Patent ID: 7671304

Claim:
A multiple zone temperature controller for use in an injection molding system, the injection molding system having at least two zones, each zone having a heating element and having a thermocouple for measuring temperature in the zone, the temperature controller comprising: a PCB having at least two input ports each for receiving temperature signals from one of the thermocouples and having at least two output ports each for driving one of the heating elements; a multiplexer mounted on said PCB coupled to said input ports for selecting one of said temperature signals; a processor mounted on said PCB and having an input pin for receiving said selected temperature signal from said multiplexer and outputting a heater control signal in response to said selected temperature signal and a preset value, wherein said processor outputs a switch signal and said multiplexer includes a control port for receiving said switch signal and switching between said input ports in response to said switch signal; at least two power switching stages mounted on said PCB, each power switching stage being coupled to one of said heating elements and supplying said one of said heating elements with a driving current, each said driving current being controlled by one of said heater control signals; and a user interface for displaying data from said processor and for receiving input data from a user so as to establish said preset value.