Apparatus comprises master counter circuitry to generate a master count signal in response to a clock signal; slave counter circuitry responsive to the clock signal to generate a respective slave count signal; and a synchronisation connection providing signal communication between the master counter circuitry and the slave counter circuitry; the master counter circuitry being configured to provide to the slave counter circuitry via the synchronisation connection: (i) data indicative of a count offset value and (ii) a timing signal defining a timing relationship between the clock signal and the count offset value; and the slave counter circuitry being configured, during a synchronisation operation for that slave counter circuitry, to initialise a counting operation of that slave counter circuitry in response to the data indicative of the count offset value and a timing signal provided by the master counter circuitry.

Apparatus comprises master counter circuitry to generate a master count signal in response to a clock signal; slave counter circuitry responsive to the clock signal to generate a respective slave count signal; and a synchronisation connection providing signal communication between the master counter circuitry and the slave counter circuitry; the master counter circuitry being configured to provide to the slave counter circuitry via the synchronisation connection: (i) data indicative of a count offset value and (ii) a timing signal defining a timing relationship between the clock signal and the count offset value; and the slave counter circuitry being configured, during a synchronisation operation for that slave counter circuitry, to initialise a counting operation of that slave counter circuitry in response to the data indicative of the count offset value and a timing signal provided by the master counter circuitry.

The management computer of a mounting system, when productivity is lowered, identifies an operator and work type from a work history, retrieves a management value P for the identified work type for the identified operator, and increases the management value P by an increment of 1. Then, the management computer of the mounting system, when judging that management value P is at least second threshold value P2, applies a performance restriction on the identified operator for the work of the identified work type. Thus, it is possible to curtail lowered productivity due to the same work by the same operator being repeated.

The management computer of a mounting system, when productivity is lowered, identifies an operator and work type from a work history, retrieves a management value P for the identified work type for the identified operator, and increases the management value P by an increment of 1. Then, the management computer of the mounting system, when judging that management value P is at least second threshold value P2, applies a performance restriction on the identified operator for the work of the identified work type. Thus, it is possible to curtail lowered productivity due to the same work by the same operator being repeated.

An air flow hour meter is provided. The air flow hour meter includes a passage configured to receive a pressurized fluid flow therethrough. An obstruction in the passage can be positioned in the fluid flow. A sensor in communication with the fluid flow can be configured to measure a pressure differential of the fluid flow between a first point and a second point of the passage. A microprocessor can be configured to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio of the sensor, and a timer can be configured to activate when the signal-to-noise ratio falls below a predetermined limit and otherwise deactivate.

An air flow hour meter is provided. The air flow hour meter includes a passage configured to receive a pressurized fluid flow therethrough. An obstruction in the passage can be positioned in the fluid flow. A sensor in communication with the fluid flow can be configured to measure a pressure differential of the fluid flow between a first point and a second point of the passage. A microprocessor can be configured to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio of the sensor, and a timer can be configured to activate when the signal-to-noise ratio falls below a predetermined limit and otherwise deactivate.

The system includes a digital counter adapted to display a number which is changed in response to an actuation signal. A lock assembly mounted to the cargo door is connected to the counter. The lock assembly has a hollow housing within which a member having a recess adapted to receive the handle is moveable by the handle between an unlocked position, wherein the door may be opened, and a locked position, in which the door is prevented from being opened. A magnetically actuated switch is mounted within the housing. The switch is adapted to generate an actuation signal to the digital counter in response to movement of the member within the housing from its locked position. The signal causes the counter to change the displayed number, indicating that the door may have been opened in transit.

A method for providing information to a patient during a medical imaging examination, said method comprising: operating a medical imaging apparatus, while a patient is undergoing an examination with the medical imaging apparatus, during said medical imaging examination, providing a computer with time information that informs said computer as to an amount of time that has elapsed from a beginning of said medical imaging examination, from said time information, determining, in said computer, a residual examination time for the medical imaging examination that designates an ending time at which said medical imaging examination is expected to end, generating output information in said computer dependent on said residual examination time, said output information comprising humanly perceptible information formatted to inform the patient as to when said medical imaging examination is expected to end; and providing said output information in said humanly perceptible form to the patient while the patient is undergoing said medical imaging examination.

A method for providing information to a patient during a medical imaging examination, said method comprising: operating a medical imaging apparatus, while a patient is undergoing an examination with the medical imaging apparatus, during said medical imaging examination, providing a computer with time information that informs said computer as to an amount of time that has elapsed from a beginning of said medical imaging examination, from said time information, determining, in said computer, a residual examination time for the medical imaging examination that designates an ending time at which said medical imaging examination is expected to end, generating output information in said computer dependent on said residual examination time, said output information comprising humanly perceptible information formatted to inform the patient as to when said medical imaging examination is expected to end; and providing said output information in said humanly perceptible form to the patient while the patient is undergoing said medical imaging examination.

A training assistance apparatus includes an actual operation time acquiring unit configured to acquire an actual operation time of an operation that is executed by an operator on a processing machine, a standard time storing unit configured to store a standard time of the operation, and a display unit configured to display the actual operation time and the standard time for comparison.