Relative time clock

• US 4,738,268 A
• Filed: 04/20/1987
• Issued: 04/19/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tokos Medical Corp. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Tokos Medical Corp. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kipnis, Gary D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/040,293
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 128/904, 128/782, 128/775, 128/778, 128/690, 364/143, 364/145, 364/146
• US Class Current: 600/588
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 10/04 by counting pulses or half-cycles of an ac G04F10/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 3/00 Producing timing pulses driving circuits for stepping motors G04C3/14; producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards G04F5/00; pulse technique in general H03K; control, synchronisation, or stabilisation of generators in general H03L
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a relative time clock wherein the relative time between two or more events is recorded independently of real time or wall clock time. A continuous time clock will count in units such as days, hours, minutes and seconds until the clock reaches a predetermined maximum time at which point the continuous time clock will reset and repeat its previous count cycle. The time indicated on the continuous time clock is recorded and correlated to events such as the start and finish of a data recording. A final event, such as a data transfer, is also correlated to the time indicated on the continuous time clock. After this date is processed, the relative time of any event can be determined with respect to any other event.

Claims

1. A relative time clock device comprising

continuous time clock means adapted to count in units of time for a fixed period and reset and repeat said count,

event generator means adapted to supply event data corresponding to events,

control means adapted to supply control signals,

event correlator means connected to said continuous time clock means, to said event generator means and to said control means and adapted to correlate said event data and control signals with said units of time and then store the correlated event data and control signals as correlated signals, said correlated signals including a last correlated signal and at least one previous correlated signal, and

event processor means adapted to be connected to said event correlator means for receiving said correlated signals and for determining the relative time between said correlated signals by subtracting from the time correlated to said last correlated signal the time correlated to a previous correlated signal.

2. A relative time clock as in claim 1 wherein

said event processor means includes means to determine the relative time between said correlated signals when said last correlated signal occurs after said continuous time clock means is reset and said previous correlated signal occurs before said continuous time clock means is reset by adding said fixed period to said units of time correlated to said last correlated signal before the units of time correlated to said previous correlated signal are subtracted from the units of time correlated to said last correlated signal.

3. A relative time clock device for measuring and recording intrauterine pressure comprising

continuous time clock means adapted to count in units of time for a fixed period of days and to reset and repeat said count,

pressure transducer means adapted to supply an analog signal corresponding to intrauterine pressure,

converter means connected to said pressure transducer means for receiving said analog signal and converting said analog signal to a digital signal,

control means adapted to supply control signals comprising a start recording signal, a stop recording signal and a transmit data signal,

event correlator means connected to said continuous time clock means, to said control means and to said converter means and adapted to correlate said digital signal and said control signals with said units of time and to record the correlated digital and control signals as correlated signals, said correlated signals including a last correlated signal and at least one previous correlated signal, said event correlator means being adapted to start recording correlated signals in response to said start recording signal and to stop recording correlated signals in response to said stop recording signal and to transmit said correlated signals in response to said transmit data signal, and

event processor means adapted to be connected to said event correlator means for receiving said correlated signals and for determining the relative time between said correlated signals by subtracting from the time correlated to the last correlated signal the time correlated to any previous correlated signal, said event processor means includes means to determine the relative time between correlated signals when said last correlated signal occurs after said continuous time clock means is reset and said previous correlated signal occurs before said continuous time clock means is reset by adding said fixed period of days to said units of time correlated to said last correlated signal before the time correlated to said previous correlated signal is subtracted from the time correlated to said last correlated signal.

4. A relative time clock device comprising

a continuous time clock adapted to count in units of time for a fixed period of days and reset and repeat said count a plurality of times,

a pressure transducer adapted to supply an analog signal,

analog to digital converter connected to said pressure transducer for receiving said analog signal and converting said analog signal to a digital signal,

control means adapted to supply control signals comprising a start recording signal, a stop recording signal and a transmit data signal, said correlated signals including a last correlated signal and at least one previous correlated signal,

an event correlator connected to said continuous time clock, to said control means and to said analog to digital converter and adapted to correlate said digital signal and said control signals with said units of time and to record the correlated digital and control signals as correlated signals, said event correlator being adapted to start recording correlated signals in response to said start recording signal and to stop recording correlated signals in response to said stop recording signal and to transmit said correlated signals in response to said transmit data signal, and

an event processor adapted to be connected to said event correlator for receiving said correlated signals and for determining the relative time between said correlated signals by subtracting from the time correlated to the last correlated signal the time correlated to any previous correlated signal, said event processor including means to determine the relative time between the correlated signals when said last correlated signal occurs after said continuous time clock is reset and said previous correlated signal occurs before said continuous time clock is reset by adding said fixed period of days to said units of time correlated to said last correlated signal before the time correlated to said previous correlated signal is subtracted from the time correlated to said last correlated signal.

5. A method of measuring relative time including the steps of

counting in units of time for a fixed period of days and resetting and repeating said count,

generating an analog signal corresponding to pressure,

receiving said analog signal and converting said analog signal to a digital signal,

generating control signals comprising a start recording signal, a stop recording signal and a transmit data signal,

correlating said digital signal and said control signals with said units of time,

recording the correlated digital and control signals as correlated signals in response to said start recording signal and said stop recording signal, said correlated signals including a last correlated signal and at least one previous correlated signal,

transmitting said correlated signals in response to said transmit data signal, and

receiving said correlated signals and determining the relative time between said correlated signals by subtracting from the time correlated to the last correlated signal the time correlated to any previous correlated signal and determining the relative time between the correlated signals when said last correlated signal occurs after said continuous time clock is reset and said previous correlated signal occurs before said continuous time clock is reset by adding said fixed period of days to said units of time correlated to said last correlated signal before the time correlated to said previous correlated signal is subtracted from the time correlated to said last correlated signal.