FR2843455A1 - Device for automatically capturing meter readings, e.g. of a water, electricity or gas meter, comprising an optical reading sensor and a sighting device for ensuring that it is correctly aligned with the meter display - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for capturing readings made by a meter (C3), e.g. a water, electricity or gas meter, comprises a sensor for reading the information or figures shown on the meter display and a sighting element (D1') for assuring that the sensor is correctly aligned with the meter display. The invention also relates to a corresponding data acquisition method.

Description

DESCRIPTION

  The invention relates to a device for acquiring a measurement carried out by a counter.

  The invention is characterized by effective means for positioning and fixing the

  device, allowing an optical reading of an indicator of the progress of said measurement.

  The invention is particularly applicable to the acquisition of electricity, gas, water consumption data ... Traditionally, reading and recording consumption data requires either the installation of a specific device directly measuring

  physical quantities sought, namely the establishment of a communication link between a counter in place, having means of transmitting the measurement information, 10 and a recorder capable of receiving and storing said information.

  The disadvantages of the solution consisting in installing a specific device directly measuring the physical quantities are the cost of said device, the difficulty and the cost for the installation of said device, the reluctance of residents to face possible intrusion.

  of a service provider or the possible temporary unavailability of certain amenities, such as electricity, gas or water, during the installation period.

  This last point can be illustrated by the interruption of the electrical supply by action on the circuit breaker, during the installation of certain specific devices measuring the

  power from current and voltage.

  The drawbacks of the solution relying on a communication link from a meter in place are the scarcity of meters having this characteristic and the

  diversity of communication protocols implemented.

  There are alternative solutions which consist in reading a visible indicator of the

  consumption on meters in place by optical techniques.

  However, these alternative solutions do not include a satisfactory device for positioning and fixing the optical reading system.

  The device according to the invention provides a simple and inexpensive means of ensuring the correct positioning of a sensor intended to acquire measured consumption data

by a counter.

  The device according to the invention can be used with all types of meters comprising an indicator of the measured consumption, whether this indicator is in the form

  a roller display, a rotating disc, a diode generating light pulses, or in any other form allowing acquisition by optical means.

  The invention therefore provides a device for the success of optical reading and the

  installation by persons not familiar with the device.

  The device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises two elements, which may or may not be connected to each other, the first comprising a viewfinder serving to correctly position the device opposite the consumption indicator, and the second carrying a sensor and attaching to the first so that the sensor can read through the viewfinder the

consumption data provided.

  According to an advantageous embodiment, said viewfinder is a through hole right through

said first element.

  According to an advantageous embodiment, said first element is a rectangular piece, of length between 10 and 30 mm, of width between 5 and 20

  mm and thickness between 1 and 10 mm.

  According to an advantageous embodiment, said second element is a rectangular piece, of length between 10 and 30 mm, of width between 5 and 20

  mm and thickness between 1 and 10 mm.

  According to an advantageous embodiment, the first element and the second element are connected by a joint. In the open position, said articulation allows the viewfinder to be used to position the device. When said articulation is closed, the sensor is automatically positioned facing the viewfinder. Said articulation also has the advantage of establishing a physical link between the first element and the rest of the device, which prevents said first element from being lost during handling or

transport of the device.

  Other particularities and advantages will emerge from the description below, made opposite

  appended drawings given by way of nonlimiting examples and in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a counter with a diode

  metrological and representing the positioning of the first element of the device 30 according to the invention.

  - Figure 2 is a schematic view showing a counter with a roller display and showing the positioning of the first element of the device according to the invention. - Figure 3 is a schematic view showing a counter with a metrological disc and representing the positioning of the first element of the device

according to the invention.

  - Figure 4 is a schematic view of the positioning of the second element of the device according to the invention. - Figure 5 is a diagram of a complete implementation of the device according to the invention. - Figure 6 is a schematic view of a means of fixing the second element of the device on the first element of the device. 10 The device according to the invention can be used with various types of meters

  with an indicator of measured consumption.

  An indicator of the measured consumption can be a metrological diode C2 present on a counter C 1 shown in FIG. 1. This counter C 1 is for example an electronic counter for electrical consumption. Diode C2 produces light pulses whose frequency is proportional to the measured consumption. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the first element D 1 of the device according to the invention is in the form of a rectangular plate having an orifice in its center. When the element D1 is approached to the front face of the counter C1 to be fixed there, the diode C2 can be seen through the orifice, which makes it possible to position the element D1 while ensuring that the diode and the orifice are well in

the same axis.

  An indicator of the measured consumption can be a roll of figures C4 from a roller display C5 present on a counter C3 shown in FIG. 2. This counter C3 is for example a gas meter or a water meter. Reading a single roll of numbers is sufficient to obtain a record of the evolution of the measured quantity. The roller C4 is preferably the one furthest to the right, so as to

get the best accuracy.

  In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the first element Dl 'of the device according to the invention is in the form of a rectangular plate having a notch cut over the entire thickness of the plate. When the element D 11 'is approached from the front face of the counter C3 to be fixed there, the roll of numbers C 4 can be seen by this notch, which makes it possible to position the element D 1' while ensuring that the roller and notch are on the same axis. A secondary advantage of this embodiment is that it is possible to read the figure displayed on the roll of figures by the opening made by the notch on the edge of the element D 11 ', even after the complete device was fixed. If this secondary advantage is actually to be implemented, it is necessary to ensure a sufficient thickness of the element D1 '. An indicator of the measured consumption can be a rotating disc C7 of a counter C6 shown in FIG. 3. This counter C6 is for example an electromechanical electricity counter 10. The C7 disc has a different color C8 mark to count the number of revolutions. The frequency of disc turns is

  proportional to the consumption measured.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the first element D 1 "of the device according to the invention is in the form of a rectangular plate having an orifice in its center. When the element D1" is approached from the front face of the counter C6 to be fixed there, the edge of the disc C7 can be seen through the orifice, which makes it possible to position the element D1 "while ensuring that the geometric axis orthogonal to the plate D1" and passing through the center of the orifice is

  well in the geometric plane of the disc C7.

  In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the second element D2 of the device according to the invention is in the form of a rectangular plate on which there is one or more electronic components, including the optical sensor. The second element D2 is positioned on the first element D1, which is already fixed on the face

before the counter.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the first element is fixed to the front face of the counter by an adhesive paste D5, making it possible to reposition and deposit it easily, and the second element is fixed to the first element by the joint action of the adhesive D6 and the embedding in the orifice D4 of a protuberance

  composed in whole or in part of the optical sensor D7.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the second element is advantageously connected by a connection cord D3 to another support D8, which may be a plastic case, comprising a clock, a processing unit and

a storage unit.

  In an embodiment not shown, the second element comprises a sensor made up of a photosensitive electronic target, an objective lens and an emitting diode. The target is activated at regular time intervals for a very short time, so as to minimize the power consumption of the device. The target captures the image visible through the objective lens and illuminated by the emitting diode. In the case of an indicator in the form of a roll of numbers, the frequency of activation of the target is chosen to be high in comparison with the speed of rotation of the roll. Thus each figure that scrolls past the target appears in full on at least one captured image and

  the evolution of the measured consumption can be reconstructed.

  Advantageously, the processing unit detects the images where a whole figure appears and transmits only these to the storage unit. The storage unit retains the

  series of images of whole numbers with their respective acquisition dates.

  In another embodiment, the processing unit detects the images where a whole number appears and only reports the occurrence of these events to the storage unit. The storage unit then stores only the corresponding detection dates. In another embodiment, the processing unit is advantageously capable of recognizing the figures appearing in full on the captured images and does not transmit to

  the storage unit as the numeric codes of the digits in question.

  In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the positioning and fixing of the second element Dl O on the first element D9 is done by a dovetail and stop mechanism. The first element is hollowed out in a groove made on the surface and the edges of which deviate from the depth of the plate. At the bottom of this first groove is dug a second groove, of width less than that of the first groove and, which extends, lengthwise, from the edge to the center of the plate. At the bottom of this groove, on the side which is in the center of the plate, is an orifice. The second element is machined so that it can be inserted into the first groove of the first element. The outgrowth present on the surface of the second

  element and composed in whole or in part of the sensor, slides in the second groove and 30 comes naturally to position in abutment, opposite the orifice.

Claims (9)

  1 device for acquiring a measurement carried out by a counter (CI, C3 or C6), characterized in that it comprises two elements intended to be positioned superimposed on said counter, the first element (DI) being provided with a viewfinder making it possible to ensure the correct positioning with respect to an indicator of the evolution of the measurement made by said counter, and the second element (D2) carrying a sensor intended to read the information provided by said indicator and positioned on said first element so that said sensor can read said information through said viewfinder.   2 device for acquiring a measurement according to claim 1, characterized in that said viewfinder is an orifice (D4) allowing positioning with the naked eye opposite the different types of indicators which are firstly a metrological diode (C2 ), secondly a roll of numbers (C4) of a roller display (C5), and   thirdly a metrological disc (C7) on which there is a reference (C8) of different color.   3 device for acquiring a measurement according to claim 1, characterized in that the main functions of said device are divided into two groups, the first group being located on said second element and comprising a photosensitive electronic target, an objective lens and a transmitting diode, and the second group being located on another support (D7) connected to said second element by a connection cord and comprising a clock, a processing unit and a storage unit. 4 measurement acquisition device according to claim 1, characterized in that said sensor comprises a photosensitive electronic target activated at regular time intervals for a very short time, so as to minimize consumption of said device.   5 device for acquiring a measurement according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in   that a processing unit detects, among all the images captured by said target, those corresponding to a fully visible figure and transmits them to a storage unit in order to be stored there with the corresponding acquisition dates provided by said clock.   6 device for acquiring a measurement according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in   that a processing unit detects, among all the images captured by said target, those corresponding to a fully visible figure and transmits exclusively the dates of   detection corresponding to a storage unit.   7 Device for acquiring a measurement according to claim 1, characterized in that said first element is fixed to the surface of said counter using an adhesive paste   (D5) easily allowing repositioning and removal.   8 Device for acquiring a measurement according to claim 1, characterized in that said second element is fixed to said first element using the joint effect of a   adhesive (D6) and the embedding of said sensor in said first element.   9 Device for acquiring a measurement according to claim 1, characterized in that said second element is fixed to said first element by a dovetail and abutment mechanism, allowing both the maintenance of said second element on said first element and the correct positioning of said sensor in front of said viewfinder of said first element. Measurement acquisition device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second element and said first element are connected by a joint, which, in the open position, makes it possible to locate said indicator through said viewfinder so as to correctly position said device and which, when closed, ensures that said   sensor is well placed in front of said viewfinder.