Universal input/output device

Claim 2

In a universal device for sequentially sensing input signals from field devices or providing control output signals for controlling said field devices on a plurality of channels, comprising: (a) signal conditioning circuitry means connected to said field devices; (b) programmable memory means for storing data defining: (i) each said field device connected to said signal conditioning circuitry means; (ii) one of said channels as an input signal to said signal conditioning circuitry means from one of said field devices; (iii) one of said channels as an output signal from said universal devices to said one of said field devices; (c) microprocessing means for storing and accessing said programmable memory means; (d) first multiplexer means connected to said microprocessing means and in response to control signals from said microprocessing means for selectively transmitting said data stored in said programmable memory means corresponding to said input signals or said output signals; (e) bit stream generating means connected to said first multiplexer means and in response to said selected data from said multiplexer means for generating a selected digital bit stream corresponding to said data representing said input signal or said output signal; (f) means for translating said digital bit streams to an analogue signal for each sequentially selected input signal and output signal; (g) said signal conditioning circuitry means activated by said analogue signal for sensing said input signals or providing said output signals, whereby said device is programmed so that said different input signals are monitored from said field devices or for providing different output signals to said field devices by said signal conditioning circuitry means on each said channels respectively by varying the data stored in said programmable memory means without changing said signal condition circuitry means.

Claim 3

A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bit stream generating means comprises shift register means for generating said digital bit stream between zero and 4,096 bits of information at a preselected frequency for each selected input signal and output signal.

Claim 4

A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bit stream generating means comprises video RAM means for generating said digital bit stream for each selected input signal and output signal.

Claim 5

A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said signal conditional circuitry means includes 32 channels.

Claim 6

A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said video ram means generates a digital bit stream between zero and 4,096 bits of information at a preselected frequency for each sequentially selected input signal or output signal.

Claim 7

A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said programmable memory means comprise: (a) software fixed in EPROM for defining said input signals or said output signals; (b) random access memory means included in said video RAM means for storing said defined input signals or output signals.

Claim 8

A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said random access memory means is separate from said video RAM means.

Claim 9

A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said translating means comprise voltage shifters associated with a power source for generating a variety of preselected analogue signals.

Claim 10

In an input-output device for sequentially sensing an input signal from a variety of field devices or providing an output signal to control a variety of field devices on a plurality of channels comprising: (a) microprocessing means; (b) signal conditioning circuitry means being connected to each field device; (c) programmable memory means controlled by said mircroprocessor means for storing data in said programmable memory means whereby said data defines; (i) each said field device connected to said signal conditioning circuitry means; (ii) one of said channels as an input signal to said input-output device; (iii) one of said channels is an output signal from said input-output device to said one of said field device for controlling said one said field device in response to said input signal; (d) first multiplexer means connected to said microprocessing means and in response to control signals from said microprocessing means for selectively transmitting said data stored in said programmable memory means corresponding to each said input signals and said output signals on each one of said channels; (e) video RAM means connected to said first multiplexer means and in response to said selected data from said multiplexer means for sequentially generating a digital bit stream corresponding to said data representing each said input signal and output signal; (f) means for translating said digital pulse bit stream to an analogue signal for each said input signal and output signal; (g) said signal circuitry conditioning means activated by each said analogue signal for sequentially; (i) sensing each said selected input signal from said field devices on said selected channel, and (ii) providing each said selected output signal to said field devices for controlling said field devices on said selected channel, for each signal selected by said first multiplexer means from said channels whereby said input-output device may be programmed so that different input signals are monitored and different output signals are provided by said signal conditioning circuitry means on each said channel by varying said data stored in said programmable memory means without changing said signal conditioning circuitry means; (h) programmable gain amplifier means coupled with said signal conditioning circuitry means for amplifying said analogue signals sensed by said signal conditioning circuitry means within a preselected range; (i) digital to analogue converter means for converting a digital signal from said microprocessor mans to an analogue signal; (j) comparator means for comparing said amplified analogue signal from said programmable gain amplifier means with said analogue signal from said digital to analogue converter.

Claim 11

In an input-output device for sequentially sensing an input signal from a variety of field devices or providing an output signal to control a variety of field devices on a plurality of channels comprising: (a) microprocessing means; (b) signal conditioning circuitry means being connected to each field device; (c) programmable memory means controlled by said mircroprocessor means for storing data in said programmable memory means whereby said data defines; (i) each said field device connected to said signal conditioning circuitry means; (ii) one of said channels as an input signal to said input-output device; (iii) one of said channels is an output signal from said input-output device to said one of said field device for controlling said one said field device in response to said input signal; (d) first multiplexer means connected to said microprocessing means and in response to control signals from said microprocessing means for selectively transmitting said data stored in said programmable memory means corresponding to each said input signals and said output signals on each one of said channels; (e) video RAM means connected to said first multiplexer means and in response to said selected data from said multiplexer means for sequentially generating a digital bit stream corresponding to said data representing each said input signal and output signal; (f) means for translating said digital pulse bit stream to an analogue signal for each said input signal and output signal; (g) said signal circuitry conditioning means activated by each said analogue signal for sequentially; (i) sensing each said selected input signal from said field devices on said selected channel, and (ii) providing each said selected output signal to said field devices for controlling said field devices on said selected channel, for each signal selected by said first multiplexer means from said channels whereby said input-output device may be programmed so that different input signals are monitored and different output signals are provided by said signal conditioning circuitry means on each said channel by varying said data stored in said programmable memory means without changing said signal conditioning circuitry means; (h) programmable gain amplifier means coupled with said signal conditioning circuitry means for amplifying said analogue signals sensed by said signal conditioning circuitry means within a preselected range; (i) digital to analogue converter means for converting a digital signal from said microprocessor mans to an analogue signal; (j) comparator means for comparing said amplified analogue signal from said programmable gain amplifier means with said analogue signal from said digital to analogue converter.

Claim 12

In an input-output device as claimed in claim 9 whereby said input or output signals may be programmed as analogue signals or digital signals.