US2006158347A1PendingUtilityA1

Automated meter reader having time synchronization circuit

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Oct 16, 1999Filed: Dec 22, 2005Published: Jul 20, 2006
Est. expiryOct 16, 2019(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Thomas F. RocheErwin Holowick
Y02B90/20G01D 4/004Y04S20/30G01D 4/008H04Q 9/00H04Q 2209/30H04Q 2209/823H04Q 2209/60G01D 4/006G08C 19/12
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Claims

Abstract

An automated meter reading (AMR) device adapted to be synchronized by a signal provided by a remote device. The AMR device may be synchronized to a standardized clock, such as the automatic clock provided by NIST out of Boulder Colo. USA on station WWVB. Advantageously, this external clock re-synchronizes the internal clock of the AMR device to compensate for clock drift, such as caused by differences in crystal oscillation.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A device for coupling to a meter measuring product delivery, comprising: 
 an interface module adapted to couple to the meter, the interface module providing a first signal indicative of the product delivery; and    a module having a transmitter and a controller receiving the first signal, the module creating and storing usage profile data as a function of the product delivery, wherein the controller has a clock adapted to be synchronized by a remotely provided synchronization signal.    
   
   
       2 . The device as specified in  claim 1  wherein the remotely provided synchronization signal is based on a standardized clock.  
   
   
       3 . The device as specified in  claim 2  wherein the synchronization signal is based on an atomic clock.  
   
   
       4 . The device as specified in  claim 3  wherein the synchronization signal is based on the atomic clock generated by NIST.  
   
   
       5 . The device as specified in  claim 1  wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter.  
   
   
       6 . The device as specified in  claim 5  wherein the wireless transmitter operates in an unlicensed frequency band.  
   
   
       7 . The device as specified in  claim 6  wherein the transmitter has a power level no greater than 1 mW.  
   
   
       8 . The device as specified in  claim 5  wherein the transmitter sends the alert without requiring external polling by a physically remote device.  
   
   
       9 . The device as specified in  claim 5  wherein the transmitter operates without the assistance of a wireless communications network.  
   
   
       10 . The device as specified in  claim 7  wherein the device includes an internal battery and operates therefrom.  
   
   
       11 . The device as specified in  claim 6  wherein the transmitter transmits the alert at a fixed frequency.  
   
   
       12 . The device as specified in  claim 6  wherein the transmitter transmits the alert as a spread spectrum signal.  
   
   
       13 . The device as specified in  claim 15  wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter operating in an unlicensed frequency band and having a power level no greater than 1 mW, and transmits the alert without requiring external polling or the assistance of a wireless communications network.  
   
   
       14 . A method of operating an automated meter reading (AMR) device, comprising the steps of: 
 coupling the AMR device having a transmitter, a controller and a controller clock to a meter measuring product delivery; and    synchronizing the controller clock using a synchronization signal received from a physically remote device.    
   
   
       15 . The method as specified in  claim 14  wherein the remotely provided synchronization signal is based on a standardized clock.  
   
   
       16 . The device as specified in  claim 15  wherein the synchronization signal is based on an atomic clock.  
   
   
       17 . The device as specified in  claim 16  wherein the synchronization signal is based on the atomic clock generated by NIST.  
   
   
       18 . The device as specified in  claim 14  wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter.  
   
   
       19 . The device as specified in  claim 18  wherein the wireless transmitter operates in an unlicensed frequency band.  
   
   
       20 . The device as specified in  claim 19  wherein the wireless transmitter has a power level no greater than 1 mW.  
   
   
       21 . The device as specified in  claim 18  wherein the wireless transmitter sends data indicative of the measured product delivery without requiring external polling by a physically remote device.  
   
   
       22 . The device as specified in  claim 18  wherein the wireless transmitter operates without the assistance of a wireless communications network.  
   
   
       23 . The device as specified in  claim 20  wherein the AMR device includes an internal battery and operates therefrom.  
   
   
       24 . The device as specified in  claim 19  wherein the wireless transmitter transmits the alert at a fixed frequency.  
   
   
       25 . The device as specified in  claim 19  wherein the wireless transmitter transmits the alert as a spread spectrum signal.  
   
   
       26 . The device as specified in  claim 14  wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter operating in an unlicensed frequency band and having a power level no greater than 1 mW, and transmits the alert without requiring external polling or the assistance of a wireless communications network.

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