Control system using time division multiplexing
First Claim
1. A multiplex system for communicating a sensor device with a remotely located control device comprising:
- a synchronization line;
a signal line;
master synchronization circuit means for generating a synchronization signal coupled to said synchronization line, said synchronization signal being generated each time frame and including a periodic signal portion and a reset signal portion, each cycle of said periodic signal portion defining a time slot in said time frame;
a plurality of transmitters, each including triggerable counter circuit means and being connected to said synchronization line and said signal line and responsive to said reset signal portion of said synchronization signal for loading a predetermined count representative of an assigned time slot into said counter means, said synchronization signal portion being operative to trigger all transmitter counter circuit means simultaneously, each transmitter further including gating circuit means responsive to said counter circuit means reaching a predetermined count for coupling an output signal of said sensor to said signal line; and
a plurality of receivers, each including triggerable counter circuit means and being connected to said synchronization line and said signal line and responsive to said reset signal portion of said synchronization signal for loading a predetermined count representative of an assigned time slot into said receiver counter means, said periodic signal portion being operative to trigger all of said receiver counter circuit means simultaneously, each receiver further including output circuit means responsive to said counter circuit means reaching a predetermined count for coupling a signal on said signal line to an associated control device during the time slot associated with that receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for selectively communicating a plurality of sensors with associated remote control devices includes a Master Synchronizer, a transmitter for each sensor and a receiver for each control device. A single signal line is connected to all transmitters and receivers, and a single synchronization line couples the Master Synchronizer to all transmitters and receivers. The Master Synchronizer generates a time frame signal which has a reset portion for resetting all transmitters and receivers synchronously at the start of each frame, and a periodic portion which determines the time slots for each frame and which decrements counters in all transmitters and receivers synchronously. A time division multiplex system is used to communicate each transmitter with one or more associated receivers during a predetermined time slot of a periodic time frame determined by the Master Synchronizer. At the beginning of each frame, all counters are set to a predetermined number representative of the time slot allocated to those units. When their counters are decremented to zero, a time slot is defined for communicating a transmitter with its associated receiver or receivers. Thus a transmitter is permitted to send a signal along the signal line which causes a response only in the receiver whose counter has been decremented to zero during the same time slot. A decrementing counter in the Master Synchronizer defines the complete time frame; and when it reaches zero, the transmission of sync pulses to all transmitters and receivers is inhibited for a predetermined time. This absence of sync pulses is used to reset the Master Synchronizer and all transmitters and receivers at the start of each frame. An energy-containing signal, rather than the absence of a signal, is required to activate a control device.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A multiplex system for communicating a sensor device with a remotely located control device comprising:
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a synchronization line; a signal line; master synchronization circuit means for generating a synchronization signal coupled to said synchronization line, said synchronization signal being generated each time frame and including a periodic signal portion and a reset signal portion, each cycle of said periodic signal portion defining a time slot in said time frame; a plurality of transmitters, each including triggerable counter circuit means and being connected to said synchronization line and said signal line and responsive to said reset signal portion of said synchronization signal for loading a predetermined count representative of an assigned time slot into said counter means, said synchronization signal portion being operative to trigger all transmitter counter circuit means simultaneously, each transmitter further including gating circuit means responsive to said counter circuit means reaching a predetermined count for coupling an output signal of said sensor to said signal line; and a plurality of receivers, each including triggerable counter circuit means and being connected to said synchronization line and said signal line and responsive to said reset signal portion of said synchronization signal for loading a predetermined count representative of an assigned time slot into said receiver counter means, said periodic signal portion being operative to trigger all of said receiver counter circuit means simultaneously, each receiver further including output circuit means responsive to said counter circuit means reaching a predetermined count for coupling a signal on said signal line to an associated control device during the time slot associated with that receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A time division multiplex control system for selectively communicating a plurality of sensors with associated remote control devices over a signal line, comprising:
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a sync line; master synchronization circuit means for generating a periodic time frame signal on said sync line, each time frame signal including a reset signal portion and a periodic signal portion, said periodic signal portion defining time slots in said frame, a time slot being allocated to each transmitter and its associated receiver or receivers; transmitter circuit means for each sensor, each transmitter comprising storage means for storing signals representative of an assigned time slot;
triggerable counter circuit means for generating an output signal when the contents thereof reach a predetermined count;
reset circuit means responsive to the reset signal portion of said synchronization signal for transferring the contents of said storage means to said counter circuit means;
clock circuit means responsive only to the periodic signal portion of said synchronization signal for triggering said counter circuit means in timed relation therewith; and
output gate circuit means responsive to said output signal of said counter circuit means for coupling the output signal of the associated sensor to said signal line when said counter circuit means has reached said predetermined count;receiver circuit means for each control device, each receiver comprising storage means for storing signals representative of an assigned time slot;
triggerable counter circuit means for generating an output signal when the contents thereof reach a predetermined count;
reset circuit means responsive to the reset signal portion of said synchronization signal for transferring the contents of said storage means to said counter circuit means;
circuit means responsive only to the periodic signal portion of said synchronization signal for triggering said counter circuit means in timed relation therewith; and
output gate circuit means responsive to said output signal of said counter circuit means for coupling a signal on said signal line from an associated transmitter when said counter circuit means has reached said predetermined count to control the associated control device.
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10. In a time division multiplex control system for selectively communicating a plurality of sensors with associated remote control devices over a single signal line, the combination comprising:
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a sync line; master synchronization circuit means for generating a periodic time frame signal on said sync line, each time frame signal including a reset signal portion in which no signal appears on said sync line and a periodic signal portion defining time slots in said frame, a time slot being allocated to each transmitter and its associated receiver or receivers;
a plurality of transmitters, one for each sensor and including a decrementing counter circuit;
reset timer circuit means responsive to the reset signal portion of said synchronization signal for loading a predetermined count into said counter circuit means;
clock generator circuit means for decrementing said counter in timed relation with said periodic signal portion of said synchronization signal for generating an output signal when the contents thereof reach zero;
an output gate circuit means responsive to the output signal of said counter circuit means and to said clock signal for communicating an associated sensor to said signal line when the contents of said counter are decremented to zero; anda receiver circuit means associated with each transmitter circuit means and enabled only during an assigned time slot for communicating the signal on said signal line during said assigned time slot to an associated control device.
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11. A multiplex system for communicating a sensor device with a remotely located control device comprising:
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a synchronization line; a signal line; master synchronization circuit means for generating a synchronization signal coupled to said synchronization line, said synchronization signal being generated each time frame and including a periodic signal portion and a reset signal portion, each cycle of said periodic signal portion defining a time slot in said time frame; a plurality of transmitters, each including first circuit means and being connected to said synchronization line and said signal line and responsive to said reset signal portion of said synchronization signal for storing predetermined count signals representative of a time slot associated with a respective transmitter, said periodic signal portion being operative to change the contents of all of said first circuit means simultaneously by a predetermined increment, each transmitter further including gating circuit means responsive to said first circuit means reaching a predetermined count for coupling an output signal of said sensor to said signal line; and a plurality of receivers, each including second circuit means and being connected to said synchronization line and said signal line and responsive to said reset signal portion of said synchronization signal for storing predetermined count signals representative of a time slot associated with a respective receiver, said periodic signal portion being operative to trigger all of said second circuit means simultaneously by said predetermined increment, each receiver further including output circuit means responsive to said second circuit means reaching a predetermined count for coupling a signal on said signal line to an associated control device during the time slot associated with that receiver.
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Specification