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:
May. 16, 1989
Filed:
Nov. 05, 1987
Bruce A Clarkson, Beverly, MA (US);
Steven A Macintyre, Reston, VA (US);
Emhart Industries, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US);
Abstract
There is a controller having an identifier signal output and a status signal input, and a plurality of probes, each having an identifier signal input and output and a status signal input and output. The probes are connected in series with the inputs of one probe connected to the outputs of the next, with the identifier signal output of the controller connected to the identifier signal input of the first probe, and with the status signal input of the controller connected to the status signal output of the first probe. Each probe includes a decrementer which decrements the identifier signal received from the previous probe by one and retransmits it to the next probe. Each probe also includes a comparator and a switch configured so that when the comparator receives an identifier signal equal to zero, the switch switches the status signal output of the probe from its status signal input to a source of a local probe status signal. Thus when the controller outputs an identifier signal corresponding to the number N-1, the nth probe reports its status, which is passed down the series of probes to the controller.