Electronic control of communication system

Claim 2

An electronic control system for controlling a plurality of remotely located apparatuses, said system comprising: a plurality of like electronic controls, each control having a computer means with a stored program having a plurality of parameters each having a pre-set range; each of said controls for receiving an input signal and for providing a control signal for controlling one of said apparatuses, independent of said other controls and apparatuses; communication link means for linking communication from each control to other controls in a half duplex mode; and each control having means for communicating to other controls only in the event one of said parameters exceeds its pre-set range.

Claim 3

The system of Claim 1 further comprising means for controlling said communication link means to operate with one hundred percent (100%) duty cycle.

Claim 4

The system of Claim 2 wherein said controlling means further comprises: a first receiver means for receiving a first signal from one of said digital devices and for providing a first received signal; a first gate means for receiving said first received signal and a first control signal, and for providing a first output signal; a first driver means for receiving said first output signal and for providing a first transmitted signal to said other digital device; a second receiver means for receiving a second signal from said other digital device, and for providing a second received signal; a second gate means for receiving said second received signal and a second control signal, and for providing a second output signal; a second driver means for receiving said second output signal and for providing a second transmitted signal to said one digital device; means for determining the end of transmission of said first or said second signal; means for generating said first and said second control signals in response to said determining means detecting the end of transmission; means for enabling said first and second receiver means; and means for enabling said first or second driver means in response to said first or second signal received.

Claim 5

An electronic control system for controlling a plurality of remotely located apparatuses, said system comprising: a plurality of like electronic controls, each control for receiving an input signal and for providing a control signal for controlling one of said apparatuses, independent of said other controls and apparatuses; communication link means for linking communication from each control to other controls in a half duplex mode; and means for controlling said communication link means to operate with one hundred percent (1000/0) duty cycle.

Claim 6

An electronic control system for controlling a plurality of remotely located apparatuses, said system comprising: a plurality of like electronic controls, each control for receiving an input signal and for providing a control signal for controlling one of said apparatuses, independent of said other controls and apparatuses; communication link means for linking communication from each control to other controls in a half duplex mode; and means for controlling said communication link means to operate with one hundred percent (1000/0) duty cycle.

Claim 7

The system of Claim 4 wherein said controlling means further comprises: a first receiver means for receiving a first signal from one of said digital devices and for providing a first received signal; a first gate means for receiving said first received signal and a first control signal, and for providing a first output signal; a first driver means for receiving said first output signal and for providing a first transmitted signal to said other digital device; a second receiver means for receiving a second signal from said other digital device, and for providing a second received signal; a second gate means for receiving said second received signal and a second control signal, and for providing a second output signal; a second driver means for receiving said second output signal and for providing a second transmitted signal to said one digital device; means for determining the end of transmission of said first or said second signal; means for generating said first and said second control signals in response to said determining means detecting the end of transmission; means for enabling said first and second receiver means; and means for enabling said first or second driver means in response to said first or second signal received.

Claim 8

An electronic control for controlling an apparatus, and for communicating with other devices, comprising: a computer means having a stored program, having a plurality of parameters, each having a pre-set range; means for receiving an input signal and for providing a control signal for controlling said apparatus; means for communicating to said other devices in a half duplex mode; and means for activating said communicating means only in the event one of said parameters exceeds its pre-set range.

Claim 9

An electronic control for controlling an apparatus, and for communicating with other devices, comprising: a computer means having a stored program, having a plurality of parameters, each having a pre-set range; means for receiving an input signal and for providing a control signal for controlling said apparatus; means for communicating to said other devices in a half duplex mode; and means for activating said communicating means only in the event one of said parameters exceeds its pre-set range.

Claim 10

An electronic repeater for controlling the communication between two digital electronic devices communicating in a half-duplex mode, said repeater comprising: a first receiver means for receiving a first signal from one of said digital devices and for providing a first received signal; a first gate means for receiving said first received signal and a first control signal, and for providing a first output signal; a first driver means for receiving said first output signal and for providing a first transmitted signal to said other digital device; a second receiver means for receiving a second signal from said other digital device, and for providing a second received signal; a second gate means for receiving said second received signal and a second control signal, and for providing a second output signal; a second driver means for receiving said second output signal and for providing a second transmitted signal to said one digital device; means for determining the end of transmission of said first or second signal; means for generating said first and second control signals, in response to said determining means detecting the end of transmission; means for enabling said first and second receiver means; and means for enabling said first or said second driver means in response to said first or second signal received.

Claim 11

An electronic repeater for controlling the communication between two digital electronic devices communicating in a half-duplex mode, said repeater comprising: a first receiver means for receiving a first signal from one of said digital devices and for providing a first received signal; a first gate means for receiving said first received signal and a first control signal, and for providing a first output signal; a first driver means for receiving said first output signal and for providing a first transmitted signal to said other digital device; a second receiver means for receiving a second signal from said other digital device, and for providing a second received signal; a second gate means for receiving said second received signal and a second control signal, and for providing a second output signal; a second driver means for receiving said second output signal and for providing a second transmitted signal to said one digital device; means for determining the end of transmission of said first or second signal; means for generating said first and second control signals, in response to said determining means detecting the end of transmission; means for enabling said first and second receiver means; and means for enabling said first or said second driver means in response to said first or second signal received.

Claim 12

An electronic control system for controlling a plurality of remotely located apparatuses, said system comprising: a plurality of like electronic controls, each control for receiving an analog input signal and for providing a digital control signal for controlling one of said apparatuses, independent of said other controls and apparatuses; and each control further comprising programmable gain and offset means for amplifying said input signal and providing an amplified input signal with an offset.

Claim 13

An electronic control system for controlling a plurality of remotely located apparatuses, said system comprising: a plurality of like electronic controls, each control for receiving an analog input signal and for providing a digital control signal for controlling one of said apparatuses, independent of said other controls and apparatuses; and each control further comprising programmable gain and offset means for amplifying said input signal and providing an amplified input signal with an offset.

Claim 14

The system of Claim 8 wherein each of said controls is adapted to receive a plurality of analog input signals.

Claim 15

The system of Claim 9 further comprising: multiplexer means for selecting one of said input signals and supplying said one input signal to said programmable means.

Claim 16

The system of Claim 10 further comprising means for generating a reference input signal;

Claim 17

said reference input signal is supplied to said multiplexer means.

Claim 18

said reference input signal is supplied to said multiplexer means.

Claim 19

The system of Claim 10 wherein said programmable means further comprises: an amplifier means having a first input, a second input and an output; said multiplexer means for supplying said one input signal to said first input of said amplifier means; means for generating an offset signal; a plurality of serially connected resistive means, said means having a plurality of nodes, with each node between a pair of adjacent resistive means; a plurality of electronic switch means, each switch means for interconnecting a node to said second input of said amplifier means; one end of said serially connected resistive means connected to said output of said amplifier means; and an offset switch means for interconnecting said offset signal generating means to said other end of said serially connected resistive means; wherein said output of said amplifier means is said amplified input signal with an offset.

Claim 20

The system of Claim 12 wherein said programmable means further comprises: a bypass switch means for interconnecting said first input of said amplifier means to said output of said amplifier means.

Claim 21

The system of Claim 12 wherein said programmable means further comprises: a register means for storing a plurality of control bits, each bit for controlling said electronic switch means.

Claim 22

A programmable gain and offset circuit for receiving a plurality of analog input signals and for providing an output signal, wherein said output signal is one of said input signals, amplified with an offset, said circuit comprising: an amplifier means having a first input, a second input and an output; a multiplexer means for selecting one of said analog input signals and supplying said one signal to said first input of said amplifier means; means for generating an offset signal; a plurality of serially connected resistive means, said means having a plurality of nodes, with each node between a pair of adjacent resistive means; a plurality of electronic switch means, each switch means for interconnecting a node to said second input of said amplifier means; one end of said serially connected resistive means connected to said output of said amplifier means; and an offset switch means for interconnecting said offset signal generating means to said other end of said serially connected resistive means; wherein said output of said amplifier means is one of said input signals amplified with an offset.

Claim 23

A programmable gain and offset circuit for receiving a plurality of analog input signals and for providing an output signal, wherein said output signal is one of said input signals, amplified with an offset, said circuit comprising: an amplifier means having a first input, a second input and an output; a multiplexer means for selecting one of said analog input signals and supplying said one signal to said first input of said amplifier means; means for generating an offset signal; a plurality of serially connected resistive means, said means having a plurality of nodes, with each node between a pair of adjacent resistive means; a plurality of electronic switch means, each switch means for interconnecting a node to said second input of said amplifier means; one end of said serially connected resistive means connected to said output of said amplifier means; and an offset switch means for interconnecting said offset signal generating means to said other end of said serially connected resistive means; wherein said output of said amplifier means is one of said input signals amplified with an offset.

Claim 24

The circuit of Claim 15 further comprising: means for generating a reference input signal; said reference input signal is supplied to said multiplex means.

Claim 25

The circuit of Claim 16 further comprising: a bypass switch means for interconnecting said first input of said amplifier means to said output of said amplifier means.

Claim 26

The circuit of Claim 15 further comprising: a register means for storing a plurality of control bits, each bit for controlling said electronic switch means.