US5349644A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Distributed intelligence engineering casualty and damage control management system using an AC power line carrier-current lan
Assignee: Electronic Innovators Inc
•
Filing: 1993-12-01
•
Granted: 1994-09-20
•
Expires: 2013-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A distributed artificial intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system forms a local area network (LAN) over the AC power lines of a vessel for communicating shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information. Each node in the LAN includes a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver, a slave processing unit for interfacing with local sensors or equipment and a master processing unit for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of offset-quadrature-phase-shift-keyed (OQPSK) LAN messages. Nodes in the LAN are strategically positioned at various locations throughout the ship and are configured to function either as a Terminal Unit or as a Data & Control Unit. Terminal Units are equipped with a touch screen display and an intelligent controller that provides a user-friendly interactive operator interface through a series of display screen prompts and includes a data base of ship casualty and damage control information stored in a local non-volatile random access memory. The data base, containing both archived and current data, is maintained and constantly updated by each terminal unit in response to information acquired both locally and from other nodes in the LAN. Each Terminal Unit is assigned specific damage control responsibilities for monitoring conditions, controlling equipment and for exchanging data and commands with other nodes. Data and Control units perform monitoring and control functions similar to Terminal Units, but have no touch screen and provide no user interface. The PLCC transceiver at each node includes an improved low noise transmitter that employs a direct digital modulation (DDM) technique utilizing ROM stored waveforms and an improved receiver that uses a passive linear-phase bandpass detection filter and a switchable phase-locked/Costas loop for highly reliable, rapid acquisition of PSK signals.
Inventors
- 👤 John Massey
- 👤 Garland R. Granzow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:42
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B3/00; H04B3/54; H04B3/542; B; B63; B63B; B63B43/00; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/042; G05B19/0421; H04B2203/00; H04B2203/54; H04B2203/5404; H04B2203/5408; H04B2203/5416; H04B2203/542; H04B2203/5425; H04B2203/5429; H04B2203/5441; H04B2203/5445; H04B2203/5458; H04B2203/5462; H04B2203/5483; H04B2203/5491
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 166
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A distributed data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating information over AC power lines, comprising: an electrical power distribution line; a plurality of carrier-current communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power distribution line for transmitting and receiving information, said plurality of carrier-current communication means forming a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication means comprising at least one Terminal Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising: a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver means for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting a LAN message over said power distribution line; a slave processing means for interfacing and controlling communication with a first plurality of sensors and equipment; an input/output (I/O) means for allowing an operator to input information onto and obtain information from the LAN; a controller means for providing an interactive interface via said I/O means and for maintaining a data base of integrated command, equipment parameter and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; and a master processing means for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing means, said controller means and said PLCC transceiver means, and for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of LAN messages with any other carrier-current communication means in said LAN via said PLCC transceiver means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A distributed data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating information over AC power lines, comprising: an electrical power distribution line; a plurality of carrier-current communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power distribution line for transmitting and receiving information, said plurality of carrier-current communication means forming a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication means comprising at least one Terminal Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising: a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver means for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting a LAN message over said power distribution line; a slave processing means for interfacing and controlling communication with a first plurality of sensors and equipment; an input/output (I/O) means for allowing an operator to input information onto and obtain information from the LAN; a controller means for providing an interactive interface via said I/O means and for maintaining a data base of integrated command, equipment parameter and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; and a master processing means for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing means, said controller means and said PLCC transceiver means, and for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of LAN messages with any other carrier-current communication means in said LAN via said PLCC transceiver means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
146 words
A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating data and control information over AC power lines, comprising: an electrical power distribution line; a plurality of carrier-current communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power distribution line and forming a local area network (LAN) for transmitting and receiving information; at least one of said carrier-current communication means including a distributed artificial intelligence controller (DAIEC) means for controlling the exchange of information with other carrier-current communication means in the LAN, maintaining a local data base of stored information, and for providing an interactive user interface to said local data base and said plurality of carrier-current communication means in the LAN; said DAIEC means comprising a main processor connected to a non-volatile addressable memory and a user operable I/O device means for allowing a user to input information onto and obtain information from the LAN.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
146 words
A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating data and control information over AC power lines, comprising: an electrical power distribution line; a plurality of carrier-current communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power distribution line and forming a local area network (LAN) for transmitting and receiving information; at least one of said carrier-current communication means including a distributed artificial intelligence controller (DAIEC) means for controlling the exchange of information with other carrier-current communication means in the LAN, maintaining a local data base of stored information, and for providing an interactive user interface to said local data base and said plurality of carrier-current communication means in the LAN; said DAIEC means comprising a main processor connected to a non-volatile addressable memory and a user operable I/O device means for allowing a user to input information onto and obtain information from the LAN.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
288 words
A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information over the AC power lines of a vessel, comprising: an electrical power distribution line located throughout the vessel; a plurality of carrier-current communication units which are positioned at predetermined locations throughout said vessel and connected to said power line to form a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication units comprising at least one Terminal Unit and one Data and Control Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising: a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver for sending and receiving electric signals constituting LAN messages over said power distribution line; a slave processing unit for interfacing and controlling communication with sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; an input/output (I/O) touch-screen display device; an intelligent controller means for providing an interactive user-friendly operator interface via said touch-screen display and for maintaining a data base of said shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; a master processing unit connected to said slave processing unit, to said PLCC transceiver and to said intelligent controller for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing unit, said intelligent controller and any other carrier-current communications units in the LAN via said PLCC transceiver, including the formation, transmission and reception of said LAN messages; said Data and Control unit comprising: a second PLCC transceiver; a second slave processing unit; a second master processing unit connected to said second slave processing unit and said second PLCC transceiver for controlling the exchange of information between said second slave processing unit and other carrier-current communications units in the LAN via said second PLCC transceiver, including the formation, transmission and reception of said LAN messages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
288 words
A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information over the AC power lines of a vessel, comprising: an electrical power distribution line located throughout the vessel; a plurality of carrier-current communication units which are positioned at predetermined locations throughout said vessel and connected to said power line to form a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication units comprising at least one Terminal Unit and one Data and Control Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising: a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver for sending and receiving electric signals constituting LAN messages over said power distribution line; a slave processing unit for interfacing and controlling communication with sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; an input/output (I/O) touch-screen display device; an intelligent controller means for providing an interactive user-friendly operator interface via said touch-screen display and for maintaining a data base of said shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; a master processing unit connected to said slave processing unit, to said PLCC transceiver and to said intelligent controller for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing unit, said intelligent controller and any other carrier-current communications units in the LAN via said PLCC transceiver, including the formation, transmission and reception of said LAN messages; said Data and Control unit comprising: a second PLCC transceiver; a second slave processing unit; a second master processing unit connected to said second slave processing unit and said second PLCC transceiver for controlling the exchange of information between said second slave processing unit and other carrier-current communications units in the LAN via said second PLCC transceiver, including the formation, transmission and reception of said LAN messages.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
345 words
A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information over the AC power lines of a vessel, comprising: an electrical power distribution line located throughout the vessel; a plurality of carrier-current communication means for transmitting and receiving data and control information positioned at predetermined locations throughout said vessel and connected to said power line to form a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication means comprising at least one Terminal Unit and one Data and Control Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising: a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver means for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting a LAN message over said power distribution line; a slave processing means for interfacing and controlling communication with a first plurality of sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; a user operable terminal means for inputting, outputting and displaying data and control information; an intelligent controller means for providing an interactive user-friendly operator interface via a display of said terminal means and for maintaining a data base of said shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; a master processing means for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing means, said intelligent controller means and said PLCC transceiver means, and for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of LAN messages with any other carrier-current communications means in said LAN via said PLCC transceiver means; said Data and Control means comprising: a second PLCC transceiver means for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting a LAN message over said power distribution line; a second slave processing means for interfacing and controlling communication with a second plurality of sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; a second master processing means, connected to said second slave processing means and said second PLCC transceiver means, for controlling the exchange of information between said second slave processing means and said PLCC transceiver means, and for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of LAN messages with any other carrier-current communications means in sand LAN via said PLCC transceiver means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
345 words
A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information over the AC power lines of a vessel, comprising: an electrical power distribution line located throughout the vessel; a plurality of carrier-current communication means for transmitting and receiving data and control information positioned at predetermined locations throughout said vessel and connected to said power line to form a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication means comprising at least one Terminal Unit and one Data and Control Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising: a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver means for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting a LAN message over said power distribution line; a slave processing means for interfacing and controlling communication with a first plurality of sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; a user operable terminal means for inputting, outputting and displaying data and control information; an intelligent controller means for providing an interactive user-friendly operator interface via a display of said terminal means and for maintaining a data base of said shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; a master processing means for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing means, said intelligent controller means and said PLCC transceiver means, and for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of LAN messages with any other carrier-current communications means in said LAN via said PLCC transceiver means; said Data and Control means comprising: a second PLCC transceiver means for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting a LAN message over said power distribution line; a second slave processing means for interfacing and controlling communication with a second plurality of sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; a second master processing means, connected to said second slave processing means and said second PLCC transceiver means, for controlling the exchange of information between said second slave processing means and said PLCC transceiver means, and for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of LAN messages with any other carrier-current communications means in sand LAN via said PLCC transceiver means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
216 words
A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information over the AC power lines of a vessel, comprising: an electrical power distribution line located throughout the vessel; a plurality of carrier-current communication units which are positioned at predetermined locations throughout said vessel and connected to said power line to form a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication units comprising at least one Terminal Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising: a power line carrier current (PLCC) Transceiver for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting LAN messages over said power distribution line; a slave processing unit for interfacing and controlling communication with sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; an input/output (I/O) touch-screen display device; an intelligent controller means for providing an interactive user-friendly operator interface via said touch-screen display and for maintaining a data base of said shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; and a master processing unit connected to said slave processing unit, to said PLCC transceiver and to said intelligent controller for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing unit, said intelligent controller and any other carrier-current communications units in the LAN via said PLCC transceiver, including the formation, transmission and reception of said LAN messages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
216 words
A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information over the AC power lines of a vessel, comprising: an electrical power distribution line located throughout the vessel; a plurality of carrier-current communication units which are positioned at predetermined locations throughout said vessel and connected to said power line to form a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication units comprising at least one Terminal Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising: a power line carrier current (PLCC) Transceiver for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting LAN messages over said power distribution line; a slave processing unit for interfacing and controlling communication with sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; an input/output (I/O) touch-screen display device; an intelligent controller means for providing an interactive user-friendly operator interface via said touch-screen display and for maintaining a data base of said shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; and a master processing unit connected to said slave processing unit, to said PLCC transceiver and to said intelligent controller for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing unit, said intelligent controller and any other carrier-current communications units in the LAN via said PLCC transceiver, including the formation, transmission and reception of said LAN messages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
231 words
A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating data and control information over the AC power lines of a vessel, comprising: an electrical power distribution line located throughout said vessel; a plurality of carrier-current communication means for transmitting and receiving data and control information positioned at predetermined locations throughout said vessel and connected to said power line to form a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication means comprising at least one Terminal Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising: a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver means for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting a LAN message over said power distribution line; a slave processing means for interfacing and controlling communication with a first plurality of sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; a user operable terminal means for inputting, outputting and displaying data and control information; an intelligent controller means for providing an interactive user-friendly operator interface via a display of said user operable terminal means and for maintaining a data base of said shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; and a master processing means for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing means, said intelligent controller means and said PLCC transceiver means, and for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of LAN messages with any other carrier-current communications means in said LAN via said PLCC transceiver means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
231 words
A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating data and control information over the AC power lines of a vessel, comprising: an electrical power distribution line located throughout said vessel; a plurality of carrier-current communication means for transmitting and receiving data and control information positioned at predetermined locations throughout said vessel and connected to said power line to form a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication means comprising at least one Terminal Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising: a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver means for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting a LAN message over said power distribution line; a slave processing means for interfacing and controlling communication with a first plurality of sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; a user operable terminal means for inputting, outputting and displaying data and control information; an intelligent controller means for providing an interactive user-friendly operator interface via a display of said user operable terminal means and for maintaining a data base of said shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; and a master processing means for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing means, said intelligent controller means and said PLCC transceiver means, and for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of LAN messages with any other carrier-current communications means in said LAN via said PLCC transceiver means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said DAIEC means further comprises a means for maintaining a data base of integrated command, communications and damage control information in said volatile memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said user operable I/O device means is a touch-screen display I/O device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said user interface I/O device means includes a visual display screen and said means for providing an interactive user interface further comprises a means for generating a plurality of different predetermined graphic displays in response to various user input selections.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said DAIEC means further comprises a means for providing a plurality of predetermined monitoring, equipment control, user interface and communications functions specific to a particular group of predetermined damage control responsibilities to be implemented on a vessel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The control system as set forth in claim 10, wherein damage control responsibilities implemented on said vessel are classified into a plurality of specific functional groups; said plurality of functional groups comprising: an electrical control group.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The control system as set forth in claim 10, wherein damage control responsibilities implemented on said vessel are classified into a plurality of specific functional groups; said plurality of functional groups comprising: a mechanical control group.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The control system as set forth in claim 10, wherein damage control responsibilities implemented on said vessel are classified into a plurality of specific functional groups; said plurality of functional groups comprising: a damage control group.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The control system as set forth in claim 10, wherein damage control responsibilities implemented on said vessel are classified into a plurality of specific functional groups; said plurality of functional groups comprising: a communication control group.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The control system as set forth in claim 10, wherein damage control responsibilities implemented on said vessel are classified into a plurality of specific functional groups; said plurality of functional groups comprising: a spare control group.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The control system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said vessel is a marine vessel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The control system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said electrical signals constituting a LAN message are OQPSK signals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said PLCC transceiver comprises a means for sending and a means for receiving M-ary PSK signals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said slave processing unit comprises a microprocessor connected to an addressable random access memory and an I/O port interface means for enabling communications with said sensors and equipment.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 19, wherein said I/O port interface means comprises RS-232-C serial and parallel interfaces.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said Terminal Unit further comprises a plurality of RS-232-C I/O ports and said slave processing unit controls both serial and parallel communications with said sensors and equipment through said RS-232-C I/O ports.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said electrical signals constituting a LAN message are OQPSK signals and said PLCC transceiver comprises a means for sending and receiving OQPSK signals.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said PLCC transceiver means comprises a means for sending and a means for receiving M-ary PSK signals.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said slave processing means comprises a microprocessor connected to an addressable random access memory and an I/O port interface means for enabling serial and parallel communications with said sensors and equipment.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 24, wherein said I/O port interface means comprise RS-232-C serial and parallel interfaces.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said Terminal Unit further comprises a plurality of RS-232-C I/O ports and said slave processing means controls both serial and parallel communications with said sensors and equipment through said RS-232C I/O ports.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
62 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said master processor includes means for packeting digital data information to be transmitted over the LAN into one or a plurality of messages having an HDLC protocol format and for depacketing HDLC protocol messages received from the LAN to extract digital data information transmitted by other said carrier-current communication means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said master processor includes means for selectively transmitting messages over the LAN in either a broadcast mode or an address mode.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
56 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said transceiver means comprises a transmit logic circuit means for producing a modulated PSK waveform in direct response to digital signals provided by said master processor and a receiver logic circuit means for detecting and demodulating PSK waveform signals received over said power lines.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
52 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said transmit logic means comprises an addressable waveform memory means for storing digitized RF modulated waveform data coupled to a digital-to-analog converter for producing an analog PSK modulated signal in response to said digital signals provided by said master processor.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
The control system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said electrical signals constituting a LAN message are OQPSK signals and said PLCC transceiver comprises means for sending and receiving OQPSK signals.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said PLCC transceiver comprises a means for sending and a means for receiving M-ary PSK signals.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
40 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said slave processing unit comprises a microprocessor connected to an addressable random access memory and an I/O port interface means for enabling communications with said sensors and equipment.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 33, wherein said I/O port interface means comprises RS-232-C serial and parallel interfaces.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
44 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said Terminal Unit further comprises a plurality of RS-232-C I/O ports and said slave processing unit controls both serial and parallel communications with said sensors and equipment through said RS-232-C I/O ports.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
62 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said master processor includes means for packeting digital data information to be transmitted over the LAN into one or a plurality of messages having an HDLC protocol format and for depacketing HDLC protocol messages received from the LAN to extract digital data information transmitted by other said carrier-current communication means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
34 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said master processing unit includes means for selectively transmitting messages over the LAN in either a broadcast mode or an address mode.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
55 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said PLCC transceiver comprises a transmit logic circuit for producing a modulated PSK waveform in direct response to digital signals provided by said master processing unit and a receiver logic circuit for detecting and demodulating PSK waveform signals received over said power line.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
51 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 38, wherein said transmit logic comprises an addressable waveform memory means for storing digitized RF modulated waveform data coupled to a digital-to-analog converter for producing an analog PSK modulated signal in response to said digital signals provided by said master processor.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
48 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said intelligent controller comprises a digital processor unit coupled to a non-volatile addressable memory for storing said data base and further includes a means for providing an interactive user interface for a user operable I/O device.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
22 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said electrical signals constituting a LAN message are OQPSK signals.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
29 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said PLCC transceiver means comprises a means for sending and a means for receiving M-ary PSK signals.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
43 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said slave processing means comprises a microprocessor connected to an addressable random access memory and an I/O port interface means for enabling serial and parallel communications with said sensors and equipment.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
23 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 43, wherein said I/O port interface means comprises RS-232-C serial and parallel interfaces.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
44 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said Terminal Unit further comprises a plurality of RS-232-C I/O ports and said slave processing means controls both serial and parallel communications with said sensors and equipment through said RS-232-C I/O ports.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
62 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said master processor includes means for packeting digital data information to be transmitted over the LAN into one or a plurality of messages having an HDLC protocol format and for depacketing HDLC protocol messages received from the LAN to extract digital data information transmitted by other said carrier-current communication means.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
33 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said master processor includes means for selectively transmitting messages over the LAN in either a broadcast mode or an address mode.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
56 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said transceiver means comprises a transmit logic circuit means for producing a modulated PSK waveform in direct response to digital signals provided by said master processor and a receiver logic circuit means for detecting and demodulating PSK waveform signals received over said power line.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
52 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 48, wherein said transmit logic means comprises an addressable waveform memory means for storing digitized RF modulated waveform data coupled to a digital-to-analog converter for producing an analog PSK modulated signal in response to said digital signals provided by said master processor.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
47 words
The distributed intelligence control system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said intelligent controller comprises a digital processor unit coupled to a non-volatile addressable memory for storing said data base and further includes a means for providing an interactive interface for a user operable I/O device.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for monitoring conditions of predetermined areas and equipment and for communicating data and control command information over existing on-site power lines, comprising: a plurality of carrier-current communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power lines and forming a local area network (LAN) for transmitting and receiving information, wherein at least one of said carrier-current communication means includes a controller means for controlling the exchange of information with other carrier-current communication means in the LAN, maintaining a local data base of stored information indicative of monitored conditions and equipment, and for providing a user interface to said local data base and to said plurality of carrier-current communication means in the LAN; said controller means comprising a digital processor connected to a non-volatile memory and a user operable I/O means for allowing a user to input information onto and obtain information from the LAN.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for monitoring conditions of predetermined areas and equipment and for communicating data and control command information over existing on-site power lines, comprising: a plurality of carrier-current communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power lines and forming a local area network (LAN) for transmitting and receiving information, wherein at least one of said carrier-current communication means includes a controller means for controlling the exchange of information with other carrier-current communication means in the LAN, maintaining a local data base of stored information indicative of monitored conditions and equipment, and for providing a user interface to said local data base and to said plurality of carrier-current communication means in the LAN; said controller means comprising a digital processor connected to a non-volatile memory and a user operable I/O means for allowing a user to input information onto and obtain information from the LAN.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 51, wherein said data base of stored information comprises integrated command and communications information.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 51, wherein said user operable I/O means is a touch-screen display device.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 51, wherein said user plurality of carrier-current communications means consists of one or more terminal units and one or more data and control units.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 51, wherein said data plurality of carrier-current communications means includes one or more terminal unit means for providing an interactive user operable I/O interface and one or data and control unit means for providing an I/O interface for sensors and equipment used in a predetermined controlled area.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 51, wherein said data base of stored information comprises both archived and currently acquired data regarding the status and operating conditions of various sensors and equipment in said controlled areas.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 51, wherein said controller means includes a means for managing a local data base of integrated command, equipment parameter and damage control information stored in said non-volatile memory and for communicating such information to other communication means.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 51, wherein said controller means is primarily responsible for providing a predetermined plurality of functions that are specific to at least one group of predetermined damage control responsibilities, said predetermined damage control responsibilities comprising: an electrical control group, a mechanical control group, a damage control group, a communication control group, and a spare group.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 51, wherein said predetermined areas comprise a plurality of damage control zones having predetermined boundaries and said plurality of carrier-current communication means comprise at least one communication means associated with and located within each of said zones.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 59, wherein said plurality of carrier-current communication means include a primary communication means and at least one secondary communication means associated with and located within each of said zones, said secondary communication means functioning as an active backup for an associated primary communication means within the same damage control zone.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 60, wherein each of said primary communication means is assigned a specific group of damage control responsibilities that is mutually exclusive of damage control responsibilities assigned to other primary communication means.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 51, wherein said carrier-current communication means further comprises: a transceiver means for transmitting and receiving electrical signals over said power lines.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 62, wherein said transceiver means comprises a transmit logic circuit means for producing a modulated analog waveform in direct response to digital signals provided by said master processor.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 63, wherein said transmit logic means comprises an addressable waveform memory means for storing digitized PSK modulated waveform data coupled to a digital-to-analog converter for producing an analog PSK modulated signal in response to said digital signals provided by said master processor.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 64, wherein said transmit logic means further comprises a data splitter means for splitting digital data received from said master processor into two separate orthogonal phase channels and for providing address inputs to said waveform memory.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 64, wherein said addressable waveform memory comprises a read only memory.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 63, wherein said transmit logic means includes a means for generating a message header comprising a first predetermined sequence of bits and a message footer having second predetermined sequence of bits.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 62, wherein said transceiver means comprises a receiver logic circuit means for detecting and demodulating PSK signals received over said power line.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 62, wherein said transceiver means comprises a means for sending and a means for receiving M-ary PSK signals.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 62, wherein said transceiver means comprises a means for sending and a means for receiving OQPSK signals.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 62, wherein said carrier-current communication means further comprises: a slave processor means for interfacing and controlling communications with sensors and equipment in a controlled area, and master processor means connected to said transceiver means, said controller means said slave processor for controlling exchange of information between said slave processor, said controller and other communication means in the LAN via said transceiver means.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 71, wherein said master processor includes means for packeting digital data information to be transmitted over the LAN into one or a plurality of messages having an HDLC protocol format and for depacketing HDLC protocol messages received from the LAN to extract similar digital data digital information transmitted by other said carrier-current communication means.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 71, wherein said master processor includes means for transmitting messages over the LAN in either a broadcast mode or an address mode.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
111 words
A distributed intelligence system for monitoring and controlling conditions of predetermined areas and electrical and mechanical apparatus aboard a vessel and for communicating damage control information relating to said areas and apparatus over existing power lines of said vessel, comprising: a plurality of communication means coupled to said power lines at predetermined locations for transmitting and receiving said damage control information; condition sensing means, coupled to said communication means, for monitoring equipment and sensing ambient conditions within said predetermined areas of said vessel; equipment control means, coupled to said communication means, for controlling at least one of said electrical and mechanical apparatus in response to control signals from said communication means.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
111 words
A distributed intelligence system for monitoring and controlling conditions of predetermined areas and electrical and mechanical apparatus aboard a vessel and for communicating damage control information relating to said areas and apparatus over existing power lines of said vessel, comprising: a plurality of communication means coupled to said power lines at predetermined locations for transmitting and receiving said damage control information; condition sensing means, coupled to said communication means, for monitoring equipment and sensing ambient conditions within said predetermined areas of said vessel; equipment control means, coupled to said communication means, for controlling at least one of said electrical and mechanical apparatus in response to control signals from said communication means.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 74, wherein said communication means comprises a carrier-current transceiver means for bidirectionally communicating with other communication means via said power lines.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 74, wherein said plurality of communication means, comprise: a main mechanical control communication means.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 74, wherein said plurality of communication means, comprise: a main electrical control communication means.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 74, wherein said plurality of communication means, comprise: a main damage control communication means.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 74, wherein said plurality of communication means, comprise: a main communication control communication means.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 74, wherein said plurality of communication means, comprise: a main spare communication means.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 74, wherein said equipment control means comprises means for controlling hatches, fittings, vents or valves.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 74, wherein said parameter sensing means comprises means for sensing smoke, fire or flooding.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 74, wherein at least one of said communication means comprises an intelligent controller having a memory for storing a data base of integrated command and damage control information; said intelligent controller including means for controlling communication of monitored information and information stored in said data base to other communication means.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 83, wherein said intelligent controller means further comprises artificial intelligence means for evaluating data obtained from said data base and from said parameter sensing means and for generating equipment control commands provided to said equipment control means or transmitted over said power lines to other said communication means.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 83, wherein said intelligent controller comprises a digital processor unit coupled to a non-volatile addressable memory means for storing said data base and further includes a means for providing an interactive user interface for a user operable I/O device.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 85, wherein said communication means further comprises a touch-screen display terminal device.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 83, wherein said data base of integrated command and damage control information, further comprises: address and location data for said plurality of communication means.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 83, wherein said data base of integrated command and damage control information further comprises: an equipment list and equipment parameter data.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 83, wherein said data base of integrated command and damage control information further comprises: system operational mode configuration data.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 74, wherein said predetermined areas comprise a plurality of damage control zones having predetermined boundaries throughout said vessel and said plurality of communication means comprise at least one communication means associated with and located within each of said zones.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 90, wherein said plurality of communication means include a primary communication means and at least one secondary communication means associated with and located within each of said zones, said secondary communication means functioning as an active backup for an associated primary communication means within a particular damage control zone.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 91, wherein each of said primary communication means is assigned a specific group of damage control responsibilities for said vessel that are mutually exclusive of damage control responsibilities of other primary communication means.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 92, wherein each said primary communication means comprises an intelligent controller means for managing a data base of integrated command, equipment parameter and damage control information and for communicating information to other communication means.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
116 words
A damage control management system for a vessel, comprising: a network comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected communication nodes distributed throughout said vessel, wherein said nodes comprise means for monitoring and controlling equipment and conditions within corresponding predetermined areas aboard said vessel, at least one of said nodes comprise: user operable I/O terminal means for displaying information and inputting user selections, and a processor means, connected to said I/O terminal and to said means for monitoring, for providing an interactive user interface via said I/O terminal, said processor means including means for generating a visual display of various data and damage control information on said user operable I/O terminal means in response to inputted user selections.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
116 words
A damage control management system for a vessel, comprising: a network comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected communication nodes distributed throughout said vessel, wherein said nodes comprise means for monitoring and controlling equipment and conditions within corresponding predetermined areas aboard said vessel, at least one of said nodes comprise: user operable I/O terminal means for displaying information and inputting user selections, and a processor means, connected to said I/O terminal and to said means for monitoring, for providing an interactive user interface via said I/O terminal, said processor means including means for generating a visual display of various data and damage control information on said user operable I/O terminal means in response to inputted user selections.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
31 words
The damage control management system as set forth in claim 94, wherein said means for monitoring and controlling includes means for monitoring fire, smoke, flooding or other conditions aboard a vessel.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
62 words
The damage control management system as set forth in claim 94, wherein said vessel is equipped with electrical power lines distributed throughout said vessel, said communication nodes are electrically interconnected via said power lines and each communication node in said network further includes a carrier-current modulation means for communicating various data and damage control information with other communication nodes in the network.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
32 words
The damage control management system as set forth in claim 94, wherein said visual display of damage control information comprises a display of the location and status of monitored conditions and equipment.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
35 words
The damage control management system as set forth in claim 94, wherein said visual display of damage control information includes at least one menu display of user selectable commands for controlling said conditions and equipment.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
23 words
The damage control management system as set forth in claim 94, wherein said user operable I/O terminal means is a touch-screen display device.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
93 words
A damage control management system for a vessel, comprising: a network comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected communication nodes distributed throughout said vessel, wherein said nodes comprise means for monitoring and controlling equipment and conditions within corresponding predetermined areas aboard said vessel, at least one of said nodes comprising: a memory means for storing a local data base of common damage control information comprising commands, parameters and sensor data for said areas of said vessel, and a means for maintaining and updating said data base through communication of said information between predetermined nodes.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
93 words
A damage control management system for a vessel, comprising: a network comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected communication nodes distributed throughout said vessel, wherein said nodes comprise means for monitoring and controlling equipment and conditions within corresponding predetermined areas aboard said vessel, at least one of said nodes comprising: a memory means for storing a local data base of common damage control information comprising commands, parameters and sensor data for said areas of said vessel, and a means for maintaining and updating said data base through communication of said information between predetermined nodes.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
50 words
The damage control management system as set forth in claim 100, wherein said predetermined nodes each further comprise a means for providing a plurality of predetermined monitoring, equipment control, user interface and communications functions specific to a particular group of predetermined damage control responsibilities to be implemented on a vessel.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
42 words
The damage control management system as set forth in claim 101, wherein said damage control responsibilities implemented on a vessel are classified into a plurality of specific functional groups, said functional groups comprising: an electrical control group, and a mechanical control group.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
42 words
The damage control management system as set forth in claim 101, wherein said damage control responsibilities implemented on a vessel are classified into a plurality of specific functional groups, said functional groups comprising: a damage control group and a communication control group.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
36 words
The damage control management system as set forth in claim 101, wherein said damage control responsibilities implemented on a vessel are classified into a plurality of specific functional groups, said functional groups comprising: a spare group.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
38 words
The damage control management system for a vessel as set forth in claim 100, wherein said vessel is equipped with electrical power lines distributed throughout said vessel and said communication nodes are electrically interconnected via said power lines.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
37 words
The damage control management system for a vessel as set forth in claim 100, wherein said predetermined nodes further comprise a user operable I/O terminal and a means for providing an interactive user interface via said terminal.
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
19 words
The damage control management system as set forth in claim 100, wherein said memory is a non-volatile addressable memory.
Claim 118
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for monitoring conditions of predetermined areas and equipment and for communicating information over existing on-site power lines, comprising: a plurality of carrier-current communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power lines and forming a local area network (LAN) for transmitting and receiving information, wherein at least one of said carrier-current communication means comprises: a slave processor means for interfacing and controlling communications with sensors and equipment in a predetermined area, a transceiver means for transmitting and receiving electrical signals over said power lines; and a master processor means connected to said transceiver means and said slave processor for controlling exchange of information between said slave processor and other communication means in the LAN via said transceiver means.
Claim 119
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for monitoring conditions of predetermined areas and equipment and for communicating information over existing on-site power lines, comprising: a plurality of carrier-current communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power lines and forming a local area network (LAN) for transmitting and receiving information, wherein at least one of said carrier-current communication means comprises: a slave processor means for interfacing and controlling communications with sensors and equipment in a predetermined area, a transceiver means for transmitting and receiving electrical signals over said power lines; and a master processor means connected to said transceiver means and said slave processor for controlling exchange of information between said slave processor and other communication means in the LAN via said transceiver means.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 108, wherein said transceiver means comprises a means for sending and a means for receiving M-ary PSK signals.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 108, wherein said transceiver means comprises a means for sending and a means for receiving OQPSK signals.
Claim 122
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 108, wherein said master processor includes means for packeting digital data information to be transmitted over the LAN into one or a plurality of messages having an HDLC protocol format and for depacketing HDLC protocol messages received from the LAN to extract digital data information transmitted by other said carrier-current communication means.
Claim 123
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 108, wherein said master processor includes means for selectively transmitting messages over the LAN in either a broadcast mode or an address mode.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 108, wherein said transceiver means comprises a transmit logic circuit means for producing a modulated analog waveform in direct response to digital signals provided by said master processor.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 113, wherein said transmit logic means comprising a means for generating a message header having a first predetermined sequence of bits and a message footer having second predetermined sequence of bits.
Claim 126
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 113, wherein said transmit logic means comprises an addressable waveform memory means for storing digitized PSK modulated waveform data coupled to a digital-to-analog converter for producing an analog PSK modulated signal in response to said digital signals provided by said master processor.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 115, wherein said addressable waveform memory means comprises a read-only-memory.
Claim 128
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 115, wherein said transmit logic means further comprises a data splitter means for splitting digital data received from said master processor into two separate orthogonal phase channels and for providing address inputs to said waveform memory.
Claim 129
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 108, wherein said transceiver means comprises a receiver logic circuit means for detecting and demodulating PSK waveform signals received over said power lines.
Claim 130
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 118, wherein said receiver logic circuit means comprises an electrically reconfigurable QPSK signal acquisition circuit; said signal acquisition circuit reconfigurable via electronic switches from/to an operative configuration as a single-phase phase locked loop to/from an operative configuration as a four-phase Costas loop.
Claim 131
Dependent Claim
80 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 118, wherein said receiver logic circuit means comprises a lock detector circuit means for providing a carrier lock detect signal indicative of the initial state of a transmitted QPSK signal received by said transceiver; said lock detect signal providing an unambiguous phase correlation indication that a reference carrier signal generated by said receiver logic during demodulation has no phase ambiguity with respect to said transmitted QPSK signal data.
Claim 132
Dependent Claim
48 words
A carrier-current transceiver circuit for transmitting and receiving phase shift keyed (PSK) signals over an electrical power line, comprising: transmit logic means for generating a PSK modulated waveform signal from binary signal information; and receiver logic means for detecting and demodulating PSK signals to produce binary signal information.
Claim 133
Dependent Claim
48 words
A carrier-current transceiver circuit for transmitting and receiving phase shift keyed (PSK) signals over an electrical power line, comprising: transmit logic means for generating a PSK modulated waveform signal from binary signal information; and receiver logic means for detecting and demodulating PSK signals to produce binary signal information.
Claim 134
Dependent Claim
46 words
The carrier-current transceiver as set forth in claim 121, wherein said transmit logic means comprises an addressable waveform memory means for storing digitized PSK modulated waveform data coupled to a digital-to-analog converter for producing an analog PSK modulated signal in response to said binary signal information.
Claim 135
Dependent Claim
18 words
The carrier-current transceiver as set forth in claim 122, wherein said addressable waveform memory means comprises a read-only-memory.
Claim 136
Dependent Claim
47 words
The carrier-current transceiver as set forth in claim 122, wherein said transmit logic means further comprises a data splitter means for splitting said binary signal information into two separate data channels of orthogonal phase and for providing said data channels as address inputs to said waveform memory.
Claim 137
Dependent Claim
49 words
The carrier-current transceiver as set forth in claim 121, wherein said receiver logic means comprises an electrically reconfigurable QPSK signal acquisition circuit; said signal acquisition circuit reconfigurable via electronic switches from/to an operative configuration as a single-phase phase locked loop to/from an operative configuration as a four-phase Costas loop.
Claim 138
Dependent Claim
75 words
The carrier-current transceiver as set forth in claim 121, wherein said receiver logic means comprises a lock detector circuit means for providing a carrier lock detect signal indicative of the initial state of a transmitted QPSK signal received by said transceiver; said lock detect signal providing an unambiguous phase correlation indication that a reference carrier signal generated by said receiver logic during demodulation has no phase ambiguity with respect to said transmitted QPSK signal data.
Claim 139
Dependent Claim
47 words
The carrier-current transceiver as set forth in claim 121, further comprising: isolated linear power amplifier means inductively coupled to said transmit logic and electrically coupled to said power line for amplifying and transmitting said PSK waveform signal and for isolating said transmit logic from power line voltages.
Claim 140
Dependent Claim
57 words
The carrier-current transceiver as set forth in claim 121, further comprising: pre-detection receiver circuit means electrically coupled via a high common mode rejection transformer to said power line and optically coupled to said receiver logic for filtering and receiving PSK signals present on said power line; said pre-detection receiver circuit comprising a multiple bandpass multiple allpass-pole filter.
Claim 141
Dependent Claim
41 words
The carrier-current transceiver as set forth in claim 121, wherein said receiver logic means comprises a phase locked loop type signal acquisition circuit; said signal acquisition circuit comprising a plurality of switched-capacitor filters driven by a raised-cosine waveform clocking frequency source.
Claim 142
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for communicating information over a power line, comprising: a plurality of communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power line for transmitting and receiving information; said plurality of communication means comprising at least one terminal unit communication means; said terminal unit communication means comprising: a power line transceiver for sending and receiving electrical signals over said power line; a non-volatile memory for storing information local to said Terminal Unit; a user operable I/O device for inputting information and obtaining information from said Terminal Unit communication means for local storage or for transmission to other communication units via said power line transceiver; a terminal unit controller for providing an interactive user interface via said user operable I/O device and for maintaining a data base of communications information in said local non-volatile memory; and a master processor for controlling the exchange of information between said controller means and other said communications units via said power line transceiver.
Claim 143
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for communicating information over a power line, comprising: a plurality of communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power line for transmitting and receiving information; said plurality of communication means comprising at least one terminal unit communication means; said terminal unit communication means comprising: a power line transceiver for sending and receiving electrical signals over said power line; a non-volatile memory for storing information local to said Terminal Unit; a user operable I/O device for inputting information and obtaining information from said Terminal Unit communication means for local storage or for transmission to other communication units via said power line transceiver; a terminal unit controller for providing an interactive user interface via said user operable I/O device and for maintaining a data base of communications information in said local non-volatile memory; and a master processor for controlling the exchange of information between said controller means and other said communications units via said power line transceiver.
Claim 144
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system for communicating information as set forth in claim 130, wherein said Terminal Unit communication means further comprises a slave processing means for interfacing and controlling communications with sensors and equipment external to said Terminal Unit; said slave processing means comprising a microprocessor connected to an addressable memory and an I/O port interface means for enabling serial and parallel communications with said sensors and equipment.
Claim 145
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system for communicating information as set forth in claim 130, wherein said power line transceiver means comprises a means for sending and a means for receiving M-ary PSK signals.
Claim 146
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system for communicating information as set forth in claim 130, wherein said power line transceiver comprises a means for sending and a means for receiving OQPSK signals.
Claim 147
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system for communicating information as set forth in claim 130, wherein said master processor includes means for packeting digital data information to be transmitted into one or a plurality of messages having an HDLC protocol format and for depacketing HDLC protocol messages received from the LAN to extract digital data information transmitted by other said communication means.
Claim 148
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system for communicating information as set forth in claim 130, wherein said master processor includes means for selectively transmitting messages over the LAN in either a broadcast mode or an address mode.
Claim 149
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system for communicating information as set forth in claim 130, wherein said power line transceiver means comprises a transmit logic circuit means for producing a modulated PSK waveform in direct response to digital signals provided by said master processor.
Claim 150
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system for communicating information as set forth in claim 136, wherein said transmit logic means includes a means for generating a message header comprising a first predetermined sequence of bits and a message footer having second predetermined sequence of bits.
Claim 151
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system for communicating information as set forth in claim 136, wherein said transmit logic means comprises an addressable waveform memory means for storing digitized RF modulated waveform data coupled to a digital-to-analog converter for producing an analog PSK modulated signal.
Claim 152
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system for communicating information as set forth in claim 138, wherein said addressable waveform memory means comprises a read-only-memory.
Claim 153
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system for communicating information as set forth in claim 136, wherein said transmit logic means further comprises a data splitter means for splitting digital data received from said master processor into two separate orthogonal phase channels and for providing address inputs to said waveform memory.
Claim 154
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system for communicating information as set forth in claim 131, wherein said I/O port interface means comprises RS-232-C serial and parallel interfaces.
Claim 155
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system as set forth in claim 130, wherein said Terminal Unit further comprises a plurality of RS-232-C I/O ports and said slave processing means controls both serial and parallel communications with said sensors and equipment through said RS-232-C I/O ports.
Claim 156
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a phase locked loop circuit for a receiver, an improved VCO circuit comprising: input means form providing a VCO circuit input control voltage; a pair of high frequency crystal-stabilized voltage controlled oscillators each including a frequency determining network means for setting a preferred operational frequency; said frequency determining network means comprising at least one varactor diode and a crystal and each of said oscillators set to operate at a different frequency; oscillator frequency pulling means for equally and oppositely varying the operational frequencies of said pair of crystal-stabilized voltage controlled oscillators slightly in direct response to said VCO circuit input control voltage; and demodulator circuit means connected to said pair of crystal-stabilized voltage controlled oscillators for providing a VCO circuit output frequency corresponding to the difference between operational frequencies of each oscillator of said pair of crystal-stabilized voltage controlled oscillators.
Claim 157
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a phase locked loop circuit for a receiver, an improved VCO circuit comprising: input means form providing a VCO circuit input control voltage; a pair of high frequency crystal-stabilized voltage controlled oscillators each including a frequency determining network means for setting a preferred operational frequency; said frequency determining network means comprising at least one varactor diode and a crystal and each of said oscillators set to operate at a different frequency; oscillator frequency pulling means for equally and oppositely varying the operational frequencies of said pair of crystal-stabilized voltage controlled oscillators slightly in direct response to said VCO circuit input control voltage; and demodulator circuit means connected to said pair of crystal-stabilized voltage controlled oscillators for providing a VCO circuit output frequency corresponding to the difference between operational frequencies of each oscillator of said pair of crystal-stabilized voltage controlled oscillators.
Claim 158
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improved VCO circuit as set forth in claim 143, wherein the varactor diodes and crystals for said frequency determining networks of said pair of crystal-stabilized voltage controlled oscillators are all mounted on a common heat sink.
Claim 159
Dependent Claim
78 words
The damage control management system as set forth in claim 94, further comprising a storage means connected to said processor for storing digital information representing a plurality of display formats organized to provide a hierarchical display of predetermined damage control information and management command functions, at least one of said display formats comprising plural input fields for selectively displaying other display formats corresponding to predetermined damage control information in response to inputted user selections via said I/O terminal.
Claim 160
Dependent Claim
77 words
The damage control management system as set forth in claim 145, wherein each of said display formats displayed by said I/O terminal means includes: (a) a screen control command menu section disposed in a lower portion of said display format; (b) a data display and command menu section disposed in a center portion of said display format; and (c) a terminal I/O data message and status display section disposed in an upper portion of said display format.
Claim 161
Dependent Claim
97 words
The system for monitoring and communicating damage control information as set forth in claim 83, wherein said intelligent controller comprises a digital processor connected to said memory and includes a storage means for storing digital information representing a plurality of display formats organized to provide a hierarchical display of predetermined damage control information and management command functions, at least one of said display formats comprising plural input fields for selectively displaying other display formats corresponding to predetermined damage control information in response to inputted user selections via a user operable I/O device connected to said digital processor.
Claim 162
Dependent Claim
85 words
The system for monitoring and communicating information as set forth in claim 108, wherein master processor includes a storage means for storing digital information representing a plurality of display formats organized to provide a hierarchical display of predetermined damage control information and management command functions, at least one of said display formats comprising plural input fields for selectively displaying other display formats corresponding to predetermined damage control information in response to inputted user selections via a user operable I/O device connected to said master processor.
Claim 163
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for monitoring and controlling conditions of predetermined areas and equipment and for communicating data and control information over existing on-site power lines, said method comprising: providing a plurality of carrier-current communication units positioned at predetermined locations on said power lines for transmitting and receiving information; electronically monitoring conditions of predetermined areas and equipment; providing data regarding said conditions and equipment to an associated communication unit; maintaining a local data base of damage control information at predetermined communication units; exchanging said data and control information between carrier-current communication units; and providing a user interface to said local data base and to said plurality of carrier-current communication means via an I/O device operatively connected to one of said communication units.
Claim 164
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for monitoring and controlling conditions of predetermined areas and equipment and for communicating data and control information over existing on-site power lines, said method comprising: providing a plurality of carrier-current communication units positioned at predetermined locations on said power lines for transmitting and receiving information; electronically monitoring conditions of predetermined areas and equipment; providing data regarding said conditions and equipment to an associated communication unit; maintaining a local data base of damage control information at predetermined communication units; exchanging said data and control information between carrier-current communication units; and providing a user interface to said local data base and to said plurality of carrier-current communication means via an I/O device operatively connected to one of said communication units.
Claim 165
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for exercising damage control management aboard a vessel, said method comprising: providing a plurality of electrically interconnected communication units distributed throughout said vessel; monitoring conditions and equipment within predetermined areas of said vessel corresponding to locations of said distributed communication units, said units receiving data regarding monitored conditions and equipment in said corresponding areas; providing said data and further damage control information to other predetermined interconnected communication units; creating at least one data base of damage control information operatively connected to one of said communication units, said data base comprising operational parameterscorresponding to monitored conditions and equipment for said predetermined areas; maintaining and updating said data base with data obtained by said monitoring and with damage control information provided from other communication units; and providing interactive user access to said damage control information stored in said data base via an I/O device operatively connected to one of said communication units.
Claim 166
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for exercising damage control management aboard a vessel, said method comprising: providing a plurality of electrically interconnected communication units distributed throughout said vessel; monitoring conditions and equipment within predetermined areas of said vessel corresponding to locations of said distributed communication units, said units receiving data regarding monitored conditions and equipment in said corresponding areas; providing said data and further damage control information to other predetermined interconnected communication units; creating at least one data base of damage control information operatively connected to one of said communication units, said data base comprising operational parameterscorresponding to monitored conditions and equipment for said predetermined areas; maintaining and updating said data base with data obtained by said monitoring and with damage control information provided from other communication units; and providing interactive user access to said damage control information stored in said data base via an I/O device operatively connected to one of said communication units.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4007360A
Cited
US3912916A
Cited
US3909821A
Cited
US3911415A
Cited
US3949172A
Cited
US3924223A
Cited
US4083009A
Cited
US4218655A
Cited
US4106007A
Cited
US3944723A
Cited
US3973240A
Cited
US3973087A
Cited
US3967264A
Cited
US3942168A
Cited
US3990019A
Cited
US3962547A
Cited
US4023071A
Cited
US4085378A
Cited
US4008467A
Cited
US3980954A
Cited
US4065763A
Cited
US4030034A
Cited
US4066912A
Cited
US4027265A
Cited
US4060735A
Cited
US4101834A
Cited
US4130861A
Cited
US4307380A
Cited
US4092606A
Cited
US4229705A
Cited
US4156194A
Cited
US4180779A
Cited
US4178482A
Cited
US4234926A
Cited
US4216542A
Cited
US4302844A
Cited
US4280224A
Cited
US4281293A
Cited
US4281412A
Cited
US4311964A
Cited
US4274067A
Cited
US4301445A
Cited
US4310805A
Cited
US4344066A
Cited
US4328590A
Cited
US4408186A
Cited
US4355303A
Cited
US4527247A
Cited
US4446458A
Cited
US4468792A
Cited
US4389622A
Cited
US4431930A
Cited
US4638299A
Cited
US4458236A
Cited
US4591940A
Cited
US4479215A
Cited
US4514594A
Cited
US4510611A
Cited
US4523128A
Cited
US4569050A
Cited
US4514697A
Cited
US4516079A
Cited
US4567557A
Cited
US4480232A
Cited
US4489420A
Cited
US4556866A
Cited
US4777381A
Cited
US4543540A
Cited
US4575710A
Cited
US4580276A
Cited
US4583231A
Cited
US4589120A
Cited
US4633218A
Cited
US4584685A
Cited
US4563650A
Cited
US4746897A
Cited
US4583232A
Cited
US4573170A
Cited
US4597082A
Cited
US4675648A
Cited
US4649569A
Cited
US4644566A
Cited
US4644547A
Cited
US4912723A
Cited
US4648091A
Cited
US4645956A
Cited
US4715045A
Cited
US4577333A
Cited
US4644320A
Cited
US4609839A
Cited
US4668934A
Cited
US4636771A
Cited
US4575684A
Cited
US4577977A
Cited
US4755792A
Cited
US4864589A
Cited
US4642607A
Cited
US4731810A
Cited
US4912553A
Cited
US4815106A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-19 | 1998-03-21 | 1998-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-19 | 2002-03-21 | 2002-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-19 | 2006-03-21 | 2006-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |