Automatically configuring data transfer bus system with direct access of information

Claim 2

A data transfer bus system used to exchange data between at least one controller and plural measurement devices in a profile and/or dimension measuring system, comprising: at least data lines transferring: a) a measurement data signal indicative of current measurement data from a current measurement device, b) a command signal requesting status, and c) a status signal reporting status; at least one latch, connected to directly receive said measurement data from at least one of the measurement devices; and a measurement data latch line transferring a measurement data latch signal to said at least one latch which, when active, commands said current measurement data which has been directly received from said at least one measurement device to be latched in said at least one latch.

Claim 3

A data transfer bus according to claim 1, wherein said data lines also transfer an address signal corresponding to each unit constituting said system.

Claim 4

A data transfer bus according to claim 1 wherein said data signals further include a signal indicative of a direction of data transfer on said bus.

Claim 5

A data transfer bus as in claim 1 further comprising a service demand line, which is wired ORed to all of said plural controllers and plural passive devices attached to said bus.

Claim 6

A data transfer system, comprising: a data transfer bus including a) data lines for transferring a measurement data signal indicative of current measurement data, a command signal requesting status and a status signal reporting status, and b) a service demand signal line for transferring a service demand signal requesting service; a plurality of detection devices for producing system data, each for producing a service demand signal on initial operation, and receiving a command signal and responding by producing a status signal and removing said service demand signal responsive to receiving said command signal; and controlling means, including a memory, connected to said plural detecting devices and to said means for detecting current information, for: 1) determining if said service demand signal is active and sending said command signal to a first device if so; 2) receiving said status signal from said first device and storing an address of said first device in said memory; 3) determining if said service demand signal still exists and repeating functions 1) and 2) for a second and a third device and so on if so until said service demand signal no longer exists, thereby automatically producing a list of addresses of all said devices in said memory.

Claim 7

A data transfer system, comprising: a data transfer bus including a) data lines for transferring a measurement data signal indicative of current measurement data, a command signal requesting status and a status signal reporting status, and b) a service demand signal line for transferring a service demand signal requesting service; a plurality of detection devices for producing system data, each for producing a service demand signal on initial operation, and receiving a command signal and responding by producing a status signal and removing said service demand signal responsive to receiving said command signal; and controlling means, including a memory, connected to said plural detecting devices and to said means for detecting current information, for: 1) determining if said service demand signal is active and sending said command signal to a first device if so; 2) receiving said status signal from said first device and storing an address of said first device in said memory; 3) determining if said service demand signal still exists and repeating functions 1) and 2) for a second and a third device and so on if so until said service demand signal no longer exists, thereby automatically producing a list of addresses of all said devices in said memory.

Claim 8

A data transfer system according to claim 5, wherein said data transfer bus also transfers an address signal corresponding to each detection device constituting said system.

Claim 9

A data transfer system according to claim 5, wherein said detection services include measurement detection devices, and said data transfer bus also includes a measurement data latch line that transfers a measurement data latch signal indicating that a current measurement data should be latched.

Claim 10

A data transfer system as in claim 5 wherein said detecting devices include an XY detecting device and a Z detecting device.

Claim 11

A data transfer system according to claim 7, wherein said measurement detection devices produce measurement data, and include means for latching said measurement data signal responsive to said measurement data latch signal on said measurement data latch line.

Claim 12

A data transfer system according to claim 9, further comprising means for determining that said current measurement data is correct and for producing said measurement data latch signal when said current information is correct.

Claim 13

A data transfer system according to claim 10 wherein said data transfer bus further includes a line for a direction discrimination signal indicative of a direction of data transfer on said data lines, and said controlling means is also for: 4) operating said direction discrimination signal to indicate different directions during said command signal and said status signal.

Claim 14

A data transfer system as in claim 10 wherein said means for detecting current information is an edge detector.