Patent ID: 7259953
Filing Date: 2007-08-21
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
1. An integral embedded control system having generically applicable modules, the system comprising: a computer module; a display module, the display module being operatively coupled to the computer module by a first communication bus; a user input module, the user input module being operatively coupled to the computer module by a second communication bus; a power supply module, the power supply module being operatively coupled to the computer module by a third communication bus; and at least one input/output module, the at least one input/output module being operatively coupled to the power supply module and the third communication bus, the power supply module providing power to the computer module, display module, user input module, and the at least one input/output module, the at least one input/output module being adapted for operatively coupling at least one additional input/output module to the third communication bus, the computer module automatically identifying the at least one input/output module on the third communication bus in response to applying power to the integral embedded control system; wherein the computer module includes an external communication port, the external communication port including at least one of an infrared port, a serial port, and a parallel port; and wherein the external communication port provides a communication link between the computer module and a handheld computer.