Variable monitoring and recording apparatus

摘要

991,363. Electronic computers. INFORMATION SYSTEMS Inc. Aug. 4, 1961, No. 28354/61. Heading G4A. Continuous variables are monitored by means of a standard digital computer-the IBM 650 or the Elliott 803 are mentioned-and an operator's control panel by means of which data constants can be changed and scanning or logging operations can be initiated. Analogue signals representing the variables are applied to a switching matrix 11 which under control of the computer gates one signal at a time to an analogue-to-digital converter 12 from where it is read to a predetermined storage location on a magnetic drum. The computer processes the digital data and, if it is found that the variable is outside certain preset limits, a horn is caused to sound and the variable is printed on a strip printer 15. At regular intervals, say hourly, a clock 17 initiates a logging process by which all the variables are printed out by typewriter 16. The operator may call for logging or scanning the variables, or may cause a digital display of any of the variables at the console. A variable is identified by a pointer number. Drum storage arrangement: To each monitoring point is alloted four data words having related drum addresses bearing a predetermined relationship to the point identifying number. The format of these words is shown in Fig. 6c. Word A contains the limits permissible to the variable. Word B contains information relevant to the processing of the received digits to obtain the true value of the variable: the function is the operation to be performed by the computer on these digits using the constants offset and gain factors. Word C contains: a marker to show, if the variable is abnormal, whether it has yet been printed out; a marker to show that the variable is abnormal; the abnormal value of the variable and the current value. Word D contains a market indicating whether on a logging sequence the variable has been printed out, and two markers which show whether this variable is to be skipped in a log or scan sequence. This word also contains two numbers giving the point number of next variables to be printed out or scanned respectively i.e. the next variable in the log or scan sequence. The operator may from the console change the values of any parts of these words save the alarm print and log loaded markers. A large part of the Specification is taken up with description of computer programs to effect scanning or logging. The operator's console is wired to the normal plugboard control of the computer and individual items of data are entered by setting rotary switches. Where many items are to be entered, control is switched to a tape reader.