System controller and remote fault annunciator with cooperative storage, sharing, and presentation of fault data

• Main Author: PAUL B. PATTON
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 16.11.1995
• Edition: 5
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDEDFOR ELSEWHERE; BLASTING; CHECKING-DEVICES; COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PHYSICS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION; TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; WEAPONS

An annunciator for the conduction status of individual switches wired into a series circuit records this status as status history at regular intervals in a memory. The status history is preferably recorded as individual entries having the identification number of an open switch along with a time stamp specifying the length of time which that switch has been open. The current entry is recorded in the memory and a new entry started each time the switch for which an entry in the memory is being created closes or a switch currently receiving power opens. A controller separate from the annunciator generates a request signal and provides a request time value to the annunciator specifying the time which has elapsed since the request condition was detected. The annunciator uses the request time value to determine the probable switch conduction status at the time of the request.