Remote meter reading system

An electro-optical remote utility meter reading system, in which the meter or status indicator has a mechanical representation, comprising:

• a monitor unit effective to count increments of movements of the utility meter comprising electro-optical light radiation monitoring and digital storage means effective to electro-optically detect a change in the mechanical representation and to translate such change into electronic digital pulses and to store the digital pulses, said monitor unit further including electro-optical transponder means for receiving said digital pulses from said storage means, converting said digital pulses into light radiation, and transmitting said radiation essentially only through an uncontrolled ambient atmospheric medium, said radiation being a carrier for a train of pulses;
• and
• remote electro-optical interrogator and receiver means located at a point spaced from the transponder of said monitor unit and effective to electro-optically trigger said transponder and to receive said train of pulses from said transponder.

An electro-optical remote utility meter reading system comprising:

• utility meter monitoring means comprising a transponder responsive to light radiation and upon interrogation thereof transmitting data in the form of light radiation pulses;
• and
• a mobile interrogation and receiver means located remote from said transponder and comprising an interrogator to trigger electrooptically with light radiation said interrogation and receive said data, and wherein said last mentioned light radiation has a beam of predetermined shape and diverging geometry, and said data is passed essentially only through an uncontrolled ambient atmospheric medium.