DE102017117397A1 - Measurement signal device for a physical variable - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a measurement device (100) for a physical quantity, having a sensor connection (101) for obtaining the physical quantity, in order to obtain a measured value (103), a processor (105), which is adapted to the measured value (103) Handling instruction (107) for electronically handling the measurement value (103), wherein the processor (105) is further configured to code the measurement value (103) together with the handling instruction (107) into a graphically representable code (109) and a display (111), which is designed to graphically represent the graphically representable code (109).

Description

The present disclosure relates to a physical quantity measurement signal device, in particular, electrical energy.

A measuring signal device can usually display at least one measured value via an optical display and update the measured value at an interval. The at least one measured value can be detectable by a processing unit via a communication interface of the measuring signal device. A disadvantage of this type of measured value detection is the increased component complexity, which may be necessary for the processing unit and / or the communication interface. The detection of the measured value can also be realized visually, by means of reading by a user of the measuring signal device, the reading of the measured value having the disadvantage of an increased susceptibility to error.

It is the object of the present disclosure to provide an improved measurement signal device.

This object is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are subject of the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying figures.

The present disclosure is based on the finding that the above object can be achieved by a measuring signal device which provides a measured value as part of a digital code via a display. The code additionally has a handling instruction relating to the measured value, which can be used by a reading device to process the measured value. The code can be visualized as a graphic code, in particular as a two-dimensional code, QR code and / or binary code of the display.

As a result, the measured value can be detected, for example, by the display of the measuring signal device in an efficient and error-free manner, in particular with the aid of a camera integrated in the reading device.

According to a first aspect, the disclosure relates to a physical quantity measurement signal device, having a sensor port for providing the physical quantity in order to obtain a measured value, a processor which is designed to associate a measurement instruction with a handling instruction for the electronic handling of the measured value, wherein the processor is further configured to encode the measured value together with the handling instruction into a graphically displayable code, and a display, which is designed to graphically represent the graphically representable code.

In one embodiment, the measurement signal device comprises a physical quantity sensor, wherein the sensor is electrically connected to the sensor port for providing the physical quantity or is part of the sensor port. In this way, additional sensors can be connected very easily.

In one embodiment, the measurement signal device comprises a communication interface for receiving the physical quantity, wherein the communication interface is electrically connected to the sensor terminal for providing the physical quantity. The communication interface may be wired or wireless.
The measurement signal device can convert the physical quantity into a discrete measured value, which can be provided to the processor in digital form. The measuring signal device can also be designed for the periodic detection of the physical quantity, wherein the representation of the graphically representable code can be updated by the display with each detection of the physical measured variable. In particular, with each detection of the physical quantity, a new graphically representable code can be generated, which can contain the most recent measured value. Furthermore, the graphically representable code may have a plurality of measured values, wherein the plurality of measured values may have been acquired by the sensor over a certain period of time.

In one embodiment, the handling instruction comprises an instruction to send the measured value to a network address and / or a network address.

The network address may be a reference to a website, an email address and / or a mobile phone number. The handling instruction may cause the measured value to be forwarded to a web page by a reading device, wherein the reading may be integrated into the content of the web page and the content of the web page may be displayed by a display of the reading device. The handling instruction can trigger the transmission of a message, which comprises at least the measured value, by the reading device. In particular, the message can be a text message which can be sent to a mobile phone number and / or an e-mail address.

The handling instruction may refer to content stored in a network and / or on the reader. In particular, this content can provide information regarding the mode of operation, the range of functions, the configuration options of the measurement signal device and / or the current configuration of the measurement signal device.

The transmission of the measured value to a network address by the reading device achieves the advantage that an infrastructure for, in particular, central recording of the measured value can be provided only for the period of detection of the graphically displayable code by the reading device. In particular, the infrastructure may be provided by the reader, which may have a network connection. Thus, the equipment costs and / or the costs for a central, in particular network-dependent detection of the physical quantity can advantageously be reduced.

In one embodiment, the handling instruction further comprises device information about the measurement signal device, in particular an indication of the type and / or the physical unit of the physical quantity.

The device information may provide the specification of the sensor and / or information regarding the detection of the physical quantity. These may include, for example, a tolerance range of the measured value, an accuracy specification of the measured value, a minimum and / or maximum detectable by the sensor value of the physical value, a temporal resolution of the measured value, a period of detection of the physical quantity and / or a format specification of the measured value , This gives us the advantage that the measured value represents a precise indication of the physical size and errors in the processing of the measured value, in particular by the reading device and / or in the interpretation of the measured value by a user can be avoided. In particular, read errors and / or conversion errors of the unit of the measured value can be avoided.

In one embodiment, the measurement signal device further comprises a user interface for configuring the handling instruction.

A user can interact with the measurement signal device via the user interface. The processor can be configured to process control commands and / or inputs of the user, which can be input via keys, for example, to carry out an action and in particular to provide feedback regarding the control commands and / or the inputs of the user by means of the display.

The user interface can furthermore be an acoustic and / or optical interface of the measurement signal device, so that acoustic and / or optical signals can be detected and processed by the measurement signal device.

Due to the configurability of the handling instruction, the information provided via the graphically displayable code can be adapted to requirements of a user, so that the measuring signal device can be used universally and the range of application of the measuring signal device can advantageously be increased.

In one embodiment, the content, in particular one or more executable functions, of the handling instruction can be input or configured via the user interface.

As a result, the advantage is achieved that the processing, in particular an evaluation and / or a representation of the measured value, can be configured and can also be changed via the user interface during operation of the measuring signal device.

In one embodiment, the user interface is a touch-sensitive interface or an input interface or a wireless interface, in particular an RFID interface or an NFC interface.

Due to the design of the user interface as an electronic interface, the advantage is achieved that the configuration of the measuring signal device, for example, not locally on the measurement signal device but also from a distance, for example, from an external data processing device can be made. Furthermore, a particularly predefined configuration can be transmitted to the measuring signal device via the electronic interface. As a result, in particular, a plurality of measuring signal devices can be operated with an identical configuration, wherein the occurrence of an error caused by the transmission of the configuration can advantageously be reduced by the electronic transmission of the configuration.

In one embodiment, the user interface comprises a haptic control element configured to convert a haptic user input into electronic control signals for configuring the handling instruction, the format of the measured value and / or the graphically displayable code and to provide it to the processor.

As a result, the advantage is achieved that the configuration of the measuring signal device can be carried out directly via the haptic control element on the measuring signal device by a user and / or without further expenditure on equipment.

In one embodiment, a property of the graphically representable code is configurable via the user interface, and the processor is configured to generate the graphically displayable code according to the input property.

As a result, the advantage is achieved that the type of displayed graphically displayed code, in particular to specifications of the reader can be adjusted. For example, the reading device may be limited to the reading of a specific graphically representable code, so that the reading of the graphically representable code such a reading device can be used by adapting the graphically representable code. Furthermore, the format and / or the representation of the code can be configured.

In addition, this provides the advantage that the display of the graphically displayable code can be adapted to specifications of the reading device. This adaptation may include, for example, the size, position, color and / or brightness of the graphically displayable code and / or the display itself.

In one embodiment, the graphically representable code is a one-dimensional or a two-dimensional and / or a matrix code, in particular a QR code and / or a binary code.

This provides the advantage that the graphically representable code can be captured efficiently and at a low read error rate by a camera. The read error rate can be scalable in particular by the type of coding. Furthermore, the graphically displayable code can have checksums and / or redundant respectively additional data, so that a faulty detection of the graphically representable code can be detected and / or corrected by the reading device.

The measuring signal device may in particular be designed to generate and display a plurality of different matrix codes, for example QR codes, data matrix codes, maxi codes and / or Aztec codes. Furthermore, one-dimensional binary codes, in particular barcodes, can be generated by the processor and displayed by the display. A change of the graphically representable code used may be necessary when changing the reader. An exchange of the measuring signal device does not have to be additional, but only the configuration of the graphically displayable code can be adjusted. Furthermore, the measurement signal device can be provided with a new code format via the user interface so that future, graphically representable codes can also be generated and displayed by the measurement signal device.

In one embodiment, the physical quantity is electrical energy or electrical power.

In one embodiment, the measurement signal device is designed to receive a plurality of physical quantities and to process the recorded plurality of physical quantities, for example, to sum up in order to obtain the measured value.

For example, the recorded plurality of physical quantities can be multiplied, summed and / or processed by means of a Fourier transformation. This can be used in particular for detecting an electrical current, an electrical voltage, an electrical power and / or an electrical energy.

As a result, the advantage is achieved that the measuring signal device can be used as an energy meter for measuring a consumed by a consumer electrical energy. In particular, the measurement signal device can provide a current fluid and / or energy consumption value and an accumulated fluid and / or energy consumption value.

In one embodiment, the sensor is configured to detect a plurality of physical quantities to obtain a plurality of measurements. As a result, the advantage is achieved that a measuring signal device can be used to detect a plurality of physical quantities and / or the same measuring signal device can be used to detect different physical quantities at different locations. The plurality of physical quantities may in particular comprise electromagnetic quantities and / or magnitudes of the surroundings of the measuring signal device. In particular, the plurality of physical quantities may include a number of the following physical quantities: amount of heat, electrical current, electrical power, voltage, flow rate of a fluid, temperature, pressure, brightness, humidity, precipitation amount, energy consumption, accumulated flow of a fluid, electrical energy.

In an embodiment, the user interface selects a number of measurement values of the plurality of measurement values and / or a plurality of management instructions for electronically handling the number of measurement values for the coding in the graphically representable code. As a result, the advantage is achieved that not only a single measured value but a plurality of measured values can be detected and processed by the reading device via the graphically represented code. The measuring signal device can Furthermore, it may be configured to provide a plurality of measured values of a physical quantity, wherein the respective measured values of the plurality of measured values may be detected at different locations. For example, in the electrical power measurement of a plurality of consumers, a measurement signal device can replace a plurality of measurement signal devices.

In one embodiment, the handling instruction and / or the measured value are formed by an alphanumeric character string, wherein the alphanumeric character string can be represented graphically by the display.

The graphically representable code represents an efficient form of machine readable graphical information so that the graphically representable code can be advantageously used for reading by the particular electronic reading device. The information contained in the graphically displayable code may not be decoded by a user viewing the display directly and / or not with the aid of additional equipment and / or aids. It is therefore advantageous to display the measured value and / or the handling instruction additionally and / or in alternation with the representation of the graphically representable code as an alphanumeric character string by means of the display. This achieves the advantage that the measured value can be read by the user directly on the measuring signal device.

The alphanumeric character string may in particular include the measured value and the physical unit of the measured value. The alphanumeric character string can be updated periodically, in particular with a new acquisition of the physical measured quantity. The update interval may be limited to a minimum value to facilitate reading by the user.

In one embodiment, the processor is configured to encrypt the measured value and / or the handling instruction and to code the encrypted measured value and / or the encrypted handling instruction into the graphically representable code.

As a result, the advantage is achieved that, in particular, safety-relevant measured values and / or safety-relevant handling instructions can be protected against unauthorized access. The format of the graphically representable code used can correspond to an open standard or a generally known specification, so that only the coding of the measured value and / or the handling instruction can only realize a reduced protection against unauthorized access to the measured value and / or the handling instruction. Through the encryption, the measurement signal device can be coupled to a specific reading device, which is designed to decrypt the encrypted measured value and / or the encrypted handling instruction.

Furthermore, encryption provides the advantage that the data contained in the graphically representable code can not be accessible to the reading device. The reading device can read the graphically representable code and store the data contained therein in particular in accordance with the handling instruction in an internal memory and / or forward it to the external data processing device. Therefore, it may be advantageous to encrypt the measured value and to transmit the handling instruction unencrypted by means of the graphically displayable code.

In one embodiment, the processor is designed to provide the graphically displayable code electrically, in particular wirelessly transferable to a reading device.

The wireless transmission may, in particular, be a radio transmission based on a near-field or remote radio standard. In particular, the radio transmission can be realized by a WLAN, Bluetooth, NFC, UMTS, LTE, and / or 5G connection. As a result, the advantage is achieved that greater distances than with an optical detection of the graphically representable code can be possible between the reader and the measurement signal device can lie. Furthermore, a detection by means of a radio transmission enable a reading of the measured value, if the display of the measuring signal device for the optical detection device of the reading device is arranged optically inaccessible.

According to a second aspect, the disclosure relates to a reading device for reading out a code that can be displayed graphically by means of a display, which has an indication of a measured value of a physical quantity and a handling instruction for the electronic handling of the measured value, with an optical detection device, in particular a picture camera, which is formed is to optically detect the graphically representable code, a processor configured to decode the graphically representable code to obtain the measurement value and the handling instruction, wherein the reading device is adapted to handle the measurement value according to the handling instruction.

In particular, the reading device can be a portable user terminal, in particular a smartphone or tablet. The processor of the Reader may further be configured to execute a software program which realizes the readout of the graphically displayable code from the measurement signal device, the decoding of the graphically representable code, displaying the data contained in the graphically representable code and / or executing the handling instruction. The reader may include a memory for storing the measurement and / or the handling instruction.

In one embodiment, the handling instruction has an instruction for transmitting the measured value via a communication network to a network address, wherein the reading device has a communication interface which is designed to transmit the measured value to the network address via the communication network, in particular wireless or wired.

The reading device can have a network interface for connection to a wired and / or wireless communication network, in particular a mobile radio network, in order to forward the graphically representable code, the measured value and / or the handling instruction to the external data processing device.

The measuring signal device can generate a discrete measured value at periodic time intervals with the detection of the physical quantity, whereby a previously generated measured value can no longer be available for integration into the graphically representable code. Within a detection period, the processor may convert the discrete measurement with the handling instruction into the graphically representable code.

Furthermore, the measuring signal device can have a memory in which the measured values of the physical measured variable, which are recorded in particular periodically, can be stored.

• 1 ein Messsignalgerät in einer Ausführungsform;
• 2 ein Messsignalgerät und eine Auslesevorrichtung in einer Ausführungsform; und
• 3 ein Messsignalgerät und eine Auslesevorrichtung in einer Ausführungsform.

Further embodiments will be explained with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

• 1 a measurement signal device in one embodiment;
• 2 a measurement signal device and a readout device in one embodiment; and
• 3 a measurement signal device and a readout device in one embodiment.

1 shows a schematic representation of the measuring signal device 100 for a physical size, with a sensor connection 101 to capture the physical quantity to a reading 103 to get a processor 105 , which is formed, the measured value 103 a handling instruction 107 for the electronic handling of the measured value 103 assign, the processor 105 is further formed, the measured value 103 together with the handling instructions 107 into a graphically representable code 109 to code, and an ad 111 , which is formed, the graphically representable code 109 graphically.

Furthermore, the measuring signal device comprises 100 a user interface 113 for the configuration of the handling instruction 107 , The user interface 113 is in particular a haptic control element, for example a keyboard, a keypad or a touch-sensitive surface. The user interface 113 can with the ad 111 be connected to via the user interface 113 entered user input on the display 111 display.

The user interface 113 is formed a user input to electronic control signals for configuring the handling instruction 107 , the format of the measured value 103 and / or the graphically representable code 109 to change. Furthermore, via the user interface 113 a property of the graphically representable code 109 is configurable, the processor 105 is formed, the graphically displayable code 109 according to the entered property.

In addition to or instead of the haptic control element, an electronic or optical user interface can be provided. Via the electronic or optical user interface, a wired or a wireless connection between a user terminal and the measurement signal device 100 be realized and via this connection, the user input to the processor 105 be transmitted. The electronic user interface 113 may be a wireless interface, in particular an RFID interface or an NFC interface.

The content, in particular one or more executable functions, of the handling instruction 107 via the user interface 113 can be entered or configured.

With the user input are the format and / or the type of graphically representable code 109 , the content of the graphically representable code 109 and / or the representation of the graphically representable code 109 through the ad 111 configurable. Thus, device-specific and / or user-specific information and / or functions in the graphically representable code 109 to get integrated.

The graphically representable code 109 is a two-dimensional code composed of areas of different brightness and / or different color. The surfaces are arranged in a regular grid. The graphically representable code 109 is a matrix code, where the matrix code can be a QR code.

In addition to the matrix code may appear on the display 111 an alphanumeric string 201 representing the measured value 103 and for example an abbreviation and / or a symbol for the physical unit of the measured value 103 contains.

The ad 111 is a screen, where the number of pixels of the screen is at least the number of elements of the two-dimensional code 109 corresponds to the two-dimensional code 109 completely present. Furthermore, the color and / or contrast difference between the surfaces is high enough to be detected by an external camera, so that a separate detection of the individual surfaces of the two-dimensional code 109 is possible.

2 shows a schematic representation of the measuring signal device 100 for a physical size, with a display 111 , which is formed, the graphically representable code 109 graphically and with a user interface 113 for the configuration of the handling instruction. Furthermore, a reader 200 for reading one by means of a display 111 graphically representable codes 109 shown. The graphically representable code 109 indicates an indication of a measured value 103 a physical size and a handling instruction 107 for electronic handling of the measured value 103 on. The reader 200 has an optical detection device, in particular an image camera, which is formed, the graphically representable code 109 optically detect, and a processor, which is formed, the graphically displayable code 109 to decode to the reading 103 as well as the handling instruction 107 to obtain. The reader 200 is formed, the measured value 103 according to the handling instructions 107 to handle.

Furthermore, a method for detecting the graphically representable code 109 through the reader 200 showing the graphically representable code 109 with one in the reader 200 integrated image camera captured and by means of the processor of the reader 200 the graphically represented code 109 decoded to the reading 103 and / or the handling instruction 107 to obtain. The processor of the reader 200 may be formed an encrypted measured value and / or an encrypted handling instruction 107 to decode.

The reader 200 has a display showing the graphically representable code 109 , the reading 103 and / or the handling instruction 107 can represent. The reader 200 is a smartphone, which sends a message with the measured value 103 according to the handling instructions 107 via a wired and / or wireless network, in particular a mobile radio network allows.

The graphically representable code 109 is a two-dimensional, binary code, especially a QR code. The two-dimensional binary code consists of a square matrix of symbol elements. These symbol elements are in particular squares which have a different color and / or brightness and are in particular black or white.

In each case a position marker in three of the four corners of the square describes the orientation of the graphically representable code 109 , The in the graphically representable code 109 contained data, in particular the measured value 103 and the handling instruction 107 can be protected by an error-correcting code. This may result in loss of part of the graphically displayable code 109 For example, up to 30% of the graphically representable code 109 , the data still lossless from the graphically representable code 109 be decoded. Between the three position markers is a line of a sequence of alternating bits over which the matrix is defined. The symbol elements may be arranged in a square matrix with a width of, for example, at least 21 and, for example, a maximum of 177 symbol elements. It can be defined a border zone, which contains no user data and, for example, at least 4 elements wide. A larger amount of data may be on multiple, for example, up to 16 individual graphically representable codes 109 be split.

The alphanumeric string 201 can be used simultaneously or alternately with the graphically represented code 109 through the ad 111 be shown.

The user interface 113 is formed by four controls which the terms F1 . F2 . F3 and F4 and in a row below the display 111 are arranged. The operating elements may in particular be mechanical, capacitive and / or resistive buttons or switches. The ad 111 and the controls are disposed in a side surface of a housing which houses the sensor port 101 and the processor 105 contains. The housing may be an electrical connection unit 203 for the power supply of the measuring signal device 100 and / or the electrical supply of a measurement signal to the sensor 101 exhibit.

3 shows the measuring signal device 100 in an embodiment, further comprising a sensor 102 for detecting the physical quantity, wherein the sensor with the sensor connection 101 electrically connected to provide the physical quantity. Optionally, several sensors 102 be provided for the detection of different physical quantities, which electrically connected to the sensor terminal 101 connected or connectable.

In 3 is also an element 104 shown, which may be a communication interface, which may replace the sensor or together with the sensor 102 is provided to provide the physical size or another physical quantity. The communication interface 104 may be wired, such as Ethernet, USB, or wireless, such as WLAN.

The element 104 however, it may also be another sensor for detecting a further physical quantity.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

Measuring signal device

101

sensor connection

102

sensor

103

reading

104

Communication Interface

105

processor

107

handling instructions

109

Graphically representable code

111

display

113

User interface

200

reader

201

Alphanumeric string

203

connection unit

Claims (15)

Measurement device (100) for a physical quantity, comprising: a sensor port (101) for providing the physical quantity to obtain a measured value (103); a processor (105) which is designed to associate with the measured value (103) a handling instruction (107) for the electronic handling of the measured value (103), wherein the processor (105) is further configured to transmit the measured value (103) together with the handling instruction ( 107) into a graphically representable code (109); and a display (111) configured to graphically represent the graphically representable code (109). Signaling device (100) after Claim 1 wherein the handling instruction (107) comprises an instruction to send the measured value (103) to a network address and / or a network address. Measurement signal device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the handling instruction (107) further comprises device information about the measurement signal device (100), in particular an indication of the type and / or the physical unit of the physical quantity. A measurement signal device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a user interface (113) for configuring the handling instruction (107). Signaling device (100) after Claim 4 in which the content, in particular one or more executable functions, of the handling instruction (107) can be input or configured via the user interface (113). Signaling device (100) after Claim 4 or 5 wherein the user interface (113) is a touch-sensitive interface or an input interface or a wireless interface, in particular an RFID interface or an NFC interface. Measuring signal device (100) according to one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein a property of the graphically representable code (109) is configurable via the user interface (113), and wherein the processor (105) is adapted to generate the graphically representable code (109) according to the input property. Measuring signal device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the graphically representable code (109) is a one-dimensional or a two-dimensional and / or a matrix code, in particular a QR code and / or a binary code. Measuring signal device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the physical quantity is electrical energy or electrical power. A measuring signal device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, which is adapted to receive a plurality of physical quantities and the recorded plurality of the physical To process quantities to obtain the reading (103). Measuring signal device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the handling instruction (107) and / or the measured value (103) are formed by an alphanumeric character string (201), wherein the alphanumeric character string (201) can be represented graphically by the display (111) , Measuring signal device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the processor (105) is designed to encrypt the measured value (103) and / or the handling instruction (107) and encode the encrypted measured value (103) and / or the encrypted handling instruction (107). into the graphically representable code (109). Measuring signal device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the processor (105) is designed to provide the graphically representable code (109) electrically, in particular wirelessly transferable to a reading device (200). The measurement signal device (100) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a physical quantity sensor, wherein the sensor is electrically connected to the sensor port (101) for providing the physical quantity, and / or further comprising a communication interface for receiving the physical quantity physical size, wherein the communication interface is electrically connected to the sensor terminal for providing the physical quantity. A reading device (200) for reading out a code (109) which can be represented graphically by means of a display (111) and which has an indication of a measured value (103) of a physical quantity and a handling instruction (107) for the electronic handling of the measured value (103) : an optical detection device, in particular an image camera, which is designed to optically detect the graphically representable code (109); a processor configured to decode the graphically representable code (109) to obtain the measurement value (103) and the handling instruction (107); wherein the reading device (200) is adapted to handle the measured value (103) in accordance with the handling instruction (107).

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