US 6,687,552 B1 · Data indicator

Abstract

A data indicator is disclosed which comprises a non-volatile memory (26), control circuitry (24) by which data can be read from and written to the memory, a timer (28) and/or an event detector (30), means such as a terminal (20) for connection to an electrical supply of a host apparatus and an interface (32) through which data can be exchanged with the memory (26). In use, the event detector (30) detects when the host apparatus is switched on and in dependence on the detector output the control circuitry (24) maintains a cumulative history of host apparatus activation which is stored on the memory (26). The data indicator can store other data relating to the host apparatus, e.g. a service interval, and can supply this in conjunction with the actuation history, making it conveniently possible e.g. to establish whether the host apparatus requires servicing. (FIG. 4).

Claims30

Dependent claims

A data indicator formed as a single unit mountable upon a host apparatus and comprising a housing which comprises an enlarged head part and a body part, the body part being insertable into the host apparatus such that the head remains accessible from outside the host, the housing containing electronics, which comprise

a non-volatile memory, control circuitry by which data can be read from and written to the memory, a timer, means for connection to an electrical supply of such host apparatus, an interface through which the data can be exchanged with the memory, and electrical terminations which are carried by the body part and so are connectable in use to electrics of the host apparatus, the interface comprising contacts used to exchange the data, said contacts are carried by the head and accessible from the exterior of such host apparatus so that a connection can be releasably made to the data indicator for exchange of the data,
wherein in use the timer measures the duration of periods during which such host electrical supply is switched on and in dependence on the timer output the control circuitry maintains a cumulative record of elapsed host apparatus running time which is stored on the non-volatile memory, other data relating to such host apparatus being writable to the non-volatile memory so that the indicator can be used to record and, through the interface, supply elapsed host apparatus running time in conjunction with said other data relating to such host apparatus.

a non-volatile memory, control circuitry by which data can be read from and written to the memory, means for connection to an electrical supply of such host apparatus, a detector connected to the means for connection to the electrical supply of the host apparatus, an interface through which the data can be exchanged with the memory, and electrical terminations which are carried by the body part and so are connectable in use to electrics of the host apparatus, the interface comprising contacts used to exchange the data, said contacts are carried by the head and accessible from the exterior of such host apparatus so that a connection can be releasably made to the data indicator for exchange of the data,
wherein in use the detector detects when the host electrical supply is switched on and in dependence on the detector output the control circuitry maintains a cumulative history of host apparatus activation which is stored on the non-volatile memory, other data relating to the host apparatus being writable to the non-volatile memory so that the indicator can be used to record and, through the interface, supply elapsed host apparatus activation data in conjunction with said other data relating to such host apparatus.

A data indicator comprising a non-volatile memory, control circuitry for writing data to and reading the data from the memory, a timer, electrical terminations for connection of an electrical supply of a host apparatus to the data indicator, the data indicator being capable of drawing its power supply through the terminations from such host apparatus, and an interface through which the data is exchanged with the memory, wherein in use the timer measures the duration of periods during which such host electrical supply is switched on and in dependence on an output of the timer the control circuitry maintains in the non-volatile memory a cumulative first record of elapsed host apparatus running time, other data in the non-volatile memory relating to the host apparatus being written to the non-volatile memory so that the data indicator thereby provides a second record of the other data, the data indicator supplies through the interface, to means for interrogating, the elapsed running time of such host apparatus from the first record in conjunction with the other data relating to such host apparatus from the second record.

A data indicator comprising a non-volatile memory, control circuitry for writing data to and reading the data from the memory, a timer, and at least one contact through which the data is exchanged with the memory, said at least one contact being exposed at an exterior surface of the data indicator so as to be contactable by means for interrogating, wherein in use the timer measures the duration of periods during which an electrical supply of a host apparatus is switched on and in dependence on an output of the timer the control circuitry maintains in the non-volatile memory a cumulative first record of elapsed host apparatus running time, other data in the non-volatile memory relating to the host apparatus being written to the non-volatile memory so that the data indicator thereby provides a second record of the other data, the data indicator supplies through said at least one contact, to said means for interrogating, the elapsed running time of such host apparatus from the first record in conjunction with the other data relating to such host apparatus from the second record.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Data indicator

Life of this patent

Data indicator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30