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US 4,306,299 AGranted
Postage meter having means transferring data from a working memory to a non-volatile memory under low power conditions
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorsFrank T. Check, Jr., Alton B. Eckert, Jr., Joseph R. Warren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic postage has a working memory and a non-volatile memory. A voltage sensing circuit senses low power conditions, and, in response thereto, controls a data transfer circuit to transfer data from the working memory to the non-volatile memory.
Claims26
A postage meter system, comprising:
- a source of operating voltage;
- means for printing postage;
- accounting means energized by said source of operating voltage and operatively coupled to said postage printing means for accounting for postage printed by said printing means, said accounting means including a working memory for accounting signal data information, said working memory receiving said operating voltage;
- a non-volatile memory connected to said accounting means;
- means for sensing variations of the voltage level of said source of operating voltage;
- and means coupled to said sensing means for causing said accounting signal data information to be transferred from said working memory to said non-volatile memory when said sensing means senses a voltage variation in the level of said source of operating voltage.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- a volatile working memory for storing accounting data;
- a source of operating voltage for said working memory;
- means coupled to said source of operating voltage for detecting reduction of said operating voltage below a predetermined level and including a radiant energy device operable to emit radiant energy at a first level when said operating voltage is above said predetermined level and operable to reduce emitting radiant energy to below a second lower level when said operating voltage is below said predetermined level;
- a second memory having a storage capacity independent of said source of operating voltage;
- and means responsive to the emission of radiant energy for applying data stored in said working memory to said second memory when said radiant energy ceases.
2 more elements
A postage meter system, comprising:
- a register for storing postage accounting information;
- gating means coupled to said register for transferring data from said register;
- power supply means coupled to supply operating voltage to said register;
- sensing means operatively connected to said power supply means for producing a control signal representative of a reduction of voltage of said operating voltage;
- and circuit means connected between said gating means and said signal sensing means for applying said control signal to said gating means, said circuit means including a radiant energy means having a radiant energy emitting member and a radiant energy sensitive receiving member, said radiant energy emitting member operative to provide radiant energy output when said voltage level is above a required operating level and operative to reduce said radiant energy output when said voltage level is below said required operating level.
2 more elements
A postage meter system, comprising:
- a microcomputer means containing a postage meter program for printing postage;
- register means connected to said microcomputer means to store data;
- input circuit means coupled to said register for transferring data to said register and output circuit means coupled to said register for transferring data from said register;
- a first power supply connected to supply operating voltage to said register;
- means coupled to said first power supply for detecting a reduction of said operating voltage provided by said first power supply below a predetermined level;
- means responsive to said sensing means for inhibiting transfer of data from said register to said output circuit;
- a second power supply;
- and means connected to said detecting means for connecting said second power supply to said register when said detecting means detects a reduction of voltage of said first power supply below said predetermined level.
5 more elements
In an electronic system including a register for storing data, an output circuit for transferring data from said register, and a first power supply connected to supply operating voltage to said register;
- the improvement comprising means inhibiting loss of data in the event of failure of said first power supply comprising sensing means coupled to said power supply for producing a control signal responsive to reduction of a voltage therein, said output circuit comprising gate means for transferring data from said register and responsive to said control signal for inhibiting transfer of data from said register, a second power supply, and means connecting said second power supply to said register in the event of reduction of voltage of said first power supply below a predetermined magnitude.
In an electronic accounting system having a volatile working memory for storing accounting data, and a source of operating voltage for said working memory;
- the improvement comprising means coupled to said source for detecting reduction of said operating voltage below a predetermined level, a second memory having a storage capacity independent of said source, means responsive to said detecting means for applying data stored in said working memory to said second memory, gate means responsive to said detecting means connected to inhibit transfer of data output from said second memory, and means responsive to the detection of voltages above said predetermined level by said detecting means for enabling application of data stored in said second memory to said working memory.
In an electronic accounting system having a volatile working memory for storing accounting data, and a source of operating voltage for said working memory;
- the improvement comprising means coupled to said source for detecting reduction of said operating voltage below a predetermined level, a second nonvolatile memory having a storage capacity independent of said source, a second source of operating voltage connected to said nonvolatile memory, means responsive to said detecting means for applying data stored in said working memory to said second memory and inhibiting transfer of data output from said second memory, and means responsive to the detection of voltages above said predetermined level by said detecting means for enabling application of data stored in said second memory to said working memory.
In an electronic accounting system having a volatile working memory for storing accounting data, and a source of operating voltage for said working memory;
- the improvement comprising means coupled to said source for detecting reduction of said operating voltage below a predetermined level, a second nonvolatile memory including shift register means, said second memory having a storage capacity independent of said source, a second source of operating voltage connected to said nonvolatile memory, means responsive to said detecting means for applying data stored in said working memory to said second memory and inhibiting transfer of data output from said second memory, and means responsive to the detection of voltages above said predetermined level by said detecting means for enabling application of data stored in said second memory to said working memory.
In an electronic accounting system including a working register, input means connected to update data stored in said working register, said working register being subject to undesired variation of data under a determined condition;
- the improvement comprising a storage register having input and output circuit, means for sensing an onset of said determinable condition, means responsive to an output from said sensing means coupled to transfer data from said working register to said storage register and to inhibit transfer of data from said storage register to said output circuit, and means responsive to the detection of passage of said condition by said sensing means for disabling said inhibiting means for returning data to said working storage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.