System for inspecting a replaceable part in an electronic device

• US 6,483,292 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2001
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kochi, Taketo
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherry, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, MINH NHUT
• Application Number:
  US09/850,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20010043063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 324/158.1, 324/764, 324/770, 340/438, 340/439, 399/24, 399/109, 710/10, 710/104, 702/182-185, 702/188, 702/81
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health

Abstract

The system for inspecting the deterioration of a replaceable part in an electronic device of the present invention comprises: a usage tracker for keeping track of an amount of use of the replaceable part; a replaceable part monitor for determining the amount of deterioration of the replaceable part based on a value obtained by the usage tracker, and for producing replaceable part information indicating the amount of deterioration; and a communicator for transmitting the replaceable part information.

Claims

1. A system for inspecting deterioration of a replaceable part in an electronic device, comprising:

a usage tracker for keeping track of an amount of use of the replaceable part;

a replaceable part monitor for determining the amount of deterioration of the replaceable part based on a value obtained by the usage tracker, and for producing replaceable part information indicating the amount of deterioration; and

a communicator for transmitting the replaceable part information.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the communicator automatically transmits the replaceable part information when the value obtained by the usage tracker reaches a predetermined value.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a notification section for informing a user of the replaceable part information.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the notification section automatically informs the user of the replaceable part information when the value obtained by the usage tracker reaches a predetermined value.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising an input interface for receiving an input of a date on which a user wishes to replace the replaceable part, the date being transmitted as part of the replaceable part information.

6. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a replaceable parts manager for managing a stock of new replaceable parts for which a deteriorated replaceable part is replaced, based on the replaceable part information.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the replaceable parts manager transmits replaceable part stock information indicating the stock of new replaceable parts, through the network to the electronic device, and

a notification section, provided in the electronic device, informs the user of the replaceable part stock information.

8. A method for inspecting deterioration of a replaceable part in an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

keeping track of an amount of use of the replaceable part;

determining an amount of deterioration of the replaceable part based on the obtained amount of use;

producing replaceable part information indicating an amount of deterioration; and

transmitting the replaceable part information.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of automatically transmitting the replaceable part information when the amount of use reaches a predetermined value.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of informing a user of the replaceable part information.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of automatically informing the user of the replaceable part information when the amount of use reaches a predetermined value.

12. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of receiving an input of a date on which a user wishes to replace the replaceable part, the date being transmitted as part of the replaceable part information.

13. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of managing a stock of new replaceable parts for which a deteriorated replaceable part is replaced, based on the replaceable part information.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting replaceable part stock information indicating the stock of new replaceable parts through the network to the electronic device; and

informing the user of the replaceable part stock information.