Automated reader for gauge-based meters
AssigneeFlex Ltd.
InventorMarco De Angeli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Mechanical gauges remain a common means to present values of a system or system component to a user. Connecting mechanical gauges to allow for notification messages to be generated, when the value indicated by a needle of the gauge is of particular interest, provides for greater usability. Illuminating a narrow portion of a gauge and utilizing a light detector to determine if the needle is, or is not, reflecting the light emitted, allows for systems to be alerted when the gauge has a particular value. Additionally, the area of interest may be further divided and illuminated by differentiated light to allow the notification to further include the direction from which the needle has entered the area of interest.
Claims20
A device for detecting a presence of a needle being within a target position of a gauge, comprising:
- a first light emitter to emit a first beam to illuminate the target position on a dial of the gauge, the target position corresponding to a target value, within a range of the gauge, of a subject measured by the gauge;
- a light detector to detect the first beam and convert the detected first beam into an output signal;
- a processor to receive the output signal;
- and
- an output interface to output an alert, from the processor, to an alerting component;
- and
- wherein the processor receives the output signal and, upon determining that the subject being measured by the gauge is equivalent to the target value, said determining comprising determining that a value of the output signal is associated with the needle reflecting the first beam by being within the target position, causes the output interface to output the alert.
A method for reading a needle position of a needle of a gauge, comprising:
- illuminating a target position of a dial of the gauge with a first beam, the target position corresponding to a target value, within a range of the gauge, of a subject measured by the gauge;
- receiving the first beam at a light detector and outputting a corresponding output signal associated with an attribute of the received first beam;
- determining, by a processor receiving the output signal, that the subject being measured by the gauge is equivalent to the target value, said determining comprising determining that the output signal is associated with the needle reflecting the first beam by the needle being within the target position;
- and
- in response, to determining that the needle is within the target position, outputting an alert to an alert receiving component.
A system for detecting a presence of a needle being within a target position of a gauge, comprising:
- a first light emitter to emit a first beam to illuminate the target position on a dial of the gauge, the target position corresponding to a target value, within a range of the gauge, of a subject measured by the gauge;
- a light detector to detect the first beam and convert the detected first beam into an output signal;
- an output interface to produce an alert signal;
- and
- a processor to receive the output signal;
- and
- wherein the processor receives the output signal, determines that the subject being measured by the gauge is equivalent to the target value, said determining comprising determining that a value of the output signal is associated with the needle reflecting the first beam, and causes the output signal to output the alert signal to a component connected thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.