Batteryless, oscillatorless, binary time cell usable as an horological device with associated programming methods and devices
US6856581B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 15, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10B69/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A simple electronic horological device, termed a time cell, is presented with associated methods, systems, and computer program products. A time cell has an insulated, charge storage element that receives an electrostatic charge through its insulating medium, i.e. it is programmed. Over time, the charge storage element then loses the charge through its insulating medium. Given the reduction of the electric potential of the programmed charge storage element at a substantially known discharge rate, and by observing the potential of the programmed charge storage element at a given point in time, an elapsed time period can be determined. Thus, the time cell measures an elapsed time period without a continuous power source. One type of time cell is an analog time cell that may have a form similar to a non-volatile memory cell, particularly a floating gate field effect transistor (FGFET). The time cell may have an expanded floating gate for storing an electrostatic charge. At a given point in time after programming the analog time cell, a sensing operation indirectly observes the retained charge in the floating gate by directly or indirectly observing the threshold voltage of the FGFET. …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.