Apparatus for sensing, transmitting and displaying signal states

• US 4,037,199 A
• Filed: 11/18/1975
• Issued: 07/19/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Wedler, Hartmut, Rozehnal, Gunther
• Primary Examiner(s): Traeton, David L.
• Application Number:
  US05/632,912
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 340/150, 340/183, 340/413, 340/324 R, 179/15 AL
• US Class Current: 340/870.13
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/12 the signals being represented by pulse characteristics in transmission link

Abstract

Apparatus for sensing, communicating and displaying signal states in a multiplicity of functional units is described. A signal multiplexer is assigned to each given functional unit; the multiplexer inputs are connected to signal lines carrying the signal states of the functional unit. The outputs of the signal multiplexers are connected by time division multiplex (TDM) trunks to a group multiplexer. A multiplexer control applies first encoded selection signals to the signal multiplexers for selection of signal lines at the signal multiplexers. The selected signaling lines are interrogated, and the signal states are transmitted timewise in parallel with the signal states of other functional units over the corresponding TDM trunks to the group multiplexer. The multiplexer control applies second encoded selection signals to the group multiplexer for connecting the TDM trunks to group TDM trunks throughout the duration of a sampling phase. At the display location, a shift register receives the signal states from the group TDM trunks. The clock pulse coupled to the shift register is interrupted upon acceptance of signal states sent from a functional unit for the duration of a display phase.

Claims

1. Apparatus for sensing, communicating and displaying signal states occurring in a plurality of functional units, comprising:

a plurality of signal multiplexer means, one of which is coupled to each said functional unit for sensing the signal states occurring in that functional unit,

group multiplexer means having inputs connected to time division multiplex (TDM) trunks which are connected to outputs of said signal multiplexer means,

a group TDM trunk connected to the output of said group multiplexer means,

multiplexer control means including means for supplying first encoded selection signals to said plurality of signal multiplexer means for selecting signal lines to be sensed such that signal states from corresponding signal lines from said functional units are sensed at the same time and coupled to said group multiplexer means in parallel and including means for supplying second encoded selection signals for the selection of any of said TDM trunks to be connected through said group multiplexer means to said group TDM trunk in any desired sequence, each said TDM trunk being so connected for the duration of a sampling phase,

display means including shift register means for receiving the output of said group TDM trunk, and

timing means for supplying timing pulses to said shift register means, said timing pulses being interrupted upon acceptance of sensed signal states for the duration of a display phase.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means for supplying second encoded selection signals is adapted to provide said second selection signals for selecting each of said TDM trunks in sequence.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means for supplying second encoded selection signals is adapted to provide said second selection signals for random selection of any of said TDM trunks.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said display means further comprises visual display means connected in parallel to outputs of the stages of said shift register means and further comprising means for actuating said visual display means responsive to said second encoded selection signals.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 additionally comprising a plurality of visual display means formed into groups, the number of groups being equal to or smaller than the number of functional units.