THREE WIRE INTERFACE FOR FIELD WIRING OF ON/ OFF SENSORS
First Claim
1. A three-wire sensor interface capable of being coupled to a sensor subsystem for conducting signals to and from the sensor subsystem, wherein the sensor subsystem provides one or more control signals, the sensor interface providing interfaces for connection to normally open and normally closed load devices and comprising:
- a plurality of external terminals comprising;
a normally open external terminal capable of electrically connecting to one or more normally open load devices to control the operation of the one or more normally open load devices;
a normally closed external terminal capable of electrically connecting to one or more normally closed load devices to control the operation of the one or more normally closed load devices; and
an external power terminal for connection to a source of electrical power to supply power to the sensor interface;
one or more interface terminals electrically coupled to the sensor subsystem; and
an interface circuit that receives the one or more control signals from the sensor subsystem through the one or more interface terminals and couples the control signals to the appropriate normally open or normally closed external terminals.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A three-wire sensor interface for field wiring of conventional on/off type control sensors that delivers power to the sensor, provides a normally open control output from the sensor and, concurrently, provides a normally closed control output from the sensor. The sensor interface includes a plurality of external terminals including a normally open external terminal for electrically connecting to zero, one, or more normally open load devices to control the operation of the normally open load device, and a normally closed external terminal for electrically connecting to zero, one, or more normally closed load devices to control the operation of the normally closed load device. A plurality of interface terminals are preferably electrically coupled between the sensor interface and the sensor and include a normally open control terminal and a normally closed control terminal. The sensor interface further includes an interface circuit adapted to receive the control signals from the sensor subsystem through the normally open and normally closed control terminals and to couple these control signals to the appropriate normally open or normally closed external terminals for controlling the external load devices.
6 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A three-wire sensor interface capable of being coupled to a sensor subsystem for conducting signals to and from the sensor subsystem, wherein the sensor subsystem provides one or more control signals, the sensor interface providing interfaces for connection to normally open and normally closed load devices and comprising:
-
a plurality of external terminals comprising;
a normally open external terminal capable of electrically connecting to one or more normally open load devices to control the operation of the one or more normally open load devices;
a normally closed external terminal capable of electrically connecting to one or more normally closed load devices to control the operation of the one or more normally closed load devices; and
an external power terminal for connection to a source of electrical power to supply power to the sensor interface;
one or more interface terminals electrically coupled to the sensor subsystem; and
an interface circuit that receives the one or more control signals from the sensor subsystem through the one or more interface terminals and couples the control signals to the appropriate normally open or normally closed external terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
13. A sensor adapted to control normally open and normally closed load devices comprising:
-
a sensor subsystem that detects the presence or level of material and provides one or more control signals in response to the detection of material;
a three-wire sensor interface electrically coupled to the sensor subsystem comprising;
(i) a plurality of external terminals comprising;
a normally open external terminal capable of electrically connecting to one or more normally open load devices to control the operation of the one or more normally open load devices;
a normally closed external terminal capable of electrically connecting to one or more normally closed load devices to control the operation of the one or more normally closed load devices; and
an external power terminal for connection to a source of electrical power for supplying power to the sensor interface;
(ii) one or more interface terminals electrically coupled to the sensor subsystem; and
(iii) an interface circuit adapted to receive the one or more control signals from the sensor subsystem through the one or more interface terminals and to couple the control signals to the appropriate normally open or normally closed external terminals.
-
Specification