US 4,628,313 AGranted

Apparatus and method for remotely monitoring a utility meter by use of a liquid crystal display

AssigneeTeleMeter Corporation

InventorsPeter P. Gombrich, Steven K. Case, Lawrence R. Konicek

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical sensor apparatus (21) for use in a remote meter monitoring system (20) for remotely monitoring the dials (34) of a utility meter or the like by use of a liquid crystal display (31). The liquid crystal display (31) includes five distinct areas 71 through 75 arranged in a semicircle in register with the circumferential path of a dial pointer arrangement (36) of the meter which including a dial pointer (37) and a disk like member (38) having a light absorptive semicircular portion (38a) and a reflective semicircular portion (38b). A sixth distinct area (76) being positioned in a diametrically opposed semicircle. The disk like member (38) being illuminated by a light emitting diode (40). The sixth distinct areas (71 through 76) being sequentially switched to a transparent condition and a readout of the light passing therethrough being obtained from a photodiode detector (42) so as to ascertain the angular position of the dial pointer arrangement (36) and thus obtain a readout thereof.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An apparatus for optically sensing the angular position of a pointer member fixedly mounted on a rotatable shaft for rotational movement therewith as the shaft rotates about an axis of rotation, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a follower member fixedly interconnected into the rotatable shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation with the pointer member, said follower member and said pointer having a circumferential path of travel, said follower member having first and second opposite sides facing in opposite axial directions, a first portion of said first side being generally reflective for reflecting light in a forward direction and a second portion being generally absorptive;
(b) light emitting means positioned forward of said following member for emitting light in a backward direction towards said first side of said follower member;
(c) light detecting means positioned forward of said follower member for detecting light reflected off of said follower member in a forward direction;
(d) liquid crystal display means positioned forward of said follower member, between said follower member and said light detecting means, said liquid crystal display means defining six distinct areas disposed about the circumferential path of the follower member and a background area encompassing the remaining area of said liquid crystal shutter means;
(e) control means for switching said six distinct areas and said background area between an opaque state and a transparent state, said control means further providing for switching all of said distinct areas and said background area to the opaque state and then selectively switching each of said distinct areas, one at a time, to the transparent state while the remaining five areas and the background area are switched to the opaque state;
and
(f) means operatively interconnected to said light detection means for monitoring said light detection means and obtaining input signals therefrom so as to obtain a read-out of the angular position of the pointer member.

4 more elements

A sensor apparatus for converting the decimal digits represented by the successive stages of a multi-stage meter into binary coded form for use by a microprocessor, each stage of said meter including a pointer member affixed for rotation about an axis of rotation with a rotatable shaft which is angularly displaced on a ten-to-one ratio with respect to the higher adjacent shaft so as to record decimal readings and measurements effectuated by said meter, said converter comprising:

(a) separate light transmitting means operatively connected and associated with each of the pointer members for following the angular displacement of each of the pointer members, said light transmitting means transmitting light in a forward direction axially away from each of the pointer members, said light transmitting means following a circumferential path about the axis of rotation;
(b) separate light detecting means operatively connected and associated with each of said light transmitting means for detecting light transmitted from each of said light transmitting means, said light detecting means being displaced axially in the forward direction away from each of said light transmitting means;
(c) liquid crystal display means associated with each of said light transmitting means for selectively limiting the passage of light from said light transmitting means, said liquid crystal display means being positioned between said light transmitting means and said light detecting means, said liquid crystal display means having separate and distinct areas positioned about the circumferential path followed by said light transmitting means and a background area occupying those areas of the circumferential path not occupied by any of said distinct areas;
(d) control means associated with said liquid crystal display means for selectively switching said distinct areas and said background area between an opaque state and a transparent state;
and
(e) monitoring means operatively interconnected to each of said light detecting means for monitoring each of said light detecting means and obtaining input signals therefrom indicative of the angular position of each of the respective pointer members.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/649,912Filed 12 Sep 1984
Granted: 9 Dec 1986
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G01D 4/004
Remote reading of utility meters: remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
G01D 4/02
Tariff metering apparatus: details
G01D 5/39
Characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light: scanning a visible indication of the measured value…
G06M 1/272
For representing the result of count in the form of electric signals, e.g. by sensing markings on the counter drum: using photoelectric means