GB2461505A

GB2461505A - Displaying metered commodity consumption by colour

Info

Publication number: GB2461505A
Application number: GB0811859A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joe Andrews
Original assignee: Landis and Gyr AG; Landis and Gyr Ltd
Current assignee: Landis and Gyr AG; Landis and Gyr Ltd
Priority date: 2008-06-30
Filing date: 2008-06-30
Publication date: 2010-01-06
Also published as: GB0811859D0

Abstract

An apparatus (e.g. In-home Unit) for displaying metered commodity consumption (e.g. electricity, gas), comprising: a display device, the display device being a backlit display (e.g. LCD) capable of being lit by a plurality of light sources, the light sources having different colours; control circuitry, the control circuitry being coupled to the display device and adapted to be coupled to one or more metering devices (e.g. electricity or gas metering devices) and to receive a metering signal therefrom indicative of consumption of a commodity; wherein the control circuitry is operable to (i) derive, from the received metering signal(s), the current total rate of energy consumption corresponding to the consumption of the commodity(ies); and (ii) cause the display device to be lit by a first light source in a first colour when the derived total energy consumption is below a threshold and to cause the display device to be lit by a second light source in a second colour when the derived total energy consumption is below the threshold. Suitably, the control circuitry is operable to: (A) cause the display device to be lit by a first light source in a first colour (e.g. green; LOW consumption) when the derived total energy consumption is below a first threshold; (B) cause the display device to be lit by a second light source in a second colour (e.g. amber; MEDIUM consumption) when the derived total energy consumption is between the first threshold and a second threshold, the second threshold being higher than the first; and (C) cause the display device to be lit by a third light source in a third colour (e.g. red; HIGH consumption) when the derived total energy consumption is above the second threshold.

Description

Displaying metered commodity consumption The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to commodity metering, and more particularly to techniques for displaying metered commodity consumption.

The invention has appflcation to any system in which a resource, commodity, service, etc. may be consumed by users in a measured way. However, it is particularly applicable to the metering of electricity, gas, or sny other resource whose usage involves a derivable corresponding consumption of energy.

In conventional metering equipment, there may be little or know indication of instantaneous (current) electricity or gas consumption that is readily accessible/understood by the user. In some cases, there are numerical indications of consumption in a display. However, this is usually part of the meter itself (which is often mounted in a relatively inaccessible place), making it troublesome for the user to regularly access the consumption information and modify his usage of energy. In certain technologies, indicators such as LEDs of different colours are used to indicate whether a measurable parameter has a value within different corresponding ranges, However, with the display of numerical values and the use of LEDs, these are usually hard to see from distance, posing problems for the partially sighted as well as other users, as well as having the aforementioned accessibility problems.

A further problem is that, while technology exists for providing full-colour displays, enabling colour-coded indication of current energy consumption, such displays are costly and complex to implement in household units.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to remove or reduce the aforementioned problems and provide an improved apparatus and method of displaying metered commodity consumption.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for displaying metered commodity consumption, comprising: a display device, the display device being a backlit display capable of being lit by a plurality of light sources, the light sources having different colours; control circuitry, the control circuitry being coupled to the display device and adapted to be coupled to one or more metering devices and to receive a metering signal therefrom indicative of consumption of one or more commodities; wherein the control circuitry is operable to (I) derive, from the received metering signal(s), the current total rate of energy consumption corresponding to the consumption of the comrnodity(ies); and (ii) cause the display device to be lit by a first light source in a first colour when the derived total energy consumption is below a threshold and to cause the display device to be lit by a second light source in a second colour when the derived total energy consumption is below the threshold.

Preferably there are three light sources. Preferably, the control circuitry is operable to: (A) cause the display device to be lit by a first light source in a first colour when the derived total energy consumption is below a first threshold; (B) cause the display device to be lit by a second light source in a second colour when the derived total energy consumption is between the first threshold and a second threshold, the second threshold being higher than the first; and (C) cause the display device to be lit by a third light source in a third colour when the derived total energy consumption is above the third threshold.

Preferably, the first colour is green, the second colour is yellow, orange or amber, and/or the third colour is red.

Preferably, the display device is a backlit LCD.

Preferably, the apparatus has a front panel, and the ratio of the surface area of the display device to the surface area of the front panel is greater than about 2O%.

Preferably, the display device if square or rectangular, with minimum dimensions of about 5 cm, Preferably, upon user selection, the control circuitry is operable to cause the display in the display device of humanreadable values corresponding to the derived total energy consumption.

The apparatus may further include user-operable interface elements, for example push buttons, touch screens, dials and/or a keypad coupled to the processor, thereby enabling one or more of said thresholds to be set by a user.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for displaying metered commodity consumption, comprising: providing a display device, the display device being a backlit display capable of being lit by a plurality of light sources, the light sources having different colours; providing control circuitry, the control circuitry being coupled to the display device and adapted to be coupled to one or more metering devices and to receive a metering signal therefrom indicative of consumption of one or more commodities; operating the control circuitry to (i) derive, from the received metering signal(s), the current total rate of energy consumption corresponding to the consumption of the cornmodity(ies); and (ii) cause the display device to be lit by a first light source in a first colour when the derived total energy consumption is below a threshold and to cause the display device to be lit by a second light source in a second colour when the derived total energy consumption is below the threshold.

Preferably, there are three light sources. Preferably, the control circuitry is operable to: (A) cause the display device to be lit by a first light source in a first colour when the derived total energy consumption is below a first threshold; (B) cause the display device to be lit by a second light source in a second colour when the derived total energy consumption is between the first threshold and a second threshold, the second threshold being higher than the first; and (C) cause the display device to be lit by a third light source in a third colour when the derived total energy consumption is above the third threshold.

Preferably, the first colour is green, the second colours is yellow, orange of amber, and/or the third colour is red.

Preferably, the display device is a backlit LCD.

Preferably, the apparatus has a front panel, and the ratio of the surface area of the display device to the surface area of the front panel is greater than about 20%.

Preferably, the display device if square or rectangular, with minimum dimensions of about 5 cm.

Preferably, upon user selection, the control circuitry is operable to cause the display in the display device of human-readable values corresponding to the derived total energy consumption.

The method may further include: providing user-operable interface elements, for example push buttons, touch screens, dials and/or a keypad coupled to the processor, and receiving one or more user inputs from a user via the interface elements, the user inputs defining settings for one or more of said thresholds.

An advantage of the invention is that colour coded indication of current energy consumption may be provided in a cost-effective manner avoiding complex colour displays.

A further advantage is that substantially the entire display area is illuminated in the relevant colour, making the current energy consumption (e.g. HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW) readily visible, especially to visually impaired persons.

A further advantage of the invention is that the apparatus (e.g. "In-home unit" or IHU) may be mounted away from the metering device(s), and in a room (e.g. living room), where the energy consumption may be regularly monitiored by users, so that they may modify their activities to reduce energy usage.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates the front panel of an apparatus (IHU) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a simplified block diagram of the internal electronics of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 shows the display of the apparatus of Fig. I in different conditions, i.e. (a) for LOW consumption, (b) for MEDIUM consumption, and (c) for HIGH consumption.

In the description and drawings, like numerals are used to designate like elements. Unless indicated otherwise, any individual design features and components may be used in combination with any other design features and components disclosed herein.

As used herein, "commodity" refers to any measurable resource, commodity, service, etc. In particular, it relates to electricity, gas, or any other resource whose usage involves a derivable corresponding consumptiDn of energy.

Figure 1 illustrates the front panel of an apparatus (IHU) 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the IHU 2 has a backlit LCD display 10, and for enabling the user to change the type of information displayed in display 10, a series of push buttons 3, 5, 7, and 9, including a button 5 for selecting the display of total current energy consumption, in accordance with the invention. The front panel may optionally include a number of further pushbuttons 11 for navigating menus, as well as a pushbutton 13 for accessing messages. The IHU 2 is intended to be mounted within the user's hone, for example in a kitchen or living area, so as to enable regular access to energy consumption and other metering information.

Figure 2 shows a simplified block diagram of the internal electronics of the IHU 2 of Fig. 1. As can be seen, the IHU includes a controller 8 (e.g. a microcontroller), coupled via suitable interfacefdrive circuitry 12 to each of a number of light sources 14, 16, 18 (e.g. LED lamps, although any suitable lamp technology may be used, including miniature incandescent or other sources). In this embodiment, there are three light sources 14, 16, 18, but two or more may be used, each having a different discernable colour. Here, the colours are green for light source 14, arnberfor light source 16, and red for lightsource 18.

The controller 8, in use, receives metering signals, if necessary via suitable interfacing circuitry such as ADCs (not shown) from an electricity-metering device 4 that monitors electricity main 6. However, in other embodiments, further metering signals (e.g. from a gas metering device (not shown)) may also be provided to controller 8. -4-.

The controller B is programmed to derive from the received metering signal(s) the corresponding current total energy consumption. Based on this, the controller B signals an appropriate one of interface/drive circuitry 12 to be activated, thereby causing the appropriate light source 14, 16, 18 to be illuminated based on current total energy consumption. The procedure may be expressed simply (although other implementations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art) Receive instantaneous metering signal(s) While colour energy display mode selected by user Derive from metering signals current total energy consumption If current total energy consumption c= first threshold (i.e. LOW consumption) then illuminate light source 14 (seeFig.3(a)) Else if first threshold c current total energy consumption c= second threshold (i.e. MEDIUM consumption) then illuminate light source 15 (see Fig. 3(b)) Else if current total energy consumption second threshold (i.e. HIGH consumption) then illuminate light source 18 (see Fig. 3(c)).

Thus, Fig. 3 shows the display 10 of the IHU 2 of Fig. 1 in different conditions, i.e. (a) for LOW consumption, (b) for MEDIUM consumption, and (c) for HIGH consumption.

It will be appreciate that "Derive from metering signals current total energy consumption'1 may involve determining the total consumption from electricity, gas and other metering devices.

It will be further appreciated that one or more satellite units (not shown) may be provided1 for example coupled by wire or wirelessly, to the IHU 10 and mounted in other rooms of the house, The satellite units may simply be adapted to receive current total energy consumption from the IHU 2 and to display (e.g. by backlit display) with one of a plurality of colours, the current total energy consumption (e.g. with green, amber or red backlight). In this way, more users in the house may be aware of current total energy consumption and adapt their usage to reduce energy consumption.

It will be further appreciated that the first threshold, second threshold or both may be set by a user (e.g. by a person installing the Il-lU 10, or by a consumer). The thresholds may be set, for example, based on information supplied separately as to model energy consumption for a household of a given size. Thus, user-operable interface elements, such as push buttons, touch screens, dials and/or keypads may be provided on the IHU 10, and interfaced to the processor 8 in a conventional way, so as to enable the user to settings for one or both thresholds.

Claims

Claims: 1. An apparatus for displaying metered commodity consumption, comprising: a display device, the display device being a backlit display capable of being lit by a plurality of light sources, the light sources having different colours; control circuitry, the control circuitry being coupled to the display device and adapted to be coupled to one or more metering devices and to receive a metering signal therefrom indicative of consumption of one or more commodities; wherein the control circuitry is operable to (i) derive, from the received metering signal(s), the current total rate of energy consumption corresponding to the consumption of the commodity(ies); and (ii) cause the display device to be lit by a first light source in a first colour when the derived total energy consumption is below a threshold and to cause the display device to be lit by a second light source in a second colour when the derived total energy consumption is below the threshold.
2. The apparatus of claim I wherein there are three light sources.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is operable to: (A) cause the display device to be lit by a first light source in a first colour when the derived total energy consumption is below a first threshold; (B) cause the display device to be lit by a second light source in a second colour when the derived total energy consumption is between the first threshold and a second threshold, the second threshold being higher than the first; and (C) cause the display device to be lit by a third light source in a third colour when the derived total energy consumption is above the third threshold.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first colour is green, the second colours is yellow, orange of amber, and/or the third colour is red.
5. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the display device is a backlit LCD.
6. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus has a front panel, and the ratio of the surface area of the display device to the surface area of the front panel is greater than about 20%.
7. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the display device if square or rectangular, with a minimum dimensions of about 5 cm.
8. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein, upon user selection, the control circuitry is operable to cause the display in the display device of human-readable values corresponding to the derived total energy consumption.
9. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, further including user-operable interface elements, for example push buttons, touch screens, dials and/or a keypad coupled to the processor, thereby enabling one or more of said thresholds to be set by a user.
10. A method for displaying metered commodity consumption, comprising: providing a display device, the display device being a backlit display capable of being lit by a plurality of light sources, the light sources having different colours; providing control circuitry, the control circuitry being coupled to the display device and adapted to be coupled to one or more metering devices and to receive a metering signal therefrom indicative of consumption of one or more commodities; operating the control circuitry to (i) derive, from the received metering signal(s), the current total rate of energy consumption corresponding to the consumption of the comrnodity(ies); and (ii) cause the display device to be lit by a first light source in a first colour when the derived total energy consumption is below a threshold and to cause the display device to be lit by a second light source in a second colour when the derived total energy consumption is below the threshold.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein there are three light sources.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is operable to: (A) cause the display device to be lit by a first light source in a first colour when the derived total energy consumption is below a first threshold; (B) cause the display device to be lit by a second light source in a second colour when the derived total energy consumption is between the first threshold and a second threshold, the second threshold being higher than the first; and (C) cause the display device to be lit by a third light source in a third colour when the derived total energy consumption is above the third threshold.
13. The method of claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein the first colour is green, the second colours is yellow, orange of amber, and/or the third colour is red.
14. The method of any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the display device is a backlit LCD.
15. The method of any claims 10 to 14, wherein the apparatus has a front panel and the ratio of the surface area of the display device to the surface area of the front panel is greater than about 20%.
16. The method of any of claims 10 to 15, wherein the display device if square or rectangular, with a minimum dimensions of about 5 cm.
17. The method of any of claims 10 to 16, wherein, upon user selection, the control circuitry is operable to cause the display in the display device of human-readable values corresponding to the derived total energy consumption.
18. The method of any of claims 10 to 16, further including providing user-operable interface elements, for example push buttons, touch screens, dials and/or a keypad coupled to the processor, and receiving one or more user inputs from a user via the interface elements, the user inputs defining settings for one or more of said thresholds.
19. An apparatus for displaying metered commodity consumption, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs I to 3 of the accompanying drawings.
20. A method for displaying metered commodity consumption, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs I to 3 of the accompanying drawings.