Field of Invention:
The present invention relates to a system for acquisition and digitization of real-time
sensor data, and actuator control5 .
More particularly, it relates to an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data,
and actuator control device.
10 More particularly it relates to a device for acquiring real-time physical quantities by
and controlling electromechanical actuators by electronic means.
The present invention relates to a method for implementing an acquisition and
digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control in a system.
15
Background and Prior Art of the Invention:
Data acquisition (DAQ) is the process of measuring an electrical or physical
phenomenon such as voltage, current, temperature, pressure, or sound with a
20 computer.
Various types of data acquisition devices exist which allow a user to collect and
transmit digital equivalent of real-time physical quantities to a host computing device.
Data acquisition devices are typically analog sensors with analog-to-digital
25 converters and an interface to the computer. .
In most cases, different type of host devices implement different types of
input/output interfaces, thus requiring a variety of electrical and data formats and
protocols, mechanical connectors, e, etc. depending on the user's application.
30
3
Computer-based data logging systems are slowly being integrated with school and
college science curriculum. This enables the students to acquire the data from an
experiment directly into their personal computing device on a real-time basis and
gain insights into the phenomena under investigation. However the continuous
evolution of computing platforms has created a challenge for the developers of dat5 a
logging systems. They have to keep up with the ever changing operating systems
and versions thereof. Widespread availability of low-cost tablets and mobile phones
in recent years has also created a desire to use data logging systems with these
newer computing platforms. Therefore a need exists for a low-cost, platform10
independent sensor data acquisition and actuator control system allowing for easy
development of hands-on science experiments by the programmers or even
educators directly.
A reference may be made to US 4454500 which relates to analog data acquisition
15 device for effecting an analog-to-digital conversion and a programmable voltage
comparison. More particularly, this invention relates to an analog data acquisition
device which has a function to effect analog-to-digital conversion by a successive
approximation system and another function to compare a voltage designated by a
program with an input analog voltage to detect which one is larger or smaller.
20 However, the prior art devices suffer from the following shortcomings:
1. Computing Platform Dependence: All data acquisition devices, to the best
of our knowledge and experience, are highly computing platform-dependent.
That is, one has to use a different device or at least a different device driver
25 software to be able to acquire real-time physical quantities on, say,
Windows/Linux/Android/Mac OS platforms. The disclosed invention has no
such limitation.
2. Platform Version Dependence: Even when used on the same platform (e.g.
30 on Android), the correct functioning of prior-art devices is often dependent
upon the version of operating system. That is, the device that works with
4
Android v5 may not work with Android v4.
3. Absence of Actuator Control: Even the platform-dependent data
acquisition devices do not have any associated provision of triggering an
actuator (e.g. an electrical motor, a heating element etc.). This renders th5 em
rather unfit for use in a computer-assisted experimentation setup.
Most of the prior art talks about keyboard wedges, the devices that sit between the
keyboard socket of a computer and an external peripheral.
10
Another reference may be made to CN104424469 which discloses external
fingerprint identification equipment that simulates USB keyboard output.
The significant drawbacks and limitation of this invention are:
15
1. It is limited to fingerprint sensor
2. There no actuator control involved in this invention ; hence user is unable
to control a physical device .
3. The external peripheral is limited to be peripheral that provides its output in
20 digital fashion.
There is no such limitation in the present invention.
Further, a reference may be made to US5848292 which relates to a system for data
25 transmission between a wedge microcontroller and a personal computer
microcontroller by disconnecting the keyboard microcontroller and placing the same
in a holding state.
This invention is restricted by the feature that it can connect only a digital peripheral
30 to the host computer. Analog signals cannot be directly input to this device. Also no
output is available in this invention to control an external physical device. Moreover
5
this prior-art invention cannot be connected to the USB/OTG port of a host
computer/tablet like in the present invention.
Another, reference may be made to US5719382 which relates to display peripheral
incorporating a wedge interface. It is also restricted by the feature that it can connect
only a digital peripheral to the host computer. Analog signals cannot be directly inp5 ut
to this device. Also no output is available in this invention to control an external
physical device. Moreover this prior-art invention cannot be connected to the
USBéOTG port of a host computer/tablet like in the present invention.
10 Also, in prior-art inventions there are some non-keyboard wedge examples such as
CN104921714 that can digitize analog physical quantities. But unlike the disclosed
invention these neither have computing platform independence nor have the feature
of actuator control. These are merely data acquisition devices and its objectives and
functionality is different from the present invention.
15
Objects of the Invention:
The main object of the present invention is to provide a system using an acquisition
and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device.
20
Another object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost, platformindependent
sensor data acquisition and actuator control system allowing for easy
development mostly in case of hands-on science experiments by the users directly.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an acquisition and
25 digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an acquisition and
digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device to capture and
digitize the physical quantities including but not restricted to temperature, pressure,
30 light intensity etc. in real-time.
6
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an acquisition and
digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device which can also
actuate action by electrical or electromechanical means.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide for acquiring data, an5 d
capture and digitize the physical quantities of the data resultants for the use such as
computer-assisted experimental setups for science education, industrial automation,
home automation, biomedical data acquisition and intelligent toys etc.
10 It is still another object of the present invention to provide a device capable of
actuating an action under the control of an acquisition and digitization of real-time
sensor data, and actuator control device.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method for implementing
15 an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control in a
system.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method for implementing
an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control in a
20 system using an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator
control device.
Summary of the Invention:
25 The present invention provides a system which may include at least one
communication link and an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and
actuator control device connected thereto.
The acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device
30 include a microcontroller (2) and a keyboard encoder device (1); optionally an audio
amplifier (6) and a speaker (5); and /or a display (10). The said microcontroller
7
further includes plurality of analog sensors operatively coupled to the Analog-todigital
(ADC) converter (18).
The acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device
is used to capture and digitize the physical quantities including but not restricted t5 o
temperature, pressure, light intensity etc. in real-time.
A method of inputting analog data from an analog source in a host, processing and
digitizing the analog data, and storing the processed and digitized analog data in the
10 memory of microcontroller as digitized analog data under control of an acquisition
and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device
Brief description of the drawings:
15 The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. These figures and the
associated description are provided to illustrate some embodiments of the invention,
and not to limit the scope of the invention. In the following the invention will be
described in greater detail with reference to exemplary embodiments in accordance
20 with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 depicts block diagram illustrating an acquisition and digitization of real-time
sensor data, and actuator control device and its relationship with the host
25 Fig. 2 depicts block diagram of the device
Fig. 3 depicts Block diagram showing the operating principle of the device
Fig. 4 depicts Flow chart showing the operating command sequence of the device
30
8
The above summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain
embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in
conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention,
certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however,
that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentalit5 y
shown in the attached drawings.
Description of the Invention:
10 The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is to enable any
person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The examples shown in
description are not intended to limit the application and uses of the various
embodiments. Various modifications to the disclosed invention will be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art, and the methodology defined herein may be
15 applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and
the scope of the present disclosure.
The foregoing objects of the present disclosure are accomplished and the problems
and shortcomings associated with the prior art, and approaches are overcome by the
20 present disclosure, as described below in the preferred embodiments.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a system for acquisition and digitization
of real-time sensor data, and actuator control, wherein the said system comprising:
25 a) a host (14);
b) at least one communication link (9);
c) an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control
30 device (13);
9
wherein the said device comprising a microcontroller (2) and a keyboard
encoder device(1);
d) a display(10) receiving the display data and displaying the display data for
viewing by the user in a time frame corresponding to the real-time senso5 r
data.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the host is selected from the group
comprising a computer, laptop, tablet or a mobile phone etc.
10
In another embodiment of the present invention, the communication link (9) is
selected from the group comprising a universal serial bus (USB), On-The-Go (OTG)
, sound output port , light sensitive probe etc. separately or in combination thereof.
15 Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, the universal serial bus
(USB) (9) is used to connect with the host (14) to communicate through the
acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device (13).
Yet in another embodiment of the present invention, the host (14) used is computer,
20 laptop or a tablet connected with the universal serial bus (USB) (9) to communicate
through the acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control
device.
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the On-The-Go (OTG) (9) is
25 used to connect with the host (14) to communicate through the acquisition and
digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device. (13)
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the host (14) used is mobile
phone to connect with the On-The-Go (OTG) (9) to communicate through the
30 acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device (13).
10
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the light-sensitive probe (11) is
used for sensing the blinking icons on the screen of the host (14).
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the host (14) used is computer,
laptop or a tablet to connect with light-sensitive probe (11) to communicate throug5 h
the acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device
(13).
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller (2)
10 comprises plurality of analog sensors (4) operatively coupled to the Analog-to-digital
(ADC) converter(18).
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, an analog-to-digital (ADC)
converter (18) is used for converting analog data signals to digital data signals.
15
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the analog sensors (4) are
selected from the group comprising temperature, humidity, pressure, ph value,
sensors etc.
20 Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller (2) has builtin
memory (12) to store the acquired data for transmission to host (14).
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the host (14) sends commands
through an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control
25 device (13) containing sensor parameters, thereby the host (14) of claim 2
determines a data sampling rate for the sensor array from the sensor parameters.
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the system uses publicly
available operating system and computing platform such that the host (14) is
30 changeable while maintaining the acquisition and digitization of real-time
sensor data, and actuator control device.
11
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the system uses in any of the
following mode separately or in combination thereof:
a) data Acquisition mode5 ;
b) actuator Control mode;
c) simultaneous Actuator and Data Acquisition mode;
d) command mode.
10 Also the present invention provides an acquisition and digitization of real-time
sensor data, and actuator control device (13); wherein the said device comprising:
a) a microcontroller (2); and
b) a keyboard encoder device (1);
15 c) optionally an audio amplifier (6) and a speaker (5); and /or
d) a display (10).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller (2) comprises plurality
of analog sensors (4) operatively coupled to the Analog-to-digital (ADC) converter
20 (18).
In another embodiment of the present invention, an analog-to-digital (ADC) converter
(18) is used for converting analog data signals to digital data signals.
25 Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the analog sensors (4) are
selected from the group comprising temperature, humidity, pressure, ph value,
sensors etc.
Yet in another embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller (2) has built30
in memory (12) to store the acquired data for transmission to host (14).
12
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the keyboard encoder (1) is
meant to scans the keys without using the physical keys by sequential low-going
pulses on its scan lines (16) wherein the scan and return lines (17) are connected to
a microcontroller (2).
5
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the keyboard encoder (1) is
programmed in firmware to send a key code corresponding control and return lines
(17) to the host over communication link (9).
10 Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the display (10) is meant to
indicate the recorded sensor readings or the commands received from the host (14).
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the device (13) is meant for
acquiring data, and capture and digitization of the physical quantities of the data.
15
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the device (13) is meant to
capture and digitize the physical quantities including but not restricted to
temperature, pressure, light intensity etc. in real-time.
20 Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the device (13) which in addition
to sensing, can also actuate action by electrical or electromechanical means.
Further, the present invention also provides a method for implementing an
acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control in a system.
25
In an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprising:
operatively interfacing an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and
actuator control device (13), including a microcontroller (2) and a memory (12), with
30 a multi-purpose interface of the host (14);
13
acquiring analog data from an analog sensors (4), processing and digitizing the
analog data, and storing the processed and digitized analog data in the memory (12)
as digitized analog data under control of the said device (13) ;
automatically sending under control of the said device (13) at least one parameter t5 o
the multi-purpose interface of the host (14), the at least one parameter identifying the
analog data through Analog-to-digital (ADC) converter (18) as a digital data,
regardless of the analog sensors (4); and
10 automatically transferring data from the analog (sensors) (4) to the host (14) in
response to a digital data read command from the hosts (14), in a manner to convert
the analog data through Analog-to-digital (ADC) converter (18) as a digital data and
displayed the recorded sensor readings or the commands received from the host(14)
on the display (10).
15
In another embodiment of the present invention, the method follows the steps of:
a) selecting any of the following modes separately or in combination:
20 i) data Acquisition mode;
ii) actuator Control mode;
iiii) simultaneous Actuator and Data Acquisition mode;
iv) command mode;
25 b) choosing at least one or more channels from a plurality of analog sensor
channel (4);
c) setting the sampling rates for each of the selected channels of step (b);
wherein the sampling rates is meant by the number of readings per
30 second or per minute;
14
d) setting the number of number of readings to be taken;
wherein the host (14) sends commands through an acquisition and
digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device (13)
containing sensor parameters, thereby the host determines a dat5 a
sampling rate for the sensor array from the sensor parameters and
displayed the recorded sensor readings or the commands received from
the host (14) on the display (10).
10 Further in another embodiment of the present invention, the sensors (4) used are
selected from the group comprising temperature, humidity, pressure, ph value,
sensors.
Yet in another embodiment of the present invention, the commands are sent by the
15 host through communication link(9).
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the communication link (9) is
selected from the group comprising a universal serial bus (USB)/ On-The-Go (OTG)
, sound output port , light sensitive probe etc. separately or in combination thereof.
20
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the commands are sent as
audio tones through the sound output port (8) of the host (14).
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, an acquisition and digitization of
25 real-time sensor data, and actuator control device (13) converts the said audio tones
back into digital numbers command using a tone detector (7).
Still in another embodiment of the present invention , the said device utilizes an
audio amplifier (6) and a speaker (5) in order to enable the user to listen to the usual
30 audio output form.
15
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the tone detector (7) used is a
Dual-Tone Multiple Frequency (DTMF) tone detector .
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the tone detector (7) can be a
custom-designed tone detector such as tone detector which when receives 1KH5 z
tone generates command code #1, 1.5KHz generates command code #2 and so on.
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the commands are sent as a
series of blinking icons on the host’s screen through light sensing probe (11)
10 attached to an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator
control device (13).
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the device (13) utilizes a light
probe (11) that converts the said blinks into a series of voltages.
15
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the voltages are converted back
into digital number command by microcontroller (2)
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller (2) interprets
20 the commands and performs actuation of external physical device (3).
Still in another embodiment of the present invention, a physical device (3) is selected
from the group comprising a motor, a lamp, a heating coil or an electromagnet etc.
25 Still in another embodiment of the present invention , the said method acquiring the
analog data from each respective analog channel of a plurality of respective
independent acquisition channels (4) under control of the microcontroller (2) and
acquiring analog data from the analog sensors (4) time independent of transferring
the acquired analog data to the host device (14).
30
16
The ensuing description provides the method system and device only, and is not
intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claims. Rather, the
ensuing description will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description
for implementing the embodiments. It is being understood that various changes may
be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from th5 e
spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Reference is now made to Figure 1 where an acquisition and digitization of real-time
sensor data, and actuator control device (13) which is an embedded computing
10 device which may include, microcontroller (2) and a keyboard encoder device (1) as
its major components. In its preferred embodiment this device is powered by the
host (14) through USB/OTG connection itself (9), thus not requiring any external
power source. In the preferred embodiment of this device appears like a standard
keyboard to the host. As almost all personal computers, irrespective of their
15 operating system or the hardware, have the driver software for the standard
keyboard. Therefore the task of using this device to acquire data or to control
actuators becomes very simple for the programmers and the end-users.
The acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device
20 (13) also has a various command modes which may be used by the host to send
configuration commands to the device.
The device also has a built-in memory (12) as can seen in figure 2 to store the
acquired data for subsequent transmission to host (14). This particular feature is
25 useful when this device is used for data acquisition in field, away from the host (14).
In this embodiment the device (13) is to be powered by batteries or AC mains power
supply.
30
17
Working as a Data Acquisition Device:
The reference may be made from figure 2 where microcontroller contains one or
more analog sensors connected to its on-device Analog-to-digital (ADC) converter
(18). The sensors (4) could be, but not limited to, temperature, humidity, pressure, 5 ph
value, sensors. The analog reading provided by these sensors (4) is converted into a
digital numbers by the Analog-to-digital (ADC) converter (18) present in the
microcontroller (2). These digital numbers are communicated to the host computing
system by a keyboard controller device (1) . Thus the host computing system (14)
10 understand the acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator
control device (13) as a standard keyboard, wherein the keyboard is sending the
sensor readings rather than the codes pertaining to a physical keyboard.
The keyboard controller device follows the Human-Interface Device protocol. Most of
15 the personal computing platforms such as, but not limited, to desktops, laptops,
tablets and mobile phones provide for an interface to a physical keyboard. Therefore
this particular data acquisition device (13) is able to communicate sensors (4)
readings to any of the host in the same manner as these readings are generating
from a physical standard keyboard.
20
The most popular personal computer operating systems such as Windows, MacOS,
Linux and Android have built-in software which support for USB and standard
keyboard. Thus the disclosed acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data,
and actuator control device also can work with any of these operating systems.
25
The device also has a local display (10) to indicate the recorded sensor readings or
the commands received from the host.
30
18
Working in Actuator Control Mode
Figure 1 illustrates the acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and
actuator control device (13) as actuator control mode which receives actuator control
commands from the host5 .
In its preferred embodiment the commands are sent by the host (14) over
communication link which may be USB or OTG (9). In another embodiment these
commands are sent as audio tones over the sound output port (8) of the host (14).
10
In yet another embodiment of the device the commands are sent as a series of
blinks of an icon present on the host's screen. These blinks are captured by a light
sensitive probe (11) connected to the device (13). The microcontroller (2) of an
acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device (13)
15 interprets these commands and performs actuation of external physical device (3)
which may include, but not restricted to, a motor, a lamp, a heating coil or an
electromagnet.
Working in Simultaneous Actuator-Data Logger mode
20 Figure 1 illustrates the acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and
actuator control device (13) as a simultaneous actuator-data logger mode where the
device control a physical device (3) and, simultaneously, take readings of one or
more physical quantities.
25 In an example, this device can turn on a heating coil act as a actuator and
simultaneously measures the temperature rise caused by heating coil actuation.
30
19
The detailed description of sensor data acquisition and communication
mechanism:
Reference may be taken from figure 2 where the acquisition and digitization of realtime
sensor data, and actuator control device (13), at its core, consists of 5 a
microcontroller (2) and a keyboard encoder device (1), where the microcontroller (2),
under the command from host (14), acquires the reading of a physical variable (e.g.
Temperature, pressure etc) from one or more of its analog input channels (4), using
its built-in analog-to-digital converter (ADC) (18). The microcontroller then extracts
10 digital digits from this number. That is, as an example if the reading is 102 then digits
1, 0 and 2 are extracted and stored in the microcontroller (2).
The keyboard encoder (1) are generally designed to scans the keys on a physical
keyboard by sequential low-going pulses on its control lines. However the disclosed
15 invention uses the said keyboard encoder (1) in an unconventional manner which is
demonstrated in figure 3.
Normally in a conventional keyboard, the return lines (17) and scan lines (16) (of
keyboard encoder (1) form a matrix, present with one key at each intersection,
20 however there are no physical keys in the present invention. Instead, both scan(16)
and return lines (17) are connected to a microcontroller (2) thereto. When
microcontroller (2) sends a number to the host (14), it mimics the key closure by
copying the status of the a specific scan line (16) to a specific return line (17) in
firmware . This, in effect leads keyboard encoder (1) to conclude that a key
25 connected to it has been pressed.
The firmware is a kind of software embedded on the microcontroller (2) which
prepares flow charts as provided in given figures. The firmware takes commands
from the host and sets the appropriate mode (Data Acquistion/Actuator etc.).
30 Depending upon the mode selected, it performs the data acquisition from sensors
(4), or actuator control (3) or simultaneous operation of both.
20
So, when the said microcontroller (2) and keyboard encoder (1) wants to transmit a
reading for example 102 to the host, it follows the following sequence:
 Copy the voltage level present on scan line C0 to return line R1 for about 5 30
milliseconds. This corresponds to indicating that digit 1 is to be transmitted to
the host (14) by the keyboard encoder (1).
 Copy the voltage level present on scan line C0 to return line R0 for about 30
10 milliseconds. This corresponds to indicating that digit 0 is to be transmitted to
the host (14) by the keyboard encoder (1).
 Copy the voltage level present on scan line C0 to return line R2 for about 30
milliseconds. This corresponds to indicating that digit 1 is to be transmitted to
15 the host (14) by the keyboard encoder (1).
The said Keyboard encoder (1) is programmed in firmware to send a key code
corresponding Scan (16) and Return lines (17) to the host over USB or USB-on-thego
communication link (9). The preferred embodiment of this invention uses
20 USB/OTG communication link(9). The another embodiment communication link uses
Audio I/O port (8) which is also present in almost all hosts (14) now.
In yet another embodiment the disclosed invention uses a light-sensitive probe (11)
to carry commands from host (14) to device (13). The other direction (i.e. device-to25
host) would still use either said USB/OTG or audio ports (9).
The mechanism of an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and
actuator control device (13) based on sending commands to this device (13) either to
configure (4) it or to control an actuator (3)connected to it.
30
21
The Mechanisms for Actuator Control and Command Communication:
In this mode the host sends commands such as following, but not restricted to, an
acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device:
5
 Select the mode (i.e. Data Acquisition mode, Actuator mode, Simultaneous
mode)
 select one or more analog channels from a plurality of analog sensor channel
10 (4) for a given application
 set the sampling rates (i.e. Number of readings per second or per minute) for
each of the selected analog channels
15  set the total number of readings to be taken
The said configuration information needs to be sent by the host using one of the
communication link. This can implied by multiple ways, namely-
20  The host sends the configuration information using the keyboard control
commands. The keyboard encoder (1) receives these commands from host
(14) over a USB/OTG link (9). The keyboard encoder (1) then converts these
commands into electrical signals (15). In a physical keyboard these
commands are meant to control the on/off of status of CapLock, NumLock
25 and ScrollLock LEDs. In the present invention these signals communicate the
configuration information from the host (14) to the acquisition and digitization
of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device (13) over the USB/OTG
interface (9). This is the preferred embodiment of the configuration
information transmission mechanism. The command is encoded in the
30 duration for which one of these signals is active.
22
 The host (14) can also send the configuration information using its audio
output channel (8). This output channel (8) is also universally available in all
hosts (14) now, irrespective of their hardware or operating system. In this
embodiment of Command Communication Mechanism the commands
numbers are encoded as audio tones (9). These tones (9) are sent out by t5 he
host through its audio output port (8). This invention then converts these
tones back into commands numbers using a tone detector (7). The tone
detector (7) can be, but not restricted to, a Dual-Tone Multiple Frequency
(DTMF) tone detector (7).
10
In this embodiment the device also has a audio amplifier (6) and a speaker
(5). This is to enable the user to listen to the usual audio output form (8) the
host (13) even when it has the device connected to it.
15  The host (14) can also send the configuration information through blinking
icons on its screen. This information is received by a light sensing probe (11)
attached to microcontroller (2). The command numbers are encoded as a
series of blinks of an icon on the screen of the host (14). On the device (13)
side, a light probe (11) converts these series of blinks into a series of
20 voltages. These voltages are then interpreted by the microcontroller (2).
Command Transmission in the preferred embodiment:
In a physical keyboard the keyboard encoder (1) can receive commands from host
(14) to implement specific functions. For example when a user presses Caplock key
25 on a physical keyboard for the first time, the Caplock keycode travels from keyboard
encoder to the host. The host then sends a command to keyboard device indicating
that henceforth it should send keycodes corresponding to uppercase letters of
alphabet. Simultaneously the keyboard device also lights up an LED on the keyboard
device, indicating that upper case letters are in use. The second press toggles it to
30 lower case and this LED is turned off. Similarly Numlock and Scroll Lock controls
and corresponding LEDs are also available options. These three electrical signals
23
which are output from keyboard encoder (1) , originally meant for turning on/off the
indicator LEDs are used as a mechanism for control transmission in the disclosed
invention.
The present invention utilizes the three LED on/off signals to implement a specifi5 c
set of commands. The reference may be made from figure 2 where these signals
(15) are an output from keyboard encoder (1) and an input into microcontroller (2)
using the one of the communication link (9).
10 When host (14) wants to send a command to an acquisition and digitization of realtime
sensor data, and actuator control device (13), it turns on one of these signals for
a particular duration.
In the preferred embodiment the NumLock indicator LED's duration encodes test
15 selection, thus analyzing the sensor channels to be used, sensor sampling rate and
the total number of samples to be taken. Likewise CapLock indicator LED's turns
on/off the actuator (3) and Scroll Lock LED's duration encodes the magnittude of
voltage to be applied to the actuator (3).
20 These commands, as transmitted by indicator LEDs' status (15) are interpreted by
firmware embedded in microcontroller(2) and executed.
Command Transmission in another embodiment of the device
Figure 2 also illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, where an
25 acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device (13)
is also connected via other communication link (9) such as to the audio output port
(8) of the host (14), besides being connected to the USB port (9). In this
embodiment the configuration commands and actuator control (3) commands are
issued by the host in the form of audio tones. These tones are decoded by the tone
30 decoder (7) and the codes are passed on to the microcontroller (2). These codes are
interpreted by microcontroller (2) and acted upon.
24
Command Transmission in yet another embodiment of the device
Figure 2 also illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, where the
configuration commands and actuator controls (3) are communicated by the host
(14) in form of blinking icons on its screen. The blinks encode the command number5 .
In this embodiment an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and
actuator control device (13) has a light-sensitive probe (11) connected to the
microcontroller (2). This probe (11) is used for sensing the blinking icons on the
screen of the host (14). The variation in brightness of icons is converted into a series
10 of voltages. These voltages are then converted back into command numbers by
microcontroller (2).
The present invention can also control a plurality of actuators (3) such as, but not
restricted to, motors, lamps and electromagnets.
15
The host (14) can send a actuator control (3) command through one the available
communication link, i.e. USB, audio output or icons on the screen etc.
The Actuator Control Commands:
20 Some of the indicative list of actuator control commands (3) is as follows which are
not limited to these actuator control commands only :
1. Lamp on/off
2. Lamp brightness control
3. Motor on/off
25 4. Motor direction control
5. Motor speed control
6. Electromagnet on/off
7. Electromagnet current control
8. Electromagnet polarity control
30 9. Select Experiment
10. Set Data Sampling Rate
25
11. Select analog channels for samples
12. Start Sampling
13. Stop Sampling
14. Start Actuator
15. Stop Actuat5 or
Figure 4 shows the sequence of step by step processing that take place once the
user plugs in the acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator
control device (13) via a communication link to the host (14).
10
15
20
25
30
26
Reference numerals used in the invention:
1. keyboard encoder device
2. microcontroller
3. external physical devi5 ce
4. analog sensors
5. speaker
6. audio amplifier
7. tone detector
10 8. sound output port
9. communication link
10. display
11. light sensitive probe
12. in-built memory
15 13. acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control
device
14. host
15. electrical signals
16. scan lines
20 17. return lines
25
30
27
Advantages of the present invention:
The main advantages of the present invention are:
1. In the present invention the digital data can be communicated to a computi5 ng
device irrespective of hardware and operating system used by the computing
device
2. The present invention can also control plurality of electrical or
10 electromechanical actuators.
3. The present invention can capture and digitize a variety of physical
quantities including but not restricted to temperature, pressure, light intensity
etc. in real-time.
15
4. The preset invention having a various utilities such as :
 Computer-assisted experimental setups for science education
 Industrial automation
 Home Automation
20  Biomedical data acquisition
 Intelligent toys

We Claim:
 A system for acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and
actuator control, wherein the said system comprising:
5
e) a host (14);
f) at least one communication link (9);
10 g) an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control
device (13);
wherein the said device comprising a microcontroller (2) and a keyboard
encoder device (1);
15 h) a display (10) receiving the display data and displaying the display data for
viewing by the user in a time frame corresponding to the real-time sensor
data.
 The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the host (14) is selected from the
20 group comprising a computer, laptop, tablet or a mobile phone etc.
 The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication link (9) is
selected from the group comprising a universal serial bus (USB)/On-The-Go
(OTG) , sound output port, light sensitive probe etc. separately or in
25 combination thereof.
 The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the universal serial bus (USB) is
used to connect with the host (14) of claim 2 to communicate through the
acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control
30 device (13).
29
 The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the host (14) used is computer,
laptop or a tablet to connect with the universal serial bus (USB) (9) to
communicate through the acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data,
and actuator control device (13).
5
 The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the On-The-Go (OTG) is used to
connect with the host (14) of claim 2 to communicate through the acquisition
and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control device (13).
10  The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the host (14) used is mobile
phone to connect with the On-The-Go (OTG) (9) to communicate through the
acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control
device (13).
15  The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the light-sensitive probe (11) is
used for sensing the blinking icons on the screen of the host (14).
 The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the host used is computer, laptop
or a tablet to connect with light-sensitive probe (11) to communicate through
20 the acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control
device (13)
 The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller (2) comprises
plurality of analog sensors (4) operatively coupled to the Analog-to-digital (18)
25 converter in the microcontroller (2).
 The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein an analog-to-digital (ADC)
converter (18) is used for converting analog data signals to digital data
signals.
30
30
 The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the analog sensors (4) are
selected from the group comprising temperature, humidity, pressure, ph
value, sensors etc.
 The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the microcontroller (2) has built-5 in
memory (12) to store the acquired data for transmission to host (14).
 The system as claimed in claims 1 to 13, wherein the host (14) sends
commands through an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data,
10 and actuator control device (13) containing sensor parameters, thereby the
host (14) of claim 2 determines a data sampling rate for the sensor array from
the sensor parameters.
 The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said system uses publicly
15 available operating system and computing platform such that the host is
changeable while maintaining the acquisition and digitization of real-time
sensor data, and actuator control device (13).
 The system as claimed in any of the claim 1 – 15, wherein the said system
20 uses in any of the following mode separately or in combination thereof:
a) data Acquisition mode;
b) actuator Control mode;
c) simultaneous Actuator and Data Acquisition mode;
25 d) command mode.
 An acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and actuator control
device (13); wherein the said device comprising:
30 a) a microcontroller (2) and
b) a keyboard encoder device (1);
31
c) optionally an audio amplifier (6) and a speaker (5); and /or
d) a display (10).
 The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the microcontroller (2) comprises
plurality of analog sensors (4) operatively coupled to the Analog-to-digit5 al
(ADC) converter (18) in the said microcontroller (2).
 The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein an analog-to-digital (ADC)
converter (18) is used for converting analog data signals to digital data
10 signals.
 The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the analog sensors (4) are
selected from the group comprising temperature, humidity, pressure, ph
value, sensors etc.
15
 The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the said microcontroller (2) has
built-in memory (12) to store the acquired data for transmission to host (14)
via the keyboard encoder device (1).
20  The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the said keyboard encoder (1) is
meant to scans the keys without using the physical keys by sequential lowgoing
pulses on its control lines wherein the scan (16) and return lines (17)
are connected to a microcontroller (2).
25  The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the keyboard encoder (1) is
programmed in firmware to send a key code corresponding scan and return
lines to the host (14) over communication link (9).
 The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the communication link is
30 selected from the group comprising a universal serial bus (USB)/On-The-Go
32
(OTG) , sound output port, light sensitive probe etc. separately or in
combination thereof.
 The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the said display (10) is meant to
indicate the recorded sensor readings or the commands received from t5 he
host (14).
 A method for implementing an acquisition and digitization of real-time
sensor data, and actuator control in a system as claimed in claim 1-16.
10
 The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the said method comprising:
operatively interfacing an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data,
and actuator control device (13), including a microcontroller (2) and a
15 memory (12), with a multi-purpose interface of the host (14);
acquiring analog data from an analog sensor (4), processing and digitizing
the analog data, and storing the processed and digitized analog data in the
memory (12) as digitized analog data under control of the said device (13);
20
automatically sending under control of the said device at least one parameter
to the multi-purpose interface of the host (14) , the at least one parameter
identifying the analog data through Analog-to-digital (ADC) converter (18) as
a digital data, regardless of the analog sensor (4),; and
25
automatically transferring data from the analog sensor (4),to the host in
response to a digital data read command from the hosts, in a manner to
convert the analog data through Analog-to-digital (ADC) converter (18) as a
digital data and displayed the recorded sensor readings or the commands
30 received from the host (14) on the display (10).
33
 The method as claimed in claim 26-27, wherein the said method follows the
steps of:
a) selecting any of the following modes separately or in combination:
5
i) data Acquisition mode;
ii) actuator Control mode;
iiii) simultaneous Actuator and Data Acquisition mode;
iv) command mode;
10
b) choosing at least one or more channels from a plurality of analog sensor
channel (4);
c) setting the sampling rates for each of the selected channels (4) of step
15 (b); wherein the sampling rates is meant by the number of readings per
second or per minute;
d) setting the number of readings to be taken;
20 wherein the host (14) sends commands to acquisition and digitization of
real-time sensor data, and actuator control device (13) containing analog
sensors, thereby the host (14) determines a data sampling rate for the
analog source from the analog sensors. parameters (4) and displayed
the recorded sensor readings or the commands received from the host on
25 the display (10).
 The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the sensors (4) used are
selected from the group comprising temperature, humidity, pressure, ph
value, sensors.
30
34
 The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the commands are sent by the
host (14) through communication link (9).
 The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the communication link (9) is
selected from the group comprising a universal serial bus (USB)/On-The-5 Go
(OTG) (9) , sound output port (8) , light sensitive probe (11) etc. separately or
in combination thereof.
 The method as claimed in claim 28-31, wherein the commands are sent as
10 audio tones through the sound output port (8) of the host (14).
 The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein an acquisition and digitization of
real-time sensor data, and actuator control device (13) converts the said
audio tones back into digital numbers command using a tone detector (7).
15
 The method as claimed in claim 33, the said device utilizes an audio amplifier
(6) and a speaker (5) in order to enable the user to listen to the usual audio
output form.
20  The method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the said tone detector (7) used
is a Dual-Tone Multiple Frequency (DTMF) tone detector .
 The method as claimed in claim 28-31, wherein the commands are sent as a
series of blinking icons on the host’s screen through light sensing probe (11)
25 attached to an acquisition and digitization of real-time sensor data, and
actuator control device (13).
 The method as claimed in claim 36, the said device utilizes a light probe (11)
that converts the said blinks into a series of voltages.
30
35
 The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the said voltages are converted
back into digital number command by microcontroller (2).
 The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein the said microcontroller (2)
interprets the commands of claim 37-38 and performs actuation of externa5 l
physical device (3).
 The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein the physical device (3) is
selected from the group comprising a motor, a lamp, a heating coil or an
10 electromagnet etc.
 The method as claimed in any of the claims 26-40, wherein the said method
acquiring the analog data from each respective analog channel (4) of a
plurality of respective independent acquisition channels under control of the
15 microcontroller (2) and acquiring analog data from the analog sensors (4)
time independent of transferring the acquired analog data to the host device
(14).