Portable elapsed time recorder
First Claim
1. In a time recording apparatus for providing a record of elapsed time for each of a plurality of different functions, the combination comprising:
- data processing means operable when enabled to provide elapsed time data, enabling means operable to enable said data processing means for a time interval during which elapsed time is to be recorded for one of said functions, said data processing means including timing means for providing timing pulses at a predetermined rate, and pulse counting means for counting said timing pulses during said time interval to provide said elapsed time data, data storage means having a plurality of individually addressable data storage locations, including a separate data storage location corresponding to each of said functions, select means manually operable to generate signals for selecting the data storage location for a function for which elapsed time is to be recorded, data transfer means for transferring data at the selected data storage location to said pulse counting means at the start of said time interval to preset said pulse counting means to a count representing elapsed time previously recorded for the corresponding function, whereby the data provided by said pulse counting means at the end of said time interval represents cummulative elapsed time for said function, and means for permitting the cummulative elapsed time data provided by said data processing means to be stored at said selected data storage location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable, self-contained, cummulative elapsed time recorder unit for personal use which records and stores data representing time spent by an individual working on each of a number of different work assignments, to provide a time record for billing purposes. The recorder unit includes a counter which is incremented when the unit operates in a timing mode to record a time element representing time spent working on an assignment, and a memory having a plurality of data storage locations, each assigned to a different work assignment for storing the time elements, the data storage locations being individually addressable by manually operable select switches. The recorder unit includes a display unit which provides a numerical display of the data stored at a selected memory location while the unit is operating in the display mode.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. In a time recording apparatus for providing a record of elapsed time for each of a plurality of different functions, the combination comprising:
- data processing means operable when enabled to provide elapsed time data, enabling means operable to enable said data processing means for a time interval during which elapsed time is to be recorded for one of said functions, said data processing means including timing means for providing timing pulses at a predetermined rate, and pulse counting means for counting said timing pulses during said time interval to provide said elapsed time data, data storage means having a plurality of individually addressable data storage locations, including a separate data storage location corresponding to each of said functions, select means manually operable to generate signals for selecting the data storage location for a function for which elapsed time is to be recorded, data transfer means for transferring data at the selected data storage location to said pulse counting means at the start of said time interval to preset said pulse counting means to a count representing elapsed time previously recorded for the corresponding function, whereby the data provided by said pulse counting means at the end of said time interval represents cummulative elapsed time for said function, and means for permitting the cummulative elapsed time data provided by said data processing means to be stored at said selected data storage location.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. In a time recording apparatus for providing a record of elapsed time for each of a plurality of different functions, the combination comprising:
- data processing means operable when enabled to provide elapsed time data, enabling means including timer switch means operable to enable said data processing means for a time interval during which elapsed time is to be recorded for one of said functions, said data processing means including timing means for providing timing pulses at a predetermined rate, and pulse counting means for counting said timing pulses during said time interval to provide said elapsed time data, data storage means having a plurality of individually addressable data storage locations, including a separate data storage location corresponding to each of said functions, select switch means manually operable to select the location for said one function for which elapsed time is to be recorded, said data processing means further including data transfer means for transferring data at said selected data storage location to said pulse counting means at the start of said time interval to present said pulse counting means to a count representing elapsed time previously recorded for the corresponding function, whereby the data provided by said pulse counting means at the end of said time interval represents cummulative elapsed time for said function, means for permitting the cummulative elapsed time data provided by said data processing means to be stored at said selected data storage location, and display means operable when enabled to provide a numerical indication of data provided by said data processing means.
- View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a time recording apparatus for providing a record of elapsed time for each of a plurality of different functions, the combination comprising:
- enabling means including first switch means manually operable to define the beginning and the end of a time interval during which elapsed time is to be recorded for a given one of said functions, and control means enabled by said first switch means at the start of said time interval to provide first and second control outputs, data processing means including timing means responsive to said second control output to count first timing pulses provided by said timing means to provide elapsed time data representing the duration of said time interval, data storage means having a plurality of data storage locations, including a separate data storage location corresponding to each of said functions for storing data representing elapsed time recorded for each function, select switch means manually operable for selecting the data storage location corresponding to the function for which elapsed time is to be recorded, data transfer means interposed between said data storage means and said pulse counting means for transferring data stored at said selected data storage location to said pulse counting means at the start of said time interval to preset said pulse counting means to a count representing the elapsed time previously recorded for the corresponding function whereby the elapsed time data provided by said pulse counting means at the end of said time interval represents cummulative elapsed time for said function, and output means responsive to said timing means for causing the elapsed time data provided by said pulse counting means to be stored at the selected location of said data storage means.
- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. In a time recording apparatus for timing different periods of activity for each of a plurality of different functions and for providing a record of cummulative elapsed time for activity periods for each of the functions, the combination comprising:
- data storage means having a plurality of individually addressable data storage locations, including a separate data storage location corresponding to each of said functions for storing a set of coded data signals representing elapsed time data recorded for the corresponding function, select means operable to generate select signals for selecting the data storage location corresponding to a given function for which an activity period is to be timed, start means manually operable to define the beginning and the end of a time interval which corresponds to the duration of the activity period, control means including timing means responsive to said start means for generating timing signals to effect the readout of the data signals stored at the selected data storage location at the beginning of said time interval, signal processing means including data transfer means for receiving the signals read out of said data storage means, said signal processing means being responsive to the data signals read out of said data storage means and to further timing signals generated by said timing means during said time interval to generate a further set of data signals coded to represent cummulative elapsed time for said function including the total elapsed time for activity periods previously recorded for said given function, as represented by the data signals read out of said data storage means, and the time elapsed during said time interval, and said data transfer means being responsive to said control means to transfer said further data signals from said signal processing means to said data storage means for storage at said selected data storage location.
Specification