GB2093615A

GB2093615A - Home energy saving computer

Info

Publication number: GB2093615A
Application number: GB8102561A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: ATKINS PATRICK RALPH
Current assignee: ATKINS PATRICK RALPH
Priority date: 1981-01-28
Filing date: 1981-01-28
Publication date: 1982-09-02

Abstract

The gas and electricity meters in homes and premises are often positioned so that it is very difficult to read them; even after reading them most people find it difficult to convert the readings into cash cost. This invention makes it possible to display running, projected and the final end-of-period cost in a position in the house or premises which is prominent and selected by the consumer. The use of the device would enable consumers to plan the use of energy carefully and enable consumption to be managed within budgets which can be afforded. The invention would operate in conjunction with the gas and electricity meters but would have no physical connection with them other than by the impingement of a beam of light on the rotating hands or discs in the meters. The displays would show cash costs and also initiate warnings when a preset target consumption is exceeded. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Home energy saving computer The gas and electricity meters in homes and premises are often positioned so that it is very difficult to read them; even after reading them most people find it difficult to convert the readings into cash cost. This invention makes it possible to display running, projected and the final end-of-period cost in a position in the house or premises which is prominent and selected by the consumer. The use of the device would enable consumers to plan the use of energy carefully and enable consumption to be managed within budgets which can be afforded.

The invention would operate in conjunction with the gas and electricity meters but would have no physical connection with them other than by the impingement of a beam of light on the rotating hands or discs in the meters. The displays would show cash costs and also initiate warnings when a pre-set target consumption is exceeded.

Detailed description (Figure 1) The invention consists of two parts for a single meter monitoring system and three for a two meter system. In the single system shown in Figure 1 the two parts are the Sensor and Computer/display unit.

In the two meter system there would be a sensor for each meter and a different type of Computer/display.

This description covers the simpler single system and ends with giving the variations in the two meter system.

The sensor is installed close to but mechanically independent of the meter and consists of two lenses suitably focussed to transmit a beam of light onto the dial or disc in the meter and to receive reflected light from positions carefully chosen on the dials or disc. These positions are where the hand of the dial or the coloured marker on the disc will interrupt the reflected light as rotation is in progress. This causes a change in the conduction level in a photo-emissive device integrated with the receiving lens. This change in level is developed as a pulse of current and this is used as the basic counting element. The pulse is amplified and shaped electronically to form an input suitable for an electronic counter in the Computer/display. The counter provides an output 'SP' which is the sum of the pulse count into the Running Cost Computer.This calculates 'a' the running cost to data and with the switch (2) set to 'a' the Digital display shows the cash cost. With switch (2) set to 'C', the output of the Projected Cost Computer is taken to the Digital display. This Computer solves 'C', the projected period cost to date, by multiplying 'T', the charge period input, by 'a', the running cost to date, and dividing the product by the elapsed time input 't' obtained from the electronic clock which is reset at the beginning of the monitoring period.

To establish a high degree of accuracy, the pre-sets 1a, 2a and 3c are adjusted by using Digital Display with switch (2) set to Pre-set. The inputs to the Display are then D outputs which are switch selectable. Toward the end of the charge period (2b), the clock sends a warning to the display which flashes and sends out an audible warning that the near final display of period costs is being displayed and that it is time to note the reading and then reset the system. A consumption limit may be set at (3) and this would send out or initiate a different pitch of warning sound.

In the two meter system a second sensor and a double display is used. The computing circuits would be shared between the two systems by operating in time multiplex.

A stand-by battery of a rechargeable type is used to ensure that the data stored is not lost in the event of a loss of mains power.

CLAIM (Filed 27/1/82) The claim made under this application is for the sensor element of the invention which measures the consumption of gas and electricity by looking at the rotating disc or dial on the relevant meter. The sensor detects the passing of the disc marker or the rotating hand of the dial and provides an electronic pulse once per revolution of the disc or dial hand.

This is counted by a micro-processor device to provide displays to the owner of the metered consuming ayents the cost of energy consumed, the projected cost at the end of a chosen period and warnings of a audible or visual (or both) nature when targetcomsumption is exceeded.

The sensor consists of a light source directed via a lens and a window at the rotating disc or the stationary dial behind a rotating hand on an electricity or a gas meter. The light reflected from the disc or the dial is received by a second lens via a window (which may or may not be fitted) and is directed onto a photo-conductive device. When the light reflected is at a constant level, i.e., when it is not interrupted by the disc marker or the hand rotating in front of the dial, the output from the photo-conductive device is at a constant level. When the disc marker or the dial hand interrupts the light path the input to the photo-conductive device falls and its output level also falls. This fall is processed electronically to provide a pulse. This pulse is used as the counting input to the micro-processor and is the basis for all calculations of consumption which are presented on the displays or used to provide suitable warnings to the consumer.

Descriptive matter originally on informal drawing LEGEND User controls 1 = RESET BUTTON 2 = RUNNING COST/PROJECTED COST/PRE SET SELECTOR SWITCH 3 = LIMITWARNING SETTING 4 = AUDIO WARNING ON/OFF SWITCH 1A = STANDING CHARGEADJUST(D1) 2B = CHARGE PERIOD ADJUST (D2) 3C = COSTPER UNITADJUST(D3)

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

Claims

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

SPECIFICATION Home energy saving computer The gas and electricity meters in homes and premises are often positioned so that it is very difficult to read them; even after reading them most people find it difficult to convert the readings into cash cost. This invention makes it possible to display running, projected and the final end-of-period cost in a position in the house or premises which is prominent and selected by the consumer. The use of the device would enable consumers to plan the use of energy carefully and enable consumption to be managed within budgets which can be afforded.

The invention would operate in conjunction with the gas and electricity meters but would have no physical connection with them other than by the impingement of a beam of light on the rotating hands or discs in the meters. The displays would show cash costs and also initiate warnings when a pre-set target consumption is exceeded.

Detailed description (Figure 1) The invention consists of two parts for a single meter monitoring system and three for a two meter system. In the single system shown in Figure 1 the two parts are the Sensor and Computer/display unit.

In the two meter system there would be a sensor for each meter and a different type of Computer/display.

This description covers the simpler single system and ends with giving the variations in the two meter system.

The sensor is installed close to but mechanically independent of the meter and consists of two lenses suitably focussed to transmit a beam of light onto the dial or disc in the meter and to receive reflected light from positions carefully chosen on the dials or disc. These positions are where the hand of the dial or the coloured marker on the disc will interrupt the reflected light as rotation is in progress. This causes a change in the conduction level in a photo-emissive device integrated with the receiving lens. This change in level is developed as a pulse of current and this is used as the basic counting element. The pulse is amplified and shaped electronically to form an input suitable for an electronic counter in the Computer/display. The counter provides an output 'SP' which is the sum of the pulse count into the Running Cost Computer.This calculates 'a' the running cost to data and with the switch (2) set to 'a' the Digital display shows the cash cost. With switch (2) set to 'C', the output of the Projected Cost Computer is taken to the Digital display. This Computer solves 'C', the projected period cost to date, by multiplying 'T', the charge period input, by 'a', the running cost to date, and dividing the product by the elapsed time input 't' obtained from the electronic clock which is reset at the beginning of the monitoring period.

To establish a high degree of accuracy, the pre-sets 1a, 2a and 3c are adjusted by using Digital Display with switch (2) set to Pre-set. The inputs to the Display are then D outputs which are switch selectable. Toward the end of the charge period (2b), the clock sends a warning to the display which flashes and sends out an audible warning that the near final display of period costs is being displayed and that it is time to note the reading and then reset the system. A consumption limit may be set at (3) and this would send out or initiate a different pitch of warning sound.

In the two meter system a second sensor and a double display is used. The computing circuits would be shared between the two systems by operating in time multiplex.

A stand-by battery of a rechargeable type is used to ensure that the data stored is not lost in the event of a loss of mains power.

CLAIM (Filed 27/1/82) The claim made under this application is for the sensor element of the invention which measures the consumption of gas and electricity by looking at the rotating disc or dial on the relevant meter. The sensor detects the passing of the disc marker or the rotating hand of the dial and provides an electronic pulse once per revolution of the disc or dial hand.

This is counted by a micro-processor device to provide displays to the owner of the metered consuming ayents the cost of energy consumed, the projected cost at the end of a chosen period and warnings of a audible or visual (or both) nature when targetcomsumption is exceeded.

The sensor consists of a light source directed via a lens and a window at the rotating disc or the stationary dial behind a rotating hand on an electricity or a gas meter. The light reflected from the disc or the dial is received by a second lens via a window (which may or may not be fitted) and is directed onto a photo-conductive device. When the light reflected is at a constant level, i.e., when it is not interrupted by the disc marker or the hand rotating in front of the dial, the output from the photo-conductive device is at a constant level. When the disc marker or the dial hand interrupts the light path the input to the photo-conductive device falls and its output level also falls. This fall is processed electronically to provide a pulse. This pulse is used as the counting input to the micro-processor and is the basis for all calculations of consumption which are presented on the displays or used to provide suitable warnings to the consumer.

Descriptive matter originally on informal drawing LEGEND User controls 1 = RESET BUTTON 2 = RUNNING COST/PROJECTED COST/PRE SET SELECTOR SWITCH 3 = LIMITWARNING SETTING 4 = AUDIO WARNING ON/OFF SWITCH 1A = STANDING CHARGEADJUST(D1) 2B = CHARGE PERIOD ADJUST (D2) 3C = COSTPER UNITADJUST(D3) Key to abbreviations SP = SUMOFPULSES U = COSTPERUNIT T = CHARGE PERIOD PRE-SET SC = STANDING CHARGE A = RUNNING COSTTO DATE C = PROJECTED PERIOD COST t = ELAPSED TIME FROM RESET E = END OF CHARGE PERIOD WARNING