Optical Meter Display Encoding for Sabbath-Compliant Remote Reading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart meters are susceptible to inaccuracies due to battery depletion and are not compliant with religious holidays, such as the Jewish Sabbath, where any form of work is prohibited.
Innovation Solution
A system that converts continuous consumption data into optical encoding for a predetermined interval, using a sensor, imaging device, and remote server with OCR to extract consumption data, allowing for compliance with religious holidays and maintaining accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous sampling meters are used, then measurement accuracy is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to battery depletion and maintenance issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electronic continuous sampling system with an optical encoding system that uses a rotating encoder disk with light-transmissive segments. This mechanical-optical system eliminates battery dependency while maintaining measurement accuracy, as the encoder mechanically converts consumption data into optical patterns that can be read without electronic power during the measurement interval.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic sampling intervals where the encoder disk rotates to different positions at predetermined times. During each interval, the optical encoder captures consumption data without continuous electronic processing. The system periodically transmits accumulated data to the server, balancing measurement accuracy with reduced power consumption and increased reliability.
2Productivity
If continuous data conversion is performed, then productivity is improved, but adaptability deteriorates during religious holidays when work is prohibited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on timing parameters. During regular periods, it performs continuous sampling and processing. During predetermined intervals corresponding to religious holidays, it switches to optical encoding mode where data is captured mechanically and transmitted only after the interval ends, allowing adaptability while maintaining overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary data accumulation during holiday intervals using the optical encoder, storing consumption data in mechanical form without electronic processing or transmission. After the holiday interval ends, the accumulated data is processed and transmitted in batch, ensuring both religious compliance and continuous measurement capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If optical encoding is used during predetermined intervals, then adaptability to religious holidays is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional imaging and OCR components
Solution Approach 1:
The optical encoder disk serves multiple functions: it acts as both the measurement mechanism for consumption data and the storage medium for data during holiday intervals. The same rotating disk with light-transmissive segments is used for both encoding consumption information and providing a readable optical pattern, eliminating the need for separate storage components and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates an optical copy of the consumption data through the encoder disk's light-transmissive pattern. This optical representation serves as a readable copy that can be captured by the imaging device and processed by OCR, allowing data extraction without electronic components during the holiday interval and reducing the complexity of active electronic systems.
4Loss of information
If data transmission is performed at least once a day, then loss of information is reduced, but loss of time increases due to waiting periods
Solution Approach 1:
The optical encoder continuously captures and maintains consumption data in optical form throughout the holiday interval, ensuring no data is lost or missed during the waiting period. The continuous mechanical encoding process preserves data integrity, allowing batch transmission after the interval without creating information gaps, thus reducing loss of information while accepting the time delay.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures accurate metering during non-compliant periods by pausing continuous data conversion and using optical encoding to capture and process consumption data, ensuring compliance and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging device configured to capture images of the display of the sensor
Implementation Method 2
the remote server is configured to extract a consumption from the data describing one or more images of the display using an optical character recognition (OCR) algorithm
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for metering consumption of a resource include: a sensor comprising a display and configured to: sense a consumption of the resource; display said consumption on the display; and convert said consumption into digital sensor data; an imaging device configured to capture images of the display of the sensor; and a communications interface configured to transmit the digital sensor data and data describing one or more of the images of the display to a remote server.