Portable timer apparatus, home system and method of timing for an object

• US 20050278519A1
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: McManus, Michael L., Luebke, Charles J., Kolojejchick, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/003 acting only at one preselected time or during one adjustable time interval
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/12 in which metering is on a time basis

Abstract

A home system includes a server having a first wireless communication port, and a plurality of devices, such as sensors. Each one of the devices includes a corresponding second wireless communication port. One or more of the devices is a timer/reminder sensor device associated with an object of interest. The timer/reminder sensor device includes a timer mechanism having a time input and an output. The timer mechanism is associated with the object and is adapted to input a time interval from the time input, time for the time interval and then responsively output to the output. The timer mechanism communicates the time input and the output of the timer mechanism between the second wireless communication port of the timer/reminder sensor device and the first wireless communication port of the server.

Claims

1. A method of timing for an object, said method comprising:

employing a portable timer mechanism including a timer having a time input, a start input and an output;

adapting said portable timer mechanism to couple on or proximate said object;

enabling input of a predetermined time interval from the time input of said portable timer mechanism;

employing greater than one day as said predetermined time interval; and

enabling input of a start signal to the start input of said portable timer mechanism and responsively enabling timing for said predetermined time interval before responsively enabling the output of said portable timer mechanism.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising

coupling said portable timer mechanism to said object.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising

coupling said portable timer mechanism proximate said object.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising

selecting said predetermined time interval from the group comprising about 30 days, about 60 days, about 90 days, about 180 days and about 365 days.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising

employing as the output of said portable timer mechanism a visual indicator;

inputting said start signal; and

indicating at said visual indicator a percentage of said predetermined time interval remaining after said inputting said start signal.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising

outputting a first output from said visual indicator;

delaying for a first time period;

outputting a different second output from said visual indicator;

delaying for a second time period;

employing a constant sum of said first time period and said second time period; and

progressively increasing one of said first and second time periods as a function of said predetermined time interval remaining after said inputting said start signal.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising

employing a ratio of said first and second time periods being equal to said predetermined time interval remaining after said inputting said start signal.

8. A portable timer apparatus for an object, said portable timer apparatus comprising:

a timer mechanism including a time input, a start input and an output;

a portable housing holding said timer mechanism; and

means for coupling said portable housing on or proximate said object,

wherein said timer mechanism is adapted to input a predetermined time interval from the time input,

wherein said predetermined time interval is greater than one day, and

wherein said timer mechanism is further adapted to input a start signal from the start input of said timer mechanism, responsively time for said predetermined time interval and responsively enable the output of said timer mechanism.

9. The portable timer apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for coupling includes one of a magnet or double-sided tape coupled to said portable housing.

10. The portable timer apparatus of claim 8 wherein said time input is a rotary selector including a plurality of different positions corresponding to a plurality of different time intervals;

and wherein said start input is a pushbutton.

11. The portable timer apparatus of claim 8 wherein the output of said timer mechanism is an audible enunciator.

12. The portable timer apparatus of claim 11 wherein the audible enunciator includes a first state and a different second state when said timer mechanism responsively enables said audible enunciator.

13. The portable timer apparatus of claim 12 wherein said timer mechanism further includes a battery and a battery test circuit;

and wherein said audible enunciator further includes a third state when said battery test circuit determines that said battery needs replaced.

14. The portable timer apparatus of claim 11 wherein the output of said timer mechanism further includes a visual indicator.

15. The portable timer apparatus of claim 14 wherein the visual indicator includes a first state and a different second state when said timer mechanism responsively enables said audible enunciator.

16. A system for a structure including an object, said system for a structure comprising:

a server including a first communication port; and

a plurality of devices, each one of said devices comprising a corresponding second communication port, at least one of said devices being a timer apparatus, said timer apparatus further comprising;

a timer mechanism including a time input and an output, said timer mechanism being associated with said object and being adapted to input a time interval from said time input, time for said time interval and then responsively enable said output, said timer mechanism being further adapted to communicate at least one of said time input and said output of said timer mechanism between the corresponding second communication port of said timer apparatus and the first communication port of said server.

17. The system for a structure of claim 16 wherein the output of said timer mechanism is a first output;

and wherein said timer mechanism further includes a second output, which enunciates when said timer mechanism times for said time interval.

18. The system for a structure of claim 17 wherein said second output is selected from the group comprising a visual indicator and an audible enunciator.

19. The system for a structure of claim 16 wherein said timer apparatus is adapted for placement on or proximate said object, which needs periodic service, maintenance or attention;

and wherein said time interval is adapted to correspond to said periodic service, maintenance or attention.

20. The system for a structure of claim 16 wherein one of said devices is a portable fob including the corresponding second communication port thereof and an input device;

wherein said portable fob is adapted to input said time interval from said input device and to output said inputted time interval from said corresponding second communication port of said portable fob to the first communication port of said server;

wherein said server is adapted to input said inputted time interval from said first communication port and output said inputted time interval from said first communication port to the second communication port of said timer apparatus; and

wherein said timer mechanism is adapted to input said inputted time interval from said corresponding second communication port of said timer apparatus to said time input.

21. The system for a structure of claim 16 wherein one of said devices is a portable fob including said corresponding second communication port of said portable fob and a display;

wherein said timer apparatus is adapted to output the output of said timer mechanism to the second communication port of said timer apparatus;

wherein said server is adapted to input the output of said timer mechanism on said first communication port and output said inputted output from said first communication port to the second communication port of said portable fob; and

wherein said portable fob is adapted to input said inputted output from said corresponding second communication port of said portable fob and output said inputted output from said corresponding second communication port of said portable fob to said display.

22. The system for a structure of claim 16 wherein one of said devices is a portable fob including the corresponding second communication port thereof and an input device;

wherein the timer mechanism of said timer apparatus further includes a reset input;

wherein said portable fob is adapted to input a reset command from said input device and to output said reset command from said corresponding second communication port of said portable fob to the first communication port of said server;

wherein said server is adapted to input said reset command from said first communication port and output said reset command from said first communication port to the second communication port of said timer apparatus; and

wherein said timer mechanism is adapted to input said reset command from said corresponding second communication port of said timer apparatus to said reset input.

23. The system for a structure of claim 16 wherein said first and second communication ports are wireless communication ports.

24. The system for a structure of claim 23 wherein some of said devices include a plurality of sensors, each one of said sensors sensing information and including said corresponding second communication port of said one of said sensors, which sends said sensed information to the first communication port of said server.

25. The system for a structure of claim 24 wherein one of said devices is a portable fob including said corresponding second communication port of said portable fob and a display;

and wherein said server is adapted to send said sensed information for at least one of said sensors from the first communication port of said server to the second communication port of said portable fob, said portable fob being adapted to display said sensed information for at least one of said sensors at the display of said portable fob.

26. A method of timing for an object, said method comprising:

employing a system for a structure including a server having a first communication port;

employing a plurality of devices, each one of said devices including a corresponding second communication port;

employing as at least one of said devices a timer apparatus associated with said object and including said corresponding second communication port, and a timer mechanism having a time input and an output;

inputting a time interval from said time input, timing for said time interval and then responsively enabling said output; and

communicating at least one of said time input and said output of said timer mechanism between said second communication port of said timer apparatus and said first communication port of said server.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising

employing a first wireless communication port as said first communication port;

and

employing a corresponding second wireless communication port as said corresponding second communication port of each of said devices.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising

outputting to a visual indicator from the output of said timer mechanism.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising

forming a wireless communication network with said server and said devices;

joining said timer apparatus to said wireless communication network;

employing a portable fob as one of said devices; and

employing said portable fob to set the time input of said timer mechanism or to display the output of said timer mechanism.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising

detecting that said time interval has expired;

sending an alert from said timer mechanism to said server;

sending said alert from said server to said portable fob; and

displaying said alert at said portable fob.

31. The method of claim 29 further comprising

employing a battery including a voltage to power said timer mechanism;

determining that the voltage of said battery is below a threshold value;

sending an alert from said timer mechanism to said server;

sending said alert from said server to said portable fob; and

displaying said alert at said portable fob.

32. The method of claim 29 further comprising

determining a percentage of said time interval that has expired;

sending said percentage from said timer mechanism to said server;

sending said percentage from said server to said portable fob; and

displaying said percentage at said portable fob.

33. The method of claim 26 further comprising

employing said timer mechanism further having a reset input;

setting said time interval to zero; and

detecting said reset input when said time interval is zero and responsively sending a message from the corresponding second communication port of said timer apparatus to the first communication port of said server.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising

including an alert with said message.

35. A method of timing for an object, said method comprising:

employing a system for a structure including a server having a first communication port;

employing an input device including an input and a second communication port;

including with said server a timer mechanism associated with said object;

including with said timer mechanism a time input and an output;

inputting a time interval from said time input, timing for said time interval and then responsively enabling said output; and

communicating said time input from the second communication port of said input device to the first communication port of said server.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising

employing as said input device a portable fob;

and

communicating said time interval from the second communication port of said portable fob input device to the first communication port of said server.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising

employing a display device at said portable fob;

communicating the output of said timer mechanism from the first communication port of said server to the second communication port of said portable fob; and

displaying the output of said timer mechanism at the display device at said portable fob.

38. The method of claim 35 further comprising

inputting a reset signal at said input device;

communicating said reset signal from the second communication port of said input device to the first communication port of said server; and

restarting said timer mechanism for said time interval responsive to said reset signal.

39. A system for a structure including an object, said system for a structure comprising:

a display device comprising a display and a first communication port;

a server comprising a second communication port and a timer mechanism including a time input and an output, said timer mechanism being associated with said object and being adapted to input a time interval from said time input, time for said time interval and then responsively enable said output, said timer mechanism being further adapted to communicate at least one of the time input and the output of said timer mechanism between the second communication port of said server and the first communication port of said display device; and

an input device associated with said object and said timer mechanism, said input device comprising a third communication port and an input, said input device being adapted to communicate the input of said input device from the third communication port of said input device to the second communication port of said server.

40. The system for a structure of claim 39 wherein said display device is a portable fob, which communicates said time interval from the first communication port of said portable fob to the second communication port of said server;

and wherein said server communicates said time interval to the time input of said timer mechanism.

41. The system for a structure of claim 39 wherein said server communicates the output of said timer mechanism from the second communication port of said server to the first communication port of said portable fob;

and wherein said portable fob displays the output of said timer mechanism on said display.

42. The system for a structure of claim 39 wherein said input device is adapted to input a reset signal as the input of said input device and communicate said reset signal from the third communication port of said input device to the second communication port of said server;

and wherein said server is adapted to restart said timer mechanism for said time interval responsive to said reset signal.