Computer-controlled switching apparatus

Claim 1

A computer-controlled switching apparatus for controlling power switching elements supplying power to a system such as a motor, transformer or the like, according to various computer programs for said system, said apparatus comprising: (a) at least one sensor for monitoring the current consumption of the system; (b) a microprocessor connected to said at least one sensor through an analog-digital converter, said microprocessor sequentially computes from the signals supplied by said at least one sensor, according to the various programs, data representing parameters of the system and compares the computed data with pre-selected limit and warning values to produce switching instructions and warning signals when said values are achieved; (c) a coding means included in said microprocessor for coding the computed data and output the same to an output; (d) a decoder connected to the output of said coding means through a transmission path for switching the computed data corresponding to one of the programs through to a display means, said decoder including two interconnected signal switching means of which one switches through the incoming coded signals, in accordance with the code, to one of a plurality of outputs, and the second selectively connects to its output, one of the inputs connected to the outputs of the first signal switching means, the output of said second switching means is connected to said display means; and (e) a manually operated instruction signal generator for supplying a switching signal to said decoder to change the switched-through data to that corresponding to another one of the programs, said second signal switching means having a control input connected to said instruction signal generator.