Utility Flow Meter Display Mode Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utility flow meters face challenges in verifying operation and tampering detection due to complex control software and the need for wireless communication, which drains power and complicates user interaction, especially for low-level users.
Innovation Solution
A utility flow meter with a liquid sensing arrangement and a display device that switches between modes based on liquid presence, allowing for reduced display size and energy consumption while conveying necessary information to high-level users without additional buttons, thus preventing confusion and potential tampering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless communication interface is added to verify operation and detect tampering, then verification capability is improved, but power consumption increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the verification and tampering detection functions from the main display controller by implementing a separate liquid sensing arrangement that independently detects liquid presence and controls display modes. This separation eliminates the need for wireless communication interfaces while maintaining verification capability through liquid presence detection, thereby reducing power consumption and device complexity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If display device size is reduced to save energy and cost, then energy consumption decreases and production cost decreases, but information communication capability to high-level users may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different display modes tailored to different user needs. The first display mode provides flow representations for low-level users, while the second display mode provides detailed operational information for high-level users. This allows a reduced-size display to effectively communicate appropriate information to each user type without requiring a large display, thereby saving energy and cost while maintaining information communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the display mode changeable based on liquid presence detection. The display dynamically switches between first and second display modes depending on whether liquid is present, allowing the same reduced-size display to adapt its information content to different operational contexts and user needs, thereby maintaining effective communication without increasing display size.
3Ease of operation
If additional buttons are added to switch display modes for high-level users, then information accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases, tampering vulnerability increases, and sealing effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the display mode to automatically switch based on liquid presence detection without requiring user interaction through buttons. The liquid sensing arrangement autonomously detects liquid presence and triggers appropriate display mode changes, providing information accessibility to high-level users while eliminating additional buttons, thereby reducing device complexity and tampering vulnerability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces liquid presence detection as an intermediary that mediates between the need for different display modes and the desire to avoid additional buttons. The liquid presence state serves as an indirect trigger for mode switching, allowing the system to respond to user needs without requiring direct physical interaction, thus maintaining information accessibility while simplifying the user interface and improving sealing effectiveness.
4Adaptability or versatility
If complex control software is implemented to handle multiple display modes and verification, then functionality is improved, but software inspection difficulty increases and production error risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the control software into distinct functional modules: a liquid sensing arrangement for detecting liquid presence, a display mode controller for managing display modes, and a display device for showing information. This modular segmentation reduces software inspection difficulty by making each module's function clear and verifiable, while maintaining versatile functionality through the coordinated operation of these separate modules.
Data Source
AI summary
A utility flow meter and a method for measuring a flow of a liquid through a flow conduit having a liquid sensing arrangement, a display device, and a display mode controller for controlling the display mode. The display mode controller is configured to control the display mode based on a first display mode when the liquid presence criterion is fulfilled and a second display mode when the liquid presence criterion is not fulfilled. The first display mode consists of at least one flow representation, and the second display mode consists of at least one further representation.