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Real time monitoring of remote signals in an industrial environment

  • US 4,996,655 A
  • Filed: 02/16/1989
  • Issued: 02/26/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for sampling signal timing states of equipment which has a signal output of operational states, and the signal output occurs in a substantially real time relationship to the operational states, comprising:

  • (a) a monitor interface for monitoring the signal output of the operational states and providing signals representative of the operational states;

    (b) the monitor being electrically isolated from signals on the equipment which are being monitored and requiring no extra strobes or setup data from the equipment;

    (c) a data latch for receiving the signals representative of the operational states in a parallel format and transmitting a latched output in response to a latch enable signal;

    (d) a serial transmitter receiving signals from the data latch and providing corresponding signals in a serial format;

    (e) timing and control circuitry for controlling a timing sequence of the latch enable signal and the receipt by the serial transmitter of the signals;

    (f) a receiver circuit connected to a computer processing unit and having a data register which is addressable by the computer processing unit, wherein said receiver circuit receives the signals in the serial format and provides signals representative of said signal output of the operational states in a format which may be addressed by the computer processing unit; and

    (g) means to clock the receipt by the serial transmitter of the signals and for providing signals of said signal output of the operational states in the computer addressable format, the means to clock being independent of a clock speed of the computer processing unit.

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