Signal distribution system hybrid relay controller/driver

Claim 2

In a signal distribution system for selectively connecting an equipment under test to a test instrument, at least one control means adapted to communicate with a central processing means for controllably activating a corresponding switching matrix means, the switching matrix means having a plurality of relays, the central processing means communicating with the control means via a plurality of bi-directional and uni-directional data lines, the control means comprising: a plurality of driving means connected to the bi-directional data lines and the switching matrix means; a decoding means connected to the driving means and the central processing means, the decoding means receiving data from the central processing means for selectively activating a particular one of the plurality of driving means for receiving instruction data from the central processing means, the particular driving means, upon being selectively activated, actuating chosen relays in the switching matrix means to controllably connect the equipment under test to the test instrument; means connected to the switching matrix means for sensing the statuses of the relays therein, the sensing means further being connected to the bi-directional data lines for communicating the statuses of the relays to the central processing means; whereby the central processing means compares the statuses of the relays which have been actuated with statuses of the relays which should be actuated to obtain a feedback as to whether or not the correct relays have been actuated.

Claim 3

The control means according to claim 1, further comprising: isolation means connected between the sensing means and the relays for protecting the sensing means from high voltages.

Claim 4

The control means according to claim 1, wherein the decoding means receives addressing, decoding and enabling data from the central processing means via the uni-directional data lines.

Claim 5

The control means according to claim 1, further comprising inverter means interposed between the decoding means and the driving means, the inverter means converting the outputs of the decoding means into appropriate inputs for the driving means.

Claim 6

In a signal distribution system for selectively connecting an equipment under test to a test instrument, at least one control means adapted to communicate with a central processing means for controllably activating a corresponding switching matrix means, the central processing means communicating with the control means via a plurality of bi-directional and uni-directional data lines, the control means comprising: a plurality of driving means connected to the bi-directional data lines and the switching matrix means, the driving means receiving instruction data from the central processing means via the bi-directional data lines; a decoding means connected to the driving means and the central processing means, the decoding means receiving and utilizing addressing, decoding and enabling data from the central processing means via the uni-directional lines for selectively actuvating a particular one of the plurality of driving means, the particular driving means, upon being selectively activated, actuating chosen relays in the switching matrix means in accordance to the instruction data to controllably connect the equipment under test to the test instrument; means connected to the switch matrix means for sensing the statuses of the relays therein, the sensing means further being connected to the bi-directional data lines for communicating these statuses of the relays to the central processing means, the central processing means comparing the statuses of the relays which are actuated with should be actuated relay information to determine whether the corrected relays have been actuated; isolation means connected between the sensing means and the relays for protecting the sensing means from high voltages.

Claim 7

In a signal distribution system for selectively connecting an equipment under test to a test instrument, at least one control means adapted to communicate with a central processing means for controllably activating a corresponding switching matrix means, the central processing means communicating with the control means via a plurality of bi-directional and uni-directional data lines, the control means comprising: a plurality of driving means connected to the bi-directional data lines and the switching matrix means, the driving means receiving instruction data from the central processing means via the bi-directional data lines; a decoding means connected to the driving means and the central processing means, the decoding means receiving and utilizing addressing, decoding and enabling data from the central processing means via the uni-directional lines for selectively actuvating a particular one of the plurality of driving means, the particular driving means, upon being selectively activated, actuating chosen relays in the switching matrix means in accordance to the instruction data to controllably connect the equipment under test to the test instrument; means connected to the switch matrix means for sensing the statuses of the relays therein, the sensing means further being connected to the bi-directional data lines for communicating these statuses of the relays to the central processing means, the central processing means comparing the statuses of the relays which are actuated with should be actuated relay information to determine whether the corrected relays have been actuated; isolation means connected between the sensing means and the relays for protecting the sensing means from high voltages.

Claim 8

In a signal distribution system having multiple switching matrix means for effecting connection between an equipment under test and at least one of a plurality of test instruments, and interfacing means for connecting the matrix switching means to the equipment under test, bus means connecting the switching matrix means to the test instruments, at least one control means connected to each of the switching matrix means, the control means further being connected to a central processing means, the control means comprising: a selecting means communicating with the central processing means via uni-directional address, decode and enable lines; a plurality of driving means each connected to the selecting means and the central processing means via multiple bi-directional data lines, inverter means being interposed between the central processing means and the driving means for adapting the output of the central processing means to the input of the driving means, the driving means receiving instruction data from the central processing means and at least one of the driving means being activated by the selecting means, the selectively activated driving means adapting the instruction data to actuate chosen relays in the switching matrix means, thereby effecting connection between the equipment under test and at least one of the test instruments; means working cooperatively with the activated driving means and connected to the corresponding switching matrix means and the central processing means for sensing from the switching matrix means and communicating to the central processing means, respectively, the statuses of the relays of the switching matrix means, the sensing means including at the output thereof an isolation means for preventing unwanted high voltages; whereby the central processing means compares the statuses of the actuated relays with should be actuated relay information to obtain a feedback as to whether or not the correct relays have been actuated.

Claim 9

In a signal distribution system having multiple switching matrix means for effecting connection between an equipment under test and at least one of a plurality of test instruments, and interfacing means for connecting the matrix switching means to the equipment under test, bus means connecting the switching matrix means to the test instruments, at least one control means connected to each of the switching matrix means, the control means further being connected to a central processing means, the control means comprising: a selecting means communicating with the central processing means via uni-directional address, decode and enable lines; a plurality of driving means each connected to the selecting means and the central processing means via multiple bi-directional data lines, inverter means being interposed between the central processing means and the driving means for adapting the output of the central processing means to the input of the driving means, the driving means receiving instruction data from the central processing means and at least one of the driving means being activated by the selecting means, the selectively activated driving means adapting the instruction data to actuate chosen relays in the switching matrix means, thereby effecting connection between the equipment under test and at least one of the test instruments; means working cooperatively with the activated driving means and connected to the corresponding switching matrix means and the central processing means for sensing from the switching matrix means and communicating to the central processing means, respectively, the statuses of the relays of the switching matrix means, the sensing means including at the output thereof an isolation means for preventing unwanted high voltages; whereby the central processing means compares the statuses of the actuated relays with should be actuated relay information to obtain a feedback as to whether or not the correct relays have been actuated.

Claim 10

In a signal distribution system having multiple switching matrix means for effecting a communication path between an equipment under test and a plurality of test instruments, each of the multiple switching means including a plurality of relays, the signal distribution system further having means connected to the switching matrix means for interfacing the equipment under test thereto, bus means connected to the multiple switching matrix means and the plurality of test instruments for establishing a communication link therebetween, at least one control means connected to each switching matrix means, and a central processing means connected to each control means, each control means comprising: a plurality of bi-directional data lines for transferring data to and from the central processing means; multiple controlling and driving means connected to the data lines, the controlling and driving means receiving instruction data from the central processing means; means connected to the controlling and driving means and the central processing means for selectively actuating at least one of the controlling and driving means in accordance with addressing data received from the central processing means; whereby the selectively actuated controlling and driving means, using the instruction data, selectively activates chosen relays in corresponding switching matrix means to effect connection of the equipment under test to at least one of the test instruments; and means connected to the data lines and the relays of the multiple switching matrix means for sensing the statuses of the relays, the sensing means further communicating the statuses of the respective relays to the central processing means to ascertain whether the correct relays are activated by comparing the statuses of the actually activated relays with information on which relays should be activated.

Claim 11

In a signal distribution system having multiple switching matrix means for effecting a communication path between an equipment under test and a plurality of test instruments, each of the multiple switching means including a plurality of relays, the signal distribution system further having means connected to the switching matrix means for interfacing the equipment under test thereto, bus means connected to the multiple switching matrix means and the plurality of test instruments for establishing a communication link therebetween, at least one control means connected to each switching matrix means, and a central processing means connected to each control means, each control means comprising: a plurality of bi-directional data lines for transferring data to and from the central processing means; multiple controlling and driving means connected to the data lines, the controlling and driving means receiving instruction data from the central processing means; means connected to the controlling and driving means and the central processing means for selectively actuating at least one of the controlling and driving means in accordance with addressing data received from the central processing means; whereby the selectively actuated controlling and driving means, using the instruction data, selectively activates chosen relays in corresponding switching matrix means to effect connection of the equipment under test to at least one of the test instruments; and means connected to the data lines and the relays of the multiple switching matrix means for sensing the statuses of the relays, the sensing means further communicating the statuses of the respective relays to the central processing means to ascertain whether the correct relays are activated by comparing the statuses of the actually activated relays with information on which relays should be activated.

Claim 12

The control system according to claim 7, further comprising: isolation means connected between the sensing means the the relays for protecting the sensing means from high voltages.

Claim 13

The control system according to claim 7, wherein the selectively actuated means includes inputs for receiving decode data and enable data from the central processing means.

Claim 14

The control system according to claim 7, further comprising inverter means interposed between the selectively actuating means and the controlling and driving means.