Coded data generation or conversion – Analog to or from digital conversion – Analog to digital conversion
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-12
2002-03-26
Young, Brian (Department: 2819)
Coded data generation or conversion
Analog to or from digital conversion
Analog to digital conversion
C341S120000, C341S144000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06362768
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to architecture of an input and output device, and more particularly, to architecture of an input and output device capable of handling signal characteristics among different control system applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typically handling of input and output (I/O) is one of the most complex and costly parts of a control system. As signal characteristics vary significantly among different applications, the handling of the signals becomes unique to the application. For example, in aerospace applications, the I/O design tends not to be portable among different aircraft, or even among the different control units on the same aircraft. With the need for a new I/O design for each control unit, the handling of I/O becomes a major cost factor.
Additionally, since such diverse designs do not allow reuse of I/O designs across multiple applications, additional costs are imposed in the purchase of many types of chipsets and components in the development and testing of new I/O designs. Further, costs are also imposed due to a need for interfacing hardware to interface the new I/O designs with various signals and data buses, as well as due to the volume and weight of I/O subsystems, since more power is needed to run the subsystems and more fuel is required to lift the subsystems of an aircraft.
Accordingly, there is a need for architecture for an I/O unit which interfaces various signals and data buses so the same I/O unit design can fit different applications without requiring interfacing hardware.
Additionally, there is a need for architecture for an I/O unit which integrates multiple functions, such as processing a large number of signals, performing signal conditioning and filtering for a large range of signals, and conducting analog and digital conversion, to reduce volume and weight of the I/O subsystems and achieve miniaturization.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a novel architecture for an I/O unit capable of handling the I/O of analog and discrete signals in various applications, such as control systems for aircraft. The present I/O device can standardize the I/O hardware for aircraft and thus, significantly reduce the cost, weight and volume for the aircraft system. Miniaturization is achieved by integrating multiple functions and by using state-of-the-art chip technology to employ mixed signal design for the implementation of the I/O device. The I/O device is capable of processing a large number of signals, performing signal conditioning and filtering for a large range of signals, and conducting analog and digital conversion.
The I/O device includes programmable signal conditioning and signal control circuitry for receiving signals, scaling the received signals to a predetermined voltage range, determining signal type for each of the received signals, and controlling input/output circuitry of the programmable signal conditioning and signal control circuitry for accessing input signals and generating output signals. The I/O device further includes conversion circuitry for receiving the input signals and converting these signals from analog to digital to enable the output signals to be digitally processed, and also receives digitally processed signals, converts the digitally processed signals to analog signals, and transmits the analog signals as output signals to the programmable signal conditioning and signal control circuitry. Bus interface logic circuitry coupled to the programmable signal conditioning and signal control circuitry for interfacing the I/O device with a bus for transferring information to and from the I/O device is also included.
High current and/or voltage conditioning circuitry for conditioning the signals within current and voltage ranges which are tolerable to microelectronics of the programmable signal conditioning and signal control circuitry may also be provided, as well as signal specific conditioning circuitry for conditioning the signals to match the electrical characteristics of the programmable signal conditioning and signal control circuitry.
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patent: 5539919 (1996-07-01), Naoe
patent: 5546079 (1996-08-01), Wagner
patent: 5583731 (1996-12-01), Pergent et al.
patent: 5706357 (1998-01-01), Yang
patent: 6081215 (2000-06-01), Kost et al.
patent: 6202198 (2001-03-01), Bibyk
Ernst James Wolter
Younis Mohamed F.
Nguyen John B
Yeadon Loria B.
Young Brian
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