# US 9,820,019 B2 · Transmitter with a relative-time timer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,820,019 B2 - Document ID: US9820019B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/124,695 - Filed: 2008-11-13 - Published: 2011-08-25 - Granted: 2017-11-14 - Earliest claimed: 2008-11-13 - Assignees: Micro Motion, Inc. - Applicants: Paul J Hays - Inventors: Paul J Hays - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9820019B2 ## CPC - H04Q 9/04: Arrangements for synchronous operation - G04F 1/005: {using electronic timing, e.g. counting means (pulse time delay arrangements H03K5/13; modifications of electronic switches for introducing a time delay before switching H03K17/28)} - G04G 5/00: Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication (radio-controlled time-pieces G04R) - G05B 19/408: characterised by data handling or data format, e.g. reading, buffering or conversion of data - G05B 2219/31126: Transmitter coupled to fieldbus and to sensor, a-d conversion - G05B 2219/34413: Add time stamp to command message - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) - G04F: TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING (measuring pulse characteristics G01R, e.g. G01R29/02; in radar or like systems G01S) - G04G: ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract A transmitter (102) is provided. The transmitter (102) comprises a first communication interface (112) for receiving data. The transmitter (102) also comprises a timer (104) for measuring a relative-time and a processing system (110) for providing the data with a relative-time timestamp. A second communication interface (105) is provided for outputting the relative-time timestamped data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transmitter (102), comprising: a first communication interface (112) for receiving data; a timer (104) for measuring a relative-time, the measuring the relative-time including resetting the timer (104) to a baseline time when power is provided to the transmitter (102), the baseline time comprising a non-zero predetermined time; a processing system (110) for providing the data with a relative-time timestamp, the relative-time comprising an elapsed on-time of the transmitter (102), wherein the elapsed on-time is a length of time the transmitter (102) has been powered; and a second communication interface (105) for outputting the relative-time timestamped data and the baseline time to convert the relative-time timestamp to a real-time timestamp. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The transmitter (102) of claim 1, further comprising a memory (103) for storing the data along with the relative-time timestamp. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The transmitter (102) of claim 2, wherein the data is timestamped as it is being stored in the memory (103). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The transmitter (102) of claim 1, wherein the data comprises flow measurement information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The transmitter (102) of claim 1, wherein the processing system (110) timestamps the data when the data is received by the first communication interface (112). ### Claim 6 A control system (106), comprising: a communication interface (109) for receiving: data including a relative-time timestamp, the relative-time comprising an elapsed on-time of a transmitter (102), wherein the elapsed on-time is a length of time the transmitter (102) has been powered wherein measuring the relative-time includes resetting a timer (104) to a baseline time when power is provided to the transmitter (102), the baseline time comprising a non-zero predetermined time; and the baseline time to convert the relative-time timestamp to a real-time timestamp. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The control system (106) of claim 6, further comprising a control system memory (107) adapted to store data received by the control system (106). ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The control system (106) of claim 6, wherein the data comprises flow measurement information. ### Claim 9 A data processing system (100), comprising: a transmitter (102), including: a first communication interface (112) for receiving data; a timer (104) for measuring a relative-time, the measuring the relative-time including resetting the timer (104) to a baseline time when power is provided to the timer (104), the baseline time comprising a non-zero predetermined time; a processing system (110) for providing the data with a relative-time timestamp, the relative-time comprising an elapsed on-time of the transmitter (102), wherein the elapsed on-time is a length of time the transmitter (102) has been powered; and a second communication interface (105) for outputting the relative-time timestamped data and the baseline time to convert the relative-time timestamp to a real-time timestamp. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The data processing system (100) of claim 9, further comprising a memory (103) for storing the data along with the relative-time timestamp. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The data processing system (100) of claim 10, wherein the processing system (110) timestamps the data when the data is received by the first communication interface (112). ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The data processing system (100) of claim 9, further comprising a control system memory (107) adapted to store data transmitted to the control system (106). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The data processing system (100) of claim 12, wherein the data is timestamped as it is being stored in the memory (103). ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The data processing system (100) of claim 9, further comprising a measuring device (101) in communication with the transmitter (102) and adapted to send the data to the transmitter (102). ### Claim 15 A method for generating a timestamp for data, comprising steps of: measuring a relative-time by resetting a timer to a baseline time when power is provided to a transmitter, the baseline time comprising a non-zero predetermined time for converting the relative-time timestamp to a real-time timestamp; receiving data; and generating a relative-time timestamp for the data based on the measured relative-time, the measured relative-time comprising an elapsed on-time of the transmitter, wherein the elapsed on-time is a length of time the transmitter has been powered without converting to a real-time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising a step of storing the data including the relative-time timestamp in a memory of a transmitter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the data is timestamped as it is being stored in the memory of the transmitter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the step of receiving data comprises receiving flow measurement information. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising steps of: transmitting the data and the baseline time to a control system, wherein the control system measures a real-time; and generating a real-time timestamp based on the relative-time timestamp and the baseline time. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the step of generating the real-time timestamp comprises recording a real-time start time of the relative-time using the baseline time and comparing the real-time start time to the relative-time timestamp. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the step of generating the real-time timestamp comprises: comparing the current elapsed time to a current real-time to generate a real-time start time; and comparing the real-time start time to the relative-time timestamp to generate a real-time timestamp. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising a step of storing the data including the real-time timestamp in a memory of a control system. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the step of transmitting the data to the control system comprises transmitting the data and the baseline time from a transmitter. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising a step of compensating the real-time timestamp for a transmission delay.