Patent Document ID: 20050222784
Application ID: 10814255
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A power meter reader system for automatically reading a power meter unit mounted on a structure that is consuming power, the power meter unit including an indication with a cyclical property having a period that varies at a rate indicative of power consumption of the structure, the system comprising: a) a detection unit mounted on the power meter unit for monitoring the power consumption, the detection unit comprising: i) a sensor unit disposed adjacent to the power meter for monitoring the cyclical property of the indication and generating a consumption detection signal; ii) a processing unit connected to the sensor unit for receiving the consumption detection signal and generating an information signal, the processing unit further generating a sensor enable signal to enable the sensor unit for only a portion of the cyclical property of the indication, the portion coinciding with a time interval indicating the completion of one period of the cyclical property, the time interval being shorter than the period of the cyclical property; and, iii) a transmitter connected to the processing unit for receiving the information signal and transmitting a transmission signal; and, b) a display unit located remotely with respect to the detection unit, the display unit receiving the transmission signal and displaying the power consumption.