Sense/control devices, configuration tools and methods for such devices, and systems including such devices

• US 8,165,339 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cypress Envirosystems, Inc (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Sim, Harry, Kim, Steve Y., Kramer, Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W
• Application Number:
  US12/214,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20090034788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/152, 382/312, 382/313, 382/321, 348/160, 348/82, 348/83, 250/239
• US Class Current: 382/100
• 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: G01D 5/39 Scanning a visible indication of the measured value and reproducing this indication at the remote place, e.g. on the screen of a cathode ray tube mechanical adjustment G01D5/264
• 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 system for monitoring equipment in a non-invasive fashion may include at least one sense device comprising an electronics module that includes a image sensor, at least one controller coupled to receive image data from the image sensor and generate a reading value, a display that displays the reading value from the at least one controller. In addition, a mounting adapter, separate from and attachable to the electronics module, may be included that has a fitting portion adaptable to be affixed to the monitored equipment and an image opening that enables an image of the monitored equipment to be acquired. In other embodiments, a sense device may provide a signal, such as a DC signal from piece of equipment. A configuration tool may configure parameters by which a reading value is generated from such a DC signal. In one arrangement, a configuration tool may configure sense devices via a wireless connection, and display any images of the monitored equipment captured by the sense device. This may enable intuitive configuration of sense devices and/or quick confirmation of sense device readings.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring equipment, comprising:

at least one sense device comprising an electronics module that includes an image sensor, at least one controller coupled to receive image data from the image sensor and generate a reading value, and a display that displays the reading value from the at least one controller, and

a mounting adapter, separate from and attachable to the electronics module, the mounting adapter including a fitting portion adaptable to be affixed to the monitored equipment and an image opening that enables an image of the monitored equipment to be acquired, wherein the fitting portion includes flexible fingers formed adjacent to one another for flexing to accommodate monitored equipment of varying sizes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the mounting adapter further includes a holding band formed from a resilient material for surrounding the flexible fingers and for forcing the flexible fingers against the monitored device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the mounting adapter further includes a clamp for surrounding the flexible fingers and compressing such flexible fingers against the monitored device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the electronics module further includes a wireless transmitting section, and the at least one controller includes executable instructions for transmitting the reading value and for transmitting the image data via the wireless transmitting section from the at least one sense device.

5. The system of claim 1, further including:

a receiver comprising receiver communication circuitry that communicates with at least one sense device and receives data acquired by the sense device of equipment to which the sense device is attached.

6. The system of claim 5, further including:

the receiver communication circuitry comprises at least two separate communication channel circuits, each processing a separate communication channel.

7. The system of claim 6, further including:

a separate antenna corresponding to each separate communication channel circuit.

8. The system of claim 5, further including:

a repeater comprising repeater communication circuitry that communicates with at least one sense device and forwards such data acquired by the sense device to the receiver.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the repeater communication circuitry comprises at least two separate communication channel circuits, each processing a separate communication channel.

10. An apparatus for monitoring equipment, comprising:

An electronics module comprising;

an image sensor;

a controller coupled to the image sensor, wherein the controller is configured to receive image data from the image sensor and generate a reading value based on the image data, and

a display coupled with the controller, wherein the display is configured to display the reading value from the controller; and

a mounting adapter comprising a fitting portion adaptable to be affixed to the monitored equipment, and further comprising an image opening that enables an image of the monitored equipment to be acquired, wherein the fitting portion includes flexible fingers formed adjacent to one another for flexing to accommodate monitored equipment of varying sizes.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the flexible fingers surround an imaging opening, and wherein the image sensor is configured to acquire the image data through the imaging opening.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the display is physically attached to a display side of the electronics module.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mounting adapter is separate from and attachable to the electronics module.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mounting adapter further includes a holding band formed from a resilient material for surrounding the flexible fingers and for forcing the flexible fingers against the monitored device.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mounting adapter further includes a clamp for surrounding the flexible fingers and compressing such flexible fingers against the monitored device.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electronics module further includes a wireless transmitting section, and the controller includes executable instructions for transmitting the reading value and for transmitting the image data via the wireless transmitting section.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising receiver communication circuitry coupled with the controller, wherein the receiver communication circuitry is configured to communicate with at least one other sense device, and is further configured to receive data acquired by the at least one other sense device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the receiver communication circuitry comprises at least two separate communication channel circuits, each processing a separate communication channel.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a separate antenna for each of the at least two separate communication channel circuits.