EP1935208A1

EP1935208A1 - Measuring device and arrangement with a measuring device

Info

Publication number: EP1935208A1
Application number: EP06774760A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Günter SCHREIER; Peter Kastner; Alexander Kollmann; Jürgen MORAK
Original assignee: Austrian Research Centers GmbH ARC
Current assignee: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
Priority date: 2005-10-12
Filing date: 2006-08-31
Publication date: 2008-06-25
Also published as: AT502495A4; WO2007041727A1; AT502495B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a measuring device and a method for recording and transmitting measured data recorded using the measuring device, displayed on a display (140) of the measuring device (100). According to the invention, the measuring device (100) comprises an NFC communication module (300), the data output unit of which for output of the recorded measured data to a data transmission module (500), external to the device, in the form of an antenna (400) or a RFID tag (410), is arranged in the vicinity of the display (140) of the measuring device (100).

Description

Measuring device or arrangement with a measuring device

The invention relates to a measuring device according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 11.

The acquisition, storage and processing of measurement data plays an important role in many areas of everyday life (reading the display of various equipment, measuring devices, for example, for power consumption). A large number of measuring instruments already have standardized wired (USB, RS232, ...) as well as wireless (infrared, BlueTooth) interfaces that allow the acquisition of the respective measured value by means of appropriate reader for further processing (eg: blood pressure monitor with serial interface, Blood glucose meter with infrared interface, ...). The data transmission or the further processing (graphical representation, trends, statistics) takes place today largely on or by means of PC. Due to the rapid developments in the mobile phone sector, as well as the

Equipping the mobile phones with the corresponding interfaces, these devices can be used to record measured values on the mobile, at the point of care and, on the other hand, to forward them via the data channel (GPRS / UMTS) to a central database for storage or evaluation support interfaces such as BlueTooth or Infrared

On the one hand, the use of these technologies often requires a great deal of configuration work and, moreover, is a difficult-to-manage and non-intuitive method of data acquisition for the layman.

Also known is the use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. NFC is the wireless communication between electronic devices that communicate with each other on the basis of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). NFC operates in a frequency range of 13.56 MHz and offers a data transfer rate of a maximum of 424 kBit / s with a maximum range of 20 centimeters. The parameters for NFC are already specified by ISO 18092, ECMA 340 or ETSI TS 102 190. This closes a gap left open by the existing systems: it involves bridging very small distances (in the cm range), which results in two communicating devices having to come so close together that it is almost a touch can speak to communicate with each other. Thus, the possibility arises that a user can simply express his or her willingness to communicate by "bringing two" devices closer together - without further configuration steps. "The Sony, Philips and Nokia companies jointly founded the NFC Forum in 2004 (www. nfc-forum.org), the drive the implementation and standardization of NFC technology and ensure compatibility between devices and services.

It is anticipated that in the near future a large number of mobile terminals (e.g., cell phones) will support NFC technology. Typical applications include multimedia, wireless data transfer, eTicketing and cashless payments.

The aim of the invention is the extension of a measuring device or creation of a

Measuring device that is set up for the acquisition and transmission of measurement data. In particular, the simple design, which is easy adaptation of existing measuring devices, ease of use, ease of use and operational safety value.

These specifications are achieved with a measuring device according to the preamble of claim 1 with the features mentioned in the characterizing part of claim 1. The inventive method is characterized by the features cited in the characterizing part of claim 11.

The procedure according to the invention makes it possible to record and transmit the corresponding measurement data accurately and reliably for the user. For this it is necessary to have a corresponding data transmission module, as e.g. is provided in a mobile phone or a read head, close to the measurement data output unit, i. to the antenna or RFID tag to bring the meter. In particular, the area of the display is provided for this purpose; this is the most noticeable and recognizable area on the meter. The provision of measurement data via NFC has so far been disregarded, but allows an easy-to-use method of establishing contact between devices and transmitting information without requiring too much technical knowledge from the users.

The features of claim 2 give advantageous arrangements of the measuring data emitting units, i. the antenna or the RFID tag, again. The same applies to the feature of claim 3. The advantageous tapping of the measured data or measured values and their tap are stated in claims 5 to 7. This provides the opportunity to transmit the measurement data actually appearing on the display of the measuring device and any additional information to the desired location.

A simple construction of the measuring device results from the features of claims 8 to 10.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, for example. 1 shows the basic structure of a measuring and transmission chain,

2 shows the schematic structure of an arrangement for taking over the measured value,

Fig. 3, the attachment of an antenna, Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of an NFC-enabled mobile phone to the display of

Meter to capture the data via NFC,

5 the sequence of the decoding of the memory contents,

6 shows a schematic circuit diagram of an arrangement according to the invention for equipping existing measuring systems with NFC technology as well as the integration of the NFC communication module into the display driver.

FIG. 7 shows a communication module integrated in the display driver.

In Fig. 1, the basic structure of a measuring device is shown, which serves for the detection and transmission of measurement data via wireless, NFC-based data interface. To the meter 100, the NFC communication module 300 is connected.

A corresponding integrated hardware (information processing unit) 200 serves as an interface of these two components and automatically assumes the measured value of the current or last measurement and transmits it to the communication module 300. Via antenna 400, the measured value is then the data transmission module (eg mobile phone with NFC communication interface or read head ) 500 for receiving or forwarding to a database 700 via data channel (GPRS / UMTS) 600 provided.

The measured value display or the display 140 (FIG. 2) is the central element in the human-machine interface since it presents the measured data and possibly further information to the user in a corresponding form. Nevertheless, the measured value is in a "static" form and can not be used in this way for further processing or storage, unless the measured value is, as described in the introduction, provided via additional interfaces for further processing No integrated interface is the method of choice to date

Data collection the elaborate, error-prone transcription of the presented information in paper as well as electronic form. The possibility of photographing the display and subsequently extracting the imaged information (eg the current measured value) by complex image data processing represents a possibility of simple data acquisition; the main problem of this method is that the underlying image processing for each display must be specially adapted, which is associated with a corresponding effort. The main advantage of NFC technology is on the one hand, that existing measuring systems can be retrofitted easily and cost-effectively with this technology. Upon integration of the NFC communication module 300 into the meter 100 itself, the user may choose to exchange data solely through the proximity of the reader 500 (eg, NFC-enabled mobile phone or read head) to the transmitter (antenna) 400, 410, respectively to express.

The data acquisition can thus proceed without further user action. In order to offer the user an intuitive method for data acquisition, the procedure according to the invention is proposed. Fig. 2 shows the schematic structure of the proposed system for

Provision of the measured value via NFC interface. The current measured value is present directly at the measuring sensor 110 or the processing unit 120 of the measuring device. In many cases, the representation of the measured value is performed by an alphanumeric display 140, e.g. via a standardized 7-segment display on LCD resp. LED base. Additional information (battery charger, status flags, ...) can also be displayed with the appropriate display design.

An essential criterion for integrating an NFC-based communication module 300 into measuring devices or systems already on the market is the ease of adaptability or integration. The access to the internal memory or data bus is often only possible with considerable modification or redesign the circuit can be realized. In the concrete application, it is proposed to pick up the signals directly at the contact points of the display or at the output of the display driver (data line) 130.

To control the individual segments a, b, c, d, e, f, g of the number display or the additional segments, the measured value must be processed accordingly. For this purpose, the measured value is coded by means of special hardware in the display driver 130. This driver 130 is now able to control the individual segments of the display or, if it is a pixel display, the individual pixels in such a way that the overall appearance represents the measured value or the information to be displayed. The tapped signal levels at the input of the display 140 correspond to the control of the respective display element. This possibility proves to be particularly useful if the contents of the measured value memory 122 or the measuring sensor 110 can not be accessed directly.

Nevertheless, the tapped, coded measured value must be prepared or brought into a standardized form in order to be taken over by the NFC communication module 300. This module can be realized in the form of an information processing unit 200 with a microcontroller (μC) 210, external memory 220 and optional amplifier 230. Under a μC understands an electronic component whose functionality is defined by software implemented on the component itself. Due to the free programming and configurability of modern μC, the module can be flexibly adapted to the respective requirements. Many μC also support the possibility of being able to process analogue data, which are subsequently digitized internally. This possibility of measuring value preparation can also be taken into consideration, in particular, when the measured value can be tapped directly from the sensor 110.

Of course, it is also conceivable if the circuit design of the measuring device 100 allows the measured data to be read out directly from the measured value memory 122 of the measuring device and further processed.

The μC 210 has the task of the present information in a Informationsbzw. Data string, which can then be passed to the NFC communication module 300. If an NFC-capable mobile telephone 500 is brought into the vicinity of the antenna, the measured value can be automatically taken over, displayed and / or transmitted to the database 700 for documentation.

The main advantage of NFC technology over already used communication technologies like BlueTooth or Infrared is that there is no configuration required to establish a connection between two devices and thus an information flow. If two NFC-capable devices - or their transmitting devices (antennas) - brought close enough to each other, the data exchange is automatically initialized by definition. By means of the corresponding arrangement of the antenna 400 under the display 140 or integration of the antenna 400 in the display 140 itself, the user can take over the data in an intuitive manner by placing an NFC-enabled mobile telephone 500 on the display 140 or in the immediate vicinity of the display 140 brings (Fig. 3, Fig. 4).

Of course, it is also possible to select or attach the location of the position intended for communication or the antenna 400 and / or the optional RFID tag 410 at another location of the measuring device and to mark it by a corresponding identification for the user (FIG 3).

A major challenge in the adaptability of an NFC-enabled communication module 300 in measuring devices or measuring systems from different manufacturers is to transmit the information occurring in countless variations standardized from the meter via NFC to the mobile device. It should be remembered that the information presented may be both alphanumeric representations and bit information. The transmitted information string ("RFID taglet") should be able to display a "screenshot" of the display or the displayed information (to encode) or to encrypt and decrypt by decoding on reading or receiving system again in a corresponding form for the authorized user or to decrypt.

The internal memory of an NFC communication module 300 or an optional one

RFID tag 410 is normally sufficiently large to structure the information displayed on display 140, e.g. in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format. The preparation of the tapped information in the XML format is performed by the μC 210 and preferably includes at least three essential entries:

1. Name of the RFID taglet (name)

Each RFID taglet is given a unique name or ID.

2. Location of the decoding or optional representation rule (Decourl) In most cases it will be a uniform resource locator (URL) from which the decoding rule can be downloaded, or the decoding rule will be sent along with it.

3. Information (Value)

The coded information itself.

Example: Coding of Absolute Measured Values in XML Format:

<name> BOSOpc </ name> <decourl> http://downloadlocation.at/taglet_bosopc.xml </ decourl>

Example: Coding of measured values directly on the display

<Name> BOSOpc </ name>

<decourl> http://downloadlocation.at/taglet_bosopc.xml </ decourl> <value> 0110000; 1101101; 1111110; 1111111; 1111110; 10111111 </ value> </ taginfo>

Example: Coding of sampled values of a pixel graphic

<dl> http://downloadlocation.at/taglet_bosopc.xml </ dl>

<value row = 1> 000000010000000000000000001000000000010000000001 </ value><value row = 2> 0000000100000000000000001000000000010000000001 </ value><value row = 3> 0000000100000000000000001000000000010000000001 </ tag></taginfo> On the other hand, this method of data transmission also allows the greatest possible flexibility with regard to various data, manufacturers and measuring systems themselves.

The basic procedure of the decoding process is shown in FIG. After the introduction of the mobile phone 500 to the NFC communication module 300, the stored tag information (RFID taglet) is automatically transmitted to the mobile phone and optionally buffered. A software installed on the mobile phone extracts the parameters defined in the RFID taglet (name, decourl, value). In the first step, the uniquely identifiable decoding rule is searched in the memory of the mobile phone. If a corresponding decoding rule has been found, the encoded information can be decoded and converted into a display format that can be read by the user (representation rule). In the event that no corresponding decoding rule has yet been found, an Internet connection can be established automatically and the corresponding decoding rule can be obtained from the manufacturer or a library, stored in the memory and used to decode the information. Of course, it is also conceivable to obtain the decoding regulation from the measuring system itself via NFC.

The decoding or representation rule is essentially a file (StyleSheet), which describes how the software running on the mobile phone has to handle the information received from the NFC communication module or in which way the information has to be displayed. The corresponding display platform is the browser already integrated in modern mobile phones. In this case, the corresponding decoding rule serves as StyleSheet with the extension to extract the respective individual values from the entire information string and to provide them with additional information (labeling, corresponding unit). For example: presentation of the information string 1208060

In the decoding specification it is stated that

- the first value corresponds to the first 3 digits of the "Value" entry - without further decoding.

- that it is "systolic blood pressure" (label)

- the unit is mm / Hg.

The extracted values are then integrated into the StyleSheet in the second step and can thus be displayed in the browser of the mobile phone. For example, it is possible to replicate the display itself in the software exactly on the display of the mobile phone and thus represent the value. Of course it is also possible the extracted ones Caching values continue to process or forward to a central database 700.

The provided NFC communication module 300 has a corresponding interface to the measuring sensor 110, to the measuring system 121 or to the display driver 130. If the NFC communication module 300 is preceded by a μC 210, this has the corresponding interface. It is advantageous if the NFC communication module 300 is also arranged in the region of the display 140, so that a compact unit of communication module 300 and antenna 400 and optional. RFID tag 410 is created. From the NFC communication module 300, which is arranged on the measuring device 100, a transmission to any NFC-enabled receiving device can take place.

Fig. 6 shows schematically a possible circuit structure of a measuring device according to the invention. The measurement data is supplied to the information processing unit (210, 220, 230) preceding the NFC communication module 300. As shown in Fig. 6, different transmission paths A, B, C, D, E and F are provided, the corresponding different signals corresponding to the measured measured values are transmitted to the information processing unit 200 and output via the NFC communication module 300. At the desired receiving point 700 (database or data processing) for these data, these can be evaluated with the appropriate specification.

Furthermore, the display driver 130 and / or the

Information processing unit 200, a memory 122 (FIG. 6) for further information displayed on the display 140 to be assigned. This information does not necessarily have to be displayed on the display 140 but may also be associated with the information string created by the information processing unit 200 of the display, e.g. the device identifier or other data not of interest to the user of the measuring device 100, but which are of interest to the receiver of the measuring data and provide the latter with more details about the measuring device 100 and the residual data. The information processing unit 200 also creates the

Transmission protocol for the measurement data and the information to be transmitted. The information processing unit 200 determines the format of the information string, e.g. XML format, or adds the data information string e.g. the device name or its ID and possibly decoding or representation requirements added.

An RFID tag 410 has the advantage that the last measured value is always available without significantly attacking the energy reserves of the measuring device 100; even at Voltage drop due to empty batteries in the measuring instrument, the last measured value is stored persistently and readable via NFC.

It can be seen in FIG. 6 that the NFC communication module 300 can exchange the data via antenna 400 bidirectionally directly with the mobile telephone (I) or writes directly to a passive RFID tag 410 in the first step (II). The RFID tag 410 is either fixedly mounted in the effective range of the antenna 400 and serves only as a persistent buffer, which is then read in the second step, from the NFC-enabled mobile phone (III) or in the form of a contactless chip card as an exchangeable disk on the Measured values of the respective user of the measuring device are stored (eg hospital operation).

In Fig. 7 shows the desired integration of the NFC communication module 300 and the information processing unit 200 in the display driver 130. With this compact module, it is possible to display the information that is displayed on the NFC interface for transmission to the receiving unit To make available. The procedure according to the invention is particularly advantageous for

Transmission of medical measurements, or for consumer data of electricity, gas or water or for the transmission of journey data, eg odometer readings.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100 measuring device

110 sensor 120 processing unit

121 measuring system

122 Memory 130 Display driver 140 Display

200 information processing unit 210 μC 220 memory 230 amplifiers

300 NFC communication module

400 antenna

410 optional RFID tag with specific memory size

500 NFC enabled mobile phone

510 display

600 transmission channel (GPRS / UMTS)

700 database and data processing

Claims

claims:

1. Measuring device for detecting and transmitting measured data determined by the measuring device, which are displayed on a display (140) of the measuring device (100), characterized in that the measuring device (100) has an NFC communication module (300) whose output the determined measured data is arranged in the region of the display (140) of the measuring device (100) to a data-outputting unit (500) serving as a device in the form of an antenna (400) and / or an RFI D-tag (410).

2. Measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna (400), in particular a loop antenna, or the RFID tag (410) next to or behind the display (140) arranged or integrated in the display (140) or applied to this are.

3. Measuring arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the antenna (400) or the RFID tag (410) in or before, in particular for the display (140) provided, housing recess of the measuring device (100) are arranged.

4. Measuring device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the device external data transmission module (500) is formed by an NFC communication interface in a mobile phone or a read head of a laptop, PDA or computer.

5. Measuring device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the measured value of the measuring sensor (110) and / or a display on the display information at the output of the display driver (130) or at the pixel contacts or leads to the individual segments of the display (140) tapped and, if appropriate via an information processing unit (200), in particular a μC (210) and a memory (220), the NFC communication module (300) are supplied.

6. Measuring device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the NFC communication module (300) in the display driver (130) is integrated and the measured value of the measuring sensor (110) and / or on the display (140) to be imaged information from the communication module (300) or the optionally upstream of this information processing unit (200) of the antenna (400) is supplied. W 2

12

7. Measuring device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the measuring system (121) has a memory (122) connected to the measured value to be transmitted together with information.

8. Measuring device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the measured value directly in the measuring system (121) from the communication module (300) or this optionally upstream information processing unit (200) on the display driver (130) is tapped or via an AD converter optionally supplied by the measuring sensor (110) of the information processing unit (200) together with further information if necessary.

9. Measuring device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the NFC communication module (300) to the information processing unit (200) and to the NFC communication module (300) at least one antenna (400) and optionally, in particular passive RFID Tag (410) is connected.

10. Measuring device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the data or information string to be transmitted, the measured values and / or information, in a memory of the information processing unit (200) and / or in a, in particular passive, RFID Tag (410) is stored.

11. A method for transmitting from a measuring device, in particular according to claims 1 to 10, determined measurement data, which are displayed with a display unit on a display of the measuring device, characterized in that the measurement data of the measuring device supplied to an NFC communication module and from there via an antenna or RFID tag arranged in the region of the display of the measuring device is delivered to an external data transmission module.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the information to be imaged on the display on the display driver, the pixel contacts or leads to the segments of the display or, is tapped on the measuring system or the sensor, and that the measured values and the information to be transmitted to be linked to a common data or information string.

13. The method according to any one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the data or information string is cached prior to transmission in a buffer (220) or in a passive RFID tag (410).

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 or 12 or 13, characterized in that the information processing unit (200) communicates bidirectionally with an external NFC communication module to the tick of the configuration and / or identification.