The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 29, 1980
Filed:
Oct. 21, 1977
Allan I Edwin, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Melvin T Bennett, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A communication system for linking a central computer to a plurality of remotely spaced terminals employs a single run of coaxial cable formed in a loop extending in the vicinity of each of the terminals with its two ends terminating adjacent the head-end computer. The output of the computer is provided to a normally operative primary channel transmitter connected to one end of the cable as well as to a normally inoperative, secondary channel transmitter connected to the other end of the cable. Each of the terminals includes receivers for both the primary and secondary channel. Primary channel signal detectors located at the head-end and at each of the terminals energize the secondary channel transmitter and/or the secondary channel receivers at their respective detectors when they fail to receive the primary channel carrier. Failure of the primary channel transmitter or a break in the cable thus causes energization of the secondary transmitter and the secondary channel receivers at those terminals affected by the malfunction. Terminal polling protocols, initiated by the computer, employ both the primary and secondary transmitters to determine the condition of each of the elements of the system.