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Auto-configured instrumentation interface

  • US 5,444,644 A
  • Filed: 01/27/1994
  • Issued: 08/22/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a data acquisition system including a plurality of input devices and a plurality of output devices, signal processing means operable in a data acquisition mode for monitoring the input devices and controlling the output devices, and a plurality of interface circuits interposed between said input and output devices and said signal processing means for interfacing said devices with said signal processing means, each of said interface circuits comprising:

  • conditioning circuit means having an input circuit with at least one of said devices being connected to said input circuit,said conditioning circuit means including drive circuit means coupled to said input circuit for providing a drive signal for said connected device, current monitoring means coupled to said input circuit for providing a signal indicative of the current flowing through said connected device, and voltage monitoring means for providing a signal indicative of the voltage across said connected device,said signal processing means being programmed to be operable in a configuring mode to control said drive circuit means to vary the drive signal to thereby vary at least one of the current flowing through said connected device and the voltage across said connected device, and said signal processing means processing the signals provided by said current monitoring means and said voltage monitoring means as the current through and the voltage across said connected device and are varied to determine whether said connected device is an input or an output type device and to configure said conditioning circuit means as a function of the type of device connected thereto, said signal processing means identifying said connected device as an input type device when, in the absence of a drive signal, said voltage monitoring means provides a signal and as an output type device when said voltage monitoring means fails to provide a signal, and said signal processing means configuring said conditioning circuit means to enable a connected device that is identified as an input type device to be monitored while said signal processing means is operating in said data acquisition mode, and to enable a connected device that is identified as an output type to be controlled by drive signals provided by said drive circuit means while said signal processing means is operating in said data acquisition mode.

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