Importance

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Abstract

A portable remote meter reading apparatus is provided which communicates, via a power line conductor, with remote inaccessible electrical meters. A keyboard is provided to enable an operator to enter command and address information to identify a unique inaccessible meter. A baseband data message is formulated to include the unique address and command information. After being modulated with the high frequency carrier signal, the baseband data message is amplified and injected onto the power line conductor for receipt by a remote meter that is equipped with a transmitter and receiver. In response to the command message, the remote meter transmits electrical energy information for receipt by the present invention. The present invention incorporates receiver circuitry which filters lower frequencies from the incoming sinusoidal signal and hard limits the signal to provide a rectangular wave signal to a microprocessor which is capable of demodulating the signal and converting the incoming information into usable energy units, such as kilowatthours, for display on a visual display. Portable direct current power is provided in order to enable the present invention to be completely portable and not depend on the provision of power from external sources.

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First Claim