Pwn multiplex system

Claim 2

Apparatus for transmitting a plurality of individual information signals related to the status of a number of control function devices located at a first location and each indicative of a predetermined level necessary to perform a desired control function at a location remote from said first, by multiplexing said information signal levels and transmitting the same via a common linkage between said first location and said remote location, comprising: a. multiplexing means at said first location, having a plurality of input terminals and a single output terminal coupled to said common linkage, each of said input terminals being coupled to separate ones of said control function devices and responsive to said information signal levels for providing a single series of pulses at said output terminal, with the width of each pulse of said series being indicative of the status of individual ones of said control function devices such that each control function to be performed is represented by the position and width of a single pulse in said series, and with said series of pulses having a given periodicity, b. demultiplexing means at said remote location, having a single input terminal coupled to said common linkage and a plurality of output terminals, said demultiplexing means being responsive to individual pulses within said single series of pulses at its input terminal to generate a plurality of pulse series, one for each output terminal, with the width of each pulse in individual ones of said plurality of series corresponding to the width of that pulse in said single series which generated it to indicate only the status of that one of said control devices governing the function to be performed and with each of said plurality of pulse series having a periodicity less than said given periodicity by a factor equal to the nUmber of said control function devices, c. a plurality of pulse stretching means, each having an input and an output terminal, with said input terminal being coupled solely to one separate output terminal of said demultiplexing means, for providing at the output terminal of each stretching means one of said plurality of pulse series at an increased periodicity up to but not exceeding that provided by said multiplexing means, and d. means coupled to the output terminals of said pulse stretching means for generating control signals from said plurality of pulse series which correspond in level to said information signals indicative of the status of each control function device at said first location.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a plurality of monostable multivibrators, each having an input and output terminal.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of control function devices comprises: a. a plurality of digital function switches each one capable of being in one of two states wherein a first state represents an on condition and a second state represents an off condition.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said last-mentioned means includes: a. a lamp driver circuit including a transistor arranged in a common emitter configuration and having an input base electrode coupled to the output of one of said pulse stretching means, and an output collector electrode, and b. an indicator lamp coupled to said collector electrode for emitting a visual indication when said base electrode of said transistor is activated by said pulse stretching means.

Claim 6

Apparatus for transmitting a plurality of individual information signals related to the status of a number of control function sources located at a first location and each indicative of a predetermined control signal level for performing a desired control function at a location remote from said first location, by multiplexing said information signal levels and transmitting the same via a common linkage between said first location and said remote location, comprising: a. a plurality of modulators, each one responsive to a separate one of said control signals for providing at an output thereof a pulse width modulated signal characterized by a series of pulses of fixed periodicity, each pulse in said series further having a width determined by the magnitude of said associated information signal, b. multiplexing means having a plurality of input terminals and a single output terminal, each of said input terminals coupled to the output of a separate one of said modulators to provide at the output terminal of said multiplexing means a new series of pulses from a first to a last, each pulse having a width according to the width of said pulse at the output of each separate modulator, whereby said first pulse in said new series has a width corresponding to the width of any one pulse at the output of a first one of said modulators, said last pulse has a width corresponding to the width of any one pulse at said output of a last one of said demodulators, and intermediate pulses have widths corresponding to the widths of pulses at the outputs of the others of said plurality of modulators, said new series of pulses being at a periodicity directly related to the number of the plurality of modulators, c. demultiplexing means having a single input terminal coupled to said single output terminal of said multiplexer means to derive at a plurality of output terminals a plurality of individual pulse series, each one of which is associated with one of said plurality of output terminals and with each pulse in an individual series having a width equal to the width of said pulses at the output of said modulators and a periodicity approximately equal to said fixed periodicity divided by the number of said plurality of modulators, d. a plurality of pulse stretching means, each having an input and an output terminal and arranged from a first one to a last one, said input terminal of said first pulse stretching means being coupled to one of said plurality of output terminals of said demultiplexing means, said input terminal of said last pulse stretching means being coupled to another of said plurality of output terminals of said demultiplexing means, and said input terminal of the others of said plurality of pulse stretching means being coupled to remaining ones of said plurality of output terminals of said demultiplexing means, with each of said pulse stretching means being responsive to said associated demultiplexed pulse series to provide therefrom another pulse series related to the demultiplexed series by a constant pulse width multiplication factor, the maximum pulse width of said another pulse series not exceeding the period of repetition of said new series of pulses, and e. means coupled to the output terminal of said pulse stretching means for generating control signals from said another pulse series which correspond in level to said information signals indicative of the status of each control function device at said first location.

Claim 7

Apparatus for transmitting a plurality of individual information signals related to the status of a number of control function sources located at a first location and each indicative of a predetermined control signal level for performing a desired control function at a location remote from said first location, by multiplexing said information signal levels and transmitting the same via a common linkage between said first location and said remote location, comprising: a. a plurality of modulators, each one responsive to a separate one of said control signals for providing at an output thereof a pulse width modulated signal characterized by a series of pulses of fixed periodicity, each pulse in said series further having a width determined by the magnitude of said associated information signal, b. multiplexing means having a plurality of input terminals and a single output terminal, each of said input terminals coupled to the output of a separate one of said modulators to provide at the output terminal of said multiplexing means a new series of pulses from a first to a last, each pulse having a width according to the width of said pulse at the output of each separate modulator, whereby said first pulse in said new series has a width corresponding to the width of any one pulse at the output of a first one of said modulators, said last pulse has a width corresponding to the width of any one pulse at said output of a last one of said demodulators, and intermediate pulses have widths corresponding to the widths of pulses at the outputs of the others of said plurality of modulators, said new series of pulses being at a periodicity directly related to the number of the plurality of modulators, c. demultiplexing means having a single input terminal coupled to said single output terminal of said multiplexer means to derive at a plurality of output terminals a plurality of individual pulse series, each one of which is associated with one of said plurality of output terminals and with each pulse in an individual series having a width equal to the width of said pulses at the output of said modulators and a periodicity approximately equal to said fixed periodicity divided by the number of said plurality of modulators, d. a plurality of pulse stretching means, each having an input and an output terminal and arranged from a first one to a last one, said input terminal of said first pulse stretching means being coupled to one of said plurality of output terminals of said demultiplexing means, said input terminal of said last pulse stretching means being coupled to another of said plurality of output terminals of said demultiplexing means, and said input terminal of the others of said plurality of pulse stretching means being coupled to remaining ones of said plurality of output terminals of said demultiplexing means, with each of said pulse stretching means being responsive to said associated demultiplexed pulse series to provide therefrom another pulse series related to the demultiplexed series by a constant pulse width multiplication factor, the maximum pulse width of said another pulse series not exceeding the period of repetition of said new series of pulses, and e. means coupled to the output terminal of said pulse stretching means for generating control signals from said another pulse series which correspond in level to said information signals indicative of the status of each control function device at said first location.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising: a. a pulse source coupled to said multiplexing means and to said demultiplexing means for providing synchronizing signals thereto operative to provide synchronization of said associated pulse series available at the outputs of said multiplexing and demultiplexing means.