Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
346 words
A data acquisition system for communicating the condition of each of a number of hard contact switches to a smaller number of binary data receiving devices comprising: a plurality of hard contact switches, each capable of open and closed circuit conditions, and a remote addressing and indicating unit including a plurality of binary data receiving devices fewer in number than said hard contact switches, conductive means commonly electrically connecting one contact of each switch in a first plurality of switches to a first common terminal to define a first switch word group, additional conductive means commonly electrically connecting one contact of each switch in a second plurality of switches to a second common terminal to define a second switch word group, means in said remote unit defining a plurality of selectively closeable address switches, each address switch in said plurality of selectively closeable address switches corresponding to an individual common terminal, means connecting one side of respective address switches to said first and second common terminals, means connecting the other side of said address switches to a point of reference potential, a plurality of data line conductors equal in number to the maximum number of switches in any word group and connecting said switchs with said receiving devices such that a selected switch in every word group is directly connected to a respective receiving device in said plurality of receiving devices, a plurality of diodes, respective diodes in said plurality of diodes being connected between each of said switches and the associated one of said data lines and according to a uniform conductivity convention to preclude the establishment of a conductive path from one data line to another through any two switches in a word group when such two switches are both in a closed circuit condition, a source of electrical potential at said remote unit and connected between said point of reference potential and receiving devices for energization of said devices through said diodes and switches in accordance with the state of said address switches and said hard contact switches in the word group addressed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
346 words
A data acquisition system for communicating the condition of each of a number of hard contact switches to a smaller number of binary data receiving devices comprising: a plurality of hard contact switches, each capable of open and closed circuit conditions, and a remote addressing and indicating unit including a plurality of binary data receiving devices fewer in number than said hard contact switches, conductive means commonly electrically connecting one contact of each switch in a first plurality of switches to a first common terminal to define a first switch word group, additional conductive means commonly electrically connecting one contact of each switch in a second plurality of switches to a second common terminal to define a second switch word group, means in said remote unit defining a plurality of selectively closeable address switches, each address switch in said plurality of selectively closeable address switches corresponding to an individual common terminal, means connecting one side of respective address switches to said first and second common terminals, means connecting the other side of said address switches to a point of reference potential, a plurality of data line conductors equal in number to the maximum number of switches in any word group and connecting said switchs with said receiving devices such that a selected switch in every word group is directly connected to a respective receiving device in said plurality of receiving devices, a plurality of diodes, respective diodes in said plurality of diodes being connected between each of said switches and the associated one of said data lines and according to a uniform conductivity convention to preclude the establishment of a conductive path from one data line to another through any two switches in a word group when such two switches are both in a closed circuit condition, a source of electrical potential at said remote unit and connected between said point of reference potential and receiving devices for energization of said devices through said diodes and switches in accordance with the state of said address switches and said hard contact switches in the word group addressed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
162 words
A data acquisition as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said aDdress switches comprises a transistor control circuit having first and second transistors and first and second output terminals, one of said output terminals being connected to said point of reference potential and the other output terminal being connected to a common terminal of a word group, the first transistor having primary electrodes connected across said output terminals and operative as a current switch between the output terminals so as to connect to said point of reference potential the common terminal of a word group when conductive, the second transistor having primary electrodes connected between a source of electrical potential and the input control terminal of the first transistor so as to apply a bias thereto when conductive, and address input means connected to the input control terminal of the second transistor to control the conductivity thereof in accordance with an input address quantity which is unique to the address switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
118 words
A data acquisition system as defined by claim 1 wherein the system further comprises an interface unit having a support panel, said diodes being carried by said support panel, said common terminal of said word groups being supported by said support panel, at least one terminal strip comprising a plurality of termial plugs and removably conductively connected between said address switches and said common terminals, a second terminal strip carried by said support board and including a plurality of terminal plugs removably conductively connected between said data line conductors and said receiving means and a plurality of third terminal strips each comprising a plurality of plug-in terminals removably conductively connected between said hard contact switches and said diodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A data acquisition system as defined by claim 1 wherein said data receiving means are indicator lamps.