Tamper-resistant, running time maintenance monitor with individualized maintenance message and method
First Claim
1. A tamper-resistant, running time maintenance monitor for indicating that equipment operatively connected to the monitor is due for maintenance, said monitor comprising:
- (a) data entry means for manually entering an individualized access code, and for manually entering a maintenance time for the equipment to be maintained;
(b) data storage means for storing the individualized access code and the maintenance time;
(c) running time sensor means for detecting the running time of the equipment each time the latter is operated;
(d) control means operatively connected to the data entry means and the data storage means, and including verification means for verifying that a subsequently entered code matches the stored code, and enabling means for enabling the stored maintenance time to be changed when the subsequently entered code matches the stored code to resist tampering with the stored maintenance time, andsaid control means also being operatively connected to the running time sensor means, and also including accumulator means for accumulating each detected running time, and means for generating a maintenance signal when the accumulated running time matches the stored maintenance time; and
(e) display means operatively connected to the control means, and operative for displaying a maintenance message upon generation of the maintenance signal.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tamper-resistant, running time maintenance monitor for, and method of, indicating that equipment requiring periodic preventive maintenance is due for such maintenance. The monitor includes a keyboard for manually entering such user-selected data as an individualized access code, a warning time, a maintenance time, and at least some user-selected portion of a message individualized for the user. The entered data is stored and, if it is desired to change some or all of the data, e.g. the warning time, the maintenance time, or the individualized message portion, then the individualized access code must be entered. A running time sensor detects the running time, and a control unit accumulates the detected running time and generates warning and maintenance signals when the accumulated running time respectively matches the stored warning and maintenance times. A display displays an alpha-numeric warning message containing the individualized message portion when the warning signal is generated, and separately displays an alphabetic maintenance message when the maintenance signal is generated. The display also displays actual running time from an initially set starting running time, as well as a service time which indicates the time since the equipment was last maintained.
67 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A tamper-resistant, running time maintenance monitor for indicating that equipment operatively connected to the monitor is due for maintenance, said monitor comprising:
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(a) data entry means for manually entering an individualized access code, and for manually entering a maintenance time for the equipment to be maintained; (b) data storage means for storing the individualized access code and the maintenance time; (c) running time sensor means for detecting the running time of the equipment each time the latter is operated; (d) control means operatively connected to the data entry means and the data storage means, and including verification means for verifying that a subsequently entered code matches the stored code, and enabling means for enabling the stored maintenance time to be changed when the subsequently entered code matches the stored code to resist tampering with the stored maintenance time, and said control means also being operatively connected to the running time sensor means, and also including accumulator means for accumulating each detected running time, and means for generating a maintenance signal when the accumulated running time matches the stored maintenance time; and (e) display means operatively connected to the control means, and operative for displaying a maintenance message upon generation of the maintenance signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A tamper-resistant, running time maintenance monitor for indicating that equipment operatively connected to the monitor is due for maintenance, said monitor comprising:
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(a) data entry means for separately manually entering an individualized access code, a warning time, a maintenance time, and at least an individualized numerical portion of a warning message; (b) data storage means for separately storing the individualized access code, the warning time, the maintenance time, and the individualized numerical portion of the maintenance message; (c) running time sensor means for detecting the running time of the equipment to be maintained each time the equipment is operated; (d) control means operatively connected to the data entry means and the data storage means, and including verification means for verifying that a subsequently entered code matches the stored access code, and enabling means for separately enabling the stored warning time and the stored maintenance time to be respectively changed when the subsequently entered code matches the stored access code to resist tampering with the stored warning time and the stored maintenance time, said control means also being operatively connected to the running time sensor means, and also including accumulator means for accumulating each detected running time, and means for generating a warning signal and a maintenance signal when the accumulated running time respectively matches the stored warning time and the stored maintenance time, said control means being further operative to generate first and second control signals when the warning and maintenance signals are respectively generated; (e) display means including a multi-element display operatively connected to the control means, each element having line segments selectively energizable by the control means, said control means being operative to selectively energize the line segments of the display elements to form an alpha-numeric warning message consisting, at least in part, of the individualized numerical portion of the warning message upon generation of the warning signal, and to form an alphabetical maintenance message upon generation of the maintenance signal, said display means also being separately operative to display the numerical accumulated running time; and (f) switching means for opening and closing an electrical circuit operatively connected to the equipment upon generation of the first and second control signals.
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20. A tamper-resistant method of indicating that equipment is due for maintenance, comprising the steps of:
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(a) manually entering an individualized access code; (b) storing the individualized access code; (c) manually entering a maintenance time for the equipment to be maintained; (d) storing the maintenance time; (e) detecting the running time of the equipment each time the latter is operated; (f) subsequently manually entering an access code, and verifying that the subsequently entered code matches the stored individualized access code; (g) enabling the stored maintenance time to be changed when the subsequently entered code matches the stored individualized access code to resist tampering with the stored maintenance time; (h) accumulating each detected running time, and generating a maintenance signal when the accumulated running time matches the stored maintenance time; and (i) displaying a maintenance message upon generation of the maintenance signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A running time monitor for indicating the total elapsed time that equipment operatively connected to the monitor has been operated, said monitor comprising:
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(a) user-settable means for manually setting a starting running time; (b) data storage means for storing the set starting running time; (c) running time sensor means for detecting the running time of the equipment each time the latter is operated; (d) control means operatively connected to the data storage means and running time sensor means, and including accumulator means for accumulating each detected running time, and means for generating a total elapsed time signal indicative of the total elapsed time since the set starting running time; (e) display means operatively connected to the control means, and operative for displaying the total elapsed time upon generation of the total elapsed time signal; and (f) factory reset means for resetting the starting running time set by the user to a desired initial value.
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Specification