The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 01, 1995
Filed:
Jun. 04, 1993
C S Gastouniotis, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Nuno Bandeira, Goleta, CA (US);
Bruce E Gray, Murrysville, PA (US);
Scott H Seehoffer, Uniontown, PA (US);
M & FC Holding Company, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
The remote instrument reading and telemetry system of the present invention includes at least one instrument link interconnected to a data gathering device and a remote station interrogation apparatus. The interrogation apparatus and instrument link both include radio transmitters and receivers so information and instructions can be communicated between them. In the interrogation mode, the interrogation apparatus instructs the instrument link to transmit information (e.g., data from the data gathering device) in a specified manner, within certain time frames, and in a specific frequency channel. Before requesting the transmission of information, the interrogation apparatus determines which of the available reply radio channels is the best for transmission of information and instructs the instrument link to use this reply channel. In a preferred embodiment, the instrument link transmits information using spread spectrum modulation techniques, and the interrogation apparatus determines the spread spectrum parameters that optimize processing gain and the data transmission rate. The instrument link is also controlled so that parts of the instrument link (e.g., the transmitter's amplifier) are only powered up during specific periods of instrument link activity to conserve power.