Multiple Sensor Data Processor Interface and Relay
AssigneeCamgian Microsystems Corp.
InventorsGary Butler, Derrick J. Savage, David Lindley, Muthukumar Nagarajan, Jeffery Hunt
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a system and method of networking and interconnecting a large number of various types of sensors to a remote location in an efficient manner. Specifically, the invention utilizes a flexible, configurable, scalable and power-efficient sensor interface relay architecture to gather sensor data from various locations and then relay it to a remote location via the internet.
Claims20
A method of obtaining inputs from a plurality of sensor coupling ports, comprising the steps of:
- from a first processing unit, communicating a state change on a first common addressing signal coupled to each of a plurality of second processing units and uniquely addressing one of the plurality of second processing units on at least one additional addressing signal;
- communicating from the first processing unit to each of the plurality of second processing units a subsequent state change on a common enable signal line coupled to each of the plurality of second processing units;
- detecting the state change on the first common addressing signal, the unique addressing, and the subsequent state change on the common enable signal line in one of the plurality of second processing units;
- and
- communicating from the first processing unit to the one uniquely addressed second processing unit to receive an input to the first processing unit from the sensor coupling port.
The method in claim 134 wherein,
- the communication is selected from Cellular, ZigBee, and POTS.
A sensing interface circuit, comprising:
- a first processing unit having outputs including a first common enable signal, a plurality of addressing signals, and plurality of individual enable signals;
- and
- a plurality of second processing units each coupled to processor memory containing configuration programming information to configure the sensing interface circuit to provide power and communications over each of a plurality of sensor coupling ports, each of the plurality of sensor coupling ports coupled to one of the plurality of first processing units, each sensor coupling port including at least one sensor voltage supply connection, and at least one sensor receive input,
- wherein the plurality of second processing units are each coupled to the first common enable signal and the plurality of addressing signals and each respectively connected to one of the plurality of individual enable signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.