FR2473750A1 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND INDICATING DURATION INFORMATION - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to pointing methods and apparatus. Data relating to an activity is entered by an operator, using a keyboard 102, the data immediately appearing on a display device. When the operator has validated the data, he transmits them to a microprocessor-based device 100 which controls the printing of data and which also stores these data. As soon as an activity ends, the microprocessor calculates the elapsed time and possibly the price according to the data it keeps. The data can be transferred onto a magnetic tape of a cassette 106. Application to staff clocking. (CF DRAWING IN BOPI)

Description

The present invention relates to the collection and

  the indication of data relating to durations and more

  a process and an autonomous apparatus for collecting,

  memorization, processing and indication of working time

  the corresponding costs, for the management of the

working hours.

  Managing a business so that it is profitable

  requires knowledge of the costs of labor,

  in the form of time spent by an employee on a particular task

  culière. So far, various devices have been used

  for the collection of this information. For example, hor-

  current logger box has been used since the beginning of

  century. The fundamental role of the time clock is to

  prime the particular time on a map when it

  is pushed into the clock. This last one indicates simple-

  the times at which it is ordered and can not calculate the elapsed time. Moreover, the time elapsed gives no correlation between an employee, the activity exercised by

  the latter and the task or the client corresponding to this

  tivity. The clock also gives no cost data

  relating to these three interesting factors. In addition,

  training recorded by a time clock is not

  in a form allowing for subsequent automatic calculations

c.

  Given these disadvantages of the clock poin-

  In addition, other methods of counting durations or costs have been developed. One of these implements a duration card on which are indicated the moments of the beginning and the end of a particular task. Although some of these methods implement clocks

  For the printing of this information, the data

  are usually indicated by hand. Handwritten codes

  may result in misinterpretation.

  In addition, the manual or automatic calculations necessary to

  the determination of the time spent on a task from the

  training carried by the card, take a long time and may present inaccuracies. These calculations are

  rarely completed in time for them to give

  sufficient for the data to be analyzed

  and used in the most efficient way by the direction.

  Given the availability of computers, the

  The training recorded on a time card can be introduced into a computer of a central unit for processing and then analysis. However, the introduction of

  information in the computer first requires its

  wise in the hands of an operator of a key punch that is not normally accustomed to the contents of the data and can easily interpret the writing in a wrong way. This operator can not check or correct any data carried by the card. In addition, transforming card information into a computer-visible format is rarely done early enough for the employee to remember what happened and correct any errors. of pointing implementing these time cards

  are not used satisfactorily.

  Recently, semi-automatic data collection systems have been introduced to introduce data about employee activities or operations and the task or client to which they relate. Such a device includes a ten-channel paper tape recorder in which the duration of the different activities is recorded on the paper. This device allows a user to determine different activities for

  each of ten function keys and gives a record of

  time for each activity. During operation, at least one key is always pressed so that each activity is recorded. The device is of inconvenient use and it does not include the time devoted to each activity. This information must be obtained by manually counting the number of divisions recorded on the

  paper for each activity and by addition.

  Another type of data collection system implements a number of data entry stations placed at strategic points around an area.

  working. Introductory posts can read information

  employee tokens and punch cards used to indicate daily presence, organization of production, operations and downtime for machine problems and stockouts. This system is very expensive and its

  implementation requires a large computer.

  In addition to the aforementioned drawbacks, these systems

  Data collection has other disadvantages.

  They do not allow an immediate reaction to information

  introduced allowing verification by the employee. In-

  real-time monitoring data available directly are weak or non-existent. The results given by these systems are rarely available until hours or days after the information is collected because

  the system depends on the implementation of a single computer

  central tee that is often unavailable when the data

must be treated.

  The invention relates to a method of pointing

  collecting, processing and indicating data

  useful for durations, for further analysis.

  It also concerns an autonomous set of points

  intended to fulfill these functions and thereby eliminating the need

  the use of a peripheral device of

  Harbor. It also relates to a method and a pointing apparatus such that data relating to an activity are immediately displayed and allow verification of

  their relevance by an employee before memorizing.

  It also concerns simultaneous printing of the data, when introduced into the apparatus, so that it can be used by supervisory personnel

  for verification and analysis of employee activity.

  It also concerns a pointing device which

  can give instant and summary reports

  the activity of the employees, as well as summary reports on the cost of labor, the cost of

  machinery, the cost of materials and other factors

  concerns for the effective management of a case.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  tion will be better described in the following description,

  refer to the accompanying drawings in which:

  FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective

  presenting the main elements of a pointing assembly made according to the invention; FIG. 1A represents an example of displaying data on a data input terminal;

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of FIG.

  general sense of the different circuits and

  data in the Central Processing Unit as well as

  if that connections with the external equipment; FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram showing the connections of the microprocessor unit and the programmable read-only memory units; FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of the random access memory units and the input-output buffer circuits;

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram in par-

  in the form of a circuit diagram, a data input terminal comprising a keyboard device; FIG. 6 is a block diagram partly in the form of an electrical circuit of a card reader that can replace the keypad device of the data input terminal; FIG. 6A is a diagram of the logic circuit of a card reader; FIG. 7 is a partly block diagram

  in the form of an electrical circuit of a series device of

  treate-output for the transfer of information between the

  min input data and the microprocessor;

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram in

  in the form of an electrical circuit, a control circuit

  of a tape recorder - Figure 9 is a block diagram of an input-output coupling matching circuit; FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the clock which controls the storage of the duration information in the central processing unit; FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a flow generating circuit; FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a printer control circuit;

  FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram of a circuit

  cooked power failure detection; FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the computer circuit; FIG. 15 is a partial block diagram

  in the form of a circuit diagram, a logic circuit for printing

mantis;

  FIG. 15A is an electrical diagram of a circuit

  cooked electromagnet control; and

  FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a cir-

  baked peripheral coupling allowing the central processing unit to be connected during operation to a

  another unit of the same type or a computer for example.

  The implementation of the pointing method according to the invention is generally considered with reference to the

  main elements implemented, represented on the

  1. The scoring system collects baseline data

  is in the form of a binary coded decimal number of employee,

  an activity number and a task or customer number.

  These data are introduced into a central processing unit 100 essentially comprising a microprocessor, via a data entry terminal 102. The latter may be a keypad, a card reader on which the basic data is coded as perforated holes, or any suitable data encoding device in the form of electrical signals. For example,

  the data entry terminal 102 can transmit the data

  The basic processing unit 100 in an asynchronous serial format t2473750 contains one start bit, eight data bits, and two end bits. Several terminals

  data entry can be arranged at strategic points

  in the employees' work area. For example, in a manufacturing plant, a data entry terminal

  can be placed at each machine on which an activity

  to register is carried out. It should be noted that the name

  Many of the data entry terminals of the system are limited by the I / O capabilities of the central unit 100

treatment.

  During operation, the employee introduces the

  basic data in the input terminal 102. The data

  are immediately displayed by the terminal and can be checked immediately and corrected if necessary by the employee during the introduction. When all data has been properly entered into the terminal and verified by the employee, an input button is pressed

  on the terminal so that the information is transmitted to the uni-

  100. Figure lA represents an example of an

  display basic data on the terminal. We note that

  basic data include a two-digit employee number

  fres, a two-digit activity number, and a four-digit customer or task number. This information remains displayed only when introduced by the employee

  and it is cleared when the input button is pressed. Pen

  At times when the master data does not appear on the display, the eight-digit display locations can be used to indicate the month, day, and time (in hours and minutes) as indicated

in Figure 1A.

  When the employee presses the enter key so that the data reaches the CPU 100, a "time

  start "is associated with the data and the transaction is

  Moreated in a region of active memory of the central processing unit, called "transaction memory". When the employee begins another task or another activity, the time that has elapsed since the previous transaction is automatically calculated by a computer incorporated in the central unit 100 and stored chronologically in a part of the unit's historical memory. central, called

  "main memory". The new transaction is then

  served in transaction memory and new time

start is associated with this one.

  When each transaction is introduced in the central unit, it also reaches a printer 104 forming a permanent copy so that a recording

  of the transaction is kept for retrospective analysis.

  The permanent printing of the data makes it possible to avoid the loss of data, for example if the memories of the central unit 100 are erased, whatever the reason. In addition, the permanent copy gives supervisory staff an instant report on each employee's activity. For example, each time an employee finishes an activity and starts a new one, the printer 104 can write a line of information including the employee number, the number of the previous activity, the number of the task or client of

  the previous activity, the moment of the beginning of the activity

  the time of the end of this previous activity (ie the time of the beginning of the new activity), the time elapsed during the previous activity, the number of the new activity and the task number or customer's

  this new activity. Supervisory staff, dis-

  posing this information, is always kept informed of

  the status of each employee's activity.

  The pointing system continues to collect and store transaction data in this manner. Accumulated data can be blocked automatically or

  manually for a number of different periods of time

  rents from the main memory. For example, a data block can include all transactions that occurred in a 24-hour period. Sufficient capacity

  memory allows collection and storage in the

  main memory of all the data of a month.

  At any given time, different types of reports can be formed from the stored data. By

  example, transaction status reports in progress, grouped

  per employee, activity or task or customer can

  to be printed. The status of individuals can be displayed instantly on any terminal. Similarly, detailed historical reports by employee,

  by activity or by task or customer, or recapitulative reports

  tulatives representing only the totals in these categories.

  gories can also be given. All these reports can relate to a single chosen period, to a whole range

  periods or all the periods kept in the

  main moire. They may only contain the data

  duration or also cost information.

  Cost tables can be formed and can

  to contain the salary of the employee, the bonus factors

  activity and machine speeds. A percentage of overhead can also be stored and used for

  the distribution of overhead costs for each task, in. for-

  centage. In addition, from these tables, material costs can be introduced and maintained in the system by

  task number. Comprehensive reports of the cost of

  These tasks can be formed with tables, using the historical data stored in the memory.

  main. As indicated above, these reports must

  classified by employee, activity or task.

  The cost tables, material cost data and

  memory data can be automatically saved

  manually or manually on a tape 106 of a cassette for permanent storage. In addition, the data stored in the main memory can be carried forward

  on a cassette tape at the end of a predetermined group

  born of periods, for example at the end of each month. These-Don-

  memory is a back-up in case of system failure or power failure, and data can be re-entered into the system, usually at a time when it is not being used for Data Collection. in real time, for further operations i2473750

  analysis, correction, addition of data, estimation of

  for later tasks, etc. Additional tables may be formed and used to allow selection of a particular time during the day during which an automatic period change occurs, for example at midnight. In addition, the central processing unit can be programmed

  to give a signal to an external relay, to

  predetermined actions during the day, so that

  such as ordering a siren from the factory,

  feel assured. Similarly, the central unit

  processing 100 can be programmed so that it creates

  tomatically predetermined ratios at a time of change.

  period or on any chosen range of periods

  when the installation has its least activity.

  If necessary, the central processing unit 100 of the pointing system can be optionally connected to a computer 108 allowing the creation of reports, in

  function of other analog pointing systems for example.

  In the same way, the pointing system can be connected

  to another similar pointing system so that

  the possibilities of the system be extended.

  FIG. 2 represents the main circuits forming the central processing unit 100 as well as their

  connections to the external equipment at the central unit.

  This CPU 100 comprises a conventional microprocessor

  that suitable 110 able to fulfill the functions indicated

  previously. For example, it may be a pail-

  "Motorola" 6800 or 6809. A programmable read-only memory

  and erasable 112 is connected to the data bus of the micro-

  processor and contains all the programming necessary for the microprocessor to perform the functions

  above. A direct access memory 114 is also connected

  microprocessor data bus and has the capability to form main memory and memory

  of transactions of the central unit. A device 116 for

  trea-output series allows the coupling of the microprocessor 110

  and data input terminals 102. As indicated before

  previously, the data input terminal may be a

  keyboard or card reader positive, connected to the device

  serial input-output. In addition, source data can be

  can be introduced into the central unit from a remote terminal such as a printer 118 or a recorder

  worn on the head, for example, which can be connected to the

  116 series I / O system via a telephone line

  or an input buffer circuit 120 placed at a distance. The termi-

  nal 118 allows the recording of the activities of an employee who is not normally in a defined area

of work, for example a salesman.

  A circuit 122 of cassette control is also

  connected to the microprocessor data bus 110 and

  a coupling circuit allowing the transfer of

  data between the microprocessor and a recording unit 106

cassette recording.

  In addition to the aforementioned circuits which are directly

  connected to the microprocessor data bus 110, a number of

  A number of other circuits for performing various functions may be connected to the microprocessor by an I / O coupling matching circuit 124. This circuit 124

  adapter is connected to the microprocessor data bus.

  110 and ensures the parallel connection of several

  slices of the input-output bus to the data bus of the micro-

  processor so that several different circuits can receive microprocessor control signals. Among

  the various circuits that can be connected to the microproces-

  110 by the adaptation circuit 124, there may be mentioned the printer control circuits 126, a clock circuit, a power failure detection circuit and a flow generator 128, a wired computer 130, installation command 132 (timing circuit) and a circuit 134 of

  coupling of peripheral devices for example.

  The circuits 126 control one or more im-

  Primantes 104 giving permanent copies of the summary and retrospective reports. The circuit 2473750 clock and flow generator 128 transmits signals for use by the microprocessor and the circuit

  associated, and the power failure detection circuit

  control of the energy transmitted to the central processing unit 100

  and control an alarm device 136 when the energy

  received does not reach a predetermined level. In addition, the

  baked energy failure detection can also prevent further operation of the CPU until

  that the received energy returns to a suitable level. The calculation

  The latter 130 provides the calculations necessary for the formation of time and cost data. The facility control circuit 132 may control various relays 138 for performing predetermined tasks at selected times. The coupling circuit 134 enables the central processing unit to be connected to a computer, to the central processing unit of another pointing system, to a cathode ray tube terminal, and so on. FIG. 3 shows in greater detail the connection of the circuits of the microprocessor 110 and the read-only memory.

  112. As previously mentioned, the micropro-

  The receiver may be a 6800 or 6809 "Motorola" flake circuit. This circuit has eight data input / output DO-D7 terminals, 16 AO-A15 address terminals, as well as several

  - other terminals intended to receive and transmit

  control units some of which are represented on the

  3. Those skilled in the art may appreciate that other microprocessors may be used for the practice of the invention. The transmission of the data exchanged with the microprocessor 110 along the data lines DO-D7 is controlled by the read / write control circuit 140. As indicated, each channel of the control circuit 140 has two buffer circuits mounted in opposite directions and controlled by complementary signals, so that the data can only flow in one direction in one direction.

  data lines, at a specific time.

  It should be noted that, on the various flowcharts, the different signals have the usual meaning, well known to those skilled in the art, and essentially indicate

  the connections between the different figures. Their description

  detailed statement is not necessary.

  A control flip-flop 141 in the event of insufficient power supply is connected to the microprocessor 110.

  is controlled by an interruption signal in the event of

  insufficient LPI which indicates that the transmitted energy

  the pointing system does not reach a predetermined level.

  Following such a signal, the flip-flop creates a reset signal RESET which interrupts the operation of the microprocessor 110. This signal also reaches a certain

  number of other circuits of the central unit 100, under

  me of an inhibition signal whose duration is that of the period during which the power signal remains at a low level. When the energy returns, the LPI signal disappears and, after a delay set by an RC circuit which comprises a resistor 142 and a capacitor 144, the signal

  recovery disappears and the microprocessor 110

  start working again. The delay introduced by the RC circuit 142, 144 may be about half a second, for example, so that this time allows the memory to

  stabilize before the microprocessor starts working.

  The various data, address and control signals transmitted by the microprocessor to the remaining circuit of the central unit 100 and vice versa are marked on the left of FIG. 3. The same references appear on

  figures from the rest of unit 100 and facilitate understanding

* the connection of the different circuits in this model

  advantageous embodiment of a pointing system. In this, the entire circuit of Figure 3 is on a single printed circuit board having connectors that correspond to those shown in the figure. This

  wafer is preferably connected to a primary wafer

  - not represented on which all the other

  The modules containing the other circuits of the device can be connected. The main board transmits all address, data, control, and power supply t2473750 signals to all circuit boards that are connected to it. This main board also preferably includes a backup power supply for maintaining the data stored in the memories in case of failure of the main power supply.

  In addition to the various components mentioned above, the

  FIG. 3 also represents various additional circuits constituting buffers suitable for all the address, data and control signals which are exchanged with

  the microprocessor control board.

  Figure 4 shows in detail a way of

  direct access memory system 114 that can be used in the context of the invention. The memory itself is formed of a number of individual memory elements

  connected in such a way that they give the necessary capacity.

  An example of a commercially available flake circuit that can be used for this purpose is the TMS-4046 direct-access static memory glitter circuit, manufactured by

Texas Instruments.

  The memory circuit shown in FIG. 4 can hold 16,000 bytes of information. Three circuits

  additional analogs can be connected to a cir-

  The memory cooker of the type shown in FIG. 4 is suitably configured so that the storage capacity can reach 64,000 bytes. Each 16,000 bytes address space in the entire 64,000

  bytes can be addressed individually via

  address register. As indicated on the

  4, the output terminal of the address register is

  linked to an address line 148 by a jumper 150 so that the first 16,000-byte area of the address space can be reached. Similarly, a jumper cable is connected to one of the output terminals of the address register 146 of the other memories so that the other address space areas of 16000 bytes of the total memory

can be reached.

  The memory circuit also includes t circuits 2473750

  buffers 152 allowing proper preparation of the

  AO-All address frames which are used for access to the individual memory spaces, in each memory unit of the direct access memory, and a read / write control circuit 154 for inputting the data.

  in memory and their reading in it.

  In one embodiment of the invention,

  the preservation of 64 000 bytes of information, a

  no 40,000 byte address space can be allocated

  in direct access memory, most of the

  The remaining memory space is reserved for the programmable read only memory, a small portion being used as the input-output address space. In the random access memory, an area of 1000 bytes of space can be allocated to each of the transaction memories and the memory for

  to contain different tables, buffer zones, data

  temporary births and flags, the rest of the memory to

  direct access being used for main memory.

  FIG. 5 represents an embodiment of

  data entry terminal which can be used in the application

  same according to the invention. Basic data, including a

  employee number, an activity number and a job number.

  Che / client, are introduced into the device using a keyboard 156. It has 16 SO-S15 key switches manipulated by the employee so that signals reach

  to a hexadecimal encoder 158. This latter transforms the

  switches to a four-bit binary signal that reaches a universal asynchronous transceiver 160. In addition, the decoder 158 triggers a multivibrator.

  monostable 162. The transceiver 160 converts

  encoder signal 158 and, under the control of a signal from the multivibrator 162, transmits the data from the keyboard to the microprocessor 110 via a line 164.

  transmission with optical isolator.

  The transceiver 160 also receives data from the microprocessor 110 in serial encoded form through a reception line 165 which is also isolated, and it puts this information in parallel format. The microprocessor information, transformed by the transceiver 160, reaches a series of decoders 166 of the hexadecimal code

  in 7-stick code, after passing through

  suitable pons. The decoders 166 control several

  168 display elements with 7 sticks for each digit.

  As previously described, the display elements 168 are preferably normally controlled by the microprocessor to indicate the month, day and time in hours to minutes. However, when the keyboard is coninandered by an employee for the introduction of basic data,

  the date and time display is deleted and the information

  introduced by the employee is indicated by the

  display so that it can be checked.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the display device comprises 8 single-digit display elements 168, indicating a two-digit employee number, a two-digit activity number, and a four-digit job / client. However, it appears

  other display configurations can be used

  Sees. For example, a three-digit employee number, a three-digit activity number, and a six-digit job / customer number can also be used as needed. FIG. 6 represents a variant of a basic data entry device in the input terminal,

  including a card reader that can replace the keyboard.

  This reader has a logic circuit 170 shown in detail

  in Figure 6A. The logic circuit has a plurality of photo diodes

  emissives 172 and corresponding photo-transistors 174

  intended to read the coded information in the form of holes

  drilled into cards introduced into the reader. The cir-

  logic cook also has a series of transistors 176 of com

  which successively sample the data of a

  card by selectively controlling a group of photo diodes

  emissives at a given moment and by presentation of the data to the transceiver 160 of the terminal. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, 8 groups of four diodes are

  ordered in order to transmit the information

  basic data. The control of the sampling transistors 176 is provided by a sequence circuit comprising an oscillator 178, a counter 180 and a register 182, transmitting the necessary control signals.

to transistors.

  In addition to the diodes 172 and photo-transistors 174 allowing the reading of the perforated holes in a card,

  the logic circuit 170 also comprises a photo-emitted diode

  sive and an additional photo-transistor 184 and a micro-

  contact 186 for detecting the introduction of one or more

  cards in the reader and its proper positioning

  corn. These detection elements transmit two CD card detection signals which reach a logic circuit which triggers the operation of the sequence circuit of the LEDs. In addition, these CD card detection signals trigger a monostable multivibrator 188 which transmits a sampling pulse each time a data character is represented to the transceiver.

of the terminal.

  Figure 7 shows the input device

  serial data output, processing the signals exchanged entered

  several data input terminals 102 and the micro-

  110. The apparatus shown in Figure 7 includes

  serial input-output ports for eight-pin connection

  different data input terminals to the microprocessor.

  Each channel has three wires, an input wire 164 for receiving the data transmitted by a data input terminal, an output wire 165 for transmitting data to this terminal, and a common wire to be connected. to the common thread of the data entry terminal. The information coming from the terminal via the input line 164, in the form

  series, is set to a parallel format in a transmitter-re-

  universally addressable asynchronous receiver 190 uniquely addressable.

  After passing through suitable buffer circuits, the

  training is transmitted to the microprocessor through the lines

DO-D7 data.

  Similarly, the microprocessor data

  which must be presented by the display device.

  of the data input terminal are presented to the transceiver corresponding to the terminal to which the

  training must be communicated. The transceiver trans-

  forms the parallel encoded information of the microprocessor into serial information and transmits it to the input terminal

  data through a line 165 output.

  Referring now to FIG.

  in the detailed form of the control circuit of a

  cassette recorder 106. The circuit includes a circuit 192

  a suitable read-write control

  universal asynchronous receiver 194 for controlling the exchange of information with the microprocessor and for

  transform information between serial and pa-

  allel. The serial data to be written on a tape of a tape is transmitted by the transceiver 194 to an encoder 196 which encodes the digital data into a format

  phase coded that can be written on the tape. From

  analogue data, the serial data read on the tape is

  transformed from the phase-encoded format into digital

  in a decoder 198, and they are put in form

  parallel in the transceiver in view of their

to the microprocessor 110.

  The cassette control circuit not only comprises the circuit for reading and writing information

  on the tape but also allows the microprocessor to

  establish a status register incorporated in the recorder and intended to determine the state of the cassette, that is to say its rewinding, protection against writing or the presence of the cassette. Similarly, a suitable circuit enables the microprocessor to transmit control signals, for example rewind forward, read-write, on-off, to a control register, and is mounted on the circuit board of the circuit.

cassette control.

  FIG. 9 represents an adapter circuit of

  input-output coupling intended to connect several cir-

  baked of different types to the data bus of the microprocessor 110. The pin connections placed at the left and bottom edges of the figure allowing the connection of the circuit

  to the data bus of the microprocessor, by the in-

  primary circuit board so that the circuit receives control, address and data signals from the

  microprocessor and circuits described above, di-

  correctly connected to the microprocessor bus. The circulation

  data signals along the DO-D7 lines is

  by a read-write circuit 198.

  All the signals pass advantageously in

  buffer circuits. and are properly transported to several

  parallel buses with multiple pins, allowing

  individual modules. One of these bus 200 to bro-

  The multiple buses are shown in FIG. 9. Each bus can be addressed separately by the microprocessor 110.

  via an address register 202. Following

  the reception of an address input signal, the re-

  The controller 202 transmits an output signal which allows the selected bus 200 to transmit signals between the module connected to it and the data bus of the microprocessor, the latter being able to have any requested configuration, in

  function of external input-output criteria.

  The numerical references indicated on the

  9 for the individual terminals of bus 200 are used

  in the same way as the connectors shown on

  Figures 10 to 16, so that the understanding of the in-

  interconnection of the various circuits is thus facilitated.

  Figure 10 shows an astable timer used

  It is useful for forming a high hierarchical NMI switch signal transmitted to the microprocessor 110 once a minute. The timer includes a piezoelectric oscillator 204 transmitting a stable frequency output signal. This signal is properly divided in

  a counter or frequency divider 206 which forms an im-

  pulse every 60 seconds. This impulse is trans-

  by a suitable buffer system and is

  microprocessor via a circuit 124 for adapting the

  input-output coupling so that the functioning of the

  croprocessor is interrupted temporarily and that the time and date information stored in the memory registers of the central unit is reset.

up to date.

  Fig. 11 shows a flow generator for transmitting a plurality of different clock signals

  the interface adaptation circuit 124, for the purpose of

  by the modules connected to it. This flow generator, indicated in bauds, also includes an oscillator

  piezoelectric device 208 which forms a frequency output signal.

  stable quence. This signal is suitably divided into a frequency counter or divider 210 having several terminals

  Release. Clock signals at different frequencies

  Annuities are transmitted to the corresponding output terminals

  counter 210 and pass into buffer circuits suitable for

  by forming signals having the appropriate flow, allowing the introduction and reading of the information exchanged with the different circuits, in the central control unit, with the most profitable flow rates. In the

  embodiment considered, the flow generator

  puts the use of five flow rates of 150, 300, 600, 1200

and 2400 bauds.

  Fig. 12 shows a printer control circuit capable of processing in buffer circuits

  and to transmit data in parallel with the microproces-

  to a printer. This control circuit comprises an exchange adaptation circuit 212 with peripherals, including buffer circuits that prepare properly.

  the data signals that must be presented to the printer

  mantis. An example of an adaptation circuit that can be used in this respect is the exchange adaptation circuit with the "Motorola" peripherals 6820. This adaptation circuit 212 not only transmits data bits

! 2473750

  but also transmits a data sampling signal

  the printer so that it indicates when a

  information must be printed. In addition, this circuit

  adapter receives a free-busy status signal from

  the printer and, depending on this signal,

  controls the transmission of information to be printed.

  In addition, the exchange adaptation circuit with

  the peripherals may comprise a suitable logic circuit

  nable closing a relay based on predetermined signals from the microprocessor. This closing of a relay can be used for the control of events such as the control of a siren of the factory, at predetermined times for example. The relay can

  to be connected to the adaptation circuit 212 by a circuit op-

suitable tick 214 isolation.

  The reference numerals placed near the input terminals of the printer control circuit of FIG. 12 and the output terminals of the clock circuit of FIG.

  FIG. 10 and the flow generator of FIG.

  how these three independent circuits can be

  incorporated on a single plate forming an eco-module

  nominating the necessary space for the various circuits and

  the number of platelets to use.

  Fig. 13 shows an embodiment of.

  power failure detection circuit. The circuit comprises an inductive sensor 216 having a bridge rectifier 218 and a filter 220 for transmitting a continuous signal which depends on the signal level of an AC power supply.

  (not shown) This output signal is compared to a

  reference signal in a threshold comparator 222. Whenever the detected value of the feed signal falls

  below the threshold value set by the reset signal.

  Preferably, the comparator 222 forms an output signal which is transmitted by a suitable buffer circuit and which is presented to the flip-flop 141. As previously described, this flip-flop transmits a recovery signal and interrupts

  the operation of the circuits of the central processing unit

  including the microprocessor, for the entire time during which the AC power signal is

  less than a threshold level. When the signal is

  established at the appropriate level, the comparator 222 removes the interruption LPI signal and thus allows the flip-flop to allow the recovery of the operation of the central unit

treatment.

  Fig. 14 shows a suitable wired calculator circuit which can be used for calculations on raw data input to the pointing apparatus. The calculator circuit may comprise a suitable glitter circuit 224 of a computer. An example

  flake circuit suitable for this purpose, in the

  dre of the invention, is the circuit "National Semiconductor" MM 57109. The data from the microprocessor 110 in the form of operands and orders are presented to the circuit

  224 by a coupling adaptation circuit 226 to the

  eral. This circuit 226 also returns the results of

  calculations made by the circuit 224 to the microprocessor 110.

  The clock signals needed for the glitter circuit

  can be transmitted by a timing circuit 228 RC.

  Fig. 15 shows a printer control logic according to the output signals of the printer control circuit 126. The logic circuit receives coded data in parallel format of the printer control circuit and successively loads the data

  in a first-in first-out buffer circuit 230.

  After detection of a suitable control signal, by

  example, a carriage return signal or an indi-

  when the last character of a line has been printed,

  the data of the buffer circuit 230 are transmitted successively

  to a decoder 232. This creates signals of

  control of a series of electronic control circuits 234

  third-party magnets that cause the characters to print

  read by the print head. An example of a suitable circuit

  The control circuit of an electromagnet 236 is shown in FIG. 15A. At the end of a printing cycle, the printer logic circuit can operate and can accept

  additional microprocessor data.

  Fig. 16 shows an exemplary peripheral coupling circuit 134 which may be used for connection of the central processor to a like processor or computer, for forming global reports. The main element of the coupling circuit is a universal asynchronous transceiver 238. As indicated previously, this transceiver ensures the conversion

  parallel-serial and serial-parallel data transmitted.

  In the coupling circuit, the data appearing in

  DO-D7 data lines in parallel form, from

  Microprocessor 110, are put in a serial format for transmission to the peripheral equipment by an output line 240. Serial data from the peripheral apparatus through an input line 242 is set to a parallel format for transmission to

  microprocessor by the data lines DO-D7. The dish-

  receiver-receiver 238 can also receive CTS signals

  erasure for transmission and DTR of preparation

  data terminal, allowing the control of the

  transmission of data by the external device

  nected to the central processing unit 100. The circuit of

  coupling to peripheral devices not only allows

  coupling to another central processing unit or computer, but also allows the pointing device to be connected to a CRT monitor or

a modulator-demodulator.

  The foregoing description of a mode of

  advantageous situation shows that the invention relates to a

  autonomous data collection and indication system and does not require any additional equipment for its

  operation. In addition to the collection and

  dication, the equipment immediately gives an answer to an employee who can verify the basic data when they are introduced, and the information is printed simultaneously so that the data can not be

  lost and that there is still control data for the

  by a supervisor. The control base of the micro-

  The pointing system processor can be programmed so that current and previous data is presented in a variety of usable formats. In addition, thanks to these tables giving information concerning factors of

  such as employee wages,

  nification, machine debits, overheads, etc., information about durations and total costs can be transmitted in addition to a simple time information. The possibility of storing tables in addition to the data collected on cassette tapes

  gives great flexibility to the system.

  It is understood that the invention has not been

  as a preferred example and that any technical equivalence may be

  constituent elements without departing from its scope.

Claims (10)

  A method of collecting and indicating information about the time spent on an activity, said method being characterized in that it comprises the creation of data relating to the execution of an activity and the introduction of the data on an activity. storage medium, the storage of an instantaneous value in real time with the input of said data, the detection of the end of the activity, the detection of the moment at which this activity is completed and the automatic calculation of the time elapsed between the   the detected time and the stored time value, immediately   after the detection of the end of the activity, and the automatic recording of the elapsed time and Datas.   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in   what data creation includes the detection of in-   coded training on an information medium and the creation   of electrical signals relating to the information   ted. 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in   the information medium is an optimized coded card   the detection includes the optical scanning of the   card so that the coded information is detected.   4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in   what it includes the successive control of a series of dis-   photo-emissive positives and the detection of the light transmission properties of the card at each command of a photo-emitting device.   5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in   the data created is placed on a first sub-   storage port, and the method further includes the   troduction of the time elapsed on a second memo-   and transfer of the created data from the first   second support after calculating the elapsed time.   6. Process according to claim 1, characterized in   what he understands besides the creation of a table of fac-   the cost information, the calculation of cost information   of a completed activity, compared to the table, and the recording   recording of this cost information.   7. Apparatus for collecting and indicating the time spent during an activity, said apparatus being characterized in that it comprises a device (102) for creating data relating to an activity at the start of the activity of it,   a device for detecting the moment of creation   a memory (114) for storing the created data and the detected time,   a device (110) controlled by the end of ac-   the time elapsed between the end of the activity and the stored time, and   an automatic data recording device   the activity and the time devoted to this activity.   tivity. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that   it furthermore comprises a second memory (112)   to conserve the time and data created lative to the completed activity.   9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises a device (122) for transferring the information stored in the second memory to one recording medium.   Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that   it comprises a device (128) for detecting the   signal strength and inhibition of the function   detection and calculation devices during   detected amplitude is less than a predefined value completed.