Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Combined with disparate device
Reexamination Certificate
1993-11-15
2001-10-02
Miska, Vit (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Combined with disparate device
C368S011000, C368S113000, C235S377000, C235S384000, C235S487000, C340S572400, C340S572800, C700S225000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298013
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the priority of application Ser. No. P 42 38 102, filed Nov. 13th, 1992, in the Federal Republic of Germany, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for monitoring the travel time of mail shipments which includes a motion sensor, a memory for compiling the measured values and an electronic evaluation unit.
It is customary to monitor the travel time of mail shipments by using so-called delay monitors which are dispatched together with the mail shipments to be transported and include devices with which the motion sequences of the mail shipments are recorded. The devices of this type employed in the past include a motion sensor which records motion during the entire transit time of the shipment. The forces generated during transport of the mail shipments act on the sensor and the values determined by the sensor are retained in the form of a motion-over-time diagram. If the shipment is at rest, that is, it is not being transported, the sensor does not record anything. With this method it is possible to determine, for example, whether a shipment has lain at complete rest for several days in an undue manner after being transported for several hours.
The motion-over-time diagram recorded by the delay monitor can be evaluated at a central location and a desired/actual value comparison makes it possible to localize possibly existing stops in delivery or dispatch since the normal transporting paths and transporting times are known.
The delay monitors employed in the past have the drawback that they have a thickness of about 3 cm and that they are configured as a rigid unit in the form of a small package.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a delay monitoring apparatus with a device that has a thickness of ≦5 mm corresponding to the thickness of the usual letter and also has the letter format, the so-called C6 format. Moreover, this letter should have such a configuration that it can be processed in mail sorting machines and will not be separated out by post office personnel during a rigidity measurement in mail processing machines.
This is accomplished according to the present invention in that the motion sensor, the memory for the measured values and the electronic evaluation unit are disposed on a partially flexible circuit board of a configuration such that it includes rigid circuit board portions for the arrangement of the motion sensor, the measured value memory, and the electronic evaluation unit as well as the current supply for the device, and these rigid circuit board portions are connected with one another by flexible circuit board portions which support the rigid portions.
According to preferred features of the invention , the flexible circuit board portions or components are covered with an elastic or soft substance and arranged around the circuit component groups disposed on the rigid circuit board portions which are in turn covered by a casting substance. Preferably, the soft substance and the casting substance have a thickness such that a planar upper surface results for the device.
The device according to the invention for monitoring the travel time of mail shipments, due to the combination of rigid and flexible circuit board portions, makes it possible to sort by conventional mail distribution machines. Moreover, the covering with elastic pieces and the coating of the conductors and component groups with a casting substance and their encasement in a film completely prevents damage to the device while it is subjected to machine sorting.
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Brochure of Firm Simflex GmbH & Co. KG, Fabrikweg, D-69465 Weinheim, Germany, 5 pages, undated, 1987 alleged.
139 Galavanotechnik, 77 (1986) Apr., No. 4, Salgau, Deutschlans, Leiterplatten-Technik, pp. 931 and 933.
Berends Andreas
Berlin Bernhard
Poeppinghausen Eberhard Von
Rebel Burghard
Kunitz Norman N.
Miska Vit
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Venable
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