GB2328019A - Variable parameter recording - Google Patents

Abstract

A printer 1 has an in-built instruction means and/or has a computer interface to permit it to be controlled by a computer or processor 2 for the printing of subject matter on a sheet 3 of paper. The computer 2 receives instructions from a converter unit 2a which derives a variable information from a probe 2b, eg. a thermocouple. Alternatively, the computer 2 may carry such information in its memory, or on a magnetic storage device. Sheet 3 may be plain paper or paper pre-printed with a web suitable for recording one or more data traces, which web may be produced by the printer alone or the combination of the printer and computer. The arrangement allows the use of plain paper for making a non-rotary recording chart which does not require specialised manufacture in disc form. Many other embodiments are disclosed. Also, details of a test meter with voice actuation and announcement are disclosed.

Description

1 1 I _^ 1-- VARIABLE PARAMETER-RECORDING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

2328019 This invention relates to apparatus ' for the recording,md display of one or rnore parameters which are variable with time, such as for example, temperature, humidity, pressure, voltage, acidity, alkalinity, current, resistance and others.

The invention further relates to the construction, appearance and use of detecting, measuring, recording and display apparatus which also provides vocal input for the control, collection and reporting of data and information, which again may also be vocal. It is particularly applicable to the display of physical parameters on a screen with an optional vocal access. Such a screen may be part of a personal computer or similar device provided with a sound card and speaker as well as a sound input or collecting system. Recorded parameters may be displayed on paper sheets, produced from a printer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known, in the art of recording variable parameters, to utilize apparatus in which a recording disc, usually of paper, is carried on a support which rotates with the passage of time. One or more marking means, such as for example, ink-fed styli, contact an exposed front surface of the recording disc and provide thereon a variable trace according to variations in a parameter which is being measured, or at least indicated. The circular recording disc is conventionally already provided with a grid or web of markings or measurements over which the trace of the or each stylus is formed thus enabling a user to ascertain at a glance the variations of the parameter which have occurred over a predetermined period. Such recording apparatus is well known and much used in the engineering, electrical, physical and chemical fields, and personnel are used to the nature of the circular charts thus formed and can easily read information from them.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Rotary disc and paper strip recording apparatus is known in the art.

OBJECTS OF TIHE INVENTION Rotary disc recording apparatus, as outlined above, suffers from a disadvantage that the recording item, i.e. a disc of paper or other convenient material already marked with a pattern or web for reference purposes, has to be specially manufactured in its circular and pre- printed form and stored for use when necessary. This entails a considerable cost of manufacture, and also requires storage space to be made available, and there is a risk that stock of such discs may run out at an inconvenient point.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for making a non-rotary recording chart which does not require specialised manufacture mi disc form, and which can be formed on readily available non-circular paper stock, and particularly conventional rectangular paper stock such as A4 or 8. 5 " x 11 ". This may be displayed on a monitor screen.

A second object of this invention is to provide such apparatus which includes a printer suitable for use with plain paper which may be individual sheets, or a roll, of conventional A4 size or 8.5 x 11 size,, and on which a web circle or linear web is marked and which can subsequently receive one or more data traces resulting from the recording operation.

A third object of this invention is to provide a method for generating a lion rotary recording chart by steps of providing plain paper in a printer and operating the printer, with or without instructions received from a computer or other suitable processor, so as to mark on the paper a web circle or linear web to receive subsequently one or more data traces generated from a probe or the like serving to detect changes in the parameter or parameters being recorded.

-3 A fourth object of the invention is to provide an improved recording chart which is a rectangular sheet on which is marked a web circle or linear web having any necessary reference scales and numerals and suitable to receive subsequently one or more data traces.

The known rotary disc recording chart, as outlined above, suffers from a disadvantage that the recording item, i.e. a disc of paper or other convenient material already marked with a pattern or web for reference purposes, has to be specially manufactured in its circular and preprinted form and stored for use when necessary. This entails a considerable cost of manufacture, and also requires storage space to be made available, and there is a risk that stock of such discs may run out at an inconvenient point. The variety of parameters to be measured and the combination of time parameters employed may make it difficult and expensive to have a pre-printed disc available when required.

In our United States Patent Application No. 60/038337, filed February 27 1997, there are set forth in detail methods and apparatus for the production of a circular chart suitable for recording at least one trace corresponding to at least one variable parameter, by feeding instructions for tile fon-nation of a recording chart web to an information processor, utilising the processor to instruct a printer, feeding through the printer a plain sheet of paper,and causing the printer to print a recording chart web on the sheet of paper. In a further improvement there is also fed to the processor the information of variation of at least one variable parameter, and the printer is caused to print on the sheet both the recording chart web and the trace or traces corresponding to variations in one or more parameters. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art of programming of computers and processors that a considerable extent and complexity of software is required for instructing the printer to print the relatively complex pattern of the recording chart web, as compared with that required for tile printing of the relatively simple trace or traces corresponding to the variations of the or each parameter.

It is accordingly a further object of this invention to provide all improved method, for the production of a printed recording chart web on a plain sheet of paper, which eliminates the need for instruction of the printer for that purpose 1 by the processor, and thus eliminates also the need for the relatively complex software therefor.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide means, not requiring any processor instruction of the printer, for the production of the printed recording chart web.

It is a yet further object of the invention to provide a recording chart web printed on a plain sheet of paper, such as for example conventional A4 size or 8.5 11 x 11 " size.

A still fizlher object of the invention is to provide such a plain sheet of paper having a recording chart web printed thereon, together with one or more traces resulting from appropriate instruction of the printer by a processor or computer receiving information of variation of one or more variable parameters.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a template, preferably of sheet material, which can be fed into the slot of a printer to provide a recording chart web which can be printed onto a sheet of paper fed into the printer with a choice of colour chart web designs and parameters.

It is known to display detected or collected data as a meter image showing data on a computer monitor and to provide a display of remotely detected physical parameters. Such a monitor may be single or in an array which is a series of simultaneous meter displays. Such displays may be grouped for instance on a wall or on a machine control panel, on a single screen, or on a related but separate screen, or screens; several displays may appear senially or sequentially in a single screen. Such screen displays may also be fed to a printer to make tangible copies of meter displays, e.g., a recorder chart.

Against the foregoing background it is a still flu-ther object of the present invention to provide for the construction and operation of a meter system which includes a choice of inputs and a choice of outputs. Outputs may include screen displays of data and/or printed recorder charts or views of the meters showing values seen on a screen.

Another object of the invention is to provide plug and play data acquisition printed circuit boards including: a multimeter board for selected parameters, foreign language boards, fax boards, telephone link boards and sound boards for speech input and output. The devices may be keyboard or mouse actuated as well as actuated by switch, light beam, touch and voice. A plug-in board provides speech synthesis and a recorder of voice commands and queries.

A further object of the invention is to provide interactive game or sports reporting capacity with sound input (voice control), sound output (scores and sound effects), measurement and score keeping (with strategic, statistical and historical comment and instructions, e.g., chess).

Yet another object is to provide methods and appara ' tus whereby the printing of templates and of charts, or of any other visual form of display of changes of parameters, is replaced by a visual printed display of a virtual image of the subject matter on a screen accompanied or not as the case may be by the provision of verbal subject matter associated with the subject matter of the visual image.

Yet another object is to provide apparatus for detection, processing, retrieval and display of parameters which is adapted for connection to an i.titernet connection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an improved recording chart comprises a non-circular, e.g. rectangular, sheet of paper stock on which there is imprinted such reference material, e.g. a scale or scales, as may be needed to form a circular or linear background web for the recording of a trace or traces of at least one variable pararneter. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, such a web may be imprinted on the paper stock in advance of the printing of the or each trace, or alternatively at the same time as printing of each trace.

The background web may be printed by use of a known printer, e.g. an ink jet printer, which may itself be arranged to print the web, or may be suitably programmed processor or computer to do so.

controlled by a The trace or traces are obtained by controlling the printer with the suitably programmed processor or computer.

Using the improved chart, and the methods outlined above, an operator of a recording apparatus does not need to have in hand a stock of prepared circular chart discs some of which are marked suitably for, say, temperature recording and others of which are suitable for, say, pressure recording. Instead, the operator can use stock paper, such as conventional A4, set up the printer, or combination of printer and processor or computer appropriately, insert paper in the printer, and immediately have in hand a chart suitable for the recording to be made, or a completed chart on which a trace or traces have been applied to show one or more variable parameters.

Data may be retained on a computer magnetic storage disc for replay or for manipulation. Data may be displayed on a computer monitor in the format of a recorder chart, which may be printed form the screen. The monitor display may include a simultaneous display of the meter face as well as of the recorder chart. This forms a virtual meter/recorder display which can be printed to a paper output.

According to a flirther aspect of the present invention a recording chart web is printed, on a plain sheet of paper, by inserting into a printer a template marked with the recording chart web so as to reproduce the web of the template on the paper.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, in a simultaneous or subsequent step the printer is caused to mark onto the paper, under instruction from the computer or processor, one or more traces corresponding to variable parameters. The printing of the recording chart web and of the trace or traces may be obtained by means of a known kind of laser jet printer or X - Y plotter.

Inputs may be from electrical, optical or acoustic devices; and related software includes optical character recognition, fax reception, infrared beam remote detection (as in actuation of home television or videos), data acquisition boards, speech recognition and display, ability to detect and to act upon spoken oral instructions (as in telephone voice recognition controls); panel touch control systems (as in ATM machines); response to pre-set parameter values and limits; and application to interactive diplay games, mid vehicle virtual reality management systems.

Outputs include analog or digital signal output, computer monitor screen display, spoken reports of values, with and without instructions for management, remote access, output to the Internet, indication of what is being recorded, interactive speech printout and screen display of detected values, accumulation of data over time for summary display or spoken reports, reports over telephone and radio/TV networks. Printer output from the computer may take the shape of a circular or strip recorder letter size page.

Inputs and outputs to the meter can be in one or more languages, with translation capacity. The system includes a panel meter with computer monitor displays which accept touch control and/or vocal, e.g. phone control.

Virtual meters which display on-line information and data suinmaries, as information accrues in the system, allow sporting event status and stock and share trading with voice input and output. A wall panel screen displays the progress of trading and plots the trends with spoken analysis. Meters can also be printed from the computer storage ineans.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, apparatus for connection to the internet includes a detector of variable parameters, a processor for storage, retrieval and processing of variable parameters, and means for display or retrieval of variable parameter data at an internet access connection.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for selectively loading variable parameter data into a processor which manages said data, and displaying selectively at least one form of data on a printout or monitor screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings..

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of apparatus, in accordance with the invention, for printing a plain paper sheet with a web and/or a trace or traces; Figure 2 is a block diagram of a first method, in accordance with the invention, for the printing on a rectangular paper sheet, already bearing a recording web, with one or more traces cor responding to variable parameters; Figure 3 is a block diagrain of a second method, in accordance with the invention, for the printing in a same step of both die recording web and the trace or traces corresponding to variable parameters; Figure 4 is a plan view of a representative recording chart, produced on plain paper in accordance with the invention, and showing two variable traces representing individual variable parameters; Figure 5 is a block diagram of a method, in accordance with the invention for printing a rectangular sheet of plain paper with a recording chart web; Figure 6 shows a straight-line chart, with a trace of a variable paranieter; Figure 7 is a block diagram of an example of apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 8 shows, in plan view, the recording chart of figure 4 in three progressive sub-stages of production after increasing amounts of time; Figure 9 is a plan view of a representative recording chart produced on initially plain paper and marked with a circular recording chart web, and also two traces corresponding to variable parameters which have been recorded; Figure 10 is a block diagram showing the apparatus and steps involved in the printing of a plain sheet of paper with a circular recording chart web; Figure 11 is a block diagram showing the apparatus and steps involved in the printing of a plain sheet of paper with a circular recording chart web, utilising a template of the web, and the printing of one or more traces resulting firom programming of the printer according to information received as to variation of one or more parameters; Figure 12 is a plan view of a template of a typical circular chart on plain paper where time is rotational and the parameters are radial; Figure 13 is a plan view of a template for producing a parallel line rectilinear recording chart web where time is horizontal and the paraineters are linear; Figure 14 is a block diagram of a representative display system having optional facilities for control by voice instruction as well as by known arrangements of switching, remote signalling and others, and optional facilities for presenting information by speech output as well as by known arrangements of meter displays, video screen displays, and others; Figure 15 is a block diagram showing a lay-out of an inputs-processor- outputs apparatus providing multiple choice of input and multiple choice of output; Figure 16 is an elevation to show a representative display of a first form of plural 'virtual' meter faces on a monitor screen; Figure 17 is an elevation to show a representative display of a second form of 'virtual' meter faces on a monitor screen; Figure 18 is a schematic elevation of a circular chart recorder; Figure 19 is a schematic elevation of a linear chart recorder; Figure 20 is a view of a monitor or computer screen on which is displayed a 1 virtual' circular chart recorder; Figure 21 is a view of a monitor or computer screen on which is displayed a virtual' linear chart recorder.

Figure 22 is a block diagram of a detection and storage system with selection of optional print and/or virtual screen display.

Figure 23 is a block diagram of a detection, storage and display system with availability of connection to the internet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Of.' THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to figure 1, a printer is of any known kind which has an inbuilt instruction means and/or which has a computer interface, e.g. a socket or other connection to permit it to be controlled by a computer or processor 2 for the printing of subject matter on a sheet 3 of paper which is inserted in it.

The computer or processor 2 receives instructions from a converter unit 2a which derives inforination, as to the variation of the parameter(s) from a representative probe 2b e.g. a thermocouple. Alternatively the computer 2 may carry such information in its memory, or on a magnetic storage device.

As is explained below with reference to figures 2 and 3, the sheet 3 may be either (i) plain paper, or (it) paper having already printed thereon a web, suitable for recording of one or more data traces, which web may be produced by the printer alone, or the combination of the printer and the computer.

The sheet 3 is printed in the printer 2 and emerges as the printed sheet 4 bearing both a recording web and one or more data traces.

Referring to figure 2, a sheet of paper 3a which is already printed with a recording chart web 3-b shown here in a purely diagrammatic form because of the small scale of the drawing, is inserted in the printer 1 which is controlled by the computer or processor 2, for the printing of one or more traces which correspond to respective variable parameters.

Referrine to fieure 3. a sheet of 1DaDer 3c which is initialIv unDrinted is inserted 1 in the printer 1 which prints a recording chart web. The computer or processor 2 is then used to instruct the printer for the printing of one or more traces corresponding to respective variable parameters.

Referring to figure 4, the printed sheet 4 has radial lines 4a representing time divisions, circular lines 4b which provide a scale for judging variation of the parameter(s), and chart lines 4c which show variations of the respective parameters which are being recorded.

The rectangular sheet of figure 4 is inprinted with the generally circular design, which is then overprinted with information relating to the passage of time and changes in the, or each, variable parameter being recorded. Speed can be indicated, for example, as hourly, daily, or weekly.

Referring to figure 5 there is provided a printer 1 which is so constructed as to be able to print a circular or linear chart web. Figure 6 shows an example of a linear web with a trace on it.

A rectangular sheet 3 of plain paper or a roll of such paper, for example the conventional A4 size or 81/2x 11 inches, is inserted in the printer 1 and has a recording chart web 3b printed on it. This sheet of paper, bearing the recording chart web, can then be inserted again in the printer, as described with reference to Figure 1, for the addition of one or more traces corresponding to variable parameters.

In a preferred integral single unit there are included both (a) a microprocessor, and (b) a printer head, and the unit can be portable and battery powered or mains powered. Such a unit may interface with (i) a computer, (ii) a computer printer, (iii) a data-logger, and (iv) multiple inputs such as temperature, pressure humidity, acidity and alkalinity, perhaps up to as many,as eight in number. An C. option/output' display may show LCD/alpha-numerical (digital) on a panel. The printer may also be arranged to print tables, pictures, charts, and not only webs. It may print analog or digital meter faces showing readings.

The apparatus of the invention may also include an 'alarm' feature to signal a 'fault' situation, e.g. a high temperature, a low pressure, a stock market 'boilover'.

Preferably the apparatus is arranged to print a line, say at the base of the chart, to show input versus time.

In all cases where reference is made herein to a circular chart or web, there may be substituted a strip-type chart as in figure 6 having multiple parallel lines across the sheet to record traces such as seismic traces. Printing of data may be on a stationary or linearly moving (non- rotary) chart or on meter displays.

Engineers are accustomed to reading such charts and thus the invention offers a cheaper, quicker and simpler manner of obtaining a ' chart. In a further feature, the passage of time, or other information, may be imparted to the chart, e.g. as a horizontal line or as serial meter displays.

In summary the invention thus provides an improved recording chart which has the conventional format of a circular-type or linear web but which can be made on plaffli rectangular paper stock by a printer. The invention provides also a recording chart as described on which the data trace or traces are similarly provided, e.g. printed at the same time as, or over-printed on, the web. The invention also provides apparatus, for the production of a conventional circular style of recording chart but on a rectangular paper sheet, and with which the data trace or traces are printed or over-printed in a similar manner in a printer instructed by a computer or processor receiving data from a probe or the like.

The invention thus also provides a method of printing a rectangular sheet of plain paper with a printer to provide a web. Simultaneously or subsequently the sheet is printed with one or more data traces, by controlling the printer with a L 1 computer or other processor receiving information as to changes of one or more parameters. A continuous monitor display of changing data is a further option.

The web does not rotate during data printing. The web may remain stationary or may move in a linear track. Data may be printed in a circle pattern or in successive lines as in a page of a book. Printing occurs from a movable printing device such as an inkjet or laser jet.

Figure 6 shows, as a block diagram, the components of an apparatus in accordance with the invention for: (i) (ii) (iii) OV) (v) (vi) sensing changes of temperature; sensing changes of humidityproviding all LCD display of the temperature. providing an audible alarm plus associated relay for possible control of other circuitry providing an analog output; providing an output interface to a computer.

Referring to figure 8 there are shown three progressive sub-stages 4P, 4Q, 4R, in passage of time in the production of the recording chart of figure 4. The circular web 5 in each case is represented only by the perimeter line and two cross-lines at right angles, as the small scale of the drawings does not permit the inclusion of the totality of radial and circumferential lines seen in figure 4.

The traces 6a. 6b. 6c increase in length with the passage of time. Below the circular web 5 there is also provided a linear scale 7 on which is marked an indicator mark 8 which increases with passage of time, and also a linear scale 8 which provides an indication of amplitude of the parameter being recorded.

It will be seen that the apparatus can make a record, of a parameter, in circular chart format, i.e. in radians and degrees. It differs from a known 'X - Y' plotter in that a stationary paper sheet is printed with polar co-ordinates.

An advantage lies in giving the possibility of overprinting the trace, equivalent to several revolutions of a moving disc; and when there is a value change from the previous cycle, the change is immediately very apparent to a viewer Referring to figure 9 there is shown a rectangular sheet 10 1 of paper on which there is marked a circular recording chart web consisting of a plurality of concentric circular lines 102 and a plurality of radial lines 103, the nature of the web being well known in die art. In this figure there are also marked two traces 104 which are produced simultaneously with, or subsequently to, the marking of the web, as is described in detail herein.

Referring to figure 10 at the commencement of the procedure a sheet 105 of plain paper is fed to a laser jet printer or plotter 106 which receives also, say in the conventional slot thereof, a flexible sheet 107 which may be, for example, a sheet of paper or a plastic material, serving as a template. On the template sheet 107 there is marked the same arrangement of circular lines 102 and radial lines 103, not shown in detail in this figure because of the scale of the drawing, which go to make up the circular recording chart web illustrated in figure 9. The sheet 105 of plain paper is progressed through the printer or plotter 106 and emerges-as a sheet 108 marked with the necessary web.

Referring to figure 11, there are shown the steps and apparatus for simultaneous, or successive, printing of both the recording chart web and the trace or traces corresponding to one or more variable parameters. The printer or plotter 106 is controlled by a computer processor 109 which receives information, converted suitably by a converter 110, from one or more probes 111 serving to obtain the change of parameter information. As before, the printer or plotter also receives the flexible template 107, and the sheet 105 of plain paper is fed through the processor-controlled printer 106 and emerges with both the recording chart web and the traces 112, corresponcEng to variations of two variable parameters printed on it.

In summary, the invention thus provides in one aspect a method and means for the production on a plain sheet of paper, rapidly and as and when required, of a recording chart web which thus obviates the need for previous preparation and :1 p -is- stocking of recording charts which may need to be of different style and/or dimensions to suit the recording of different variable parameters. It will be appreciated that a plurality of paper templates 107, each with a different recording web pattern or size of'web, can readily be kept available for use and used any number of times. Further, the invention also provides in another aspect a method and means for producing, commencing with a sheet of plain paper, a recording chart on which are also marked one or more traces of variable parameters. The production of the recording chart web and the recording trace or traces may be simultaneous or in successive steps, and when the traces areproduced it is with correspondingly relatively simple software control of die printer or plotter. Still flirther, the invention provides, commencing with a plain sheet of paper, printed sheets which bear either a circular recording chart web alone, and/or a recording chart web on which are rectilinear webs.

Figure 13 shows a transparent or translucent sheet 107a of flexible sheet material having parallel lines 112 for the production of a rectilinear recording chart web on a paper sheet which receives a trace 113, shown in broken line.

The method, apparatus, and template of the present invention are not restricted to the production of circular recording chart webs and traces. The template may be provided with any other shape and configuration of recording chart web, and for instance may have a plurality of parallel straight lines, similar to lines of a printed page, so as to produce a recording chart web which is suitable particularly for recording of variations of a factor usually depicted in that form e.g. seismic charts which are rectilinear.

Reference is now made to figure 14 which shows a block diagram representing the interrelations of basic circuit components for a preferred form of the invention. Centrally located in figure 14 is a microprocessor 201 which is programmed preferably to receive signals from test format switching means including remote switch 202, and local switch 203 (on the housing) to generate a test format selection signal, and send the test format selection signal to a circuit 207 to operate in die selected format (the system will preferably include k internal test format switching circuitry 204 to select the appropriate analog input from test probes or other input devices oil instructions from the microprocessor); to receive an output signal indicative of a measured value of a parameter and generate a report signal according to a selected report format; to receive signals from report format switching means, both remote 205 and local 206 to generate a report format selection signal, and send the format selection signal to means 208 which store a plurality of report formats to cause the selected report format to be directed to the microprocessor; to receive the selected report format and generate a report signal according to the selected report format; and to generate a signal indicative of the desired report and send that signal to a visual display 209 and/or a speech synthesizer 2 10 to report audibly the test results as synthesized speech in the selected report format. A microprocessor, such as an NEC 7503 can be employed.

Suitable as the speech synthesizer is a 7759 available from NEC. Preferably, replaceable ROM chips, such as an NEC 23C100, will be employed to enable the speech synthesizer to operate in any of a number of desired languages. Tile speech synthesizer will receive a signal indicative of the desired report and transmit it to the speech synthesizer which in combination with an amplifier 211 and speaker 212 will audibly report test results and other desired test information in the selected report format and the desired language. The term 'speaker' is meant in its generic sense and includes all electroacoutistical transducers effective for reporting audible speech and includes such devices and earphones and the like. If desired, a simple on-off switch call be operated on the meter or remotely to turn the speaker on and off as desired.

The various report formats are burned into rneans 208 which can comprise ROM chips as above or those on board the processor as above.

For voice-control of the systern, a voice-operable parameter selector 213 is connected to the microprocessor 201 and can be used to control the parameter selection as an alternative to manual selection using items 202, 203 and 205. A microphone 213A is provided for transmission of voice commands to selector 213.

1 Further, as an alternative to the visual LCD display 209, and the speaker 212, there is provided a monitor 214 which, under the control of the microprocessor 208 having suitable software, provides a virtual meter read-out, or preferably a plurality of meter read-outs as shown in Figure 14.

The virtual meter display may be used alone, or in conjunction with the talking meter output, and the microprocessor can readily be provided with a disc enabling it to show other forms of display such as virtual circular recording charts and linear charts. Circular and linear charts can be inter-converted by the software, and an historic data sequence can be displayed or reported by the system.

In a preferred form, the apparatus comprises a computer screen, monitor screen or the like on which is projected a picture of a recording chart, which may be a circular chart or a linear chart, so that the user has a 'virtual' recorder instead of the apparatus in physical form. The monitor display can be sent to a printer to produce a paper record.

The apparatus may be programmed to provide continuous recording, or repeat recording at intervals.

Control of the inetering function may be obtained by voice cornmand to the selector 213, or by manual control in conventional manner, or by remote control by, for example infra-red 'remote control' systems.

A full disclosure of all of the apparatus of Figure 14, with the exception of the voice-operable selection of the switching, is contained in US Patent No. 4949274 of a present Inventor with others.

Figure 15 is a block diagram showing a lay-out of an apparatus providing a multiple choice of inputs, such as an infrared signal, e.g. as provided currently for control of television sets and video recorders, a tactile signal of any convenient kind, or a vocal instruction, or a keyboard, or use of a 'mouse' as known in the computer art, or any variation of a parameter detected in, for example, a piece of apparatus or machinery, such as a change of temperature or 1 1 -Is- pressure. Switching means (not shown) may be provided in known manner to give selection of the inputs one at a time or in batches. The inputs are fed to a processing unit from which there are derived outputs as required by the user e.g. a display of any convenient kind,,' o-n a monitor or on a printed strip, including meter(s) and 'virtual meter(s)', an audio output which may be, for example, a voice speaking the data or other form. of audible signal, or any combination thereof, or again a combination of 'display' and 'voice', or again the operation of a control means (mechanical or electronic) for an item of equipment, e.g. the control of a heating system according to temperature information received.

Again, switching means (not shown) may be provided in known manner to give selection of the outputs one at a time or in batches.

Figure 16 is a representation of the display on a monitor screen of a plurality of a first form of 'virtual meters', all of which can be read simultaneously by the user. The monitor display may be captured by a printer on paper.

Figure 17 is a representation of the display on a monitor screen of a plurality of a second forni of 'virtual meters', all of which again can be read simultaneously by the user.

Figure 18 shows schernatically a circular chart recorder which may serve as one of the output receptacles for the apparatus of figure 15.

Figure 19 shows schematically a linear chart recorder which rnay serve as one of the output receptacles for the apparatus of Figure 15.

Referring to Figure 20, there is shown a computer 215 on the monitor screen 216 of which there is displayed a representation of a 'virtual' chart recorder 217 having a circular recording chart 218 bearing a trace 219.

Referring to Figure 21 there is shown a computer or monitor 220 on the screen 221 of which there is displayed a representation of a 'virtual' chart recorder 222 having a linear recording chart 223 bearing a trace 224. In both Figure 20 and Figure 2 1, the apparatus may provide also sound indication projected to correspond.

1 Historical information, and the 'picture' and traces may be derived from software.

Figures 14 to 21 and the associated description relate to the printing of templates for chart printers, and the printing of the charts themselves. In a fimther method and apparatus in accordance with the invention, shown in Figure 22, information serving for the production of the template itself, and of charts of the kind described, and of combinations of template and chart, are provided as an alternative to or in addition to input information to the apparatus of Figures 14 to 2 1, so that the template and/or template and chart combination can be viewed by the user in the forin of virtual images and/or as voice or tonal outputs.

Referring to Figure 22, the detection device 301 is a means for detecting any variable parameter (s), and could be for example a thermocouple, with or without any associated items for providing linearity, cold-Junction compensation, and temperature scale adjustment. Output from the detection device 301 is fed to a storage computer 302, which may be programmed to enhance the received information, e.g., for providing the above-mentioned linearity, compensation and adjustment, and which also stores the information. Output from the computer 302 is fed to an output path selection means 303 which provides a choice of switching the information optionally to a printer 304 and/or to a virtual screen display means 305. The term 'printer' includes any known means for producting a permanent copy. The term 'Virtual screen display means' includes a plurality of displays which may be the same or may be diffierent, e.g., a showing of virtual graph representations and virtual meter dial representations.

The apparatus may serve for the display, reporting and recording of variables such as the state of play in sports, the state of variables such as the money markets, the stock market, commodity markets, and travel systems, and particularly with a possibility to provide on a viewing monitor an 'insert' window which gives long-terin or short-term historical data enabling the viewer to see both the current (changing) action and the relevant historical data on the same screen. In particular, for very large-scale screens as used at sports fields, race tracks, autodromes and the like. the current action may be displayed on the major part of the screen, with other relevant information, e.g. historical information, inore recent information such as starting prices, daily movements of shares shown on a smaller section or sections of the screen.

In connection with the showing of sporting events, the apparatus may provide, on a main screen or on an inset or satellite screen, material of historical interest, e.g. the results of previous events, the activities of prominent sportsmen, statistical surveys, and highlights of previous events. For example, in connection with a baseball game, the apparatus may provide a quick history of one or more players/games/series, and all of such additional material may be derived from software. The showing of such material on a main screen and/or on an inset satellite screen may be accompanied by voice projection, e.g. a commentary on actual play, or interesting historical background.

Where the information is displayed on a computer monitor or the like, a voice output, e.g. a train announcer, to accompany the visual output, may be obtainable by operation of a conventional 'mouse'. Where additional information is incoming from an event or other source, an 'insert' screen may provide a constant update of information.

Information derived from the apparatus may be utilised to feed a printer,, a circular recording chart apparatus, or a linear recording chart apparatus, and such recording chart machines may likewise provide for showing of historical data for instant comparison by the user with the current state of the information. By way of example, a temperature recorder for, say, a workshop may provide an indication of a current temperature together with information as to temperatures which were previously current, say day by day or hour by hour, over one or more selected earlier periods.

Output information from the system of the present invention inay be fed to the Internet. It can be retrieved by any subscriber who uses the appropriate password.

i -21 By appropriate selection of the software, the voice output corresponding to meter reading(s) may be provided in-any desired language.

Change of the metering function may be obtained by operation of a keyboard and/or a 'mouse' associated with a microprocessor.

A feature of this aspect of the invention is that there is a controlled relationship between speech and data input, on one hand, and the display and acoustic output on the other hand. The system will operate optionally with speech and/or display output and with manual or speech input control.

This aspect of the invention provides a finiher method of operating a virtual talking meter system which comprises the steps of, a) detecting and collecting variable parameter data such as temperature, pressure, force, weight, electrical signals and fluid flow; b) displaying detected data on a screen (or through a printer); c) reporting displayed data by a voice synthesizer; and d) instructing tile meter system by touch or voice command to perform operations on collected data.

1 t, -22

Claims (38)

1. CLAIMS:

   l. A method for the production of a circular chart recording having at least one trace corresponding to at least one respective variable parameter, comprising steps of feeding information of variation of the at least one variable parameter to an information processor, utilising said processor to instruct a printer, inserting in said printer a rectangular sheet bearing a recording chart web- and causing the printer to print over said web a respective trace allowing variation of the parameter.
2. 2. A method of production of a circular chart suitable for recording at least one trace corresponding to at least one respective variable parameter, comprising steps of inserting in a printer a rectangular plain sheet of paper, and causing the printer to print a circular recording chart web on said sheet.
3. 3. A method for the production of a circular recording chart having a web on which is printed at least one trace corresponding to at least one respective variable parameter, comprising steps of inserting in a. printer a rectangular plain sheet of paper, causing said printer to print on said sheet a circular recording chart web, feeding information of variation of the at least one variable parameter to an information processor, and utilising said processor to instruct said printer to print on said web at least one trace showing variation of the at least one variable parameter.
4. 4. A method according to claim 3 in which the paper is stationary during data printing.
5. Apparatus, for the production of a circular chart recording of at least one trace corresponding to a respective variable parameter, comprising: means for obtaining information of variation of the at least one variable parameter, means for processing said information to a form suitable for instructing a printer, and a printer arranged to print said at least one trace on a sheet bearing a circular recording chart web.
6. 6. Apparatus, for the production of a chart suitable for recording at least one trace corresponding to a respective variable parameter, comprising a printer arranged for the printing of a circular recording chart web on a stationary plain sheet of paper.
7. 7. Apparatus for the production of a recording chart having a web and on which is printed at least one trace corresponding to at least one respective variable parameter,, comprising:

   a printer arranged to print a recording chart web on a rectangular sheet of paper, means for obtaining information of the at least one variable parameter, and means for processing said information to a form suitable for instructing said printer to print a trace over saidweb.
8. 8.

   A recording chart produced by the method of claim 2.
9. 9. A recording chart, having a chart web and at least one trace therein corresponding to at least one variable parameter, produced.by the method of claim 3.
10. 10. A recording chart comprising a rectangular sheet of plain paper having printed therein a circular recording chart web, and having printed on said web at least one trace corresponding to and showing variation of at least one variable parameter.
11. 11. A method for the production of a chart suitable for a radial recording of at least one trace corresponding to at least one variable parameter, comprising steps of feeding to a printer a sheet of plain paper, and feeding simultaneously to said printer a template sheet bearing radial chart recording web markings.

    ^-1,
12. 12. A method for the production of a printed time base recording chart having thereon at least one trace corresponding to at least one variable parameter, comprising steps of feeding information of variation of the at least one variable parameter to an information processor, utilising said processor to instruct a printer or plotter, feeding into said printer or plotter a template sheet bearing marking corresponding to a time based recording chart web, feeding through said printer a plain sheet of paper, and causing said printer to print onto said sheet a recording chart web together with at least one trace thereon showing variation of at least one variable parameter as a function of time.
13. 13. Apparatus for the production of a recording chart having a radial recording web suitable for the recording of at least one trace corresponding to variation of a respective variable parameter, comprising: a template bearing marking correspondffig to a recording chart web, and a printer or plotter adapted to receive said template and a sheet of plain paper on which to print a web.
14. 14. Apparatus for the production, on an initially plain sheet of paper, of a radial recording chart web and at least one trace corresponding to variation of at least one variable parameter, comprising:

    means for ascertaining information as to variation of the at least one parameter, means for imparting that information to a processor or plotter, a printer connected to and instructed by said processor for the printing of at least one trace corresponding to the variation information, and a template, bearing marking corresponding to a radial recording chart web, for insertion into said printer.
15. 15. A blank recording chart produced on a sheet of initially plain paper by the method claimed in claim 11
16. 16. A recording chart, bearing a web and at least one trace corresponding to variation of a variable parameter, produced by the method claimed in claim 12.
17. 17. A template, suitable for use in the method of claim 11, comprising a sheet of flexible material marked with a radial recording chait web.

    j
18. 18. A template, suitable for use in the method of claim 11, comprising a sheet of flexible material of a size and - shape adapted to feeding into the slot of a printer and marked with a recorduig chart web.
19. 19. A template, suitable for use in the method of claim 11, comprising a rectangular sheet of flexible material marked with a recording chart web.
20. 20. A template, suitable for use in the method of claim 11, comprising a sheet of flexible material marked with a circular recording chart web.
21. 21. A template, suitable for use in the method of claim 11, comprising a sheet of flexible transparent material marked with a parallel straight line recording chart web.
22. 22. A system for the collection and reporting of parametric data comprising: a) detector means with input and adjustment responsive to optical, tactile and audio commands; b) display ineans for release of collected data to a monitor; c) reporting means for vocal reporting of data; and d) switching means for selecting input and output modes.
23. 23. Data management circuit control boards in modular form for plug and play insertion into a virtual talking meter system, including speech synthesis and response circuits linked to speech and detection and generation devices for receiving meter instructions and delivering meter output.
24. 24. A method of operating a meter system comprising: a) in-putting data acquisition and vocal instruction control; and b) out-putting data display and audio reporting of detected parameters.
25. 25. A method of operating a meter system, for the presenting of visual output of a parameter, variable with time, relative to a scale, which comprises inputting parameter data acquisition to a computer storage meter system, and outputting from the meter system data display of detected parameter information.

    7.

    1 1
26. 26. A method of operating a computer storage meter system, for the presenting of visual output of a variable parameter combined with audio reporting corresponding to said output, which comprises inputting, to the meter system, parameter data acquisition and vocal introduction control, and outputting from said meter system a combination of data display of detected parameter information and of audio reporting of the detected parameter.
27. 27. In the method of operating a computer storage meter system, as claimed in claim 25, inputting to the meter system instructions for the provision of template information relative to which the data is displayed.
28. 28. In the method of operating a computer storage meter system, as claimed in claim 26, inputting additionally to the meter system instructions for the provision of template information relative to which the data is displayed.
29. 29. A computer storage meter system for the collection and reporting of parametric data comprising: a) detector means with input and adjustment response to optical, tactile, and audio commands and detected parameter information; b) a computer data storage means; c)dlsplay means for the release of the combined collected data; d) reporting means for vocal reporting relating to said collected data.
30. 30. Apparatus for connection to the internet which includes a detector of variable parameters, a processor for storage, retrieval and processing of variable parameters, and means to display or retrieve variable parameter data at an internet access connection.
31. 31. Apparatus for selectively loading variable parameter data into a processor which manages said data and displays selectively at least one form of data on a printer or monitor 1
32. 32. Apparatus for the production of a circular chart recording, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in any one or more of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.
33. 33. A method for the production of a circular chart recording, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in any one or more of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.
34. 34. A recording chart produced by apparatus as claimed in claim 32 or by a method as claimed in claim 33.
35. 35. A template substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 12 or Figure 13 of the accompanying drawings.
36. 36. A system for the collection and reporting of parametric data substantially as discussed herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
37. 37. A meter system substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 14, with or without one or more of Figures 15 to 17, of the accompanying drawings.
38. 38. A method of operating a meter system, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 14, with or without one or more of Figures 15 to 17, of the accompanying drawings.