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US 6,724,692 B1Granted
Time measurement device and method
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsHidehiro Akahane, Kenichi Okuhara, Akihiko Maruyama, Nobuhiro Koike
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanism having at least a function of measuring an arbitrary elapsed time is provided, which disables the function from being reset after the function is started, and enables the function to be reset after the function is stopped. The function is continuously held in an electrical ON state after being started, except when being normally stopped. This provides a time measurement device and method in which an electrical operating state and a mechanical operating state can coincide.
Claims9
A time measurement device, comprising:
- a power source;
- a function of measuring elapsed time;
- an input unit for inputting start and stop electrical signals for respectively starting and stopping the measurement of the function;
- a reset circuit for enabling output of an electrical reset signal, after measurement of the function is stopped by the stop electrical signal;
- a mechanical return-to-reset mechanism for resetting the function;
- a mechanical safety mechanism for disabling the function from being mechanically reset between the time that measurement of the function is started by the start electrical signal and the time that measurement of the function is stopped by the stop electrical signal, and for enabling the function to be mechanically reset after measurement of the function is stopped;
- and
- a control section for maintaining the function in an electrical ON-state, initiated by receipt of the start electrical signal, during the time that measurement of the function is performed, and for maintaining the function in the electrical OFF-state, initiated by receipt of the stop electrical signal, during the time that measurement of the function is not performed;
- wherein, if the voltage of the power source falls below a minimum voltage level required for performing the function after measurement of the function is started and thereafter rises to at least the minimum voltage level, the control section continuously maintains the electrical ON-state during the time that the power source voltage is below the minimum voltage level, and the mechanical safety mechanism continuously disables the function from being mechanically reset during the time that the power source voltage is below the minimum voltage level.
6 more elements
A time measurement device, comprising:
- a hand for indicating at least an arbitrary measured elapsed time;
- a first actuating section for starting and stopping the hand;
- a second actuating section for returning the hand to a reset position;
- a safety mechanism for disabling the second actuating section when the hand is driven by the first actuating section , and for activating the second actuating section when the hand is stopped by the first actuating section;
- and
- a control section for continuously maintaining a driving signal for driving the hand from the time the hand is driven by the first actuating section until the hand is normally stopped;
- wherein the control section has a pattern on a circuit board, and a lever for making mechanical contact with the pattern, the driving signal for the hand being continuously maintained by keeping the lever in contact with the pattern;
- and
- wherein the control section includes a pull-up resistor or a pull-down resistor for determining a signal output to the pattern, a sampling circuit for intermittently operating the pull-up resistor or the pull-down resistor, and a holding circuit for recognizing the signal output to the pattern during a sampling period in which the pull-down resistor or the pull-up resistor is intermittently operated by the sampling circuit and for holding and outputting the recognized signal except when the signal is recognized.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.