REMOTE OPERATING CONDITION DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM

• US 3,820,074 A
• Filed: 03/20/1972
• Issued: 06/25/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wilcox Electric Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Donald J. Toman
• Inventors: Toman, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/236,108
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 340/151,152,183,409,163 179/2R 325/55,133,363,2,6,53 343/177 178/71T
• US Class Current: 340/870.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/024 of beacon transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C

Abstract

Data readings indicative of a plurality of different operating conditions of a radio navigation aid transmitter are automatically taken and means are provided for converting the data readings to a form which can be transmitted over a nondedicated voice band-width communication link. An interface means is coupled to the converting means and operable to establish a connection with a communication link for transmission of the data readings.

Claims

1. A remote operating condition data acquisition system comprising means for sequentially taking data readings indicative of a plurality of different operating conditions of an associated electronic apparatus, said sequential data reading means being dedicated to the taking of data readings relating to the operation of said associated electronic apparatus and being operable independent of sequence initiation signals from an outside source, means coupled to said sequential data reading means for converting said data readings to a form which can be transmitted over a voice band-width communication link, a voice link interface means coupled to said converting means, means coupled with said converting means and said interface means for storing said data readings for subsequent read-out, said interface means being operable to establish a connection with a non-dedicated voice channel for transmitting said converted data readings from said data storage means over the voice channel to a central station remote from said system.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said interface means is operable to establish the connection to the communication link for transmitting the data readings in response to an incoming interrogation call.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is provided a time clock and a control means operable to cause recordation of said operating condition data readings in said data storage means at predetermined time intervals.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote operating condition data acquisition system comprises a single station in a network of similar data acquisition systems, said network including a central station connected and arranged with communicaTion link call-out equipment to establish connections to each of said remote data acquisition systems.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sequential data reading means comprises a multiplex cycling switch means connected for detecting said different operating conditions in sequence in terms of voltages, and a single voltage conversion device connected to said multiplex switching means for operation sequentially to convert a plurality of the voltages from said multiplex switch means to electrically recordable signals.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said voltage conversion device comprises a digital voltmeter.

7. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said voltage conversion device is combined in said means for converting said data readings to a form which can be transmitted over a voice band-width communication link.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said voltage conversion device comprises a voltage controlled oscillator.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is provided means responsive to command signals received over the voice channel through said voice link interface means, said means for receiving said command signals being operable for carrying out the commands, the commands being commands affecting the electronic apparatus.

10. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is provided means for detecting at least one special event affecting the operating conditions of said electronic apparatus, a storage means for storing an indication of the occurrence of the special event, said storage means being operable to supply the special event indication through said voice link interface means along with the data readings over the voice channel.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10 wherein there is provided a time clock, said storage means being connected to said time clock for storing an indication of the time from said time clock when the special event is detected, said storage means being operable to provide said time indication along with the special event indication through said voice link interface means.

12. A system as claimed in claim 10 wherein there is included means for detecting the condition when said special event storage means is full, a control means connected to receive a signal from said detecting means indicating that said storage means is full, said control means being connected to said voice link interface means and operable in response to said special event storage means full signal for establishing an outgoing connection to transmit the storage special event information over the voice channel.

13. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is provided a monitoring apparatus operable to monitor the useful signal outputs of the electronic apparatus and to detect a malfunction of the electronic apparatus in terms of a failure to deliver an accurate signal output, said data storage means being coupled to said monitor and operable in response to the detection of a malfunction of the electronic apparatus for recording said operating data readings.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said voice link interface means includes means for initiating an outgoing connection, a control means operable to receive the malfunction signal from said monitor, said control means being operable in response to said malfunction signal to actuate said voice link interface means to initiate an outgoing connection to provide a message on a voice channel to a central station to indicate the malfunction of the apparatus and to transmit the data stored in said data storage means to said central station to indicate the operating conditions of said apparatus at the time of malfunction.

15. A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein there is provided means operable after a predetermined delay for shutting down said apparatus in response to a detection of a malfunction by said monitor.

16. A system As claimed in claim 13 wherein said sequential data taking means is operable to take a plurality of different data readings indicative of a plurality of different operating conditions of said monitor as well as the operating conditions of said apparatus.

17. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electronic apparatus is a radio navigation aid transmitter, and the useful signal outputs are radiated radio navigation aid guidance signals.

18. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said voice band-width communication link is a telephone link, said voice link interface means is a telephone interface means, and said voice channel is a telephone line.