US3744043A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Environmental data system
Assignee: ABB Inc USA
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Filing: 1971-06-01
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-06-01
Abstract
Abstract An environmental data system which continuously records the output of one or more field located environmental sensors, and which establishes a communication link with a remote central control station when the output of any of the sensors, over a predetermined period of time, exceeds a predetermined threshold magnitude. When the communication link is established, data relative to the sensors is automatically transmitted to the central control station, along with suitable station and sensor identification. The communication link may also be activated from the central control system, to monitor the latest sensor readings at any field location.
Inventors
- 👤 R Walden
- 👤 R Medlin
- 👤 R Warren
- 👤 D Weers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:00
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/04; H04M11/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
An environmental monitoring and alerting system for continuously recording digital information at a field location, and for transmitting the digital information received over a predetermined time interval from the field location to a remote point when the information received during an interval exceeds a predetermined magnitude, comprising: sensor means at the field location providing at least one channel of digital data responsive to a predetermined variable, timing means providing spaced pulses to establish predetermined time intervals therebetween, recording means connected to record said interval and digital data, counting means connected to count the digital data occurring during each time interval, count storage means for holding the count of said counting means at the end of each time interval, threshold means providing an output alarm signal in the event a preset count magnitude is reached during a time interval, a communication link from the count storage means to a remote point, said communication link being activated by an output alarm signal from said threshold means, and control means initiating the transfer of the data in said storage means to the remote point when Said communication link is activated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
An environmental monitoring and alerting system for continuously recording digital information at a field location, and for transmitting the digital information received over a predetermined time interval from the field location to a remote point when the information received during an interval exceeds a predetermined magnitude, comprising: sensor means at the field location providing at least one channel of digital data responsive to a predetermined variable, timing means providing spaced pulses to establish predetermined time intervals therebetween, recording means connected to record said interval and digital data, counting means connected to count the digital data occurring during each time interval, count storage means for holding the count of said counting means at the end of each time interval, threshold means providing an output alarm signal in the event a preset count magnitude is reached during a time interval, a communication link from the count storage means to a remote point, said communication link being activated by an output alarm signal from said threshold means, and control means initiating the transfer of the data in said storage means to the remote point when Said communication link is activated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor means includes a sensor which provides a continuous data signal having a magnitude responsive to the variables to be monitored, and means converting the continuous data signal to data pulses having a frequency responsive to the magnitude of said data signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 including reset means which resets the counting means to zero at the end of each time interval, after the count therein is held by the storage means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the count storage means includes latch means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the means initiating the transfer of data in the storage means to the remote point includes gate means, shift register means, and control means responsive to the communication link when it is activated to provide a signal for said gate means which transfers the data in the storage means to the shift register, and the data in the shift register means to the remote point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 including means at the remote point for initiating the transmission of data from the storage means to the remote point upon demand.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 including alarm means at the remote point responsive to a threshold means initiated transmission of data to the remote point.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the communication link is a telephone system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 including an isolating relay connected between the output of the sensor means and said recording and counting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor means includes a plurality of sensors providing a plurality of channels of digital data responsive to predetermined variables, including counting means, storage means, and threshold means responsive to the data provided by each of the sensors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 including first alarm storage means connected to store an alarm signal from the threshold means until a pulse is provided by the timing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 including second alarm storage means connected to store an alarm signal when the communication link is already activated when the alarm signal is provided.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system of claim 1 including first and second alarm storage means, said first alarm storage means being connected to store an alarm signal from the threshold means until a pulse is provided by the timing means, and said second alarm storage means being connected to store the alarm signal from said first alarm storage means when the communication link is already activated when the first alarm storage means provides the alarm signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the count storage means includes latch means, and including reset means which resets the latch to store the count from the counting means, and sets the latch means to hold the count, in response to a single pulse from the timing means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of monitoring an environmental variable and alerting a remote location when the variable exceeds a predetermined magnitude, comprising the steps of: sensing a predetermined variable and providing a data signal responsive to the magnitude of the variable, converting the data signal to data pulses having a frequency responsive to the magnitude of the data signal, providing spaced timing pulses, recording the data pulses and spaced timing pulses, counting the data pulses occurring in the interval between timing pulses, comparing the count as it is obtained during each interval with a preset magnitude, storing the count at the end of each interval, activating a communication link when a count exceeds a preset magnitude, and transferring the count to a remote point via the communication link when it is activated.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of monitoring an environmental variable and alerting a remote location when the variable exceeds a predetermined magnitude, comprising the steps of: sensing a predetermined variable and providing a data signal responsive to the magnitude of the variable, converting the data signal to data pulses having a frequency responsive to the magnitude of the data signal, providing spaced timing pulses, recording the data pulses and spaced timing pulses, counting the data pulses occurring in the interval between timing pulses, comparing the count as it is obtained during each interval with a preset magnitude, storing the count at the end of each interval, activating a communication link when a count exceeds a preset magnitude, and transferring the count to a remote point via the communication link when it is activated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 including the step of initiating an alarm at the remote point in addition to transferring the count thereto.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of transferring the count to a remote point includes the stePs of transferring the stored count to a shift register, and clocking the count from the shift register to the remote point.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 15 including the step of isolating the recording step from the counting step by providing two independent sets of data pulses in response to the data signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 15 including the steps of sensing additional variables and providing data signals responsive to the additional variables, converting the data signals of the additional variables to data pulses, recording the data pulses of the additional variables, counting the data pulses of the additional variables, storing the counts responsive to the additional variables, comparing the counts as they are obtained during a time interval with preset magnitudes for each of the variables, and activating the communication link when the count associated with any of the variables exceeds their preset magnitudes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 11 including the steps of providing an alarm signal when a count exceeds the preset magnitude during the step of comparing the count as it is obtained with a preset magnitude, storing the alarm signal until a timing pulse is received, and using the alarm signal to initiate the step of activating the communication link when the timing pulse is received.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 11 including the steps of providing an alarm signal when a count exceeds the preset magnitude during the step of comparing the count as it is obtained with a preset magnitude, and storing the alarm signal until the communication link is inactive.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 11 including the steps of providing an alarm signal when a count exceeds the preset magnitude during the step of comparing the count as it is obtained with a preset magnitude, storing the alarm signal in first means until a timing pulse is received, and storing the timing pulse in second means until the communication link is inactive.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3068458A
Cited
US3609729A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |