Data indicator

• US 6,687,552 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2000
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oxley Developments Company Ltd. (Oxley International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oxley Developments Company Ltd. (Oxley International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Foster, Michael C., Edwards, Geoffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Starks, Jr., Wilbert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US09/539,278
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 700/14-15, 700/306, 116/200-201, 345/519-520, 340/309.04, 307/41, 702/61, 702/79, 702/176-178, 702/180, 702/187, 702/182-185, 968/605, 968/612
• US Class Current: 700/14
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/04 using counting means or digital clocks

Abstract

A data indicator is disclosed which comprises a non-volatile memory (26), control circuitry (24) by which data can be read from and written to the memory, a timer (28) and/or an event detector (30), means such as a terminal (20) for connection to an electrical supply of a host apparatus and an interface (32) through which data can be exchanged with the memory (26). In use, the event detector (30) detects when the host apparatus is switched on and in dependence on the detector output the control circuitry (24) maintains a cumulative history of host apparatus activation which is stored on the memory (26). The data indicator can store other data relating to the host apparatus, e.g. a service interval, and can supply this in conjunction with the actuation history, making it conveniently possible e.g. to establish whether the host apparatus requires servicing. (FIG. 4).

Claims

1. A data indicator formed as a single unit mountable upon a host apparatus and comprising a housing which comprises an enlarged head part and a body part, the body part being insertable into the host apparatus such that the head remains accessible from outside the host, the housing containing electronics, which comprise

a non-volatile memory, control circuitry by which data can be read from and written to the memory, a timer, means for connection to an electrical supply of such host apparatus, an interface through which the data can be exchanged with the memory, and electrical terminations which are carried by the body part and so are connectable in use to electrics of the host apparatus, the interface comprising contacts used to exchange the data, said contacts are carried by the head and accessible from the exterior of such host apparatus so that a connection can be releasably made to the data indicator for exchange of the data,

wherein in use the timer measures the duration of periods during which such host electrical supply is switched on and in dependence on the timer output the control circuitry maintains a cumulative record of elapsed host apparatus running time which is stored on the non-volatile memory, other data relating to such host apparatus being writable to the non-volatile memory so that the indicator can be used to record and, through the interface, supply elapsed host apparatus running time in conjunction with said other data relating to such host apparatus.

2. A data indication system comprising a data indicator as claimed in claim 1 and a separate device for receiving and displaying the stored data comprising a power supply, means for connection to the indicator in order to supply power and receive the data from the separate device, and means for displaying the received data.

3. A data indicator as claimed in claim 1 which stores a host apparatus identifier.

4. A data indicator as claimed in claim 1 which stores host apparatus logging data.

5. A data indicator as claimed in claim 4 wherein the logging data comprises one or more of:

maintenance data, tracking data, reliability data and modification level.

6. A data indicator as claimed in claim 1 which stores a host apparatus service interval.

7. A data indicator as claimed in claim 1 arranged to draw power from the host apparatus via means for connection to the host electrical supply.

8. A data indicator formed as a single unit mountable upon a host apparatus and comprising a housing which comprises an enlarged head part and a body part, the body part being insertable into the host apparatus such that the head remains accessible from outside the host, the housing containing electronics which comprise

a non-volatile memory, control circuitry by which data can be read from and written to the memory, means for connection to an electrical supply of such host apparatus, a detector connected to the means for connection to the electrical supply of the host apparatus, an interface through which the data can be exchanged with the memory, and electrical terminations which are carried by the body part and so are connectable in use to electrics of the host apparatus, the interface comprising contacts used to exchange the data, said contacts are carried by the head and accessible from the exterior of such host apparatus so that a connection can be releasably made to the data indicator for exchange of the data,

wherein in use the detector detects when the host electrical supply is switched on and in dependence on the detector output the control circuitry maintains a cumulative history of host apparatus activation which is stored on the non-volatile memory, other data relating to the host apparatus being writable to the non-volatile memory so that the indicator can be used to record and, through the interface, supply elapsed host apparatus activation data in conjunction with said other data relating to such host apparatus.

9. A data indicator as claimed in claim 8 arranged to draw power from the host apparatus.

10. A data indicator as claimed in claim 8 wherein the control circuitry maintains on the non-volatile memory a host apparatus activation history comprising the number of times the host apparatus has been switched on.

11. A data indicator as claimed in claim 8 wherein the detector output is provided to a timer which is connected to the control circuitry, such that the control circuitry maintains on the non-volatile memory a host activation history comprising elapsed running time of the host apparatus.

12. A data indicator as claimed in claim 8 which stores a host apparatus service interval.

13. A data indicator comprising a non-volatile memory, control circuitry for writing data to and reading the data from the memory, a timer, electrical terminations for connection of an electrical supply of a host apparatus to the data indicator, the data indicator being capable of drawing its power supply through the terminations from such host apparatus, and an interface through which the data is exchanged with the memory, wherein in use the timer measures the duration of periods during which such host electrical supply is switched on and in dependence on an output of the timer the control circuitry maintains in the non-volatile memory a cumulative first record of elapsed host apparatus running time, other data in the non-volatile memory relating to the host apparatus being written to the non-volatile memory so that the data indicator thereby provides a second record of the other data, the data indicator supplies through the interface, to means for interrogating, the elapsed running time of such host apparatus from the first record in conjunction with the other data relating to such host apparatus from the second record,

wherein the data indicator is formed as a single unit comprising a housing containing the circuitry, means for mounting the housing to such host apparatus, and at least one releasable contact connected to the interface and through which connection is made between the data indicator and such means for interrogating, and

wherein the housing comprises at opposite ends an enlarged head at which the releasable contact is located and at least two electrical conductors comprising the terminations.

14. A data indication system comprising a data indicator comprising a non-volatile memory, control circuitry for writing data to and reading the data from the memory, a timer, and at least one contact through which the data is exchanged with the memory, said at least one contact being exposed at an exterior surface of the data indicator so as to be contactable by means for interrogating, wherein in use the timer measures the duration of periods during which an electrical supply of a host apparatus is switched on and in dependence on an output of the timer the control circuitry maintains in the non-volatile memory a cumulative first record of elapsed host apparatus running time, other data in the non-volatile memory relating to the host apparatus being written to the non-volatile memory so that the data indicator thereby provides a second record of the other data, the data indicator supplies through said at least one contact, to said means for interrogating, the elapsed running time of such host apparatus from the first record in conjunction with the other data relating to such host apparatus from the second record;

and

a separate device for receiving and displaying the stored data comprising a power supply, means for connection to the indicator such as to supply power and receive the data therefrom, and means for displaying received data.

15. A data indicator comprising a non-volatile memory, control circuitry for writing data to and reading the data from the memory, a timer, electrical terminations for connection of an electrical supply of a host apparatus to the data indicator, the data indicator being capable of drawing its power supply through the terminations from such host apparatus, and an interface through which the data is exchanged with the memory, wherein in use the timer measures the duration of periods during which such host electrical supply is switched on and in dependence on an output of the timer the control circuitry maintains in the non-volatile memory a cumulative first record of elapsed host apparatus running time, other data in the non-volatile memory relating to the host apparatus being written to the non-volatile memory so that the data indicator thereby provides a second record of the other data, the data indicator supplies through the interface, to means for interrogating, the elapsed running time of such host apparatus from the first record in conjunction with the other data relating to such host apparatus from the second record.

16. A data indicator as claimed in claim 15 formed as a single unit comprising a housing containing the circuitry, means for mounting the housing to such host apparatus, and at least one releasable contact connected to the interface and through which connection is made between the data indicator and such means for interrogating.

17. A data indicator as claimed in claim 15 which stores a host apparatus service interval.

18. The data indicator as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a detector connected to the terminations for connection to the electrical supply of the host apparatus, wherein in use the detector detects when the host electrical supply is switched on and in dependence on the detector output the control circuitry maintains a cumulative history of host apparatus activation, which is stored on the non-volatile memory, so that the indicator can be used to record and, through the interface, supply said cumulative history of host apparatus activation.

19. A data indicator comprising a non-volatile memory, control circuitry for writing data to and reading the data from the memory, a timer, electrical terminations for connection of an electrical supply of a host apparatus to the data indicator, the data indicator being capable of drawing its power supply through the terminations from such host apparatus, and an interface through which the data is exchanged with the memory, wherein in use the timer measures the duration of periods during which such host electrical supply is switched on and in dependence on an output of the timer the control circuitry maintains in the non-volatile memory a cumulative first record of elapsed host apparatus running time, other data in the non-volatile memory relating to the host apparatus being written to the non-volatile memory so that the data indicator thereby provides a second record of the other data, the data indicator supplies through the interface, to means for interrogating, the elapsed running time of such host apparatus from the first record in conjunction with the other data relating to such host apparatus from the second record,

wherein the data indicator stores a host apparatus identifier.

20. A data indicator comprising a non-volatile memory, control circuitry for writing data to and reading the data from the memory, a timer, electrical terminations for connection of an electrical supply of a host apparatus to the data indicator, the data indicator being capable of drawing its power supply through the terminations from such host apparatus, and an interface through which the data is exchanged with the memory, wherein in use the timer measures the duration of periods during which such host electrical supply is switched on and in dependence on an output of the timer the control circuitry maintains in the non-volatile memory a cumulative first record of elapsed host apparatus running time, other data in the non-volatile memory relating to the host apparatus being written to the non-volatile memory so that the data indicator thereby provides a second record of the other data, the data indicator supplies through the interface, to means for interrogating, the elapsed running time of such host apparatus from the first record in conjunction with the other data relating to such host apparatus from the second record,

wherein the data indicator stores host apparatus logging data.

21. A data indicator as claimed in claim 20 wherein the logging data comprises one or more of:

maintenance data, tracking data, reliability data and modification level.

22. A data indicator comprising a non-volatile memory, control circuitry for writing data to and reading the data from the memory, a timer, and at least one contact through which the data is exchanged with the memory, said at least one contact being exposed at an exterior surface of the data indicator so as to be contactable by means for interrogating, wherein in use the timer measures the duration of periods during which an electrical supply of a host apparatus is switched on and in dependence on an output of the timer the control circuitry maintains in the non-volatile memory a cumulative first record of elapsed host apparatus running time, other data in the non-volatile memory relating to the host apparatus being written to the non-volatile memory so that the data indicator thereby provides a second record of the other data, the data indicator supplies through said at least one contact, to said means for interrogating, the elapsed running time of such host apparatus from the first record in conjunction with the other data relating to such host apparatus from the second record,

wherein the data indicator is formed as a single unit comprising a housing containing the circuitry, means for mounting the housing to such host apparatus, and electrical terminations for connection of the electrical supply of such host apparatus to the data indicator, the data indicator being capable of drawing its power supply through the terminations from such host apparatus, and

wherein the housing comprises at opposite ends an enlarged head at which the releasable contact is located and at least two electrical conductors comprising the terminations.

23. A data indication system comprising a data indicator comprising a non-volatile memory, control circuitry for writing data to and reading the data from the memory, a timer, electrical terminations for connection of an electrical supply of a host apparatus to the data indicator, the data indicator being capable of drawing its power supply through the terminations from such host apparatus, and an interface through which the data is exchanged with the memory, wherein in use the timer measures the duration of periods during which such host electrical supply is switched on and in dependence on an output of the timer the control circuitry maintains in the non-volatile memory a cumulative first record of elapsed host apparatus running time, other data in the non-volatile memory relating to the host apparatus being written to the non-volatile memory so that the data indicator thereby provides a second record of the other data, the data indicator supplies through the interface, to means for interrogating, the elapsed running time of such host apparatus from the first record in conjunction with the other data relating to such host apparatus from the second record;

and

a separate device for receiving and displaying the stored data comprising a power supply, means for connection to the indicator such as to supply power and receive the data therefrom, and means for displaying received data.

24. A data indicator comprising a non-volatile memory, control circuitry for writing data to and reading the data from the memory, a timer, and at least one contact through which the data is exchanged with the memory, said at least one contact being exposed at an exterior surface of the data indicator so as to be contactable by means for interrogating, wherein in use the timer measures the duration of periods during which an electrical supply of a host apparatus is switched on and in dependence on an output of the timer the control circuitry maintains in the non-volatile memory a cumulative first record of elapsed host apparatus running time, other data in the non-volatile memory relating to the host apparatus being written to the non-volatile memory so that the data indicator thereby provides a second record of the other data, the data indicator supplies through said at least one contact, to said means for interrogating, the elapsed running time of such host apparatus from the first record in conjunction with the other data relating to such host apparatus from the second record.

25. A data indicator as claimed in claim 24 formed as a single unit comprising a housing containing the circuitry, means for mounting the housing to such host apparatus, and electrical terminations for connection of the electrical supply of such host apparatus to the data indicator, the data indicator being capable of drawing its power supply through the terminations from such host apparatus.

26. A data indicator as claimed in claim 24 which stores a host apparatus service interval.

27. The data indicator as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a detector connected to the terminations for connection to the electrical supply of the host apparatus, wherein in use the detector detects when the host electrical supply is switched on and in dependence on the detector output the control circuitry maintains a cumulative history of host apparatus activation, which is stored on the non-volatile memory, so that the indicator can be used to record and, through said at least one contact, supply said cumulative history of host apparatus activation.

28. A data indicator comprising a non-volatile memory, control circuitry for writing data to and reading the data from the memory, a timer, and at least one contact through which the data is exchanged with the memory, said at least one contact being exposed at an exterior surface of the data indicator so as to be contactable by means for interrogating, wherein in use the timer measures the duration of periods during which an electrical supply of a host apparatus is switched on and in dependence on an output of the timer the control circuitry maintains in the non-volatile memory a cumulative first record of elapsed host apparatus running time, other data in the non-volatile memory relating to the host apparatus being written to the non-volatile memory so that the data indicator thereby provides a second record of the other data, the data indicator supplies through said at least one contact, to said means for interrogating, the elapsed running time of such host apparatus from the first record in conjunction with the other data relating to such host apparatus from the second record,

wherein the data indicator stores a host apparatus identifier.

29. A data indicator comprising a non-volatile memory, control circuitry for writing data to and reading the data from the memory, a timer, and at least one contact through which the data is exchanged with the memory, said at least one contact being exposed at an exterior surface of the data indicator so as to be contactable by means for interrogating, wherein in use the timer measures the duration of periods during which an electrical supply of a host apparatus is switched on and in dependence on an output of the timer the control circuitry maintains in the non-volatile memory a cumulative first record of elapsed host apparatus running time, other data in the non-volatile memory relating to the host apparatus being written to the non-volatile memory so that the data indicator thereby provides a second record of the other data, the data indicator supplies through said at least one contact, to said means for interrogating, the elapsed running time of such host apparatus from the first record in conjunction with the other data relating to such host apparatus from the second record,

wherein the data indicator stores host apparatus logging data.

30. A data indicator as claimed in claim 29 wherein the logging data comprises one or more of:

maintenance data, tracking data, reliability data and modification level.