US3858191A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Digital multiplexed position indication and transmission system
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1973-01-03
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1993-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A digital position indication system for displaying the relative position of at least one movable element with respect to fixed known coordinates. A sensory system is provided for each movable element and is responsive to the element''s position to provide discrete electrical outputs indicative thereof. The discrete electrical outputs are encoded in the form of a corresponding gray code. Two sensory groups per element are described, constructed in an interleaved array with the signals from each group processed separately in independent signal trains. The signals within the individual trains contain the information required to indicate the element''s location within one-half of the overall resolution of the system. Each encoded signal is assigned an address and the information carried by the two trains are separately multiplexed through a system of independent interfaces to a control system which demultiplexes, periodically updates, and stores the information corresponding to each element. The control system combines the information conveyed by each train to provide full resolution of the element''s position and organizes the resulting data for presentation on a visual pictorial display. A universal interface provides inputs compatible with most computers for further signal processing and monitoring. Additionally, a fault detection system is built into each train to monitor electrical malfunctions and block affected signals providing an error indication in its place. Thus, a malfunction in one train will not disable the system but will merely reduce the resolution of the position information conveyed.
Inventors
- 👤 J Neuner
- 👤 F Thompson
- 👤 L Vercellotti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:35
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/10; G21C17/12; H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/12; H03M1/34; H03M1/36; H03M1/361; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A digital position indication system for displaying the relative position of a movable element with respect to fixed known coordinates comprising: sensory means responsive to the element''s position to provide discrete electric outputs indicative thereof at corresponding output terminals; an encoder electrically connected to said sensory means an operable upon said discrete outputs to provide a digital coded output represenative of the element''s position; signal transfer means electrically coupled to said encoder output and controlled by a corresponding command address signal to transmit said digital coded output; signal retrieval means for generating, sequencing and transmitting said corresponding commanD address signal to said signal transfer means to effect transmission of said digital coded output to said retrieval means, said retrieval means being operable to process said digital coded encoder output into a display signal output; fault detection means for monitoring said digital coded encoder output representative of the element''s position for a malfunction and responsive to electrical malfunctions effecting said digital coded encoder output representative of the element''s position to generate a separate digital coded encoder output identifying the malfunction and transmit the same to said signal retrieval means in place of the digital coded output associated with the malfunction in response to said address corresponding to said digital coded encoder output associated with the malfunction; and display means responsive to said display signal from said retrieval means to provide a corresponding visual display.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A digital position indication system for displaying the relative position of a movable element with respect to fixed known coordinates comprising: sensory means responsive to the element''s position to provide discrete electric outputs indicative thereof at corresponding output terminals; an encoder electrically connected to said sensory means an operable upon said discrete outputs to provide a digital coded output represenative of the element''s position; signal transfer means electrically coupled to said encoder output and controlled by a corresponding command address signal to transmit said digital coded output; signal retrieval means for generating, sequencing and transmitting said corresponding commanD address signal to said signal transfer means to effect transmission of said digital coded output to said retrieval means, said retrieval means being operable to process said digital coded encoder output into a display signal output; fault detection means for monitoring said digital coded encoder output representative of the element''s position for a malfunction and responsive to electrical malfunctions effecting said digital coded encoder output representative of the element''s position to generate a separate digital coded encoder output identifying the malfunction and transmit the same to said signal retrieval means in place of the digital coded output associated with the malfunction in response to said address corresponding to said digital coded encoder output associated with the malfunction; and display means responsive to said display signal from said retrieval means to provide a corresponding visual display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
130 words
The digital position indication system of claim 1 wherein said sensory means includes an indicator array for detecting the location of an elongated, longitudinally movable, metallic element having one degree of freedom along an axis corresponding to its longitudinal dimension comprising: a plurality of discrete electrical coils wound around the circumferential periphery of the axis of movement of the movable element and arranged longitudinally therealong; an alternating current source electrically coupled to each of said plurality of coils; and detection means for respectively detecting a change in impedance within each of said plurality of coils as the movable element moves along its axis of movement, said detection means providing a set of said discrete outputs indicative of the position of the movable element relative to said arrangement of discrete coils.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The digital position indication system of claim 2 wherein the movable element has an elongated dimension approximately equal to the longitudinal dimension of said arrangement of discrete coils and the movable element appears susbstantially within the center of each of said plurality of discrete coils, concurrently, at at least one point in travel thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The digital position indication system of claim 2 wherein said detection means includes means for comparing the impedance within adjacent coils along said arrangement of coils and said set of discrete outputs corresponds approximately to a coordinate between two of said plurality of coils exhibiting the largest difference of impedance within said arrangement of coils.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
151 words
The digital position indication system of claim 2 wherein siad sensory means includes a second indicator array comprising: a second arrangement of a plurality of discrete coils wound around the circumferential periphery of the axis of movement of the movable element and arranged longitudinally therealong interleaved between said plurality of discrete coils on a corresponding alternate coil basis so that corresponding ones of said plurality of discrete coils and said second arrangement lie adjacent; an alternating current source electrically coupled to each of said plurality of coils within said second arrangement; and second detection means for respectively detecting a change in impedance within each of said plurality of coils within said second arrangement as the movable element moves along its axis of movement, said second detection means providing a second set of said discrete outputs indicative of the position of the movable element relative to said second arrangement of discrete coils.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
127 words
The digital position indication system of claim 5 wherein said encoder includes a plurality of encoder circuits respectively corresponding to the number of said indicator arrays, said encoder circuits being electrically isolated from and operating independently of each other and individually operable upon respective associative sets of said discrete outputs from said corresponding arrays to provide corresponding digital outputs. 7. The digital position indication system of claim 6 wherein said signal transfer means includes a plurality of individual signal transfer circuits respectively corresponding to the number of said encoder circuits, said transfer circuits being electrically isolated from and operated independently of each other and individually operable upon said corresponding digital coded encoder output to transmit the same to said retrieval means upon said corresponding command address signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The position indication system of claim 7 wherein corresponding digital outputs transmitted by said transfer circuits are compared in said control means and a one bit difference is indicated as a malfunction within the indication system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The position indication system of claim 6 wherein said signal retrieval means combines said digital outputs representative of the elements position from said encoder circuits by algebraic addition of the respective codes to provide increased resolution of the information conveyed thereby.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The position indication system of claim 1 wherein said fault detection means provides an alarm signal indicative of the location of the malfunction within the position indication system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The position indication system of claim 1 wherein said display means comprises a pictorial array of lights indicative of the movable element''s position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
169 words
The position indication system of claim 1 for displaying the relative position of each of a plurality of movable elements with respect to fixed known coordinates: a plurality of said sensory means, corresponding to said plurality of movable elements, respectively responsive to the corresponding element''s position to provide discrete electrical outputs indicative thereof; a plurality of said encoders, corresponding to said plurality of sensory means and individually operable upon said discrete outputs associated with said corresponding sensory means to provide digital coded outputs representative of the corresponding element''s position; said signal transfer means being operable upon said digital outputs to transmit a respective group thereof upon said corresponding address signal; said signal retrieval means being operable to generate and transmit a second respective command address, corresponding to said group of said digital coded outputs addressed, to said display means along with said display signal; and said display means being operable to provide a visual display of the corresponding element''s position according to said second address and said display signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The position indication system of claim 12 wherein said display means includes a plurality of display output units respectively corresponding to the number of said sensory means and said display means is responsive to said second address to electrically couple said display unit corresponding to said sensory means whose associated digital coded output is being addressed and transmit said display signal to said corresponding display unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The position indication system of claim 1 wherein the movable member is a nuclear reactor control rod drive shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
235 words
A multiplexed transmission system for transmitting a plurality of discrete independent signals comprising: a plurality of encoders, respectively corresponding to the plurality of discrete signals, and individually operable to encode corresponding ones of said discrete signals into corresponding digital coded outputs representative thereof; signal transfer means electrically coupled to said digital coded outputs and controlled by a corresponding command address signal to transmit a respective group of said digital coded outputs; signal retrieval means for generating, sequencing and transmitting said corresponding command address signal to said signal transfer means to effect transmission of said digital coded outputs to said retrieval means, said retrieval means being operable to process said digital coded outputs into a correspoNding decoded information output signal and generate a second unique command address corresponding thereto; fault detection means for monitoring said digital coded encoder outputs representative of said discrete signals for a malfunction and responsive to electrical malfunctions effecting said digital coded encoder outputs representative of said discrete signals to generate a separate digital coded output identifying the malfunction and transmit the same in place of the digital coded encoder output associated with the malfunction to said retrieval means in response to said address corresponding to said digital coded encoder output associated with the malfunction; and output means electrically connected to said retrieval means and responsive to said second command address signal to process said decoded information signal into a predetermined format.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
235 words
A multiplexed transmission system for transmitting a plurality of discrete independent signals comprising: a plurality of encoders, respectively corresponding to the plurality of discrete signals, and individually operable to encode corresponding ones of said discrete signals into corresponding digital coded outputs representative thereof; signal transfer means electrically coupled to said digital coded outputs and controlled by a corresponding command address signal to transmit a respective group of said digital coded outputs; signal retrieval means for generating, sequencing and transmitting said corresponding command address signal to said signal transfer means to effect transmission of said digital coded outputs to said retrieval means, said retrieval means being operable to process said digital coded outputs into a correspoNding decoded information output signal and generate a second unique command address corresponding thereto; fault detection means for monitoring said digital coded encoder outputs representative of said discrete signals for a malfunction and responsive to electrical malfunctions effecting said digital coded encoder outputs representative of said discrete signals to generate a separate digital coded output identifying the malfunction and transmit the same in place of the digital coded encoder output associated with the malfunction to said retrieval means in response to said address corresponding to said digital coded encoder output associated with the malfunction; and output means electrically connected to said retrieval means and responsive to said second command address signal to process said decoded information signal into a predetermined format.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The transmission system of claim 15 wherein said fault detection means provides an alarm signal indicative of the location of the malfunction within the transmission system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The transmission system of claim 15 wherein said predetermined format generated by said output means identifies the individual discrete signal corresponding to said decoded information output signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
The transmission system of claim 17 wherein said output means includes a plurality of output circuits, corresponding to said plurality of discrete independent signals and is responsive to said second command address to electrically couple the respective output circuit corresponding to the discrete independent signal being addressed and transmit said decoded information signal to the respective output circuit corresponding thereto which processes said information signal into said predetermined format.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |