Adaptive input-cell circuitry useful in configurable electronic controllers

• US 20070063197A1
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Burkatovsky, Vitaly
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/49
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21012 Configurable I-O
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21087 Define sensor type, resistance, thermocouple, thermistor, voltage, current
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21108 Module, I-O module consisting of counters and comparators
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21114 Universal input, AC or DC
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2612 Data acquisition interface

Abstract

A method for operating an input-cell comprises: receiving a sensor input signal, a digital-bias first control input and a second control input and, using a first resistor network to apply an analog pull-up bias to the sensor input signal when the bias of the first control input is in a first digital state. To provide a path for at least a portion of the first resistor network to a ground to cause the first resistor network to apply a pull-down bias to the sensor input signal when the bias of the first control input is in a second digital state. Receiving a voltage reference and an input waveform signal; using a second resistor network to apply to the input waveform signal to a comparator when the bias of the second control input is in a first digital state and, to apply a biased and attenuated input waveform signal to the comparator when the bias of the second control input is in a second digital state. Comparing the biased sensor input signal to the waveform applied by the second resistor network to determine an input-cell output, so that the input-cell can convert the sensor input signal to a time-based parameter.

Claims

1. A configurable control system comprising:

a synchronization control module;

a plurality of configurable signal acquisition modules connected with said synchronization control module;

a control logic connected with said plurality of signal acquisition modules;

a plurality of identical input-cells respectively connected with said plurality of signal acquisition modules and with a respective plurality of input pins; and

a synchronization signal generator connected with said synchronization control module and with said plurality of input-cells, with each one of said plurality of input-cells being operable to convert input signal parameters into time based parameters and with each of said plurality of signal acquisition modules being configured to convert said time based parameters to a required digital form, said input-cell comprising;

a comparator having a first input, a second input and an output;

a first combination of resistors connected in series between a first reference voltage source and the first input of the comparator;

a first electromagnetically controlled switch connected in series between at least one of the resistors in the combination and a ground wherein said first electromagnetically controlled switch is operated in response to a bias control signal from the signal acquisition module to switch between one switch state causing a pull-up bias to be applied to one of the input pins and another switch state causing a pull-down bias to be applied at said one of the input pins;

a second combination of resistors connected between a second reference voltage source, an input to receive a waveform signal from said synchronization control module and the second input of said comparator; and

a second electromagnetically controlled switch connected in series between at least one of the resistors in the second combination and the second reference voltage source, said second electromagnetically controlled switch being selectively switchable, in response to a bias control signal from the signal acquisition module, between one switch state causing said waveform signal to be applied to said comparator and another switch state causing bias and attenuation of said waveform signal to be applied to said comparator.

2. The configurable control system of claim 1, wherein said comparator is adapted to receive an input signal from said input signal pin, and a synchronization signal from said synchronization signal generator and to generate a comparator output a signal to said signal acquisition module.

3. The configurable control system of claim 1, wherein said first electromagnetically controlled switch and second electromagnetically controlled switch are one of:

a N-Channel Field Effect Transistor, a P-Channel Field Effect Transistor, an opto-coupler, and a relay.

4. The configurable control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first electromagnetically controlled switch and the second electromagnetically controlled switch transitions from a state conducting electricity to a state that does not conduct electricity in response to an electrical signal, an optical signal or a magnetic signal.

5. The configurable control system of claim 1, wherein said input-cell is created, assembled, manufactured, fabricated or formed on a common substrate with at least one of said synchronization control module, said control logic and said synchronization signal generator.

6. A method of acquiring a plurality of signals comprising the steps of:

providing a synchronization control module, configuring a plurality of configurable signal acquisition modules connected with said synchronization control module;

providing a control logic connected with said plurality of signal acquisition modules;

providing a plurality of input-cells respectively connected with said plurality of signal acquisition modules, each operable to convert input signal parameters into a plurality of time-based parameters;

providing a synchronization signal generator connected with said plurality of input-cells acquiring a plurality of input signals, each said input signal acquired by one of said plurality of input-cells;

converting said acquired input signal into a plurality of time-based parameters; and

converting said plurality of time-based parameters into a digital form, wherein said converting of said acquired input signals into a plurality of time-based parameters is controlled by first and second electromagnetically controlled switches within the plurality of input-cells.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said signal acquisition module connected to one of said input-cells is configured to control said first and second electromagnetically controlled switches according to the type of parameters characterizing the input signal acquired by said one of plurality of input-cells.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said steps of converting said acquired input signals into a plurality of time-based parameters and converting said time-based parameters into a required digital form are performed based upon externally supplied electromagnetic signals that control the first and second electromagnetically controlled switches.

9. A method for operating an input-cell, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a sensor input signal, a digital-bias first control input and second control input;

using a first resistor network to apply an analog pull-up bias to the sensor input signal when the bias of the first control input is in a first digital state and, to provide a path for at least a portion of the first resistor network to a ground to cause the first resistor network to apply a pull-down bias to the sensor input signal when the bias of the first control input is in a second digital state;

receiving a voltage reference and a synchronization input;

using a second resistor network to apply a synchronization input to a comparator when the bias of the second control input is in a first digital state and, to apply a biased and attenuated input waveform signal to the comparator when the bias of the second control input is in a second digital state; and

comparing the biased sensor input signal to the waveform applied by the second resistor network to determine an input-cell output, so that the input-cell can convert the sensor input signal to a time-based parameter.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said input waveform signal is a saw-tooth signal.

11. An input-cell comprising:

a comparator having a first input, a second input and an output, said comparator generating an output signal based upon a comparison of the signals at the first comparator input and the second comparator input;

a sensor signal acquisition circuit having;

a sensor signal input to receive a signal from a sensor and to provide the sensor signal to the first input of the comparator;

a resistor network comprising a plurality of bias resistors connected in series between a first reference voltage and the sensor signal input;

a first electromagnetically controlled switch connected between at least two of the plurality of bias resistors and a ground, said first electromagnetically controlled switch transitioning in response to a first bias control signal between a condition wherein the first electromagnetically controlled switch provides an electrical connection between the first resistor network and the ground and, a condition wherein the first electromagnetically controlled switch does not provide such an electrical connection; and

an externally controllable reference control circuit comprising;

a synchronization input connected to the second input of the comparator with a first reference resistor connected therebetween; and

a second electromagnetically controlled switch connected between a second reference voltage source and the second input of the comparator with a second reference resistor therebetween, said second electromagnetically controlled switch transitioning in response to a second bias control signal between a condition that defines an electrical connection between the second reference voltage, the second reference resistor and the second input of the comparator and a condition that does not define such an electrical connection, so that the synchronization input at the second input of the comparator can be biased and attenuated.

12. The input-cell of claim 11, wherein said comparator is adapted to receive an input signal from an input signal pin, and a synchronization signal from a synchronization signal generator and to generate a comparator output signal to a signal acquisition module.

13. The input-cell of claim 11, wherein said first electromagnetically controlled switch and second electromagnetically controlled switch are one of:

a N-Channel Field Effect Transistor, a P-Channel Field Effect Transistor, an opto-coupler, and a relay.

14. The input-cell of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first electromagnetically controlled switch and the second electromagnetically controlled switch transition from a state conducting electricity to a state that does not conduct electricity in response to an electrical signal, an optical signal or a magnetic signal.

15. An input-cell comprising:

an analog comparator having a first comparator input, a second comparator input and an output said comparator adapted to generate a comparator output signal at an output that indicates whether an amplitude of a signal at the first input is greater than an amplitude of the signal at the second input;

a first switch having a first control line adapted to receive a first digital control signal, and to transition between an open state and a closed state in response to the first digital control signal, said first switch connected to the first comparator input and to a first resistor network to apply a pull-up bias at the first input when the switch is in one of the open states or the closed states, and to apply a pull-down bias at said input signal when the switch is in a different state; and

a second switch having a second control line adapted to receive a second digital control signal and to transition between an open state and a closed state in response to the second digital control signal;

said second switch being electrically connected to a synchronization input, the second comparator input and a second resistor network to subject a waveform provided by the synchronization input to a different bias and attenuation when the second switch is in the closed state than when the second switch is in the open state.

16. An input-cell comprising:

a comparator having a first comparator input, a second comparator input and an output, said comparator generating a comparator output signal based upon comparison of signals at the first and second input;

a first resistor and second resistor connected in series between a first voltage reference source and a sensor input connected to the first input of the comparator;

a first switch connected to the first and second resistors and a ground, said first switch adapted to receive a signal from a first control line and to switch in response to the signal received from the first control line so that the first and second resistors provide different biases to the sensor input on the first input when the first switch is closed and when the first switch is open;

a third resistor and fourth resistor connected in series between a second reference voltage source; and

a second switch and a synchronization input, said third resistor and fourth resistor connected to said second comparator input;

said second switch being connected to a second control line and to receive a signal from the second control line to either apply the waveform input to the second comparator input or apply a biased and attenuated waveform input to said second comparator input, so that a control circuit logic of the input-cell but connected thereto can selectively adjust the bias applied to the sensor input and adaptively define the signal to which the sensor input is compared.