Power supply for computing means with data protected shut-down

• US 4,307,455 A
• Filed: 03/14/1979
• Issued: 12/22/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Inventors: Juhasz, John E., Shah, Pravin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, James D.
• Application Number:
  US06/020,467
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/424, 364/707, 235/301, 340/52 R, 340/52 F, 371/14, 371/66
• US Class Current: 714/24
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/14 Timing of measurement, e.g. synchronisation of measurements to the engine cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1441 Resetting or repowering
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

A device monitoring and recording apparatus comprises sensing means, computing means, memory storage means and power supply means. The sensing means are operative for sensing device operating parameters and generating data signals corresponding thereto. The computing means process the sensed data signals and the memory storage means stores the data signals from the computing means. The power supply means provides power to the device as well as the computing means and memory storage means and comprises means for sensing a power fault condition and for generating a fault status signal in response thereto, means for feeding the fault status signal to the computing means and means for shutting down the computing means as well as the device upon receipt of a shut-down command from the computing means. The computing means initiates a data protect routine prior to generating the shut-down command.

Claims

1. A device monitoring and recording system comprising:

(a) sensing means for sensing device operating parameters and generating data signals corresponding thereto;

(b) computing means for receiving and processing said data signals;

(c) memory storage means for storing said processed data signals from said computing means;

(d) power supply means for providing power to said device, said computing means and said memory storage means, said power supply means comprising;

(i) means for sensing a power fault condition of said power supply means and for generating a fault status signal in response thereto;

(ii) means for feeding said fault status signal to said computing means, said computing means including means for initiating a data protect routine in response to said fault status signal for storing data being processed by said computing means, said computing means further initiating said data protect routine in response to at least one selected data signal corresponding to other than a fault condition of said power supply means, said computing means generating a shut-down command signal after completion of said data protect routine;

(iii) means for receiving said shut-down command signal from said computing means;

(iv) means for disconnecting said power supply means from said device and said computing means in response to said shut-down command;

(v) means independent of said computing means for disconnecting said power supply means from said device and said computing means; and

(vi) means for delaying operation of said independent connecting means for a time period substantially greater than that normally required for the computing means to issue said shut-down command in response to said fault status signal.

2. A device monitoring and recording apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said device is a vehicle having a battery and said power supply means further comprises said vehicle battery.

3. A device monitoring and recording apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said memory storage means comprises dynamic random access memory means and said disconnecting means of said power supply means comprises means for disconnecting power to said dynamic random access memory means, said system further comprising another battery, independent of said vehicle battery, for providing power to said dynamic random access memory means when said power supply means is disconnected from said dynamic random access memory means, whereby said dynamic random access memory means functions as a non-volatile memory.

4. A device monitoring and recording apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said device is a vehicle having an ignition and said system further comprises means for turning off said vehicle ignition and said sensing means generates a data signal corresponding to said ignition-off condition and said at least one selected data signal comprises said ignition-off data signal.

5. A device monitoring and recording system comprising:

(a) sensing means for sensing device operating parameters and generating data signals corresponding thereto;

(b) computing means for receiving and processing said data signal;

(c) memory storage means for storing said processed data signals from said computing means;

(d) power supply means for providing power to said device, said computing means and said memory storage means;

(e) said computing means comprising;

(i) means for executing a data protect routine in response to at least one of;

(1) said data signals corresponding to a shut-down condition of said device, and (2) a power-fault signal corresponding to a power fault of said power supply means; and

(f) said power supply means comprising;

(i) means for receiving said shut-down command from said computing means;

(ii) means for disconnecting said power supply means from said device and said computing means in response to said shut-down command

(iii) means independent of said computing means for disconnecting said power supply means from said device and said computing means; and

(iv) means for delaying operation of said independent disconnecting means for a time period substantially greater than that normally required for the computing means to issue said shut-down command in response to said fault status signal.

6. A device monitoring and recording apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said device is a vehicle having a battery and said power supply means further comprises said vehicle battery.

7. A method of protecting data being processed by a computing means having a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory storage means, said CPU operable to sense vehicle operating power therefrom, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing at least one vehicle parameter indicative of an engine shut-down condition;

(b) sensing a power fault condition of said vehicle battery;

(c) executing a data protect routine in said CPU in response to one of said at least one sensed shut-down condition and said power fault condition for storing data being processed by said CPU into said memory storage means;

(d) disconnecting said vehicle battery from said CPU after completion of said data protect routine, said CPU initiating said disconnecting step

(e) sensing a predetermined time interval substantially longer than the time normally required for said CPU to execute said data protect routine; and

(f) upon failure of said CPU to initiate said disconnecting step, disconnecting said vehicle battery from said CPU independently of said CPU.