US5506404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Retrofitting device providing automatic reading capability for metering systems
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-09-08
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Granted: 1996-04-09
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Expires: 2013-09-08
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a retrofitting assembly and system providing automatic reading capability for gas, electric power, and water meters. The assembly includes a differential sensing system which recognizes and stores the angular position of an optical pattern mounted onto a rotating member of a meter. Light pulses stemming from pulsed sources travel through fiber optic cables on their way to the optical pattern. A Sensing/Transmitting/Receiving module generates, processes, and stores the pulses sent to and received from the optical pattern. Also disclosed is a billing system which may be built around the retrofitted or modified meters.
Inventors
- 👤 W. J. Milan-Kamski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D4/00; G01D4/008; G01D5/00; G01D5/26; G01D5/32; G01D5/34; G01D5/347; G08; G08C; G08C23/00; G08C23/06; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B90/00; Y02B90/20; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A retrofitting assembly and optical sensing system providing automatic reading capability for utility meters, comprising, a plurality of fiber optic cables; an optical pattern mounted to a moving member of one of said utility meters; a cable lens joined to one set of terminal ends of said fiber optic cables and facing said optical pattern; a number of interrogation pulses for initiating reading sequence; a number of pulsed sources of light, triggered by said interrogation pulses, for generating light signals which travel through said fiber optic cable and onto said optical pattern; a light sensing device for converting light pulses reflected from said optical pattern to electrical signals; a number of digital coincidence detectors for receiving said electrical signals from said light sensing device for gating said electrical signals with said interrogation pulse; a digital time domain difference detector for differentially calculating outputs received from said number of digital coincidence detectors; and a control module for accumulating and electronically manipulating said differentially calculated output received from said digital time domain difference detector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A retrofitting assembly and optical sensing system providing automatic reading capability for utility meters, comprising, a plurality of fiber optic cables; an optical pattern mounted to a moving member of one of said utility meters; a cable lens joined to one set of terminal ends of said fiber optic cables and facing said optical pattern; a number of interrogation pulses for initiating reading sequence; a number of pulsed sources of light, triggered by said interrogation pulses, for generating light signals which travel through said fiber optic cable and onto said optical pattern; a light sensing device for converting light pulses reflected from said optical pattern to electrical signals; a number of digital coincidence detectors for receiving said electrical signals from said light sensing device for gating said electrical signals with said interrogation pulse; a digital time domain difference detector for differentially calculating outputs received from said number of digital coincidence detectors; and a control module for accumulating and electronically manipulating said differentially calculated output received from said digital time domain difference detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
A retrofitting assembly and system providing automatic reading capability for utility meters as recited in claim 1, whereby there are two of said fiber optic cables, wherein said optical pattern is a circular arrangement of alternating reflective and non-reflective segments, and whereby said cable lens is joined to said two fiber optic cables and positioned so as to allow one of said fiber optic cables to face a reflective segment on said optical pattern while permitting the other to face a non-reflective segment on said optical pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A retrofitting assembly and system providing automatic reading capability for utility meters as recited in claim 1, whereby said control module has an LCD display on its front face, and wherein a multiplicity of data selection buttons are located on said control module.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A retrofitting assembly and system providing automatic reading capability for utility meters as recited in claim 1, wherein said control module receives interrogation commands from local billing centers that initiate a transfer of meter readings to said local billing centers along a data communication medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A retrofitting assembly and system providing automatic reading capability for utility meters as recited in claim 4, wherein said control module may operate in a repeater mode in order to reconstitute signals sent along said data communication medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A retrofitting assembly and system providing automatic reading capability for utility meters as recited in claim 4, wherein data is further transferred from said local billing centers to a central billing center, and finally, to a data processing center.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-09 | 1999-10-09 | 2000-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-09 | 2003-10-09 | 2004-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-09 | 2007-10-09 | 2008-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |