Run-Time Meter With Blind Interface

• US 20090274263A1
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Noria Corp.
• Original Assignee: Noria Corp.
• Inventors: Collins, Michael P.
• Application Number:
  US12/114,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20090274263A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 377/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/02 Registering or indicating working or idle time only

Abstract

A run-time meter for monitoring at least the amount of time a piece of equipment has been operating. The run-time meter comprises a counter and a blind interface. The counter is actuated to begin counting when the piece of equipment operates. The counter is adapted to register run-time data including at least the cumulative amount of time the piece of equipment operates. The counter has a memory portion for storing the run-time data and for storing a unique identifier selectively associated with the piece of equipment. The blind interface is in communication with the counter to permit the run-time data to be extracted from the memory portion of the counter by an external reader while preventing a user from perceiving the run-time data via the blind interface.

Claims

1. A run-time meter for monitoring at least the amount of time a piece of equipment has been operating, the run-time meter comprising:

a counter actuated to begin counting when the piece of equipment operates, the counter adapted to register run-time data including at least the cumulative amount of time the piece of equipment operates, the counter having a memory portion for storing the run-time data and for storing a unique identifier selectively associated with the piece of equipment; and

a blind interface in communication with the counter to permit the run-time data to be extracted from the memory portion of the counter by an external reader while preventing a user from perceiving the run-time data via the blind interface.

2. The run-time meter of claim 1, wherein the run-time data further includes the number of times the piece of equipment has been cycled on and off.

3. The run-time meter of claim 1, wherein the run-time meter is electrically connected to an equipment circuit that is energized when the piece of equipment is operating.

4. The run-time meter of claim 3, further comprising:

a rectifier in electrical communication with the equipment circuit;

a photodiode in electrical communication with the rectifier and the counter; and

an isolation circuit in electrical communication with the photodiode and with the counter, the isolation circuit for protecting the counter from power surges.

5. The run-time meter of claim 1, wherein the blind interface includes a housing having a contact side and a ground side such that when the ground side is electrically grounded, the external reader extracts the run-time data from the memory portion when the external reader contacts the contact side of the housing.

6. The run-time meter of claim 1, wherein the blind interface includes a wireless communication device such that the external reader extracts the run-time data by establishing wireless communication with the blind interface.

7. The run-time meter of claim 6, wherein the wireless communication device is capable of communicating with other run-time meters such that the wireless communication device is capable of relaying run-time data from other run-time meters to the external reader.

8. The run-time meter of claim 6, wherein the wireless communication device is selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth communication devices, WIFI communication devices, RFID communication devices, radio communication devices, cellular communication devices, and optical communication devices.

9. A system for monitoring at least the amount of time each of a plurality of pieces of equipment has been operating, the system comprising:

a plurality of run-time meters each associated with one of the plurality of pieces of equipment, each run-time meter comprising;

a counter actuated to begin counting when the piece of equipment operates, the counter adapted to register run-time data including at least the cumulative amount of time the piece of equipment operates, the counter having a memory portion for storing the run-time data and for storing a unique identifier selectively associated with the piece of equipment; and

a blind interface in communication with the counter to permit the run-time data to be extracted from the memory portion of the counter by an external reader while preventing a user from perceiving the run-time data via the blind interface.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the run-time data further includes the number of times the piece of equipment has been cycled on and off.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein each run-time meter is electrically connected to an equipment circuit that is energized when the piece of equipment is operating.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each run-time meter further comprises:

a rectifier in electrical communication with the equipment circuit;

a photodiode in electrical communication with the rectifier and the counter; and

an isolation circuit in electrical communication with the photodiode and with the counter, the isolation circuit for protecting the counter from power surges.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the blind interface of each run-time meter includes a housing having a contact side and a ground side such that when the ground side is electrically grounded, the external reader extracts the run-time data from the memory portion when the external reader contacts the contact side of the housing.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the blind interface of each run-time meter includes a wireless communication device such that the external reader extracts the run-time data by establishing wireless communication with the blind interface.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless communication device of each run-time meter is capable of communicating with other run-time meters such that the wireless communication device is capable of relaying run-time data from other run-time meters to the external reader.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless communication device of each run-time meter is selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth communication devices, WIFI communication devices, RFID communication devices, radio communication devices, cellular communication devices, and optical communication devices.

17. A method of monitoring at least the amount of time each of a plurality of pieces of equipment has been operating, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing a plurality of pieces of equipment, each associated with a run-time meter comprising;

a counter actuated to begin counting when the piece of equipment operates, the counter adapted to register run-time data including at least the cumulative amount of time the piece of equipment operates, the counter having a memory portion for storing the run-time data and for storing a unique identifier selectively associated with the piece of equipment; and

a blind interface in communication with the counter to permit the run-time data to be extracted from the memory portion of the counter by an external reader while preventing a user from perceiving the run-time data via the blind interface.

extracting with an external reader run-time data for a first piece of equipment from a first run-time meter;

extracting with the external reader run-time data for a second piece of equipment from a second run-time meter;

transferring from the external reader to a computer the run-time data for the first and second pieces of equipment.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the run-time data further includes the number of times the piece of equipment has been cycled on and off.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein each run-time meter is electrically connected to an equipment circuit that is energized when the piece of equipment is operating.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein each run-time meter further comprises:

a rectifier in electrical communication with the equipment circuit;

a photodiode in electrical communication with the rectifier and the counter; and

an isolation circuit in electrical communication with the photodiode and with the counter, the isolation circuit for protecting the counter from power surges.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the blind interface of each run-time meter includes a housing having a contact side and a ground side such that when the ground side is electrically grounded, the external reader extracts the run-time data from the memory portion when the external reader contacts the contact side of the housing.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the blind interface of each run-time meter includes a wireless communication device such that the external reader extracts the run-time data by establishing wireless communication with the blind interface.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the steps of extracting run-time data from the first run-time meter and extracting data from the second run-time meter are performed substantially simultaneously.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the wireless communication device of each run-time meter is capable of communicating with other run-time meters such that the wireless communication device is capable of relaying run-time data from other run-time meters to the external reader.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the steps of extracting run-time data from the first run-time meter and extracting data from the second run-time meter are performed substantially simultaneously, and wherein the first run-time meter relays the run-time data from the second run-time meter to the external reader.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the wireless communication device of each run-time meter is selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth communication devices, WIFI communication devices, RFID communication devices, radio communication devices, cellular communication devices, and optical communication devices.