Digital control system including built in test equipment

Claim 2

A digital control system comprising: a processing unit; a signal source providing data input signals; means including signal combining means connected to said signal source and to said processing unit for applying said data signals from said signal source to said processing unit; said processing unit being responsive to said data signals for providing test signals; and means for applying said test signals to said combining means; said means for applying said data signals from said signal source to said processing unit combining said data and said test signals and applying the combined signals to the processing unit for uninterrupted flow of said data signals, with the processing unit responsive to said combined signals for determining system failure conditions.

Claim 3

A system as described by claim 1, wherein: said signal source providing data input signals provides at least two analog signals, with one of said analog signals being at a first logic level and the other of said analog signals being at a second logic level.

Claim 4

A system as described by claim 2, wherein said combining means included in said means for applying said data signals from said signal source to said processing unit comprises: at least one differential amplifier means having an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal and an output terminal; the inverting iput terminal connected to said signal source and receiving said one analog input signal at said first logic level and the non-inverting input terminal connected to said signal source for receiving said other analog input signal at said second logic level, and a differential signal being provided at said output terminal; and means connected to said output terminal and to said processing unit for applying said differential signal to said processing unit.

Claim 5

A system as described by claim 3, wherein said differential signal constitutes said data signal to which said processing unit responds to provide test signals, said test signals comprising: at least two test signals, with one of said test signals being an analog output signal corresponding to said one analog input signal and the other of said test signals being an analog output signal corresponding to said other analog input signal.

Claim 6

A system as described by claim 4, wherein said combining means includes: first summing means connected intermediate said signal source and said inverting input terminal of said differential amplifier; second summing means connected intermediate said signal source and said non-inverting input terminal of said differential amplifier; said first summing means summing said one analog input signal with said one test signal for providing a first summed signal, and said second summing means summing said other analog input signal with said other test signal for providing a second summed signal; and said inverting input terminal connected to said first summing means for receiving said first summed signal and said non-inverting input terminal connected to said second summing means for receiving said second summed signal, and a differential summed signal being provided at said output terminal of said differential amplifier, said differential summed signal being said combined signals including said data signals applied to said processor.

Claim 7

A system as described by claim 5, wherein said processing unit responds to the combined signals for determining system failure conditions by checking said differential summed signal against an expected signal value.

Claim 8

A system as described by claim 1, wherein: said signal source for providing data input signals provides at least one discrete input signal.

Claim 9

A system as described by claim 7, wherein said means including signal combining means includes: at least one signal level translator means for translating the level of said discrete data input signal; and means connected to said signal level translator means and to said processing unit for applying the translated discrete data input signal to the processing unit.

Claim 10

A system as described by claim 8 wherein, said processing unit provides first and second actuating signals in response to said applied discrete data signal and including: a first voltage source for providing a voltage in one sense; a second voltage source for providing a voltage in the opposite sense; and switching means connected to the first and second voltage sources and actuated by said first and second actuating signals for switching said voltage in the one sense to provide a first test signal and for switching said voltage in the opposite sense to provide a second test signal.

Claim 11

A system as described by claim 9 wherein said means for combining said discrete data input signals and said test signals includes: summing means connected intermediate said signal source and said signal level translator means and connected to said switching means for summing one of said test signals and said discrete data input signal, with said level translator means being responsive to the summed signal for providng a translated summed signal.

Claim 12

A system as described by claim 10, wherein said switching means applies said first test signal to said summing means to provide a first translated summed signal and applies said second test signal to said summing means to provide a second translated summed signal, said first translated summed signal checking the logic state of said level translator means in one sense, said second translated summed signal checking the logic state of said level translator means in an opposite sense.