Remote reading device based on movable pointer instrument and reading method thereof

Abstract

A movable pointer instrument remote reading device provided by the present invention comprises a reading main body and an instrument shell, a positioning assembly is arranged outside the reading main body, a visual unit, a reading and scale mapping module, an edge calculation module, an analysis module and a wireless communication module are arranged inside the reading main body, the positioning assembly is installed on the instrument shell, and the wireless communication module is installed on the instrument shell. A fine adjustment mechanism for correcting a camera shooting optical axis is arranged in the positioning assembly, the visual unit comprises a variable-focus camera and an annular light supplementing lamp, the reading and scale mapping module is used for converting a dial pointer angle into a reading number, and the edge calculation module is provided with a dormancy and awakening strategy according to the fluctuation condition of the reading number, so that the energy consumption of the device is reduced; the analysis module is used for carrying out trend judgment and abnormity recognition on reading changes, the wireless communication module is used for transmitting real-time reading, alarming and state information to a far-end platform, and in a word, the system has the advantages of being convenient to install, accurate in recognition and reading, low in energy consumption, high in adaptability and low in maintenance cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of pointer instrument technology, specifically relating to a remote reading device and reading method based on a portable pointer instrument. Background Technology

[0002] Mechanical pointer instruments are widely used in industrial monitoring fields such as pipeline pressure, temperature, current, voltage, and liquid level due to their simple structure, high reliability, and low operating costs. They are particularly advantageous in outdoor, remote, and unattended scenarios. Traditional inspection methods usually rely on manual on-site reading and recording, which is not only costly but also susceptible to factors such as ambient light, operational oversights, and discontinuous shifts. With the increasing demand for industrial digitalization and remote monitoring, how to acquire and upload pointer instrument readings electronically in real time has become a key focus of the industry.

[0003] Although existing technologies have developed automatic reading devices that use cameras to capture instrument images and perform image recognition, pointer instruments are prone to problems such as reflective transparent protective covers, diverse dial styles, worn and aged scales, large installation angle deviations, and power supply difficulties. These factors can easily lead to insufficient reading stability and fail to meet current usage requirements. Furthermore, to achieve long-term remote operation, existing devices not only need to adapt to complex lighting environments but also must take into account low-power strategies and data update mechanisms. Otherwise, they will be difficult to work for extended periods in unattended scenarios, and their applicability will be greatly limited.

[0004] In summary, there is an urgent need for a portable remote reading device for pointer instruments. Through positioning calibration, zoned illumination, scale template recognition, low-power operation control, and wireless update coordination, it can achieve stable reading of different dials, different lighting conditions, and long-term operation and maintenance scenarios. This solves the problems of existing technologies, such as reading accuracy being greatly affected by lighting, inconsistent dial styles, insufficient recognition versatility, high energy consumption during continuous operation, difficulty in online device updates, and poor reading strategies. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention proposes a remote reading device and reading method based on a portable pointer instrument, which is applied to the field of pointer instrument technology and solves the existing technical problems of reading accuracy being greatly affected by light, inconsistent dial styles, insufficient recognition universality, high energy consumption during continuous operation, difficulty in online device updates, and poor reading strategies.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives, the specific technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A portable remote reading device for pointer instruments includes a reading body and an instrument housing. The reading body has a positioning component externally and a vision unit, a reading and scale mapping module, an edge computing module, an analysis module, and a wireless communication module internally. The positioning component is mounted on the instrument housing and can be quickly installed via magnetic attraction or clamping. The positioning component contains a fine-tuning mechanism to correct the camera's optical axis and reduce shooting angle deviation. The vision unit includes a zoomable camera and a ring light for acquiring dial images and performing distortion correction, reflection area processing, and multi-frame fusion. The reading and scale mapping module converts the dial pointer angle into a reading. The scale template library inside the degree mapping module is used for matching and recognition. The real-time reading is obtained by converting the pointer endpoint angle. The edge computing module has a sleep and wake-up strategy set according to the reading fluctuation to reduce the device's power consumption. The analysis module is used to determine the trend of reading changes and identify anomalies. It establishes trend relationships using historical readings. When the reading deviates or approaches the threshold, an alarm is triggered and the sampling strategy is adjusted. The wireless communication module is used to transmit real-time readings, alarms and status information to a remote platform. Thus, through the coordinated action of positioning calibration, zone lighting, scale template matching, low power control and wireless updates, the reading subject maintains stable reading ability in scenarios with strong reflection, different dial structures and long-term operation.

[0007] Furthermore, the positioning component adopts a magnetic structure, and the magnetic end face of the magnetic structure is provided with an anti-slip pad to improve the adhesion friction. A dial is provided on the instrument housing for displaying readings.

[0008] Furthermore, the image preprocessing module includes a distortion correction unit, a reflection detection unit, and a multi-frame fusion unit, which are arranged sequentially from front to back. The distortion correction unit restores the true dial geometry based on lens calibration data, the reflection detection unit distinguishes glare areas through brightness gradient and area threshold, and the multi-frame fusion unit overlays multiple images to extract scale texture, so that a readable and clear image can still be obtained when the shooting ambient light is unstable.

[0009] Furthermore, the ring light is divided into multiple independent drive control sections. The image preprocessing module automatically adjusts the light intensity of different independent drive control sections according to the captured brightness and darkness distribution, reducing the brightness of reflective areas and increasing the brightness of scale areas to reduce glass reflection interference and improve the contrast of scale edges.

[0010] Furthermore, the scale template library includes equidistant scales, unequal-distance scales, and single / double combination ring scales. It can fit and infer from the remaining scale features when some scales are partially obscured, worn, or covered by dirt. It can also compare the information displayed by equidistant scales, unequal-distance scales, and single / double combination ring scales to avoid reading failures caused by reliance on a single image.

[0011] A reading method based on a remote reading device for a movable pointer instrument, as described above, includes: S1. The positioning component is magnetically fixed to the surface of the instrument housing, and the attitude is finely adjusted by the adjusting screw set inside the fine adjustment mechanism so that the camera optical axis is perpendicular to the dial. S2. Acquire images of the dial and perform distortion correction, reflection detection and multi-frame fusion processing, and adjust the intensity of the fill light according to the exposure histogram to obtain images with clear scales; S3. Match the scale template based on the dial outline and calculate the real-time reading by the pointer endpoint angle. When the scale is partially missing, use the effective scale segment to infer and complete it. S4. Determine the operating status based on the fluctuation of continuous readings. When the fluctuation is small, turn off the supplementary light and camera and enter low power mode. If the fluctuation or change in ambient brightness exceeds the threshold, automatically resume sampling. S5. Build a trend model based on historical readings and continuously update it. When the trend value approaches the threshold or deviates significantly from the real-time reading, trigger anomaly detection and adjust the sampling strategy. S6. It can wirelessly upload real-time readings and trend information to a remote platform, and can receive scale templates and recognition model update packages to replace local parameters, thus achieving long-term stable operation of the remote reading process.

[0012] Furthermore, in step S4, the edge computing module is equipped with a sleep determination threshold and a wake-up determination threshold. When the reading subject has small fluctuations, it enters a low-power sleep state and retains only light monitoring. If the reading changes abruptly or the ambient brightness changes beyond the set threshold, the camera is quickly woken up and supplementary lighting is used to resume sampling, ensuring the real-time effectiveness and battery life of remote reading.

[0013] Furthermore, in step S5, the analysis module constructs a trend curve using a sliding window based on historical readings, and actively increases the sampling frequency when the trend value approaches the set upper or lower limits or when an acceleration of the offset occurs, in order to enhance the instrument's status tracking capability and achieve early perception of key status changes.

[0014] Furthermore, in step S5, when the deviation between the real-time reading and the trend prediction value exceeds a preset ratio, an abnormal alarm is automatically triggered, and the abnormality is classified as ordinary or severe based on the deviation magnitude. Different sampling cycles and supplementary lighting strategies are adopted for different levels to improve energy efficiency and monitoring accuracy.

[0015] Furthermore, in step S6, the wireless communication module remotely pushes the scale template and reading model update package via OTA. After the update is completed, parameter consistency and stability verification is performed. If the reading accuracy decreases or the verification fails, it can be rolled back to the previous version to ensure that the remote reading quality remains reliable.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention can also bring the following beneficial effects: 1. This invention proposes a remote reading device and method based on a movable pointer instrument. A positioning component is installed on the outside of the reading unit, allowing it to be quickly mounted on the instrument's outer casing using magnetic attraction or clamping. A fine-tuning mechanism inside the positioning component corrects the camera's optical axis, ensuring the camera maintains a relatively accurate shooting posture during operation, thus reducing reading errors caused by installation angle deviations. The reading unit incorporates a vision unit, a reading and scale mapping module, an edge computing module, an analysis module, and a wireless communication module. The vision unit uses a variable-focus camera in conjunction with a ring-shaped fill light. Through distortion correction, reflective area recognition, and multi-frame fusion, the acquired dial image has higher clarity, providing an accurate basis for converting the dial pointer angle into a reading. This invention offers advantages such as convenient installation, adjustable shooting angle, and high image acquisition quality.

[0017] 2. This invention proposes a remote reading device and method based on a movable pointer instrument. It uses a scale template library for identification via a reading and scale mapping module, calculates real-time readings based on the pointer endpoint angle, and outputs stable readings even with different dial styles, local scale wear, or obstruction. An edge computing module controls sleep and wake-up based on reading changes, enabling the device to reduce energy consumption when reading fluctuations are small and to promptly resume sampling to ensure real-time performance when needed. An analysis module combines historical readings for trend judgment and anomaly identification, and adjusts the sampling strategy when reading deviations approach a threshold, enabling long-term online monitoring with adaptive capabilities. It boasts advantages such as stable identification, reasonable power consumption control, and reliable long-term operation.

[0018] 3. This invention proposes a remote reading device and method based on a portable pointer instrument. It employs a wireless communication module to upload real-time readings, alarms, and status information, and to receive scale templates or recognition model update files. This allows the reading subject to dynamically update its reading strategy in different operating cycles. Through the synergistic effects of positioning calibration, zoned illumination, scale template matching, low-power operation control, and wireless updates, the reading subject maintains stable reading capabilities even under conditions of strong reflection, different dial structures, and long-term operation. This invention overcomes the shortcomings of discontinuous manual inspection and the significant environmental interference of traditional photographic reading, and has the advantages of stable remote reading, wide environmental adaptability, and low maintenance costs. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This invention provides a block diagram of the main structure of a remote reading device based on a movable pointer instrument; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connection mechanism between the instrument housing and the positioning component in this example; Figure 3 The present invention provides a flowchart of a reading method based on a remote reading device for a movable pointer instrument; The components are: 1. Instrument housing; 2. Dial; 3. Reading unit. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and the details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] It should be noted that various aspects of embodiments within the scope of the appended claims are described below. It will be apparent that the aspects described herein can be embodied in a wide variety of forms, and any particular structure and / or function described herein is merely illustrative. Based on this invention, those skilled in the art will understand that one aspect described herein can be implemented independently of any other aspect, and two or more of these aspects can be combined in various ways. For example, any number of aspects set forth herein can be used to implement the device and / or practice the method. Additionally, this device and / or method can be implemented using other structures and / or functionalities besides one or more of the aspects set forth herein.

[0024] It should also be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of the present invention. The drawings only show the components related to the present invention and are not drawn according to the actual number, shape and size of the components in the actual implementation. In the actual implementation, the form, quantity and proportion of each component can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout of the components may also be more complex.

[0025] Furthermore, specific details are provided in the following description to facilitate a thorough understanding of the examples. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the described aspects can be practiced without these specific details. Example 1

[0026] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a portable pointer instrument remote reading device includes a reading body 3 and an instrument housing 1. A positioning component is externally mounted on the reading body 3. The reading body 3 internally houses a vision unit, a reading and scale mapping module, an edge computing module, an analysis module, and a wireless communication module. The positioning component is mounted on the instrument housing 1 using a magnetic suction structure. The magnetic suction end face of the magnetic suction structure is provided with an anti-slip pad to improve adhesion friction. A dial 2 is mounted on the instrument housing 1 for displaying readings. The positioning component internally houses a fine-tuning mechanism for correcting the camera's optical axis to reduce shooting angle deviation. The vision unit includes a zoomable camera and a ring light for acquiring images from the dial 2 and performing distortion correction, reflective area processing, and multi-frame fusion. The reading and scale mapping module is used for... The pointer angle of dial 2 is converted into a reading, and matching and recognition are performed based on the scale template library set in the reading and scale mapping module. The real-time reading is obtained by converting the pointer endpoint angle. The edge computing module has a sleep and wake-up strategy set according to the reading fluctuation to reduce device power consumption. The analysis module is used to determine the trend of reading changes and identify anomalies. It establishes trend relationships using historical readings. When the reading deviates or approaches the threshold, an alarm is triggered and the sampling strategy is adjusted. The wireless communication module is used to transmit real-time readings, alarms and status information to a remote platform. Thus, through the coordinated action of positioning calibration, zone supplementary lighting, scale template matching, low power control and wireless updates, the reading subject 3 maintains stable reading capability even in scenarios with strong reflection, different dial 2 structures and long-term operation.

[0027] The image preprocessing module includes a distortion correction unit, a reflection detection unit, and a multi-frame fusion unit, which are arranged sequentially from front to back. The distortion correction unit restores the true geometric shape of the dial 2 based on lens calibration data. The reflection detection unit distinguishes glare areas through brightness gradient and area threshold. The multi-frame fusion unit overlays multiple images to extract scale texture, so that a readable and clear image can still be obtained when the shooting environment light is unstable.

[0028] The ring light is divided into multiple independent drive control sections. The image preprocessing module automatically adjusts the light intensity of different independent drive control sections according to the brightness distribution captured, reducing the brightness of reflective areas and increasing the brightness of scale areas to reduce glass reflection interference and improve the contrast of scale edges.

[0029] The scale template library includes equidistant scales, non-equidistant scales, and single / double combination ring scales. It can fit and infer from the remaining scale features when some scales are partially obscured, worn, or covered by dirt. It can also compare the information displayed by equidistant scales, non-equidistant scales, and single / double combination ring scales to avoid reading failures caused by reliance on a single image.

[0030] A reading method based on a remote reading device for a movable pointer instrument includes the following steps: S1. The positioning component is magnetically fixed to the surface of the instrument housing 1, and the attitude is finely adjusted by the adjusting screw set inside the fine adjustment mechanism so that the camera optical axis is perpendicular to the dial 2.

[0031] S2. Acquire images of dial 2 and perform distortion correction, reflection detection and multi-frame fusion processing. Adjust the intensity of the fill light according to the exposure histogram to obtain images with clear scale.

[0032] S3. Based on the contour matching scale template of dial 2, the real-time reading is calculated by the pointer endpoint angle. When the scale is partially missing, the effective scale segment is used to infer and complete it.

[0033] S4. The operating status is determined based on the continuous reading fluctuation. When the fluctuation is small, the supplementary light and camera are turned off and the low power mode is entered. If the fluctuation or change in ambient brightness exceeds the threshold, sampling is automatically resumed. The edge computing module has a sleep determination threshold and a wake-up determination threshold. When the reading fluctuation is small, the reading subject 3 enters low power sleep mode and only retains light monitoring. If the reading changes suddenly or the change in ambient brightness exceeds the set threshold, the camera and supplementary light are quickly woken up to resume sampling, ensuring the real-time effectiveness and battery life of remote reading.

[0034] S5. A trend model is built based on historical readings and continuously updated. The analysis module uses a sliding window to construct a trend curve based on historical readings. When the trend value approaches the set upper or lower limit or an acceleration of the deviation occurs, the sampling frequency is actively increased to enhance the instrument's status tracking capability and realize early perception of key status changes. When the trend value approaches the threshold or deviates significantly from the real-time reading, anomaly judgment and sampling strategy adjustment are triggered. When the deviation between the real-time reading and the trend prediction value exceeds the preset ratio, anomaly alarm is automatically triggered and classified as ordinary anomaly or severe anomaly according to the deviation magnitude. Different sampling cycles and supplementary lighting strategies are adopted for different levels to improve energy efficiency and monitoring accuracy.

[0035] S6. Real-time readings and trend information are uploaded to a remote platform via wireless means. It can also receive scale templates and recognition model update packages to replace local parameters, thus achieving long-term stable operation of the remote reading process. The wireless communication module pushes scale templates and recognition model update packages remotely via OTA. After the update is completed, parameter consistency and stability verification is performed. If the recognition accuracy decreases or the verification fails, it can be rolled back to the previous version to ensure the continuous reliability of remote reading quality.

[0036] In summary, this invention can be applied for a long time in outdoor sites, chemical plant areas, pump rooms, and power distribution rooms. It has stable readability for different dial structures and has the advantages of convenient installation, accurate reading, low energy consumption, strong adaptability, and low maintenance cost.

[0037] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A portable pointer instrument remote reading device, comprising a reading body and an instrument housing, characterized in that: The external part of the reading unit is equipped with a positioning component, and the internal part includes a vision unit, a reading and scale mapping module, an edge computing module, an analysis module, and a wireless communication module. The positioning component is mounted on the instrument housing and can be quickly installed via magnetic attraction or clamping. The positioning component contains a fine-tuning mechanism to correct the camera's optical axis and reduce shooting angle deviation. The vision unit includes a zoomable camera and a ring light for acquiring dial images and performing distortion correction, reflective area processing, and multi-frame fusion. The reading and scale mapping module converts the dial pointer angle into a reading based on a scale template library located within the module. Matching and recognition are performed, and real-time readings are obtained by converting the pointer endpoint angle. The edge computing module has a sleep and wake-up strategy set according to the reading fluctuation to reduce device power consumption. The analysis module is used to determine the trend of reading changes and identify anomalies, and establish trend relationships using historical readings. When the reading deviates or approaches the threshold, an alarm is triggered and the sampling strategy is adjusted. The wireless communication module is used to transmit real-time readings, alarms and status information to a remote platform. Thus, through the synergistic effect of positioning calibration, partitioned lighting, scale template matching, low power control and wireless updates, the reading subject maintains stable reading ability in scenarios with strong reflection, different dial structures and long-term operation.

2. The portable pointer instrument remote reading device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The positioning component adopts a magnetic structure, and the magnetic end face of the magnetic structure is provided with an anti-slip pad to improve the adhesion friction. The instrument housing is provided with a dial for displaying readings.

3. A portable pointer instrument remote reading device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The image preprocessing module includes a distortion correction unit, a reflection detection unit, and a multi-frame fusion unit, which are arranged sequentially from front to back. The distortion correction unit restores the true dial geometry based on lens calibration data. The reflection detection unit distinguishes glare areas by using brightness gradients and area thresholds. The multi-frame fusion unit overlays multiple images to extract scale textures, enabling clear and readable images to be obtained even when the ambient light is unstable.

4. A portable pointer instrument remote reading device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The ring-shaped fill light is divided into multiple independent drive control sections. The image preprocessing module automatically adjusts the light intensity of different independent drive control sections according to the captured brightness and darkness distribution, reducing the brightness of reflective areas and increasing the brightness of scale areas to reduce glass reflection interference and improve the contrast of scale edges.

5. A portable pointer instrument remote reading device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The scale template library includes equidistant scales, unequal-distance scales, and single / double combination ring scales. It can fit and infer from the remaining scale features when some scales are partially obscured, worn, or covered by dirt. It can also compare the information displayed by equidistant scales, unequal-distance scales, and single / double combination ring scales to avoid reading failures caused by reliance on a single image.

6. A reading method based on a remote reading device for a movable pointer instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 5, Its characteristics include the following: S1. The positioning component is magnetically fixed to the surface of the instrument housing, and the attitude is finely adjusted by the adjusting screw set inside the fine adjustment mechanism so that the camera optical axis is perpendicular to the dial. S2. Acquire images of the dial and perform distortion correction, reflection detection and multi-frame fusion processing, and adjust the intensity of the fill light according to the exposure histogram to obtain images with clear scales; S3. Match the scale template based on the dial outline and calculate the real-time reading by the pointer endpoint angle. When the scale is partially missing, use the effective scale segment to infer and complete it. S4. Determine the operating status based on the fluctuation of continuous readings. When the fluctuation is small, turn off the supplementary light and camera and enter low power mode. If the fluctuation or change in ambient brightness exceeds the threshold, automatically resume sampling. S5. Build a trend model based on historical readings and continuously update it. When the trend value approaches the threshold or deviates significantly from the real-time reading, trigger anomaly detection and adjust the sampling strategy. S6. It can wirelessly upload real-time readings and trend information to a remote platform, and can receive scale templates and recognition model update packages to replace local parameters, thus achieving long-term stable operation of the remote reading process.

7. A reading method based on a remote reading device for a movable pointer instrument according to claim 6, characterized in that: In step S4, the edge computing module is equipped with a sleep determination threshold and a wake-up determination threshold. When the reading fluctuates slightly, the reading subject enters a low-power sleep mode and retains only light monitoring. If the reading changes abruptly or the ambient brightness changes beyond the set threshold, the camera is quickly woken up and supplementary lighting is used to resume sampling, ensuring the real-time effectiveness and battery life of remote reading.

8. A reading method based on a remote reading device for a movable pointer instrument according to claim 7, characterized in that: In step S5, the analysis module constructs a trend curve using a sliding window based on historical readings. When the trend value approaches the set upper or lower limit or when an acceleration of the deviation occurs, the sampling frequency is actively increased to enhance the instrument's status tracking capability and achieve early perception of key status changes.

9. A reading method based on a remote reading device for a movable pointer instrument according to claim 8, characterized in that: In step S5, when the deviation between the real-time reading and the trend prediction value exceeds a preset ratio, an abnormal alarm is automatically triggered. The abnormality is classified as ordinary or severe based on the deviation magnitude. Different sampling cycles and supplementary lighting strategies are adopted for different levels to improve energy efficiency and monitoring accuracy.

10. A reading method based on a remote reading device for a movable pointer instrument according to claim 9, characterized in that: In step S6, the wireless communication module remotely pushes the scale template and reading model update package via OTA. After the update is completed, parameter consistency and stability verification is performed. If the reading accuracy decreases or the verification fails, it can be rolled back to the previous version to ensure that the remote reading quality remains reliable.

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