WO1995024022A1

WO1995024022A1 - Electronic recording device for reading a counter with a readable display

Info

Publication number: WO1995024022A1
Application number: PCT/EP1994/002978
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Jacques Wagner
Original assignee: Brand, Edith
Priority date: 1994-03-01
Filing date: 1994-09-07
Publication date: 1995-09-08
Also published as: AU7656594A

Abstract

A recording device (22) for electronically recording values shown on a counter (35) having a readable display, i.e. a mechanical drum or an LCD display, no electrical connection being required to transfer the values between the counter (35) and the recording device (22). The measured values are determined by a readout device (27) including an optical device for projecting an image of the readable display onto one or more diodes. An attachment device combining a mechanical device and an electrical circuit is used to control the positioning of the recording devices and incorporate them into a computer system.

Description

Electronic recording device from a counter with readable display.

The objective of the invention is to provide an electronic recording device making it possible to convert the values presented by readable display of an existing counter into electronic data without necessarily having to use an electrical connection and which can be integrated into a computer system comprising several recording devices. In particular, reference is made to an application specific to the automobile.

WO 94/06100 represents a computer system and an electronic device making it possible to record in a non-manipulable manner the kilometers traveled by a vehicle. The manufacture of the electronic device does not in itself cause any major difficulties. On the other hand, the installation of the recording device on vehicles is complex and expensive, each vehicle having a different technical configuration. Connecting the device to a current source or to the supplier of mileage pulses requires an expensive technical adaptation.

Similar obstacles exist for the acquisition of other data from existing meters, such as for example the electricity and gas meters, which are not equipped with computer means for the transmission of the measured data.

When a meter with a mechanical display has to be integrated into a computer system, it will be modernized or the device changed. In certain cases, in particular in the case of an automotive application, such a procedure will not be applicable because it is too expensive or impossible.

Automatic kilometer charging systems for motorways are known. They require significant roadside infrastructure. A device on a vehicle records the distance values given by the road infrastructure and / or by GPS. Fixed and mobile video recordings are used to control fraud. Infrastructure is very expensive. For the integration of the recording devices in a computer system it will be necessary to have recourse to a method of fixation which can operate in a safe, non-manipulable and autonomous manner.

Accident recording systems are known, but still very expensive.

The object of the invention is to provide a recording device allowing simply to integrate a counter into a computer system, without necessarily having recourse to an electronic exit door. In particular, it will make it possible to assess the use of vehicles. This objective also requires producing an efficient optical reading device and an electronic fixing device. For automotive applications, it will be advantageous to use a motion sensor to solve various problems.

The acquisition of the data will be done by reading the state and / or change of state of the readable display, making it possible to adapt the recording device on the counter at a lower cost and to adapt a counter in a IT environment.

The use of an artificial retina will allow a reliable reading regardless of the surrounding brightness of the display, a better adaptation of the recording device to the particular characteristics of the counter, easy installation of the recording device, a identification of the counter-device assembly and a simple and inexpensive integration of the reading function on the same chip.

The fixing device allows easy mounting without the need to modify the meter. The electronic function which makes it possible to control the assembly operation, the operation and / or the disassembly operation of the recording device, like an "electronic seal", without it is necessary to carry out a visual inspection of the assembly. A more advanced connecting element will make the assembly operation non-manipulable. Its simplicity will allow a quick and inexpensive adaptation of the recording device on the meter, without using qualified personnel. A similar device can be used to control access to the opening of a housing.

Marking or modeling the counter glass or an adjoining room will allow even easier installation of the recording device.

The proper functioning of the fixing device will be essential to protect the computer system against any manipulation.

For the performance of a kilometer service for insurance and / or automobile tax, it will be possible to equip the vehicles with the recording device which will provide the kilometric data and those relating to the operation of the device. recording to a computer system. For the control of fraud it will not be necessary to resort to an expensive and police infrastructure. A simple check of the data when it is given will detect the correct use of the recording device.

The motion sensor will fulfill a multitude of functions specific to an automotive application, making it possible, among other things, to produce a simple and inexpensive accident recorder.

The following plans are used to explain the invention:

Fig. 1 Overview of the device

Fig. 2 Overview of the device with light guide

Fig. 3 Electrical diagram of the device

Fig. 4 Integrated connection element, special version

Fig. 5 Schematic diagram of the artificial retina

Fig. 6 Example of an artificial retina control scheme

Fig 1 shows a recording device comprising a housing 1 fixed by means of an adhesive tape or a connecting element 15 on the glass of the counter 2, 4 representing the printed face of the counter and 3 an encrypted drum of readable display. A readable display may include a total or value display. It can be of the LCD, mechanical and / or pulse type to be converted into total or measured values.

The housing 1 comprises a control circuit 5, to which will preferably be connected a sensor 6, a communication circuit 7 for the transfer of data, a reading device 8, a fixing device 14, a readable indicator 20, an element of communication 19 and preferably a battery and / or other current generators placed inside or outside the housing 1. It may also include a control loop 33 to control the opening or access of one or more housing.

The housing 1 may include several reading devices 8 which can project part of one or more readable displays 3 onto the surface 9, preferably planar.

The components of the recording device can be distributed in several different housings or supports which are interconnected optically, electrically or otherwise. In particular when the recording device must meet high security standards, the control circuit 5 and the sensor 6 will be placed in the same case. A box may for example be mechanically fixed to a second box or sup¬ port which will be connected by the connecting element 8 on the glass of the meter 2. A box may comprise at least part of the reading device 8.

The data recorded by the control circuit 5 can be transmitted via the communication element 19 to a data bank of a computer system, which also has the task of managing the use of the record as a function of an identification number placed in the control circuit 5 or the fixing device 14.

The control circuit 5 includes at least one calculation and / or management unit, a memory and a time base. An accident recorder can also be integrated in the control circuit then preferably comprising a non-volatile memory. tile recording the data emitted by the reading device 8 and / or the sensor 6 preferably in relation to a time base. Upon detection of an impact, data recording will be interrupted for a limited period of time.

The sensor 6 represents a sensor making it possible to evaluate data similar to that emitted by the readable display. In the case of a vehicle it may be a motion sensor, for example at least an acceleration or gravitational sensor, or a position sensor such as GPS, or an orientation sensor or a combination of multiple sensors.

In the vehicle application, the sensor 6 will have the task of assisting the entire distance measurement system and / or the reading device 8 for:

- automatic adjustment of a conversion factor between the pulses received, which will be proportional to the distance traveled, and the distance actually traveled.

- Evaluating the operating accuracy of the odometer, the operating tolerances of these counters not being standardized.

- Checking the operation of the reading device allows both to detect probably incorrect information and initiate the correction thereof.

- determining the distance traveled by calculation for a short period of time.

- the recording of the behavior of the vehicle or of the driving method, in particular during the last minutes preceding an accident.

- detection of the occurrence of an accident.

- the detection of a switching of the readable display from one unit to another, for example from a unit corresponding to the kilometer to that corresponding to the 100-meter, by action of the driver.

- The detection of technical errors or manipulations coming from the odometer such as link breakage or modification of the pulses by a mechanical reducer or a frequency divider or other means of manipulation of the signal equivalent to the path traveled.

- detection of disassembly of the odometer out of its fixation. - the production of a non-manipulable security recording device.

The sensor 6 makes it possible to obtain position or movement values of the vehicle independently of the data supplied by the odometer. The values emitted by these two units can be compared in the form of equivalent values of distance and / or acceleration and / or speed and recorded statistically according to their occurrence, in such a way that the measurement errors coming mainly from the pitching of the deformation and / or the inclination of the road can be eliminated. Variations in the statistical distribution will make it possible to assess or detect anomalies.

An evaluation of one or both signals will make it possible, for example, to detect whether the vehicle is on a motorway or in town.

As an acceleration sensor, it will be advantageous to use a gravitation sensor such as a lever sensor rotating around its axis as a function of acceleration or spirit level, such sensors allowing a reliable, simple and inexpensive design of the device. registration.

Another less effective solution is to use a motion sensor 6, so that a signal from it must correspond to a change of state of the readable display.

The reading device 8 comprises a control circuit 11, one or more elements sensitive to light 10, such as dio¬, photo-resistors and / or photo-transistors, placed on the same surface 9 and an optical device 12.

The task of the optical device 12 is to project one or more parts of the readable display on the surface 9 and / or to illuminate a part of the readable display by means of one or more light diodes 13. It includes one or more components such as filters, lenses and / or mirrors. The reading procedure will be as follows:

When the visible display is fitted with a drum indicator, the image of the drum will be projected onto the surface 9 comprising at least two diodes 10 placed on an axis perpendicular to the bearings of the drum 3. The rotation of the drum 3 is evaluated by measuring the variations of charges, for example by CCD technique, or of currents, for example by artificial retina (fig 5), emitted by the diodes. The repetition mode of these signals will be evaluated by software and / or an electrical circuit, and transformed into equivalent values.

When the readable display is an LCD indicator, part of the image of the LCD indicator will be projected onto the surface 9. The alternations of brightness of one or more lines of the digital indicator will be evaluated by software.

When the readable display is a light point whose flickering frequency corresponds to kilometric pulses, the image of the light point will be projected onto the surface 9, which will allow, via at least one element of optical detection 10 to assess the distance values.

When the readable display is a transmitting diode, for example infrared and the frequency of the transmissions is proportional to the distance traveled, a receiving diode will be used for the transmission of this data to the recording device.

The fixing device 14 has the first task of fixing the recording device to the meter and in certain cases by means of an electrical circuit (fig. 3) to control the mounting or dismounting of the recording device.

The fixing device 14 comprises, for the mechanical part, a control loop 17, a connection element 15 placed between a piece of the meter and the housing 1, preferably an integrated circuit element 16 placed in the connection element and an area of rupture 18.

The connecting element 15 preferably comprises two adhesive surfaces and can be made of a material, flexible, brittle, elastic or composite, such that a rupture zone 18 forms part of the connecting element. It can include a chip to integrate part of the control circuit.

The rupture zone 18 will preferably be formed by the connecting element 15 or by the housing 1. This rupture zone will have a lower opening resistance than the mechanical resistance of the counter, so that during the disassembly or destruction of the assembly, the rupture zone is deformed, modifying the characteristics of the control loop 17.

The rupture zone 18 can be characterized by an open section opposing little or no resistance to opening, a section of brittle, ductile or elastic material. It can be pre-stressed by a spring element.

The communication element 19 comprises at least one preferably non-volatile memory and preferably a time base powered by a current generator, which will allow the time base of the recording device to be adjusted relative to that of the computer system. The data transmission between the communication circuit 7 and the communication element 19 can be done by optical, magnetic, by electric field, by two or more mechanical contacts.

The communication element 19 can also represent an accessory device such as a bar code reader and / or LCD display which can be adapted to the recording device.

The task of the readable indicator 20 placed in front of the window or the opening 21 is to indicate the correct operation of the recording device and / or a correct recording. The readable indicator can be a light source, an LCD display or preferably a mechanical indicator.

A mechanical indicator will be constituted by a lever comprising printed information and able to move relative to the opening 21 in one or more preferred positions. The lever will be actuated by one or more electrical motion converters. We will preferably use an indexing system allowing the lever to remain in position without energy input. The position of the lever will preferably be controlled by positioning sensors.

Fig 2 shows the device 22 described in fig. 1, the counter 35 and an alternative embodiment of the reading device 27. The reading device 27 can comprise an optical deflection system 24 in which one or more mirrors 22 and 23 are integrated making it possible to carry part of the readable display on the surface 9. The alignment of the reading device 27 or that of the recording device with respect to the readable display can be done visually 25 by means of an optical device 26 and / or by the light source 13 and / or by a positioning template.

The reading device 8 can be designed so that at least one of these elements, for example 24 can be interchanged and / or, if held by a mechanism or a guide, moved relative to the housing 1. Easy adaptation of the device to the particulars of the counter 35 can thus be achieved.

Fig. 3 shows the circuit of the fixing device which makes it possible to control the state or the change of state of the fixing of the recording device 1 on a part or element of the counter 2. The same device can also be applied for the access or opening control of at least one housing 1. The fixing device comprises a control circuit 30, the control circuit 5 of which will perform its function, one or more control loops 33 comprising one or more break points 34 placed on either side of a break zone 18, a detection circuit 31, an identification circuit 32, each element being able to be distributed either on the recording device 28 or on the element link 29 or on one or more boxes of the recording device.

The control circuit 30 has the task of controlling and / or recording in memories, preferably as a function of time, the state and / or the change of state of one or more control loops 33. It will preferably keep one or more control loops 33 energized. The task of the control loop 33 is to notify the change of state of the attachment device to the control circuit 30. It allows the control circuit 30 to communicate by optical or electrical means with the detection circuit 31 and / or the circuit. identification 32.

The task of the detection circuit 31 is, during or a time elapsed after the opening or a loss of voltage of the control loop 33, for example following the dismantling or destruction of the assembly and / or following the putting the recording device or counter out of service, modifying the characteristics of the control loop 33 for a certain time or irreversibly. The new characteristics of the control loop 33 will preferably be noted during the next closing and / or energizing thereof.

The detection circuit 31 will act, for example, as a breaking element and / or as a control element ordering a change of the identification code of the identification circuit 32. It can come into action after a time that has elapsed since the last closing or switching on. tension of the control loop 33. Its action will be designed so that the original characteristics of the control loop can only be difficult to reconstruct by current means.

The detection circuit 31 may comprise at least one controlled breaking element which will notify the validity of the control loop or in certain cases of the connecting element 15. This breaking element will be formed for example of a fuse, of a relay and / or an Eprom type electronic element. It can include at least one timer element.

The rupture element 34 has the task of detecting a distance of the recording device from the counter or a modification of a rupture zone 18. The rupture element will preferably be placed on either side other from a rupture zone 18.

The breaking element 34 may consist of a conductive wire, a pair of electrical contacts or a sensor element that reacts to a separation and / or a deformation of the rup zone. ture 18. Identical components on an optical basis or elements on a chemical or thermal basis, the characteristics of which change as a function of the behavior of one or more rupture zones 18, may be taken into consideration in the design of the breaking element 34.

The breaking element (s) 34 may be pre-assembled or will only enter into function when the recording device and / or the connecting element are put in place.

The identification circuit 32 will include at least one code in a memory, preferably of the ROM type, which will be accessible by exchanging data through one or more control loops. It can also include a network or a matrix of conductors interconnected in different ways with one another. It will identify the recording device or the assembly procedure, the relationship with the identifi¬ cation code being managed by the computer system.

The assembly procedure is characterized in that at least one control loop 18 forming part of an electronic circuit, and preferably comprising an identification circuit 19, will close during the assembly of the mechanical device and thereafter , preferably after a given period of time, either during disassembly of the assembly and / or when the recording device is put out of service will be modified by the detection circuit 31, preferably irreversibly.

The possibilities of handling the device will be made difficult or even impossible by the design of the mechanical assembly and of the electrical circuit. The task of the identification circuit 32 is to hinder a simple short-circuiting of a control loop 33, for example before mounting, the presence of the identification circuit 32 being checked periodically by the control circuit 30, the detection circuit 31 to hinder the reconstruction of a control loop 33 or of the connecting element 15 after disassembly, the spring 37 to hinder the manipulation of the adhesion force of the element link 15 before mounting. For greater security of the fixing device against reconstitution of the electrical circuit, it will be advantageous to place the detection circuit 32 and the identification circuit 34 on the same chip and preferably on the connecting element 8 which will become the part. mistress ensuring the security of the computer system. After opening the fixing device, it will suffice, for example, to change the connecting element 18 and to carry out a new installation of the fixing device. In another case the use of the same connecting element 18 with a new identification code will allow the control circuit 5 to record the change in the identification code.

Another way of identifying the assembly optically is described in fig 6.

High security against manipulation is made necessary for faultless operation of the computer system, visual control being very difficult, expensive or even impossible.

FIG. 4 represents the mechanical design of an integrated connecting element, which can be used as a connecting element 15, composed of two flexible parts 36 and 41 assembled together, preferably having on their external parts two adhesive fixing faces 44 and 45 preferably covered with a protective paper 42 and 43. The two components form a rupture zone 46 preferably of the open type comprising one or more rupture elements 38, one or more preload spring elements 37, a coil 39 for the transmission of energy and data and one or more chips 40 or other supports comprising the or part of the elements of the electronic circuit.

The transmission of energy and / or data can also be carried out by optical, mechanical or other means, which will be necessary in place of the coil 39, of other elements such as a diode, contact or the like.

The spring element 37 may be a metal spring or an elastic deformation element made of any material, preferably having good resistance to compaction over time, and under temperature constraint.

The external faces 47 and 44 of the connecting element can be locally curved or deformed so that when the connecting element 15 is assembled on the housing 1 and the counter 35 the spring 37 is compressed bringing the breaking element 38 into contact and closing the control loop 33 which will remain closed if the force opposing the opening of the spring is weaker than the adhesion force of the connecting element 15 on the faces 44 and 45.

The assembly of the recording device on the meter becomes simple and very difficult to handle.

Extensive integration of the electrical circuit on the chip 40 will allow the connection element 15 to be autonomous and, for example, to have its own validation and / or recording system for the history of the element.

The energy can be supplied by battery which could be integrated into the element itself. The input of data could also be done by optical means or simply by contact.

Figs. 5-6 demonstrates an example of a circuit comprising an artificial reti¬ and making it possible to convert the data perceived by the diodes into values equivalent to those of the readable display. The artificial retina allows, in the image of the eye, to perceive a differential brightness of the field of vision, which guarantees a reliable reading in an environment whose brightness can vary between 0.1 and 50 ^* 000 Lux.

An artificial retina has a neuron circuit operating on a current basis. It is better suited to the application than a CCD type system, which will be more complex and costly.

FIG. 5 represents a neural network of cubic shape 48, comprising attached to each node 49 a circuit 47 comprising a photo-diode 60 and a digital signal output 59. Each node of the network 49 is connected to its neighbor by at least one re ¬ resistance 50 and to ground by a conductance 51. The elements 50 and 51 may be one or more resistors and / or tran¬ sistors, preferably having a linear characteristic. The junction voltage can be given by one or more circuits, not shown, which, if necessary, can depend on circuit 47. The resistance and / or conductance values will dictate the contrast sensitivity of the artificial retina.

The circuit 47 comprises a photo-transistor 60 generating a current 52. The arrangement of the transistors 61, 62 and 63 generates a current 53 and 56 of the same value as 52. The current 57 results from the sum of the currents supplied by the luminosity on the neighboring nodes. The arrangement of transistor 64 and 65 defines the current 54 representing the difference of 53 and 55, which will be transformed by an evaluation circuit 58 at trigger level (threshold) in binary value.

Fig. 6 represents the circuit making it possible to evaluate the rotation of the drum display 87, the changes of state of the LCD display 88 and / or to memorize the number of diodes used for reading 85. The digital outputs 87 , 88 and 85 can be connected to a microprocessor. The control circuit of the node of the neuron circuit 70 comprises a signal input 71 (equal to 59 fig.5) connected to a storage element 74, several elements ensuring a stabilized current source 72, a storage element 76 and two logical elements 77.

The storage element 74 will supply current to line 84 when, after resetting the memory by a signal 73, a change of state of 71 is detected. The presence of a current source on line 84 will be converted into 79 into a positive digital signal 88. This output makes it possible to detect a change in state of the readable display and will be best suited for reading an LCD display.

The storage element 76 is used to detect a change in the signal 71 in order to mark the diodes, which are used for reading the readable display. This element can be reset, if necessary, by 75.

Lines 82 and 83 are used to detect the passage of a point not marked with a number drum. Line 82 is connected to 76 via 72a, line 83 to element 77a reproducing the product "and" of signals 71 and 76. When the drum figures are printed on a light background, the difference between the sources of current on lines 82 and 83 corresponds to zero and will reproduce a 1 at the corresponding output at 87. In the contrary case, line 81 does not act as a current source will reproduce a 1 at the corresponding output at 87. Signal 90 will indicate the type of signal to be considered.

Lines 80 and 81 are used to detect the type of printing of the display drum and represent a simple way of carrying out an optical identification of the assembly between the housing 1 and the counter 2. Line 81 is connected via from 77b to signal 71 and 76, line 80 via 72b to signal 76. The sum of the currents in line 81 represent the sum of the active elements having a positive signal 71, that of line 80 the sum of the elements assets. The difference in current between line 81 and 80 will produce a positive or negative current signal at 90 characterizing the type of printing used on the drum. Line 90 is connected to all the evaluation elements 86. It would be desirable to memorize 90.

The sum of the currents of line 80 is converted at 89 by an A / D converter into a binary value 85 representing an identity figure specific to the assembly of the housing 1 and the counter 2. Regular control of this value can allow to detect a change of state of the assembly. Putting in place a more efficient arrangement storing separately the sum of current of each horizontal and vertical line will better fulfill the desired identity function.

The connections 85, 87 and 88 will be taken up by the control circuit 5. The connections 87 can locate the passage of the inter-digit in several places. This procedure allows you to thwart reading errors due to optical reflections.

A more complex circuit measuring the differences in movement in all directions and on two axes will make it possible to create a more universal reading device better suited to the application. Such a circuit is shown in US 5,288,993.

An equivalent solution using long diodes running right through the readable display represents another variant of execution which can be integrated into a neuron circuit.

The relative simplicity of this circuit, which per node can have up to 10 transistors, makes it possible to integrate the components between the photodiodes, and to produce efficient and inexpensive reading circuits.

The control circuit 5 may also be connected to a GPS unit, so that the geographic data can be used for charging purposes, which may differ depending on the road axis used or the geographic area of travel. The coordinates defining a region and / or the vectors defining a road axis will be stored and used as references for the calculation of the taxation.

The same device could be used for the taxation of trailers, this being connected to a supplier of pulses which will be proportional to the distance traveled. The pulses will be supplied by a light element, for example a light diode, which will be activated for example by a proximity detector recording the number of turns of the wheels.

In place of the indicator 20 could also be used an acoustic indicator. The indicator or an additional indicator may also be placed outside the housing, for example, in the case of a trailer, on the dashboard of the trac¬ tor vehicle.

The examples cited above represent a choice of solutions enabling the objectives specific to the invention to be achieved. It is permissible to appreciate that other technical approaches are also possible.

Claims

claims

1. A method for acquiring data from a counter with a readable display, more particularly that of a vehicle, characterized in that the state and / or the changes of state of the readable display of the counter is converted to their equivalent by means of at least one reading device (8), comprising at least one optical device (12) projecting the image of at least part of the readable display on one or several diodes (10).

2. A method according to the preceding claims characterized in that the control circuit (5) makes it possible to detect a change in the visible display from one unit to another by comparison between the values emitted by a device reading (8) and those emitted by a sensor device (6).

3. A method according to the preceding claims characterized in that the number or the position of the diodes (10) participating in the reading of the readable display can be stored in memory.

4. An electronic recording device for acquiring data from a counter with a readable display, more particularly that of a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a reading device (8), comprising an optical device (12) and one or more diodes (10), and preferably a connection element (15), a control loop (17), a readable indicator (20) and / or a communication element (19) .

5. A device according to the preceding claims caractéri¬ se in that at least one element of the reading device can be interchanged and / or moved relative to its housing.

6. A device according to the preceding claims caractéri¬ se in that it comprises a movement or acceleration sensor, preferably a gravitational type sensor.

7. A device according to the preceding claims caractéri¬ se in that the reading device comprises at least one artificial retina.

8. A device according to the preceding claims caractéri¬ se in that the reading device comprises one or more light diodes illuminating at least a part of the visible display.

9. A device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that a connecting element forms a rupture zone (18) of lower resistance than the counter (2) and the housing (D-

10. A device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that a connecting element comprises at least one detection cir¬ cuit (31) and / or an identification circuit (32), preferably a rupture zone (15 ), and at least part of a rupture element (34).

11. A device according to the preceding claims caracté¬ ized in that a connecting element comprises a spring element (37) acting by pre-stress at the opening of at least one rupture zone (18).

12. A device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that a readable indicator is made of a lever comprising several printing fields such that it can be placed in the energy rest position according to at least two defined preferential positions. relative to the housing (1).

13. A device according to the preceding claims caracté¬ ized in that a communication element comprises a time base.

14. A counter with a readable display, characterized in that it carries in a given place, preferably on the glass (2), a marking, a knockout or a hole to facilitate the mounting of the recording device by ensuring a optimal alignment of the reading device (8) with respect to the readable display.