GB2223113A

GB2223113A - Meter

Info

Publication number: GB2223113A
Application number: GB8921604A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Andre Hill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-09-24
Filing date: 1989-09-25
Publication date: 1990-03-28
Also published as: GB8921604D0; GB8822495D0

Abstract

A meter, for example an electricity meter or a meter for a gaming machine, has a display for displaying the meter reading in bar coded form. The meter inspector can use a light pen coupled to a portable memory device for recording the reading, and information recorded can, at a later stage, be down-loaded into a main data retrieval and processing station. <IMAGE>

Description

METER This invention relates to a meter. In particular it relates to a meter of the type having a discrete display zone for displaying the meter reading rather than a meter in which the position of a plurality of individual dials is noted in order to determine the meter reading.

A gaming machine, for example, may have a number of meters, relating to input of coins, output of coins, input of tokens and output of tokens. The inspector responsible for recording the readings of such meters, and indeed the inspector responsible for recording the readings of electricity meters and the like, will read a large number of meters each day, and it is inevitable that errors will occur from time to time. These can be difficult to detect, and errors, if and when when detected, can be costly to put right. Moreover, in a coin freed machine the possibility of fraud is present.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a meter having a display for displaying the meter reading in a coded form adapted to be read electronically.

Suitably, the display is a linear display.

Preferably, the display displays the meter reading in bar coded form.

Suitably, the meter may comprise a plurality of independently movable elements each of which carries coded forms of alphanumerical characters, each element being so constructed and/or arranged that one of its coded forms of alphanumerical characters forms part of the display at any given time. Suitably, each movable element is a rotary part carrying the coded forms of the alphanumerical characters, arranged around its outer, generally cylindrical, surface.

The meter may additionally comprise a display for displaying the meter reading in an alphanumerical form.

Such a display may be separate from the display for displaying the meter reading in a coded form.

Alternatively, a meter may comprise a single display displaying the meter reading both in a coded form and in a alphanumerical form. In such embodiments the meter may suitably comprise a plurality of independently movable elements, each of which carries coded forms of alphanumerical characters in association with the respective alphanumerical characters themselves, whereby the display in coded form is suitably alongside the display in alphanumerical form.

The meter will usually be a mechanical or electro-mechanical meter.

Preferably, the meter comprises a guide to guide a light pen along the display for displaying the meter reading in a coded form.

Commonly, the meter will be based upon the decimal system and so will comprise a display for displaying the meter reading made up of the coded forms of the numbers 0 to 9, as well as, optionally, a corresponding display for the numbers 0 to 9 themselves.

In use, the inspector may have a portable unit for electronically recording meter readings, for example a personal computer or a personal organiser, coupled to a part for reading the display, which part may, for example, be a light pen. When the meter is read the meter reading is recorded in the memory and the information can be down-loaded at a main data processing station subsequently. Preferably, each meter site is provided with coded identification means identifying the site for example, the gaming machine or the electricity meter in question. It may be desirable for coded identification means to be so juxtaposed to the display which displays the meter reading in coded form as to be co-read with it.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a meter/recording system comprising a plurality of meters to be read, portable reading and recording means for reading and recording the meter readings electronically, and a main data retrieval unit for receiving and processing information read and recorded by the portable reading and recording means.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a display portion of a first meter; and Fig. 2 shows a display portion of a second meter.

The meter of Fig. 1 may, for example, be a meter for recording the supply of a mains product or service, for example gas, water or electricity, or a meter for recording a number of discrete operations or events, for example recording the number of operations of industrial equipment or plays of a gaming machine. It has a display portion with separate linear numerical and bar-coded displays 2 and 4. Internally of the meter there are two sets of rotary elements whose positions determine the readings of the displays, each individual element having ten facets marked in sequence with different numbers 0-9 or bar codes representing numbers 0-9. The two sets of elements are connected together via gears or sprockets to a driving mechanism which is operated, for example, in response to the supply of gas, electricity or water, or usage of a amusement machine.

In the meter of Fig. 2, the meter has a single set of rotary elements carrying both bar code and numerical indicia. Each facet of each rotary element carries a number 0-9 and the bar coded equivalent.

The meters of Figs. 1 and 2 both carry bar code strips (not shown) identifying their location.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A meter having a display for displaying the meter reading in a coded form which can be read electronically.

2. A meter as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the display is a linear display.

3. A meter as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the display may display the meter reading in a bar coded form.

4. A meter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the meter comprises a display for additionally displaying the meter reading in alphanumerical form.

5. A meter as claimed in Claim 4, wherein there is a common display for displaying the meter reading in an alphanumerical form and in a coded form.

6. A meter as claimed in Claim 5 comprising a plurality of independently rotatable elements, each carrying on its outer surface, in sequence, the numbers 0-9 in numerical form, each number 0-9 being juxtaposed with its coded equivalent such that the display shows the meter reading in numerical and coded form side-by-side.

7. A meter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the meter comprises a guide to guide a light pen along the display for displaying the meter reading in a coded form.

8. A meter as claimed in any preceding claim wherein, the meter carries, or has otherwise associated with it, means providing coded identification information about the meter.

9. A meter as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the means providing coded identification information about the meter is so juxtaposed to the display which displays the meter read-ing in coded form as to be co-read with it.

10. A meter/recording system comprising a plurality of meters to be read, portable reading and recording means for reading and recording the meter reading electronically, and a main data retrieval unit for receiving and processing information read and recorded by the portable reading and recording means.

11. A meter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A meter/recording system substantially as hereinbefore described.