Mobile Device Image Analysis for Gas Container Autonomy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas distribution assemblies in medical settings face challenges in managing stock autonomy due to difficulties in reading pressure and flow rate indicators, which are often obscured by protective caps, and require costly integrated electronic devices for effective gas supply management.
Innovation Solution
A method using a communicating mobile device to recover identification information and acquire images of gas filling and flow rate indicators, processing these images to calculate the autonomy of gas distribution assemblies, allowing for efficient stock management without the need for extensive investments in new equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If integrated electronic devices are installed on each gas container to provide autonomous monitoring, then gas supply management reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary tool that temporarily interfaces with the gas container's indicator devices. Instead of requiring permanent electronic installation on each container, the mobile device acts as a portable reader that can acquire images and data from the existing mechanical indicators, thereby achieving monitoring functionality without increasing device complexity on the gas containers themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses optical copying through image acquisition. The mobile device camera captures images of the pressure gauge and flow rate indicator, creating digital copies of the information displayed on the mechanical indicators. This allows the system to work with existing simple mechanical indicators rather than requiring complex electronic sensors permanently installed on each gas container.
2Strength
If indicator devices are positioned in the bottom part of the valve for protection, then valve block protection is improved, but ease of reading the indications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the protected indicator devices and the user. Instead of requiring direct visual access to the indicators positioned in the valve bottom, the mobile device captures images from this protected location and presents the information in a more accessible format on its display screen, thereby maintaining both protection and readability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the information delivery from a two-dimensional view requirement (user must directly see the indicator face) to a three-dimensional solution where the mobile device can capture images from the protected location and display them on a screen in any orientation, making the information accessible regardless of the indicator's physical position.
3Device complexity
If manual monitoring of gas containers is performed, then device complexity is minimized, but productivity and stock management efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device is a universal tool that can monitor multiple gas containers sequentially. Instead of requiring dedicated monitoring equipment for each container, a single mobile device can acquire images from multiple containers' indicators, process the data, and provide autonomy calculations for the entire stock, thereby improving productivity without requiring complex specialized equipment for each unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service monitoring where the mobile device automatically captures images, processes the data locally or remotely, and provides autonomy information without requiring manual intervention or complex automated infrastructure. The existing mechanical indicators essentially serve themselves by being read through the mobile device's camera and processing capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for calculating the autonomy of a gas distribution system assembly including a container containing gas and equipped with at least one gas filling indicator device and a gas flow rate indicator device at the output of the container. The method includes recovering at least one item of identification information on the container and/or the gas used. The method also includes acquiring at least one image to recover a first datum on a value indicated by the gas filling indicator device and a second datum on a value indicated by the flow rate indicator device. The method also includes communicating the at least one acquired image and the at least one recovered item of identification to a computation module configured to deduce therefrom a corresponding value of autonomy of the gas distribution assembly, the computation module including at least the ability to process images.