US6532434B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular data sensing and logging system
Assignee: National Instruments Corp
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Filing: 2000-06-01
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Granted: 2003-03-11
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Expires: 2020-06-01
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for the periodic acquisition of data through the use of sensors and/or electronic interfaces. The apparatus is modular, having a control module and one or more A acquisition modules interconnected with a module bus. The control module provides timing and control information to the acquisition modules, as well as an interface for communication to a host computer. Each acquisition module contains circuitry to make measurements of one or more physical property and convert the measurements into digital values. Temperature, altitude, airspeed, engine speed, gravitational force, pulse width, and voltage are examples of physical values that may be measured. Each acquisition module also contains electronic memory in which the digital values are stored. In operation the control module keeps track of elapsed time and periodically signals the acquisition modules to make readings and store values. When data logging is complete, the system is attached to the host computer and the data stored in each acquisition module is transferred for analysis. Calibration values for correction of sensor gain, offset, linearity, or other factors may be stored in a separate parameter area within each acquisition module's memory. These values can then be used by the host computer to adjust and
Inventors
- 👤 David A. West
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D9/00; G01D9/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A modular data sensing and logging system comprising: a control module having means for generating a periodic timing signal at predetermined intervals, and a module bus interface, said generating means being suitably connected to said module bus interface; one or more acquisition modules each having means for measuring and converting a predetermined physical property into a digital value, a memory having a multiplicity of addressable storage locations, and means for managing storage of said digital values into specific storage locations within said memory, said managing means being suitably connected to said memory and to said measuring and converting means, said managing means further having a module bus connection; a module bus interconnecting said module bus interface of said control module and each module bus connection of said acquisition modules; whereby, said generating means of said control module periodically signals each said acquisition module via said module bus causing said measured and converted digital value to be stored into said acquisition module memory.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A modular data sensing and logging system comprising: a control module having means for generating a periodic timing signal at predetermined intervals, and a module bus interface, said generating means being suitably connected to said module bus interface; one or more acquisition modules each having means for measuring and converting a predetermined physical property into a digital value, a memory having a multiplicity of addressable storage locations, and means for managing storage of said digital values into specific storage locations within said memory, said managing means being suitably connected to said memory and to said measuring and converting means, said managing means further having a module bus connection; a module bus interconnecting said module bus interface of said control module and each module bus connection of said acquisition modules; whereby, said generating means of said control module periodically signals each said acquisition module via said module bus causing said measured and converted digital value to be stored into said acquisition module memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said control module includes an address counter suitably connected to said generating means and to said module bus interface, whereby address information is periodically sent to each said acquisition module via said module bus resulting in said digital value being stored in said acquisition module memory at a specifically addressed location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said control module includes a host computer interface for communicating with a computer external to the system, said host computer interface being suitably connected to said module bus interface so as to allow information to be transferred to and from said module bus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said generating means of said control module includes a programmable time interval register for establishing the interval of said periodic timing signal, said time interval register being suitably connected to said host computer interface, whereby the interval of said periodic timing signal can be programmed via said host computer interface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said managing means of said acquisition modules include means for retrieving and modifying said digital values from said memory, and means for presenting said digital values from said memory onto said module bus, in response to commands presented via said module bus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said acquisition modules each have unique identification data and means for presenting said identification data onto said module bus, said acquisition modules each having means for selectively responding to said commands dependent on said identification data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said managing means is a single-chip microprocessor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said acquisition module memory is subdivided into an acquisition memory area for storing said measured and converted digital values, and a parameter area for storage of calibration factors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said module bus comprises a power line, a ground line, and a signal line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein one or more said acquisition modules are collocated in a single assembly with said control module.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein two or more acquisition modules are combined into a single acquisition module.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said acquisition module memory comprises a device selected form the group consisting of battery-backed RAM, EEPROM, and Flash memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said physical property is selected from the group consisting of altitude, airspeed, rotational speed, magnetic force, gravitational force, stress, strain, pressure, temperature, humidity, pulse width, frequency, voltage, electrical current, light intensity, sound intensity, rate of flow, angular position, and global position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said measuring and converting means comprises a converter circuit selected from the group consisting of analog-to-digital converter, frequency-to-voltage converter, pulse width timer, and frequency counter.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for sensing and logging data comprising the steps of: generating a periodic timing signal within a control module; conveying said periodic timing signal to a module bus; receiving of said periodic timing signal by one or more acquisition modules from said module bus; measuring a predetermined physical property and converting said property to a digital value by each acquisition module; and storing said digital value memory within each acquisition module.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for sensing and logging data comprising the steps of: generating a periodic timing signal within a control module; conveying said periodic timing signal to a module bus; receiving of said periodic timing signal by one or more acquisition modules from said module bus; measuring a predetermined physical property and converting said property to a digital value by each acquisition module; and storing said digital value memory within each acquisition module.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of generating a periodic timing signal comprises the steps of: incrementing an address counter value at a predetermined interval, and presenting said address counter value as a periodic timing signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of storing said digital value comprises the steps of: extracting said address counter value from said periodic timing signal; and storing said digital value into a specific address location, as indicated by said address counter value, within said acquisition module memory.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: receiving a command from a host computer by said control module; conveying said command from said control module to said acquisition modules via said module bus; responding to said command; conveying the response from said acquisition modules to said control module via said module bus; and sending the response to said host computer from said control module.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the step of responding to said command comprises the steps of: retrieving said digital value from said memory, and presenting said digital value in response to said command.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of: presenting a query for identification values, from said host computer, via said control module and said module bus, to said acquisition modules; receiving, in turn, a unique identification value from each of said acquisition modules; transmitting one specific identification value to said acquisition modules; sending additional commands to said acquisition modules; and receiving responses only from the single acquisition module having said specific identification value.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-10 | 2006-09-09 | 2007-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-10 | 2010-09-09 | 2011-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-10 | 2014-09-09 | 2015-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |