The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 22, 2014
Filed:
Aug. 31, 2011
Applicants:
James L. Kennedy, Columbus, OH (US);
Thomas Baird, Columbus, OH (US);
Inventors:
James L. Kennedy, Columbus, OH (US);
Thomas Baird, Columbus, OH (US);
Assignee:
Next Future, LLC, Dublin, OH (US);
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 7/18 (2006.01); G06K 9/46 (2006.01); H04M 1/00 (2006.01); G06Q 30/00 (2012.01); G06K 9/00 (2006.01); G01D 4/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G06K 9/00 (2013.01); Y04S 20/30 (2013.01); G01D 4/00 (2013.01); G06K 2209/03 (2013.01);
Abstract
A method and apparatus to read an analog dial utility meter including a plurality of analog dials, where each dial includes a rotating dial indicator is provided. The apparatus is configured to analyze a digital image of the analog dial utility meter to determine a value of each dial of the utility meter. The method comprises receiving a digital image of the analog dial utility meter, and performing one or more processing and analysis steps to determine a meter reading of the utility meter.