Monitoring System With Serial Data Lane Transmission Network

The monitoring system of claim [0023], wherein the first functional circuit not in electronic communication with the at least one second data lane.

The monitoring system of claim [0023], wherein the at least one first data lane is a dedicated data lane and is configured to receive data from only the first functional circuit.

The monitoring system of claim [0023], wherein the second functional circuit not in electronic communication with the at least one first data lane.

The monitoring system of claim [0023], wherein the at least one second data lane is a dedicated data lane and is configured to receive data from only the second functional circuit.

The monitoring system of claim [0023], wherein the first functional circuit includes a first unidirectional gate configured to allow the first functional circuit to deliver the first digital signal to the at least one first data lane.

The monitoring system of claim [0035], wherein the first functional circuit includes a gate pair comprising a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter being configured to deliver a third digital signal from the at least one third data lane, and the receiver being configured to receive a fourth digital signal from the at least one third data lane.

The monitoring system of claim [0035], wherein the second functional circuit includes a gate pair comprising a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter being configured to deliver a third digital signal to the at least one third data lane, and the receiver being configured to receive a fourth digital signal from the at least one third data lane.

The monitoring system of claim [0023], wherein the second functional circuit includes a second unidirectional gate configured to allow the second functional circuit to receive the first digital signal from the at least one first data lane.

The monitoring system of claim [0035], wherein the at least one third data lane is a bi-directional serial data lane.

The monitoring system of claim [0023], wherein the at least one first data lane is a unidirectional serial data lane.

The monitoring system of claim [0023], wherein the at least one second data lane is a unidirectional serial data lane.

The monitoring system of claim [0023], wherein the at least one first data lane comprises a plurality of first data lanes.

The monitoring system of claim [0023], wherein the at least one second data lane comprises a plurality of second data lanes.

The monitoring system of claim [0023], wherein the at least one first port is electrically decoupled from the at least one second data lane, thereby preventing electronic communication between the first functional circuit and the at least one second data lane.

The monitoring system of claim [0035], further comprising:

• at least one fourth port in electronic communication with the at least one third data lane
• a fourth functional circuit coupled to the at least one fourth port, the fourth functional circuit being configured to deliver a third digital signal to the second functional circuit via the at least one third data lane, the third signal characterizing updated operating thresholds.

The monitoring system of claim [0040], wherein the at least one fourth port is electrically decoupled from the at least one first data lane, thereby preventing electronic communication between the fourth functional circuit and the at least one first data lane.

The method of claim [0042], further comprising:

• receiving, at the first functional circuit, an analog signal from a sensor, the analog signal characterizing the measured operating parameter of the machine;
• and
• converting the analog signal to the first digital signal.

The method of claim [0042], further comprising:

• generating a third digital signal characterizing updated operating thresholds;
• and
• delivering the third digital signal to a third data lane of the backplane, the third signal characterizing updated operating thresholds.

The method of claim [0042], wherein the analog signal is converted to the first digital signal at a fixed rate.

The method of claim [0042], further comprising filtering the analog signal.

The method of claim [0042], further comprising delivering a signal to a control system upon actuation of the relay to stop operation of the machine.