Mode activation using light detection
AssigneeMueller International, LLC
InventorsSzabolcs Zigovszki, Ian Phillip Harvey, Francis J. Stifter, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Technologies are described herein for activating one or more operating modes of a register in a meter. The register is operated in a first mode. Light detections indicating whether the register is exposed to light or isolated from light are read. It is determined whether a condition is met based on the light detections. Upon determining that the condition is met, operating the register in a second mode.
Claims17
A method for activating one or more operating modes of a register in a meter, the method comprising steps of:
- operating the register in a first mode;
- detecting, by a microcontroller in the register, a first lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a first detection period;
- upon detecting the first lighting condition, operating the register in a second mode;
- detecting, by the microcontroller, a second lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a second detection period;
- upon detecting the second lighting condition, operating the register in a third mode;
- detecting, by the microcontroller, a third lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a third detection period;
- and
- upon detecting the third lighting condition, operating the register in the second mode.
A computer-readable storage medium having processor-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processing unit, cause the processing unit to:
- operate a register in a first mode;
- detect a first lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a first detection period;
- take a plurality of light readings over a period of time;
- determine a number of light readings that indicate a lighted condition;
- compare the number of light readings indicating a lighted condition to a steady-state threshold;
- upon determining that the number of light readings indicating a lighted condition falls below the steady-state threshold, determine that an unintentional lighting condition is detected and continue to operate the register in the first mode;
- upon detecting the first lighting condition and determining that the number of light readings indicating a lighted condition is above the steady-state threshold, operate the register in a second mode;
- detect a second lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a second detection period;
- upon detecting the second lighting condition and determining that the number of light readings indicating a lighted condition is above the steady-state threshold, operate the register in a third mode;
- detect a third lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a third detection period;
- and
- upon detecting the third lighting condition and determining that the number of light readings indicating a lighted condition is above the steady-state threshold, operate the register in the second mode.
A register for use in a meter, the register comprising:
- an optical sensor configured to generate outputs indicative of detected light levels;
- and
- a microcontroller connected to the optical sensor, the microcontroller configured to
- operate the register in a first mode;
- detect a first lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a first detection period;
- upon detecting the first lighting condition, operate the register in a second mode;
- detect a second lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a second detection period;
- upon detecting the second lighting condition, operate the register in a third mode;
- detect a third lighting condition comprising a plurality of transitions from light to dark or dark to light within a third detection period;
- and
- upon detecting the third lighting condition, operate the register in the second mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.