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Controller for switch machine

  • US 6,484,974 B1
  • Filed: 09/10/2001
  • Issued: 11/26/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A controller for a switch machine including an indication rod having a target and also including a lock box having a target, the indication rod positionable between a first point position and a second point position, the lock box positionable between a first lock position and a second lock position, said controller comprising:

  • point detecting means for detecting when said indication rod is in said first point position and when said indication rod is in said second point position, said point detecting means including a first proximity sensor for detecting the target of said indication rod when said indication rod is in said first point position and a second proximity sensor for detecting the target of said indication rod when said indication rod is in said second point position, said first proximity sensor generating a first point detection signal and said second proximity sensor generating a second point detection signal, said first point detection signal having a value within a first predetermined range of values when said indication rod is in said first point position and having a value within a second predetermined range of values, which is different from said first predetermined range of values, when said indication rod is not in said first point position, said second point detection signal having a value within a third predetermined range of values when said indication rod is in said second point position and having a value within a fourth predetermined range of values, which is different from said third predetermined range of values, when said indication rod is not in said second point position;

    lock detecting means for detecting when said lock box is in said first lock position and when said lock box is in said second lock position, said lock detecting means including a first proximity sensor for detecting the target of said lock box when said lock box is in said first lock position and a second proximity sensor for detecting the target of said lock box when said lock box is in said second lock position, said first proximity sensor of said lock detecting means generating a first lock detection signal and said second proximity sensor of said lock detecting means generating a second lock detection signal, said first lock detection signal having a value within a first predetermined range of values when said lock box is in said first lock position and having a value within a second predetermined range of values, which is different from said first predetermined range of values of said first lock detection signal, when said lock box is not in said first lock position, said second lock detection signal having a value within a third predetermined range of values when said lock box is in said second lock position and having a value within a fourth predetermined range of values, which is different from said third predetermined range of values of said second lock detection signal, when said lock box is not in said second lock position;

    means for processing point detection information from said first and second point detection signals and said first and second lock detection signals to provide a first output and a second output, said means for processing enabling said first output when said first point detection signal has a value within the first predetermined range of values thereof, said second point detection signal has a value within the third predetermined ranges of values thereof, said first lock detection signal has a value within the first predetermined ranges of values thereof, and said second lock detection signal has a value within the third predetermined ranges of values thereof, said means for processing enabling said second output when said first point detection signal has a value within the second predetermined range of values thereof, said second point detection signal has a value within the fourth predetermined ranges of values thereof, said first lock detection signal has a value within the second predetermined ranges of values thereof, and said second lock detection signal has a value within the fourth predetermined ranges of values thereof, said means for processing disabling the first and second outputs when any of said first point detection signal has a value different than the first and second predetermined ranges of values thereof, said second point detection signal has a value different than the third and fourth predetermined ranges of values thereof, said first lock detection signal has a value different than the first and second predetermined ranges of values thereof, and said second lock detection signal has a value different than the third and fourth predetermined ranges of values thereof; and

    means for indicating the first and second outputs.

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