Supply meter and method for reading a fixed supply meter
First Claim
1. A supply meter system, comprising:
- a supply meter for measuring a consumption value and including a viewing field for alphanumerically displaying the measured value in an optically readable form, with the viewing field having an optical configuration and an optical situation;
a frame that is in the form of hollow shell having opposite first and second ends, with the first end adapted to a surface of the supply meter and placed thereon so that the shell extends around the viewing field;
an image reader for obtaining an image of the viewing field, wherein the image reader includes a camera mounted to the second end of the shell, with the camera having an optical system that is adapted to the optical configuration and the optical situation of the viewing field, wherein the shell produces a predetermined spacing between the camera and said surface of the supply meter, the shell establishes an orientation of the optical system of the camera toward the viewing field, and the shell extends around the optical system;
a light source for illuminating the viewing field, wherein the light source is positioned above the viewing field by the shell and the shell extends around the light source; and
a display connected to the camera for displaying the image of the viewing field.
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Abstract
An electronic image reader (9) is associated to a supply meter (1), for example a water meter, for measuring and displaying a measured value in an optically readable manner. This image reader is adapted for being positioned or guided in guide systems above an inspection window (3) of the supply meter. The image reader (9) is provided with an optical system, that includes a lens (7), which is adapted to the optical configuration of the inspection window and to the optical situation, in particular the geometric position of a display (2) behind the inspection window. The supply meter includes an identification mark (12), which is also located in the region of a guide system, namely guide rails (6.2, 6.3), and which is arranged relative to the guide system such that it can be read with the image reader without changing its optical system.
75 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A supply meter system, comprising:
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a supply meter for measuring a consumption value and including a viewing field for alphanumerically displaying the measured value in an optically readable form, with the viewing field having an optical configuration and an optical situation;
a frame that is in the form of hollow shell having opposite first and second ends, with the first end adapted to a surface of the supply meter and placed thereon so that the shell extends around the viewing field;
an image reader for obtaining an image of the viewing field, wherein the image reader includes a camera mounted to the second end of the shell, with the camera having an optical system that is adapted to the optical configuration and the optical situation of the viewing field, wherein the shell produces a predetermined spacing between the camera and said surface of the supply meter, the shell establishes an orientation of the optical system of the camera toward the viewing field, and the shell extends around the optical system;
a light source for illuminating the viewing field, wherein the light source is positioned above the viewing field by the shell and the shell extends around the light source; and
a display connected to the camera for displaying the image of the viewing field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A supply meter system, comprising:
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a supply meter for measuring a consumption value and including a viewing field for alphanumerically displaying the measured value in an optically readable form, with the viewing field having an optical configuration and an optical situation;
a frame that is in the form of a hollow shell having opposite first and second ends, with the first end adapted to a surface of the supply meter and placed thereon so that the shell extends around the viewing field;
a scanner mounted to the second end of the shell for obtaining an image of the viewing field by way of a point-by-point recording and storage of the image, with the scanner having an optical system that is adapted to the optical configuration and the optical situation of the viewing field, wherein the shell produces a predetermined spacing between the scanner and said surface of the supply meter, the shell establishes an orientation of the optical system of the scanner toward the viewing field, and the shell extends around the optical system;
a light source for illuminating the viewing field, wherein the light source is positioned above the viewing field by the shell and the shell extends around the light source; and
a display connected to the scanner for displaying the image of the viewing field.
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38. A supply meter system, comprising:
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a supply meter for measuring a consumption value and including a viewing field for alphanumerically displaying the measured value in an optically readable form, with the viewing field having an optical configuration and an optical situation;
a guide system on the supply meter;
an electronic image reader positioned above the viewing field by the guide system for obtaining an image of the viewing field, with the image reader having an optical system that is adapted to the optical configuration and the optical situation of the viewing field;
a display connected to the image reader for displaying the image of the viewing field; and
a light source for illuminating the viewing field, with the light source including at least one light emitter and a hollow light ring of a transparent or translucent material which surrounds the optical system of the image reader in a substantially concentric relationship, wherein the light ring includes an end face, which faces the image reader, and an exit surface, which faces the viewing field of the supply meter, and the light emitter is positioned on the end face for radiating light beams into the light ring, with the exit surface of the light ring sloping toward the viewing field of the supply meter in such a manner that light beams exit from said exit surface and strike the viewing field. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A supply meter system, comprising:
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a supply meter for measuring a consumption value, and including a viewing field for alphanumerically displaying the measured value in an optically readable form, with the viewing field having an optical configuration and an optical situation;
a guide system on the supply meter;
a light source positioned above the viewing field by the guide system for illuminating the viewing field;
an electronic image reader positioned above the viewing field by the guide system for obtaining an image of the viewing field, with the image reader having an optical system that is adapted to the optical configuration and the optical situation of the viewing field;
a display connected to the image reader and operative for displaying the image of the viewing field; and
a camera mounted to a support so that the camera is in a predetermined position above the display for recording data shown on the display.
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42. A supply meter system, comprising:
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a supply meter for measuring a consumption value and including a viewing field for alphanumerically displaying the measured value in an optically readable form, with the viewing field having an optical configuration and an optical situation;
a guide system on the supply meter;
a light source positioned above the viewing field by the guide system for illuminating the viewing field;
a digital camera positioned above the viewing field by the guide system for obtaining an image of the viewing field, with the camera having an optical system that is adapted to the optical configuration and to the optical situation of the viewing field, and the optical system includes a lens;
a display connected to the image reader and operative for displaying the image of the viewing field; and
a shutter positioned between the lens of the digital camera and the viewing field of the supply meter for limiting detail of the image of the viewing field.
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43. A supply meter system, comprising:
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a supply meter for measuring a consumption value and including a viewing field for alphanumerically displaying the measured value in an optically readable form, with the viewing field having an optical configuration and an optical situation;
a guide system on the supply meter;
an electronic image reader positioned above the viewing field by the guide system for obtaining an image of the viewing field, with the image reader having an optical system that is adapted to the optical configuration and the optical situation of the viewing field;
a light source positioned above the viewing field by the guide system for illuminating the viewing field;
a display connected to the image reader and operative for displaying the image of the viewing field;
means for storing a first and a second reading time;
means for transferring and reading into the computer a sequence of signals, which represent information selected from a group consisting of a consumption value and identification data of a reading location at the first and the second reading time;
a program for an alphanumerical evaluation of read customer data of the first and the second reading time with a storage for storing the alphanumerically evaluated customer data of the first and the second reading time;
a second reading of information selected from a group consisting of a consumption value and identification data of the reading location after expiration of a reading time interval; and
means for comparing the alphanumerically evaluated customer data of the first and the second reading time and for computing a consumption between the first and the second reading time of the former and the current consumption value.
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Specification