Manipulating Electronic Display of Measurements

Dr. S. S. VERMA; Department of Physics, S.L.I.E.T., Longowal; Distt.-Sangrur (Punjab)-148 106

2021-02-01 16:56:20

Credit: pixabay.com

Credit: pixabay.com

Manipulation of electronic displays at petrol pumps have been highlighted many times by smart customers. The owners of petrol pump are updating their electronic and sensing devices with the latest developments to make it possible to show more on digital display and give less petrol.  Similarly, weighing digitalscalescan be tricked simply by the movement or placement of a power cord, which can take tens of pounds off of someoneweighingin. Also, the placement of thescaleitself on a certain surface can fluctuate weights, and make you cheat. Digital measuring devices can be divided into digital measuring instruments and digital measuring transducers. Digital measuring instruments are self-contained devices that automatically present thevalueof the measured quantityon a digital display whereas, digital measuring transducers lack a digitaldisplay and the measurement resultsareconverted into a digital code for subsequent transmission and processing in measuring systems.

The most common typesofdigitalmeasuringdevicesare those used to measureelectrical quantities, such as current, voltage, and frequency. However, these devices are being commonly used to measure nonelectrical quantities-such as pressure (weight, volume), temperature, speed, and forceby converting the nonelectrical quantity into an electrical signal.The operationofdigital measuring devices is based onthedigitization(that is, quantization with respect to level) and coding of the value of the measured physical quantity. The coded signal is fed either to a digital display or to a data transmission and processing system. In a digital display the coded measurement result is converted into a number expressed by numerals, usually in the decimal number system.

Digital measuring instruments may use electric, cathode-ray, gas-discharge, or liquid-crystal displays. The design ofdigital measuring devices, their accuracy, and their area of application depend on the principle underlying the coding of the measured quantity. The three most commonly used basic principles of analog-to-digital conversion in digital measuring devices are direct conversion, counting, and successive approximation. The manipulation of petrol pumps to dispense lesser fuel than what is paid for is making ripples all over the country and it is detected to the use the assembled chips installed inside the pumps or remote controls to manipulate meter readings.These devices can manipulate meters by stopping or slowing or making fast to show more or lesser manipulated readings. Some petrol pumpshaverigged metersthat start ticking even beforepetrolstarts to flow from the hose.According to the people who are involved in the business of manipulating digital meters, it's all about setting a chip into the dispenser. With a solid grip (on the system), one can control or reduce the quantity of the fuel.

The chip can be a remote-controlled chip that can be hidden inside fuel machines and this tiny device replaces the original gadget to manipulate deliveries.It works by speeding up meter reading but giving the customers less than indicated. With the help of a remote control, the chip can be controlled or switched off in case of some inspection or problem of notice. No doubt, digital or electronic display in measurementsexplains difficult concepts clearly and describes delicate procedures step-by-step. It is the most up-to-date mode available for designers, engineers, manufacturers and users of displaysystems who need to develop precise, reliable methods for evaluatingelectronic or digital displays.Sometimes, such type of deceit is executed in collusion with weight and measurement officials. The day the digital display machines are stamped (for installation), it's then that the tampering happens. The person from the weights and measurement department will detune the dispenser in accordance with what to save with unethical means.The tampering of digital display meters is of course can be done smoothly by professionals called fitters.The latest modus operandi involve an electronically programmed chip retrofitted to the fuel-dispensing machine and the chip is controlled using a remote gadget.

This type of manipulation with digital displays being used in different applications to cheat the customers has become a common practice, thus, it has become imperative to think that how to check tempering with digital measurement displays and that such tools are available to everyone and when required one can make use of such tools to verify and authenticate the supplied/purchased item. People from different disciplines like electronics, mechanical engineering (mechatronics), robotics, artificial intelligences and others should come forward to design cost effect, easy to operate, robust and handy devices which can check on the tempering of digital displays.