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:
Dec. 18, 2012
Filed:
Oct. 27, 2008
Willard Thomas Bushman, Plano, TX (US);
William Steven Vogel, San Carlos, CA (US);
Robert Gerard Fischette, Oregon City, OR (US);
Eric Michael Schoenman, San Francisco, CA (US);
Willard Thomas Bushman, Plano, TX (US);
William Steven Vogel, San Carlos, CA (US);
Robert Gerard Fischette, Oregon City, OR (US);
Eric Michael Schoenman, San Francisco, CA (US);
Trilliant Networks, Inc., Redwood City, CA (US);
Abstract
Device, structure and method for retrofitting a utility meter such as a gas meter with a retrofit module or for new installations to conventional meters so that it can be read remotely and so that retrofit may be accomplished simply by unskilled workers and without damage or alteration of meter. The method for retrofitting a meter of the type having shaft driven dial with dial index pointer and index cover involves removing the meter index cover to access the meter index dial pointer; attaching a magnet to the pointer so that it is carried in orbit around the pointer shaft to which the pointer is attached; and mounting a sensor to the meter adapted to sense the passage of the pointer-mounted magnet and to detect the orbit of index pointer; the attaching of the magnet and the mounting of the sensor being performed without removing the meter dial index assembly.