TIMER DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAID TIMER DEVICE

• US 20170351222A1
• Filed: 12/19/2014
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zobele Holding SpA (Z Alpha SA)
• Original Assignee: Zobele Holding SpA (Z Alpha SA)
• Inventors: FIORAVANTI, Emilio, GIOVANELLI, Alessio
• Granted Patent: US 10,768,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: G06F 11/0706 the processing taking place on a specific hardware platform or in a specific software environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0757 by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs

Abstract

A timer device comprising a first timer in communication with control means, the control means being in communication with an external component and the first timer sending an order to the control means after a first preset time period is counted by the first timer, the timer device also comprising a second timer in communication with the control means, the second timer counting a second preset time period that is a portion of the first preset time period. The timer device permits an accurate operation, even with changes of temperature and voltage, and with a reduced cost.

Claims

1. A timer device, comprising a first timer in communication with control means, said control means being in communication with an external component and said first timer sending an order to the control means after a first preset time period is counted by the first timer, wherein the timer device also comprises a second timer in communication with said control means, said second timer counting a second preset time period that is a portion of said first preset time period.

2. The timer device according to claim 1, wherein said first timer is a watchdog timer.

3. The timer device according to claim 1, wherein it also comprises a memory in communication with the control means, which memory acts as a counter and is incremented each time the second time period counted by the second timer expires.

4. The timer device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second timers are placed inside the timer device.

5. A method for operating the timer device according to claim 1, comprising the following steps:

set a first time period to be counted by a first timer;

set a second time period to be counted by a second timer, said second time period being a portion of the first time period;

when said second time period is expired, but said first time period is not expired, the second timer begins again the measure of the second time period; and

when said second time period is expired and said first time period is also expired, control means of the timer device are reset, and a component connected with the timer device starts a new operation cycle.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein when the second time period is expired but the first time period is not expired, the value of a memory is incremented, and when said second time period is expired and said first time period is also expired the value of the memory is read and it is used to calculate a new time base, which is used as the first time period for the next operation cycle.