Patent ID: 7819034

Claim:
A scanning system, for moving a first set of sensor electronic devices between a first end and a second end along a main scanning direction, which comprises: a mobile carriage, onto which the first set of sensor electronic devices is secured wherein, for at least a plurality of the sensor electronic devices, each has a sensor input; a first set of control electronic devices that is located remotely from the mobile carriage and which is separated by a distance of at least 50 meters from the mobile carriage, wherein for at least a plurality of the control electronic devices, each has a control output; a control multiplexer that is coupled to the plurality of control electronic devices and that receives input signals therefrom and that provides control signals of the plurality of control electronics for transmission through a first transmission channel that comprises a first wire; a sensor de-multiplexer that is coupled to the plurality of sensor electronic devices and that receives the control signals from the first transmission channel and that provides sensor signals to selected sensor electronic devices to which the sensor de-multiplexer is coupled; a first ground wire that connects the control multiplexer and the sensor de-multiplexer; and means for driving a mobile carriage along the main scanning direction which has a distance of at least six meters.