Decoding circuit
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorKenneth G. Slotkowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit for sensing a plurality of inputs, each of which have a plurality of condition states, and providing a visibly coded output signal to a single indicator lamp, or the like, whereby one may readily determine the various condition states. The circuit is exemplified in an automotive voltage and current sensing system which senses the conditions of normal voltage, overvoltage, undervoltage and battery discharge. The circuit commands a single lamp to be off, to flash rapidly, to light continuously, or to flash slowly in correspondence to the particular sensed condition.
Claims16
A circuit having a plurality of bi-level information input lines connected to receive bi-level information from an information source, and a single bi-level information output line translating the input information into an information distinguishable signal on said output line comprising:
- means for sensing when the information on all input information lines is identical and responsively producing a constant low level output signal;
- means for sensing when the information on a first one of said input lines is different from the other of said input lines and responsively producing an alternately high and low level output signal at a first frequency;
- means for sensing when the information on a second one of said input lines is different from the other of said input lines and responsively producing an alternating high and low level output signal at a second frequency different from said first frequency;
- and
- means connected to said output line for producing discernible light radiation in response to said high level output signals and for not producing discernible light radiation in response to said low level output signals.
A circuit having a plurality of bi-level information input lines connected to receive bi-level information from an information source, and a single bi-level information output line translating the input information into and information distinguishable signal on said output line comprising:
- means for sensing when the information on all input information lines is identical and responsively producing a constant low level output signal;
- means for sensing when the information on a first one of said input lines is different from the other of said input lines and responsively producing an alternately high and low level output signal at a first frequency;
- means for sensing when the information on a second one of said output signals is different from the other of said input lines and responsively producing a constant high level output signal;
- and
- means connected to said output line for producing discernible light radiation in response to said high level output signals and for not producing discernible output radiation in response to said low level output signals.
A circuit having a plurality of bi-level information input lines connected to receive bi-level information from an information source, and a single bi-level information output line translating the input information into an information distinguishable signal on said output line comprising:
- means for sensing when the information on all input information lines is identical and responsively producing a constant low level output signal;
- means for sensing when the information on a first one of said input lines is different from the other of said input lines and responsively producing an alternately high and low level output signal at a first frequency;
- means for sensing when the information on a second one of said output signals is different from the other of said input lines and responsively producing a constant high level output signal;
- means for sensing when the information on a third one of said input lines is different from the other of said input lines and responsively producing an alternately high and low level output signal at a second frequency different from said first frequency;
- and
- means connected to said output line for producing discernible light radiation in response to said high level output signals and for not producing discernible output radiation in response to said low level output signals.
A power supply monitoring circuit connected to the voltage output of said power supply to sense and indicate variations in said voltage from predetermined permissible limits comprising:
- means connected to said voltage output for dividing said voltage into a plurality of distinct levels that represent said permissible limits;
- condition sensing means connected to said dividing means for producing first and second output signals of a first level when said voltage output is sensed to be in a first condition within said permissible limits, a first output signal of a second level and a second output signal of a first level when said voltage output is sensed to be in a second condition greater than said permissible limits and a first output signal of a first level and a second output signal of a second level when said voltage output is sensed to be in a third condition less than said permissible limits;
- means connected to receive said first and second output signals for converting said first and second output signals to a single driving signal having a plurality of distinct level and duration characteristics respectively corresponding to said sensed output voltage condition being either within, greater than, or less than said permissible limits;
- and
- a single light radiation means connected to receive said driving signal and to responsively produce a visual indication of said sensed output voltage condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.