Centralized peripheral interface with a numerical control unit

Claim 2

A numerical control apparatus for controlling a machine, comprising: a numerical control unit; a data input unit for entering NC data into said numerical control unit; a manual data input unit for manually entering NC data into said numerical control unit; an operator's pendant for entering data into said numerical control unit; a local control circuit for controlling the transfer of data between said data input unit and said numerical control unit, said manual data input unit and said numerical control unit, and said operator's pendant and said numerical control unit, said local control circuit including: receiver means, respectively connected to said data input, said manual input and said operator's pendant, for receiving NC data from said data input, said manual input and said operator's pendant; driver means, respectively connected to said data input and said operator's pendant, for providing output NC data to said data input and said operator's pendant; first data selector means, operatively connected to said receiver means, for selectively providing said received NC data in response to control signals; second data selector means, operatively connected to said driver means, for providing said output NC data to said driver means in response to said control signals; shift register means for receiving in parallel said received NC data from said first data selector means, for providing in parallel said received NC data to said second data selector means, for serially receiving over a single data line said output NC data for said second data selector means, and for serially providing over said single data line said received NC data from said first data selector means, such that said numerical control unit selectively exchanges NC data with said data input unit, said manual input and said operator's pendant over said single data line.

Claim 3

A numerical control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a data input/output circuit, operatively connectable between said numerical control unit and the machine and connected between said numerical control unit and said local control circuit, for controlling data transfers between the machine and the numerical control unit, controlling data transfers between said numerical control unit and said local control circuit, such that said data passes over a single data line and through said data input/output circuit.

Claim 4

A numerical control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said local control circuit is directly connected to the numerical control unit by said single data line.

Claim 5

A numerical control apparatus according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said data input unit, said manual data input unit and said operator's pendant are connected to the local control circuit via a single data line.

Claim 6

A numerical control apparatus for controlling a machine, said apparatus comprising: numerical control means, operatively connectable to the machine, for receiving numerical control (NC) data and for controlling machine operations in accordance with said numerical control data; a plurality of numerical control input/output means for generating and receiving said numerical control data; and local control means, operatively connected between said numerical control means and each of said plurality of numerical control input/output means, for serially transferring said numerical control data to and from said numerical control means over a single data line so that said numerical control means selectively communicates with said plurality of numerical control input/output means over said single data line, said local control means including: receiver means, respectively connected to said plurality of numerical control input/output means, for receiving NC data from said plurality of numerical control input/output means; driver means, respectively connected to selected ones of said plurality of numerical control input/output means, for providing output NC data to said selected ones of said plurality of numerical control input/output means; first data selector means, operatively connected to said receiver means, for selectively providing said received NC data in response to control signals; second data selector means, operatively connected to said driver means, for providing said output NC data to said driver means in response to said control signals; shift register means for receiving in parallel said received NC data from said first data selector means, and for providing in parallel said received NC data to said second data selector means, for serially receiving over a single data line said output NC data for said second data selector means, and for serially providing over said single data line said received NC data from said first data selector means.

Claim 7

A numerical control apparatus for controlling a machine, said apparatus comprising: numerical control means, operatively connectable to the machine, for receiving numerical control (NC) data and for controlling machine operations in accordance with said numerical control data; a plurality of numerical control input/output means for generating and receiving said numerical control data; and local control means, operatively connected between said numerical control means and each of said plurality of numerical control input/output means, for serially transferring said numerical control data to and from said numerical control means over a single data line so that said numerical control means selectively communicates with said plurality of numerical control input/output means over said single data line, said local control means including: receiver means, respectively connected to said plurality of numerical control input/output means, for receiving NC data from said plurality of numerical control input/output means; driver means, respectively connected to selected ones of said plurality of numerical control input/output means, for providing output NC data to said selected ones of said plurality of numerical control input/output means; first data selector means, operatively connected to said receiver means, for selectively providing said received NC data in response to control signals; second data selector means, operatively connected to said driver means, for providing said output NC data to said driver means in response to said control signals; shift register means for receiving in parallel said received NC data from said first data selector means, and for providing in parallel said received NC data to said second data selector means, for serially receiving over a single data line said output NC data for said second data selector means, and for serially providing over said single data line said received NC data from said first data selector means.

Claim 8

A numerical control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said local control means is remote from said numerical control means and provides said numerical control data directly to and communicates directly with said numerical control means.