US4888714A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spectrometer system having interconnected computers at multiple optical heads
Assignee: AIR & WATER TECHNOLOGIES Corp A Co OF NJ
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Filing: 1987-09-25
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Granted: 1989-12-19
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Expires: 2007-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A spectrometer system is disclosed in which a plurality of computers are linked by cable carrying serial electronic signals. At least one control computer, and at least one optical head computer are linked by a local area network system (LAN), which includes means for parallel-to-serial signal conversion of the outgoing signals at each computer, and means for serial-to-parallel signal conversion of the incoming signals at each computer. The system permits remote control of multiple optical heads, a characteristic which is particularly important in process control and environment monitoring situations.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry A. Dingle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:47
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/28; G01J2003/283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A spectrometer system comprising: one or more digital computer data stations which control the operation of, and acquire data from, other portions of the system; a plurality of optical heads located remotely from the data stations, each of which optical heads includes a dedicated digital computer and a spectrometer which is controlled by, and which supplies data to, the dedicated computer, in the form of separate frames containing digital information; a plurality of parallel/serial data conversion nodes, a separate one of such nodes being located at each computer data station and at each dedicated computer; a plurality of separate serial data carrying connecting cables, each having one end connected to one node and the other end connected to the next node; the nodes being connected to one another in series, with no node being connected to more than two other nodes; means at each node for addressing each frame of digital information originated at that node to another node; and means at each node for rejecting any frame of digital information not addressed to that node.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A spectrometer system comprising: one or more digital computer data stations which control the operation of, and acquire data from, other portions of the system; a plurality of optical heads located remotely from the data stations, each of which optical heads includes a dedicated digital computer and a spectrometer which is controlled by, and which supplies data to, the dedicated computer, in the form of separate frames containing digital information; a plurality of parallel/serial data conversion nodes, a separate one of such nodes being located at each computer data station and at each dedicated computer; a plurality of separate serial data carrying connecting cables, each having one end connected to one node and the other end connected to the next node; the nodes being connected to one another in series, with no node being connected to more than two other nodes; means at each node for addressing each frame of digital information originated at that node to another node; and means at each node for rejecting any frame of digital information not addressed to that node.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The spectrometer system of claim 1 in which each dedicated computer node is connected to: a receiver which directs into the computer located at that node signals from the other nodes; and a driver which sends signals from the computer located at that node to the other nodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The spectrometer system of claim 2 in which: each receiver at each node provides amplification of the signals into the node; and each driver at each node provides amplification of the signals from the node.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The spectrometer system of claim 2 in which each node includes: a serial-to-parallel converter which receives signals from said receiver connected to the node; and a parallel-to-serial converter which transmits signals to said driver connected to the node.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The spectrometer system of claim 2 which also comprises: a collision detector which compares receiver-to-node signals with node-to-driver signals, and means controlled by the collision detector for providing a signal indicating system failure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The spectrometer system of claim 2 in which: the receiver and driver at each node are coupled to provide differential amplifier signal pulses both into and out of said node; and each cable has a pair of wires carrying receiver and driver signals which are 180° out of phase with one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The spectrometer system of claim 2 which also comprises: a transformer which isolates the cables from the driver and receiver at each node.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-18 | 1993-06-19 | 1993-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-18 | 1997-06-19 | 1997-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-18 | 2001-06-19 | 2001-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |