Automatic reading of a meter having a dial or numeric visual display
First Claim
1. A method of providing a module for automatic reading of dial and numeric display meters using image sensing and digital signal processing means whereby the image sensor can view the existing meter so that the existing meter is not changed.
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Abstract
An automatic meter reading uses information from existing dial or numeric display meters without any modification to the existing meter. Image detection is used to capture the meter image. Digital signal processing means are used to convert the image to characters by rotating, aligning, ordering, and comparing them to a stored character set as needed to represent the actual meter reading. Security based on a typical changes to the meter image can be provided by the same digital signal processing means. The results is the converted to binary form and transmitted using any of a wide variety of available means to a central base for storage, further analysis, and billing.
60 Citations
9 Claims
- 1. A method of providing a module for automatic reading of dial and numeric display meters using image sensing and digital signal processing means whereby the image sensor can view the existing meter so that the existing meter is not changed.
Specification