Automated meter inspection and reading
First Claim
1. A method for automated obtaining of information from devices having exposed faces, with fixed and changeable visual indicia of information thereon;
- and wherein each of said devices, is fixedly positioned in a pre-set position;
said method comprising the steps of;
a. illuminating an exposed face with non shadow casting diffused light;
b. finding a location reference point on the face of the device by visually scanning the illuminated exposed face and the area peripheral thereto, by visual scanning means, with computer feedback means, whereby the periphery of the illuminated exposed face is determined; and
determining the location reference point on the illuminated face relative to said periphery, with said computer feedback means;
c. identifying the face of the device and the device by fitting areas of the face of the device, relative to the location reference point, with computer feedback means utilizing computer-stored visual template means, comprising individual templates unique to each of the devices, until a template correlates with a pre-located position on the face of the device being template fitted;
with the particular face and device being thereby identified;
d. visually scanning the illuminated identified face for the visual indicia thereon, by optical character recognition means, with location instructions by the computer feedback means, with reference to computer stored parameters of the device and the face thereof; and
e. wherein the said illuminated exposed face is circular and has a circumference, wherein the said area peripheral to the illuminated face is a light pixel area, and the said periphery of the illuminated face is a dark pixel area;
wherein the circumference of the illuminated exposed face is determined by visually scanning the area peripheral to the illuminated exposed face, for light and dark pixel areas, in diagonal directions, which intersect said face at least at three points, wherein for each intersection, light pixel areas change to dark pixel areas;
said three points defining the circumference of the face.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and device, including a portable embodiment, for the automated inspection of devices having different visual changeable and non-changeable indicia on the faces thereof. Specific devices include meters, particularly electric usage meters, for detection of tampering, for improving efficiency of maintenance procedures and for usage in reading the meters for billing purposes. Meters of various heights, configuration and construction are fixed into designated positions and are inspected by visual computer-linked camera scanning, to determine meter periphery and a location reference point, and imaging of identifying portions of meter faces relative to the determined location reference point. The identifying portions are compared with correlative templates of existing meter types, stored in computer memory. Identification of specific meter type permits exact location and subsequent OCR identification of the specific meter number (with use history) and parameters (voltage, amperage, wire connections etc.) for preparation of an operability-inspection station. Meter dial needle positions are read by light scanning of respective determined dial positions, and imaging of connected dark pixels, indicating needle location. A slope determination fixes the reading of the dial, which is used for billing purposes. Adjacent dial needles are in a predetermined relative position with deviations therefrom indicating tampering. Numeral meter readings are OCR scanned for billing purposes.
61 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method for automated obtaining of information from devices having exposed faces, with fixed and changeable visual indicia of information thereon;
- and wherein each of said devices, is fixedly positioned in a pre-set position;
said method comprising the steps of;a. illuminating an exposed face with non shadow casting diffused light; b. finding a location reference point on the face of the device by visually scanning the illuminated exposed face and the area peripheral thereto, by visual scanning means, with computer feedback means, whereby the periphery of the illuminated exposed face is determined; and
determining the location reference point on the illuminated face relative to said periphery, with said computer feedback means;c. identifying the face of the device and the device by fitting areas of the face of the device, relative to the location reference point, with computer feedback means utilizing computer-stored visual template means, comprising individual templates unique to each of the devices, until a template correlates with a pre-located position on the face of the device being template fitted;
with the particular face and device being thereby identified;d. visually scanning the illuminated identified face for the visual indicia thereon, by optical character recognition means, with location instructions by the computer feedback means, with reference to computer stored parameters of the device and the face thereof; and e. wherein the said illuminated exposed face is circular and has a circumference, wherein the said area peripheral to the illuminated face is a light pixel area, and the said periphery of the illuminated face is a dark pixel area;
wherein the circumference of the illuminated exposed face is determined by visually scanning the area peripheral to the illuminated exposed face, for light and dark pixel areas, in diagonal directions, which intersect said face at least at three points, wherein for each intersection, light pixel areas change to dark pixel areas;
said three points defining the circumference of the face. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- and wherein each of said devices, is fixedly positioned in a pre-set position;
Specification