Gauge reading device and system

• US 20080148877A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cypress Envirosystems, Inc (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Envirosystems, Inc (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Sim, Harry
• Granted Patent: US 8,411,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/866.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/18 Remote displaying of utility meter readings
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/008 Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A gauge monitoring system can include a parameter store that stores parameter data in digital form for at least one gauge. The parameter data can correspond to different gauge readings. An image processing circuit can be coupled to receive image data from an image sensor physically attached to at least one gauge. The image processing circuit can analyze the image data to generate image data points corresponding to the gauge image and generates a gauge reading from the image data points and the parameter data. A transmitting circuit transmit the gauge reading to a location remote from the gauge. A control circuit that activates the image processing circuit and couples the gauge reading to the transmitting circuit.

Claims

13-1. The gauge reading system of claim 1, wherein:

the transmitting circuit transmits the gauge reading via a wireless signal.

20. A method of reading a gauge, comprising the steps of:

a. acquiring image data of a gauge from an image sensor physically attached to the gauge;

b. processing the image data to distinguish gauge measurement points from non-measurement points;

c. determining a gauge reading from the gauge measurement points and at least stored gauge parameter data;

d. sending the gauge reading to a location remote from the gauge.

21. The method of claim 20, further including:

prior to steps a. to d.,

acquiring image data of the gauge with the image sensor physically attached to the gauge; and

reading image data of the gauge from the image sensor.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein:

prior to acquiring image data, turning on the image sensor; and

after reading image data, turning off the image sensor.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein:

prior to acquiring image data, turning on an illumination source to illuminate the gauge; and

after acquiring image data, turning off the illumination source.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the step b. includes

scanning predetermined sections of image data that are less than all of the image data, and

determining measurement points from non measurement points in the predetermined sections;

the step c. includes

converting the measurement points to a predetermined format data, and

generating the gauge reading with at least the predetermined format data.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the image data comprises plurality of pixels; and

determining measurement points from non-measurement points includes

determining an average pixel intensity for blocks of pixels within the scanned predetermined sections, and

determine position of highest contrast pixel of blocks of pixels.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the gauge is radial gauge; and

the predetermined sections are pixel locations corresponding to a plurality of concentric circles within an image of the gauge.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the gauge is linear gauge; and

the predetermined sections are pixel locations corresponding to at least one line within the image of the gauge.

28. The method of claim 20, further including:

checking a battery status of a battery within an assembly attached to the gauge; and

activating an indication if the battery status is outside of a predetermined limit.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein:

activating an indication includes a step selected from the group of;

activating a visual indicator on the assembly,

activating an audio indicator on the assembly, and

sending an alarm indication to a location remote from the gauge.

30. The method of claim 20, further including:

sending the gauge reading to a location remote from the gauge.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein:

sending the gauge reading includes a step selected from the group of;

transmitting the gauge reading wirelessly,

sending a digital electrical signal via at least one wire, and

sending an analog electrical signal via at least one wire.

33. The method of claim 20, further including:

calibration steps including

i. acquiring image data of the gauge with the image sensor physically attached to the gauge.

ii. processing the image data to distinguish gauge measurement points from non-measurement points;

iii. determining a gauge reading from the gauge measurement points, the stored gauge parameter data, and calibration parameter data;

iv. if the gauge reading determined in step iii does not correspond to an actual gauge reading, changing the calibration parameter data; and

v. repeating steps i to iv until gauge reading determined in step iii corresponds to an actual gauge reading.

34. A gauge reading system, comprising:

at least one gauge reader, comprising

an image sensor for generating digital image data,

an attachment for affixing the gauge reader to a gauge and directing an image of the gauge image to the image sensor,

an image processor for generating a gauge reading from the image data, and

an output circuit that outputs the gauge reading to a location remote from the gauge.

35. The gauge reading system of claim 34, wherein:

the output circuit comprises a wireless transmitter that transmits gauge reading via a wireless connection.

36. The method of claim 35, further including:

a computer based monitoring system comprising,

a monitoring central processing unit,

a monitoring memory for storing monitoring computer program, and

a wireless receiver for receiving the gauge reading via the wireless connection.

37. The gauge reading system of claim 34, wherein:

the output circuit comprises a network interface.

38. The gauge reading system of claim 35, further including:

a monitoring system that includes at least one analog control signal input;

a wireless receiver for receiving the gauge reading via the wireless connection; and

at least one digital-to-analog converter coupled to the analog control signal input that converts the gauge reading received by the wireless receiver from a digital value to an analog signal.

39. The gauge reading system of claim 34, wherein:

the output circuit includes

at least one digital-to-analog converter input that converts the gauge reading received from a digital value into an analog signal.

40. The gauge reading system of claim 34, wherein:

the gauge reader further includes an illumination source that illuminates an attached gauge.

41. The gauge reading system of claim 34, wherein:

the gauge reader further includes a reflector for reflecting an image of an attached gauge to the image sensor.