulses.

Claim 6

An indicator as in claim 2, wherein said converter means includes: a relay having a movable armature and a coil, said relay being coupled at the coil to said pulse forming means to receive the pulses and move the armature so that said armature performs the mechanical motions.

Claim 7

An indicator as in claims 2, 3, or 4, wherein said pulse forming means includes: generator means for forming pulse of predetermined length, and blanking means for blanking signals over a predetermined time greater than the predetermined length, said blanking means being coupled to said sensing means for starting the predetermined time during a signal and to said generator means for starting a pulse at the start of the predetermined time.

Claim 8

An indicator as in claim 2, wherein said clock arrangement is constructed to produce impulses substantially at the zero-crossover times of the power line frequency.

Claim 9

An indicator as in claims 2 or 3, wherein said pulse forming means includes a thyristor responsive to said pulses.

Claim 10

An indicator as in claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein said register includes a mechanical odometer.

Claim 11

An indicator as in claim 8, wherein said register further includes: electrical means for sensing the position of mechanical members, said odometer having a plurality of mechanical members, said odometer being connected to said electrical means and said amplifier means.

Claim 12

An indicator as in claim 5, wherein said register includes a mechanical odometer.

Claim 13

An indicator as in claim 5, wherein said register further includes: electrical means for sensing the position of mechanical members, said odometer having a plurality of mechanical members, said odometer being connected to said electrical means and said amplifier means.

Claim 14

An indicator as in claim 2, wherein said register includes a mechanical odometer.

Claim 15

An indicator as in claim 2, wherein said register further includes: electrical means for sensing the position of mechanical members, said odometer having a pluraltiy of mechanical members, said odometer being connected to said electrical means and said amplifier means.

Claim 16

An indicator as in claim 12, wherein said clock arrangement is constructed to produce impulses substantially at the zero-crossover times of the power line frequency.

Claim 17

An indicator as in claim 13, wherein said clock arrangement is constructed to produce impulses substantially at the zero-crossover times of the power line frequency.

Claim 18

For a rotating member with a portion passing a predetemined position during rotation, an indicator comprising: sensing means for sensing the portion and producing signals, a mechanical register for accumulating mechanical motions applied thereto and indicating a value representative of the accumulated motions. amplifier means for responding to the signals and converting the signals to mechanical motions, said amplifier means being coupled to said sensing means so that said amplifier means is arranged to convert the signals sensed by said sensing means to mechanical motions, and coupled to said mechanical register for supplying said mechanical motions to the register so as to cause said register to accumulate the motions of said amplifier means and indicate a value representative of the signals, said amplifier means including pulse forming means responsive to said sensing means for producing pulses, said pulse forming means including a thyristor responsive to said impulses, said pulse forming means further including: a clock arrangement for producing a clock impulses synchronized with a power line frequency, generator means for producing pulses starting at a synchronizing impulse, blanking means for blanking signals over a given time, said clock arrangement, said blanking means, and said generator means being coupled to each other and to said sensing means to produce pulses synchronized with the clock signals and the signals and for preventing pulses for a predetermined time after a synchronized pulse.

Claim 19

For a rotating member with a portion passing a predetemined position during rotation, an indicator comprising: sensing means for sensing the portion and producing signals, a mechanical register for accumulating mechanical motions applied thereto and indicating a value representative of the accumulated motions. amplifier means for responding to the signals and converting the signals to mechanical motions, said amplifier means being coupled to said sensing means so that said amplifier means is arranged to convert the signals sensed by said sensing means to mechanical motions, and coupled to said mechanical register for supplying said mechanical motions to the register so as to cause said register to accumulate the motions of said amplifier means and indicate a value representative of the signals, said amplifier means including pulse forming means responsive to said sensing means for producing pulses, said pulse forming means including a thyristor responsive to said impulses, said pulse forming means further including: a clock arrangement for producing a clock impulses synchronized with a power line frequency, generator means for producing pulses starting at a synchronizing impulse, blanking means for blanking signals over a given time, said clock arrangement, said blanking means, and said generator means being coupled to each other and to said sensing means to produce pulses synchronized with the clock signals and the signals and for preventing pulses for a predetermined time after a synchronized pulse.

Claim 20

For a rotating having less than three indications passing a predetermined position during each rotation, a device for measuring the number of turns of the member, comprising: sensing means at the predetermined position for sensing each passage of one of the less than three indications and producing a passage signal during each passage; circuit means for converting said passage signals to time displaced driver signals each corresponding to a passage signal; and electrical to mechanizal converter means responsive to said driver signals and having an output shaft movable incrementally a fraction of a rotation in response to each of said driver signals on the basis of each one of the less than three indications, said circuit means including: a clock arrangement for producing clock impulses synchronizing with a power line frequency, generator means for producing pulses starting at a synchronizing impulse, blanking means for blanking signals over a given time, said clock arrangement, said blanking means, and said generator means being coupled to each other and to said sensing means to produce pulses synchronized with the clock signals and the signals and for preventing pulses for a predetermined time after a synchronized pulse.

Claim 21

For a rotating having less than three indications passing a predetermined position during each rotation, a device for measuring the number of turns of the member, comprising: sensing means at the predetermined position for sensing each passage of one of the less than three indications and producing a passage signal during each passage; circuit means for converting said passage signals to time displaced driver signals each corresponding to a passage signal; and electrical to mechanizal converter means responsive to said driver signals and having an output shaft movable incrementally a fraction of a rotation in response to each of said driver signals on the basis of each one of the less than three indications, said circuit means including: a clock arrangement for producing clock impulses synchronizing with a power line frequency, generator means for producing pulses starting at a synchronizing impulse, blanking means for blanking signals over a given time, said clock arrangement, said blanking means, and said generator means being coupled to each other and to said sensing means to produce pulses synchronized with the clock signals and the signals and for preventing pulses for a predetermined time after a synchronized pulse.

Claim 22

A device as in claim 17, wherein said electrical mechanical converter means includes a stepping motor.

Claim 23

For a rotating member with a portion passing a predetermined position during rotation, an indicator comprising: sensing means for sensing the portion and producing signals, a mechanical register for accumulating mechanical motions applied thereto and indicating a value representative of the accumulated motions, amplifier means for responding to the signals and converting the signals to mechanical motions, said amplifier means being coupled to said sensing means so that said amplifier means is arranged to convert the signals sensed by said sensing means to mechanical motions, and coupled to said mechanical register for supplying said mechanical motions to the register so as to cause said register to accumulate the motions of said amplifier means and indicate a value representative of the signals, said register including a mechanical odometer, said amplifier means including: a clock arrangement for producing clock impulses synchronized with a power line frequency, generator means for producing pulses starting at a synchronizing impulse, blanking means for blanking signals over a given time, said clock ararngement, said blanking means, and said generator means being coupled to each other and to said sensing means to produce pulses synchronized with the clock signals and the signals and for preventing pulses for a predetermined time after a synchronized pulse.

Claim 24

For a rotating member with a portion passing a predetermined position during rotation, an indicator comprising: sensing means for sensing the portion and producing signals, a mechanical register for accumulating mechanical motions applied thereto and indicating a value representative of the accumulated motions, amplifier means for responding to the signals and converting the signals to mechanical motions, said amplifier means being coupled to said sensing means so that said amplifier means is arranged to convert the signals sensed by said sensing means to mechanical motions, and coupled to said mechanical register for supplying said mechanical motions to the register so as to cause said register to accumulate the motions of said amplifier means and indicate a value representative of the signals, said register including a mechanical odometer, said amplifier means including: a clock arrangement for producing clock impulses synchronized with a power line frequency, generator means for producing pulses starting at a synchronizing impulse, blanking means for blanking signals over a given time, said clock ararngement, said blanking means, and said generator means being coupled to each other and to said sensing means to produce pulses synchronized with the clock signals and the signals and for preventing pulses for a predetermined time after a synchronized pulse.