Importance

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Abstract

A system for measuring and recording a utility consumption such as water, for example. A mechanical meter measures and displays the utility consumption in conventional manner and also produces an electrical pulse representative of an increment thereof. A sealed electronic module is attached to the meter and is inductively coupled thereto so that a computer in the sealed module can count the pulses and thereby compute the utility consumption. A memory within the sealed module stores the computed utility consumption which should be identical to the metered consumption and also stores an identification code characteristic of the meter. An interrogation unit is r.f. coupled to one or a plurality of such sealed modules via suitable antennas so as to read the memories therein and to write to the memories, as required. In the event that a meter is faulty, only the meter itself need be replaced and the data stored in the corresponding sealed module can be updated in the field by a portable interrogation unit so as to conform the identification code and the computed utility consumption stored therein to those associated with the replacement meter.

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First Claim