Advanced self-calibrating, self-repairing data acquisition system

A self-calibrating and self-repairing Data Acquisition System (DAS), comprising:

• an analog input signal section;
• a signal conditioner and analog output signal section;
• a sample-and-hold and data conversion section;
• a digital signal and control path section;
• a number of operational components;
• with at least some of said analog input signal section, said signal conditioner and analog output signal section, and said sample-and-hold and/or data conversion sections having a number of spare part components housed within said DAS;
• the number of said spare-part components being pre-selected to electronically replace those operational components statistically predicted by reliability parameters more likely than not to fail or degrade during operation of the DAS;
• the spare-part components being interchangeably disposed with the number of operational components in each section, with the spare-part components further disposed so as to automatically and autonomously electronically replace the operational components upon their failure and/or degradation;
• said analog input signal section being further connected to said signal conditioner and analog output signal section through internal circuits;
• said signal conditioner and analog output signal section connected to said sample-and-hold and data conversion section through internal data circuits;
• said sample-and-hold and data conversion section connected to said digital signal control path section through internal data circuits;
• thereby assuring continuous operation of all DAS sections upon failure and/or degradation of any operational component.

A method for self-calibrating and self-repair of a Data Acquisition System (DAS) comprising the steps of:

• (i) determining the number of spare-part components pre-selected to electronically replace those operational components statistically predicted by reliability parameters more likely than not to fail or degrade during operation of the DAS;
• (ii) providing said DAS with electronic access to said statistically predicted number of spare part components;
• and
• (iii) automatically, autonomously and electronically replacing those failing or degrading operational components with said spare part components;
• (iv) thereby assuring continuous operation of the DAS system.

The method of self-calibrating and self-repairing a Data Acquisition System (DAS) comprising the steps of:

• (i) determining the number of spare-part components pre-selected to electronically replace those operational components statistically predicted by reliability parameters more likely than not to fail or degrade during operation of the DAS;
• (ii) positioning said predetermined number of spare-part components in said DAS;
• (iii) automatically, autonomously and electronically replacing failing or degrading operational components with said spare part components;
• (iv) continuously operating said DAS during failure and electronic replacement of the operational components with the spare-part components;
• (v) connecting an analog input signal section to a signal conditioner and analog output signal section, a sample-and-hold and data conversion section and a digital signal and control path section;
• (vi) transmitting a plurality of analog signals to a matrix of analog switches;
• (vii) transmitting at least one supplemental analog signal to said matrix;
• (viii) verifying calibration of said analog signals with calibration circuits and a controller;
• (ix) connecting said analog signals to an internal bus;
• (x) transmitting raw data from said analog signals to said internal bus;
• (xi) transmitting said raw data to at least one conditioner module of said signal conditioner and analog output signal section;
• (xii) converting said raw data to conditioned data in said conditioner module;
• (xiii) transmitting said conditioned data from said conditioner module through a second internal analog signal bus to an output signal switch matrix;
• (xiv) transmitting said conditioned data from said conditioner modules through said second internal analog signal bus and a conditioned data matrix to said sample-and-hold and data conversion section;
• (xv) sampling said conditioned data in at least one channel of said sample-and-hold and data conversion section;
• (xvi) holding said data at specific intervals in at least one channel of said sample-and-hold and data conversion section;
• and
• (xvii) sequentially transmitting output signals from said sample-and-hold and data conversion section through a third internal analog bus to said digital signal and control path section, via a digitizing switch matrix, and a digital bus.