System for monitoring a plurality of sensors
US7764169B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 12, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jul 27, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 20, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2223/06
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A monitoring system for detecting faults in an apparatus, such as a ski lift, employs a communication network onto which a sensor bus controller periodically transmits a safety message and receives a echo of each safety message. Different sensors are coupled to sensor adapter modules that in turn are connected in a series to the communication network. After the last sensor adapter module in the series, each safety message is echoed back along the communication network. Each sensor adapter module, upon receiving a safety message, increments a count in that message and transmits the resultant safety message to another module. When a sensor indicates a fault condition, the associated sensor adapter module blocks propagation of safety messages along the communication network. The sensor bus controller determines, in response to a failure to receive the echo and to the count in the echo, whether a fault occurred.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.