Electronic control unit, including a flow meter and a method for detecting an actuator of this flow meter

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic housing (10), in particular a flow meter, comprising: at least one airtight and watertight compartment (100) disposed within the internal space (110) of the housing (10); the airtight compartment (100) comprising electronic means (20); an actuator (30) movable between a rest position and at least one actuated position; and a position sensor (40) comprising a passive element (400) attached to the actuator and an active element (401) connected to the electronic means (20). The active element (401) is, on the one hand, disposed within the airtight compartment (100), and on the other hand, configured to detect at least the presence and absence of the passive element (400) regardless of the position of the actuator (30). The invention also relates to a method for detecting the actuator of the electronic housing 10. [Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2]

Description

Title of the invention: Electronic housing, in particular a flow meter and a method for detecting an actuator of this flow meter. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to an electronic housing, in particular a flow meter, and a method for detecting the actuator of an electronic housing of the same type. Prior art

[0002] Electronic enclosures are known that are configured, for example, to take measurements in an environment that is in regular or permanent contact with water. Generally, these enclosures include a watertight compartment that houses the electronics to protect them from water and, more broadly, from humidity. The measuring means of the enclosure may be located in another compartment of the enclosure or protruding from the enclosure when they need to measure elements or phenomena that are present in the environment in which the enclosure is located. Generally, these enclosures may include a human-machine interface that allows access to the memory or interface of the electronics and the consultation of, for example, measured data, operating parameters of the electronic enclosure, etc.

[0003] Consider, in particular, the case of water meters, and specifically ultrasonic flow meters, which include a pipe connected to a fluid distribution network such as a water supply. These flow meters include ultrasonic transducers configured to measure the flow rates of fluid flowing through the pipe.

[0004] These flow meters thus include electronic components configured to control the ultrasonic transducers and store the data measured by them. The electronic components are generally housed in a sealed compartment or embedded in resin to protect them from external humidity. Furthermore, most flow meters also include a screen that displays, for example, a user menu where consumption, the current flow rate, or the flow meter's serial number can be viewed. Some flow meters have a housing in which the pipe can be insulated by being embedded in a protective material. In this case, the transducers are connected to the electronic components through the protective material, thus isolating the electronics from the external environment and protecting them from external humidity. This improves the lifespan of the water meter.In this context, some... Flow meters may also include a button to control, for example, the display screen and scroll through the different menus.

[0005] Currently, the buttons used are electrically connected to the electronic components, creating a passage that could eventually become a point of entry for water or moisture. Most often, pushbuttons are used, which complicates the assembly of the enclosure due to the addition of mechanical parts. The pushbuttons thus create an interface between the sealed compartment containing the electronics and the outside. This interface must be managed to ensure the compartment remains sealed over time. However, this interface often eventually becomes a point of failure in the enclosure's seal. One solution is to use sealed mechanical buttons, which have the disadvantage of being very expensive.

[0006] Furthermore, when using a filler resin to insulate the electronics, sufficient space must be provided to allow the resin to harden or polymerize. Moreover, once hardened or polymerized, the resin can impede the movement of the mechanical parts constituting the push button. The implementation of a button allows a user to interact with the electronics, particularly to navigate the menus displayed on the screen. However, integrating such a button poses assembly and sealing problems for the housing.

[0007] Optical interaction systems also exist as an alternative to mechanical buttons for providing a human-machine interface. The mechanical design of the electronic enclosures incorporating these systems must necessarily include a transparent space between a window on the enclosure frame and an optical sensor located within the enclosure and connected to the electronic board. The arrangement of this transparent space represents a design constraint. Indeed, it may require integrating a window made of a different transparent material into the enclosure frame. Consequently, it may also be necessary to integrate additional sealing elements to manage the point of moisture ingress created by integrating the window into the electronic enclosure frame.

[0008] The porthole constitutes the human-machine interface. To interact with the electronics, the user must obstruct the passage of light through the porthole, for example, by placing a finger over it. However, the reliability of such a system is not guaranteed when the electronic unit is in low-light conditions, as the optical sensor can then have difficulty distinguishing between a porthole allowing light to pass through and an obstructed one. Furthermore, the porthole does not provide the user with haptic feedback when it is obstructed. The user may then have difficulty determining whether their action has been registered by the system. The operation of a Such an optical system can therefore prove to be unreliable under certain conditions and also unintuitive for the user.

[0009] The invention aims to overcome all or part of these drawbacks. Description of the invention

[0010] The invention aims to provide and improve the design of an electronic housing, and in particular a flow meter, to allow an operator to interact with the electronics while ensuring the sealing of the housing.

[0011] To this end, one embodiment of the invention relates to an electronic housing, in particular a flow meter, comprising: - a frame including an internal space for the casing, - at least one airtight and watertight compartment located within the internal space of the housing, the watertight compartment comprising electronic means including one or more effectors such as a human-machine interface accessible from outside the housing, - an actuator fixed to the frame; the actuator is movable between a rest position and at least one actuated position; preferably, the actuator can assume several different actuated positions, and - a position sensor configured to measure the position of the actuator, the position sensor comprising a passive element attached to the actuator and an active element connected to the electronic means, the active element being, on the one hand, disposed in the sealed compartment, and on the other hand, configured to detect at least the presence and absence of the passive element regardless of the position of the actuator, the electronic means being configured to actuate, according to the measurements of the position of the actuator, one or more effectors such as the human-machine interface.

[0012] The position sensor comprises two elements configured to interact remotely with each other. This functionality allows, on the one hand, a first element, in this case the passive element, to be positioned in contact with the actuator, and on the other hand, a second element in the sealed compartment, here the active element, to be connected to the electronic components. The remote interaction of the passive and active elements makes it possible to track the position of the actuator and to control the human-machine interface, in particular the screen, without requiring a wired connection through the sealed compartment between the actuator and the electronic components. The seal of the sealed compartment is thus preserved, which helps to extend the lifespan of the electronic housing. This is particularly useful in the case of a flow meter that is regularly in contact with water or humidity.

[0013] [Actuator]

[0014] In some embodiments, the housing may include an outer wall in which a cutout is made to define a portion of the wall movable by elastic deformation, the actuator comprising said portion of the wall movable; preferably, the movable portion is a tab integrated into the housing wall and connected to the housing wall by at least one side. Making a cutout in an outer wall of the housing simplifies the mechanical design of the electronic housing and provides an actuator movable between several positions.

[0015] In embodiments, in the rest position the moving portion can extend in the plane of the outer wall of the housing, in the actuated position, the moving portion can sink below the plane of said outer wall.

[0016] In some embodiments, the electronic housing may include an actuator end stop. The mechanical stop reduces mechanical wear on the tab and improves the actuator's lifespan.

[0017] In some embodiments, the actuator may include a housing configured to contain the passive element in a predetermined position; in particular, the housing is arranged coaxially with the active element. This allows for control of the interactions between the passive and active elements and refines the detection of actuator movements.

[0018] In some embodiments, the actuator can be arranged coaxially with the active element of the position sensor. This further helps to control the interaction between the active and passive elements and also to improve the compactness of the electronic housing.

[0019] [Passive organ]

[0020] In some embodiments, the passive element may comprise a permanent magnet, preferably of the neodymium type. The permanent magnet has the advantage of producing a constant magnetic field that passes through the plastic materials and resins that can be used to design the electronic housing and insulate the sealed compartment in which the active element is located. The active element is thus configured to measure the variations in the intensity of the magnetic field induced by the movement of the passive element according to the different positions that the actuator can assume.

[0021] In some embodiments, the permanent magnet may comprise two opposing magnetic poles arranged coaxially with the active element. Since the magnetic field lines of a permanent magnet are denser at its magnetic poles, this arrangement allows for the measurement of finer variations in distance between the passive and active elements.

[0022] In some embodiments, the permanent magnet may be straight, the housing then being configured to receive and contain the permanent magnet so that the poles The magnetic poles of the permanent magnet are coaxial with those of the active element. Specifically, the permanent magnet can be cylindrical, with each magnetic pole positioned at one end of the passive element. The orientation of the permanent magnet within the housing is irrelevant, as the active element can measure the variation in the magnetic field regardless of its polarity.

[0023] In some embodiments, the passive element can be positioned at a predetermined distance from the active element, preferably between 0.5 and 2 cm. This feature allows for precise calibration of the magnetic field variation measurements that the active element can perform.

[0024] [Active organ]

[0025] In some embodiments, the active element can be configured to measure, in an analog manner, the presence and absence of the passive element regardless of the actuator's position, as well as different states of the passive element. In particular, the measurement of the passive element's state can be quantified by an 8, 16, or 32-bit analog value. It is thus possible to calibrate the position sensor to associate a specific state of the passive element, such as its presence or absence, with its position. This results in a precise position sensor that provides more detailed information and allows for the analysis of several different situations, and therefore enables the configuration of execution commands for the hardware connected to the electronic means, in accordance with the state of the passive element.

[0026] In particular, the different states of the passive element may include: - several positions of the passive element for which the distance between the passive element and the active element is different; the positions of the passive element are defined according to the activation of the actuator, and / or - the duration for which the passive part remains in a position depending on how the actuator is activated.

[0027] For example, it is possible to distinguish several ways of moving the actuator, such as a short press or a long press. Specific commands can be associated with these different ways of operating the actuator, such as accessing a user menu or an installer menu, or navigating through the various menus that can be accessed via a screen connected to the electronic means.

[0028] In some embodiments, the active member can be configured to measure the variations in the magnetic field of the permanent magnet as a function of the presence, absence, or position of the permanent magnet relative to the active member. Activation of the actuator allows the permanent magnet to assume various positions by changing the distance between the permanent magnet and the active member. These features provide fine and precise means of interaction between the user and the electronics which go beyond a binary or ON / OFF interaction which means "all or nothing".

[0029] In some embodiments, the active element may include a Hall effect sensor. Advantageously, the Hall effect sensor has better sensitivity than magneto-resistance sensors and allows the detection of magnetic fields with low intensity.

[0030] In some embodiments, the active element can be configured to wake up when it measures a predetermined position change in the passive element and to transmit the position change data to the electronic means. In the case of a Hall effect sensor, the latter can be configured to wake up when the displacement of the permanent magnet is above or below two hysteresis thresholds. In this case, it is the active element that wakes up the microcontroller.

[0031] In some embodiments, the active component can be configured to wake up periodically to detect the presence of the passive component. This periodic awakening improves the lifespan of the electronic housing by preserving battery life. In this configuration, the awakening of the active component is controlled by the microcontroller, which instructs the Hall effect sensor to measure the proximity of the magnet in an analog manner.

[0032] In some embodiments, if the active component does not detect the presence of the passive component during an arousal, the active component can be configured to encrypt the absence of the passive component and transmit the quantified absence of the passive component to the electronic means. It is then possible to configure the electronic means to record an error message and / or transmit a remote alert message relaying a malfunction of the electronic unit. Such a malfunction may, in the case of a flow meter, indicate that the latter has been the target of malicious acts or damage. Of course, sending a remote message is only possible if the electronic unit includes suitable communication elements.

[0033] [Electronic means]

[0034] In embodiments, the electronic means can be configured to associate one or more commands to a specific quantified data point, such as a display screen, or to several effectors, or to transmit information via suitable Radio Frequency means.

[0035] In some embodiments, the electronic means are autonomous. That is to say, the electronic means include a battery of a determined capacity.

[0036] [Flow meter]

[0037] In preferred embodiments, said housing may be a flow meter comprising: - a pipeline configured to be fluidically connected to a fluid distribution network, and - ultrasonic transducers which are configured to be mounted on the pipeline and measure the flow rate of fluid flowing in the pipeline, the ultrasonic transducers are connected to the self-contained electronic means which are located in the sealed compartment.

[0038] In other embodiments, the conduit and the transducers can be coated with an air and water insulating resin.

[0039] According to these embodiments, it is possible to display on the flowmeter screen the user and installer menus which allow access to specific data as described below or to control the start-up of a wireless communication means such as suitable Radio Frequency means.

[0040] In embodiments, the human-machine interface may include a screen located in the sealed compartment, the housing including a viewing window allowing information displayed by the screen to be read, the actuation member being configured to control the display of the screen.

[0041] In some embodiments, the frame may comprise at least two parts: - a base part which includes the piping and transducers coated with an insulating resin, and - a closing piece which is configured to fit together with the base piece in order to form the internal space of the case.

[0042] This simplifies the mechanical design of the housing and reduces its manufacturing costs.

[0043] In some embodiments, the housing may include a third part, namely, a cover that covers the closing piece, with the actuator mounted on the cover. Positioning the actuator on the cover allows for the detection of damage to the electronic control unit, which, in the case of a flow meter, does not belong to the end customer. Furthermore, the actuator can also be detached when the active component no longer detects the passive component; this is also a sign of damage to the control unit. Indeed, the cover generally bears the serial number of the water meter used, among other things, for monitoring consumption. When the cover is changed, there is a discrepancy between the serial number stored in the control unit's internal memory and the one on the cover. This is generally a sign of fraud.

[0044] [Detection method]

[0045] Embodiments of the invention also relate to a method for detecting an actuator of an electronic housing, in particular a flow meter, comprising: - at least one airtight and watertight compartment located within the internal space of the case, - said actuator being movable between a rest position and at least one actuated position, preferably, the actuation can take several different actuated positions, and - autonomous electronic equipment being arranged in the watertight compartment, the electronic equipment comprising: • effectors such as a human-machine interface accessible from outside the device, and • a position sensor configured to measure the position of the actuator, the position sensor comprising a passive element attached to the actuator and an active element disposed in the sealed compartment and connected to the electronic means, the active element is configured to detect at least the presence and absence of the passive element regardless of the position of the actuator; the electronic means being configured to actuate the effectors according to the measurements of the actuator position.

[0046] According to the invention, the method comprises: - the change in position of the actuator, - measuring the state of the passive component based in particular on the change in position of the actuator, the state of the passive component corresponding in particular to its presence, its absence, its position relative to the active component, - the quantification of the measurement of the state of the passive organ, - the comparison of the quantified measurement with a control database of the device's effectors, such as a display screen; preferably, the quantified measurement is transmitted to the electronic means that perform said comparison, - the selection of the command corresponding to the quantified measurement, and - the transmission of the command to effectors such as the human-machine interface of the electronic box.

[0047] The method thus makes it possible to detect several states of the passive organ and to control accordingly effectors of the electronic box without a wired connection between the passive organ and the active organ being necessary.

[0048] [Quantification]

[0049] In some embodiments, the measurement can be quantified analogically by packet according to a defined sequence of numbers, in particular, each sequence of numbers corresponding, on the one hand, to a state of the passive element, and on the other hand, to a command A specific value is determined based on the state of the passive component, with the control signal being selected electronically. Analog quantization allows for the detection of multiple states of the passive component. Each state is quantized to a specific value, and a specific control signal can then be associated with each measured state.

[0050] [Active organ standby]

[0051] In some embodiments, the detection method may include: - the day before the active organ, - the periodic reawakening of the active organ; in particular, the process includes periodic reawakening at a frequency of between 20 and 40 seconds, - the execution of the detection process in order to measure the state of the passive component, and possibly execute a corresponding command, and - putting the active organ into standby mode.

[0052] Such periodic activation makes it possible to find a compromise between preserving battery life and regularly verifying the presence of the passive component and, consequently, the integrity of the electronic housing. This is particularly useful in the case of a flow meter to ensure that the cover is not torn off the electronic housing.

[0053] In some embodiments, the detection method may include: - Forced reactivation of the active organ; forced reactivation occurs when the state of the passive organ changes and exceeds a predetermined threshold. - the execution of the process in such a way as to measure, quantify and execute a command corresponding to the measurement, - the detection of a return of the passive component's state below a predetermined standby threshold, and - The execution of a command which corresponds to putting the active organ into standby mode.

[0054] These characteristics allow the active organ to be activated, provided that a non-negligible activation of the actuator is carried out by an operator while the active organ is in a standby period. Brief description of the drawings

[0055] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description. This description is purely illustrative and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0056] [Fig-1] is a schematic perspective representation of an electronic housing, in particular a flow meter, conforming to an embodiment of the invention.

[0057] [Fig.2] is a schematic top view representation of the electronic housing of [Fig.1] with the cover removed.

[0058] [Fig.3] is a representation of a cross-section of an electronic housing, in particular a flow meter, conforming to an embodiment of the invention; in this figure, the arrangement of the actuator within the housing and also of the position sensor are visible.

[0059] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation of a cross-section of the electronic housing of [Fig.3], in which the actuator is pressed against a mechanical stop disposed on the closing piece of the housing.

[0060] [Fig.5] is an exploded side view representation of an electronic housing, in particular a flow meter, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0061] [Fig.6] is a schematic representation of an example of a signal that can be measured by the position sensor of the actuator of the human-machine interface of an electronic box according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0062] [Fig.7] is a schematic representation of a method for detecting the actuator of an electronic box in the form of a logic diagram which conforms to an embodiment of the invention.

[0063] [Fig.8] is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the detection method of [Fig.7].

[0064] [Fig.9] is a schematic representation of another particular embodiment of the detection method of [Fig.7]. Description of the implementation methods

[0065] With reference in particular to figures 1 to 5, embodiments of the invention relate to an electronic housing 10. The electronic housing 10 comprises a frame 11 which delimits an internal space 110 of the electronic housing 10.

[0066] As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the electronic housing 10 comprises at least one airtight and watertight compartment 100 located within the internal space 110. The electronic means 20 of the housing 10 are advantageously arranged within the airtight compartment 100. In this example, the electronic means 20 include an electronic board 200 containing components for measuring, storing, analyzing, and even remotely transmitting data. The electronic housing 10 includes a battery located within the internal space 110 and configured to power the electronic means 20. The battery provides the electronic means 20 with a self-contained power supply.

[0067] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the electronic means 20 further comprise a human-machine interface including, in particular, a screen 201. The screen 201 is arranged inside the internal space 110 so as to be visible from outside the frame 10. In particular, the frame 10 includes at least one window which is translucent and allows the screen 201 to be read through the frame 11 of the electronic box 100.

[0068] As illustrated in figures 2 to 4, the electronic housing 10 includes an actuator 30 which is fixed to the frame 10. The actuator 30 is movable between a rest position illustrated in [Fig.3] and at least one actuated position illustrated in [Fig.4], preferably, the actuator 30 can take several different actuated positions.

[0069] The electronic housing 10 includes a position sensor 40 configured to measure the position of the actuator 30. For this purpose, and as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the position sensor 40 comprises a passive element 400 attached to the actuator 30 and an active element 401 connected to the electronic means 20. In this example, the active element 401 is mounted on the electronic board 200 and extends into the sealed compartment 100. From a functional point of view, the active element 401 is configured to detect at least the presence and absence of the passive element 400 regardless of the position of the actuator 30.

[0070] According to a preferred embodiment, the electronic housing 10 is a flowmeter comprising a pipe 50 passing through the electronic housing 10. The pipe has two protruding ends 500, 501 of the housing 10 which are configured to be fluidically connected to a fluid distribution network. The flowmeter includes means for measuring the fluid flow in the pipe 50. For example, the flowmeter may include ultrasonic transducers for measuring the fluid flow in the pipe. The pipe 50 and the transducers are encapsulated with an air- and water-resistant resin to isolate them within the electronic housing 10. In practice, the ultrasonic transducers are connected to the electronic means 20, for example, by means of pins that fit into the sealed compartment 100 and are connected to the electronic board 200.

[0071] According to an embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 5], the frame 11 comprises at least two parts 112, 113, 114. In particular, the frame 11 may include a base part 112. In the case of a flow meter, the base part 112 includes the pipe 50 and the transducers and the resin that insulates them. The base part 112 may also include a sealed housing 1120 in which the battery that powers the electronic means 20, the transducers, the position sensor 40, and the human-machine interface is stored.

[0072] As illustrated in [Fig. 5], the frame 11 may include a closing piece 113 which is configured to fit together with the base piece 112 so as to form the internal space 110 of the housing 10. The closing piece 113 may include a viewing window for reading information which is displayed by the screen 201 which is located in the sealed compartment 100. The interlocking between the closing piece 113 and the base piece 112 can contribute to forming the sealed compartment 100. According to an embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 5], the base piece 112 can include a peripheral belt 1121 which carries the conduit 50 and interlocks with the base piece 112 which includes two openings adapted to allow the interlocking of ends 500, 501 of the conduit 50. According to one embodiment, the sealed compartment 100 can be a closed housing which is embedded with filling resin and which contains the electronic means 20.

[0073] According to an embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 4], the frame 11 comprises a third part, namely, a cover 114 which covers the closing piece 113. The cover 114 can be assembled to the closing piece 113 by non-reversible clipping. The cover 114 protects the housing 10 and in particular the part of the housing 10 which includes one or more windows 1130, 1140 for viewing, in particular, the screen 201 which is located in the sealed compartment 100. The screen 201 is positioned opposite a first window 1130 provided in the closing piece 113 and a second window 1140 provided on the cover 114.

[0074] According to one embodiment, the hood 114 comprises an outer wall 1141 in which a window 1140 is provided. The window 1140 is a rectangular opening in the hood 114; this opening frames the window 1130. This outer wall 1141 may also include a cutout to define a portion of the wall that is movable by elastic deformation relative to the rest of the outer wall 1141. In particular, in the example of [Fig. 2], this cutout includes a tab 300 which is connected to the wall 1141 by at least one side. The actuator 30 thus includes the tab 300. In the example of [Fig.1], the tab 300 has a bearing portion 301 and a connecting portion 302 with the outer wall 1141 of the hood 114. The bearing portion 301 is preferably circular in shape while the connecting portion 302 is straight.According to an embodiment illustrated in particular in figures 1 and 3, the hood 114 includes a cover 1142 hinged to the walls of the hood 114. The cover 1142 protects access to the actuator 30 and more generally the electronic housing 10.

[0075] According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the actuator 30 includes a limit stop 303. The limit stop 303 reduces mechanical fatigue of the tab 300 and also determines a maximum displacement position of the passive element 400 relative to its rest position. In this embodiment, the closing piece 113 includes a cavity 1131. This cavity 1131 is formed in the main face 1132 of the closing piece 113. The bottom of the cavity 1131 then constitutes the limit stop 303 of the actuator 30. Depending on the configuration of the housing 10, It is also possible to form the stop 303 by a structural protrusion disposed in the stroke of the tongue 300 of the actuator 30.

[0076] According to an embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the actuator 30 comprises a housing 304 configured to contain, in a predetermined position, the passive element 400. In particular, the actuator 30, the housing 304, the passive element 400, and the active element 401 of the position sensor 40 are arranged coaxially. In the example of [Fig. 3], these elements are arranged on an axis AA. Furthermore, the cavity 1131 also extends coaxially from the axis AA. This cavity 1131 provides a space in which the tab 300 can be actuated as illustrated in [Fig. 4], whereby the tab 300 deforms elastically and enters an extreme position in contact with the bottom of the cavity 1131, which constitutes the stop 303 of the actuator 30.

[0077] As illustrated in [Fig.3], in the rest position the tab 300 is in the plane of the outer wall 1141 of the cover 114. Indeed, only the bearing portion 301 which includes a convex portion protrudes from the outer wall 1141. In the actuated position, the actuator 30 can move in the cavity 1131 between the outer wall 1141 and the bottom of the cavity 1131, this is visible in [Fig.4].

[0078] In particular, the housing 304 is cylindrical and may have a cross-section of any shape, provided that this shape is complementary to the cross-section of the passive element 400. The housing 304 may be closed or open. When the housing 304 is open, the passive element 400 may be pressed into it or held in position by mechanical or chemical means such as adhesive.

[0079] In this example, the passive element 400 comprises a permanent magnet, preferably of the neodymium type. Neodymium permanent magnets are chosen for the strength of their magnetic field. The permanent magnet comprises two opposing magnetic poles arranged coaxially with the active element 401. The permanent magnet is a bar magnet, and the magnetic poles are arranged along the axis AA. In this example, the permanent magnet is cylindrical, and the housing 304 that contains it has a complementary shape to allow the permanent magnet to be inserted into the housing 304 along the axis AA.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the active element 401 is configured to measure magnetic field values ​​as illustrated in [Fig. 6]. The coaxial position of a magnetic pole allows the field lines emitted by the magnetic pole to be aligned with the axis of the active element 401. This makes it possible to detect, more precisely, through a series of measurements, the variations in the field as a function of the position of the passive element 400, since the field lines are more numerous and more intense at the poles of a permanent magnet.

[0081] To avoid the use of an excessively powerful permanent magnet, the housing 304 is configured to contain and position the passive element 400 not only coaxially but also close to the active element 401. For example, the housing 304 can be positioned at a distance of between 0.5 and 2 cm from the active element 401, which is positioned in the example of [Fig. 3] on the electronic board 200. It is the mechanical design of the housing 10 that makes it possible to maintain the housing 304 close to the electronic board 200. In this example, it is the interaction between the pads 202 of the electronic board 200, which position the electronic means 20 at a predetermined height, and the arrangement of the cover 114 relative to the closing piece 113 that makes it possible to position the housing 304 at a predetermined distance from the active element 401. This is visible in Figures 3 to 5. The 202 pads connect the base piece 112 to the electronic board.

[0082] According to one embodiment, the active element 401 comprises a Hall effect sensor. However, it is also possible to use another type of near-field electronic sensor to form the active element 401, using a passive electronic chip. NFC technology is an example of a technology that can be used as an alternative to the permanent magnet and the Hall effect sensor. However, a permanent magnet and an associated sensor are preferably used, particularly because the permanent magnet is not sensitive to humidity and can thus be located away from the sealed compartment 100. Furthermore, the magnetic field produced by a permanent magnet passes through plastic and / or resin walls without being altered.Now, the watertight compartment 100 in this example is formed by plastic walls of the closing piece 113 and layers of resin, for example, the resin poured between the walls of the bottom piece 112 and the walls of the closing piece 113 which forms the seal 101 or the resin which is poured into the bottom piece 112. .

[0083] According to one embodiment, the active member 401 can be configured to measure and encode, in an analog manner, the presence and absence of the passive member 400 regardless of the position of the actuator 30. The analog nature of the measurement quantization allows for refining the type of measurements that the active member 401 can perform and thus measuring different states of the passive member 400. The data measured by the active member 41 can therefore be encoded according to a packet quantization, for example, of 8, 16, 32 bits or more. It is thus possible to calibrate the active organ 41 in order to define an information according to the magnetic signal it measures and to associate a command with the measured information to control, for example, the display of the screen 201 and navigate through the various menus that the electronic means 20 may contain. The invention therefore makes it possible to measure several states of the actuator 30 which carries the passive organ 400.

[0084] According to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 6], several positions of the passive element 400 can be measured by the active element 401. Indeed, when an operator presses the actuator 30, the distance between the passive element 400 and the active element 401 is changed. The magnetic field measured by the Hall effect sensor is thus modified; as the passive element 400 approaches the Hall effect sensor, the magnetic field value increases. [Fig. 4] illustrates a basic signal 60 measured by the active element 401 when the actuator 30 is in its rest position. As can be seen, the basic signal 60 varies only very slightly in intensity over time. According to one embodiment of the invention, the active element 401 is configured to be put into standby mode when the measured signal is around a basic threshold 61.

[0085] When an operator applies pressure to the actuator 30, an electromagnetic intensity peak 62 is measured by the active element 401. The active element 401 can then be configured to activate when the intensity of the peak 62 exceeds an activation threshold value 63. The active element 401 then transmits quantified data in analog form to the electronic means 20. The intensity peak 62 can reach a maximum value 64, which, according to the embodiment shown in [Fig. 4], can correspond to the actuator 30 reaching its end stop. This maximum value can define a maximum threshold value 65. This maximum threshold value 65 is quantified and transmitted to the electronic means, which can, in response to exceeding this maximum threshold value 65, trigger an alert command. Indeed, exceeding the maximum threshold value can be due to the use of a stronger magnet than the one integrated into the housing.Such an action could be considered an attempt at fraud.

[0086] As illustrated in [Fig. 6], when the operator releases the pressure on the actuator 30, the peak intensity value 62 decreases to tend towards an initial basic value, which is shown by the basic signal curve 60. In this context, it is possible to define a threshold value below which the active component 401 is put into standby mode. This release threshold value 66 is, in this case, lower than the activation threshold value 63 and higher than the basic threshold value 61.

[0087] The active organ 401 can also be set to wake up periodically in order to measure the presence of the passive organ 400. For example, the active organ 401 can be set to wake up with a period of between 20 and 40 seconds.

[0088] Figure 6 is a unitless diagram on the ordinate axis in which threshold values were arbitrarily determined to characterize the state of the permanent magnet. A threshold value of 0 corresponds to the absence of a magnet. The value 5 corresponds to a basic threshold value of 61, which is characteristic of the presence of a magnet. The diagram also includes a threshold value of 20, which corresponds to a release threshold of 66, below which the active component 401 is put into standby mode. A value of 35 is also represented on this diagram; it corresponds to an activation threshold of 63, above which from which, the active organ 401 is awakened. Finally, a value of 50 corresponds to a maximum value threshold of 65.

[0089] According to the embodiment of [Fig. 6], when the active element 401 is activated, it is configured to measure the basic signal 60. When the active element 401 does not detect the basic signal 60, it can be configured to transmit this information, in quantified form, to the electronic means 20. Indeed, the disappearance of the signal means that the passive element 400 is no longer detectable, and this may indicate that the electronic housing has been damaged. This could correspond to the passive element 400, the actuator 30, or the cover 114 being detached, or similar damage. Such a situation must be corrected, for example, by an operator. In this context, the electronic means 20 can be configured to trigger an error message and / or send an alert if communication means are integrated into the electronic means 20 of the flow meter.

[0090] Analog quantification of the measurement makes it possible to identify several states of the passive component 400 and therefore several ways of pressing the actuator 30. For example, it is possible to distinguish a short press of approximately one second from a long press, which can be on the order of ten seconds. In the case of a long press whose intensity exceeds the activation threshold 63 of the active component 401, the electronic means 20 receive this information as a packet of a predetermined number of digits and can, for example, operate the screen differently by accessing an installer menu. Typically, the installer menu allows the error states of the counter, or its parameters, to be consulted.

[0091] Conversely, a short-duration pressure exceeding the activation threshold 63, according to the settings of the electronic means 20, can open a user menu on the screen 201. By convention, the user menu generally allows viewing water readings, current consumption, etc.

[0092] According to one embodiment, the electronic means 20 are configured to transmit commands for example to the screen 201 according to the data measured and transmitted by the active organ 401.

[0093] According to another embodiment, pressing the actuator 30 to its stop can also allow navigation through the menus displayed on the screen 201, for example, by returning to the previous menu. Other thresholds and commands can be defined depending on the type of electronic control unit 10, its functionalities, and also the needs of the operator of the electronic control unit 10, such as a flow meter or water meter.

[0094] As illustrated in Figures 7 to 9, the invention also relates to a method for detecting 80 the actuator of an electronic housing 10 and in particular an interface The man-machine interface of this electronic unit. According to the invention, the electronic unit is preferably an ultrasonic flowmeter. The detection method 80 can thus be implemented by an electronic unit 10 conforming to the invention or an equivalent.

[0095] According to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.7], the detection method 80 includes the change 800 of position of the actuator 30. Here, this change 800 is produced by a pressure applied by an operator on the actuator 30 in accordance with the description in Figures 1 to 6 of this document.

[0096] The detection method 80 then comprises the measurement 801 of the state of the passive element 400. As explained previously, the passive element 400 can have several states which correspond to: the presence of the passive element 400, the absence of the passive element 400, the position of the passive element 400 relative to the active element 401, or the actuation time of the actuator 30, which corresponds to the duration for which the passive element 400 assumes a position. A short press or a long press are examples of actuation states of a button or actuator known from the prior art.

[0097] Therefore, the movement of the actuator 30 can cause a change of state in the passive element. According to a preferred embodiment, the active element 401 is a Hall effect sensor and the passive element 400 is a permanent magnet. In accordance with this embodiment, the change in position is measured by measuring the variation in the intensity of the magnetic field measured by the active element 401. As explained previously, it is the movement of the passive element 400 that induces the variation in the measured intensity of the magnetic field. The permanent magnet emits a constant magnetic field, which can, however, decrease over time.

[0098] The detection method 80 also includes the quantification 802 of the measurement according to the measured state of the passive element 400 relative to the active element 401. As described previously, the quantification 802 of the measurement is preferably carried out in batches according to a predetermined number of digits. It is thus possible to measure several states of the passive element 400, such as its presence, its absence, its position relative to the active element, or even the actuation time of the actuator 30 that carries the passive element 400. In practice, the active element 401 can be calibrated to encrypt a state of the passive element 400 according to a predetermined batch of digits.

[0099] As illustrated in the embodiment of [Fig.7], the detection method 80 may include the transmission 803 of the quantified measurement to the electronic means 20. In practice, the active member 401 transmits the quantified measurement through a corresponding electrical signal to the electronic means 20.

[0100] The detection method 80 comprising the comparison 804 of the quantified measurement to a control database of effectors of the housing 10 such as a screen display. In particular, the electronic devices 20 are configured to associate a quantified measurement with a specific command. For example, as described previously, the absence of the passive element 400 can result in either an error being written to the memory in the history of data measured by the unit, or an alert being sent to the operator if the electronic unit 10 is equipped with communication means. As another example, a brief press on the actuator 30 causes a brief movement of the passive element 400, which can be linked to a command to open the user menu on the screen 201 of the electronic unit 10. Similarly, a long press on the actuator 30 can trigger the command to open the installer menu. This was explained earlier in this document.

[0101] Furthermore, the depressed state of the actuator 30 may not correspond to the maximum value 65. For example, the actuator 30 may break and fall into the cavity 1131, or the passive element may also detach from the actuator 30 and also fall into the cavity 1131. When the passive element has fallen into the cavity, the active element then detects a magnet reaching the maximum threshold value 65 as if the actuator 30 were placed against the stop 303. Moreover, the prolonged detection of an intensity exceeding the maximum threshold value 65 may allow the detection of an attempted fraud, for example, by saturating the sensor with a large foreign magnet placed on the meter to disrupt or block the water meter valve, for example.

[0102] The detection method 80 thus includes the selection 805 of the command corresponding to the quantified measurement but also the transmission 806 of this command to effectors such as the human-machine interface of the electronic box 10 of which the screen 201 is a part. The selection 805 and transmission 806 steps are carried out in a conventional manner in the control of electronic equipment.

[0103] According to an embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 8], the detection method 80 comprises the standby 807 and the periodic awakening 808 of the active component 401. The method includes the periodic awakening 808 of the active component with a period of between 20 and 40 seconds. The purpose of putting the active component 401 into standby mode is to preserve battery life; an awakening period such as the one described allows for a compromise between battery life and measurement accuracy.

[0104] During the periodic reactivation 808 of the active organ 401, the detection method 80 comprises the measurement 801 of the state of the passive organ 400. In particular, as illustrated in [Fig. 6], the detection method 80 is configured to measure a basic signal 60 whose magnetic field intensity fluctuates around a basic threshold value 61. When this value is measured, the method 80 repeats the subsequent quantization 802, transmission 803, etc. steps. The sequence of the following steps is illustrated in [Fig. 8] by a dashed arrow following the transmission step.

[0105] In the event that the passive element 400 is not detected, the quantified measurement corresponds to a command to write an error message in the measurement history or to transmit a remote alert to the operator as previously described.

[0106] According to an embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 9], the detection method 80 comprises a displacement step 800 of the actuator 30 which causes the activation threshold 63 of the active element 401 to be exceeded, as illustrated in [Fig. 6]. When the threshold 809 is exceeded, the detection method comprises a forced awakening step 810 of the active element 401. In practice, the active element 401 includes input / output interfaces that are configured to awaken the active element 401 in the event of thresholds being exceeded, and in particular the activation threshold of the magnetic field intensity. The input / output interfaces are also known by the English acronym "I / O". In the case at hand, if the activation threshold 63 of the active organ 401 is exceeded, 810 is awakened to execute the detection process 80 in accordance with the invention. The execution of the detection process 80 is also schematically shown in [Fig.9] by a dotted arrow that follows the quantification step 802 of the measurement.

[0107] Furthermore, after the awakening 810, the measurement 801 and the quantification 802 of the measurement, the process may include the standby mode of the active organ 401. The standby mode of the active organ 401. This may occur when the active organ 401 measures a decrease in the intensity of the magnetic field, and in particular, when this decrease falls below a release threshold 66 as illustrated in [Fig. 6]. The release threshold 66 can be lower in intensity than the activation threshold 63. Thus, after a forced awakening 810 of the active organ 401, when the detection process 80 measures 811 an intensity value lower than the release threshold 66, the execution of the process leads to the active organ 401 returning to standby 807 as illustrated in [Fig.9] or the transmission 806 of the command returns the active organ 401 to standby 807.

[0108] The management of the standby state of the active organ 401 makes it possible to preserve the autonomy of the electronic means without degrading the operation of the electronic box and in particular the control functions of the screen 201 or the provision of alerts in the event of failure of the detection of the passive organ 400.

Claims

Demands

1. Electronic housing (10), in particular a flow meter, comprising: - a frame (11) including an internal space (110) of the housing (10), - at least one airtight and watertight compartment (100) disposed within the internal space (110) of the housing (10), the watertight compartment (100) including electronic means (20) comprising one or more effectors such as a human-machine interface accessible from outside the housing (10), - an actuator (30) integral with the frame (11), the actuator (30) being movable between a rest position and at least one actuated position, preferably, the actuator (30) being able to assume several different actuated positions, and - a position sensor (40) configured to measure the position of the actuator (30), the position sensor comprising a passive element (400) attached to the actuator and an active element (401) connected to the electronic means (20), the active organ (401) is, on the one hand,arranged in the sealed compartment (100), and on the other hand, configured to detect at least the presence and absence of the passive element (400) regardless of the position of the actuator (30), the electronic means (20) being configured to actuate, according to the measurements of the position of the actuator (30), one or more effectors such as the human-machine interface.

2. Electronic housing (10) according to claim 1, comprising, an outer wall (1141) in which a cutout is made to define a portion of wall movable by elastic deformation, the actuator (30) comprising said portion of wall movable, preferably, the movable portion is a tab (300) integrated into the outer wall (1141) of the housing (10) and connected to the outer wall (1141) of the housing (10) by at least one side.

3. Electronic housing (10) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, which includes, an end stop (303) for the actuator (30).

4. Electronic housing (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the actuator (30) comprises a housing (304) configured to contain, in a determined position, the passive element (400), in particular, the housing (304) is arranged coaxially with the active element (401), the actuator (30) also being arranged coaxially with the active element (400) of the position sensor (40).

5. Electronic housing (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the passive element (400) comprises a permanent magnet preferably of the neodymium type.

6. Electronic housing (10) according to claim 5, wherein the permanent magnet comprises two opposite magnetic poles which are arranged coaxially with the active member (401).

7. Electronic housing (10) according to claims 4 and 6, wherein the permanent magnet is upright, the housing (304) being configured to receive and contain the permanent magnet so that the magnetic poles of the permanent magnet are coaxial with the active member (401).

8. Electronic housing (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the active member (401) is configured to measure in an analog way the presence and absence of the passive member (400) regardless of the position of the actuator (30), as well as different states of the passive member (400), in particular, the different states of the passive member (400) include: - several positions of the passive member (400) for which the distance between the passive member (400) and the active member (401) are different, the positions of the passive member (400) are defined according to the activation of the actuator (30), and / or - the duration for which the passive member (400) remains in a position according to the manner in which the actuator (30) is activated.

9. Electronic housing (10) according to claims 5 and 8, wherein the active member (401) is configured to measure the variations in the magnetic field of the permanent magnet as a function of the presence, absence or position of the permanent magnet relative to the active member (401), the activation of the actuator (30) allows the permanent magnet to take several positions by changing the distance between the permanent magnet and the active member (401).

10. Electronic housing (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the active member (401) comprises a hall effect sensor.

11. Electronic housing (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, said housing (10) being a flowmeter which comprises: - a pipe (50) configured to be connected fluidically to a fluid distribution network, and - ultrasonic transducers which are configured to be mounted on the pipe (50) and to measure the flow rate of fluid flowing in the pipe, the ultrasonic transducers are connected to the self-contained electronic means (20) which are located in the sealed compartment (100).

12. Electronic housing (10) according to claim 11, wherein the frame (11) comprises at least two parts: - a base piece (112) which includes the conduit (50) and transducers coated with an insulating resin, and - a closing piece (113) which is configured to fit together with the base piece (112) so as to form the internal space (110) of the housing (10).

13. Electronic housing according to claim 12, wherein the frame (11) comprises a third part, in this case, a cover (114) which covers the closing part (113), the actuator (30) being disposed on the cover (114).

14. A method for detecting (80) an actuator (30) of an electronic housing (10), in particular a flow meter, comprising: - at least one airtight and watertight compartment (100) disposed within the internal space (110) of the housing (10), - said actuator (30) being movable between a rest position and at least one actuated position, preferably, the actuator being able to assume several different actuated positions, and - autonomous electronic means (20) being disposed within the airtight compartment (100), the electronic means (20) comprising: • effectors such as a human-machine interface accessible from outside the housing, and • a position sensor (40) configured to measure the position of the actuator (30), the position sensor (40) comprising a passive element (400) attached to the actuator (30) and an active element (401) disposed in the sealed compartment (100) and connected to the electronic means (20), the active element (401) is configured to detect at least the presence and absence of the passive element (400) regardless of the position of the actuator; the electronic means (20) being configured to actuate the effectors according to the measurements of the position of the actuator (30);the method comprising: - changing (800) the position of the actuator (30), - measuring (801) the state of the passive element as a function of the change in position of the actuator (30), the state of the passive element (400) corresponding in particular to its presence, its absence, its position relative to the active element (401), - quantifying (802) the measurement of the state of the passive element (400), - comparing (804) the quantified measurement with a control database of effectors of the housing (10) such as a display screen, preferably, the quantified measurement is transmitted (803) to the electronic means (20) which perform said comparison (804), - selecting (805) the command corresponding to the quantified measurement, and - transmitting (806) the command to effectors such as the human-machine interface of the electronic housing (10).

15. A detection method (80) according to claim 14, wherein the measurement is quantified (802) analogically by packet according to a defined sequence of numbers, in particular, each sequence of numbers corresponding, on the one hand, to a state of the passive element (400), and on the other hand, to a determined command, corresponds to the state of the passive organ (400), the control being in particular selected (805) by electronic means (20).

16. A detection method (80) according to any one of claims 14 and 15, comprising: - the standby (807) of the active organ (401), - the periodic awakening (808) of the active organ (401), in particular, the method comprises a periodic awakening at a frequency between 20 and 40 seconds, - the execution of the detection method so as to measure the state of the passive organ (400), and optionally execute a corresponding command, and - the standby (807) of the active organ (401).

17. A detection method (80) according to claim 16, comprising: - a forced awakening (810) of the active organ (401), the forced awakening (810) is carried out when the state of the passive organ (400) changes and exceeds a determined threshold, - the execution of the method (80) so as to measure (801), encrypt (802) and execute a command corresponding to the measurement, - the detection (811) of a return of the state of the active organ below a determined standby threshold, and - the execution of a command which corresponds to the standby of the active organ (401).

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