Jack J Greenfeder

US Patent:

55598943, Sep 24, 1996

Filed:

Jun 28, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/084458

Inventors:

David J. Lubliner - Fords NJ
Jaskaran Dhaliwal - North Plainfield NJ
John Gidney - North Bergenfield NJ
Gerald E. Gore - North Branch NJ
Jack J. Greenfeder - Randolph NJ
Joshua Greenfeld - Edison NJ
Melvin C. Hinton - New Brunswick NJ
William McHugh - Denville NJ
Anthony Parsio - Kearney Pt. NJ
Ian Rintel - South Marlboro NJ
Harry T. Roman - East Orange NJ
Jake Vogelaar - Wyckoff NJ

International Classification:

G06K 900

US Classification:

382100

Abstract:

A method and device, including a portable embodiment, for the automated inspection of devices having different visual changeable and non-changeable indicia on the faces thereof. Specific devices include meters, particularly electric usage meters, for detection of tampering, for improving efficiency of maintenance procedures and for usage in reading the meters for billing purposes. Meters of various heights, configuration and construction are fixed into designated positions and are inspected by visual computer-linked camera scanning, to determine meter periphery and a location reference point, and imaging of identifying portions of meter faces relative to the determined location reference point. The identifying portions are compared with correlative templates of existing meter types, stored in computer memory. Identification of specific meter type permits exact location and subsequent OCR identification of the specific meter number (with use history) and parameters (voltage, amperage, wire connections etc.