Importance

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Abstract

In a status-change gathering apparatus wherein status-change data is supplied to a processor from a plurality of inputting devices having a function of detecting status changes in a process or the like, each of the inputting devices is capable of producing an enable signal at a period not greater than the maximum allowed time between a detected status change in a controlled process and the controlling action to be performed by the processor, and of supplying the processor directly with an interrupt signal for requesting data gathering only when the enable signal is 'on' and the status change has been detected. Upon receiving an interrupt signal from at least one inputting device, the processor sends a sense signal to all inputting devices, and any inputting device which has generated an interrupt signal places a response signal on a unique line to the processor to identify that inputting device. In this way, sequential scanning of inputting devices to detect changes in status is avoided.

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First Claim