Integrated arrangement for monitoring without interrupt process flow by novel sensor arrangement with unique data processing system

An arrangement for sensing specific physical properties of a process flow to be monitored and controlled without interrupt, such properties being direct conditions of the process and properties or conditions exterior to the process that may affect the process, comprising:

• a plurality of sensor elements arranged in close proximity to each other and interposed into the flow of the process, each sensor sensing a particular property of the process flow and to provide an electrical output signal representative of such property;
• module means coupled to the sensor elements to receive such electrical output signal and adapted to isolate galvanically each electrical output signal from the other signals and to provide diaital outputs for such signals,
• data processing means coupled to the module means for data exchange and for receiving the representative digital signals and processing such signals for monitoring and controlling such process, and
• an AC voltage coming into the arrangement may have its voltage change by magnetic transformer means which utilize a board supporting the data processing means as the support means for primary and secondary windings positioned thereon.

An arrangement for sensing specific physical properties of a process flow being monitored and controlled without interrupt, such properties being direct conditions of the process and properties exterior to the process but which affect the process, comprising;

• a plurality of first sensor elements arranged in close proximity to each other and interposed in the process flow, each sensor element sensing a particular direct physical property of the process flow and providing an electrical output signal representative of a value of such physical property;
• a plurality of other sensor elements arranged to sense a physical property associated with the process flow and which may affect the process, each such other sensor element providing an electrical output signal representative of a value of such other physical property;
• a plurality of housings adapted to receive groupings of said first sensor elements and to maintain each such grouping in close proximity to each other;
• a plurality of modules coupled to groupings of said sensor elements and to the other sensor elements for receiving an electrical out put signal from each sensor element and adapted to isolate galvanically each sensor electrical output signal from another and to provide a digital electrical output signal for each sensor element, said modules being further arranged to provide a first group of primary modules which sense a plurality of physical properties and a second group of back up modules that are paired with the primary modules and which sense the same physical properties as the primary modules, and
• data processing means coupled to the first group of primary modules and also being coupled to the second group of back up modules for data exchange with each module, which data exchange includes receiving the representative digital output signals and processing such signals for monitoring and controlling the process.

A magnetic transformer particularly adapted for application to a circuit board of a computer for transforming a first alternating current voltage, comprising:

• a non-conductive circuit board having opposing surfaces and an area free from the positioning thereon of electronic components;
• a first electrical conductor element that is secured to a first surface of the circuit board that is free of electronic components and which extends transversely through the circuit board to the other opposing surface, extends along such opposing layer a predetermined distance, and then extends through the circuit board to the first surface;
• means to cause an AC electrical current flow having a predetermined voltage through the first electrical conductor to generate a magnetic field, and
• a second electrical conductor element that is secured to a first surface of the circuit board a predetermined distance from and parallel to said conductor element and extends transversely through the circuit board parallel to the first conductor, extends along such opposing layer a predetermined distance spaced from and parallel to the first conductor, and then extends through the circuit board to the first surface, whereby the magnetic field generated by the electrical current flowing through the first conductor induces an electrical current having a predetermined second alternating current voltage to flow through the second electrical conductor element.

A data processing system comprising:

• a motherboard including a first digital computer and having a predetermined data bus architecture which permits only one digital computer coupled thereto to act as a controller;
• at least one data processing means positioned on a single circuit board and coupled to the data bus and comprising:
• a second digital computer coupled to the data bus;
• a multi port random access memory having one port that is coupled to the data bus or the motherboard and having a second port that is coupled to the data bus of the motherboard and to the second digital computer;
• input/output means coupled to the second digital computer on the circuit board;
• address means coupled to the second digital computer carried on the circuit board to identify the second computer, and
• instruction means contained in the random access memory that determines whether the first or second digital computer will act as the controller and the other computer will act as the slave computer.