Network diagnostic meter
AssigneeWoodhead Industries, Inc.
InventorsNicolas D. L. Jones, Steven R. Montgomery, Robert Graham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable test meter is disclosed for measuring, calculating, recording and monitoring significant system parameters for a local communication network of the type used in industrial automation applications. The meter is disclosed in the context of a network employing the DeviceNet protocol. For each network parameter of interest, a rotary switch selects a desired one for display. An auto search mode selectable by the operator, increments through selected network parameters and compares measured or calculated values against stored data representing acceptable, marginal, or unacceptable conditions, and an associated visual indicia is displayed for each unacceptable or margin condition detected.
Claims16
A test meter for a data communication network having first and second data lines, data bits on said network being represented by signals in said data lines including a relatively high signal on one of said lines and relatively low signal on the other of said lines and including dominant and recessive bits occurring in succession comprising:
- an input connector for connecting to said network;
- a transceiver receiving data on said data lines and generating an output stream of data signals in accordance with a protocol of said network;
- a data processor receiving the output stream of said transceiver and processing the same according to a stored program;
- at least first and second analog-to-digital converters having controlled sampling times and coupled respectively to said input connector for generating sampled digital signal representations of the voltage on each of said data lines of said network respectively, said data processor coupled to receive the output signals of said analog-to-digital converters;
- a visual display having a numeric display and indicia display for representing acceptable or unacceptable conditions being measured by said meter;
- said data processor being programmed to enter an auto search mode upon actuation by a user to cycle through predetermined network operating parameters incorporating the signals on said first and second data lines, said data processor storing data representative of an acceptable state of conditions and an unacceptable state of conditions for each network parameter being measured, said data processor controlling the sampling of said analog-to-digital connectors and comparing the measured data from said analog-to-digital converts to associated data of said stored data and actuating said indicia display to evidence one of said acceptable and unacceptable conditions for selected ones of said network parameters, and actuating said numeric display to indicate the value thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.