Patent ID: 7430236

Claim:
Communication interface for a path measuring device, a distance measurement being carried out by means of the path measuring device by way of a measurement of the propagation time of measurement signals, the measurement of the propagation time being triggered by way of control signals from a control device to the path measuring device on a control signal communication channel, a propagation-time signal communication channel being provided for propagation-time signals from the path measuring device to the control device, said interface comprising: a microcontroller controlling data exchange between the control device and the path measuring device, means for coupling the communication interface to the control signal communication channel and the propagation-time signal communication channel, means responsive to the microcontroller for receiving signals from at least one of the control signal communication channel and the propagation-time signal communication channel, means responsive to the microcontroller for transmitting digital data between the control device and the path measuring device via the interface, said digital data transmitted via the communication interface being one of: (a) combined with one of the control signal or the propagation time signal for transmission; and (b) transmitted separately from the control signals for the measurement of the propagation time and the propagation-time signals, wherein: the path measuring device comprises a path transducer; the measurement signal comprises a mechanical wave propagated in or on said transducer; the communication interface is coupled between the path measuring device and the control device; a starting flank of a control pulse of the control signal triggers a measurement signal for measuring of the propagation time through said path measuring device for use in making said distance measurement; and a pulse duration of the control pulse triggering the measurement of the propagation time has an instruction effect for the path measuring device.