Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-05
2004-09-28
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
C455S018000, C375S213000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06798351
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS
The following applications of common assignee are related to the present application, and are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties:
“Method and System for Down-Converting Electromagnetic Signals,” Ser. No. 09/176,022, filed Oct. 21, 1998.
“Method and System for Frequency Up-Conversion,” Ser. No. 09/176,154, filed Oct. 21, 1998.
“Method and System for Ensuring Reception of a Communications Signal,” Ser. No. 09/176,415, filed Oct. 21, 1998.
“Integrated Frequency Translation and Selectivity,” Ser. No. 09/175,966, filed Oct. 21, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,706.
“Applications of Universal Frequency Translation,” Ser. No. 09/261,129, filed March 3, 1999.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to frequency translation, and applications of same. More particularly, the present invention relates to non-heterodyning systems and methods for up-converting and/or down-converting signals for automated meter reading.
2. Related Art
Various aspects of conventional automated meter reader (AMR) systems are taught in the following U.S. Patents which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,112, “Utility Meter Remote Automatic Reading System;”
U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,385, “Remote Meter Reading System;”
U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,068, “Remote Meter Reading System for KWH Watt Hour Meters and Demand Meters;” and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,764,158, “Meter Reading Data Transmission System and Method of Using Same.”
Conventional AMR systems use frequency up-converters and frequency down-converters, which use electrical components whose properties are frequency dependent. For example, conventional AMR systems typically use conventional heterodyne or super-heterodyne designs. These conventional systems generate unwanted image signals and thus must include filters for filtering the unwanted image signals. However, such filters reduce the power level of the modulated carrier signals and thus must include power amplifiers, which require external energy sources.
What is needed are AMR systems and methods that use non-heterodyning techniques to up-convert and/or down-convert electromagnetic signals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to frequency translation, and applications of same. Such include, but are not limited to, frequency down-conversion, frequency up-conversion, enhanced signal reception, unified down-conversion and filtering, and combinations and applications of same.
Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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paten
Bultman Michael J.
Clements Charles D.
Cook Robert W.
Hamilla Joseph M.
Looke Richard C.
Dang Hung
Horabik Michael
ParkerVision, Inc.
Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.
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