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Title: Method and apparatus for reading meters from a video image

Abstract

A method and system to enable acquisition of data about an environment from one or more meters using video images. One or more meters are imaged by a video camera and the video signal is digitized. Then, each region of the digital image which corresponds to the indicator of the meter is calibrated and the video signal is analyzed to determine the value indicated by each meter indicator. Finally, from the value indicated by each meter indicator in the calibrated region, a meter reading is generated. The method and system offer the advantages of automatic data collection in a relatively non-intrusive manner without making any complicated or expensive electronic connections, and without requiring intensive manpower.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Irwin, PA
  2. North Huntingdon, PA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
871163
Patent Number(s):
5673331
Assignee:
United States Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01D - MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02B - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC11-89PN38014
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; apparatus; reading; meters; video; image; enable; acquisition; data; environment; images; imaged; camera; signal; digitized; region; digital; corresponds; indicator; meter; calibrated; analyzed; determine; value; indicated; finally; generated; offer; advantages; automatic; collection; relatively; non-intrusive; manner; complicated; expensive; electronic; connections; requiring; intensive; manpower; video signal; video camera; data collection; digital image; video image; non-intrusive manner; /382/340/

Citation Formats

Lewis, Trevor J, and Ferguson, Jeffrey J. Method and apparatus for reading meters from a video image. United States: N. p., 1997. Web.
Lewis, Trevor J, & Ferguson, Jeffrey J. Method and apparatus for reading meters from a video image. United States.
Lewis, Trevor J, and Ferguson, Jeffrey J. Wed . "Method and apparatus for reading meters from a video image". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871163.
@article{osti_871163,
title = {Method and apparatus for reading meters from a video image},
author = {Lewis, Trevor J and Ferguson, Jeffrey J},
abstractNote = {A method and system to enable acquisition of data about an environment from one or more meters using video images. One or more meters are imaged by a video camera and the video signal is digitized. Then, each region of the digital image which corresponds to the indicator of the meter is calibrated and the video signal is analyzed to determine the value indicated by each meter indicator. Finally, from the value indicated by each meter indicator in the calibrated region, a meter reading is generated. The method and system offer the advantages of automatic data collection in a relatively non-intrusive manner without making any complicated or expensive electronic connections, and without requiring intensive manpower.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997}
}