Sequential analog/digital data multiplexing system and method
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring a variable, comprising:
- controller means;
a first electrical line emanating from said controller means;
means, within said controller means, for generating a reset signal and sending the reset signal along said first electrical line;
a second electrical line emanating from said controller means;
means, within said controller means, for receiving a sensing signal on said second electrical line;
a third electrical line emanating from said controller means;
means, within said controller means, for generating a polling signal and sending the polling signal along said third electrical line;
sensing means, connected to the second electrical line, for sensing a value of the variable and for producing said sensing signal, on said second electrical line, indicative of that value when said polling signal is present on said third electrical line;
means for sensing the noise level on said electrical lines before said sensing signal is produced on said second electrical line; and
means for determining the difference between said received sensing signal and said noise level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An analog and digital data-gathering system where the data gathering remote device or sequencer units are serially connected such that initially only the device closest to a control unit is powered and other data-gathering devices in the system are sequentially switched into circuit as each such remote device or sequencer unit responds to polling signals from the control unit. The system initially measures the signal from the wiring to a remote device or sequencer unit without the device being activated in order to determine the noise level present in the circuit wiring. The corresponding remote device is then activated by being interrogated or polled after that noise level has been determined.
18 Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring a variable, comprising:
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controller means; a first electrical line emanating from said controller means; means, within said controller means, for generating a reset signal and sending the reset signal along said first electrical line; a second electrical line emanating from said controller means; means, within said controller means, for receiving a sensing signal on said second electrical line; a third electrical line emanating from said controller means; means, within said controller means, for generating a polling signal and sending the polling signal along said third electrical line; sensing means, connected to the second electrical line, for sensing a value of the variable and for producing said sensing signal, on said second electrical line, indicative of that value when said polling signal is present on said third electrical line; means for sensing the noise level on said electrical lines before said sensing signal is produced on said second electrical line; and means for determining the difference between said received sensing signal and said noise level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for monitoring a variable, comprising:
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controller means; a first electrical line; a second electrical line; a third electrical line, wherein each of said electrical lines independently emanate from said controller means; first sensing means, connected to said second electrical line, for sensing the value of the variable and producing a sensing signal on said second electrical line when turned on; means for sensing the noise level on said electrical lines before said sensing means is turned on and said sensing signal is produced on said second electrical line; first gating means, connected to said third electrical line, for producing a first signal indicative of whether a polling signal is present on said third electrical line; first latching means, responsive to the first signal, for producing a first switching signal indicative of whether the polling signal has appeared on and been removed from said third electrical line and for producing a second signal indicative of whether the polling signal on said third electrical line is present; second gating means, responsive to the second signal, for turning on said first sensing means; means for sensing the level of said sensing signal on said second electrical line; means for determining the difference between said sensing signal and said noise level; and first switching means, connected in said second electrical line and responsive to the first switching signal, for permitting passage of electrical current therethrough in response to disappearance of the polling signal on said third electrical line. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for sequentially multiplexing data signals from a plurality of sensors, comprising the steps of:
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reading, on a storage device, the noise level between the controller and one of the sensors without the presence of a sensing signal indicative of the level of a variable being sensed by that one sensor; clearing the storage device; providing a reset signal to the sensors along a first electrical line for resetting each sensor; providing polling signal to one of the sensors along a second electrical line; in response to the a polling signal, generating at the one of the sensors the sensing signal for provision to the storage device along a third electrical line; reading the sensing signal on the storage device; clearing the storage device; determining the difference between the level of the read sensing signal and the noise level; and repeating all of the above steps except for the providing a reset signal step for each of the remaining sensors. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification