Magnetic Rotation Sensing
First Claim
1. A rotation sensing device, comprising:
- a magnet apparatus comprising a magnet, the magnet apparatus configured to be coupled to a dial apparatus of a meter; and
a magnetic field sensor configured to be coupled to a dial cover,wherein when the magnetic field sensor is coupled to the dial cover, a distance between the magnet of the magnet apparatus and the magnetic field sensor is a function of a magnetic field strength of the magnet and a sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor, andwherein the magnetic field sensor is configured to generate a signal based upon the sensed magnetic field of the magnet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments for rotation sensing are provided. The device may include a magnet apparatus comprising a magnet, the magnet apparatus configured to be coupled to a dial apparatus of a meter. Also included may be a magnetic field sensor configured to be coupled to a dial cover. When the magnet apparatus is coupled to the dial apparatus and the magnetic field sensor is coupled to the dial cover, the distance between the magnet and the magnetic field sensor may be a function of the strength of the magnet and the sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor. Also, the magnetic field sensor may be configured to generate an analog signal. The device may also include a memory component storing logic configured to detect an abnormal condition based on a data value of the analog signal. The detected condition may be magnetic tampering, a missing dial cover, and/or a missing dial hand.
13 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A rotation sensing device, comprising:
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a magnet apparatus comprising a magnet, the magnet apparatus configured to be coupled to a dial apparatus of a meter; and a magnetic field sensor configured to be coupled to a dial cover, wherein when the magnetic field sensor is coupled to the dial cover, a distance between the magnet of the magnet apparatus and the magnetic field sensor is a function of a magnetic field strength of the magnet and a sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor, and wherein the magnetic field sensor is configured to generate a signal based upon the sensed magnetic field of the magnet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for sensing the rotation of a dial apparatus of a metering device, comprising:
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generating a magnetic field that varies according to the rotation of a dial apparatus; sensing the generated magnetic field when the magnetic field sensor is within a magnetic field sensing distance of the generated magnetic field; receiving a signal corresponding to the sensing of the magnetic field sensor; and detecting an abnormal condition based on the signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A system for rotation sensing, comprising:
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a dial apparatus; a magnet apparatus comprising a magnet, the magnet apparatus coupled to the dial apparatus; and a magnetic field sensor coupled to a dial cover, the dial cover covering the dial apparatus, wherein the distance between the magnet of the magnet apparatus and the magnetic field sensor is a function of a magnetic field strength of the magnet and a sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor, and wherein the magnetic field sensor is configured to generate a signal based upon the sensed magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification