GB2102169A - Data collection - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for collecting and storing data from one or more meters recording a metered commodity, the meters being gas or electricity meters, for example, recording the consumption of the commodity, in which the apparatus is coupled to the meter or meters by optical means marking the passage of a needle or by magnetic means using a Hall effect sensor. The consumption is recorded as the time interval for a rotation of the needle and the data may be stored in compressed form if the consumption is substantially constant over a plurality of time periods, the compressed form consisting of the number of time periods and the average consumption, corrected to accommodate small variations. The data is stored digitally and part of the memory may be detachable to permit transfer of the data to central records without interfering with the continuity of the collection. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Data collection This invention relates to data collection and in particular but not exclusively to the collection of data from installed meters on rates of use of metered commodities, for example gas and electricity.

Current methods of load research and consumer market research into the use of gas and electricity involve the installation of a specially wired meter unit in the case of gas and the insertion of a device into the energy supply line in the case of electricity. Data obtained from such special equipment is then captured in a conventional data recording instrument which can subsequently be connected to a computer system for analysis of the data. Alternatively arrangements are made with consumers to record meter readings regularly by hand. Such readings may then be collected and translated into a machine readable form for computer analysis.

These methods suffer from the disadvantages that the installation and subsequent removal of special equipment is expensive and inconvenient, and manually taken recordings are generally unreliable, error prone and expensive and tiresome to process. In addition both methods require computer processing that is expensive both in terms of hardware and manpower.

An object of the present invention is to produce apparatus for collecting data relating to a consumer's use of a metered commodity in which the above difficulties are at least to some extent alleviated.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for collecting data concerning a consumer's use of electricity, gas or other metered commodity including coupling means for couping the apparatus to an installed consumer's meter to provide a signal indicative of the amount of the commodity being recorded by the consumer's meter, and processing means connected to the coupling means and responsive to the said signal for deriving from the signal, data relating to the amount of the commodity being recorded by the consumer's meter and for storing the data.

The apparatus may include a plurality of coupling means each for coupling the apparatus to a respective installed consumer's meter to produce a signal indicative of the amount of the respective commodity being recorded by the consumer's meter, and the processing means may be responsive to each signal to derive data relating to the amount of each commodity being recorded by the meters.

The or each coupling means may include a reflective switch having a lamp and a photodetector so arranged as to be able to detect a reflective surface within a predetermined field of view of the photo detector that is illuminated by the lamp, the reflective switch being for viewing a moving part of the installed meter, for example a needle of a dial. Alternatively, the or each coupling means may include a magnetic switch including a Hall effect device and be responsive to a magnetisable moving part within the meter.

The processing means may include a timer for timing the interval between pulses received from the coupling means, and a memory for storing indications of the times. The memory may consist in part of a detachable module on which data relating to the interval between pulses received from the coupling means may be stored together with data indicating the date and times at which the data was obtained and, where appropriate, the commodity being metered. Use of a detachable memory module allows the apparatus to remain installed while the data is processed.

For the processing of the data, a removed memory module may be connected to a data analyser which may provide a print out, or a plot of the recorded data.

Data may be transferred periodically from a first memory to the detachable memory, and may be condensed by removing repeated data due to a steady use of the commodity.

The coupling means may be as described in U.K. Patent Application No. 81.05383.

Apparatus embodying the invention will now be described by way of example only making reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a block diagram of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawing, a sensor device 51 is coupled via thin wires 52, a junction box 53 and a plug and socket assembly 54, 55 to a data collecting unit 56. The sensor device 51 is an optical sensor of the type described and designated by reference numeral 2 in Figure 1 of the drawings of U.K. Patent Application No.

81.05383.

The data collecting unit 56 is sturdy light weight and portable, and includes a microcomputer 58 coupled to the sensor socket 55 via sensor drive circuitry 57. This drive circuitry 57 interfaces the micro-computer with the sensor by making the output of the sensor 51 compatible with the inputs of the micro-computer 58, as well as providing power for the photo-detector and lamp in the sensor. The sensor drive circuitry may typically include in LM339 integrated circuit connected as described in the above mentioned Patent Application.

The micro-computer 58 may typically be PIC1655 manufactured by General Instruments (Microelectronics) Limited, which may be driven by a crystal or other accurate oscillator. Typically a drift accuracy of about 50 ppm at 250 celsius is desirable.

The micro-computer 58 is powered by two sets of batteries, batteries A, and batteries B in a battery unit 59. In normal operation, these batteries are connected in parallel. The battery unit 59 is connected to a power supply unit 60 which produces the various supply voltages required by the rest of the circuitry. The battery unit is connected to a meter 62 that monitors the conditions of the batteries. Alternatively this function could be performed by the micro computer. To enable the batteries to be changed without interrupting the supply to the apparatus the battery unit also includes a 3 way switch 61.

These positions are respectively marked "Change Batteries A", "Normal", and "Change Batteries B".

To change the batteries whilst continuing to measure consumption rates, the switch is put in the "Change Batteries A" position. In this position, the apparatus is powered solely by batteries B. Batteries A can now be changed. The switch is then moved to the "Change Batteries B" position. In this position the apparatus is powered by batteries A and batteries B can be changed.

When both sets of batteries are changed the switch is returned to the normal position to run on both sets of batteries.

The micro-computer 58 operates in conjunction with two memories. The first memory 71 is used for short term storage and for the intermediate results of calculations. This consists of one or more Electrically Alterable Read Only Memories (EAROMs) and associated circuitry.

Typically the memory device may be type No.

ER2805 manufactured by General Instruments (Microelectronics) Limited. An EAROM is used because its contents are not lost in the event of short term power failure.

The second memory consists of a plug-in memory module 72, connectable via a plug 65 and socket 64 to control circuitry 63. The memory device in this module is one or more Erasable Programmable Read Only Memories (EPROMs).

A typical device suitable for this application is type number 2716 manufactured by Intel Corporation. This device is electrically programmable to store data and erasable using ultra-violet light. The control circuitry 63 includes an EPROM programmer, many designs for which are well known and currently available as commercial products. Coupled to the control circuitry 63 is a lamp 66 that indicates when the EPROM is being programmed. While in this condition data may be lost if the memory module is unplugged.

In operation, the sensor 51 is attached to the consumer's meter generally as is described in U.K.

Patent Application No. 81 05383. Each time the needle or a mark on the meter being monitored passes the sensor, a pulse appears on the output of the sensor drive circuitry 57. This sets a counter to a datum valve in the micro-computer 58 which counts at a rate defined by its internal clock until the next pulse is received indicating that the needle has again passed the sensor 51.

The count in the counter at this time thus represents the time of consumption of a unit quantity of the metered commodity. This count is then loaded into the first memory together with a label indicating the date, the time of day and the commodity. Typically the time between pulses from the sensor is recorded to the nearest second, although greater accuracy is possible if required.

After a predetermined time, for example 6 hours, all the stored data in the first memory 71 is loaded into the memory module 72. Regularly, for example every week, month or quarter, the memory module 72 is unplugged and replaced by an empty memory module. The module 72 can then be plugged into an analyser 73 for the data to be analysed and displayed. Alternatively, the data may be fed to an external computer for analysis.

Before transfer to the memory module 72 the data in the memory unit 71 may be condensed.

The data in memory unit 71 consists of a series of data words each consisting of code representing the time interval between pulses (tn) received from the sensor 51 and a label giving the date, time of day and any other relevant information.

In the case wherein there is a steady use of the commodity a large number of data words will contain the same code representing the time tn.

To avoid this repetition and hence save memory space a running smoothed average value of the time interval between pulses is calculated (tp) and stored in the memory module 72 as the data only when the actual recorded value of the time tn is not within a certain defined range of the average value tp. This range is defined by a smoothing constant s, such that a value of tn is out of range when it is not within 1/s of the current average value tp. The first value of tn is stored twice.

Subsequently each occurrence of a value tn is recorded within the range, the average is updated to take it into account, and a counter is incremented to count the number of pulses in the particular averaging sequence (Np).

If a value of tn is recorded that is out of range the current value of the average is stored together with the number Np indicating how many recordings have been averaged since the beginning of the particular averaging sequence under consideration. When this occurs, the average value tp is set to the instant value of the recorded time tn and a counter recording Np is reset. Typically the smoothing constant may be 32, giving a range of 38% each side of the average tp.

Mathematically the data condensing process may be described as follows: let Np be the number of the pulse in any averaging sequence, and tp, tn and s be as previously defined; LET N=N+1; INPUT tn; LET Np=Np+1; IF Np=1 let tp=tn ELSE IF tn < (tp+tp/s) AND tn > (tp-tp/s) Let tp=(Np.tp+tn)/(Np+ 1) ELSE STORE Np:tp LET Np=O; GOTO 10; In order to guard against a "hidden staircase" effect, a note is also kept of the value tp at the start of an averaging sequence. As the average is adjusted a check is made to ensure that the running average does not exceed the initial value by more than a given proportion. Should the running average exceed the given difference limits, say, +/-tp (start)/(s/2) then an out of limit step is recorded at the new value of tn.If the average becomes out of limit, its values is stored and the averaging process restarted.

With such a recording mechanism a smoothing constant can be selected to choose the required recording definition to identify average levels and peaking and average levels at peaks. The definition determines the amount of storage required and the cost of the instrument. (On the charts examined during experimental work between 150 and 186 flow rate changes were observed in 24 hours. It is not possible to say how this reflected actual data recordings of time between pulses without access to the data).

Alternatively, the micro-computer programme could determine the optimum value of the smoothing constant heuristically.

By keeping a separate count of time to 24 hours and separately accumulating the number of pulses counted in 24 hours, the micro computer could give a measure of the residual error in total in any given 24 hour period.

In a recording medium having 14 bit words the number of pulses at a flow rate would be stored in 5 bits. Where, as an exception, the count exceeded 31 binary the overflow part would be stored additively in the subsequent 5 bit location of the next word. Data would be stored and retrieved serially. The time between pulses (tp) for that count (Np) would be stored in the next 9 bits of the same word. As an exception, on the time (tp) between pulses exceeding 511 seconds the overflowing element of time would be stored in the subsequent word as an extended precision number of 13 bits (up to 8191 seconds). This overflow condition would be signalled by all of the 9 bits in the preceding word set to one bits.

In a recording medium organised in eight bit "bytes" the 14 bit words would be stored in two eight bit "bytes" with the two 'spare' bits used as identifiers.

In practice, the data in the memory module may be arranged as a series of ASCII characters and records suitable for passing to any computer system (micro-, mini, or mainframe) or any other recording medium for further collation and analysis using an industry standard serial interface protocol (RS232). Typically, records output to another sytem would consist of, say, -DD, MM, W*** machine serial (6)s*** nnnn(4) (No. of units consumed in the period) or, rate of flow recorded, e.g. cu. ft. per hour (4), duration of flow rate in seconds (5), and time in seconds since midnight to the beginning of the time period for that flow rate (5).

For immediate use in audit situations data may be passed directly to an X-Y digital or analogue plotter or be displayed on a TV screen.

The program functions of the micro-computer 58 are as follows: a. Control sequence b. Rationalise sensor input signals c. Drive pulse count lamp d. Keep count of pulses e. Time clock f. Calendar (set in Memory-1) g. Monitor manual over-ride/evacuation switch h. Evacuate Memory 1 to Memory-2 j. Housekeeping k. Rotate Memory-1 I. Monitor battery change switch m. Monitor memory change lamp n. Accumulate pulses for the day Returing to the drawing, the analyser 73 is mains power and includes a micro-computer. It may have a number of programmes which can be selected to give a display of the data in any one of a number of desired forms. This is done manually using a 12 position select key array, the functions of which will be described in detail below.

Three applications are envisaged for data collected by the apparatus. These are for market research, for load research and for an energy audit.

The objective of an energy audit is to be able to discern rates of consumption of energy commodities with respect to time with a sufficient degree of definition to enable energy consumption efficiencies of various equipment and appliances to be evaluated. A graphical presentation of the varying rates of consumption recorded throughout the day for domestic premises, for example would reveal actual consumption rates in respect of various appliances, e.g. central heating boiler, gas fire, cooking, etc.. Efficiencies of appliances in use and environmental effects upon such efficiencies could be deduced either by comparative visual techniques or by more precise mathematical models which relate energy consumption rates to volumetric heating parameters in regard to ambient temperature differentials.Fairly precise proportional costs can also be deduced, i.e. what proportion of total cost in any particular day (or on average over a period) was attributable to heating (central), heating (fire), or cooking, etc.. In order to accomplish such evaluations the data from the memory module 72 could be processed by the analyser and be displayed as a profile graph showing the various rates of consumption measured throughout the day either on the domestic television screen or on paper via a simple graph plotter device.

In the case of load research, the data could all be transferred to the memory system of a conventional computer to be collated and statistically analysed along with data from several such recording instruments.

The comsumer market research use requires less detailed information than for the load research or energy audit applications. In this case the data analyser would either print out a list of dates and times with numbers of units consumed within the specified intervals or would edit the data so that it may be passed to a conventional computer system where it may be summed with other data and analysed statistically as required.

In general, the consumer market research application requires detail of volumetric consumption over relatively long periods, typically cubic feet of gas per day collected over a period of, say, 100 days. The audit and load research require measurement of consumption rates throughout each day over a period of, say, one month at a time, with time accuracy (drift) to about 50 ppm and rate measurements excluding metering inaccuracies to about +/-5%. For gas, for example, this requires cubic foot consumption rates measured to the nearest second.

The functions selectable by the 12 position select key array are as follows: a. ON/OFF-Power ON/OFF b. Accept memory module and verify c. Format 1-RS232/ASC1 1-Print List:Market Research d. Format 2-RS232/ASC1 1-Print List:Load Research Analysis e. Format 3-RS232/HEX-Packed:Unedited Output f. Format 4--RS232/Graphical presentation ~single day profile:(plotter or printer) g. Format 5~Output Graphical presentation-TV screen single day-Period 000-0800 h. Format 6~Output Graphical presentation -TV screen single day-Period 0600- 1400 j.Format 7~Output Graphical presentation~ TV screen single day-Period 1200--1800 k. Format 8~Output Graphical presentation -TV screen single day-Period 1 600- 2400 I. Master clear m. Go/next day/next period/AOK The operation of the data analyser is as follows: A. Onb A. Read memory module check format A. Check daily pulse counts for each day as recorded and as totals A. Check daily time counts as recorded and as marker records A. Construct output label records A. Signal OK or NoGo B. After A, on c B. Output label records B. Unpack and print serially by line B. Date/time, Number of units consumed for the period (N.B.This format is for Market Research analysis and can either by printed on a simple printer or used as an input file to a computer for subsequent processing. Each line terminates with CR/LF) C. AfterA,ond C. Unpack and print serially by line C. Date/time, flow rate, number of seconds at that rate (N.B. This format is for Load Research Analysis and can either be printed on a simple printer or used as an input file to a computer for subsequent processing. Each line terminates with CR/LF) D. After A, on e D. Output label records D. Print as a stream of HEX characters unedited (whole memory module is output) (N.B. This format is for subsequent computer processing either for some special analyses or for detection of possible errors) E. After A, on f E. Output title from label records E.Output graphically the profile of day's consumption of energy (flow rate against time) (N.B. This format is used for energy audit purposes-visual comparative analyses) F. After A, on g, h, or k F. Output title from label records F. Output graphically the profile of the period's consumption of energy (flow rate against time) (N.B. This format is used for energy audit purposes in domestic premises) G. On 1 G. Master clear-resets computer program to "start", recommence at time A above H. After b, (and after verification of memory module contents and the computer shows the "AOK" lamp) proceeds to monitor select key positions.

After b, (and after single day or period presentation), continues with presentation of subsequent days or periods until all data in memory module is processed, then lights AOK lamp and proceeds to monitor select key positions.

While the invention has been exemplified by reference to the measurement of energy commodites for example electricity and gas, it will be appreciated that the same techniques can be applied to the monitoring of other systems, for example the monitoring of flight data in an aircraft or geophysical data in a borehole.

Claims (Filed on 17 May 1982) 1. Apparatus for collecting data relating to a metered commodity including: coupling means for coupling the apparatus to a meter to produce a signal indicative to the amount of the commodity being recorded by the meter, and processing means connected to the coupling means and responsive to the signal for deriving thereform data relating to the amount of the commodity being recorded by the meter and storing the data.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the processing means includes a clock and the data stored includes an indication of the time and the amount being recorded at that time.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 for collecting data concerning a consumer's consumption of electricity, gas or other metered commodity.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (13)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. computer system where it may be summed with other data and analysed statistically as required. In general, the consumer market research application requires detail of volumetric consumption over relatively long periods, typically cubic feet of gas per day collected over a period of, say, 100 days. The audit and load research require measurement of consumption rates throughout each day over a period of, say, one month at a time, with time accuracy (drift) to about 50 ppm and rate measurements excluding metering inaccuracies to about +/-5%. For gas, for example, this requires cubic foot consumption rates measured to the nearest second. The functions selectable by the 12 position select key array are as follows: a. ON/OFF-Power ON/OFF b. Accept memory module and verify c. Format 1-RS232/ASC1 1-Print List:Market Research d. Format 2-RS232/ASC1 1-Print List:Load Research Analysis e. Format 3-RS232/HEX-Packed:Unedited Output f. Format 4--RS232/Graphical presentation ~single day profile:(plotter or printer) g. Format 5~Output Graphical presentation-TV screen single day-Period 000-0800 h. Format 6~Output Graphical presentation -TV screen single day-Period 0600- 1400 j.Format 7~Output Graphical presentation~ TV screen single day-Period 1200--1800 k. Format 8~Output Graphical presentation -TV screen single day-Period 1 600- 2400 I. Master clear m. Go/next day/next period/AOK The operation of the data analyser is as follows: A. Onb A. Read memory module check format A. Check daily pulse counts for each day as recorded and as totals A. Check daily time counts as recorded and as marker records A. Construct output label records A. Signal OK or NoGo B. After A, on c B. Output label records B. Unpack and print serially by line B. Date/time, Number of units consumed for the period (N.B.This format is for Market Research analysis and can either by printed on a simple printer or used as an input file to a computer for subsequent processing. Each line terminates with CR/LF) C. AfterA,ond C. Unpack and print serially by line C. Date/time, flow rate, number of seconds at that rate (N.B. This format is for Load Research Analysis and can either be printed on a simple printer or used as an input file to a computer for subsequent processing. Each line terminates with CR/LF) D. After A, on e D. Output label records D. Print as a stream of HEX characters unedited (whole memory module is output) (N.B. This format is for subsequent computer processing either for some special analyses or for detection of possible errors) E. After A, on f E. Output title from label records E.Output graphically the profile of day's consumption of energy (flow rate against time) (N.B. This format is used for energy audit purposes-visual comparative analyses) F. After A, on g, h, or k F. Output title from label records F. Output graphically the profile of the period's consumption of energy (flow rate against time) (N.B. This format is used for energy audit purposes in domestic premises) G. On 1 G. Master clear-resets computer program to "start", recommence at time A above H. After b, (and after verification of memory module contents and the computer shows the "AOK" lamp) proceeds to monitor select key positions. After b, (and after single day or period presentation), continues with presentation of subsequent days or periods until all data in memory module is processed, then lights AOK lamp and proceeds to monitor select key positions. While the invention has been exemplified by reference to the measurement of energy commodites for example electricity and gas, it will be appreciated that the same techniques can be applied to the monitoring of other systems, for example the monitoring of flight data in an aircraft or geophysical data in a borehole. Claims (Filed on 17 May 1982)

1. Apparatus for collecting data relating to a metered commodity including: coupling means for coupling the apparatus to a meter to produce a signal indicative to the amount of the commodity being recorded by the meter, and processing means connected to the coupling means and responsive to the signal for deriving thereform data relating to the amount of the commodity being recorded by the meter and storing the data.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the processing means includes a clock and the data stored includes an indication of the time and the amount being recorded at that time.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 for collecting data concerning a consumer's consumption of electricity, gas or other metered commodity.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the

coupling means includes means responsive to the passage of an indicator needle of the meter past a datum position to produce a pulse and the processing means measures the time interval between successive pulses from the coupling means, the time interval being stored as the indication of the consumption.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the means responsive to the passage of an indicator needle includes a lamp and a photodetector so arranged as to be able to detect changes in reflected light from the lamp from a reflective surface associated with the needle when it passes the datum position.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the means responsive to the passage of an indicator needle includes a Hall effect device responsive to the movement of a magnetisable moving part within the meter.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein the processing means is arranged to store the data in a compressed form in which when the consumption is substantially the same for a plurality of time periods of predetermined length, an indication of the average consumption is recorded in conjunction with an indication of the number of time periods for which it is maintained.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the processing means is arranged to correct the recorded average consumption after each time period by reference to the actual consumption during the particular time period.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the processing means includes digital memory means for storing the data.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein part of the digital memory means is a detachable memory module consisting of semiconductor storage elements so arranged as to retain the data stored therein when the module is detached from the processing means, whereby the accumulated data can be transferred to other data processing means.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the processing means includes a suitably programmed microcomputer.

12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherien the coupling means includes a plurality of individual couplings respectively coupling the apparatus to a plurality of meters to produce signals indicative of the amounts being recorded and the processing means is responsive to the signals to derive data therefrom and store the data.

13. Apparatus for collecting data relating to a metered commodity substantially described herein with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing.