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US5745864A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Vehicular information storage device and power outage-resistant storage system and method for the same

Assignee: Denso Corp
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Filing: 1995-10-03
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Granted: 1998-04-28
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Expires: 2015-10-03
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Abstract

Abstract A vehicular information storage device includes an EEPROM, an extracting device which processes and extracts vehicle information, a determination device which determines from among regions set beforehand the region of the extracted information, and a counting device for incrementing a counter in correspondence with the region determined by the determination device. The needed information is extracted properly at a predetermined period along with the determination of the region where such information belongs. Further, the EEPROM used by the system is composed of three data regions with all three data regions set to a reset state at an initial state. The data regions are decremented sequentially at a minimum period required by a measurement parameter. Since updating from "1" to "0" is possible for individual cells and there is no need for resetting, processing time is reduced. Also, when data in one of the data regions is determined to be irregular due to, e.g., a power outage, it can be restored using the count values of the two other data regions.

Inventors

  • 👤 Katsuharu Hosoe
  • 👤 Teruyoshi Itoh
  • 👤 Toshihisa Yamamoto

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 00:22
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/08; G07C5/0841; G07C5/085

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim 150 words
A vehicular information storage device comprising: storage means for storing information therein and retaining said stored information even during electric power cut-off; extracting means for processing information needed for analysis and maintenance of vehicular and internal combustion engines, said processed information relating to a predetermined period of time, and for extracting said information at a predetermined time interval; determining means for determining from among regions set beforehand a region of information to which information extracted by said extracting means belongs; counting means for incrementing a counter in a predetermined storage region of said storage means in correspondence with a region determined by said determining means; and data restoration means for restoring a count value of said counter in said predetermined storage region based on count values of other storage regions after an irregularity is determined in data of said predetermined region through comparison of data stored in said storage regions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 150 words
A vehicular information storage device comprising: storage means for storing information therein and retaining said stored information even during electric power cut-off; extracting means for processing information needed for analysis and maintenance of vehicular and internal combustion engines, said processed information relating to a predetermined period of time, and for extracting said information at a predetermined time interval; determining means for determining from among regions set beforehand a region of information to which information extracted by said extracting means belongs; counting means for incrementing a counter in a predetermined storage region of said storage means in correspondence with a region determined by said determining means; and data restoration means for restoring a count value of said counter in said predetermined storage region based on count values of other storage regions after an irregularity is determined in data of said predetermined region through comparison of data stored in said storage regions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said extracting means is for extracting one of maximum and minimum values of said processed information within said predetermined time interval.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said determining means is for determining a storage region based on an amount of change in information within said predetermined period of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 108 words
An internal combustion engine operational history storage device which measures time using an EEPROM, said device comprising: at least three data regions in said EEPROM to store data for a measurement item; counting means for counting data stored in said data regions; data computing means for processing as measured data a total of data counted by said counting means and stored in said data regions; and data restoration means for restoring a count value for a first data region based on count values of other data regions after an irregularity is determined in data of said first data region through comparison of data stored in said data regions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 108 words
An internal combustion engine operational history storage device which measures time using an EEPROM, said device comprising: at least three data regions in said EEPROM to store data for a measurement item; counting means for counting data stored in said data regions; data computing means for processing as measured data a total of data counted by said counting means and stored in said data regions; and data restoration means for restoring a count value for a first data region based on count values of other data regions after an irregularity is determined in data of said first data region through comparison of data stored in said data regions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
The device of claim 4 wherein said counting means is for performing countdown operations starting from a reset state of said EEPROM with said reset state as an initial state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
The device of claim 5 wherein, during countdown operations, said counting means is for determining whether there is a need to reset said EEPROM and performs resetting only when needed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said counting means omits resetting operations and performs resetting operations during alternating operations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
The device of claim 4 wherein said counting means is for performing countdown operations starting from a reset state of said EEPROM with said reset state as an initial state.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 33 words
The device of claim 8 wherein, during countdown operations, said counting means is for determining whether there is a need to reset said EEPROM and performs resetting only when there is a need.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said counting means omits resetting operations during odd-numbered operations and performs resetting operations during even-numbered operations.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 157 words
An automotive data acquisition system comprising: extracting means for processing and extracting information needed for analysis and maintenance of vehicular and internal combustion engines at a predetermined time interval, said information relating to a predetermined period of time; a first memory for storing data therein; determining means for determining which of a plurality of predetermined categories to which said extracted information belongs; first modifying means for modifying data in a predetermined storage region of said first memory, said predetermined storage region corresponding to one of said predetermined categories to which said extracted information belongs, said first modifying means including counting means for incrementing a counter in correspondence with a category determined by said determining means; and restoration means for restoring a count value for said predetermined storage region based on count values of other storage regions after an irregularity is determined in data of said predetermined storage region through comparison of data stored in said storage regions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 157 words
An automotive data acquisition system comprising: extracting means for processing and extracting information needed for analysis and maintenance of vehicular and internal combustion engines at a predetermined time interval, said information relating to a predetermined period of time; a first memory for storing data therein; determining means for determining which of a plurality of predetermined categories to which said extracted information belongs; first modifying means for modifying data in a predetermined storage region of said first memory, said predetermined storage region corresponding to one of said predetermined categories to which said extracted information belongs, said first modifying means including counting means for incrementing a counter in correspondence with a category determined by said determining means; and restoration means for restoring a count value for said predetermined storage region based on count values of other storage regions after an irregularity is determined in data of said predetermined storage region through comparison of data stored in said storage regions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 59 words
The system of claim 11, wherein: said system includes first timer means for timing a first predetermined time period, said extracting means being responsive to said first timer means; said determining means includes comparison means for comparing said extracted information to previously extracted information; and said predetermined categories are representative of normal and abnormal states of an automobile engine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 47 words
The system of claim 11, further comprising: second timer means for timing a second predetermined time period; a second memory for storing data therein; second modifying means for, responsive to said second timer means, modifying data in said second memory based on data in said first memory.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 158 words
A vehicular information storage device comprising: storage means for storing information therein and retaining said stored information even during electric power cut-off; extracting means for processing information needed for analysis and maintenance of vehicular and internal combustion engines, said processed information relating to a predetermined period of time, and for extracting said information at a predetermined time interval; determining means for determining from among regions set beforehand a region of information to which information extracted by said extracting means belongs; counting means for incrementing a counter in a predetermined storage region of said storage means in correspondence with a region determined by said determining means, for omitting resetting said storage means during a first set of operations, said first set of operations being one of odd-numbered operations and even-numbered operations, and for resetting said storage means during a second set of operations, said second set of operations being the other of said odd-numbered operations and said even-numbered operations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 158 words
A vehicular information storage device comprising: storage means for storing information therein and retaining said stored information even during electric power cut-off; extracting means for processing information needed for analysis and maintenance of vehicular and internal combustion engines, said processed information relating to a predetermined period of time, and for extracting said information at a predetermined time interval; determining means for determining from among regions set beforehand a region of information to which information extracted by said extracting means belongs; counting means for incrementing a counter in a predetermined storage region of said storage means in correspondence with a region determined by said determining means, for omitting resetting said storage means during a first set of operations, said first set of operations being one of odd-numbered operations and even-numbered operations, and for resetting said storage means during a second set of operations, said second set of operations being the other of said odd-numbered operations and said even-numbered operations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 118 words
An internal combustion engine operational history storage device which measures time using an EEPROM, said device comprising: at least three data regions in said EEPROM to store data for a measurement item; counting means for counting data stored in said data regions, for resetting said EEPROM during a first set of operations, said first set of operations being one of odd-numbered operations and even-numbered operations, and for omitting resetting of said EEPROM during a second set of operations, said second set of operations being the other of said odd-numbered operations and said even-numbered operations; and data computing means for processing as measured data a total of data counted by said counting means and stored in said data regions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 118 words
An internal combustion engine operational history storage device which measures time using an EEPROM, said device comprising: at least three data regions in said EEPROM to store data for a measurement item; counting means for counting data stored in said data regions, for resetting said EEPROM during a first set of operations, said first set of operations being one of odd-numbered operations and even-numbered operations, and for omitting resetting of said EEPROM during a second set of operations, said second set of operations being the other of said odd-numbered operations and said even-numbered operations; and data computing means for processing as measured data a total of data counted by said counting means and stored in said data regions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 30 words
The device of claim 15 wherein said counting means is for performing countdown operations starting from a reset state of said EEPROM with said reset state as an initial state.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 30 words
The device of claim 16, wherein, during countdown operations, said counting means is for determining whether there is a need to reset said EEPROM and performs resetting only when needed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 19 words
The device of claim 16 wherein said counting means omits resetting operations and performs resetting operations during alternating operations.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 49 words
The device of claim 15, further comprising: data restoration means for restoring a count value for a first data region based on count values of other data regions after an irregularity is determined in data of said first data region through comparison of data stored in said data regions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 30 words
The device of claim 19 wherein said counting means is for performing countdown operations starting from a reset state of said EEPROM with said reset state as an initial state.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 33 words
The device of claim 20 wherein, during countdown operations, said counting means is for determining whether there is a need to reset said EEPROM and performs resetting only when there is a need.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 167 words
An automotive data acquisition system comprising: extracting means for processing and extracting information needed for analysis and maintenance of vehicular and internal combustion engines at a predetermined time interval, said information relating to a predetermined period of time; a first memory for storing data therein; determining means for determining which of a plurality of predetermined categories to which said extracted information belongs; first modifying means for modifying data in a predetermined storage region of said first memory, said predetermined storage region corresponding to one of said predetermined categories to which said extracted information belongs, said first modifying means including counting means for incrementing a counter in correspondence with a category determined by said determining means, for omitting resetting said first memory during a first set of operations, said first set of operations being one of odd-numbered operations and even-numbered operations, and resetting said first memory during a second set of operations, said second set of operations being the other of said odd-numbered operations and said even-numbered operations.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 167 words
An automotive data acquisition system comprising: extracting means for processing and extracting information needed for analysis and maintenance of vehicular and internal combustion engines at a predetermined time interval, said information relating to a predetermined period of time; a first memory for storing data therein; determining means for determining which of a plurality of predetermined categories to which said extracted information belongs; first modifying means for modifying data in a predetermined storage region of said first memory, said predetermined storage region corresponding to one of said predetermined categories to which said extracted information belongs, said first modifying means including counting means for incrementing a counter in correspondence with a category determined by said determining means, for omitting resetting said first memory during a first set of operations, said first set of operations being one of odd-numbered operations and even-numbered operations, and resetting said first memory during a second set of operations, said second set of operations being the other of said odd-numbered operations and said even-numbered operations.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-04-27 2001-10-27 2002-04-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-04-27 2005-10-27 2006-04-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-04-27 2009-10-27 2010-04-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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