Method and apparatus for the transmission of acquired data in the form of magnitude representing signals and signals representing changes of scale of magnitude

Claim 2

In a data acquisition system adapted to provide scale and magnitude information to a data processing system from remote variable scale sensors through a digital data transmission link which has a predetermined number of parallel data channels for transmitting information parallel by bit and serial by character, the combination comprising: A. fIrst means coupled to a remote sensor for periodically sampling the sensor output and generating first digital signals representative of the magnitude of a physical parameter; B. second means connected to said first means and the sensor for generating second digital signals representative of the relative scale of said first digital signals; C. third means coupled to said second means for generating third digital signals representing incremental changes in scale between successive samplings; and D. recording means adapted to be coupled to the transmission link including scale digit recording means coupled to said third means and adapted to be coupled to a one of the parallel data channels of the transmission link, for recording said third digital signals in a data channel; and data digit recording means coupled to said first means and adapted to be coupled to the remaining ones of the parallel data channels of the transmission link, for recording said first digital signals in a plurality of data channels corresponding to the predetermined number of the parallel data channels, less one, whereby in each sampling interval, a digital signal is recorded in parallel data channels, including a plurality of parallel, first digital signals corresponding to magnitude, and a third digital signal, corresponding to an incremental change of scale, said recording means being adapted to apply the signals recorded therein to the predetermined number of parallel data channels of the transmission link.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1, said recording means further including fourth means connected to said second means and adapted to be coupled to the transmission link, for periodically recording said second digital signals in parallel data channels, for subsequent application to the transmission link data channels.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 wherein said scale digit recording means are operable in a first sampling interval to record negative valued third digital signals and in a next sampling interval to record positive valued third digital signals.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3 including fourth means connected to said second means and said recording means, for periodically recording said second digital signals in the parallel channels, for subsequent application to the transmission link data channels.

Claim 6

In a data acquisition system adapted to be connected to a plurality of variable scale sensors for transmitting digital signals representing scale and magnitude of desired physical parameters through a transmission link which has a predetermined number of parallel data channels for the transmission of information parallel by bit and serial by character, the combination comprising: A. first means connected to the plurality of sensors for cyclically sampling and generating first digital signals representative of the magnitude of the output of each of the sensors in a predetermined sequence; B. second means connected to said first means and the plurality of sensors for cyclically sampling and generating second digital signals representative of the relative scale of the corresponding first digital signals; C. third means coupled to said second means for cyclically generating a plurality of third digital signals respectively representing incremental changes in scale of the plurality of sensors between successive samplings; and D. recording means adapted to be coupled to the transmission link data channels, including scale digit recording means coupled to said third means and adapted to be coupled to a one of the parallel data channels of the transmission link for recording in a data channel, digital signals representing positive and negative increments of scale change in alternate sampling cycles; and data digit recording means coupled to said first means and adapted to be coupled to the remaining ones of the parallel data channels of the transmission link, for recording said first digital signals in a plurality of data channels corresponding to the predetermined number of the parallel data channels, less one, whereby in each sampling cycle a plurality of digital signal combinations, respectively corresponding to the plurality of sensors, are recorded in parallel data channels, each signal combination, including a group of parallel, first digital signals representing the magnitude of a physical parameter, and a third digital signal representing an incremental change of scale associated therewith, being produced in a predetermined serial sequence, and whereby, in alternate sampling cycles, positive and negative increments of scale change are recorded, respectively, said recording means being adapted to apply the signals recorded therein to the predetermined number of parallel data channels of the transmission link.

Claim 7

In a data acquisition system adapted to be connected to a plurality of variable scale sensors for transmitting digital signals representing scale and magnitude of desired physical parameters through a transmission link which has a predetermined number of parallel data channels for the transmission of information parallel by bit and serial by character, the combination comprising: A. first means connected to the plurality of sensors for cyclically sampling and generating first digital signals representative of the magnitude of the output of each of the sensors in a predetermined sequence; B. second means connected to said first means and the plurality of sensors for cyclically sampling and generating second digital signals representative of the relative scale of the corresponding first digital signals; C. third means coupled to said second means for cyclically generating a plurality of third digital signals respectively representing incremental changes in scale of the plurality of sensors between successive samplings; and D. recording means adapted to be coupled to the transmission link data channels, including scale digit recording means coupled to said third means and adapted to be coupled to a one of the parallel data channels of the transmission link for recording in a data channel, digital signals representing positive and negative increments of scale change in alternate sampling cycles; and data digit recording means coupled to said first means and adapted to be coupled to the remaining ones of the parallel data channels of the transmission link, for recording said first digital signals in a plurality of data channels corresponding to the predetermined number of the parallel data channels, less one, whereby in each sampling cycle a plurality of digital signal combinations, respectively corresponding to the plurality of sensors, are recorded in parallel data channels, each signal combination, including a group of parallel, first digital signals representing the magnitude of a physical parameter, and a third digital signal representing an incremental change of scale associated therewith, being produced in a predetermined serial sequence, and whereby, in alternate sampling cycles, positive and negative increments of scale change are recorded, respectively, said recording means being adapted to apply the signals recorded therein to the predetermined number of parallel data channels of the transmission link.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 5, said recording means further including fourth means connected to said second means, for recording, in parallel channels, the second signals corresponding to a different one of the sensors in each successive sampling cycle, whereby the scale of each sensor can be applied to the transmission link data channels in a different sampling cycle of the plurality.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6, said recording means further including fifth means connected to said fourth means for generating address signals identifying the sensor whose scale value is being concurrently recorded and for recording the address signals with said second signals corresponding thereto.

Claim 10

In combination with a data acquisition system adapted to provide scale and magnitude information to a data processing system from a remote, variable scale sensor through a digital data transmission link which has a predetermined number of parallel data channels for transmitting information parallel by bit and serial by character, a data processing unit comprising: A. first means coupled to the transmission link for storing signals representing the sensor data output, corresponding to the magnitude of a physical parameter; B. second means coupled to the transmission link for accumulating signals representative of the incremental changes in scale of the sensor, to maintain a stored value, corresponding to the scale of the sensor; and C. third means coupled to the transmission link and said second means for periodically receiving scaling signals representing the scale of the sensor and for storing the scaling signals in said second means, replacing the accumulated stored value, to update the contents of said second means, whereby errors resulting from a gain or a loss of an increment of scale change are periodically corrected.

Claim 11

In combination with a data acquisition system adapted to provide scale and magnitude information to a data processing system from a remote, variable scale sensor through a digital data transmission link which has a predetermined number of parallel data channels for transmitting information parallel by bit and serial by character, a data processing unit comprising: A. first means coupled to the transmission link for storing signals representing the sensor data output, corresponding to the magnitude of a physical parameter; B. second means coupled to the transmission link for accumulating signals representative of the incremental changes in scale of the sensor, to maintain a stored value, corresponding to the scale of the sensor; and C. third means coupled to the transmission link and said second means for periodically receiving scaling signals representing the scale of the sensor and for storing the scaling signals in said second means, replacing the accumulated stored value, to update the contents of said second means, whereby errors resulting from a gain or a loss of an increment of scale change are periodically corrected.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 8 wherein the data acquisition system is also adapted to provide preselected synchronizing signals for distinguishing as between positive and negative increments, and further including fourth means coupled to the transmission link and said second means and responsive to a preselected synchronizing signal for alternately adding and subtracting the incremental change signals on successive data transmissions, whereby increment representing signals are alternatively regarded as positive and negative increments relative to their receipt with respect to the synchronizing signal.

Claim 13

Data recording and storage means for use with a data acquisition system adapted to be connected to a plurality of variable scale sensors for transmitting a corresponding plurality of digital signals representing scale and magnitude of desired physical parameters through a transmission link which has a predetermined number of parallel data channels for the transmission of digital data parallel by bit and serial by character, the system including first means connected to the plurality of sensors for cyclically sampling the output of each sensor in a predetermined sequence and generating first digital signals representative of the magnitude of a physical parameter, second means connected to the first means and a plurality of sensors for cyclicallY sampling each sensor for generating second digital signals representative of the relative scale of the corresponding first digital signals and third means coupled to the second means for generating third digital signals representing incremental changes in scale between successive samplings of each sensor, the data recording and storage means being adapted to be connected to the transmission link, and comprising: A. a group of parallel channels adapted to store digital signals parallel by bit and serial by character; B. means for recording and storing in a one of said channels of said group, the third digital signals, corresponding to positively and negatively valued increments in alternate samples, respectively; and C. means for recording in predetermined other channels of said group, the first digital signals representing the magnitude of a physical parameter; whereby each parallel group of bits comprising a character includes a predetermined number of magnitude representing bits and at least one bit representing incremental changes of scale of the magnitude quantity since the next prior sampling interval.

Claim 14

Data recording and storage means for use with a data acquisition system adapted to be connected to a plurality of variable scale sensors for transmitting a corresponding plurality of digital signals representing scale and magnitude of desired physical parameters through a transmission link which has a predetermined number of parallel data channels for the transmission of digital data parallel by bit and serial by character, the system including first means connected to the plurality of sensors for cyclically sampling the output of each sensor in a predetermined sequence and generating first digital signals representative of the magnitude of a physical parameter, second means connected to the first means and a plurality of sensors for cyclicallY sampling each sensor for generating second digital signals representative of the relative scale of the corresponding first digital signals and third means coupled to the second means for generating third digital signals representing incremental changes in scale between successive samplings of each sensor, the data recording and storage means being adapted to be connected to the transmission link, and comprising: A. a group of parallel channels adapted to store digital signals parallel by bit and serial by character; B. means for recording and storing in a one of said channels of said group, the third digital signals, corresponding to positively and negatively valued increments in alternate samples, respectively; and C. means for recording in predetermined other channels of said group, the first digital signals representing the magnitude of a physical parameter; whereby each parallel group of bits comprising a character includes a predetermined number of magnitude representing bits and at least one bit representing incremental changes of scale of the magnitude quantity since the next prior sampling interval.

Claim 15

A data transmission link for use in combination with a data acquisition system capable of generating an n-bit number representing the magnitude of a physical parameter and an m-bit number representing the relative scale of magnitude of the parameter, where n > m, and (r + 1) p > (m+n)rp, ''''m,'''' ''''n,'''' ''''r'''' and ''''p'''' being integers, the data transmission link comprising: A. a record having ''''p'''' parallel data channels for storing digital data in parallel by bit and serial by character, B. incrementing means for successively sampling the m-bit number representing relative scale to generate an i-bit incremental number representing changes in scale as between successive sampling intervals, i being an integer; and C. means for recording signals representing said incremental number together with signals representing said magnitude number such that rp > or = (n+i); whereby magnitude and scale information are economically recorded and transmitted using said p-channel record.

Claim 16

A data transmission link for use in combination with a data acquisition system capable of generating an n-bit number representing the magnitude of a physical parameter and an m-bit number representing the relative scale of magnitude of the parameter, where n > m, and (r + 1) p > (m+n)rp, ''''m,'''' ''''n,'''' ''''r'''' and ''''p'''' being integers, the data transmission link comprising: A. a record having ''''p'''' parallel data channels for storing digital data in parallel by bit and serial by character, B. incrementing means for successively sampling the m-bit number representing relative scale to generate an i-bit incremental number representing changes in scale as between successive sampling intervals, i being an integer; and C. means for recording signals representing said incremental number together with signals representing said magnitude number such that rp > or = (n+i); whereby magnitude and scale information are economically recorded and transmitted using said p-channel record.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 11 including means for periodically recording in said ''''p'''' channels, the m-bit scale number.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13 further including the steps of periodically recording said second multi-bit number in a character interval of the parallel channel record.

Claim 21

The method of claim 14 further including the steps of: A. sampling a plurality of sensors to generate first multi-bit numbers, each respectively corresponding to the magnitude of the physical parameter sensed by each of the sensors; B. serially sampling each of the plurality of sensors in a predetermined sequence; and C. recording, during each sampling cycle, the second multi-bit number of a different sensor; wheReby the plurality of sensors are interrogated for magnitude through a first cycle, for positive and negative increments of scale change in alternate cycles, and for scale representing numbers in a second cycle, corresponding to the scan sequence.