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:
Jul. 23, 2013
Filed:
Sep. 29, 2010
Mark K. Cornwall, Spokane, WA (US);
Barry Cahill-o'brien, Spokane, WA (US);
Joseph Paolino, Spokane Valley, WA (US);
Mark K. Cornwall, Spokane, WA (US);
Barry Cahill-O'Brien, Spokane, WA (US);
Joseph Paolino, Spokane Valley, WA (US);
Itron, Inc., Liberty Lake, WA (US);
Abstract
Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for providing a feedback mechanism to a system operator that provides a positive indication of the position of a valve which controls gas flow to a consumer. Rotation of a stepper motor controlling a valve mechanism is optically monitored and a feedback signal is sent to the system operator indicating positive operation of the valve only when a selected number of rotations of the stepper motor is reported. The stepper motor may be operated in different modes, each associated with different nominal current consumption levels. In a higher current consumption mode, such as a torque-oriented mode, the stepper motor may be stepped a few additional steps after valve closure to ensure seating of the valve.