| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 348160000 | Reading meter or data printer | 17 |
| 20090079832 | System and method for monitoring a printing system using a camera - A monitoring system and method for monitoring a printing system includes a printing system module and a camera. The printing system module is configured to interface with a primary printing-medium path of the printing system and includes a housing with at least one printing-medium path disposed therein. The at least one printing-medium path is a sub-printing-medium path of the primary printing-medium path. The camera is positioned to capture at least one frame of the inside of the printing system module and can be disposed therein. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090322884 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR READING GAUGES AND OTHER VISUAL INDICATORS IN A PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM OR OTHER DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM - A portable apparatus includes a camera configured to capture images of multiple visual indicators. Each visual indicator, such as a gauge or meter, includes a display configured to present a reading. The portable apparatus also includes a recording device configured to store and/or transmit information associated with the captured images of the visual indicators. The camera and/or the recording device could be configured to identify, using the images, the readings presented on the displays of the visual indicators, and the information associated with the captured images could include the readings. Also, the camera could be configured to be mounted on each visual indicator in order to capture one or more images of the visual indicator's display and to be removed from the visual indicator after the one or more images are captured. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100123780 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING A PRINTED IMAGE ON A MOVING MATERIAL WEB - A method for monitoring a printed image on a moving material web uses a camera to record the printed image. The recorded image is displayed on a monitor. A partial area of the printed image to be monitored is selected by means of an electronic control from an area of a virtual target image or the recorded image. The physical printed image recorded by the camera is stored in a memory and continually renewed on section-wise basis. The recorded image is renewed while the monitor displays a selected partial area of the printed image stored in the memory. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100238293 | GRAPHICAL POWER METER FOR CONSUMER TELEVISIONS - A graphical power meter involving a device for measuring, in real time, an internal power consumption value corresponding to power being consumed by an electronic device; and a device for displaying a graphical representation of the real-time internal power consumption value from the measuring device to a consumer. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20120194683 | REMOTE METER READER USING A NETWORK SENSOR SYSTEM AND PROTOCOL - A system and method is provided for automatically reading meters, such as utility meters. A camera unit is attached to or otherwise associated with an existing meter. From time to time, either automatically, or upon wireless command, the camera unit takes an image of the meter's readings, and communicates wirelessly the image or image data, to a local area receiver. The images can be transmitted immediately, or stored for later transmission, depending on the network protocol. The camera unit is battery powered, and operates communication protocols that enable extended operational life. These protocols allow for the camera's radio and processor to be turned on only when necessary, and then for only brief periods of time. At most times, the camera is in a power conserving sleep mode. Multiple camera units may be arranged to communicate meter image data to the local area receiver, either using asynchronous or synchronous processes. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20120200712 | REMOTE MONITORING - Remote monitoring and inspection of measurement devices, emergency equipment, parking spaces, and other items is accomplished by using an image sensor (e.g., a CMOS sensor) to capture an image containing information about the monitored item. A signal containing information about the image (e.g., data representing the captured image or data indicating the state of the captured image) is transmitted to a remote central station. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20130063602 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTE MONITORING OF EQUIPMENT MOISTURE EXPOSURE - The presented principles are directed to an apparatus for monitoring humidity exposure of system components, with the apparatus having sensor modules for collecting environmental data and a monitoring module with a humidity indicator and an electrical monitoring component sealed from the environment that reads a physical change in the humidity indicator to determine the humidity of the environment. An installation computer may transmit the humidity data and sensor readings, wirelessly or otherwise, to a central monitoring station for processing and storage. The humidity indicator may be disposed within an enclosure to determine the humidity within that enclosure. The humidity indicator may also be a desiccant that changes color cased on the humidity, and the electrical monitoring component may be a camera configured to take video data of the desiccant. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130070099 | IMAGE BASED DIAL GAUGE READING - A system and method include obtaining an image of an analog dial gauge. The image is processed to identify an endpoint of the gauge and a needle position in the image. A reading of the gauge is determined from the endpoint, the needle position, and information regarding the range of the gauge. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20140139682 | MULTIPLE AND INTERCHANGEABLE METER READING PROBES - An apparatus to monitor one or more utility meters includes a communication unit with a processor, a communication interface coupled to the processor, and a probe interface coupled to the processor. A meter monitoring probe that includes a probe head is coupled by a cable to a probe connector capable to mate with the probe interface. The probe head includes an image sensor, an indicator, and a button. The probe head is capable to detect a characteristic of a utility meter that is dependent on a usage of a utility metered, and send information related to the characteristic to the processor. The processor is capable to receive the information from the probe head and send a message related to the usage of the utility over the communication interface, and the image sensor is capable to capture an image in response to a press of the button. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140146179 | CONTROLLER FOR IMAGING TERMINAL - A controller for an imaging terminal having an imaging device and a first displaying device includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the processor to perform: acquiring shot image data, the shot image data being obtained by shooting a second displaying device which is a part of an apparatus, the apparatus being a target device to be shot, the second displaying device being configured to display a specific state image indicative of a current state of the apparatus; acquiring, by analyzing the shot image data, specific identification information for identifying specific relevant information associated with the specific state image; acquiring the specific relevant information by using the specific identification information; and controlling the first displaying device to display the specific relevant information. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140160297 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTE UTILITY METER READING - The system and method for remote utility meter reading are include a camera positioned adjacent the face of a utility meter for generating an analog optical image signal representative of a the utility meter having a visual identifier associated with the utility meter. The visual identifier may be a label, a bar code or the like for identifying the location of the particular utility meter. An analog-to-digital converter is in communication with the camera for receiving the analog optical image signal and generating an associated digital image signal. The original analog optical image signal is preserved, so that a transmitter in communication with the camera may transmit both the analog optical image signal and the digital image signal to a remote host associated with the utility company for remote reading of the utility meter. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140267753 | Measurement System With Image Capture Capabilities - In at least one embodiment, a mobile measurement system includes a handheld device, a measurement device, and an optical sensing device. The measurement device and the optical sensing device are communicatively coupled to the handheld device. The handheld device receives measurement data that comprises at least one measured electrical parameter corresponding to a physical property of an external system. The measurement device generates measurement data that corresponds to a period of time. The measurement device communicates the generated measurement data to the handheld device. The optical sensing device generates optical data corresponding to an interface of the measurement device and the external system where the measurement data is being generated. The generated optical data corresponds to a particular time within the measurement period of time. The mobile measurement system associates and stores the generated optical data for the particular time with measurement data corresponding to the period of time. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140320665 | SYSTEM FOR READING A METER - A system for reading a meter is provided. The meter comprises a visual display behind by a transparent cover, the visual display comprising one or more indicators each representing a sub-value and together representing a metered value measured by the meter. The system comprises an imaging unit comprising an imaging device and an adhesive configured to facilitate mounting of the imaging unit over the cover of the meter such that the imaging device faces the visual display, and a processor configured to recognize values represented by the indicators are imaged and calculate, based thereon, the metered value. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20150070507 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING IMAGE CAPTURE CAPABILITIES - An intelligent electronic device (IED) includes an image capture module configured for capturing images or video in a location of the IED. The IED may also include a heat sensor for sensing heat inside or outside a housing of the IED. In one application, these techniques are implemented in IEDs such as electrical power and energy meters and used to control access to reset, configuration, billing, communication, and data acquisition/processing functions of the meters. Additionally, image processing techniques are employed by the IED to detect events in an electrical distribution system and implement control functions thereof. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20160073063 | FLOW METER USING A DYNAMIC BACKGROUND IMAGE - A flow meter includes a coupler, a support member, an image sensor, and one or more processors. The coupler is adapted to couple to a drip chamber. The support member is coupled to the coupler. The image sensor has a field of view and is operatively coupled to the support member. The image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the field of view. The processor is operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data from the image sensor and is configured to: capture an image of a drip chamber using an image sensor; compare the image of a drip chamber with a dynamic background image; and adjust a flow rate of fluid flowing through the fluid line in accordance with the comparison between the image of the drip chamber and the dynamic background image. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160078743 | Remote Pipe Lining Air Monitoring System - A remote pipe lining air monitoring system for remotely monitoring air pressure when curing a pipe liner. The present system generally includes a case storing an internal monitoring system. The case includes a port which is adapted to be fluidly connected in-line between an air compressor and a pipe liner. An internal compartment of the case includes the various components of the monitoring system, including a communications device, illumination device, air pressure monitor, alarm device, and a camera. The illumination device illuminates the internal compartment of the case while the camera is directed at the air pressure monitor. The communications device remotely transmits a video signal of the monitor to a remote device. In the event of pressure change or loss of power, the audio detector will detect activation of the alarm device and cause an alert to be transmitted to a remote device by the communications device. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160109263 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INITIALIZING A METER READING DEVICE - A method of initializing a meter reading device that communicates a current meter value of a meter to a central metering facility includes capturing, by a camera, an optical image of the meter that displays meter information and determining an initial meter value from the meter information in the optical image of the meter. The method further includes initializing the meter reading device using the initial meter value. | 04-21-2016 |
