US3754250A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote meter reading system employing semipassive transponders
Assignee: Sangamo Electric Co
•
Filing: 1970-07-10
•
Granted: 1973-08-21
•
Expires: 1990-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A remote meter reading system having a transponder for each meter or group of meters to be read including an antenna having a receive section for receiving interrogate signals transmitted from a mobile interrogating unit, and a transmit section for reradiating modulated interrogate signals back to the mobile unit; a non-linear impedance network connected between the transmit section and the receive section of the antenna controllable to modulate the meter interrogate signals, and meter data storage apparatus for providing data signals representing a meter reading and meter identification to modify the impedance of the non-linear impedance device and thereby effect modulation of the interrogate signals. The modulated interrogate signals are reradiated by the transmit section of the antenna to convey the meter reading and identification to the mobile unit.
Inventors
- 👤 J Bruner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:27
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D4/00; G01D4/002; G01D4/006; G08; G08C; G08C17/00; G08C17/02; H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/44; H01Q3/46; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B90/00; Y02B90/20; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 62
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
In a remote meter reading system, a transponder for providing signals which represent data comprising antenna means for receiving input signals of a first frequency, nonlinear impedance means connected to said antenna means operative to distort said input signals to generate related harmonic signals, and data means for providing information representing signals to modulate said harmonic signals prior to transmission to associated equipment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
In a remote meter reading system, a transponder for providing signals which represent data comprising antenna means for receiving input signals of a first frequency, nonlinear impedance means connected to said antenna means operative to distort said input signals to generate related harmonic signals, and data means for providing information representing signals to modulate said harmonic signals prior to transmission to associated equipment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said nonlinear impedance means comprises a semiconductor having a p-n junction, the junction capacitance of which varies inversely as a function of the applied signal voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said data is recorded on register means and in which said data means includes means for providing data bits which indicate the reading recorded on said register means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said data is recorded on register means and in which said data means includes means for providing data bits which indicate a discreTe identification for said register means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 which includes mobile means having interrogation means for transmitting signals of said first frequency to said transponder, and receiver means tuned to the frequency of said harmonic signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said antenna means includes a receive section tuned to receive signals of said first frequency and a transmit section tuned to the frequency of said harmonic signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as set forth in claim 6 in which said data means includes means connected to apply said information signals directly across said nonlinear impedance means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
A system as set forth in claim 6 in which said antenna receive section includes a plurality of interconnected signal elements of electrically conductive material, and said antenna transmit section includes a further plurality of interconnected signal elements of electrically conductive material, said nonlinear impedance means being connected between a first signal element of said receive section and a first signal element of said transmit section, and in which said data means include means connected to apply said information signals over at least certain other signal elements of said transmit and receive sections to said nonlinear impedance means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a remote meter reading system, a transponder for providing signals which represent data recorded on a register comprising input means over which signals of a first frequency are received, nonlinear impedance means connected to said input means operative to distort said input signals to generate relative harmonic signals, data means for applying information signals to said nonlinear impedance means to effect modulation of said harmonic signals with said information signals, and output means connected to said nonlinear impedance means for transmitting said modulated harmonic signals to associated equipment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a remote meter reading system, a transponder for providing signals which represent data recorded on a register comprising input means over which signals of a first frequency are received, nonlinear impedance means connected to said input means operative to distort said input signals to generate relative harmonic signals, data means for applying information signals to said nonlinear impedance means to effect modulation of said harmonic signals with said information signals, and output means connected to said nonlinear impedance means for transmitting said modulated harmonic signals to associated equipment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as set forth in claim 9 in which said data means includes first means for providing data bits which indicate the value of the reading on said register.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as set forth in claim 9 in which said data means includes means for providing data bits which indicate the discrete identity of the transponder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 9 which includes encoder means for providing digital signals which represent the reading on said register, and in which said data means includes means connected to said encoder means for providing a word to said nonlinear impedance means having coded bits which represent said reading.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 9 in which said data means includes means for providing signal bits of different voltage levels to represent said reading on said register, and means for applying said bits serially to said nonlinear impedance means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 9 in which said data means is connected common to a plurality of said registers, and includes register select means for selectively obtaining the information signals stored in each of said plurality of registers, and means for coupling the signals from a meter of said plurality selected by said register select means to modulate said nonlinear impedance means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 14 which includes control means for controlling said register select means to effect a plurality of readouts from each of said registers as selected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 15 in which said control means includes means connected to enable said register select means in the selection of different ones of said meters, and means connected to identify the register of said plurality which is selected at any given time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as set forth in claim 9 in which said input means comprises a receive antenna tuned to said first frequency, and said output means comprises a transmit antenna tuned to the frequency of the harmonic signalS.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a remote meter reading system an antenna structure for use with a transponder located at a remote meter comprising antenna means including a receive section, a transmit section, nonlinear impedance means connected between said transmit and receive sections, and input means for connecting data signals across said nonlinear impedance means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a remote meter reading system an antenna structure for use with a transponder located at a remote meter comprising antenna means including a receive section, a transmit section, nonlinear impedance means connected between said transmit and receive sections, and input means for connecting data signals across said nonlinear impedance means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system as set forth in claim 18 in which said receive section includes at least first and second elements and said tranmit section includes at least first and second elements, said nonlinear impedance means being connected between said first elements of said transmit and receive sections and in which said input means includes said second elements of said antenna receive and transmit sections.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as set forth in claim 18 in which at least a portion of said antenna structure is stamped from a flat metal sheet to provide an antenna structure in which at least certain elements of a transmit section and at least certain elements of a receive section lie in the same plane.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as set forth in claim 18 in which said nonlinear impedance means comprises a semiconductor having a p-n junction, the junction capacitance of which varies inversely as a function of the applied signal voltage.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 21 in which said antenna receive section comprises a Yagi-type antenna structure having at least one driven element, and said transmit section comprises a further Yagi-type antenna structure having a further driven element, and said semiconductor is connected between the driven element of said receive section and the driven element of said transmit section.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a remote meter reading system for obtaining information from remotely located registers, interrogate means including means for generating interrogate signals, and means for radiating said interrogate signals to the locations of said registers, and receive means for detecting coded signals radiated from said register locations, transponder means connected to one of said registers including antenna means for receiving said interrogate signals, and non-linear impedance means connected to said antenna means to vary in impedance to distort said interrogate signals, and thereby provide correspondingly modified signals for radiation by said antenna means back to said interrogate means, and data means for providing signals to modulate said modified signals with information obtained from said one register prior to radation of the modified signals to said interrogate means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a remote meter reading system for obtaining information from remotely located registers, interrogate means including means for generating interrogate signals, and means for radiating said interrogate signals to the locations of said registers, and receive means for detecting coded signals radiated from said register locations, transponder means connected to one of said registers including antenna means for receiving said interrogate signals, and non-linear impedance means connected to said antenna means to vary in impedance to distort said interrogate signals, and thereby provide correspondingly modified signals for radiation by said antenna means back to said interrogate means, and data means for providing signals to modulate said modified signals with information obtained from said one register prior to radation of the modified signals to said interrogate means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
98 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 23 in which said data means includes means for providing said signals in a continuous, cyclic pattern, and in which said interrogate means includes radio frequency transmitter means mounted on mobile means for transmitting interrogate signals at a predetermined frequency, and the modified signals comprise a harmonic of said predetermined frequency, whereby the carrier signals for the information read out from the one register are present in the area of the register only during the period that the mobile unit is in the vicinity of said one register.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
60 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 24 in which said data means include data storage means for storing data bits representing said information, and driver means responsive to said data bits to effect selective variation in the impedance of said non-linear impedance means, whereby the amplitude of said modulated signals represents the information at said meter.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 25 in which said data means includes register address data storage means for providing data bits for said driver means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 25 in which said non-linear impedance means comprise semiconductor means having a p-n junction, the junction capacitance of which varies inversely with the magnitude of the signals provided by said driver means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
53 words
A rEmote meter reading system as set forth in claim 27 in which said antenna means include a receive section for receiving said interrogate signals, and a transmit section for radiating said coded signals to said mobile unit, and said non-linear impedance means is connected between said transmit section and said receive section.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a remote meter reading system for obtaining information from the register of remotely located meters, interrogate means including means for generating frequency signals, and means for radiating said frequency signals in the direction of one of said meters, transponder means at said one meter including antenna means having non-linear terminating impedance means responsive to said frequency signals to provide further frequency signals that are harmonics of the frequency signals transmitted from said unit for reradiation to said interrogate means, and data means for modulating said harmonic signals in accordance with the information on the register for said one meter, receive means in said interrogate means for receiving the signals radiated from said transponder means for said one meter which are harmonics of the frequency signals transmitted from said interrogate means, and data processing means connected to said receive means including means for recording the information signals received from said transponder means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a remote meter reading system for obtaining information from the register of remotely located meters, interrogate means including means for generating frequency signals, and means for radiating said frequency signals in the direction of one of said meters, transponder means at said one meter including antenna means having non-linear terminating impedance means responsive to said frequency signals to provide further frequency signals that are harmonics of the frequency signals transmitted from said unit for reradiation to said interrogate means, and data means for modulating said harmonic signals in accordance with the information on the register for said one meter, receive means in said interrogate means for receiving the signals radiated from said transponder means for said one meter which are harmonics of the frequency signals transmitted from said interrogate means, and data processing means connected to said receive means including means for recording the information signals received from said transponder means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as set forth in claim 29 which includes mobile means for moving said interrogate means, said receive means and said data processing means to interrogate different meters in said system.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
46 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 30 in which said nonlinear terminating impedance means comprises semiconductor means having a variable capacitance junction in which said junction capacitance varies as a function of bias applied to the semiconductor means by said data means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
64 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 31 in which said data means for modulating said harmonic signals provided by said nonlinear impedance means includes means for applying voltage signals representative of the register information as a bias to said semiconductor means, whereby the amplitude of the harmonic signals provided is varied as a function of the information on said register.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
54 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 30 in which said antenna means include a receive section tuned to the frequency of said interrogate signals for receiving said frequency signals, and a transmit section tuned to the frequency of said harmonic signals for radiating said harmonic signals to said mobile unit.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a remote meter reading system for obtaining information from remotely located meters, transponder means for each meter including antenna means having antenna receive means for receiving interrogate signals of predetermined frequency, and antenna transmit means for radiating coded signals to associated equipment, and nonlinear impedance means connected between said antenna receive means and said antenna transmit means, said nonlinear impedance means being responsive to said interrogate signals to vary in impedance to distort said interrogate signals and thereby provide harmonics of said interrogate signals for transmission over said antenna transmit means, and data means including meter reading data storage means for providing data signals representing the reading on the associated meter, and data readout means for periodically effecting readout of said meter reading data storage means and modulation of said nonlinear impedance means with signals representative of the stored information, whereby said harmonic signals are coded to represent the information at said meter location.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a remote meter reading system for obtaining information from remotely located meters, transponder means for each meter including antenna means having antenna receive means for receiving interrogate signals of predetermined frequency, and antenna transmit means for radiating coded signals to associated equipment, and nonlinear impedance means connected between said antenna receive means and said antenna transmit means, said nonlinear impedance means being responsive to said interrogate signals to vary in impedance to distort said interrogate signals and thereby provide harmonics of said interrogate signals for transmission over said antenna transmit means, and data means including meter reading data storage means for providing data signals representing the reading on the associated meter, and data readout means for periodically effecting readout of said meter reading data storage means and modulation of said nonlinear impedance means with signals representative of the stored information, whereby said harmonic signals are coded to represent the information at said meter location.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
57 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 34 in which said non-linear impedance means comprises a variable capacitance diode having an anode connected to said transmit antenna means and a cathode connected to said receive antenna means, said diode having a p-n junction, the capacitance of which varies as a function oF applied voltage.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
62 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 34 in which said antenna receive means comprises a Yagi-type antenna having a driven element and in which said antenna transmit means comprises a further Yagi-type antenna having a driven element, said semiconductor means being connected between the driven element of said receive means and the driven element of said transmit means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
64 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 34 which includes encoder means for providing pulses which reverse in polarity for each quantum of a commodity measured by the meter, and in which said meter reading data storage means include pulse counter means responsive to said polarity changes to register a count of the quantums of the commodity measured by said meter.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
60 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 34 in which said data means further include meter address data storage means for providing data representing an address for said meter, and in which said data readout means includes further means for effecting serial readout of said meter reading data storage means and said meter address data storage means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
54 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 38 in which said further means includes pulse register means and said data readout means include clock pulse generating means for controlling said pulse register means in the continuous readout of said meter reading data storage means and said meter address data storage means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
65 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 38 in which said further means includes pulse register means and said data readout means further include gate means controlled by said pulse register means to provide control signals for use in controlling modulation of certain harmonic signals provided by said nonlinear impedance means, whereby said certain harmonic signals are coded to represent sync pulses.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
53 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 40 in which said gate means include means for providing control signals representing a start of message code prior to the provision of the signals which effect serial readout of said meter reading data storage means and said meter address data storage means.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
65 words
A remote meter reading system as set forth in claim 34 which includes interrogate means mounted on a mobile unit having transmit means for generating interrogate signals and for selectively radiating said interrogate signals to one of said meters, and receiver means mounted on said mobile unit for receiving the coded signals radiated by the transponder means for each meter interrogated by said interrogate means.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a remote meter reading system for obtaining information from remotely located meters, transponder means connected common to a group of said meters including antenna means for receiving interrogate signals from a remote interrogating means, non-linear impedance means connected to said antenna means which vary in impedance to distort said interrogate signals and thereby provide correspondingly modified signals for radiation by said antenna means back to said remote interrogate means, and data means including meter select means for selectively providing information data from each of said meters in said group to modulate the modified signals provided by said nonlinear impedance means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a remote meter reading system for obtaining information from remotely located meters, transponder means connected common to a group of said meters including antenna means for receiving interrogate signals from a remote interrogating means, non-linear impedance means connected to said antenna means which vary in impedance to distort said interrogate signals and thereby provide correspondingly modified signals for radiation by said antenna means back to said remote interrogate means, and data means including meter select means for selectively providing information data from each of said meters in said group to modulate the modified signals provided by said nonlinear impedance means.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as set forth in claim 43 in which said data means includes readout means for cyclically providing signals for enabling a selection by said meter select means, and control means for controlling said meter select means in the selection of a meter from said group.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as set forth in claim 43 in which said data means includes address means for identifying each selected meter, and control means for controlling said meter select means in the selection of successive meters in said group, and for simultaneously identifying the selected meter in said group to said address means.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
85 words
A system as set forth in claim 43 in which said data means iNcludes address means, readout means having word generator means, first counter means operative to count each word which is generated by said readout means, and second counter means controlled by said first counter means to provide control signals to enable said meter select means in the selection of a meter in said group, and to simultaneously provide signals to said address means to idenfity the meter in said group which is selected.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as set forth in claim 46 in which said address means includes a plurality of marking inputs, certain of which are premarked to identify said one group of meters, and others of which are marked by the changing value of said control signals to idenfity the different meters in said one group.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system as set forth in claim 43 in which said data means includes storage means for each meter in said group, readout means for providing readout signals simultaneously to each of said meters, and in which said meter select means is operative to extend the output of only one meter at a time for coupling to said nonlinear impedance means.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system as set forth in claim 43 which includes interrogate means mounted on a mobile unit for transmitting interrogate signals to the remotely located meters, and receive means mounted on said mobile unit for receiving the coded signals radiated by the antenna means at the interrogated meters, and means for recording the coded signals received by said receive means.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a remote meter reading system for obtaining information from remotely located meters, transponder means connected to a common group of said meters including signal providing means operative to modify interrogate signals radiated from remote interrogating means to provide modified signals for radiation back to said remote interrogating means, data means including meter select means for selectively providing information data from each of said meters in said group to said signal providing means for modulation of said modified signals, control means for controlling said meter select means in the selection of a meter in said group, and readout means for enabling said meter select means to provide the information data from the selected one of said meters of said group to said signal providing means.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a remote meter reading system for obtaining information from remotely located meters, transponder means connected to a common group of said meters including signal providing means operative to modify interrogate signals radiated from remote interrogating means to provide modified signals for radiation back to said remote interrogating means, data means including meter select means for selectively providing information data from each of said meters in said group to said signal providing means for modulation of said modified signals, control means for controlling said meter select means in the selection of a meter in said group, and readout means for enabling said meter select means to provide the information data from the selected one of said meters of said group to said signal providing means.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a remote meter reading system for obtaining information from remotely located meters, transponder means connected common to a group of said meters including antenna means for receiving interrogate signals from remote interrogating means, means connected to said antenna means for distorting said interrogate signals thereby providing further signals for radiation by said antenna means back to said remote interrogating means, and data means including meter select means for automatically providing information data from each of said meters in said group in a predetermined pattern to modulate said further signals prior to transmission to said remote interrogating means.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a remote meter reading system for obtaining information from remotely located meters, transponder means connected common to a group of said meters including antenna means for receiving interrogate signals from remote interrogating means, means connected to said antenna means for distorting said interrogate signals thereby providing further signals for radiation by said antenna means back to said remote interrogating means, and data means including meter select means for automatically providing information data from each of said meters in said group in a predetermined pattern to modulate said further signals prior to transmission to said remote interrogating means.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a remote meter reading system for obtaining information from remotely located meters, transponder means connected common to a group of said meters including means responsive to interrogate signals received from remote interrogating means to provide further signals for radiation back to said remote interrogating means, and data means including meter select means for automatically providing information data from each of said meters in said group in a predetermined pattern to modulate said further signals prior to transmission to said remote interrogating means.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a remote meter reading system for obtaining information from remotely located meters, transponder means connected common to a group of said meters including means responsive to interrogate signals received from remote interrogating means to provide further signals for radiation back to said remote interrogating means, and data means including meter select means for automatically providing information data from each of said meters in said group in a predetermined pattern to modulate said further signals prior to transmission to said remote interrogating means.
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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) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |