Industrial control, communications and information system
First Claim
1. In an industrial communication and information control system for converting alarm condition signals at an industrial facility to a verbal alarm corresponding to said condition, including means for producing said alarm condition signals, a central data processing unit, memory means coupled to said central data processing unit, voice synthesis processor means controlled by said central data processing unit for producing audio voice signals and speaker means for converting said audio voice signals to an audible sound alarm, and power supply means for supplying electrical energy to the central data processing unit, said memory means and voice synthesis processor, the improvement comprisingmeans for sensing said alarm condition signal and producing a power supply control signal,electronic switch means coupled to said power supply means for controlling energy from said power supply means to said central data processing unit, said memory means and said voice synthesiser processor, andmeans coupling said power supply control signal to said electronic switch means only upon the presence of a sensed alarm condition signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An industrial control, communication and information system in which a speech synthesis device produces an analog speech waveform from digital data stored in a memory under control of a microprocessing unit and is interfaced to a source of control or speech selection signals by an interface system. The interface system uses the input switch closure to generate a signal to switch on power to the logic and other electronic circuits and protects the internal logic from harsh external electrical conditions such as transients and the like and eliminates false inputs and the effects of switch bounce.
56 Citations
13 Claims
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1. In an industrial communication and information control system for converting alarm condition signals at an industrial facility to a verbal alarm corresponding to said condition, including means for producing said alarm condition signals, a central data processing unit, memory means coupled to said central data processing unit, voice synthesis processor means controlled by said central data processing unit for producing audio voice signals and speaker means for converting said audio voice signals to an audible sound alarm, and power supply means for supplying electrical energy to the central data processing unit, said memory means and voice synthesis processor, the improvement comprising
means for sensing said alarm condition signal and producing a power supply control signal, electronic switch means coupled to said power supply means for controlling energy from said power supply means to said central data processing unit, said memory means and said voice synthesiser processor, and means coupling said power supply control signal to said electronic switch means only upon the presence of a sensed alarm condition signal.
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5. In an industrial communication and information control system having electrical switch means for producing a plurality of electrical signals corresponding to a plurality of alarm conditions in an industrial facility, a central data processing unit for scanning said means for producing a plurality of signals, the improvement comprising,
means for sensing the presence of signals corresponding to any one of said alarm conditions, and producing an activating signal, means coupling said activating signal to said central data processing unit for activating same, each said switch means being connected to an optical couple having a light emitting element and a light detecting element, said activating signal being constituted by current flow to one of said light emitting elements, and all of said light detecting elements being simultaneously electrically energized by a common signal from said central data processing unit.
- 8. An industrial communication and alarm information control system having a plurality of electrical switch means for producing a respective plurality of electrical signals corresponding to a plurality of alarm conditions in an industrial facility, a central data processing unit, memory means, a voice synthesis processor unit, speaker means coupled to said voice synthesis unit for producing audible voice alarms related to the sensed alarm condition and a bi-directional data bus interconnecting all of said units, an optical couple connecting each said electrical switch, respectively, each said optical couple including a light emitting element coupled to a source of electrical energy through its associated switch, and a light detecting element for producing electrical signals on said bi-directional bus.
Specification