Electric circuit for selectively processing electrical signals
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsBernard J. Metro, Carl A. Vitalbo, Richard B. Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical circuit backfits into different instrumentation and control (I&C) system hardware configurations as a replacement or upgrade. The circuit has a multiple signal path processing circuit including a multi-functional ASIC. A fixedly configured, multiple signal path connector such as a hardwired multi-pin package removably connected with a pin socket in the processing circuit connects the ASIC with the I&C system for coupling inputs to and outputs from the ASIC and for selecting operative signal paths of the ASIC.
Claims15
A method of upgrading an electrical signal processing system of a nuclear power plant, said system having a plurality of analog circuits which perform a plurality of functions embodied on a plurality of replaced cards, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a replacement card comprising:
- input and output connectors, a multiple function digital processing circuit capable of performing a plurality of digital functions determined by the physical arrangement of a plurality of connections to the digital processor's circuit, analog to digital circuitry connected between said input connector and an input of said digital processing circuit and operable to receive an analog input signal and convert it to a digital signal for processing by said digital processing circuit, said digital processing circuit in communication with said output connector, and a removable hardwired function selector connected among at least two of the plurality of connections to the digital processing circuit, said function selector operable to enable said replacement card to perform a selected function which corresponds to a function performed by one of said replaced card;
- and
- replacing the said one of said replaced cards with said replacement cards.
A method of upgrading an analog electrical processing system of a nuclear power plant having a plurality of analog circuits on a plurality of analog cards that interconnect with an electrical interface on the processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a replacement card comprising an input and an output connector, an ASIC chip capable of performing a plurality of digital functions, analog to digital circuitry connected between said input connector and the input of said ASIC chip, said ASIC chip communicating with said output connector, and hardwired adapter means for interconnecting said input and output connectors with said ASIC chip in a manner that replicates the function of at least one of said analog cards;
- connecting an interface selector with said adapter means, thereby adapting said replacement card to be compatible with the electrical interface on the processing system;
- and
- replacing at least one of said analog cards with said replacement card.
A replacement card for an analog electrical signal processing system of a nuclear power plant having a plurality of cards containing analog circuitry for performing a plurality of functions, said replacement card comprising:
- input connector operable to receive an analog input signal into said replacement card;
- analog to digital converter connected to said input connector and operable to convert said analog input signal to a digital input signal;
- digital circuitry connected to said analog to digital converter and operable to process said digital input signal and to generate a digital output signal;
- output connector connected to said digital circuitry;
- and
- removable adapter means for selectively interconnecting said digital circuitry and said input and output connectors, thereby adapting said replacement card to perform at least one of said functions.
A nuclear power plant comprising:
- an electrical signal system;
- and
- an electrical circuit connected with said electrical signal processing system, said circuit comprising:
- a multiple signal path processing circuit for processing a plurality of electrical signals;
- and
- a hardwired function selector removeably connected with said multiple signal path processing circuit, said adapter operable to connect a first portion of said multiple signal path processing circuit with said electrical signal processing system;
- said function selector further comprising a means for switching operable to connect a second portion of said multiple signal path processing circuit with said electrical signal processing system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.