GB2266792A

GB2266792A - Electronic equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2266792A
Application number: GB9210056A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Siegfried Punzenberger; Alfred Caspers
Original assignee: Motorola GmbH
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Germany GmbH
Priority date: 1992-05-09
Filing date: 1992-05-09
Publication date: 1993-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2012-05-09
Also published as: GB9210056D0; GB2266792B; HK1000608A1

Abstract

The electronic equipment (10) of Fig. 1, operates in an active mode and a standby mode. The equipment comprises control means (14), for controlling and comparing the operation of said active and standby modes, and storage means (15, 18, 19), coupled to said control means (14), for storing and retrieving information related to the operation of said electronic equipment (10). A timing circuit (16), coupled to said control means (14), has a first timing mode and a second timing mode responsive to said active and standby modes respectively. Periods of operation in either mode are timed by the relevant timing mode and the control means (14) periodically calculates a duty cycle is in respect thereof. The control means (14) performs a comparison between said calculated duty cycle and a predetermined duty cycle stored in the storage means (18) and acts according to a result obtained therefrom. <IMAGE>

Description

Electronic Equipment.

Background to the Invention.

This invention relates, in general, to the monitoring of dussy cycles within radio communications equipment and is particulárly, but not exclusively, applicable to the regulation and compliance of these duty cycles with predetermined specifications for such.

Summarv of the Prior Art.

Radio communication equipment manufacturers expend a significant proportion of their annual budgets on warranty provisions to cover the reliability of radio products, such as two-way radio communication transceivers. In the case of the malfunction of such equipment within the warranty period, the manufacturer incurs not only the cost of repair, but, also the displeasure of a disgruntled consumer and the associated loss of good will. In view of the foregoing, it is in the interests of the manufacturers to provide a high standard of equipment reliability and an efficient, cost effective repair service.

A considerable quantity of warranty claims made against two-way radio transceivers relate to the failure of power amplifiers contained therein. Moreover, it has been shown that such power amplifier failure can be directly attributed to a repeated and flagrant violation of recommended duty cycles imposed on the equipment. The duty cycle is the ratio of the transmission time to the receiving time and/or the standby time for the equipment, ef g. 1 minute transmission to 4 minutes standby i.e. 25%. Specifically, when the duty cycle is repeatedly exceeded in such a way, the mean-time-between-failures (MTBF) is significantly decreased and, eventually, the power amplifier fails completely. Two-way radio equipment has a typical duty cycle of 10:10:80 (Tx: Rx: Standby); which is much less than 100%.Unfortunately, the determination of the duration of a duty cycle for a radio transceiver is not clear cut.

There are various factors which determine this duration, including cost, size, weight, national legislation and industrial standards to name but a few.

In addition to the flagrant violation of a specified duty cycle, consumers inadvertently contravene specified duty cycles.

Specifically, a consumer will re-configure, up-grade or adapt original communications equipment to extend or alter the facilities provided thereon. These modifications, such as the addition of data transmission to existing voice channel communication, often exceed the operating specifications of the original communications equipment since such modification was not anticipated at the conception of the equipment. Subsequently, malfunction of the communications equipment may occur. At present, power amplifier burn-out which is induced by continuous transmission from a radio, for example by a continuous push-to-talk (PTT) activation, may be prevented by the use of a time-out timer timing the duration of this activation. If the transmission time exceeds the maximum allowable PTT, the transmission is terminated.

Although many manufacturers clearly state recommended (allowable) duty cycles in their product specifications, there is, at present, no real and acceptable way of ensuring that consumers comply with them. It can be appreciated that there is a requirement within the art for a mechanism through which compliance with a specified duty cycle is achieved. Additionally, financial benefit would be derived by a manufacturer who could detect the violation of a specified duty cycle and thereby invalidate warranty conditions.

Summarv of the Invention.

This invention addresses at least some of the deficiencies which arise in the prior art described above. In accordance with the present invention there is provided electronic equipment having an active mode and a standby mode. The equipment comprises control means for controlling and comparing operation of said active and standby modes and storage means coupled to said control means for storing and retrieving information related to the operation of said electronic equipment. A timing circuit, coupled to said control means, has a first timing mode and a second timing mode responsive to said active and standby modes respectively. Periods of operation in either mode are timed by the relevant timing mode and the control means periodically, within each period, calculates a duty cycle in respect thereof.The control means performs a comparison between said calculated duty cycle and a predetermined duty cycle stored in the storage means and acts according to a result obtained therefrom.

Further aspects of the preferred embodiment of the present invention allow for the control means to store a calculated duty cycle in said storage means. Furthermore, the stored calculated duty cycle may be up-dated every time a new calculated duty cycle exceeds the stored calculated duty cycle. Preferably, the control means registers, in the memory, each calculated duty cycle which exceeds the predetermined duty cycle. A further embodiment of the present invention alerts a user to the fact that a violation of the predetermined duty cycle has occurred and/or de-selects the active mode in response to a calculated duty cycle exceeding the predetermined duty cycle.In yet another preferred embodiment, the control means compares a predetermined maximum active mode time, stored in the storage means, with a present period of operation in the active mode whereafter any value for the present period greater than the predetermined maximum active mode time causes the control means either to initiate an alert to the user and/or de-selects the active mode.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a radio transceiver in a accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates a flow chart suitable for the implementation of the preferred embodiment of the invention Fig. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of an interrupt service routine in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a preferred embodiment for an electronic duty cycle statistic in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a timing diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a further timing diagram illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Descrintion of the Preferred Embodiment.

With reference to Fig. 1, a preferred embodiment of a radio transceiver 10, in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated. The radio transceiver 10 has a transceiver section 11, for receiving and transmitting signals 12, which is coupled to an antenna 13 and a microprocessor 14. The microprocessor 14 controls the operation of the radio transceiver 10 and is coupled to a memory 15, a timer circuit 16 and user interface 17, such as a push-to-talk (PTT) key and a LCD. The timer 16 comprises a counter and operates in two counting modes: first, the timer sequentially counts during a transmitter timing mode; and second, the timer sequentially counts when the radio transceiver 10 is in a standby mode. The memory 15 contains information relating to a predetermined operational specification of the radio transceiver 10 e.g. the duty cycle, the operating frequency and the electronic serial number (ESN). The operational specification is stored within a part of the memory designated as the Op. Spec memory 18. Furthermore, the memory 15 stores information relating to the exact nature of operation and the extent of use of the radio transceiver 10 by a user. This operational information is stored within a part of the memory designated as the electronic duty cycle statistic (EDCS) 19.

Typically, the EDCS 19 will be comprised from EEPROM. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the EEPROM may be either located within the microprocessor 14 or on a chip external to the microprocessor.

Fig. 2 illustrates a flow chart suitable for the implementation of the preferred embodiment of the invention. The radio transceiver 10 is powered-up 20 and initialised 22 with an operational specification, such as an ESN and a specified duty cycle.

The operational specification is stored in the Op. Spec memory 18.

Any information stored in the EDCS 19 is removed and the EDCS 19 is reset. Furthermore, timer circuit 16 is reset. At this juncture, the radio transceiver 10 is either purchased by, or returned to, a user.

Subsequent use of the radio transceiver 10 initiates the main program loop 26 and the EDCS loop 28 represented in Figs. 3 & 4 respectively.

With reference to Fig. 3, the main program loop 26 is shown.

The microprocessor 14 co-operates a variable time tick interrupt service. Primarily, this loop monitors whether or not the transceiver section 11 is operative 30. If, for example, a transmitter of the transceiver section 11 is functional i.e. the transmitter has been activated by a user through the user interface 17 e.g. the activation of a PTT key, the microprocessor 14 simultaneously enters the transmitter timing mode and times the duration of activation by sequentially incrementing 32, 34 the counter within the timer 16.

In the transmitter timing mode, the counter has two associated count values: a transmitter count for the present active cycle (Tx-Countpac) and a total transmitter count (Tx-CountTotal).

Tx-Countpac represents a time of continuous transmitter activation.

Tx-CountTOtal represents the total time the transmitter has been used since transmitter installation or service. The microprocessor 14 reads 36 a pre-determined maximum specification transmission time value from the Op. Spec memory 18. This value represents the maximum recommended time for continuous transmission. At 38, the microprocessor 14 ascertains whether the TX-Countpac has exceeded the maximum specification transmission time value. If the maximum specification transmission time value has not been exceeded, the time tick interrupt service loop 26 is quit 39 and the EDCS loop is executed.

Upon violation of the maximum specification transmission time value, the user interface 17 or, more specifically, a PTT key can be disabled 40. Alternatively and/or additionally, an alert 42 may be issued to the user. This alert may be in the form of the illumination of an LED on the user interface 17. If the maximum specification transmission time value has been exceeded, the value of the Tx-Countpac reached is compared 44 with a previous value of the Tx-Countpac, if any, stored in the EDCS 19 and which has exceeded the maximum specification transmission time value. The earlier stored value of the Tx-Countpac represents the longest continuous prior activation of the transmitter which has exceeded the maximum specification transmission time value. If this earlier stored value has been exceeded, it is replaced 44 in the EDCS 19 by the larger and present Tx-Countpac value.At 48, the microprocessor 14 determines whether the transmitter is still active 48. If this is indeed the case, the time tick interrupt service loop 26 is quit 50 and the EDCS loop is executed. However, if, at 44, the Tx-Countpac is not larger than the earlier stored value for theTx-Countpac, the microprocessor determines whether the transmitter is still active 52.

If this is indeed the case, the time tick interrupt service loop 26 is quit 54 and the EDCS loop is executed. If the transmitter has been deactivated (as determined at either 48 or 52) the microprocessor 14 records a time violation for the transmitter by incrementing a dedicated register in the EDCS 19. This register represents the total number of times that the transmitter has exceeded the maximum specified transmission time since its installation or last service overhaul.

If the transmitter of the transceiver section 11 is not activated (as determined at 30), the microprocessor 14 simultaneously commences timing the duration of standby by sequentially incrementing the counter within the standby timing mode of timer 16. In a similar manner to the transmitter timing mode, the timer 16 increments two associated counters in the standby timing mode.

First there is a count which represents a standby count since the last transmitter deactivation (Stby-Countsltd). Second, there is a count which represents the total standby period (Stby-CountTotal) since transmitter installation or service. At 58, the time tick interrupt service loop 26 is quit and the EDCS loop is executed. It should be appreciated that irrespective of whether the radio transceiver 10 is in a transmitting, receiving or standby mode, at least one of the two counting modes offered by the timer circuit 16 is operational.

With reference to Fig. 4, a preferred embodiment of a second co-operating procedure, the EDCS loop 28, is shown. At commencement of the loop 60, the microprocessor 14 ascertains whether the transmitter section of the transceiver 11 is operational 62. If the transmitter is not operational, the microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main program loop 26. If the transmitter is operational the microprocessor 14 determines 64 whether or not the count for a present active transmission cycle (Tx-COUNTpac) is zero i.e. whether the transmission counter has been incremented since the transceiver was activated. If Tx~COUNTpac is zero, the microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main program loop 26. At 66, the microprocessor 14 determines whether a count value for the standby counter since the last transmitter deactivation (Stby-Countsltd) has increased.If Stby-Countsltd is zero, the microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main program loop 26. Alternatively, if the counter has increased in value, the microprocessor 14 reads 68 a specified duty cycle from the Op Spec memory 18 and then determines 70, 72 whether the ratio between the Tx-Countpac and the standby count since the last transmitter deactivation (Stby-Countsitd) has exceeded the specified duty cycle.

If the specified duty cycle has not been exceeded, the microprocessor 14 determines 74 whether the transmitter is still activated. If the transmitter is still activated, the microprocessor quits the EDCS loop 28 and returns to the beginning of the main program loop 26. If the transmitter has been deactivated, the count values for Tx-Count pac and Stby-Countsitd are cleared. The EDCS loop 28 is completed and the microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main program loop 26.

If the specified duty cycle has been exceeded (as determined at 70 and 72), an alert 78 can be issued to a user via the user interface 17. This alert may be in the form of the illumination of an LED on the user interface 17. Alternatively and/or additionally, the transmitter of the transceiver may be disabled 80 e.g. by disabling a PTT. At 82, the ratio of the current Tx-Countpac to the Stby-Countsitd, representing a duty cycle over and above the specified duty cycle, is compared with the highest value obtained from an anterior duty cycle which has violated the specified duty cycle and which has previously been stored in the EDCS 19. If this earlier stored value has been exceeded, it is replaced 84 in the EDCS 19 by the larger and most recent duty cycle. At 86, the microprocessor 14 determines whether the transmitter is still active.

If this is indeed the case, the EDCS loop 28 is quit and the main program loop 26 is initiated. If the transmitter has been deactivated at 86, the microprocessor 14 records a duty cycle violation for the transmitter by incrementing a dedicated register, in the EDCS 19, assigned to record all such duty cycle violations. This register represents the total number of times that the specified duty cycle has been exceeded since the transceiver was installed or last serviced.

With reference to Figs. 5 & 6, the stored information may be retrieved and manipulated to supply a variety of operating statistics. The ratio of the total incremented transmission count to the total incremented standby count, expressed as a percentage, represents the absolute duty cycle for the radio 10 i.e.

Moreover, the present active duty cycle can be calculated since, Tx Countpac stby-countSltd In addition, the highest stored value of the Tx-Countpac represents the longest continuous activation of the transmitter. Moreover, since the total Tx-Count value indicates the duration of activation of the transmitter since its manufacture or last service, an alternative embodiment could provide an alert indicating that the life expectancy of the transmitter had been exceeded and that the transmitter should be returned to an engineer for servicing.

When the radio transceiver 10 is subsequently returned to a manufacturer as the result of a malfunction therein, the operating information accumulated within the EDCS 19 is subsequently retrieved. The manufacturer can immediately identify whether the warranty on the equipment has been invalidated and thereby reduce their budget for warranty provisions. In addition, if the specified duty cycle has not been surpassed the manufacturer can quickly rule out failures associated therewith and, consequentially, improve their service efficiency by reducing service time.

It can therefore be appreciated that an invention so designed and described can produce the novel advantage of providing a deterrent against specified duty cycle violation. Moreover, the invention can ensure compliance with a specified duty cycle.

Furthermore, the invention can alert a user as to the likelihood of invalidating the warranty on his radio equipment. In addition, at the generation of an alert, a transmitter within the equipment may be temporarily disabled thereby preventing the radio or, more specifically, a power amplifier contained therein from being destroyed. Further, by ensuring that radio equipment is operated in accordance with its operating specification, the manufacturer derives the financial benefit of a reduction in warranty claims.

Additionally, the reduction of a manufacturers' equipment service time increases the amount of good-will associated with the manufacturers' products and services.

Claims

Claims.

1. Electronic equipment (10), having an active mode and a standby mode, comprising: a) control means (14) for controlling and comparing operation of said active and standby modes; b) storage means (15, 18, 19), coupled to said control means (14), for storing and retrieving information related to the operation of said electronic equipment (10); and c) a timing circuit (16), coupled to said control means (14), having a first timing mode and a second timing mode responsive to said active and standby modes respectively; wherein periods of operation in either mode are timed by the relevant timing mode and the control means (14) periodically, within each period, calculates a duty cycle in respect thereof; whereafter the control means (14) performs a comparison between said calculated duty cycle and a predetermined duty cycle stored in the storage means (18) and acts according to a result obtained therefrom.

2. Electronic equipment in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control means (14) stores (72) a calculated duty cycle which exceeds said predetermined duty cycle in said storage means (19).

3. Electronic equipment in accordance with claim 2, wherein the control means (14) up-dates (72) the stored calculated duty cycle every time a new calculated duty cycle exceeds said stored calculated duty cycle.

4. Electronic equipment in accordance with claim 1, 2 or 3, where at the end of a period of operation in said active mode, a calculated duty cycles which exceeds said predetermined duty cycle increments the value of a dedicated register (19) contained within the storage means (15).

5. Electronic equipment in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the control means (14) initiates an alert (78) to a user interface (17) in response to said calculated duty cycle exceeding said predetermined duty cycle.

6. Electronic equipment in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the control means (14) de-selects (76) said active mode in response to said calculated duty cycle exceeding said predetermined duty cycle.

7. Electronic equipment in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the control means (14) periodically compares a predetermined maximum active mode time, stored in the storage means (15, 18), with a present period of operation in the active mode; whereafter any value for the present period greater than said predetermined maximum active mode time causes the control means (14) to initiate an alert (78) to said user interface (17).

8. Electronic equipment in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the control means (14) periodically compares a predetermined maximum active mode time, stored in the storage means (15, 18), with a present period of operation in the active mode; whereafter any value for the present period greater than said predetermined maximum active mode time causes the control means (14) to de-select said active mode.

9. Electronic equipment in accordance with claim 7 or 8, wherein the control means (14) causes a register, contained within the storage means (15, 18), to be incremented at the end of a period of operation in said active mode whenever said predetermined maximum active mode time has been exceeded.

10. Electronic equipment in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the control means (14) periodically compares a predetermined maximum active mode time, stored in the storage means (15, 18), with a summed time for all periods of operation in the active mode; whereafter any value for the summed time greater than said predetermined maximum active mode time causes the control means (14) to initiate an alert (78) to said user interface (17).

11. Electronic equipment in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the storage means is EEPROM.

12. Electronic equipment in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the control means is a microprocessor.

13. Electronic equipment in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein: the electronic equipment (10) is a radio transceiver; the active mode is the transmitting mode of the radio transceiver; and the standby mode is an operating mode other than the transmitting mode.

14. A method for monitoring the use of electronic equipment, comprising the steps of: a) operating said equipment in an active mode and a standby mode; b) timing (34, 36) periods of equipment operation in both modes; c) periodically calculating (68), within each period of operation, a duty cycle with regard to said timed periods; d) comparing (70) the calculated duty cycle with a predetermined stored duty cycle; e) acting (72, 74, 76, 78, 82) in accordance with the result of said comparison.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, further comprising the step of: f) storing (72) the calculated duty cycle in a storage means (19) when the calculated duty cycle exceeds said predetermined duty cycle.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising the step of: g) up-dating the stored calculated duty cycle every time a new calculated duty cycle exceeds said stored calculated duty cycle.

17. A method in accordance with any one of claims 14 to 16, further comprising the step of: h) incrementing a dedicated register (74), at the end of a period of operation in said active mode, when a calculated duty cycle exceeds said predetermined duty cycle.

18. A method in accordance with any one of claims 14 to 17, further comprising the step of: i) alerting (78) a user in response to said calculated duty cycle exceeding said predetermined duty cycle.

19. A method in accordance with any one of claims 14 to 18, further comprising the step of: j) de-selecting (76) said active mode in response to said calculated duty cycle exceeding said predetermined duty cycle.

20. A method in accordance with any one of claims 14 to 19, further comprising the steps of: k) periodically comparing a predetermined maximum active mode time with a present period of operation in the active mode (40); and 1) alerting a user (46) when the present period of operation exceeds said predetermined maximum active mode time.

21. A method in accordance with any one of claims 14 to 20, further comprising the steps of: m) periodically comparing a predetermined maximum active mode time with a present period of operation in the active mode (40); and n) de-selecting said active mode (44) when the present period of operation exceeds said predetermined maximum active mode time.

22. A method in accordance with claim 20 or 21, further comprising the step of: o) incrementing a dedicated register (48), at the end of a period of operation in said active mode, whenever said predetermined maximum active mode time has been exceeded.

23. A method for monitoring the use of electronic equipment substantially as described herein and with reference to FIGs. 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

24. Electronic equipment substantially as described herein and with reference to FIGs. 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.