Title of Invention

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESSLY AND REMOTELY READING AN INTEGRATING METER.

Abstract TITLE: A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESSLY AND REMOTELY READING AN INTEGRATING METER. A system and method for wireless automatic meter reading which can wirelessly and remotely read integrated amounts of consumed electric power, water, gas, and the like. An image sensor module is installed in a predetermined portuion of an integrating meter for picking up an image of a numeral displayed on the display of the integrating meter and converting the picked-up image into an electrical signal. A main processor unit generates a numeric code corresponding to the numeral image. A ratio frequency module transmits the generated numeric code wirelessly to a meter reading center.
Full Text Technical Field
The present invention relates to a system and method for wirelessly
and remotely reading an integrating meter which can wirelessly and remotely
read integrated amounts of consumed electric power, water, gas and the like.
Background Art
Generally, metermen must personally read integrating meters such as
electric power meters, gas meters, water meters, etc. to charge users rates for power
consumption, gas consumption, water consumption, etc. Namely, a meterman has to
check a numerical value of a given integrating meter with the naked eye, record the
checked value by hand, subtract a numerical value of the last month from the
recorded value and issue a user a bill statement based on the resulting numerical
value and an integrated amount-to-rate table.
This meter reading process has a disadvantage in that it requires a large
amount of manpower, leading to many expenses. Also, metermen may erroneously
record numerical values of integrating meters, nobody may be present in visited
houses, and persons in visited houses may refuse to permit the reading of integrating
meters. Furthermore, meter reading centers require a large amount of manpower,
leading to many expenses, to process numerical data recorded by metermen using
computers.
In particular, for power consumption, the amount of load power varies
every moment and reserve power must be used to meet a demanded amount of
power when the maximum load power is applied. Notably, to increase reserve
power by 1% necessitates a national enormous investment. In this regard, a
charge-by-time system is required to fix a high power rate in the maximum load
power time zone and a low power rate in the minimum load power time zone, for
example, the night time, in turn resulting in a need for the development of remote
meter reading units.
In order to meet this requirement, a large number of remote meter reading
units have been developed. These meter reading units may be, for example, a direct
meter reading unit and an automatic meter reading (AMR) unit. The direct meter
reading unit comprises a plurality of sensors instead of a conventional wheel
structure on which a numerical value is recorded. The sensors are used to record a
read numerical value. The AMR unit comprises sensor means including analog and
digital circuits for converting physical and electrical amounts varying every moment
into electrical pulses. The sensor means has a variety of sensors, such as a
photosensor, magnetometric sensor, hall sensor, etc., which are provided on a
rotating member of an integrating meter, such as a rotating disc or rotating drum,
and the body of the meter. This AMR unit is adapted to continuously integrate
numerical values and automatically transmit the integrated data upon receiving a
meter reading request.
In order to efficiently and economically perform the remote meter reading
operation, it is necessary to provide synthetic meter reading means capable of
synthetically reading all types of integrating meters including water meters, gas
meters, hot water meters and the like as well as electric power meters. However,
enormous development expenses and a lengthy period of time are required in
constructing or modifying the same remote meter reading unit to install it in meters
of different types, different capacities, different specifications and different systems.
Further, external factors such as a flash of lighting, power surge, etc. may
adversely affect the reliability and stability of meters. For example, such
factors may damage circuits of meters. For this reason, meters must be verified
for reliability and stability. However, a great cost and a large amount of time are
usually required in performing such a verification.
Moreover, integrating meters may be demonstratively installed for the
testing of the remote meter reading operation. However, water meters and gas
meters themselves are high in price and furthermore higher in installation cost,
resulting in a considerable financial burden for their replacement with new ones. It
is also impossible for conventional remote meter reading units to perform the
remote meter reading operation for a lengthy period of time using batteries.
Furthermore, when a remote meter reading function fails, a manual meter
reading operation must be performed and no misreading of read values must occur
during the reading operation. For the purpose of overcoming these problems and the
above problem with the replacement installation, a remote meter reading module
comprising a sensor attached to an existing meter is disclosed in Korean Patent
Publication No. 1994-4879 However, this meter reading module is disadvantageous
in that the body of the meter must be modified for installation of the module therein,
resulting in reductions in reliability and stability and an increase in cost.
On the other hand, various approaches have been proposed for the
transmission and reception of data between automatic meter reading terminals and
meter reading centers. In particular, a radio frequency (RF) system has been
developed to solve an installation cost and management cost of a wired line, which
is the most remarkable disadvantage of a wired system. However, in this RF
system, a meter continuously consumes power because it updates an integrated
value every moment. For this reason, the meter must comprise a separate power
source or battery. For a gas or water meter depending on a battery, a meterman has
to visit periodically (for example, every three to six months) for replacement of the
battery due to the continuous power consumption.
Disclosure of the Invention
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above
problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and
method for wireless automatic meter reading which can wirelessly and remotely
read integrated amounts of consumed electric power, water, gas and the like.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method
for wireless automatic meter reading which is capable of being simply attached or
mounted to the meters to perform a wireless remote reading operation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and
method for wireless automatic meter reading which is mountable to all types of
integrating meters including electric power meters, water meters, gas meters and the
like to wirelessly and remotely read integrated amounts from the integrating meters.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and
method for wireless automatic meter reading wherein the integrating meters need
not be verified for reliability and stability.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and
method for wireless automatic meter reading which can perform a wireless remote
reading operation without modifying the bodies of the integrating meters.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and
method for wireless automatic meter reading which can minimize power
consumption of a battery to perform a wireless remote reading operation for a
maximized battery lifetime (for example, two to five years).
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and
method for wireless automatic meter reading which can employ a self-induced
current source, a solar cell or an organic electrolyte solar cell as a battery,
resulting in no necessity for replacing the battery.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and
method for wireless automatic meter reading which can temporarily store integrated
values by time zones and then transmit the stored values wirelessly.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and
method for wireless automatic meter reading wherein numerals of the integrating
meters are not hidden so that a manual reading operation can be performed when a
wireless remote reading function fails.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method :
for wireless automatic meter reading which can unify integrated amounts of a group
of integrating meters into one data unit and transmit the integrated data unit over
one communication line, thereby significantly reducing an occupancy duration and
communication amount of the communication line.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system and
method for wireless automatic meter reading which can transmit and receive data
necessary to a wireless remote reading operation over power line communication,
thereby performing the wireless remote reading operation irrespective of the
positions of the integrating meters.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a system for wirelessly
and remotely reading an integrating meter, the integrating meter reading
system having a user-side remote meter reading unit for receiving a meter
value displayed on a display of the integrating meter in the form of an mage
recognizing the meter value, and wirelessly transmitting the meter value, and
a meter-reading center for receiving and processing numeric code data
transmitted by the user-side remote meter reading unit and transmitting a
timing code for execution of a wireless remote reading operation, the user-
side remote meter reading unit comprising : an image sensor module installed
in a predetermined portion of said integrating meter for scanning the display
of said meter, said image sensor module comprising an image sensor for
picking up an image of a numeral displayed on said display and converting
the picked-up image into an electrical signal ; an optical character reader
module comprised of a dynamic random access memory for storing data of
the numeral image picked-up by said image sensor, a digital signal processor
for performing a preprocessing operation for the numeral image data stored in
said dynamic random access memory to extract only components necessary
to numeral recognition therefrom, and a main processor unit for comparing
data extracted by said digital signal processor with a recognition library stored
in an electrically erasable and programmable read only memory, generating a
numeric code corresponding to said numeral image in accordance with the
compared result and storing the generated numeric code in a flash read only
memory, and adapted to recognize the meter value picked up by the image
sensor module ; a radio frequency module for transmitting numeric code data
stored in said flash read only memory and/or code data of a numeral currently
displayed on said display to the meter reading center for a predetermined
period of time and receiving a command from said meter reading center; and
a synchronous time controller for performing a sleep mode operation at a
normal state and, only when the current time is in accord with a timing code of
the command received by said radio frequency module, supplying power from
a power supply to the optical character reader module and said radio
frequency module to minimize power consumption.
The present invention also provides a method for wirelessly and
remotely reading an integrating meter, comprising the steps of: (a) picking up
an image of a numeral displayed on a display of said integrating meter and
converting the picked-up image into an electrical signal ; (b) storing data of
the picked-up numeral image in a dynamic random access memory ; (c)
performing a preprocessing operation for the numeral image data stored in
said dynamic random access memory to extract only components necessary
to numeral recognition therefrom ; (d) comparing the extracted data
extracted with a recognition library stored in an electrically erasable and
programmable read only memory, generating a numeric code corresponding
to said numeral image in accordance with the compared result and storing the
generated numeric code in a flash read only memory ; (e) transmitting
numeric code data stored in said flash read only memory and/or code data of
a numeral currently displayed on said display to the meter reading center via
a radio frequency module for a predetermined period of time ; and (f)
receiving and processing said numeric code data transmitted via said radio
frequency module.
recognition therefrom; a main processor unit for comparing data extracted by the
digital signal processor with a recognition library stored in an electrically erasable
and programmable read only memory, generating a numeric code corresponding to
the numeral image in accordance with the compared result and storing the generated
numeric code in a flash read only memory; a radio frequency module for
transmitting numeric code data stored in the flash read only memory and/or code
data of a numeral currently displayed on the display to a meter reading center for a
predetermined period of time and receiving a command from the meter reading
center; a synchronous time controller for performing a sleep mode operation in a
normal state and, only when the current time is in accord with a timing code of the
command received by the radio frequency module, supplying power from a power
supply to an optical character reader module and the radio frequency module to
minimize power consumption; and the meter reading center adapted for receiving
and processing the numeric code data transmitted by the radio frequency module
and transmitting the timing code to the radio frequency module for execution of a
wireless remote reading operation.
Preferably, the image sensor module may be mounted at a predetermined
portion outside a casing of the integrating meter while being spaced apart from the
casing at a certain distance. As an alternative, the image sensor module may be
mounted at a predetermined portion outside a transparent window of the integrating
meter. In this case, the image sensor may be a transparent plate image sensor
composed of a plastic polymer transistor, such that a meterman can view the interior
of the integrating meter so as to perform a manual meter reading operation.
Alternatively, the image sensor module may be installed in a bottom wall
of the integrating meter at a predetermined portion above or under the display and a
transparent body may be installed between the display and the image
sensor module to refract the image of the numeral displayed on the display and
transmit the refracted image to the image sensor module.
Preferably, the transparent body may have a cylindrical shape, a right
triangular shape with its edges rounded, a right-angled triangular shape and a prism
shape.
In another embodiment, the image sensor module and the transparent body
may be formed integrally with each other and in close proximity to each other. In
this case, the image sensor may be a transparent plate image sensor composed of a
plastic polymer transistor, such that a meterman can view the interior of the
integrating meter so as to perform a manual meter reading operation.
In a further embodiment, the image sensor module may be attached on an
internal or external surface of a casing or transparent window of the integrating
meter or mounted to the casing or transparent window of the integrating meter via a
hole. Alternatively, the image sensor module may be attached on an internal
surface of a protective casing or container of the integrating meter.
In yet another embodiment, the image sensor module may be attached on
an external surface of a protective casing or container of the integrating meter,
mounted via a hole to the protective casing or container of the integrating meter or
attached on an external surface of a casing or transparent window of the integrating
meter such that it moves telescopically toward the display.
Preferably, the radio frequency module may include a master radio
frequency module and a plurality of slave radio frequency modules within a given
area, the master radio frequency module and the slave radio frequency modules
transmitting and receiving data therebetween on the basis of their identification
codes, the master radio frequency module transmitting and receiving data to/from
the meter reading center on the basis of its identification code, thereby significantly
reducing an occupancy duration and communication amount of a
communication line.
Preferably, the radio frequency module may be a radio pico cell module or
bluetooth module.
On the other hand, a two-way data transmission/reception terminal, such as
an interactive pager or a two-way messenger, may be provided to perform the
transmission and reception of data between the radio frequency module and the
meter reading center. As an alternative, a data network-based cellemetry system,
such as a personal communication service system, a code division multiple access
system, a time division multiple access system or a global system for mobile
communication, may be provided to perform the transmission and reception of data
between the radio frequency module and the meter reading center.
Preferably, the optical character reader module and the image sensor
module may be integrated into a one-chip unit, thereby making it easy to install and
manage the system.
Preferably, power line communication means may be provided to transmit
and receive data between the image sensor module and the radio frequency module
over a power line when the integrating meter is installed in a communication dead
zone. More preferably, the power line communication line may include a pair of
induction coils connected to the power line or a pair of capacitors connected to the
power line.
Preferably, the power supply may include a replaceable battery, a
transparent solar cell, an organic electrolyte solar cell or an induced current source.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method for wirelessly and remotely reading an integrating meter,
comprising the steps of a) picking up an image of a numeral displayed on a display
of the integrating meter and converting the picked-up image into an electrical
signal; b) storing data of the picked-up numeral image in a dynamic random
access memory; c) performing a preprocessing operation for the numeral
image data stored in the dynamic random access memory to extract only
components necessary to numeral recognition therefrom; d) comparing the extracted
data with a recognition library stored in an electrically erasable and programmable
read only memory, generating a numeric code corresponding to the numeral image
data in accordance with the compared result and storing the generated numeric code
in a flash read only memory; e) transmitting numeric code data stored in the flash
read only memory and/or code data of a numeral currently displayed on the display
to a meter reading center via a radio frequency module for a predetermined period
of time; and f) receiving and processing the numeric code data transmitted via the
radio frequency module.
Preferably, the numeric code data may be temporarily stored in the flash
read only memory prior to its transmission to the meter reading center.
The meter reading center may transmit a command to the integrating meter,
the command including a command code for instructing the integrating meter to
perform an image pickup operation and an identification code for designating the
integrating meter. On the other hand, the numeric code data transmitted to the meter
reading center via the radio frequency module may include numeric data regarding
an integrated amount and an identification code indicative of the integrating meter.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present
invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a system and method
for wireless automatic meter reading in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
Figs. 2a to 2e are perspective views of various embodiments of an
image sensor module in Fig. 1;
Figs. 3a to 3d are sectional views of various embodiments of a transparent
body in Fig. 2d;
Figs. 4a to 4c are views showing various embodiments of a power supply
in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a communication relation between an
integrating meter installed in a dead zone and a radio frequency module;
Figs. 6a and 6b are schematic circuit diagrams illustrating different
embodiments of a power communication system in Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the construction of a system and method
for wireless automatic meter reading in accordance with an alternative embodiment
of the present invention; and
Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the wireless remote
reading system for the integrating meter in accordance with the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
The present invention provides a wireless remote reading system for an
integrating meter comprising an image preprocessor, a processor for reading
identification and data codes, a small-sized optical character reader module
including a one-chip memory for the processing of mass data, and a time controller
having a normal sleep function for minimizing power consumption.
With reference to Fig. 1, there is shown in block form the construction of a
wireless remote reading system for an integrating meter in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this drawing, the
wireless remote reading system comprises an image sensor module 1 fixedly
installed in a predetermined portion of the top wall or bottom wall of the
integrating meter for sensing an image of a numeral on a display of the meter and
converting the sensed image into an electrical signal.
The image sensor module 1 includes a solid-state image sensor for picking
up an image and converting the picked-up image into an electrical signal. The
solid-state image sensor may preferably be a charge coupled device (CCD) image
sensor, a bucket brigade device (BBD) image sensor, a plasma coupled device
(PCD) image sensor, a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image
sensor or a transparent plate image sensor composed of a plastic polymer transistor.
The image sensor module 1 is installed in the top wall or bottom wall of the
integrating meter at such a position that a meterman can personally read a numeral
on the display with the naked eye. Alternatively, the image sensor module 1 may be
made of a transparent material such that a meterman can personally read the
numeral on the display with the naked eye irrespective of the installed position of
the image sensor module 1.
The image sensor module can be installed in integrating meters, such as
electric power meters, water meters, gas meters and the like, in various ways, as
shown in Figs. 2a to 2e. For example, the image sensor module may be attached on
the internal surface or external surface of a cover or casing of an integrating meter
or mounted to the meter cover or casing via a hole. Alternatively, the image sensor
module may be installed in a predetermined portion of the integrating meter while
being neither attached nor mounted on the cover or casing of the meter but spaced
apart therefrom at a certain distance.
Fig. 2a shows the structure of an image sensor module 20 mounted at a
predetermined portion outside a transparent casing 22 of an electric power meter
while being spaced apart from the casing 22 at a certain distance, and Fig. 2b shows
the structure of an image sensor module 30 mounted at a predetermined portion
outside a transparent window 32 of a water or gas meter while being spaced
apart from the window 32 at a certain distance. A fixing member 21 or 31 is
attached to the transparent casing 22 of the electric power meter or the transparent
window 32 of the water or gas meter, and the image sensor module 20 or 30 is
mounted to the top of the fixing member 21 or 31 in such a manner that it can pick
up an image of a numeral on a display 23 or 33 of the power meter or the water or
gas meter.
As shown in Fig. 2c, an image sensor module 40, which includes a
transparent plate image sensor composed of a plastic polymer transistor, may be
attached directly to a transparent casing 42 or transparent window of an integrating
meter to pick up an image of a numeral on a display 43 of the meter. This
arrangement is made to prevent the image sensor module 40 from being externally
projected. Further, the image sensor module 40 is transparent not to hide the display
43. thereby making it easy to perform a manual meter reading operation when the
wireless remote meter reading function fails. As an alternative, the image sensor
module may be installed in the integrating meter at such a position that it does not
hide the display. In this case, similarly, the manual meter reading operation can be
performed easily at any time when the wireless remote meter reading function fails.
Fig. 2d shows the structure of an image sensor module 50 installed in the
bottom wall of an integrating meter at a predetermined portion inside a casing or
transparent window of the meter for picking up a refracted numeral image. A
transparent body 51 with a desired shape is attached on the bottom wall of the
integrating meter at a predetermined portion under a display 53, and the image
sensor module 50 is installed in the bottom wall of the integrating meter at a
predetermined portion spaced apart from the transparent body 51 at a certain
distance to pick up a numeral image projected on the body 51. In other words, the
image sensor module of the present invention can pick up a numeral image on the
display 53 even within the casing of the integrating meter.
The transparent body 51, which refracts a numeral image on the display
53, may have a variety of shapes, for example, a cylindrical shape as shown in Fig.
3a, a right triangular shape with its edges rounded as shown in Fig. 3b, a typical
right-angled triangular shape as shown in Fig. 3c and a prism shape as shown in Fig.
3d. For the right-angled triangular transparent body, an angle of inclination of the
sloping side relative to the base must be set in consideration of a refraction angle.
The transparent body 61 having the prism shape as shown in Fig. 3d is
applicable to a transparent plate image sensor module 60 as shown in Fig. 2e. In
this case, the transparent body 61 and the transparent plate image sensor module 60
may be implemented in a single unit, as shown in Fig. 2e, because the image sensor
module 60 is able to pick up a numeral image projected on the body 61 in close
proximity to the body 61. This implementation is applicable to an integrating meter
wherein a display 63 and a casing 62 are spaced apart from each other at a narrow
interval, in that it can minimize the distance between the transparent body 61 and
the transparent plate image sensor module 60.
Referring again to Fig. 1, a first data memory access controller (DMAC) 2
is adapted to store digital image data corresponding to an electrical image signal
from the image sensor module 1 in a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) 4
and transfer the stored digital image data to a digital signal processor (DSP) 3 for
image preprocessing. The first DMAC 2 is further adapted to store the results
processed by the DSP 3 in the DRAM 4. Namely, the first DMAC 2 controls the
input and output of data to/from the DRAM 4 via a bus. A second DMAC 5
functions to control the input and output of data between a radio frequency (RF)
module 13 and a main processor unit (MPU) 7.
The DSP 3 is adapted to perform a preprocessing operation for the digital image
data transferred by the first DMAC 2 so that the transferred digital image data can
be recognized as a numeral. Namely, the DSP 3 removes noise components from
the received digital image data and rapidly and effectively calculates the
resulting digital image data to extract a shape, line segments and coordinate values
necessary to numeral recognition therefrom. Then, the DSP 3 stores the calculated
results in the DRAM 40 under the control of the first DMAC 2. A bus controller 6 is
connected to the bus to control an internal data transfer rate.
An optical character reader module 8, which recognizes numerals from a
numeral image signal inputted through the image sensor module 1 and generates
corresponding numeral codes, includes the DSP 3, the MPU 7 and the large-scale
DRAM 4.
The DRAM 4 is adapted to store and output the digital image data
corresponding to the electrical image signal from the image sensor module 1. The
DRAM 4 is further adapted to store the result data from the DSP 3, load a
recognition algorithm coded in an electrically erasable and programmable read only
memory (EEPROM) 9 therein and output the stored result data and the loaded
recognition algorithm to the MPU 7 for recognition calculation of the digital image
data. Namely, the DRAM 4 supports the image sensor module 1, the DSP 3 and
the MPU 7 in common.
Software with a high recognition rate is programmed in a desktop computer
and then transferred to the EEPROM 9 in a hardware coding manner. The
EEPROM 9 is an external nonvolatile memory acting to transfer a program stored
therein to the DRAM 4 in response to a request from the MPU 7.
A flash ROM 11 acts to store an integrated numeral, recognized and
encoded by the MPU 7, under the control of the second DMAC 5. The flash ROM
11 further stores information, transmitted from a meter reading center 16 and
decoded by a command decoder 10, and transfers the stored information to a
synchronous time controller 12. Namely, the flash ROM 11 stores an identification
(ID) code, meter reading time information and an integrated numeric
code and transfers them to the RF module (for example, a radio pico cell
module or bluetooth module) 13 in response to a transmission request.
The MPU 7 is adapted to perform a calculation operation for the results
processed by the DSP 3 and a recognition library, loaded from the EEPROM 9 to
the DRAM 4, and encode the resulting recognition numeral. Further, the MPU 7
checks a synchronous time of the synchronous time controller 12, encodes a meter
reading time in accordance with the checked result and stores the resulting meter
reading time code in the flash ROM 11 via the command decoder 10.
The synchronous time controller 12 is adapted to control the time of supply
of power from a power supply 15 to associated components, or the RF module 13
and optical character reader module 8, in response to a meter reading time code
transmitted from the meter reading center 16, decoded by the command decoder 10.
In other words, the synchronous time controller 12 is normally in a sleep mode to
supply no power from the power supply 15, and proceeds to an awake mode upon
receiving a meter reading time code transmitted from the meter reading center 16, to
supply power from the power supply 15 to the optical character reader module 8
only for a time period (for example, one to two minutes) designated by the received
meter reading time code. Also in the awake mode, the synchronous time controller
12 supplies the power from the power supply 15 to the RF module 13 only for a
time period (for example, one to two hours) designated by a received command
code. Further, for accurate transmission and reception synchronization, the
controller 12 sets the standard time to time information, transmitted from the meter
reading center 16 to the RF module 13, and interacts with the MPU 7 to generate a
meter read time code and transmit it to the meter reading center 16.
The command decoder 10 is adapted to decode codes from the MPU 7, RF
module 13 and synchronous time controller 12 and store the decoded results in the
flash ROM 11. An identification (ID) generator 14 is adapted to generate an
ID code (including an address and ID number) of the associated integrating
meter, thereby enabling the meter reading center 16 to accurately transmit numeric
data wirelessly to a desired integrating meter.
Although in the embodiment of the present invention the command decoder
10 is described as being separately provided, it is desirable that all the functions of
the command decoder 10 are implemented by the MPU 7.
The power supply 15 includes a rechargeable battery for supplying a drive
voltage to the optical character reader module 8 and RF module 13. The
rechargeable battery may preferably be a hydrogen battery or thin-film lithium
battery. The synchronous time controller 12 automatically monitors the level of
output pov/er from the battery and the amount of charges stored on the battery. In
the present invention, power is consumed only for the operation of the optical
character reader module 8 for image recognition and the communication with the
meter reading center 16. In this regard, the power supply 15 need not always remain
"ON" and its life can thus be maintained for two to five years or more.
The power supply 15 includes a rechargeable and replaceable battery, as
stated previously. Alternatively, the power supply 15 may include a transparent
solar cell as shown in Fig. 4a, an organic electrolyte solar cell as shown in Fig. 4b or
an induced current source as shown in Fig. 4c. That is, a transparent solar cell 73
may be attached on a casing 72 of an integrating meter 71, as shown in Fig. 4a, or
an organic electrolyte solar cell 74 may be attached on a predetermined portion of
the body of the integrating meter 71, as shown in Fig. 4b. In either case, the solar
cell is suitable for an outdoor integrating meter in that it requires heat from the sun.
Current may be induced in an induction coil 77 facing a coil 76 extending from a
power line 75, as shown in Fig. 4c. This induced current is useable in spaces
receiving no sunshine, such as underground, as well as outdoors.
On the other hand, an integrating meter 91 may be installed in
a communication dead zone such as underground, as shown in Fig. 5. In this
case, the integrating meter 91 can be connected to an outdoor RF module 97 over
power line communication. The RF module 97 can transfer data between the
integrating meter 91 and a meter reading center. To this end, a transmission module
93 must be provided in the integrating meter 91 including an image sensor module
92, and a reception module 96 must be provided in the RF module 97. The RF
module 97 is coupled with a receptacle 95 of a power line 94 in such a way that it
can readily be decoupled therefrom with no separate work. Figs. 6a and 6b illustrate
different embodiments of a power communication system for placing data regarding
an integrated amount on a power line and extracting the data from the power line. In
the power communication system of Fig. 6a, a pair of induction coils 78 and 81
connected to a power line 79 are installed respectively in an integrating meter and
an RF module. Alternatively, in the power communication system of Fig. 6b, input
and output terminals of an RF module and integrating meter are connected to a
power line 80 respectively via capacitors 82 and 83. These two systems can
selectively be used according to the conditions of an integrating meter and RF
module.
In either system, a filter is provided to filter the integrated amount data
transmitted over the power line communication, so as to prevent unnecessary
components from being transmitted.
On the other hand, a plurality of integrating meters 90-98 may be grouped
into a single unit in a given area, as shown in Fig. 7. In this case, image sensor
modules and RF modules 100-108 paired therewith are installed respectively in the
integrating meters in such a manner that one RF module 100 is a master and the
other RF modules 101-108 are slaves. With this construction, the master RF module
can unify numeric data regarding integrated amounts of the respective integrating
meters and transmit the unified data to a meter reading center over one
communication line.
Each RF module (for example, a bluetooth module or radio pico cell
module) for data communication with the meter reading center acts to support a
one-to-one or one-to-multiple wireless connection of an associated device to a
variety of equipment existing within a given range. This RF module employs an
industrial scientific medical (ISM) band of 2.4GHz to provide a transmission rate of
a maximum of IMbps, a hop transceiver technology to reduce effects resulting from
a fading interference, and a binary frequency modulation system.
This RF module can be provided in a variety of digital equipment including
mobile telephones, notebooks, printers, desktop personal computers, personal digital
assistants, facsimiles, keyboards, joysticks, etc. to perform voice and data
communications among the digital equipment using a radio frequency, not via a
physical cable.
A two-way data transmission/reception terminal, such as an interactive
pager or a two-way messenger (TWM), may be provided to perform the
transmission and reception of data between the RF module and the meter reading
center. As an alternative, a data network-based cellemetry system, such as a
personal communication service (PCS) system, a code division multiple access
(CDMA) system, a time division multiple access (TDMA) system or a global
system for mobile communication (GSM), may be provided to perform the
transmission and reception of data between the RF module and the meter reading
center.
Next, a detailed description will be given of the operation of the wireless
remote reading system with the above-stated construction in accordance with the
present invention with reference to a flowchart of Fig. 8.
First, the synchronous time controller 12 in the integrating meter analyzes a
meter reading command transmitted from the meter reading center 16. If the
transmitted command is analyzed to command the change from the sleep
mode to the awake mode, the synchronous time controller 12 controls the power
supply 15 to supply power to the optical character reader module 8 in which a
character recognition library is stored (S1).
The command transmitted from the meter reading center 16 includes a
command code for instructing the associated integrating meter to perform an image
pickup operation, and an ID code for designating the associated integrating meter.
As a result, the meter reading center 16 can designate a specific integrating meter to
be wirelessly and remotely read, by transmitting a specific command code to the
meter.
Upon being energized by the power supply 15, the image sensor module 1
scans a numeral on the display of the integrating meter. Digital image data of the
scanned numeral is stored in the DRAM 4 and then transferred to the DSP 3, which
removes noise components from the transferred digital image data and performs a
preprocessing operation for the resulting digital image data to extract a shape, line
segments and coordinate values necessary to numeral recognition therefrom. Then,
the DSP 3 digitizes the digital image data on the basis of the extracted shape, line
segments and coordinate values (S2).
A recognition library stored in the EEPROM 9 is transferred to the MPU 7
via the DRAM 4. The MPU 7 compares the results processed by the DSP 3 with the
recognition library loaded from the EEPROM 9, encodes the resulting recognition
numeral and stores the resulting numeric code in the flash ROM 11 (S3). At the
same time as storing the numeric code, the MPU 7 checks a meter reading time of
the synchronous time controller 12 and stores the resulting meter reading time code
and ID code in the flash ROM 11 (S4).
The synchronous time controller 12 checks a transmission code for data
transmission and reception under the condition that the power supply 15 is in
the sleep mode to maintain the optical character reader module 8 at its OFF
state. At the moment that a standby time command code for data transmission and
reception of the RF module 13 is in accord with a synchronous time, the
synchronous time controller 12 controls the power supply 15 to maintain the RF
module 13 at its ON state for a command time period. As a result, the RF module
13 remains at a transmission/reception standby state for the command time period
(S5).
Upon receiving meter reading and transmission command codes from the
meter reading center 16 at the transmission/reception standby state, the RF module
13 transmits the stored integrated numeric code or meter reading time code to the
meter reading center 16 synchronously with a designated time (S6).
The numeric code, transmitted from the integrating meter to the meter
reading center via the RF module, includes numeric data regarding an integrated
amount and an ID code indicative of the integrating meter. As a result, the meter
reading center analyzes the numeric code transmitted from the integrating meter
and, in accordance with the analyzed result, not only calculates a rate of the
integrated amount but also charges the calculated rate to a subscriber to which the
integrating meter belongs.
Also, upon receiving a code signal from the meter reading center 16 at the
standby state, the command decoder 10 decodes the received code signal and stores
the decoded result in the flash ROM 11. The synchronous time controller 12 waits
for meter reading and transmission/reception command codes and synchronous time
information from the meter reading center in the slip mode (S7).
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the above-described wireless
remote meter reading system and method are enough to accomplish the objects of
the present invention.
Industrial Applicability
As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a
system and method for wireless automatic meter reading which can wirelessly and
remotely read integrated amounts of consumed electric power, water, gas and the
like. The wireless remote reading system is capable of being simply attached or
mounted to the meters without replacing the meters with new ones, to perform a
wireless remote reading operation. Further, numerals of the integrating meters are
not hidden so that a manual reading operation can be performed at any time. The
wireless remote reading system is mountable to all types of integrating meters
including electric power meters, water meters, gas meters and the like to wirelessly
and remotely read integrated amounts from the integrating meters. Moreover, the
wireless remote reading system need not be subjected to a verification for a lengthy
period of time and the product thereof is small in size and low in cost.
Further, according to this invention, power is supplied only when the
wireless remote reading operation is required, thereby lengthening the lifetime of,
for example, a battery. Moreover, the wireless remote reading system can calculate
local or national integrated amounts in a specific time zone, for example, the
maximum load power time zone within a short time period and totally manage the
integrated amounts. This has the effect of actively, rapidly and accurately coping
with consumed amounts of electric power, water, gas and the like.
Furthermore, according to this invention, the wireless remote reading
system can unify integrated amounts of a group of integrating meters into one data
unit and transmit the unified data unit over one communication line, thereby
significantly reducing an occupancy duration and communication amount of the
communication line. Also, the wireless remote reading system can transmit and
receive data necessary to the wireless remote reading operation over power
line communication, thereby performing the wireless remote reading operation
irrespective of the positions of the integrating meters.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that
various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing
from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
WE CLAIM :
1. A system for wirelessly and remotely reading an integrating meter, the
integrating meter reading system having a user-side remote meter reading
unit for receiving a meter value displayed on a display of the integrating meter
in the form of an image, recognizing the meter value, and wirelessly
transmitting the meter value, and a meter-reading center for receiving and
processing numeric code data transmitted by the user-side remote meter
reading unit and transmitting a timing code for execution of a wireless remote
reading operation, the user-side remote meter reading unit comprising :
an image sensor module installed in a predetermined portion of said
integrating meter for scanning the display of said meter, said image sensor
module comprising an image sensor for picking up an image of a numeral
displayed on said display and converting the picked-up image into an
electrical signal;
an optical character reader module comprised of a dynamic random
access memory for storing data of the numeral image picked-up by said
image sensor, a digital signal processor for performing a preprocessing
operation for the numeral image data stored in said dynamic random access
memory to extract only components necessary to numeral recognition
therefrom, and a main processor unit for comparing data extracted by said
digital signal processor with a recognition library stored in an electrically
erasable and programmable read only memory, generating a numeric code
corresponding to said numeral image in accordance with the compared result
and storing the generated numeric code in a flash read only memory, and
adapted to recognize the meter value picked up by the image sensor module ;
a radio frequency module for transmitting numeric code data stored in
said flash read only memory and/or code data of a numeral currently
displayed on said display to the meter reading center for a predetermined
period of time and receiving a command from said meter reading center; and
a synchronous time controller for performing a sleep mode operation
at a normal state and, only when the current time is in accord with a timing
code of the command received by said radio frequency module, supplying
power from a power supply to the optical character reader module and said
radio frequency module to minimize power consumption.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image sensor is a
complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor image sensor.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image sensor module
is installed in front of the display of said integrating meter while being spaced
apart therefrom, and scans a numeral displayed on the display.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image sensor is a
transparent plate image sensor composed of a plastic polymer transistor, and
is attached to a casing or transparent window of the integrating meter at a
predetermined position so as to allow the display of the integrating meter to
be read with the naked eye.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image sensor module
comprises a transparent body for refracting or reflecting the image of the
numeral displayed on said display and transmitting the refracted or reflected
image to said image sensor module so that the display of the integrating
meter can be read with the naked eye.
6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said transparent body has
a cylindrical shape, and installed beside the display of the integrated meter
along a length of the display of the integrated meter.
7. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said transparent body has
a triangular prism shape, and installed beside the display of the integrated
meter along a length of the display of the integrated meter.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein when two or more
integrating meters and corresponding user-side remote meter reading units
are installed within a given area, one of the user-side remote meter reading
units is designated as a master and the others thereof are designated as
slaves, and the master remote meter reading unit directly communicates with
the meter reading center and the slave remote meter reading units
communicate with the meter reading center through the medium of the
master remote meter reading unit.
9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radio frequency
module is a radio pico cell module or bluetooth module.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1, comprising two-way data
transmission/reception means for performing the transmission and reception
of data between said radio frequency module and said meter reading center,
said two-way data transmission/reception means having an interactive pager
or a two-way messenger.
11. The system as claimed in claim 1, comprising data network-based
cellemetry means for performing the transmission and reception of data
between said radio frequency module and said meter reading center, said
data network-based cellemetry means comprising a personal communication
service system, a code division multiple access system, a time division
multiple access system or a global system for mobile communication.
12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optical character
reader module and said image sensor module are integrated into a one-chip
unit.
13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said integrating
meter is installed in a communication dead zone, the image sensor module is
installed in the integrating meter, the radio frequency module is installed in a
communicatable zone, and the data are transmitted and received between
said image sensor module and said radio frequency module over a power
line.
14. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power supply for
supplying power to the user-side remote meter reading unit is a replaceable
battery.
15. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power supply for
supplying power to the user-side remote meter reading unit is a solar cell or
organic electrolyte solar cell.
16. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power supplied to the
user-side remote meter reading unit is current induced by an induction coil.
17. A method for wirelessly and remotely reading an integrating meter,
comprising the steps of:
a) picking up an image of a numeral displayed on a display of said
integrating meter and converting the picked-up image into an electrical
signal;
b) storing data of the picked-up numeral image in a dynamic
random access memory;
c) performing a preprocessing operation for the numeral image
data stored in said dynamic random access memory to extract only
components necessary to numeral recognition therefrom ;
d) comparing the extracted data extracted with a recognition library
stored in an electrically erasable and programmable read only memory,
generating a numeric code corresponding to said numeral image in
accordance with the compared result and storing the generated numeric code
in a flash read only memory ;
e) transmitting numeric code data stored in said flash read only
memory and/or code data of a numeral currently displayed on said display to
the meter reading center via a radio frequency module for a predetermined
period of time ; and
f) receiving and processing said numeric code data transmitted via
said radio frequency module.
18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said numeric coda data
is temporarily stored in said flash read only memory prior to its transmission
to said meter reading center.
19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said meter reading
center is adapted to transit a command to said integrating meter, said
command comprising a command code for instructing said integrating meter
to perform an image pickup operation and an identification code for
designating said integrating meter.
20. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said numeric coda data
transmitted to said meter reading center via said radio frequency module
comprises numeric data regarding an integrated amount and an identification
code indicative of said integrating meter.
21. A system for wirelessly and remotely reading an integrating meter,
substantially as herein described, particularly with reference to and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
22. A method for wirelessly and remotely reading an integrating meter,
substantially as herein described, particularly with reference to and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
A system and method for wireless automatic meter reading which can
wirelessly and remotely read integrated amounts of consumed electric power,
water, gas, and the like. An image sensor module (1) is installed in a
predetermined portion of an integrating meter for picking up an image of a
numeral displayed on the display of the integrating meter and converting the
picked-up image into an electrical signal. A main processor unit (7) generates
a numeric code corresponding to the numeral image. A radio frequency
module (13) transmits the generated numeric code wirelessly to a meter
reading center (16).

Documents:

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-abstract.pdf

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-assignment.pdf

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-claims.pdf

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-correspondence.pdf

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-description (complete).pdf

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-drawings.pdf

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-form 1.pdf

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-form 18.pdf

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-form 2.pdf

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-form 3.pdf

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-form 5.pdf

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-gpa.pdf

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-letter patent.pdf

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-priority document.pdf

in-pct-2002-00722-kol-reply f.e.r.pdf


Patent Number 216908
Indian Patent Application Number IN/PCT/2002/722/KOL
PG Journal Number 12/2008
Publication Date 21-Mar-2008
Grant Date 19-Mar-2008
Date of Filing 28-May-2002
Name of Patentee BLUEMAX COMMUNICATION CO. LTD.,
Applicant Address LG TWINTEL 1ST NO. 1408, 157-8, SAMSUNG-DONG, KANGNAM-GU, SEOUL, 135-080, REPUBLIC OF KOREA.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 HAN MYOUNG COOK 202-1610 BYUKSAN APT. SIHEUNG 2-DONG KEUMCHUN-GU, SEOUL 153-032, REPUBLIC OF KOREA.
PCT International Classification Number G08C 19/00
PCT International Application Number PCT/KR00/01489
PCT International Filing date 2000-12-18
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 2000/72019 2000-11-30 Republic of Korea
2 1999/60049 1999-12-21 Republic of Korea