Communication control system

A control system including

• a programmable controller for providing binary data to a plurality of separately operable multi-functioning machines,
• a single multiplexer controller terminal,
• a plurality of multiplexer machine terminals each including means for processing binary data,
• respective transmission lines connecting the controller terminal in parallel to each of the machine terminals,
• said controller terminal coupling data in serial format through the transmission lines to each of the machine terminals,
• each of said machine terminals converting the serial data received from the multiplexer controller terminal to parallel data in selected groups,
• respective input/output converters for said machines,
• gate means for selectively coupling the groups of parallel data through the input/output converter to the respective machines,
• each of said machine terminals arranged to receive data in groups of parallel bits through the respective input/output converter for defining the status and position of the respective machine, and
• each machine terminal including means for serializing the data received from the respective machine and transmitting the serialized data through the transmission lines to the controller.

In a control system for multi-functioning machines having a plurality of condition-responsive devices indicative of the multi-functioning and commanded devices for effecting the multi-functioning, the combination of:

• multiplexer means having a plurality of groups of input terminals and a single group of output terminals for sequential and mutually exclusive connection to each group of input terminals, each group of input terminals being connected with a different group of condition-responsive devices;
• parallel-to-series converter means having a group of input terminals connected with said single group of output terminals for converting the parallel condition-responsive signals appearing at said group of output terminals sequentially to serial form;
• serial-to-parallel converter means receiving sequential groups of command signals of serial form and having a group of output terminals for providing each group of command signals in parallel form;
• demultiplexer means having a group of input terminals connected with the output terminals of said series-to-parallel converter means and a plurality of groups of output terminals for sequentially providing said groups of command signals in parallel form, each group of output terminals of the demultiplexer means being connected to a different group of the commanded devices to deliver command signals thereto;
• controller means connected to the output of said parallel-to-series converter means for receiving the sequential groups of condition-responsive signals and connected to said series-to-parallel converter means for transmitting said sequential groups of serial command signals;
• and
• clock means connected with said multiplexer means and said demultiplexer means for causing them repetitively to cycle, each cycle involving the reception of sequential groups of command signals and the concurrent transmission of said sequential groups of condition-responsive signals from the condition-responsive devices.

A control system for multi-functioning machines comprising, in combination:

• a controller terminal system for periodically providing a sequence of groups of serial command signals and concurrently receiving a sequence of groups of serial condition-responsive signals;
• a machine terminal system for periodically providing said sequence of groups of serial condition-responsive signals and for concurrently receiving said sequence of groups of serial command signals;
• each terminal system including a receiver section, a transmitter section, a demultiplexer connected to said receiver section and a multiplexer connected to said transmitter section;
• the multiplexer of said machine terminal system having a plurality of groups of input terminals adapted to be connected to different groups of machine-associated condition-responsive devices and a single group of output terminals, the machine terminal system also including a parallel-to-series converter having a group of input terminals connected to said single group of output terminals and an output line connected to said controller terminal system;
• the demultiplexer of said machine terminal system having a single group of input terminals adapted to be connected in parallel with a sequence of command signals and a plurality of groups of output terminals connected to different groups of machine-associated control devices, the machine terminal system also including a series-to-parallel converter having an input line connected with said controller terminal system and a group of output terminals connected to the single group of input terminals of such demultiplexer;
• said controller terminal system including a series-to-parallel converter connected to said output line and having a group of output terminals adapted to be connected to a programmable controller, a multiplexer having a plurality of groups of input terminals connected to the programmable controller and a group of output terminals, and a parallel-to-series converter connected to said group of output terminals of such multiplexer and having an output line connected to said input line of the series-to-parallel converter of the machine terminal system;
• and
• said machine terminal system including clock means for operating its multiplexer, demultiplexer, parallel-to-series converter and serial-to-parallel converter periodically to transmit a sequence of groups of condition-responsive signals and concurrently to receive a sequence of groups of command signals, and said controller terminal system also including clock means for operating its multiplexer, series-to-parallel converter and parallel-to-series converter concurrently to receive said sequence of groups of condition-responsive signals and to transmit said sequence of groups of command signals.

In a control system for multi-functioning machines, the combination of:

• a controller terminal having a plurality of input lines adapted to receive command signals from a programmed controller and a plurality of output lines adapted to provide condition-responsive signals to a programmed controller;
• a machine terminal having a plurality of input lines adapted to receive said condition-responsive signals from at least one multi-functioning machine and a plurality of output lines adapted to provide said command signals to at least one multi-functioning machine;
• said controller terminal including transmitter means for transmitting a repetitive sequence of said command signals in which each sequence involves a series of different groups of said command signals, receiver means for receiving a repetitive sequence of said condition-responsive signals in which each sequence involves a series of different groups of said condition-responsive signals, and free-running clock means for driving said transmitter means and said receiver means concurrently to transmit and to receive said sequences of signals;
• and
• said machine terminal including receiver means connected to said transmitter means of the controller terminal for receiving said repetitive sequence of command signals, transmitter means connected to said receiver means of the controller terminal for transmitting said repetitive sequence of condition-responsive signals, second free-running clock means connected to the receiver means and the transmitter means of said machine terminal for driving them concurrently to transmit and receive, and control means connecting said receiver means and said transmitter means of the machine terminal to slave them to the transmitter means of said controller terminal.

A machine control system comprising, in combination:

• a programmable controller having a plurality of groups of input lines for receiving condition-responsive digital signals and a plurality of groups of corresponding output lines for providing machine command digital signals responsive to said condition-defining signals;
• a plurality of groups of condition-responsive sensors and at least one multi-functioning machine having a plurality of groups of control inputs for receiving said command signals;
• controller multiplexer terminal means connected to said plurality of groups of input lines and to said plurality of groups of corresponding output lines for transmitting a sequence of groups of command signals while receiving a corresponding sequence of condition-responsive signals;
• machine multiplexer terminal means connected to said sensors and to said multi-functioning machine control inputs for transmitting said corresponding sequence of condition-responsive signals while receiving said sequence of command signals;
• a first free-running clock controlling said controller multiplexer terminal means and a second free-running clock controlling said machine multiplexer terminal means;
• and
• said machine multiplexer terminal means icluding means for slaving the transmission of said condition-responsive signals to the transmission of said command signals.