Patent ID: 8283938
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: G01D,G05B

Abstract:
1. A monitoring system, comprising: a controller comprising a plurality of first input terminals, a plurality of second input terminals, and a plurality of control terminals; a plurality of sensors; a plurality of electronic devices; and a plurality of input and output (I/O) devices, wherein a sum of the sensors and the electronic devices is equal to a number of the I/O devices, each I/O device is connected between the controller and one of the sensors or one of the electronic devices, each I/O device comprises a switching circuit, a first input circuit, a second input circuit, and a connector, the connector is connected to one of the sensors or connected to one of the electronic devices, the switching circuit is connected between the connector and the control terminal of the controller, the first input circuit is connected between the switching circuit and the first input terminal of the controller, the second input circuit is connected between the switching circuit and the second input terminal of the controller, wherein the controller outputs a control signal to the switching circuit and controls the I/O device to function as an input device or an output device, wherein when the I/O device functions as an input device, the switching circuit converts a detecting signal of the sensor to a voltage signal, the first input circuit transmits the voltage signal to the controller; wherein when the I/O device functions as an output device, the switching circuit supplies power to the electronic device and the controller detects the voltage across the electronic device via the first input circuit and detects the current flowing through the electronic device via the second input circuit.