Telephonic communications – Telephone line or system combined with diverse electrical... – To produce visual-graphic copy
Patent
1988-01-11
1989-08-08
Dwyer, James L.
Telephonic communications
Telephone line or system combined with diverse electrical...
To produce visual-graphic copy
34087002, H04M 1100
Patent
active
048560545
ABSTRACT:
A method of and apparatus for remotely reading at least one of a plurality of utility meters at a subscriber's location using the subscriber's non-dedicated telephone communication line is disclosed in which the device is activated only during a certain time on a predetermined day of the mouth and only after a predetermined number of ring signals are detected on the subscriber's line. An identifying tone signal is generated at the central station and sent to the meter reader at the subscriber's location where it is detected and compared to a pre-set tone signal. Upon acceptance, the meter reader then sequentially reads a plurality of voltages which are produced by applying a pre-determined voltage to a plurality of contacts for each utility meter dial. The voltage applied to the contacts passes through a plurality of zener diodes of different values. The different voltages thus generated correspond to the consumption registered by the utility meter. After being read, they are then converted to standard DTMF tone signals and transmitted to the central station for storage.
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Dwyer James L.
Lectrolarm Custom Systems, Inc.
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