APPARATUS FOR FEEDBACK OF AN ANALOG SIGNAL USED TO MONITOR AND/OR CONTROL DYNAMIC BRAKING AND METHOD OF OPERATING

摘要

A locomotive throttle controller having a CPU and output driver stage. Such CPU generates an analog voltage based on software logic and transmits to the output driver stage a signal indicative such analog voltage. Such output driver stage receives the signal from such CPU and uses it to provide an analog output voltage signal to a trainline which monitors and/or controls dynamic braking. The improvement therewith of an apparatus, for feeding back from such output driver stage to the CPU an analog signal indicating status of such trainline, comprising a device for obtaining a first analog voltage signal from a node which supplies current to such trainline. A voltagedivider for dividing the first analog voltage signal into a lower range to obtain a second analog voltage signal. A signal generating device connected to receive the second analog voltage signal and generate a third analog voltage signal. A voltage to current converter receives such third analog voltage signal and provides a regulated electrical current signal on an output terminal thereof. A conduction path between such output terminal and CPU is provided. A converter in such CPU converts the electrical current signal into a fourth analog voltage signal. A comparator in such CPU compares such fourth analog voltage signal with the analog voltage based on software logic and an error signal generator in such CPU generates and utilizes an error signal indicating inconsistency between such fourth analog voltage signal and the analog voltage based on software logic.