Multiple voltage monitoring apparatus

Claim 2

A multiple voltage monitoring apparatus for remote station connection in a loop communication system comprising a multiple input trigger means having a plurality of inputs, any one of said inputs being independently operable to trigger an output, a plurality of voltage power supply connection means, separate voltage monitoring means connected to each voltage supply connection means and providing a continuous monitoring of the corresponding voltage supply, means connecting each monitoring means to a separate input of the trigger means and each monitoring means being independently operable to actuate the trigger means in response to a selected deviation of the supply from a predetermined voltage, and an externally-powered buffer gate means having a separate power supply which is independent of other monitored power supplies and having an input connected to the output of the trigger means and establishing a voltage fault signal in response to any one of said deviations which actuates the trigger means and in response to a failure of its own power supply.

Claim 3

The monitoring apparatus of claim 1 including means to transmit the output signal to a loop communication system.

Claim 4

The monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein failure of said trigger means actuates the gate means to establish a voltage fault signal.

Claim 5

The multiple voltage monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of voltage power supply connection means includes positive voltage means, said monitoring means including a pull-down resistor means connected to each positive voltage means with the voltage drop across the resistor means providing a continuous monitoring of the positive voltage supply, and means connecting the pull-down resistor means to a first input of the trigger means.

Claim 6

The multiple voltage monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of voltagE power supply connection means includes negative voltage means, said monitoring means including a pull-up resistor connected to the positive reference voltage means with the voltage across the pull-up resistor coupled to an input of the triggering means.

Claim 7

The multiple voltage monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of voltage power supply connection means includes an isolated voltage supply and a logic power supply, said monitoring means including isolating voltage monitoring means with an input means connected to an isolated voltage supply connection means and having an output means connected as a second input to the trigger means, said isolating monitoring means being coupled to the logic power supply and driven thereby to produce an output signal in response to a failure of the isolated voltage supply.

Claim 8

The multiple voltage monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of voltage power supply connection means includes a logic voltage means connected to energize said trigger means, failure of said trigger means resulting in a corresponding actuation of the externally-powered buffer gate means to generate a logic failure level signal at the corresponding output means.

Claim 9

The monitoring apparatus of claim 1 including a plurality of individual multiple voltage monitoring systems each constructed in accordance with claim 1 and further including a single receiver means having a single input connected to each of said buffer gate means, said single receiver means including its own voltage source connected in common to the outputs of the buffer gate means through a pull-up resistor to generate a logic signal at a common fault output line in response to the failure of a voltage in any one of the multiple voltage monitoring systems.

Claim 10

The multiple voltage monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said multiple input trigger means includes a multiple input Schmitt trigger unit, said plurality of connection means including a logic voltage means to said trigger unit and similar positive and negative voltage means and an isolated voltage means, positive voltage monitoring means including pull-down resistor means with the voltage drop across the resistor means providing a continuous monitoring of one positive voltage means, means connecting the pull-down resistor means to a first input of the Schmitt trigger unit, an integrated isolating voltage monitoring means including an input means adapted to be connected to an isolated voltage means and having an output means connected as a second input to the trigger unit, said isolating circuit means being coupled to the logic voltage means and driven thereby to produce an output signal in response to a failure of the isolated voltage means, negative voltage monitoring means including a pull-up resistor with the output of the pull-up resistor coupled to a third input of the Schmitt trigger unit, failure of any one of the inputs to the said trigger unit resulting in a corresponding actuation of the externally-powered buffer gate means to generate a logic failure level signal at the corresponding output means.

Claim 11

The monitoring apparatus of claim 9 wherein said plurality of negative voltage monitoring means include a pair of said pull-up resistor means, gate means having a pair of inputs connected one each to each of said resistor means, said gate means having an output means connected to an input of the trigger unit, a pull-up resistor connected between said output means and said logic voltage means, and a capacitor connected at the output means.

Claim 12

The monitoring apparatus of claim 9 including a plurality of individual monitoring systems each constructed in accordance with claim and including a single receiver gate means having a single input connected in common to each of said output means, said single receiver gate being equipped with its own voltage source connected to all of the output signals through a pull-up resistor to aid in generating a logic signal at the common line in response to the faiLure of a voltage in any one of the multiple voltage sources.

Claim 13

A multiple voltage monitoring apparatus comprising a multiple input trigger means having a plurality of inputs, any one of said inputs being independently operable to trigger an output, a plurality of voltage power supply connection means including a positive voltage supply, a negative voltage supply, an isolated voltage supply and a logic power supply, a positive voltage monitoring means including pull-down resistor means connected to the positive voltage supply with the voltage drop across the resistor means providing a continuous monitoring of the positive voltage supply, means connecting the pull-down resistor means to a first input of the trigger means to actuate the trigger means to establish a trigger signal in response to a selected deviation of the positive voltage supply from a predetermined level, an integrated voltage isolating monitoring means including an input means adapted to be connected to said isolated voltage supply and having an output means connected as a second input to the trigger means, said isolating monitoring means being coupled to the isolated power supply and driven thereby to produce an output signal which actuates the trigger means in response to a selected deviation of the isolated voltage supply from a predetermined level, a negative voltage monitoring means connected to said negative voltage supply including a pull-up resistor with the output of the pull-up resistor coupled to an input of the trigger means to actuate the trigger means to establish a trigger signal in response to a selected deviation of the negative voltage supply from a predetermined level, an externally-powered buffer gate means having a separate power, supply which is independent of other monitored supplies and having an input connected to the output of the trigger means and establishes a voltage fault signal at one of a first or second logic levels in accordance with the receipt of a trigger signal from the trigger means and thereby responsive to said deviation of any one of the voltage supplies, failure of said trigger means establishing a trigger signal resulting in a corresponding actuation of the externally-powered buffer gate means to also generate a voltage fault level signal.

Claim 14

A multiple voltage monitoring apparatus comprising a multiple input trigger means having a plurality of inputs, any one of said inputs being independently operable to trigger an output, a plurality of voltage power supply connection means including a positive voltage supply, a negative voltage supply, an isolated voltage supply and a logic power supply, a positive voltage monitoring means including pull-down resistor means connected to the positive voltage supply with the voltage drop across the resistor means providing a continuous monitoring of the positive voltage supply, means connecting the pull-down resistor means to a first input of the trigger means to actuate the trigger means to establish a trigger signal in response to a selected deviation of the positive voltage supply from a predetermined level, an integrated voltage isolating monitoring means including an input means adapted to be connected to said isolated voltage supply and having an output means connected as a second input to the trigger means, said isolating monitoring means being coupled to the isolated power supply and driven thereby to produce an output signal which actuates the trigger means in response to a selected deviation of the isolated voltage supply from a predetermined level, a negative voltage monitoring means connected to said negative voltage supply including a pull-up resistor with the output of the pull-up resistor coupled to an input of the trigger means to actuate the trigger means to establish a trigger signal in response to a selected deviation of the negative voltage supply from a predetermined level, an externally-powered buffer gate means having a separate power, supply which is independent of other monitored supplies and having an input connected to the output of the trigger means and establishes a voltage fault signal at one of a first or second logic levels in accordance with the receipt of a trigger signal from the trigger means and thereby responsive to said deviation of any one of the voltage supplies, failure of said trigger means establishing a trigger signal resulting in a corresponding actuation of the externally-powered buffer gate means to also generate a voltage fault level signal.

Claim 15

The multiple voltage monitoring apparatus of claim 12 having a NOR logic gate means having an individual input means connected to each of the pull-up resistors and a single output means connected to the trigger means, a pull-up resistor connecting the output of the gate means to the logic supply.