Device and method of calculating a residual value of an apparatus based on a history of use of the apparatus as well as an electrical apparatus including the device

• US 6,760,686 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2001
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Okada, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Wachsman, Hal D
• Application Number:
  US09/758,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20010007971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 702/187, 702/182, 702/34, 702/35, 702/41, 702/42, 702/56, 702/57-58, 702/64, 702/65, 702/115, 702/117, 702/118, 702/124, 702/130, 702/132, 702/136, 702/138, 702/140, 702/178, 702/179, 702/180, 702/181, 702/183-185, 702/188, 702/FOR.103, 702/FOR.104, 702/FOR.106, 702/FOR.125, 702/FOR.126, 702/FOR.134, 702/FOR.135, 702/FOR.139, 702/FOR.142, 702/FOR.143, 702/FOR.154, 702/FOR.170, 702/FOR.171, 735/70, 735/77, 735/78, 731/04, 700/108, 700/110, 700/174, 700/175, 700/177, 340/588, 340/635, 340/636, 340/639, 340/657, 340/679, 340/680, 340/683, 340/684, 340/689, 340/602, 324/113, 368/9, 368/10, 374/141, 374/142, 706/904, 706/908, 706/912, 706/916
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4065 Monitoring tool breakage, life or condition
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37253 Fail estimation as function of lapsed time of use

Abstract

A device for easily calculating a value remaining in an electrical apparatus and decreasing with use includes a sensor for detecting a state of use of the electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected state, a determining portion for determining a history of use of the electrical apparatus based on the electrical signal sent from the sensor, a communication portion for receiving a standard residual value of a member of the electrical apparatus, a storing portion connected to the communication portion for storing the received residual value, a calculating portion connected to the history determining portion and the storing portion for calculating the value remaining in the electrical apparatus based on the detected history and the stored residual value, and a monitor connected to the calculating portion for displaying the residual value calculated by the calculating portion.

Claims

1. A history storing device for storing a history of use of an electrical apparatus, comprising:

a detecting circuit for detecting a state of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected state, wherein

said detecting circuit includes a circuit for detecting an elapsed time from at least one of the date of manufacture of said electrical apparatus and the date of first use of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected elapsed time;

a determining circuit, connected to said detecting circuit, for determining a history of use of said electrical apparatus based on the electrical signal sent from said detecting circuit; and

a storage circuit, connected to said determining circuit, for storing the detected history of use of the electrical apparatus.

2. The history storing device according to claim 1, wherein

said detecting circuit includes a circuit for detecting a use environment of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected use environment.

3. The history storing device according to claim 1, wherein

said detecting circuit includes a circuit for detecting a frequency of use of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the frequency of use.

4. The history storing device according to claim 1, wherein

said detecting circuit includes a circuit for detecting a magnitude of impact applied to said electrical apparatus by a user of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected magnitude of impact.

5. An electrical apparatus, wherein the electrical apparatus comprises the history storing device according to claim 1.

6. A residual value calculating device for calculating a residual value of an electrical apparatus, comprising:

a detecting circuit for detecting a state of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected state;

a determining circuit, connected to said detecting circuit, for determining a history of use of said electrical apparatus based on the electrical signal sent from said detecting circuit;

a calculating circuit, connected to said determining circuit, for calculating the residual value remaining in said electrical apparatus based on the determined history of use of said electrical apparatus;

an output circuit, connected to said calculating circuit, for outputting the calculated residual value; and

a storage circuit, connected to said calculating circuit, for distinguishing parts forming the electrical apparatus based on patterns of variations of residual values during an elapsed time, and for storing said patterns of variations of residual values and the distinguished parts forming the electrical apparatus based thereon, wherein said calculating circuit includes a circuit, connected to said determining circuit and said storage circuit, for integrating values remaining in the respective parts forming said electrical apparatus based on the history of use determined using said determining circuit and the patterns of variations of the residual values stored in said storage circuit, and for calculating the residual value remaining in said electrical apparatus.

7. The residual value calculating device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a receiving circuit, connected to said storage circuit, for receiving said patterns of variations of residual values for storage in said storage circuit.

8. The residual value calculating device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a storage circuit, connected to said calculating circuit, for storing an initial value of said electrical apparatus, wherein

said calculating circuit includes a circuit, connected to said determining circuit and said storage circuit, calculating the residual value remaining in said electrical apparatus based on said initial value and the determined history of use of the electrical apparatus.

9. The residual value calculating device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a receiving circuit, connected to said storage circuit, for receiving said initial value for storage in said storage circuit.

10. The residual value calculating device according to claim 6, wherein

said detecting circuit includes a circuit for detecting an elapsed time from at least one of the date of manufacture of said electrical apparatus and the date of first use of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected elapsed time.

11. The residual value calculating device according to claim 6, wherein

said detecting circuit includes a circuit for detecting a use environment of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected use environment.

12. The residual value calculating device according to claim 6, wherein

said detecting circuit includes a circuit for detecting a frequency of use of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected frequency of use.

13. The residual value calculating device according to claim 6, wherein

said detecting circuit includes a circuit for detecting a magnitude of impact applied to said electrical apparatus by a user of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected magnitude of impact.

14. An electrical apparatus, wherein the electrical apparatus comprises the residual value calculating device according to claim 6.

15. A history storing device for storing a history of use of an electrical apparatus, comprising:

means for detecting a state of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected state, wherein

said detecting means includes means for detecting an elapsed time from at least one of the date of manufacture of said electrical apparatus and the date of first use of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected elapsed time;

means, connected to said detecting means, for determining a history of use of said electrical apparatus based on the electrical signal sent from said detecting means; and

storage means, connected to said determining means, for storing the determined history.

16. The history storing device according to claim 15, wherein

said detecting means includes means for detecting a use environment of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected use environment.

17. The history storing device according to claim 15, wherein

said detecting means includes means for detecting a frequency of use of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected frequency of use.

18. The history storing device according to claim 15, wherein

said detecting means includes means for detecting a magnitude of impact applied to said electrical apparatus by a user of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected magnitude of impact.

19. An electrical apparatus, wherein the electric apparatus comprises the history storing device according to claim 15.

20. A residual value calculating device for calculating a residual value of an electrical apparatus, comprising:

means for detecting a state of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected state;

means, connected to said detecting means, for determining a history of use of said electrical apparatus based on the electrical signal sent from said detecting means;

means, connected to said detecting means, for storing the determined history of use;

means, connected to said determining means, for calculating the residual value remaining in said electrical apparatus based on the determined history of use;

means, connected to said calculating means, for outputting the calculated residual value remaining in said electrical appliance;

means, connected to said calculating means, for distinguishing parts forming the electrical apparatus based on patterns of variations of residual values during an elapsed time, and for storing said patterns of variations of residual values and the distinguished parts based thereon,

wherein said calculating means includes means, connected to said determining means and said storage means, for integrating values remaining in the respective parts forming said electrical apparatus based on the history determined by said determining means and the patterns of variations of residual values stored in said storage means, and calculating the residual value remaining in said electrical apparatus.

21. The residual value calculating device according to claim 20, further comprising:

means, connected to said storage means, for receiving said patterns of variations of residual values for storage in said storage means.

22. The residual value calculating device according to claim 20, further comprising:

means, connected to said calculating means, for storing an initial value of said electrical apparatus, wherein

said calculating means includes means, connected to said determining means and said storage means, for calculating the residual value remaining in said electrical apparatus based on said initial value, and the determined history of use.

23. The residual value calculating device according to claim 22, further comprising:

means, connected to said storage means, for receiving said initial value for storage in said storage means.

24. The residual value calculating device according to claim 20, wherein

said detecting means includes means of detecting an elapsed time from at least one of the date of manufacture of said electrical apparatus and the date of first use of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected elapsed time.

25. The residual value calculating device according to claim 20, wherein

said detecting means includes means of detecting a use environment of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected use environment.

26. The residual value calculating device according to claim 20, wherein

said detecting means includes means for detecting a frequency of use of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected frequency of use.

27. The residual value calculating device according to claim 20, wherein

said detecting means includes means for detecting a magnitude of impact applied to said electrical apparatus by a user of said electrical apparatus, and for issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected magnitude of impact.

28. An electrical apparatus, wherein said electrical apparatus comprises the residual value calculating device according to claim 20.

29. A history storing method for storing a history of use of an electrical apparatus including a history storing device, said history storing device including a detecting circuit, a determining circuit, and a storage circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a state of said electrical apparatus using said detecting circuit, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected state;

wherein said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the sub-steps step of

detecting an elapsed time from at least one of the date of manufacture of said electrical apparatus and the date of first use of said electrical apparatus, and

issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected elapsed time;

determining the history of use of said electrical apparatus based on said electrical signal using said determining circuit; and

storing the history determined in said step of determining the history using said storage circuit.

30. The history storing method according to claim 29, wherein

said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the step of detecting a use environment of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected use environment.

31. The history storing method according to claim 29, wherein

said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the step of detecting a frequency of use of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected use frequency.

32. The history storing method according to claim 29, wherein

said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the step of detecting a magnitude of impact applied to said electrical apparatus by a user of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected magnitude of impact.

33. A residual value calculating method of calculating a residual value remaining in an electrical apparatus including a residual value calculating device, said residual value calculating device including a detecting circuit, a determining circuit, a calculating circuit, a storage circuit, and an output circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a state of said electrical apparatus using said detecting circuit, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected state;

determining a history of use of said electrical apparatus based on said electrical signal using said determining circuit;

calculating a residual value remaining in said electrical apparatus using said calculating circuit based on the history of use determined in said step of determining the history of use;

outputting the residual value calculated in said step of calculating said residual value using said output circuit; and

distinguishing parts forming the electrical apparatus based on patterns of variations of residual values with respect to time elapsing, and preparing said patterns of variations of residual values and the parts based thereon, wherein

said step of calculating the residual value includes the step of integrating values remaining in the respective parts forming said electrical apparatus based on said history of use and said patterns of variations of residual values, and calculating the residual value remaining in said electrical apparatus.

34. The residual value calculating method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of:

receiving said patterns of variations of residual values for storage in said storage circuit.

35. The residual value calculating method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of:

preparing an initial value of said electrical apparatus, wherein

said step of calculating the residual value includes the step of calculating a value remaining in said electrical apparatus based on said initial value and said determined history of use.

36. The residual value calculating method according to claim 35, further comprising the step of:

receiving said initial value for storage in said storage circuit.

37. The residual value calculating method according to claim 33, wherein

said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the step of detecting an elapsed time from at least one of the date of manufacture of said electrical apparatus and the date of first use of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected elapsed time.

38. The residual value calculating method according to claim 33, wherein

said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the step of detecting a use environment of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected use environment.

39. The residual value calculating method according to claim 33, wherein

said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the step of detecting a frequency of use of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected frequency of use.

40. The residual value calculating method according to claim 33, wherein

said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the step of detecting a magnitude of impact applied to said electrical apparatus by a user of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected magnitude of impact.

41. A recording medium for recording in a computer-readable fashion a program achieving a history storing method of storing a history of use of an electrical apparatus including a history storing device, said history storing device including a detecting circuit, a determining circuit, and a storing circuit;

and said recording medium having instructions to perform the following steps on a microprocessor;

detecting a state of said electrical apparatus using said detecting circuit, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected state;

wherein said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the sub-steps of

detecting an elapsed time from at least one of the date of manufacture of said electrical apparatus and the date of first use of said electrical apparatus; and

issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected elapsed time;

determining the history of use of said electrical apparatus based on said electrical signal using said determining circuit; and

storing the history of use determined in said step of determining the history of use using said storage circuit.

42. The recording medium according to claim 41, wherein

said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the step of detecting a use environment of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected use environment.

43. The recording medium according to claim 41, wherein

said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the step of detecting a frequency of use of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected frequency of use.

44. The recording medium according to claim 41, wherein

said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the step of detecting a magnitude of impact applied to said electrical apparatus by a user of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected magnitude of impact.

45. A recording medium for recording in a computer-readable fashion a program achieving a residual value calculating method of calculating a residual value remaining in an electrical apparatus including a residual value calculating device, said residual value calculating device including a detecting circuit, a determining circuit, a calculating circuit, a storage circuit, and an output circuit;

and said recording medium having instructions to perform the following steps on a microprocessor;

detecting a state of said electrical apparatus using said detecting circuit, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected state;

wherein said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the sub-steps of;

detecting an elapsed time from at least one of the date of manufacture of said electrical apparatus and the date of first use of said electrical apparatus, and

issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected elapsed time;

determining a history of use of said electrical apparatus based on said electrical signal using said determining circuit;

calculating a residual value remaining in said electrical apparatus using said calculating circuit based on the history of use determined in said step of determining the history of use; and

outputting the residual value calculated in said step of calculating the residual value using said output circuit.

46. The recording medium according to claim 45, wherein

said residual value calculating method further includes the step of distinguishing parts forming the electrical apparatus based on patterns of variations of residual values with respect to time elapsing, and preparing said patterns of variations of residual values and said parts based thereon; and

said step of calculating the residual value includes the step of integrating values remaining in the respective parts forming said electrical apparatus based on said history of use and said patterns of variations of residual values, and calculating the residual value remaining in said electrical apparatus.

47. The recording medium according to claim 46, wherein

said residual value calculating method further includes the step of receiving said patterns of variations of residual values for storage in said storage circuit.

48. The recording medium according to claim 45, wherein

said residual value calculating method further includes the step of preparing an initial value of said electrical apparatus;

and

said step of calculating the residual value includes the step of calculating the residual value remaining in said electrical apparatus based on said initial value and said determined history of use.

49. The recording medium according to claim 45, wherein

said residual value calculating method further includes the step of receiving an initial value for storage in said storage circuit.

50. The recording medium according to claim 45, wherein

said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the step of detecting a use environment of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected use environment.

51. The recording medium according to claim 45, wherein

said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the step of detecting a frequency of use of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected frequency of use.

52. The recording medium according to claim 45, wherein

said step of issuing said electrical signal includes the step of detecting a magnitude of impact applied to said electrical apparatus by a user of said electrical apparatus, and issuing an electrical signal corresponding to the detected magnitude of impact.