Annunciator control circuit

• US 5,877,678 A
• Filed: 07/24/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Donoho, T. Keith, Kloeblen, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US08/899,965
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/692, 340/326, 340/628, 340/500, 340/506, 340/310.01, 340/310.06, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions

Abstract

An annunciator control circuit adaptable for responding to a plurality of types of fault indicative inputs is provided. The control circuit includes a signal conditioning circuit portion having an input line and an output line. The signal conditioning circuit also includes switch means adjustable for selectively configuring the signal conditioning circuit portion to receive each of the plurality of types of fault indicative inputs at the input line thereof and to provide a conditioned fault indicative output signal in response thereto at the output line. The control circuit further includes a first latching circuit portion connected to the output line of the signal conditioning circuit portion and having a first output line. A first switching transistor of the control circuit includes a base, collector, and emitter, the base connected to the first output line of the first latching circuit portion. In response to receipt of the conditioned fault indicative output signal from the signal conditioning circuit portion, an output at the first output line of the first latching circuit portion latches the first switching transistor in an ON state. When the first switching transistor is connected to an operator output device such as a lamp or horn, the annunciator control circuit can be utilized to convey to an operator the occurrence of some type of fault in a system being monitored.

Claims

1. An annunciator control circuit adaptable for responding to a plurality of types of fault indicative inputs, comprising:

a signal conditioning circuit portion including an input line and an output line, the signal conditioning circuit portion including switch means adjustable for selectively configuring the signal conditioning circuit portion to receive each of the plurality of types of fault indicative inputs at the input line thereof and to provide a conditioned fault indicative output signal in response thereto at the output line thereof;

a first latching circuit portion connected to the output line of the signal conditioning circuit portion and having a first output line;

a first switching transistor including a base, collector, and emitter, the base connected to the first output line of the first latching circuit portion;

wherein, in response to receipt of the conditioned fault indicative output signal from the signal conditioning circuit portion, an output at the first output line of the first latching circuit portion latches the first switching transistor in an ON state;

a second latching circuit portion connected to the output line of the signal conditioning circuit portion and having an output line;

a second switching transistor including a base, collector and emitter, the base connected to the output line of the second latching circuit portion;

wherein, in response to receipt of the conditioned fault indicative input signal from the signal conditioning circuit portion, an output at the output line of the second latching circuit portion latches the second transistor in an ON state;

wherein the first latching circuit portion includes a second output line, the annunciator control circuit further comprising;

a third switching transistor including a base, collector and emitter, the base connected to the second output line of the first latching circuit portion, wherein, in response to receipt of the conditioned fault indicative output signal from the signal conditioning circuit portion, an output at the second output line of the first latching circuit portion latches the third transistor in an OFF state; and

a fourth switching transistor including a base, collector and emitter, the base connected to the output line of the second latching circuit portion, the third and fourth transistors connected in series, wherein, in response to receipt of the conditioned fault indicative output signal from the signal conditioning circuit portion, the output at the output line of the second latching circuit portion latches the fourth transistor in an ON state.

2. The annunciator control circuit, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

means for selectively resetting the first latching circuit portion, wherein, after the first latching circuit portion is reset, an output at the first output line places the first transistor in an OFF state and an output at the second output line places the third transistor in an ON state.

3. The annunciator control circuit, as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

means for selectively resetting the second latching circuit portion, wherein, after the second latching circuit portion is reset, an output at the output line thereof places the first and third transistors in an OFF state; and

means for preventing reset of the second latching circuit portion while the conditioned fault indicative output signal is provided at the output line of the signal conditioning circuit portion.

4. An annunciator control circuit adaptable for responding to a plurality of types of fault indicative inputs, comprising:

signal conditioning circuit portion including an input line and an output line, the signal conditioning circuit portion including switch means adjustable for selectively configuring the signal conditioning circuit portion to receive each of the plurality of types of fault indicative inputs at the input line thereof and to provide a conditioned fault indicative output signal in response thereto at the output line thereof;

a first latching circuit portion connected to the output line of the signal conditioning circuit portion and having a first output line;

a first switching transistor including a base, collector, and emitter, the base connected to the first output line of the first latching circuit portion;

wherein, in response to receipt of the conditioned fault indicative output signal from the signal conditioning circuit portion, an output at the first output line of the first latching circuit portion latches the first switching transistor in an ON state;

an electrical energy source;

a relay including a control portion and a normally open contact portion, the control portion connected to the collector of the first switching transistor; and

an operator output device connected in series with the relay contact portion to the electrical energy source.

5. An annunciator control circuit adaptable for responding to a plurality of types of fault indicative inputs, comprising:

signal conditioning circuit portion including an input line and an output line, the signal conditioning circuit portion including switch means adjustable for selectively configuring the signal conditioning circuit portion to receive each of the plurality of types of fault indicative inputs at the input line thereof and to provide a conditioned fault indicative output signal in response thereto at the output line thereof;

a first latching circuit portion connected to the output line of the signal conditioning circuit portion and having a first output line;

a first switching transistor including a base, collector, and emitter, the base connected to the first output line of the first latching circuit portion;

wherein, in response to receipt of the conditioned fault indicative output signal from the signal conditioning circuit portion, an output at the first output line of the first latching circuit portion latches the first switching transistor in an ON state;

an electrical energy source; and

an operator output device connected between the electrical energy source and the collector of the first switching transistor.

6. An annunciator control circuit, comprising:

a signal conditioning circuit adaptable for receiving a plurality of types of fault indicative signals, the circuit including an input line, an output line, voltage regulator means, an inverter, and a plurality of position selectable switches, the input line connected to an input of the voltage regulator means, an output of the voltage regulator means connected to an input of the inverter, a first switch connected between the input of the inverter and ground, a second switch connected between the input of the voltage regulator and the input of the inverter, a third switch connected between the input of the inverter and the output line, and a fourth switch connected between the output of the inverter and the output line.

7. The annunciator control circuit, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the signal conditioning circuit includes a fifth switch connected between the input of the voltage regulator means and ground.

8. The annunciator control circuit, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the voltage regulator means includes a first voltage regulator and a second voltage regulator connected in series.

9. The annunciator control circuit, as set forth, in claim 6, further comprising:

a first latching circuit including an OR gate, an inverter, and a flip-flop, the output line of the signal conditioning circuit connected to a first input of the OR gate, an output of the OR gate connected to an input of the inverter, an output of the inverter connected to a clock input of the flip-flop, first and second inputs of the flip-flop connected to a positive reference voltage source, and a first output of the flip-flop connected to a second input of the OR gate.

10. The annunciator control circuit, as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

a switching transistor having a base connected to the first output of the flip-flop of the first latching circuit.

11. The annunciator control circuit, as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

a second latching circuit including a first OR gate, a second OR gate, an inverter, and a flip-flop, the output line of the signal conditioning circuit connected to a first input of the first OR gate and to a first input of the second OR gate, an output of the first OR gate connected to an input of the inverter, an output of the inverter connected to a clock input of the flip-flop, first and second inputs of the flip-flop connected to a positive reference voltage source, an output of the flip-flop connected to a second input of the second OR gate, and an output of the second OR gate connected to a second input of the first OR gate.

12. The annunciator control circuit, as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

a first switching transistor having a base connected to the first output of the flip-flop of the first latching circuit;

a second switching transistor having a base connected to a second output of the flip-flop of the first latching circuit;

a third switching transistor having a base connected to the output of the second OR gate of the second latching circuit;

a fourth switching transistor having a base connected to the output of the second OR gate of the second latching circuit; and

wherein a collector of the third switching transistor is connected to a collector of the second switching transistor and an emitter of the second switching transistor is connected to a collector of the fourth switching transistor.

13. An annunciator control module, as set forth in claim 12, further comprising:

a line connected to a clearing input of the flip-flop of the first latching circuit; and

a line connected to a clearing input of the flip-flop of the second latching circuit and to the clearing input of the flip-flop of the first latching circuit.