Abstract: A spread spectrum signal is processed after it is sampled at a selected sampling rate and tuned to a center frequency lower than the sampling rate and greater than zero. The signal is multiplied against a reference signal to produce a corresponding product output, and an accumulation output is formed by combining the product output with a phase-shifted version of the accumulation output.

Abstract: A method to separate data transmitted in parallel at arbitrary frequencies within a channel includes: separating a signal from one channel into a plurality of bins representing sub-channels, each bin having a bin frequency; generating a locked frequency by applying a phase locked loop (PLL) to each sub-channel; determining a difference between the locked frequency and the bin frequency; and correlating the signal with a difference between the locked frequency and the bin frequency.

Abstract: A spread spectrum signal is detected at an unknown spreading signal phase by sampling the signal at a selected sampling rate and performing a despreading function on the sampled signal using multiple reference signals, each of which represents one of multiple search phases of the spreading signal. Accumulation outputs then are produced by combining each despreading output with a phase-shifted version of the corresponding accumulation output.

Abstract: A metering system provides a measuring level with multiple meters and a collection level with multiple collectors. Each meter periodically measures a parameter, such as electricity consumption, and stores measurement information. Each meter periodically transmits its stored measurement information to a collector by a wireless signal. When a collector receives a transmission, it determines which meter sent the transmission, and then extracts unprocessed measurement information. The collector then processes the measurement information to generate a metered function, such as a load profile, a time-of-use profile, or a demand profile. The collector can compensate for missed transmissions and power failures. The metered functions for each meter are transmitted from the collectors to a monitoring station.

Abstract: A receiver which is capable of receiving in parallel data transmitted at arbitrary frequencies within a radio channel includes: a radio frequency (RF) front end to convert an RF signal to a digitized signal; a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) generator coupled to the RF front-end to separate the digitized signal into a plurality of sub-channels; a bank of phase locked loops (PLLs) coupled to the FFT generator, each PLL operating on a sub-channel with a sub-channel center; and a flag detector coupled to the bank of PLLs to detect variations from the sub-channel center and to recover the usage data transmitted from the end-point.

Abstract: The actual carrier frequency of a spread spectrum signal is found by tuning a pair of correlators to a pair of search frequencies and then correlating the spread spectrum signal against one or more reference signals to produce a pair of correlation magnitude values. The ratio of the difference between the correlation magnitude values to the sum of the correlation magnitude values determines the offset between the actual carrier frequency and an estimated carrier frequency.

Abstract: A remote data collection system for collecting usage data from an endpoint includes a monitoring module coupled to the endpoint, the monitoring module having a wireless transmitter to transmit the usage data. The system also includes a receiver to receive usage data from the wireless transmitter of the monitoring module, the receiver capable of receiving in parallel data transmitted at arbitrary frequencies within a radio channel.

Abstract: An adapter module mounts on a utility meter having one or more meter dials. The adapter module has a cover and a mating bracket. The cover includes a plurality of bosses extending from a front side of the cover to a rear side of the cover. The bosses are spaced a predetermined distance from a cover perimeter to provide space for ribs inside the adapter to provide extra support. The cover also has a tamper-proof magnet housing extending from the rear side of said cover and a front battery chamber portion to receive a battery. The mating bracket has a rear battery chamber which, in combination with the front battery chamber, houses one or more batteries. The bracket also has a printed circuit board (PCB) chamber which is adapted to receive a PCB with electronics on-board. The bracket also has a recess which receives a dial dog. The dial dog has a gear for driving original dials of the meter. The dial dog is driven by a meter dog, which in turn is connected to a gear on the original meter.

Abstract: A spread spectrum signal sampled at a selected sampling rate is despread and accumulated in an accumulation element at a center frequency lower than the sampling rate and higher than zero. A frequency adjustment element may be used to adjust the accumulation element to have a resonant frequency approximately equal to the center frequency.

Abstract: A direct-sequence spread spectrum communication system using a high power transmitter and a short spreading sequence which still satisfies FCC Rule 15.247 regarding power density. In addition to the spreading sequence, the carrier signal is modulated with a phase reversal sequence. Typically, each period of the phase reversal sequence has a duration equal to the total duration of the spreading sequence. The phase reversal sequence reduces the maximum power density of the signal, but is transparent to a receiver.

Abstract: A bidirectional radio system for low-cost high-throughput accumulation of data from a large number of site units. Frequency synchronization is achieved at low cost by transmitting a high accuracy carrier and clock signal at a base station, and using receiving circuitry at remote stations to extract the base clock signal and base carrier frequency and a phase-lock loop to stabilize the remote station carriers. A burst demodulator at a base station receiver can decode a short remote station response by scaling the response with the phase and amplitude of an initial segment of the response. The burst demodulator may continuously update the decoding threshold based on a comparison of the signal amplitude and the current value of the decoding threshold. In an alternate embodiment, the carrier synthesizer is not part of a phase-lock loop, but the transmitted signal is rotated by a phase proportional to a frequency error to provide an accurate carrier frequency.

Abstract: A bidirectional radio system for low cost, high through-put accumulation of data from a large number of site units. The site units are connected to remote radio transceivers in radio communication with a plurality of base stations. Accurate frequency synchronization allows multiple carriers within a 12.5 kHz FCC bandwidth. Frequency synchronization is achieved at low cost by transmitting a high accuracy carrier and clock signal at a base station, and using receiving circuitry a remote stations to extract the base clock signal and base carrier frequency and a phase-lock loop to stabilize the remote station carriers. The reception circuitry at a remote station provides independent carrier frequency and clock rate recovery, a phase-lock loop at baseband, and a coarse clock rate recovery circuit coupled to a fine clock rate recovery circuit. Remote station responses are time domain multiplexed.