Method and device for dispensing data from a tachograph

• US 8,353,587 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Smolin, Denis, Mnch, Ulrich, Schlter, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): RAHLL, JERRY T
• Application Number:
  US12/679,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 734/89, 346/33.D, 346/50
• US Class Current: 347/101
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/002 Analysing tachograph charts arrangements for graph-reading in general G06K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/06 in graphical form
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 7/00 Details or accessories common to the registering or indicating apparatus of groups G07C3/00 and G07C5/00

Abstract

A method and to a device for dispensing data from a tachograph to an endless printing medium. A first division is plotted in the longitudinal direction of the printing medium, and a second division is plotted transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the printing medium. The first division represents a predetermined unit of time, in particular a day in generalized time coordinates, and the second division represents at least one variable recorded by the tachograph during the unit of time, the at least one variable is depicted by at least one graph.

Claims

1. A method for outputting data from a tachograph by printing to an endless printing medium, comprising:

plotting, by the tachograph on the endless printing medium, a first division in a longitudinal direction of the printing medium, the first division representing a predetermined unit of time;

plotting, by the tachograph on the endless printing medium, a second division transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the printing medium the second division represents at least one variable recorded by the tachograph during the predetermined unit of time; and

depicting, by the tachograph on the endless printing medium, recorded values of at least one variable to be monitored as at least one graph relative to the first and second divisions.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one variable is one of speed, driving activity, and a digital state.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the graph comprises at least one bar, a height of the bar having discrete steps that characterize the at least one variable.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising subdividing the second division into days, wherein the at least one variable is one of a driver'"'"'s activity and a digital state.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising plotting auxiliary lines that facilitate manual entry on the printing medium into the at least one graph instead of the variable to be monitored in an event of a failure of the variable to be monitored.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the variable is averaged in a sliding manner over a predetermined number of values and the average value is plotted.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first and a second state, which are variable over the plotted time, are represented in the at least one graph, wherein, in the case of at least one change from the first state to the second state in one interval compared with a state of the preceding interval, the other state of the first and second state is output for the one interval and in the case of no change of the state in the one interval, the state is output for the entire interval.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the print output comprises:

a head section that comprises identification data for at least one driver;

a trunk section that comprises the first and second divisions and the at least one graph; and

a foot section that comprises a signature field.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising printing a legend for the at least one graph in the trunk section.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first division is the same for a predetermined quantity of outputs.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising plotting auxiliary lines for delimiting the at least one graph.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printing medium is paper from a roll and the longitudinal direction is the direction of unrolling.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the graph comprises at least one bar, a height of the bar having discrete steps that characterize the at least one variable.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined unit of time is a day.

15. A printing device for tachograph wherein the printing device is configured to:

plot, on the endless printing medium, a first division in a longitudinal direction of the printing medium, the first division representing a predetermined unit of time; and

plot, on the endless printing medium, a second division transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the printing medium the second division represents at least one variable recorded by the tachograph during the predetermined unit of time, the at least one variable to be monitored being depicted, on the endless printing medium, by at least one graph.

16. The printing device for tachograph according to claim 15, wherein the printing device is configured to print:

a head section that comprises identification data for at least one driver;

a trunk section that comprises the first and second divisions and the at least one graph; and

a foot section that comprises a signature field.