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Method and apparatus for monitoring an analog meter

  • US 6,845,177 B2
  • Filed: 02/01/2001
  • Issued: 01/18/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for monitoring an analog meter having a set of graduation segments and at least one needle, the method comprising the steps of:

  • recording a first digitized image of the meter;

    extracting a set of edge points, the points representing the graduation segments;

    performing a Hough Transform on the set of edge points so as to obtain a center point of the graduation segments;

    extracting an intensity profile of the image along a path through the graduation segments so as to obtain a set of detected graduation segments and a position of the needle relative to the graduation segments;

    obtaining a parameter representative of needle position accuracy;

    recording a second digitized image of the meter;

    obtaining the position of the needle without performing a Hough Transform so as to obtain a position of a center point when the parameter meets a predefined condition; and

    performing the Hough Transform so as to obtain the center point when the parameter does not meet the predefined condition.

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