The spec so far:-
1) Small, rugged, cheap and easy to fit to parent equipment (inside or outside, depending upon application).
2) Receiving MSF (Modulated Standard Frequencies) clock signals from
Anthorn. Unit to default to GMT (UTC).
3) Possibility to bring out clock display onto parent equipment.
4) RFID enabled (ie, to act as a transmitter in an RFID equipment locating system).
5) Powered from own battery (but with an ability to
sip power from parent equipment).
6) Must not
invade parent equipment (
ie, any condition monitoring, sensor monitoring
etc. to use
eaves dropping technology [EDT] only)!
7) Programmable and able to generate signals (optionally a slowly flashing LED, a mild bleep and a RF signal in response to interrogation from a passing technician’s hand-held device) in case of (for example, and in respect of parent equipment):-
a) Announce presence
b) PM falling due (by date)
c) Pre-defined failure modes (
eg, battery level)
d) "Tilt" (drop) sensor being triggered
e) Unplugged from mains power
8) Non-volatile (battery-backed) memory for data logging, to include (for example):-
a) Hours run
b) Mains on/off
c) Logging of events dependent on type of parent equipment (
eg, alarm conditions, defib discharges
etc.)
d) Other recordings (
eg, temp, humidity
etc.)
We need to decide upon:-
1) Type of battery.
2) Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or both?
3) RFID ... active, passive, or both?
4) Should we also go for "mains power signaling" (
ie, sending signals through the fixed mains-power wiring to another location within the building - easy, then, to notice when the equipment has been unplugged)?
