WO1982002096A1

WO1982002096A1 - Electrical monitoring system

Info

Publication number: WO1982002096A1
Application number: PCT/US1981/001592
Authority: WO
Inventors: Corp Ivac; Stephen J Kreinick; Bradley J Denny
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-12-15
Filing date: 1981-11-27
Publication date: 1982-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 1983-06-15
Also published as: EP0066603A1

Abstract

Systeme electrique d'excitation et de controle du fonctionnement d'un composant electrique quelconque parmi une pluralite de composants electriques connectes dans une matrice a rangees et colonnes qui peuvent etre adressees selectivement par un sous-systeme de selection d'adresses commandee par ordinateur. Un microprocesseur avec un point de connexion de sortie a 8 bits (25a, 25b) commande une paire de decodeurs (4 a 16) (26, 27) pour selectionner des commutateurs individuels de rangees et de colonnes (16-19, 20-23) dans la matrice de connexion des composants, tous les commutateurs de colonne etant connectes a la terre par l'intermediaire d'une resistance en echelle (30), et un comparateur a fenetre (31) compare la tension de la resistance en echelle avec les tensions maximum et minimum pour determiner un seul bit d'entree d'ordinateur (32) comme une valeur de mesure de la performance d'un composant adresse et excite de maniere selective.Electrical system for excitation and control of the operation of any electrical component among a plurality of electrical components connected in a matrix with rows and columns which can be selectively addressed by a computer-controlled address selection subsystem. A microprocessor with an 8-bit output connection point (25a, 25b) controls a pair of decoders (4 to 16) (26, 27) to select individual row and column switches (16-19, 20-23 ) in the component connection matrix, all the column switches being connected to earth by means of a ladder resistor (30), and a window comparator (31) compares the voltage of the ladder resistor with the maximum and minimum voltages for determining a single computer input bit (32) as a value for measuring the performance of a component addressed and selectively energized.

Description

ELECTRICAL MONITORING SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to improvements in electrical monitoring systems and, more particularly, to a new and improved system for determining electrical circuit integrity in complex electronic systems, such as computers, medical instrumentation and the like, whereby a minimum of dedicated electronic hardware can be used to monitor a large number of electrical components.

There are many instances where it is desirable to determine whether or not critical components affecting circuit integrity are properly operational. Such components may include resistors, diodes, switches, thermisters, optoelectronic transducers, the various elements of light emitting displays, which make up complex electronic systems, such as computers, or are critical components in medical instrumentation and the like. Unfortunately, however, the provision of appropriate monitoring and evaluation circuitry for a large number of electrical components has generally required a concomitant allocation of substantial dedicated electronic hardware for this purpose, with attendant high cost and circuit complexity. In this regard, it will be appreciated that, where hundreds or even thousands of electrical components are to be monitored and evaluated, the monitoring and evaluating circuitry can be vast indeed.

Hence, those concerned with the development of computers and other electrical instrumentation have long recognized the need for further improvements in means for monitoring a large number of electrical components within such systems with a minimum of electronic hardware for accomplishing such monitoring functions. The present invention clearly fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides a new and improved electrical system for uniquely energizing and monitoring the performance of any one of a plurality of electrical components which can be selectively addressed, and evaluating the integrity of such components rapidly, one at a time, by a single comparator system which provides a measure of the component performance.

More particularly, by way of example and not by way of limitation, the invention provides a new and improved electrical system for uniquely energizing and monitoring the performance of any one of a plurality of electrical components connected in a row and column energization and connection matrix which can be selectively addressed by a computer controlled address selection subsystem or the like, as by a microprocessor. Typically, a microprocessor with an 8-bit output port drives a pair of 4 to 16 decoders for selecting individual row and column switches in the component connection matrix. All of the row switches are connected to supply a common power source to the selected row, and all of the column switches are connected to ground through a common resistor ladder. A window comparator compares the resistor ladder voltage with maximum and minimum voltages to provide input over a single line, or set a single computer input bit, as a measure of the performance of any selectively addressed and energized component.

The new and improved electrical monitoring system of the present invention is capable of accurately and reliably monitoring a large number of devices. In this regard, an 8-bit output port can energize and monitor up to 256 devices, and two 8-bit ports can energize and monitor up to 65,536 devices, while still requiring only one feedback bit to test all of the devices.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing of an illustrative embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The sole figure of the drawing is a combined electrical schematic and block diagram of a system for selectively addressing, energizing and monitoring a plurality of electrical components, in accordance with the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a new and improved electrical monitoring system, embodying the features of the present invention. While the preferred method and architecture of the present invention is illustrated primarily in hardware format for convenience in describing the basic structure and operation of the invention, it is to be understood that this is by way of example only and not by way of limitation, and the same or equivalent structure and operation may be appropriately implemented in software by a suitably programmed microprocessor or the like, or as a combination of software and hardware, without in any way departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, a plurality of electrical components to be energized and monitored, such as the resistors 10, 11, 12, and diodes 13, 14, 15, by way of example, are each electrically connected for unique and selective energization between a single row and single column in a connection array defining a row and column component connection and energization matrix. Each column and each row represents an electrical conductor.

Columns 1 through N, and Rows 1 through N are illustrated in the drawing for purposes of description. However, the specific number of rows and number of columns may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Each component is uniquely addressed, energized and monitored (in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter) by selecting the single row and single column between which that component is uniquely connected. For example, the resistor 10 is connected between Row 1 and Column 1, whereas the resistor 11 is uniquely defined by its address of Row 2, Column 1. Similarly, the diode 15 is addressed by Row 3, Column 00 while the diode 14 has as its unique component address, Row N, Column N.

Each individual row is selected by activating its corresponding row switch. Accordingly, switches 16 - 19 control the selection of each of Rows 1 - N, respectively. Similarly, a plurality of switches 20 - 23 may be activated, one at a time, to individually select any one of Columns 1 - N, respectively.

A computer address selection subsystem, which may be embodied within a microprocessor or the like, is illustrated as having an 8-bit output port, by way of example, for driving a row decoder

26 and a column decoder 27, with four of the output port lines 25a being directed as input to the row decoder, and the other four output port lines 25b being directed as input to the column decoder. Assuming that each row decoder 26 and column decoder 27 is a 4 to 16 line decoder, the pair of decoders can define 256 unique row and column addresses for electrical components.

In the drawing, the row decoder 26 selects one of the switches 16 - 19 and the column decoder 27 selects one of the switches 20 - 23, depending upon the particular component to be addressed in accordance with the instructions from the computer address selection subsystem 25. Once addressed in this manner, the selected component is automatically energized and its circuit integrity or performance is monitored. In this regard, all of the row switches 16 - 19 are adapted to connect their respective rows to a common source of electrical power +V when any individual switch is activated. Similarl00 all of the column switches 20 - 23 are connected to ground through a conventional resistor ladder network 30.

Assuming that the diode 13 is the component to be energized and monitored, the computer address selection subsystem 25 will generate the address Row 2, Column 2. Row decoder 26 will activate switch 17 and column decoder 27 will activate switch 21 to complete the circuit from the source +V, through the diode 13, and through the resistor ladder network 30 to ground.

The resistor ladder network is simply a resistor string to which the various components being monitored are connected, and different components, depending upon the electrical current they are designed to carry, may be connected to different resistors in the ladder network.

The electrical voltage drop across the resistor ladder network 30 is directed as input to a suitable comparator network 31, which may be a window comparator or the like. The resistor ladder network voltage is compared with maximum and minimum reference voltages in the comparator network 31 to determine the circuit integrity or performance of the selectively addressed and energized component. The results of such a comparison are then directed over a single line 32 as a performance measure, typically a single computer input bit, to a computer monitoring subsystem 33 which may also typically be embodied in a microprocessor or the like.

Hence, it will be apparent in the system described, that a single 8-bit output port can energize and monitor up to 256 electrical components and yet require only a single feedback bit to the monitoring subsystem 33. Similarly, it can be shown that a pair of 8-bit ports can monitor up to 65,536 electrical components and still require only a single feedback bit.

Accordingly, the system of the present invention minimizes the quantity of electronic hardware ordinarily required for determining circuit integrity in complex electronic systems, such as computers, medical instrumentation and the like, and vastly increases the number of electrical components which can be energized and mqnitored by otherwise limited electronic hardware and software. The new and improved electrical monitoring system is accurate, reliable, and satisfies a long existing need in the electrical arts for such a system.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that, while a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. In an electrical system for energizing and monitoring the performance of any individual electrical component from among a plurality of such components, the combination comprising: an electrical component connection and energization matrix comprising a plurality of electrically conductive rows and a plurality of electrically conductive columns between which electrical components are connected, with a single unique row and column address for each component so connected; means for selectively and uniquely addressing and energizing individual components in said matrix; means for monitoring the electrical characteristics of the addressed component; and means for comparing the component electrical characteristics so monitored against a prescribed reference to determine component integrity.

2. A combination as set forth in Claim 1, where i n said means for comparing includes means for generating a figure of merit, regarding said component integrity, over a single line.

3. A combination as set forth in Claim 2, wherein said figure of merit is a single bit directed to a computer monitoring subsystem.

4. A method for energizing and monitoring the performance of any individual electrical component from among a plurality of such components, comprising the steps of: assigning unique addresses to said electrical components; addressing each of said components, one at a time; selectively energizing the individual component selectively addressed; monitoring an electrical characteristic of the selectively addressed component; and comparing the monitored electrical characteristic of the selectively addressed component against a reference to determine the integrity of the electrical component which has been selectively addressed and energized.

5. A method as set forth in Claim 4, and including the additional step of: generating a figure of merit representative of said

6. A method as set forth in Claim 5, and including the additional step of: directing said figure of merit to a monitoring system.

7. In an electrical system for energizing and monitoring the performance of any individual electrical component from among a plurality of such components, the combination comprising: an electrical component connection matrix comprising a plurality fo electrically conducti.ve rows and a plurality of electrically conductive columns between which electrical components are connected, with a single unique row and column address for each component so connected; microprocessor means for selectively and uniquely addressing individual components in said matrix; means for energizing the individual electrical components so addressed; means for monitoring the electrical characteristic of the addressed component; means for comparing the component electrical characteristics so monitored against a prescribed reference to determine component integrity; means for generating a figure of merit representative of said component integrity; and microprocessor monitoring means for receiving said figure of merit.

8. A combination as set forth in Claim 7, wherein said figure of merit is a single bit directed over a single line to said microprocessor monitoring means.

9. A combination as set forth in Claim 8, wherein said electrical component connection matrix further includes a plurality of row switches and column switches, one switch for each row and one switch for each column, all of said switches being conditioned by said means for selectively addressing components in said matrix.

10. A combination as set forth in Claim 9, wherein all of said row switches are connected to an electrical power source; and all of said column switches are connected through a resistor ladder to ground.