The invention relates to a method for displaying information on a display device of a measuring appliance, in particular for measuring a volume or a flow/throughflow of a medium, such as a fluid meter, in particular water meter, thermal energy meter, in particular heat meter, cold meter or the like. The invention is further based on a corresponding measuring appliance.

As a result of prior public use, thermal energy meters which have a comparatively complex man/machine interface and which enable the user/operator to operate the respective thermal energy meter are known. Generally, the known thermal energy meters have at least one operating button for this purpose.

An object of the invention is to provide a method for displaying information on a display device of a measuring appliance which, on the one hand, leads to a comparatively simple-to-operate or user-friendly measuring appliance and, on the other hand, to a measuring appliance which can be produced in a cost- effective manner. A corresponding measuring appliance is further to be created. The measuring appliance should further be particularly operationally reliable.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the features set out in the main claims 1 and 11. The core of the invention involves the displaying on the display device being dependent on at least one current or recently measured measurement value of at least one measurement variable. The displaying is consequently preferably carried out depending on the situation. The measuring appliance can thus be configured without buttons.

For example, the display device shows a current measurement value of a measurement variable which is greater than a corresponding predetermined, that is to say, in particular previously determined, threshold value. Preferably, it also displays the current measurement value of the measurement variable when the current measurement value corresponds to the corresponding predetermined threshold value.

If the current measurement value is less than the corresponding predetermined threshold value, the display apparatus displays at least one technical calibration information item. The purpose of a calibration is particularly to provide preconditions for a correct measurement. Over time, however, the precision of the measurement will inevitably decrease. The calibration is carried out, for example, by officially recognised test centres. It must be carried out at predetermined time intervals.

The predetermined threshold value is, for example, a minimum measurement value, such as minimum (throughjflow, of the measuring appliance. Alternatively, for example, it is dependent thereon. The predetermined threshold value thus preferably forms a switching threshold or starting threshold.

The at least one measuring device for measuring the at least one measurement variable is, for example, in the form of an impeller, annular piston or Woltmann measuring device. Alternatively or additionally, it comprises at least one, preferably two temperature measurement elements, such as probes or sensors, and a (throughjflow measuring element. Alternatively, the at least one measuring device operates, for example, in a contactless manner, such as with ultrasound.

The thermal energy meter is, for example, a heat meter or cold meter. The water meter is, for example, a cold water meter or hot water meter. The processing unit is preferably of the electronic type. It is, for example, in the form of a microcontroller.

The at least one display device is, for example, an LCD, LED, OLED display device or in the form of electronic paper (E-ink, E-paper).

The at least one measuring device and the processing unit may be directly or indirectly in signal connection with each other. The processing unit and the at least one display device may be directly or indirectly in signal connection with each other. Signals can thus be transferred accordingly.

Other advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

For example, according to dependent claim 2 the corresponding predetermined threshold value is dependent on the corresponding nominal value, such as nominal (through)flow, or lasting value (lasting (through)flow), of the measuring appliance.

It is advantageous for the display device according to the dependent claim 3 to have a (degree of) inertia in order, for example, to enable reliable and precise reading of the at least one technical calibration information item.

For example, DIN EN ISO 4064-2017 is complied with and below Qi (minimum throughflow) no (through)flow is identified. For example, the corresponding predetermined threshold value is Qi or is dependent on Qi, such as 0.5xQi. It begins, for example, at 0.05xQi and can be parameterised, for example, in steps, such as 5% steps.

According to the dependent claim 4, a change is carried out between the displaying of at least one current measurement value and the at least one technical calibration information item automatically or independently, that is to say, in particular without the intervention or presence of an operator or calibration checker. The automatic change is carried out, on the one hand, from the displaying of at least one current measurement value to the displaying of the at least one technical calibration information item and also preferably vice versa from the displaying of the at least one technical calibration information item to the displaying of at least one current measurement value. It is thus unnecessary to know a specific button combination or the measuring appliance in detail in order to trigger the displaying of the at least one technical calibration information item.

According to the dependent claim 5, the displaying of the at least one technical calibration information item cannot be influenced from the exterior. In particular, it cannot be terminated by an operator. It can also advantageously not be initiated by an operator.

According to the dependent claim 6, the at least one technical calibration information item is, for example, a checksum, in particular relating to the code (checksum), such as CMAC or Hash which enables a verification of data or values with regard to integrity. It is, for example, a MAC (Message Authentication Code) information item which enables certainty to be provided regarding the origin of data or values and the integrity thereof to be verified. For example, the at least one technical calibration information item is a CMAC (Cipher Based Message Authentication Code) information item which is also a message authentication code information item. The firmware information item relates in particular to the software of the measuring appliance. The software ensures the basic functions) of the measuring appliance. The recalibration is important for a reliable measurement. The timestamp information preferably indicates the time of the last (re)calibration. In the case of the flashing display, preferably at least a portion, preferably at least the majority, preferably all of the segments or information items of the display device which can be displayed flash(es). They are advantageously alternately switched on and switched off. The flashing display enables a flash test. It provides, for example, information as to whether the display device is capable of displaying all the values and information items or the like correctly and completely.

It is advantageous if, according to dependent claim 7, different technical calibration information items are displayed on the display device. For example, between two and seven different technical calibration information items are displayed. These may differ from each other in terms of function or content.

The configuration according to the dependent claim 8 enables in particular a complete display of the technical calibration information items which can be displayed. A change between these technical calibration information items is preferably carried out automatically or independently. It is an advantage for each technical calibration information item to be displayed for a specific period of time, for example, between 0.5 and 6 seconds, preferably between 1 and 4 seconds.

The embodiment according to dependent claim 9 is particularly user-friendly. An undesirable repetition of technical calibration information items prior to displaying new technical calibration information items can thus be prevented.

The configuration according to dependent claim 10 is again extremely user-friendly. It enables simple and secure reading of at least one current measurement value. A change to another display is prevented as long as at least one current measurement value is greater than the corresponding predetermined threshold value.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the appended drawings by way of example. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a block diagram which illustrates a simplified construction of a measuring appliance according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the display device of the measuring appliance which is illustrated in Figure 1 and which inter alia displays a current measurement value, and

Figure 3 shows schematic views of the display device which is illustrated in Figure 1 and which shows particularly different technical calibration information items.

Initially with reference to Figure 1, a measuring appliance comprises a throughflow measuring device 1 which according to this embodiment has a flow pipe and ultrasound sensors for measuring a throughflow of a medium, such as water. The throughflow measuring device 1 is, for example, integrated in a corresponding line. It is advantageous for the measurement to be repeated at predetermined time intervals, such as every second.

The throughflow measuring device 1 is at least temporarily in signal connection with an electronic circuit 2 which is in the form of an integrated, in particular application-specifically integrated circuit. It is advantageous for the function of the circuit not to be changeable. Advantageously, between the throughflow measuring device 1 and the electronic circuit 2, corresponding signals, data, information items or the like can be transmitted in two directions. The electronic circuit 2 is in turn connected at least temporarily in signal connection with a processing unit 3. Between the electronic circuit 2 and the processing unit 3, signals, data, information items or the like can preferably be transmitted in two directions.

The processing unit 3 in turn is connected at least temporarily in signal connection with an LCD display device 4. In particular, the LCD display device 4 is capable of displaying measurement values which are received by the processing unit 3 or measured by the throughflow measuring device 1 or the like.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the LCD display device 4 is capable of displaying a current throughflow value or volume flow value, that is to say, in this instance “5 l/h". It is further capable of displaying an overall volume, that is to say, in this instance “012345.678 m ³ ”. Since in this instance the current throughflow value is greater than a predetermined throughflow threshold value, this display on the LCD display device 4 is static. Alternatively, the overall volume is displayed, for example, as a number of litres.

As shown in Figure 3, the LCD display device 4 again displays as a display 4a the overall volume and the current throughflow value which in this instance is “0 l/h" (no throughflow). Since this current throughflow value is below the predetermined throughflow threshold value, the LCD display device 4 jumps after a predetermined period of time from the display 4a to the display 4b which displays at the top a CMAC or CRC information item, that is to say, “ABCdEF CrC” and at the bottom a Firmware information item, that is to say, “30.00”.

If the current throughflow value is still below the throughflow threshold value, the LCD display device 4 jumps after a predetermined period of time from the display 4b to the display 4c or 4d, which is a flashing display. At a flashing frequency, for example, of 0.5 seconds, all segments of the LCD display device 4 flash briefly on.

If the current throughflow value is still below the throughflow threshold value, the LCD display device 4 jumps after a predetermined period of time from the display 4c or 4d to the display 4e, which constitutes a legally relevant logbook recalibration with time stamp and number of calibrations (“020323 rEC”). In this instance, four calibrations (illustrated below) have already been carried out.

If the current throughflow value remains below the throughflow threshold value, the LCD display device 4 jumps after a predetermined period of time from the display 4e to the display 4f which constitutes a legally relevant logbook firmware update with a time stamp and (a portion of the) CMAC (information).

If the current throughflow value remains below the predetermined throughflow threshold value, the LCD display device 4 jumps after a predetermined period of time from the display 4f back to the display 4a and the displays described are displayed again until the current throughflow value again corresponds to the predetermined throughflow threshold value or is greater than it.

The LCD display device 4 is dynamic. The display thereof is dependent on the situation.

It is advantageous for the measuring appliance to comply with standards, software guidelines and PTB (Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt/National Metrology Institute) requirements, such as WELMEC-Guide 7.2 and PTB A-50.7.

The signal connections may be configured to be wireless or wired. The values, information items or the like illustrated or mentioned are purely exemplary and serve only as explanations.