TWI827476B - Meter reading device and reading method for meter - Google Patents

Abstract

A meter reading device and a reading method for a meter are provided. The meter reading device includes multiple light emitters, multiple light sensors and a processor. The light emitters arranged on a sensing plane emit first lights. The light sensors sense a second light to generate current light sensing values. The second light is a light that reflected by a meter to be tested with the first light. The processor obtains the current light sensing values, determines a position of a pointer in the meter-under-test according to the current light sensing values, and obtains a meter value according to the position of the pointer based on a relative positional relationship between the light sensor and the meter to be tested.

Description

Meter reading device and meter reading method

The present invention relates to an instrument reading technology, and in particular, to an instrument reading device and an instrument reading method.

In environments such as factories, many devices have instruments used to present information, thus presenting the appearance of instruments. However, due to negative population growth in many countries due to declining birthrates and aging, many factories are gradually facing a shortage of manpower. Therefore, the global manufacturing industry is accelerating the process of factory automation to save human resources. However, the majority of equipment has analog instruments, and replacing all of them would require high construction costs. If corresponding equipment can be used to read and monitor the values presented in the instrument, the construction cost of factory automation may be reduced.

The present invention provides an instrument reading device and an instrument reading method, which can obtain the values on the instrument to be measured at high speed and provide immediate feedback of the instrument values, thereby achieving equipment monitoring.

The meter reading device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes multiple light emitters, multiple photoreceptors and a processor. A plurality of light emitters are arranged on a sensing plane, and the light emitters are used to emit a plurality of first light rays in a emission direction. A plurality of photoreceptors are arranged on the sensing plane. The photoreceptor senses a second light to generate corresponding multiple current photosensitivity values. The second light is the light that the first light irradiates to an instrument to be measured and is reflected. The processor obtains the current photosensitivity value, determines a pointer position in the instrument under test based on the current photosensitivity value, and uses the pointer position based on a relative position relationship between the photoreceptor and the instrument under test. Get a meter value.

The instrument reading method described in the embodiment of the present invention is suitable for an instrument reading device including multiple light emitters and multiple photoreceptors. The reading method includes the following steps: after configuring the instrument reading device and an instrument to be measured, controlling each of the light emitters one by one to emit a first light in an emission direction, and obtaining the A plurality of current light sensitivity values generated by a photoreceptor, wherein the light emitter and the photoreceptor are arranged on a sensing plane; judging the object to be measured based on the current light sensitivity value generated by each of the photoreceptors. A pointer position of the instrument; and, based on a relative positional relationship between the photoreceptor and the instrument to be measured, calculate and obtain an instrument value based on the pointer position.

Based on the above, the instrument reading device and the instrument reading method described in the embodiments of the present invention can provide multiple light emitters and multiple photoreceptors on the sensing plane, and use these light emitters and photoreceptors to detect The position of the pointer in the instrument under test, and the location of each photoreceptor based on the relative position of the photoreceptor and the instrument under test The corresponding scale value is then used to calculate and obtain the meter value by using the scale value of the photoreceptor closest to the aforementioned pointer position. Moreover, the meter reading device of this embodiment can be very close to the meter to be measured, so that the meter reading device can be designed to be thin and light, and the values detected by the photoreceptor are easy to analyze and perform subsequent data processing. Therefore, the present invention The meter reading device and corresponding technology proposed in each embodiment can further reduce the construction cost.

100: Meter reading device

110: The body of the meter reading device

120: Empty area

130:Printed circuit board

200: Instrument to be tested

210:Pointer

220: Center point of the instrument under test

410, 410_1~410_10: Light emitter

420:Light controller

430, 430_1~430_10: Photoreceptor

440: Processor

510: Printed circuit board points

S610~S690: steps

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the appearance of an instrument reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the instrument to be tested in this embodiment.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the appearance of the instrument reading device in Figure 1 and the instrument under test in Figure 2 after they are configured with each other.

Figure 4 is a block diagram of a meter reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the printed circuit board and corresponding configuration components in FIG. 1 .

Figure 6 is a flow chart of a method for reading an instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention.

For the convenience and clarity of explanation, the thickness or size of each component in the drawings is exaggerated, omitted or schematically expressed to facilitate the understanding and reading of those familiar with this art, and the size of each component is not complete. their actual size and are not intended to be The conditions that limit the implementation of the present invention have no technical substantive significance. Any structural modifications, changes in proportions, or adjustments in size will not affect the effects that the present invention can produce and the purposes that can be achieved. It should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in the present invention. The same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar elements.

Various embodiments of the present invention can utilize an instrument reading device composed of a light emitter, a photoreceptor, and corresponding data processing to accurately read various types of instruments with pointers, such as thermometers, pressure gauges, voltmeters, ammeters, Water meter, gas meter, etc. Therefore, the instrument reading device according to the embodiment of the present invention can quickly obtain the value on the instrument to be measured, so as to immediately provide feedback of the instrument value to achieve equipment monitoring.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the appearance of a meter reading device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Part (A) of the left half of Figure 1 is the front of the meter reading device 100, which includes a body 110 and a hollow area 120 for observing the meter to be measured. Part (B) of the right half of FIG. 1 is the back of the meter reading device 100 , which has a hollow area 120 and a printed circuit board 130 for carrying multiple components of the meter reading device 100 . A plurality of light emitters and photoreceptors are arranged on the printed circuit board 130 . Many components configured on the printed circuit board 130 will be described in FIG. 5 and corresponding descriptions below.

In this embodiment, these light emitters and photoreceptors are disposed on one side of the printed circuit board 130 and are arranged in a circular shape. The surface on which the light emitters and photoreceptors are disposed is called a sensing plane. Those who apply this embodiment can arrange these light emitters and photoreceptors on the sensing plane in different arrangements according to their needs. For example, the light emitters and photoreceptors can be arranged in circular, elliptical, rectangular, matrix, A linear arrangement or a combination of the aforementioned arrangements is arranged on the sensing plane.

In this embodiment, the number of light emitters and photoreceptors is both 10, but users who apply this embodiment can adjust the respective numbers of light emitters and photoreceptors according to their needs, and the number of light emitters does not necessarily have to be the same as the number of photoreceptors. The quantities are equal. For example, those who apply this embodiment can implement the embodiment of the present invention through a single light emitter and multiple photoreceptors, multiple light emitters and a single photoreceptor, or any number of light emitters and photoreceptors configured.

Those who apply this embodiment can also drive or adjust the positions of the light emitter and the photoreceptor through corresponding mechanical structures, thereby realizing the spirit of the embodiment of the present invention. For example, a ring-shaped arrangement and a motor can be used to allow the light emitter to emit light at different times, so that multiple photoreceptors can determine the position of the pointer through the aforementioned light.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the instrument 200 to be tested in this embodiment. In this embodiment, an analog thermometer with a pointer 210 is used as the instrument 200 to be measured. When the meter reading device 100 in FIG. 1 is actually used, the printed circuit board 130 in part (B) of FIG. 1 and the meter to be tested 200 will be arranged facing each other, as shown in FIG. 3 . FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the appearance of the meter reading device 100 in FIG. 1 and the meter to be tested 200 in FIG. 2 after they are arranged with each other. As can be seen from FIG. 3 , part of the screen of the meter 200 under test can be seen in the hollow area 120 of the meter reading device 100 , and the sensing plane of the printed circuit board 130 on the back of the meter reading device 100 faces the meter 200 under test. In this embodiment, the light emitter and the photoreceptor are arranged on the sensing plane and arranged in a circle, and the center of the circle (point 510 in Figure 5 ) will correspond to the center point ( (represented by point 220 in Figure 2) are set to each other. Specifically, the light in the embodiment of the present invention The arrangement of the emitters and photoreceptors on the sensing plane of the circuit board 130 is not limited to the above arrangement type. Users of this embodiment can arrange these light emitters and photoreceptors on the sensing plane in different shapes according to their needs. For example, the light emitters and photoreceptors may be configured on the sensing plane and arranged in a circular, elliptical, rectangular, matrix, linear arrangement, or a combination of the foregoing arrangements.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a meter reading device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The meter reading device 100 is used to read the value of the pointer on the meter 200 to be tested. The meter reading device 100 includes a plurality of light emitters 410, a light controller 420, a plurality of photoreceptors 430 and a processor 440. The light controller 420 of this embodiment is electrically coupled to the light emitter 410, the photoreceptor 430 and the processor 440. The photoreceptor 430 is used to sense light to generate a photosensitive value. The light controller 420 can perform analog-to-digital conversion on the analog light sensitivity value sensed by the photoreceptor 430 , and provide the converted light sensitivity value to the processor 440 . Furthermore, the light controller 420 can control the light emitter 410 to emit light and control the brightness of the emitted light.

The light controller 420 and the processor 440 in this embodiment can be implemented using different microprocessors respectively, or the light controller 420 and the processor 440 can be integrated into the same microprocessor. The light emitter 410 may be an infrared light emitter, and the photoreceptor 430 may be an infrared light sensor, but is not limited thereto. Users of this embodiment can selectively adjust the type of light emitted by the light emitter 410 and the type of light received by the photoreceptor 430. For example, the type of light may also be visible light or ultraviolet light.

The light emitter 410 is disposed on the sensing plane of the printed circuit board. True nature In the embodiment, the plurality of light emitters 410 use the direction facing the sensing plane as the emission direction of the light, and these light emitters 410 emit a plurality of first light rays in the aforementioned emission direction. Specifically, the light emitted by the light emitter 410 can be in the shape of a cone. The apex of the cone can be the light source of the light emitted in the light emitter 410, and the aforementioned "emission direction" refers to the light emitting from the aforementioned cone. The vertex points in the direction of the center of the circle on the base. In other words, the emission direction of the light emitted by the light emitter 410 may refer to the direction in which the light intensity of the emitted light has a maximum value. The emission direction of this embodiment is not parallel to the sensing plane. For example, the emission direction of the first light is perpendicular to the sensing plane, thereby emitting toward the instrument 200 to be measured. However, whether the above-mentioned emission direction is parallel to the sensing plane does not limit the embodiment of the present invention. Users of this embodiment can adjust the emission direction of the first light according to their needs, so that it is selectively parallel or non-parallel to the sensing plane.

The photoreceptor 430 is also disposed on the sensing plane of the printed circuit board. The plurality of photoreceptors 430 are used to sense the second light to generate a plurality of current photosensitive values corresponding to the second light. This second light is the first light emitted by the light emitter 410 that irradiates the instrument 200 under test and is reflected.

The light controller 420 is used to control the light emitter 410 and the photoreceptor 430 to obtain the current light sensitivity value from the photoreceptor 430 . In detail, the light controller 420 of this embodiment controls each light emitter 410 one by one to emit the first light in the emission direction. On the other hand, the photoreceptor 430 of this embodiment continuously senses light to generate a photosensitive value, and the light controller 420 obtains multiple current photosensitive values generated by the multiple photoreceptors 430 .

The light controller 420 can obtain multiple current light sensitivity values generated by multiple photoreceptors 430 through various implementation methods. In the embodiment of the present invention, when a certain light emitter 410 emits light, the light controller 420 reads the light sensitivity value of the photoreceptor 430 corresponding to the light emitter 410 to obtain the current light sensitivity value. And the light controller 420 performs analog-to-digital conversion on the read current light sensitivity value to generate a digital current light sensitivity value and provides it to the processor 440 . The processor 440 can interpret the pointer position of the instrument 200 under test through data processing based on the current digital photosensitivity value, and then read the instrument value.

In another embodiment of the present invention, after the light controller 420 controls each light emitter 410 one by one to emit the first light in the emission direction, the light controller 420 also controls the corresponding light emitters 410 that emit light one by one. The photoreceptor 430 performs light sensing, obtains an analog current photosensitivity value from the photoreceptor 430, and converts the read current photosensitivity value through analog-to-digital conversion to generate a corresponding digital current photosensitivity value. Furthermore, the light controller 420 transmits the current light sensitivity value generated by each photoreceptor 430 to the processor 440 . Those who apply this embodiment can use the foregoing method or other methods according to their needs to realize that the light controller 420 reads the light sensitivity values sensed by the multiple photoreceptors 430 .

The processor 440 of this embodiment can determine the position of the pointer on the meter 200 to be measured based on the current light sensitivity values of multiple photoreceptors 430, and use the relative positional relationship between these photoreceptors 430 and the meter 200 to be measured to know the corresponding scale. value, thereby obtaining the instrument value on the instrument 200 to be tested.

The meter reading device 100 of this embodiment may also be equipped with a memory (not shown) Or corresponding storage space (not shown). For example, the meter reading device 100 may also include a flash memory (not shown) and a static random access memory (not shown) for data storage or temporary storage. Use. The aforementioned static random access memory may be disposed in the processor 440 of FIG. 4 .

FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the printed circuit board 130 and corresponding configuration components in FIG. 1 . In Figure 5, the printed circuit board 130 is provided with 10 light emitters 410_1~410_10 and 10 photoreceptors 430_1~430_10. In this embodiment, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the light emitters 410_1~410_10 and the photoreceptors 430_1~430_10. In this embodiment, point 510 of the printed circuit board 130 in Figure 5 is used as the center of the circle, and the circle is cut into 10 equal parts, and one of the light emitters 410_1~410_10 and one of the photoreceptors 430_1~430_10 are arranged every 36 degrees. on the sensing plane of the printed circuit board 130 . That is to say, 10 light emitters 410_1~410_10 are arranged at equal angles around the point 510, and 10 photoreceptors 430_1~430_10 are arranged at equal angles around the point 510. The light controller 420 shown in Figure 4 will control the light emitters 410_1~410_10 one by one to emit the first light (eg, infrared light), and the photoreceptors 430_1~430_10 will continue to sense light. When a certain light emitter (for example, light emitter 410_1) is controlled to emit light, the light controller 420 will control the photoreceptor (for example, photoreceptor 430_1) corresponding to the light emitter (for example, light emitter 410_1). ) to read the photosensitivity value to obtain the aforementioned current photosensitivity value, so as to obtain the reflection intensity of infrared light.

For example, if the light emitted by the light emitter 410_1 irradiates the pointer of the instrument to be measured (that is, there is a pointer of the instrument to be measured in front of the light emitter 410_1 pointer), the current photosensitive value received by the photoreceptor 430_1 at this time is called the first photosensitive value, and the light emitted by the light emitter 410_1 does not illuminate the pointer of the meter to be measured (that is, the pointer of the light emitter 410_1 (there is no pointer of the meter to be measured in front), the current photosensitive value received by the photoreceptor 430_1 at this time is called the second photosensitive value. Then, there is a large numerical difference between the first photosensitive value and the second photosensitive value. In this embodiment, the numerical difference in the aforementioned photosensitive values can be used to sense and determine the pointer position of the instrument 200 to be measured. The photoreceptors 430_1 to 430_10 of this embodiment all present the current photosensitivity value in terms of voltage values. The processor 440 shown in FIG. 4 uses the current light sensitivity value (voltage value) sensed by the photoreceptors 430_1 ~ 430_10 to calculate the pointer position, and calculates the current light sensitivity value received by each photoreceptor 430_1 ~ 430_10 and the data from the to-be-measured The meter value on the meter 200 to be measured can be accurately read based on the infrared ratio of the pointer on the meter 200.

The one-to-one correspondence between the light emitters 410_1 to 410_10 and the photoreceptors 430_1 to 430_10 is described in detail here. Although the embodiment of the present invention uses 10 light emitters 410_1 to 410_10 and 10 photoreceptors 430_1 to 430_10 as an example, for example, one light emitter corresponds to one photoreceptor (called a one-to-one correspondence). To realize the reading of the instrument value on the instrument to be tested 200, so that there is a corresponding relationship between the light emitter and the photoreceptor, but the user of this embodiment can adjust the number of light emitters and photoreceptors according to their needs, and the light emission The number of sensors and photoreceptors is not necessarily the same. Those who apply this embodiment can use 3 light emitters and 9 photoreceptors and implement the embodiment of the invention with the relationship of 1 light emitter corresponding to 3 photoreceptors (called a one-to-three correspondence relationship), for example, The light controller 420 can control one of the light emitters 410 to emit light, and obtain the corresponding photosensitive value through three of the photoreceptors 430 (for example, the light emitter closest to the light emitter). By analogy, those who apply this embodiment can also use 20 light emitters and 10 photoreceptors, and implement the present invention with the relationship of 2 light emitters corresponding to 1 photoreceptor (called a two-to-one correspondence relationship). example.

Figure 6 is a flow chart of a method for reading an instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention. The reading method of FIG. 6 is applicable to an instrument reading device including multiple light emitters and multiple photoreceptors, such as the instrument reading device 100 shown in FIG. 4 . However, those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs can understand that the reading method of the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the instrument reading device 100 of FIG. 4 , nor is it limited to the various aspects of the flow chart of FIG. 6 Sequence of steps.

Please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 6 at the same time. In step S610, before the meter reading device 100 leaves the factory, each photoreceptor 430_1~430_10 in the meter reading device 100 will be calibrated so that each photoreceptor 430_1~ 430_10 generates calibrated photosensitivity values after receiving standard light. There will be a slight deviation between the intensity of the light emitted by each light emitter 410_1~410_10 and the sensing sensitivity of the light received by the photoreceptor 430_1~430_10. Therefore, these components are calibrated before the meter reading device 100 leaves the factory, thereby reducing the The difference between the light emitters 410_1~410_10 and the photoreceptors 430_1~430_10. The calibration method of the embodiment of the present invention can place a standard object in front of the sensing plane, and adjust it one by one using the built-in calibration program of the processor 440 in Figure 4 or through the control of an external device (such as an additional calibration device). The duty cycle of the light emitted by each light emitter, and use After the corresponding photoreceptors 430_1~430_10 receive the light reflected by the standard object (the light emitted to the standard object is emitted by the light emitters 410_1~410_10), the photosensitive value sensed by it is a specific voltage value ( For example, 1.2V).

In step S620, the processor 440 of FIG. 4 can determine the relative positional relationship between the photoreceptor and the instrument to be tested according to the form of the instrument to be tested 200 in FIG. 2 to calculate or set each setting scale value corresponding to each photoreceptor. . This embodiment can store a variety of scale relationships of the meter 200 to be measured in the memory (such as flash memory) or corresponding storage space (not shown) of the meter reading device, and the processor 440 can use the photoreceptor to The sensing situation of the instrument under test 200 is used to determine the form of the instrument under test 200, and then one of the scale relationships of the instrument under test 200 is selected from the stored scale relationships of a variety of instruments under test 200, and the relationship between the photoreceptor and the instrument under test is determined. The relative position relationship is used to calculate or set each setting scale value corresponding to each photoreceptor.

After the meter reading device 100 and the meter to be measured 200 are configured with each other, due to the influence of the environment and current conditions where the meter reading device 100 is located, the meter reading device 100 needs to perform initial settings of the photoreceptor. Therefore, in step S630, after the meter reading device 100 and the meter to be tested 200 are configured with each other, in the initial setting stage of the meter reading device 100, the processor 440 of FIG. 4 controls each photoreceptor through the light controller 420 to Obtain the light sensitivity value generated by each photoreceptor, and use the minimum light sensitivity value among the light sensitivity values generated by all photoreceptors as the initial light sensitivity value of each photoreceptor. In other words, when there is no pointer of the instrument 200 to be measured in front of the photoreceptor, the light sensitivity value sensed by the photoreceptor should be the minimum light sensitivity value, which is used as the initial light sensitivity value, so that it is easy to determine whether the pointer is at the position of the photoreceptor. ahead.

Steps S640 to S670 are corresponding steps in which the meter reading device 100 actually reads meter values after performing the aforementioned initial settings (steps S610 to S630). Specifically, after the instrument reading device 100 of FIG. 1 and the instrument under test 200 of FIG. 2 are configured with each other (for example, the configuration shown in FIG. 3 ), in step S640 , the processor 440 of FIG. 4 transmits light through the light emitter 410 Emit light, and obtain the current light sensitivity value generated by each photoreceptor 430. For example, the current light sensitivity value generated by each photoreceptor 430 can be obtained through the light controller 420. In step S650, the processor 440 subtracts the initial light sensitivity value of each photoreceptor 430 from the current light sensitivity value of each photoreceptor 430 (for example, the initial light sensitivity value obtained in step S630) to obtain a value corresponding to each photoreceptor 430. Differential sensitivity. In step S660, the processor 440 determines the pointer position of the instrument 200 under test based on the differential light sensitivity value corresponding to each photoreceptor 430. Furthermore, in step S670, the processor 440 calculates the meter value (the meter value of the pointer position) based on at least the set scale value corresponding to the photoreceptor 430 corresponding to the pointer position.

The meter reading method of the present invention may also include step S680 and step S690. In step S680, the processor 440 determines whether to continue to monitor the instrument 200 under test. If it is desired to continuously monitor the instrument 200 under test (the determination result of step S680 is yes), step S640 is entered from step S680, and steps S640 to S670 are repeated to continuously read and calculate the instrument value. Correspondingly, if it is desired not to monitor the instrument 200 under test (the determination result of step S680 is No), step S680 will be entered into step S690 to end the reading method for the instrument 200 under test.

Here, the information in Table (1) and Table (2) and Figures 4 and 5 are used as examples. Explain each step in Figure 6. Table (1) is used to present the initial value, current sensitivity value, differential sensitivity value and set scale value of the photoreceptors numbered 430_1 to 430_5; Table (2) is similar to Table (1), which is used to present the photoreceptors numbered 430_6 to 430_5. The corresponding value of the photoreceptor of 430_10. In this embodiment, the photoreceptors numbered 430_1 to 430_10 may be the ten photoreceptors 430_1 to 430_10 shown in FIG. 5 . The ten photoreceptors 430_1 to 430_10 are arranged on the sensing plane and arranged in a circle. In some embodiments of the present invention, table (1) and table (2) can be further stored in the memory or corresponding storage space of the meter reading device 100 . In this embodiment, the photoreceptor numbers in Table (1) and Table (2) and the aforementioned set scale value can be stored in the flash memory of the meter reading device 100. The numbers in Table (1) and Table (2) The current photosensitivity value, the initial photosensitivity value, and the differential photosensitivity value are temporarily stored in the static random access memory (not shown) in the processor 440 .

In step S620 of FIG. 6 , the processor 440 sets a corresponding setting scale value for each photoreceptor in accordance with the form of the meter to be tested 220 of FIG. 2 . For example, the set scale value of the photoreceptor numbered 430_1 is "53", and the set scale value of the photoreceptor numbered 430_2 is "64".

In step S630 of FIG. 6 , a corresponding initial light sensitivity value is set for each photoreceptor. Since the photoreceptors in this embodiment have been calibrated in step S610 and the meter reading device 100 is not affected by the environment, the minimum photosensitive value among the photosensitive values generated by the photoreceptors 430_1 to 430_10 is used as the initial value of each photoreceptor. Sensitivity value, so the initial sensitivity values of the photoreceptors numbered 430_1 to 430_10 are all "3480".

Tables (1) and (2) present each of the 10 photoreceptors 430_1~430_10 after the meter reading device 100 of Fig. 1 and the meter to be tested 200 of Fig. 2 are configured with each other in step S640 of Fig. 6 The current light sensitivity value sensed. Tables (1) and (2) present the differential light sensitivity value corresponding to each of the 10 photoreceptors 430_1 to 430_10 after subtracting the initial light sensitivity value from the current light sensitivity value in step S650 of FIG. 6 .

In step S660 of FIG. 6 , the processor 440 can know from the differential sensitivity values presented in Table (1) and Table (2) that the one with the largest differential sensitivity value is the photoreceptor 430_9. Therefore, it can be determined that the pointer of the meter to be measured should be located on the photoreceptor. 430_9 Near the front. In other words, the processor 440 compares these differential light sensitivity values, and the position of the meter to be measured in front of the photoreceptor corresponding to the largest differential light sensitivity value has a pointer.

In step S670 of FIG. 6 , the processor 440 at least depends on the previous pointer bit. Calculate the meter value by setting the scale value corresponding to the corresponding photoreceptor 430_9 (that is, located near the position of the meter to be measured in front of the photoreceptor 430_9). In this embodiment, the photoreceptor with the largest difference in photosensitivity value is the photoreceptor 430_9 corresponding to the pointer position. In this embodiment, the processor 440 may determine the photoreceptor (i.e., the photoreceptor 430_9 with the largest differential photosensitivity value) corresponding to the aforementioned pointer position (i.e., near the position of the meter to be measured located in front of the photoreceptor 430_9). The current light sensitivity value and its corresponding setting scale value, the corresponding current light sensitivity value generated by N photoreceptors adjacent to the photoreceptor corresponding to the largest difference in light sensitivity value, and the settings corresponding to the adjacent N photoreceptors Scale value to calculate the instrument value, where N is a positive integer greater than 1. In this embodiment, the corresponding numerical values of two adjacent photoreceptors corresponding to the photoreceptor with the largest difference in photosensitivity value are calculated, that is, N is 4.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the maximum difference in light sensitivity value (ie, the difference in light sensitivity value of the photoreceptor numbered 430_9) is expressed as D _N , and the setting scale corresponding to the photoreceptor corresponding to the maximum difference in light sensitivity value (ie, the photoreceptor numbered 430_9) is The value is expressed as _SN , and the maximum difference light sensitivity value _DN is generated by the photoreceptor corresponding to the photoreceptor (the photoreceptor numbered 430_9) and the two adjacent photoreceptors (that is, the photoreceptor numbered 430_7, 430_8, 430_10 and the photoreceptor numbered 430_1). The corresponding differential photosensitivity values are expressed as DN _-2 , DN _-1 , _DN+1 , DN ₊₂ in sequence. The set scale values corresponding to the photoreceptor corresponding to the maximum difference light sensitivity value D _N (the photoreceptor numbered 430_9) and the two adjacent photoreceptors (that is, the photoreceptors numbered 430_7, 430_8, 430_10 and 430_1) are in sequence Expressed as _SN-2 , SN _-1 , SN ₊₁ , SN ₊₂ . Furthermore, the sum of the differential photosensitivity values DN _-2 , DN _-1 , _DN , _DN+1 , and DN ₊₂ is expressed as _DT .

In step S670, the processor 440 may calculate the instrument value V according to the following equation (1):

In other words, the embodiment of the present invention uses the photoreceptor corresponding to the maximum difference in photosensitivity value (such as photoreceptor 430_9) and the photoreceptor adjacent to the aforementioned photoreceptor (such as photoreceptors 430_7, 430_8, 430_10, 430_1) Corresponding relevant values are used to calculate the instrument value V. For example, Equation (1) uses the ratio of the differential photosensitive values corresponding to the photoreceptors 430_7, 430_8, 430_9, 430_10, and 430_1 to the sum of the corresponding differential photosensitive values to calculate the aforementioned photoreceptors 430_7, 430_8, 430_9, 430_10, The proportion of the set scale value corresponding to 430_1 is then added up to calculate the instrument value V.

Therefore, based on equation (1) and the information presented in tables (1) to (2), the instrument value V of this embodiment is 27.7. When using the aforementioned equation (1) to calculate the instrument value V, the processor 440 in Figure 4 will retrieve the set scale value to be used from the flash memory (not shown) and temporarily store it in the static random access memory (not shown). (shown) among the matrices set for use in calculating equation (1). The above-mentioned equation (1) is only for illustration, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the method of the above-listed equation.

Among the technologies that can perform meter reading, cameras and image processing can also be used to identify the pointer on the meter and then read the meter value. However, the data captured by the camera is image data, which is difficult to perform subsequent data processing. It is necessary to rewrite the corresponding image recognition program for each type of analog instrument and its pointer, or Even the artificial intelligence program needs to be retrained before it can be used. Moreover, limited by the focal length and shooting range of the camera, if you want to capture the entire instrument under test, you need a wide-angle lens as the camera lens, or you need to increase the vertical installation space. In addition, the casing of pointer instruments is usually made of curved glass, which can easily cause reflection, which greatly increases the difficulty of image capture and identification, and can easily lead to reading errors of instrument values.

The embodiment of the present invention mainly uses a light emitter and a photoreceptor to build an instrument reading device. Since the construction cost of light emitters and photoreceptors is low, and the values detected by the light photoreceptors are easy to analyze and perform subsequent data processing, the instrument reading devices and corresponding technologies proposed in each embodiment of the present invention are even more capable The effect of low construction costs. Moreover, the light emitter does not have problems with focal length and shooting range, so the instrument reading device can be set very close to the instrument under test, so that the instrument reading device can be designed to be thin and light. Moreover, the instrument reading device according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to various types and shapes of pointer-type instruments to be tested, and has high compatibility.

To sum up, the instrument reading device and the instrument reading method according to the embodiments of the present invention can provide multiple light emitters and multiple photoreceptors on the sensing plane, and use these light emitters and photoreceptors to Detect the position of the pointer in the instrument under test, and obtain the scale value corresponding to the position of each photoreceptor based on the relative position of the photoreceptor and the instrument under test, and then use the scale value of the photoreceptor closest to the aforementioned pointer position. to calculate and obtain meter values. Moreover, the meter reading device of this embodiment can be very close to the meter to be measured, so that the meter reading device can be designed to be thin and light, and the values detected by the photoreceptor are easy to analyze and perform subsequent data processing. Therefore, the present invention The instrument reading device and corresponding technology proposed in each embodiment can further reduce the cost of construction cost.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above through embodiments, they are not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the technical field may make some modifications and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, The protection scope of the present invention shall be determined by the appended patent application scope.

100: Meter reading device

200: Instrument to be tested

410:Light emitter

420:Light controller

430:Photoreceptor

440: Processor

Claims (16)

An instrument reading device including: A plurality of light emitters, arranged on a sensing plane, the light emitters are used to emit a plurality of first light rays in a emission direction; A plurality of photoreceptors are arranged on the sensing plane. The photoreceptors sense a second light to generate corresponding multiple current photosensitivity values. The second light is the first light irradiated to a target to be measured. instrument and subject to reflected light; and A processor that obtains the current photosensitivity value, determines a pointer position in the instrument under test based on the current photosensitivity value, and utilizes the relative positional relationship between the photoreceptor and the instrument under test. Obtain an instrument value based on the above pointer position. The instrument reading device as described in claim 1 further includes: A light controller that controls the light emitter and the photoreceptor to obtain the current light sensitivity value from the photoreceptor, The processor obtains the current light sensitivity value sensed by the photoreceptor through the light controller. The meter reading device of claim 2, wherein the light controller is configured to: Control each of the light emitters one by one to emit the first light in the emission direction, and obtain the current photosensitive value generated by the photoreceptor; and Transmitting the current light sensitivity value generated by the photoreceptor to the processor. The instrument reading device according to claim 2, wherein the light controller and the processor are implemented by a microprocessor. The meter reading device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: After the meter reading device and the meter to be measured are configured with each other, a light sensitivity value generated by each of the photoreceptors is obtained, and one of the light sensitivity values generated by all the photoreceptors is The minimum photosensitivity value is used as an initial photosensitivity value of each photoreceptor; Obtain the current photosensitivity value generated by each of the photoreceptors, subtract the initial photosensitivity value from the current photosensitivity value to obtain a differential photosensitivity value; and The pointer position is determined based on the differential photosensitivity value corresponding to each photoreceptor. The meter reading device of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to: According to the form of the instrument to be measured, determine the relative positional relationship between the photoreceptor and the instrument to be measured to calculate each set scale value corresponding to each of the photoreceptors; and The meter value is calculated based on the set scale value corresponding to the photoreceptor corresponding to the pointer position. The meter reading device as described in request item 6 also includes: Flash memory, used to store the set scale value corresponding to the photoreceptor; and A static random access memory is used in the processor to temporarily store the current photosensitive value, the initial photosensitive value and the differential photosensitive value corresponding to the photoreceptor. The meter reading device of claim 6, wherein the processor is based on the current photosensitive value of the photoreceptor corresponding to the largest differential photosensitive value and its corresponding set scale value, and The current photosensitive value corresponding to the N photoreceptors corresponding to the photoreceptor with the largest differential photoreceptor and the set scale value corresponding to the adjacent N photoreceptors are used. Calculate the meter value, where N is a positive integer greater than 1. The instrument reading device according to claim 1, wherein the emission direction of the light emitter is perpendicular to the sensing plane. The instrument reading device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter and the photoreceptor are arranged on the sensing plane and arranged in a circle, and the center of the circle corresponds to the point to be The center points of the measuring instruments are set to each other. The meter reading device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: Before the meter reading device leaves the factory, each photoreceptor is calibrated so that each photoreceptor generates a calibrated photosensitive value after receiving a standard light. The instrument reading device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter is an infrared light emitter, and the photoreceptor is an infrared light sensor. An instrument reading method, suitable for an instrument reading device including multiple light emitters and multiple photoreceptors, the reading method includes: After the meter reading device is configured with an meter to be measured, each of the light emitters is controlled one by one to emit a first light in an emission direction, and a plurality of current photosensitivity generated by the photoreceptor is obtained. value, wherein the light emitter and the photoreceptor are arranged on a sensing plane; Determine a pointer position of the meter to be measured based on the current light sensitivity value generated by each of the photoreceptors; and Based on a relative positional relationship between the photoreceptor and the instrument to be measured, an instrument value is calculated and obtained based on the position of the pointer. The reading method described in request item 13 also includes: After the meter reading device and the meter to be measured are configured with each other, a light sensitivity value generated by each of the photoreceptors is obtained, and one of the light sensitivity values generated by all the photoreceptors is The minimum photosensitivity value is used as an initial photosensitivity value of each photoreceptor; Obtain the current photosensitivity value generated by the photoreceptor, subtract the initial photosensitivity value from the current photosensitivity value to obtain a differential photosensitivity value; and The pointer position is determined based on the differential photosensitivity value corresponding to each photoreceptor. The reading method described in request item 14 also includes: According to the form of the instrument to be measured, determine the relative positional relationship between the photoreceptor and the instrument to be measured to calculate each set scale value corresponding to each of the photoreceptors; and The meter value is calculated based on the set scale value corresponding to the photoreceptor corresponding to the pointer position. According to the reading method described in claim 15, the step of calculating the meter value based on the set scale value corresponding to the photoreceptor corresponding to the pointer position includes: According to the current photosensitive value of the photoreceptor corresponding to the largest differential photosensitive value and its corresponding set scale value, it is adjacent to the photoreceptor corresponding to the largest differential photosensitive value. The meter value is calculated based on the current photosensitive values corresponding to the N photoreceptors and the set scale values corresponding to the adjacent N photoreceptors, where N is a positive integer greater than 1.

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