US4069488A — Computer controlled distribution apparatus for di…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 225 words

A system for controlling a plurality of machine tools comprising a central processor, a plurality of tool controllers each operatively associated with a machine tool, each of said controllers comprising at least one tool control unit, adapted to provide a data output to the associated machine tool for controlling a tool function and/or for receiving from said tool, a data input indicative of a tool condition, a main multiple channel data bus connected to said central processor for conducting data transactions by transferring parallel bits of digital data to and from the processor, a plurality of multiple channel unit data buses, each of said buses being connected to one of said tool control units, data distribution means coupling said unit data buses to said main data bus comprising means responsive to a set of distribution signals from said central processor for selectively activating one of said tool control units and for selectively activating only the data path from said main bus through the unit data bus connected to said selected control unit, and means for maintaining only said activated data path open through said main data bus to said central processor and maintaining all other data paths through unit data buses to unselected tool control units closed until the central processor issues the next set of distribution signals for selectively activating another tool control unit.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 225 words

A system for controlling a plurality of machine tools comprising a central processor, a plurality of tool controllers each operatively associated with a machine tool, each of said controllers comprising at least one tool control unit, adapted to provide a data output to the associated machine tool for controlling a tool function and/or for receiving from said tool, a data input indicative of a tool condition, a main multiple channel data bus connected to said central processor for conducting data transactions by transferring parallel bits of digital data to and from the processor, a plurality of multiple channel unit data buses, each of said buses being connected to one of said tool control units, data distribution means coupling said unit data buses to said main data bus comprising means responsive to a set of distribution signals from said central processor for selectively activating one of said tool control units and for selectively activating only the data path from said main bus through the unit data bus connected to said selected control unit, and means for maintaining only said activated data path open through said main data bus to said central processor and maintaining all other data paths through unit data buses to unselected tool control units closed until the central processor issues the next set of distribution signals for selectively activating another tool control unit.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said data distribution means include means for maintaining only said activated path open during a plurality of separate completed data transactions between the central processor and the selected tool control unit.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 48 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said data distribution means include means for maintaining only said activated path open after the completion of a data transaction between the central processor and the selected tool unit and while the central processor completes data processing operations unrelated to said system.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 3 wherein said data distribution means maintain only said activated path open after the completion by the central processor of said unrelated operations whereby said processor may conduct a subsequent data transaction with said selected tool control unit.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 168 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively activating one of said tool control units include a plurality comparing means, each respectively corresponding to and operatively associated with one of said controllers and each comparing means comprising means for receiving at least a portion of said set of distribution signals and for comparing said portion with a predetermined set of signals indicative of the selection of a tool control unit in the controller associated with said comprising means, and means for generating a compare signal when the sets compare, and a plurality of decoder means, each respectively corresponding to and operatively associated with one of said controllers, and each comprising means responsive to said compare signal for receiving and decoding at least a portion of said of distribution signals and activating a decoder output exclusive for only said selected tool control unit and wherein each of said tool control units includes means responsive to said exclusive decoder output for activating only the selected tool control unit.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 71 words

The system of claim 5 wherein said means for maintaining only said activated data path open include bistable means, each respectively corresponding to and operatively associated with one of said controllers, and each bistable means responsive to said compare signal to maintain said activated decoder output and responsive to the absence of a compare signal to maintain in activated decoder outputs until the next set of distribution signals from the processor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 1 wherein at least one pair of controllers is operatively associated with the same machine tool.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 47 words

The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said tool controllers comprises means for completing a tool function initiated by a data transaction from the central processor after the data transaction is completed and the processor is no longer in communication with the tool controller.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 47 words

The system of claim 3 wherein at least one of said tool controllers comprises means for completing a tool function initiated by a data transaction from the central processor after the data transaction is completed and the processor is no longer in communication with the tool controller.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 8 wherein said tool controller further includes means for stopping the controlled tool function upon receiving from the tool a data input indicative of a preselected tool condition.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 9 wherein said tool controller further includes means for stopping the controlled tool function upon receiving from the tool a data input indicative of a preselected tool condition.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 220 words

A system for controlling a plurality of machine tools comprising a central processor, a plurality of tool controllers each operatively associated with a machine tool, each of said controllers comprising at least one tool control unit, adapted to provide a data output to the associated machine tool for controlling a tool function and/or for receiving from said tool, a data input indicative of a tool condition, a main data bus connected to said central processor for conducting data transactions by transferring bits of digital data to and from the processor, a plurality of unit data buses, each of said buses being connected to one of said tool control units, data distribution means coupling said unit data buses to said main data bus comprising means responsive to a set of distribution signals from said central processor for selectively activating one of said tool control units and for selectively activating only the data path from said main bus through the unit data bus connected to said selected control unit, and means for maintaining only said activated data path open through said main data bus to said central processor and maintaining all other data paths through unit data buses to unselected tool control units closed until the central processor issues the next set of distribution signals for selectively activating another tool control unit.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 220 words

A system for controlling a plurality of machine tools comprising a central processor, a plurality of tool controllers each operatively associated with a machine tool, each of said controllers comprising at least one tool control unit, adapted to provide a data output to the associated machine tool for controlling a tool function and/or for receiving from said tool, a data input indicative of a tool condition, a main data bus connected to said central processor for conducting data transactions by transferring bits of digital data to and from the processor, a plurality of unit data buses, each of said buses being connected to one of said tool control units, data distribution means coupling said unit data buses to said main data bus comprising means responsive to a set of distribution signals from said central processor for selectively activating one of said tool control units and for selectively activating only the data path from said main bus through the unit data bus connected to said selected control unit, and means for maintaining only said activated data path open through said main data bus to said central processor and maintaining all other data paths through unit data buses to unselected tool control units closed until the central processor issues the next set of distribution signals for selectively activating another tool control unit.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 283 words

Apparatus interfacing between a central processor and a plurality of tool functions for receiving unconditioned digital data from and applying unconditioned digital data to said central processor and for applying application conditioned data correlated to unconditioned digital data to and receiving such conditioned digital data from machine tools comprising a housing, a main bus system having a plurality of channels connected to said central processor, means in said housing for receiving said main bus system, a plurality of unit buses in said housing, each unit bus having a plurality of channels corresponding to said plurality of channels in said main bus system, distribution means in said housing responsive to distribution signals from said processor for selectively actively coupling only one of said plurality of unit buses to said main bus whereby a single active path is provided to and from the central processor through said selected unit bus and said main bus, a plurality of tool control units detachably mounted in said housing, each tool control unit being adapted to receive unconditioned digital data originating from central processor and for providing application conditioned data correlated to said unconditioned data and/or to receive application conditioned data originating in said machine tool and for providing unconditioned digital data correlated to said received application conditioned data, a plurality of receiving means in said housing, each adapted to detachably and interchangeably receive one of said plurality of tool control units and to connect a different one of said unit buses respectively to each of said received tool control units whereby a selected tool control unit may be connected to the central processor by actively coupling to said mainbus the unit bus connected to the selected control unit.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 283 words

Apparatus interfacing between a central processor and a plurality of tool functions for receiving unconditioned digital data from and applying unconditioned digital data to said central processor and for applying application conditioned data correlated to unconditioned digital data to and receiving such conditioned digital data from machine tools comprising a housing, a main bus system having a plurality of channels connected to said central processor, means in said housing for receiving said main bus system, a plurality of unit buses in said housing, each unit bus having a plurality of channels corresponding to said plurality of channels in said main bus system, distribution means in said housing responsive to distribution signals from said processor for selectively actively coupling only one of said plurality of unit buses to said main bus whereby a single active path is provided to and from the central processor through said selected unit bus and said main bus, a plurality of tool control units detachably mounted in said housing, each tool control unit being adapted to receive unconditioned digital data originating from central processor and for providing application conditioned data correlated to said unconditioned data and/or to receive application conditioned data originating in said machine tool and for providing unconditioned digital data correlated to said received application conditioned data, a plurality of receiving means in said housing, each adapted to detachably and interchangeably receive one of said plurality of tool control units and to connect a different one of said unit buses respectively to each of said received tool control units whereby a selected tool control unit may be connected to the central processor by actively coupling to said mainbus the unit bus connected to the selected control unit.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 58 words

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said housing has means for maintaining only said active coupling between said selected unit bus and said main bus and for maintaining all other possible couplings between non-selected unit buses and said main bus inactive until said central processor issues the next set of distribution signals for selecting another unit data bus.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for maintaining said active coupling are adapted to maintain only said active coupling during a plurality of separate completed data transactions between the central processor and said selected tool control unit.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 52 words

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for maintaining said active coupling are adapted to maintain said active coupling after the completion of a data transaction between the central processor and the selected tool unit and while the central processor completes data processing operation unrelated to any of said tool functions.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 164 words

A system for controlling a plurality of machine tools comprising a central processor, a plurality of tool controllers each operatively associated with a machine tool and located within the housing of said associated machine tool, each of said controllers comprising at least one tool control unit, adapted to provide a data input to the associated machine tool for controlling a tool function and/or for receiving from said tool, a data input indicative of a tool condition, means for independently grounding each housing, a multiple channel data bus connected between the central processor and each of the controllers for the communication of data transactions between the processor and a controller by the transferring of parallel bits of data to and from the processor, and photocoupling means between said tool controllers within said machine tool housing and said data bus whereby the tool controllers in each machine tool housing and the central processor are optically isolated from any transient signals generated within any other machine tool.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 164 words

A system for controlling a plurality of machine tools comprising a central processor, a plurality of tool controllers each operatively associated with a machine tool and located within the housing of said associated machine tool, each of said controllers comprising at least one tool control unit, adapted to provide a data input to the associated machine tool for controlling a tool function and/or for receiving from said tool, a data input indicative of a tool condition, means for independently grounding each housing, a multiple channel data bus connected between the central processor and each of the controllers for the communication of data transactions between the processor and a controller by the transferring of parallel bits of data to and from the processor, and photocoupling means between said tool controllers within said machine tool housing and said data bus whereby the tool controllers in each machine tool housing and the central processor are optically isolated from any transient signals generated within any other machine tool.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 111 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the tool controller associated with each machine tool and the portion of the data distribution means for activating and maintaining the unit data buses connected to units within said controller are located within the housing of said machine tool, and each housing is independently grounded, and the system further includes photocoupling means between said portion of the data distribution means within said machine tool housing and said main data bus whereby the tool controller and the portion of the data distribution means in each machine tool housing and said central processor are optically isolated from any transient signals generated within any other machine tool housing.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 141 words

The system of claim 18 wherein said photocoupling means include an electro-optical switch comprising a transistor amplifier biased in a low-conducting configuration and equipped with an emitter circuit, a collector circuit and an exposed base region, said base region acting as a photon detector over an energy absorption band or frequency absorption spectrum, a load in said collector circuit, a light emitting semiconductor diode positioned to irradiate said exposed base region with photons having an energy radiation band or frequency radiation spectrum overlapping with said energy absorption band or frequency absorption spectrum, and means for forward biasing said diode, whereby said forward biasing signal applied to said diode causes said diode to emit light and radiate photo energy upon said exposed base to generate a base current and to increase said transistor conduction wherein current is driven through said associated load.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 17 wherein said photocoupling means are located outside of said housings.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 18 wherein said coupling means are located outside of said housings.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system of claim 21 further including means for decoupling each of said photocoupling means to selectively remove a machine tool housing and the contents of said housing from communication with the central processor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-01-16	1981-07-18	1982-01-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-01-16	1985-07-18	1986-01-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-01-16	1989-07-18	1990-01-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Computer controlled distribution apparatus for distributing transactions to and from controlled machines tools

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