Patent US3999542A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3581289A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Display terminal for computer monitored plant variables
Assignee: Techneglas LLC
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Filing: 1969-04-28
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1989-04-28
Abstract
Abstract Input variables are sensed by sensors at various locations in a manufacturing facility and supplied as raw data to a computer which may or may not perform calculations on the data supplied thereto. Data from the computer is presented on a time sharing basis to a plurality of remotely located data display terminals. Each data display terminal is equipped with a plurality of manually actuated data selection units having identifying indicia and a numerical display displaying data from the computer corresponding to the requested indicia of an actuated data selection unit along with data indicating trend of the variable relative to a standard or reference value. The communication link between the computer and the display terminals may be conventional wiring with data lines common to each display terminal and individual lines for achieving connection to the computer and the display terminal being individual to the display terminals. Consult the specification for further features and details.
Inventors
- 👤 D F Wilhelm
- 👤 Peter S Miller
- 👤 D L Bissell
- 👤 George M Lambroff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:38
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/0219; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0489
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
In combination, apparatus for displaying to a plurality of remote data display stations plant operating data as produced by a computer connected to monitor a plurality of variable data inputs from a plurality of data monitors located in the plant a plurality of manually actuated data pushbutton selection means arrayed in a logical matrix, each pushbutton selection means having indicia thereon corresponding to a variable data input to the computer and first lamp means behind each indicia for lighting same, memory-switch means associated with each selection means for deenergizing all lamps behind the indicia in the pushbuttons in the array and then energizing the lamp behind an indicia on a pushbutton which has been manually actuated, encoding matrix means connected to said plurality of pushbutton selection means for encoding the column and row position of said pushbutton selection means which has been actuated, request means at each remote terminal for interrogating the computer for service, a communication link for conveying signals produced at each remote station to said computer, means at the computer for transmitting a signal to the remote data terminal at which said pushbutton has been depressed to cause the data signal from said encoding matrix to be transmitted to the computer, means at the computer for receiving said transmitted data and delivering signals corresponding to the requested data via said communication link to said remote data terminal in code, means at said remote data terminal for decoding the received data signals and producing display data corresponding thereto, and means at the remote data terminal for displaying the decoded display data received from the computer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
267 words
In combination, apparatus for displaying to a plurality of remote data display stations plant operating data as produced by a computer connected to monitor a plurality of variable data inputs from a plurality of data monitors located in the plant a plurality of manually actuated data pushbutton selection means arrayed in a logical matrix, each pushbutton selection means having indicia thereon corresponding to a variable data input to the computer and first lamp means behind each indicia for lighting same, memory-switch means associated with each selection means for deenergizing all lamps behind the indicia in the pushbuttons in the array and then energizing the lamp behind an indicia on a pushbutton which has been manually actuated, encoding matrix means connected to said plurality of pushbutton selection means for encoding the column and row position of said pushbutton selection means which has been actuated, request means at each remote terminal for interrogating the computer for service, a communication link for conveying signals produced at each remote station to said computer, means at the computer for transmitting a signal to the remote data terminal at which said pushbutton has been depressed to cause the data signal from said encoding matrix to be transmitted to the computer, means at the computer for receiving said transmitted data and delivering signals corresponding to the requested data via said communication link to said remote data terminal in code, means at said remote data terminal for decoding the received data signals and producing display data corresponding thereto, and means at the remote data terminal for displaying the decoded display data received from the computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the data transmitted from the computer to the remote data terminal includes a signal indicating the directional trend of the data transmitted, and second lamp means at the remote data terminal for displaying the directional trend of the data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said request means at each remote terminal includes visible signal means operated by signals from the computer to indicate that the data terminal at which a request has been initiated is connected to receive data from the computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
In combination, a system for displaying to A plurality of remote data display stations plant operating data produced by a computer connected to monitor a plurality of data inputs, a plurality of data monitors located in the plant and connected to said computer, a communication link common to said data display stations and in which data from the computer is individually displayed by data display means at the station requesting same, means at all remote data display stations for preventing the data display means thereof from responding to data on said communication link destined for another remote data display station, and means preventing transmission of signals corresponding to information signals to said computer until the computer has completed transmission of data destined for another remote station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
In combination, a system for displaying to A plurality of remote data display stations plant operating data produced by a computer connected to monitor a plurality of data inputs, a plurality of data monitors located in the plant and connected to said computer, a communication link common to said data display stations and in which data from the computer is individually displayed by data display means at the station requesting same, means at all remote data display stations for preventing the data display means thereof from responding to data on said communication link destined for another remote data display station, and means preventing transmission of signals corresponding to information signals to said computer until the computer has completed transmission of data destined for another remote station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
In combination with a data display terminal for interrogating a plant monitoring computer and displaying plant operating data received from the computer, said display terminal including a plurality of pushbutton data selection means arrayed in horizontal rows and vertical columns, each pushbutton having unique indicia thereon corresponding to variable plant operating data available from the computer, the improvement comprising memory-switch means operatively associated with each pushbutton, each said memory-switch means including a normally open solid state switch and means supplying operating potentials thereto which is common to normally open solid-state switch means of all memory-switch means, and means operated on actuation of one pushbutton in the array for momentarily removing the operating potentials supplied to all said normally open solid state
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
In combination with a data display terminal for interrogating a plant monitoring computer and displaying plant operating data received from the computer, said display terminal including a plurality of pushbutton data selection means arrayed in horizontal rows and vertical columns, each pushbutton having unique indicia thereon corresponding to variable plant operating data available from the computer, the improvement comprising memory-switch means operatively associated with each pushbutton, each said memory-switch means including a normally open solid state switch and means supplying operating potentials thereto which is common to normally open solid-state switch means of all memory-switch means, and means operated on actuation of one pushbutton in the array for momentarily removing the operating potentials supplied to all said normally open solid state
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention defined in claim 5 wherein said memory-switch includes a silicon controlled rectifier, and a normally open switch connected between the gate electrode of said silicon controlled rectifier and said supply of operating potential.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
119 words
The invention defined in claim 5 wherein said means operated on actuation of one pushbutton in the array for momentarily removing the operating potential supplied to all said normally open solid state switch means to actuate same includes a normally closed switch, there being one normally closed switch for each pushbutton in the array, means connecting all of said normally closed switches in series, a pulse forming circuit, means connecting said series connected normally closed switches to said pulse forming circuit to cause said pulse forming circuit to produce a pulse upon any one of said normally closed switches being open, and switch means operated by any pulse so produced for removing the operating potential from said memory-switch means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention defined in claim 5 wherein said pulse operated switch is constituted by a current regulating transistor in said means supplying operating potential.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention defined in claim 5 wherein each said pushbutton includes a lamp for lighting said indicia and wherein each such lamp is supplied with operating current through said memory-switch means associated with its respective pushbutton.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the data display for said data display terminal is constituted by a plurality of decimal readout devices, and further including means responsive to a pulse produced by said pulse forming circuit to cause all said decimal readout devices to exhibit the digit ''''0.''''
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention defined in claim 10 wherein said plurality of decimal readout devices exhibit data on a common screen and wherein signals received from said computer include a signal corresponding to the trend of the variable data to be displayed, and further including means for providing a background color on said screen indicative of said trend.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention defined in claim 9 wherein each pushbutton includes a second lamp, and means responsive to signals from said computer for energizing a selected second lamp independently of the energization of said first lamp.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The iNvention defined in claim 12 including means responsive to signals from said computer for deenergizing any selected second lamp.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |