G - Physics – 07 – B
Patent
G - Physics
07
B
G07B 17/02 (2006.01) G07B 17/00 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 2114738
ABSTRACT A rotor movement sensing system is provided for use in a postage meter to permit detection of the printing of postage even in the event that power is lost during the printing cycle. A sensor is provided to sense the magnet on a disk when the rotor is substantially past its home position. This sensor is positioned far enough past the home position that the above-mentioned ratchet will have ensured that the rotor must continue forward to completion of a print cycle. The second sensor a so-called magnetic memory element ("MME") sensor. The MME sensor has a magnetic memory element with substantial magnetic hysteresis. When the disk magnet passes near the memory element, the memory element is magnetized. A Hall-effect sensor is positioned at the memory element so that it provides a signal to the processor indicative of the magnetization of the memory element. Preferably the signal is provided to the processor both as a discrete (polled) input and also as an interrupt. A solenoidal winding is provided around the memory element. The processor has an output which, when asserted, causes a substantial current to flow through the winding, whereby the memory element is demagnetized. Alternatively, a reed switch is employed to sense movement of the rotor past a particular angular position. A flip-flop provides a bistable latch backed up by a lithium cell, and the output of the flip-flop provides a datum for the processor. An interrupt routine is provided responsive to the signal from the second sensor, so that during a routine franking cycle the processor responds to the interrupt, makes record in nonvolatile memory of the occurrence of the printing cycle, and energizes the winding flip-flop reset. This interrupt routine is executed for each franking cycle when power is continuously available.
Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems Ag
Gowling Lafleur Henderson Llp
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