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:
Feb. 24, 1998
Filed:
May. 09, 1995
SMC Pneumatics, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A serial transmission system for controlling a network of input/output devices is provided. The serial transmission system includes: a three wire serial link; a master unit for controlling communication over the serial link; multiple input remote units for receiving information from the input devices; and multiple output remote units for controlling the output devices. The master unit includes a programmable optically isolated microcontroller adapted to initiate a synchronous data link control (SDLC) communications protocol with the remote units. In addition the master unit includes memory tables for storing input/output, error, diagnostic, status and node availability information. This information can be shared with a PC or host controller. In addition, the PC or host controller can include programs for directing the master unit and remote units to initialize, reset, scan, or maintain an idle condition.