Did You Know...
...that Thomas Edison's patent application on his phonograph was approved by the Patent Office in just seven weeks? In contrast, it took Gordon Gould, the inventor of the laser, 30 years to obtain his patent -- finally awarded in 1988!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7248180 | Meter reading system A reduced power-consumption meter reading system has a clock for counting elapsed time and days and outputting a first output signal for a predetermined time during a month, a first power supply activated by the first signal of the clock, and an image-processing uni... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7172358 | Counting pen An apparatus and method provide a writing device including a button pressed by a user, wherein the button engages a mechanism used to move a writing tip between stowed and operative positions. A counter receives at least one indication each time the button is presse... | 02/06/2007 |
| 5995123 | Marking and counting probe A marking and counting probe for use with a counter, e.g. a computer, comprises a tubular housing for holding a marking implement, such as a highlighter. One end of the tubular housing has an aperture through which the marking end of the marking implement... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5442380 | Marking and counting implement A marking and counting implement comprises a tubular housing for holding a marking implement, such as a highlighter. One end of the tubular housing has an aperture through which the marking end of the marking implement extends. The other end of the housin... | 08/15/1995 |
| 5252967 | Reader/programmer for two and three wire utility data communications system A two wire/three wire utility data communications system for remotely reading utility meter registers. In the two wire version, a hand-held reading unit is inductively coupled over two wires via a port located remotely from a meter register. Alternatively... | 10/12/1993 |
| 5243338 | Two and three wire utility data communications system A two wire/three wire utility data communications system for remotely reading utility meter registers. In the two wire version, a hand-held reading unit is inductively coupled over two wires via a port located remotely from a meter register. Alternatively... | 09/07/1993 |
| 5155481 | Two and three wire utility data communications system A two wire/three wire utility data communications system for remotely reading utility meter registers. In the two wire version, a hand-held reading unit is inductively coupled over two wires via a port located remotely from a meter register. Alternatively... | 10/13/1992 |
| 5016025 | Automatic secured document meter reading apparatus A mounting adaptor is provided for use with a standard electric utility meter base, or the like, upon which a typical instant-picture camera is mounted and focused upon a meter to be read. The instant-picture camera is set up with triggerable activation m... | 05/14/1991 |
| 5010335 | Optical port multiplexer for electric metering equipment A single optical port in an electric meter is multiplexed between at least two internal systems by using a multiplexer circuit which has a set of data lines which can be connected to the optical port and to one of the internal systems. The multiplexer is ... | 04/23/1991 |
| 4839854 | Data collection system having stationary unit with electromagnetic induction circuitry for bidirectionally relaying data A system for collection of data and entry of the data to a host computer has a portable, hand held, data collector for collecting data and a stationary data relay for receiving the data from the data collector and for transmitting the data to the host com... | 06/13/1989 |
| 4782341 | Meter data gathering and transmission system A utility data gathering system is disclosed as comprising a register including a series of index members coupled to a meter mechanism. Each index member includes a plurality of contacts and a switch arm moveable with its index member. The meter mechanism... | 11/01/1988 |
| 4736871 | Liquid measuring dispenser A dispenser for conductive liquids which includes appropriate circuit elements to measure the volume of liquid dispensed therethrough, and particularly useful in the bar and restaurant trade. The dispenser also includes circuitry to record the number of t... | 04/12/1988 |
| 4688038 | Remote meter-reader device for gas meters, and the like A device for allowing the remote-reading of a utility meter having circular dials. The device includes an array of phototransistors for each circular dial of the utility meter. The face of the dial is illuminated selectively, when the reading of the dial ... | 08/18/1987 |
| 4674056 | Portable billing machine A portable meter-billing machine, for issuing bills to the customers of public utilities such as town gas and electricity which are supplied to the consumers through meters at the consumer's premises, comprises a portable carrying case for the official me... | 06/16/1987 |
| 4584527 | AC electric energy meter having shielded radiation responsive data interface A watt-hour metering system includes a meter enclosed in a transparent cover and having an electronic register with a multichannel infra-red responsive data I/O port, and a portable electronic programmer/reader having a complementary infra-red data I/O po... | 04/22/1986 |
| 4556844 | Apparatus for mounting an electrical sensing device or encoder on a data output indicator or meter A pair of uniquely designed spring clips are snapped onto existing elements of a visual indicator such as the dial of a utility meter. An encoder having attachment elements with a spacing therebetween corresponding to the spacing between the clips is atta... | 12/03/1985 |
| 4526028 | Process and device for indicating and evaluating environmental parameters A multiplicity of environmental parameters, such as composition of the ambient atmosphere, temperature and air pressure, are concurrently measured with a portable device and registered together with information giving time and location of each measurement... | 07/02/1985 |
| 4516213 | Multiple rate metering system A multiple rate metering system suitable for use with an existing single rate, electromechanical electricity meter employing an Eddy current disc mounted in a casing, comprises a first unit mountable inside the casing of the electricity meter, and a secon... | 05/07/1985 |
| 4491793 | Detachable magnetic coupler communication apparatus Disclosed is a meter cover (housing) mounted receptacle and detachable magnetic coupler incorporating optical communication devices for electronically communicating with electronic circuitry housed within the meter cover.... | 01/01/1985 |
| 4463354 | Apparatus for communicating utility usage related information from a utility usage location to a portable utility usage registering device Method and apparatus are disclosed for communicating utility usage information from a utility usage location to a portable utility usage registering device (22). A utility usage detection circuit (10) is provided at the utility usage location. The circuit... | 07/31/1984 |
| 4415853 | Monitoring device and method for accurately determining and recording present demand of electrical energy A monitoring device and method for determining the present demand of electrical energy consumed over a predetermined time period which includes an adjustable reflective scanner or sensor mounted exteriorily of an electric meter for sensing and determining... | 11/15/1983 |
| 4368519 | Energy utilization or consumption recording method Energy utilized or consumed at a given location or facility causes pulses to be generated as a function of the instant rate of energy use, and such pulses are counted during succeeding discrete time intervals. The succeeding interval summation count value... | 01/11/1983 |
| 4240030 | Intelligent electric utility meter A conventional electric utility meter is equipped with special circuitry and components which work in conjunction with an inserted magnetic card to regulate the supply of electricity to the structure to which the unit is attached. In addition to including... | 12/16/1980 |
| 4236217 | Energy utilization or consumption recording arrangement Energy utilized or consumed at a given location or facility causes pulses to be generated as a function of the instant rate of energy use, and such pulses are counted at succeeding discrete time intervals. The succeeding interval summation count values ar... | 11/25/1980 |
| 4173010 | Traffic sign and improved system for recording vehicle speed Sensors are positioned adjacent a roadway. Such sensors conveniently comprise pressure switches connected to two speed hoses to be run over as in a traffic counter. Alternately, photo-optical, acoustical, or magnetic field sensors can be used. The sensors... | 10/30/1979 |
| 4133034 | Method and means of assimilating utility meter data A method of assimilating utility meter data at the meter locations by accumulating on an input tape customer profile information for a plurality of meter customers, including the customer's account number, service address, meter number, customer name, pre... | 01/02/1979 |
| 4110606 | Utility meter readout system A portable automatic billing and printing device which provides for an automatic calculation and printout of a customer bill for utilities such as water, gas and electricity. A customer utility card is positioned within the apparatus and pertinent data is... | 08/29/1978 |
| 4019135 | Recording device for energy meters A device for periodic, automatic, readable recording of a meter value from a consumption measuring meter including a casing attachable to an otherwise conventional meter and provided with a slot, a printing unit disposed within the casing and located out ... | 04/19/1977 |
| 3959628 | Electrical read-out apparatus A watt-hour meter or other visual read-out apparatus which may also be read electrically through the use of a plurality of code discs and a photoelectric sensing device in spaced juxtaposition with the back sides of the discs. The sensing device is suppor... | 05/25/1976 |
| 3946208 | Service meter with pulse counter A utility or service meter including print-out means stored in a tamper-proof zone of a housing and presentable to a record card insertable in the housing to print the accumulated total of the units of the service consumed.... | 03/23/1976 |
| 3943498 | Direct input photoelectric pulse initiator for meter telemetry and recording systems A completely solid state photoelectric pulse initiator for electric utility meter telemetry and recording systems includes a low power CMOS digital integrated circuit (I.C.) flip-flop output circuit for directly generating output pulses in response to the... | 03/09/1976 |
| 3932730 | Point-of-action billing transactor A utility billing transactor is disclosed for entering a new meter reading, computing the amount of utility service delivered as the difference between a previous meter reading and the new meter reading, computing the amount to be paid, and printing a bil... | 01/13/1976 |
