Peripheral data acquisition, monitor, and control device for a personal computer
First Claim
1. An interface apparatus for providing communication between at least one peripheral electronic device and a personal computer (PC) having a keyboard port and a keyboard bus, said interface apparatus connected to said PC via said keyboard bus, said keyboard bus including a bidirectional data line for normally providing two-way data communication between a keyboard and said PC, said PC adapted to communicate with said keyboard via said keyboard bus using a particular keycode format based upon the coding of keyboard keystroke information as individual sequential keyboard characters, said peripheral electronic device having means for monitoring and controlling remotely-located, electrically-controlled equipment, said peripheral electronic device further having means for providing at least one device monitor signal indicative of the operational status of said equipment, said monitor signal having a signal format not directly compatible with said particular keycode format, said interface apparatus comprising:
- input means for receiving said monitor signal from said peripheral electronic device, and for providing a digital input signal in response thereto;
translator means for providing a translated input data signal in response to said digital input signal, said translated input data signal having a signal format which is directly compatible with said particular keycode format such that said translated input data signal is adapted to be directly interpreted by said PC as keyboard keystroke information;
write means for transmitting said translated input data signal to said PC over said keyboard bus via said keyboard port; and
read means for receiving and interpreting a return data signal transmitted by said PC over said keyboard bus via said keyboard port.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A peripheral data acquisition, monitor, and control device is disclosed which utilizes an Input/Output (I/O) Bridge device for interfacing signals from electronically-controlled peripheral devices to a personal computer (PC) via the keyboard port, thus permitting data, such as measurement data, to be automatically and directly entered into application programs such that the PC can take action and control outputs based upon the measurement data. The I/O Bridge device automatically inputs information into the host computer without having to manually type the information on the keyboard, and also interfaces with the host computer in order to monitor and control various real-world tasks, such as manufacturing functions.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An interface apparatus for providing communication between at least one peripheral electronic device and a personal computer (PC) having a keyboard port and a keyboard bus, said interface apparatus connected to said PC via said keyboard bus, said keyboard bus including a bidirectional data line for normally providing two-way data communication between a keyboard and said PC, said PC adapted to communicate with said keyboard via said keyboard bus using a particular keycode format based upon the coding of keyboard keystroke information as individual sequential keyboard characters, said peripheral electronic device having means for monitoring and controlling remotely-located, electrically-controlled equipment, said peripheral electronic device further having means for providing at least one device monitor signal indicative of the operational status of said equipment, said monitor signal having a signal format not directly compatible with said particular keycode format, said interface apparatus comprising:
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input means for receiving said monitor signal from said peripheral electronic device, and for providing a digital input signal in response thereto; translator means for providing a translated input data signal in response to said digital input signal, said translated input data signal having a signal format which is directly compatible with said particular keycode format such that said translated input data signal is adapted to be directly interpreted by said PC as keyboard keystroke information; write means for transmitting said translated input data signal to said PC over said keyboard bus via said keyboard port; and read means for receiving and interpreting a return data signal transmitted by said PC over said keyboard bus via said keyboard port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for interfacing two-way data signals between a primary computer having a keyboard port and at least one peripheral electronic device, said keyboard port having a keyboard bus including a bidirectional data line for normally providing two-way data communication between a keyboard and said primary computer, said apparatus connected to said primary computer via said keyboard bus, said apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving an input signal from said peripheral electronic device; means for transmitting said keyboard code signal to said primary computer using only said keyboard bus; means for receiving keyboard command data from said primary computer using only said keyboard bus; means for executing said keyboard command data and for providing an output signal in response which can be interpreted by said peripheral electronic device; and means for transmitting said output signal to said peripheral electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A peripheral data acquisition, monitor, and control device for interfacing a computer to an electrically-controlled apparatus, said computer having a central processor, a keyboard port, and a keyboard bus coupled to said keyboard port, said keyboard bus including a bidirectioal data line for normally providing two-way data communication between a keyboard and said central processor, said device comprising:
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analog input circuit means for receiving analog monitor signals from said electrically-controlled apparatus; analog-to-digital converter means for converting said received analog monitor signals into digital monitor signals; a programmable controller including a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory, and a read only memory, said programmable controller being programmed to translate said digital monitor signals into keyboard code signals having a format acceptable by the central processor of the computer as keyboard keystroke information, and to provide digital control signals in response to keyboard command signals sent by said central processor of said computer; keyboard interface circuit means for providing a two-way interface between said programmable controller and said central processor over said keyboard bus; digital-to-analog converter means for converting said digital control signals into analog control signals; and analog output circuit means for transmitting said analog control signals to said electrically-controlled apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of providing two-way communication between at least one peripheral electronic device and a personal computer (PC) having a keyboard port and a keyboard bus, by interfacing to said PC over said keyboard bus, said keyboard bus including a bidirectional data line for normally providing two-way data communication between a keyboard and said PC, said PC adapted to communicate with said keyboard via said keyboard bus using a particular keycode format based upon the coding of keyboard keystroke information as individual sequential keyboard characters, said peripheral electronic device having means for monitoring and controlling remotely-located, electrically-controlled equipment, said peripheral electronic device further having means for providing at least one device monitor signal indicative of the operational status of said equipment, said monitor signal having a signal format not directly compatible with said particular keycode format, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving said monitor signal from said peripheral electronic device and providing a digital input signal in response thereto; (b) translating said digital input signal into a translated input data signal having a signal format which is directly compatible with said particular keycode format such that said translated input data signal is adapted to be directly interpreted by said PC as keyboard keystroke information; (c) transmitting said translated input data signal to said PC over said keyboard bus through said keyboard port; and (d) receiving said interpreting a return data signal transmitted by said PC over said keyboard bus via said keyboard port. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of monitoring and controlling at least one peripheral electronic device by a computer having a keyboard port, the monitoring and controlling being performed using only said keyboard port, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving an input signal from said peripheral electronic device; (b) translating said input signal into a keyboard code signal which emulates individual sequential keyboard character keystroke information and which is adapted to be interpreted by said computer as keyboard keystroke information; (c) transmitting said keyboard code signal to said computer using only said keyboard port; (d) receiving keyboard command data from said computer using only said keyboard port, said keyboard command data being determined by said computer in response to said keyboard code signal and provided to said keyboard port; (e) executing said keyboard command data and providing an output signal in response which can be interpreted by said peripheral electronic device; and (f) transmitting said output signal to said peripheral electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification