Data acquisition module and method
First Claim
1. A data acquisition apparatus, comprising:
- input means for receiving electrical signals from at least one transducer;
digital storage means for storing digital signals corresponding to the electrical signals received by said input means;
first microcomputer means, connected to said input means and said digital storage means, for transferring the digital signals into said digital storage means;
second microcomputer means, connected to said digital storage means, for transferring the digital signals out of said digital storage means onto a transmission line; and
output means for controlling an analog switch in response to said first microcomputer means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data acquisition apparatus includes two microcomputers interconnected by a shared dual access digital storage device. One microcomputer obtains the data related to the monitored condition, stores it in the digital storage device, and modifies a status word which is monitored by the other microcomputer. When the other microcomputer detects a change in the status word, it takes the data from the shared digital memory and moves it into its own memory for subsequent use or transfer. The data acquisition apparatus also includes, in a preferred embodiment, analog switches and a digital to analog converter by which external analog devices can be controlled to change the monitored operation.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A data acquisition apparatus, comprising:
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input means for receiving electrical signals from at least one transducer; digital storage means for storing digital signals corresponding to the electrical signals received by said input means; first microcomputer means, connected to said input means and said digital storage means, for transferring the digital signals into said digital storage means; second microcomputer means, connected to said digital storage means, for transferring the digital signals out of said digital storage means onto a transmission line; and output means for controlling an analog switch in response to said first microcomputer means. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of acquiring data in response to a detected characteristic, comprising:
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representing the detected characteristic as a digital electrical signal generated at a first location which is near where the detected characteristic exists; operating a first micromomputer at the first location to transfer the digital electrical signal into a digital memory, wherein said operating a first microcomputer includes modifying a digital status word, stored in the digital memory, when the first microcomputer transfers the digital electrical signal into the digital memory; and operating a second microcomputer at the first location to transfer the digital electrical signal from the digital memory to a port connectible to a communication conduit extending from the first location to a second location which is spaced from the first location, wherein said operating a second microcomputer includes detecting when the status word is modified and commencing the transfer of the digital electrical signal in response thereto.
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4. A method of acquiring data in response to a detected characteristic from among a plurality of characteristics to be detected, comprising:
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representing the detected characteristic as a digital electrical signal generated at a first location which is near where the detected characteristic exists; operating a first microcomputer at the first location to transfer the digital electrical signal into a digital memory; operating a second microcomputer at the first location to transfer the digital electrical signal from the digital memory to a port connected to a communication conduit extending from the first location to a second location which is spaced from the first location; operating the second microcomputer to transfer digital control data from the communication conduit to the digital memory; and operating the first microcomputer to receive the digital control data from the digital memory and to provide a control output signal in response to the digital control data for changing which of the plurality of characteristics is detected.
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5. A method of acquiring data in response to a detected characteristic, comprising:
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representing the detected characteristic as a digital electrical signal generated at a first location which is near where the detected characteristic exists; operating a first microcomputer at the first location to transfer the digital electrical signal into a digital memory; operating a second microcomputer at the first location to transfer the digital electrical signal from the digital memory to a port connectible to a communication conduit extending from the first location to a second location which is spaced from the first location; entering digital control data at the first location; operating the first microcomputer to transfer the digital control data into the digital memory; and operating the second microcomputer to transfer the digital control data from the digital memory to the port for transmission over the communication conduit to control another device connected to the communication conduit.
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6. A method of acquiring data in response to a detected characteristic, comprising:
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representing the detected characteristic as a digital electrical signal generated at a first location which is near where the detected characteristic exists; operating a first microcomputer at the first location to transfer the digital electrical signal into a digital memory; operating a second microcomputer at the first location to transfer the digital electrical signal from the digital memory to a port connectible to a communication conduit extending from the first location to a second location which is spaced from the first location; and wherein representing the detected characteristic as a digital electrical signal includes; entering, at least once, calibration factors through the first microcomputer into a second digital memory at the first location; receiving a transducer signal from a transducer detecting the characteristic; and creating the digital electrical signal in response to the transducer signal and the calibration factors. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A data acquisition apparatus for locally monitoring near a process at least one detected condition of a plurality of detectable conditions of the process and for making data corresponding to the detected condition available to a remote location spaced from the process, said apparatus comprising:
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a single housing, including; a receptacle member; and a cover member detachably connected to said receptacle member, said cover member having at least one display opening and a keyboard opening defined therein; a keyboard mounted in said keyboard opening of said cover member; display circuit means for providing a visual output observable through said display opening of said cover member; control microcomputer circuit means, connected to said keyboard and said display circuit means, for receiving inputs from said keyboard and for controlling said display circuit means; input circuit means, connected to said control microcomputer circuit means, for providing digital signals to said control microcomputer circuit means in response to a condition detected by an external detector connected to said input circuit means; dual port random access memory circuit means for receiving data from said control microcomputer circuit means, said dual port random access memory circuit means including a first port connected to said control microcomputer circuit means and further including a second port; a single information transfer conduit means for extending from said data acquisition apparatus to the remote location spaced from the process; transmission microcomputer circuit means, connected to said second port of said dual port random access memory circuit means, for transferring data from said dual port random access memory circuit to said single information transfer conduit means; means for mounting said display circuit means, said control microcomputer circuit means, said input circuit means, said dual port random access memory circuit means and said transmission microcomputer circuit means within said receptacle member; and means for connecting said single information transfer conduit means to said transmission microcomputer circuit means through said receptacle member. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification