Dual autonomous telemetry data acquisition system and real time opto-isolated receivers for use therewith

1. A serial digital data acquisition receiver comprising:

an opto-isolator assembly through which both a serial telemetry clock (CLK) signal and a serial telemetry data (DATA) signal pass upon receipt of the CLK and DATA signals at the serial digital data acquisition receiver;

sampling logic operably coupled to the opto-isolator assembly, the sampling logic being configured to determine a point at which to sample the DATA signal based on state changes in the CLK signal; and

a universal serial bus (USB) interface operably coupled to the sampling logic and an output terminal, the USB interface being configured to provide telemetry data for processing, display or recording at the output terminal, and configured to enable the serial digital data acquisition receiver to be powered from the output terminal, wherein

the serial digital data acquisition receiver is configured to translate serial telemetry data into a computer domain of the output terminal to enable real-time processing and display at the output terminal, and

the serial digital data acquisition receiver requires no device drivers to be provided on the output terminal to enable interoperability of the output terminal with the serial digital data acquisition receiver.

2. The serial digital data acquisition receiver of claim 1 , wherein the opto-isolator assembly comprises a high speed optocoupler, a photocoupler, or an optical isolator.

3. A serial digital data acquisition system comprising:

a first serial digital data acquisition receiver operably coupled to a first output terminal, the first serial digital data acquisition receiver receiving both a range telemetry clock (CLK) signal and a range telemetry data (DATA) signal; and

at least a second serial digital data acquisition receiver operably coupled to a second output terminal, the second serial digital data acquisition receiver being operably coupled to the first serial digital data acquisition receiver to receive the CLK and DATA signals, each of the first and second serial digital data acquisition receivers comprising:

an opto-isolator assembly through which both the CLK and DATA signals pass upon receipt of the CLK and DATA signals at the first and second serial digital data acquisition receivers, respectively;

sampling logic operably coupled to the opto-isolator assembly, the sampling logic being configured to determine a point at which to sample the DATA signal based on state changes in the CLK signal; and

a universal serial bus (USB) interface operably coupled to the sampling logic and a respective one of the first output terminal and second output terminal, the USB interface being configured to provide a first serial telemetry data stream from the first serial digital data acquisition receiver for processing, display or recording at the first output terminal and to provide a second serial telemetry data stream from the second serial digital data acquisition receiver for processing, display or recording at the second output terminal,

wherein the USB interface is further configured to enable the first serial digital data acquisition receiver and the second serial digital data acquisition receiver to be powered from the first output terminal and second output terminal, respectively, and

wherein the first and second serial digital data acquisition receivers are each configured to translate serial telemetry data into a computer domain of the first and second output terminals, respectively, to enable real-time processing and display at the first and second output terminals, respectively.

4. The serial digital data acquisition system of claim 3 , wherein the opto-isolator assembly comprises a high speed optocoupler, a photocoupler, or an optical isolator.

5. The serial digital data acquisition system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second serial digital data acquisition receivers each require no device drivers to be provided on the first and second output terminals, respectively, to enable interoperability of the first and second output terminals with corresponding ones of the first and second serial digital data acquisition receivers.

6. The serial digital data acquisition system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second output terminals are the same output terminal.

7. The serial digital data acquisition system of claim 6 , wherein the CLK signal input to the second serial digital data acquisition receiver is phase delayed by a half clock cycle relative to the first serial digital data acquisition receiver.

8. The serial digital data acquisition system of claim 6 , wherein the second serial digital data acquisition receiver comprises a phase delay controller configured to enable insertion of a phase delay to the DATA signal relative to the CLK signal input to the first serial digital data acquisition receiver.

9. The serial digital data acquisition system of claim 8 , wherein a user is enabled to input the phase delay via interface with the phase delay controller.

10. The serial digital data acquisition system of claim 9 , wherein the user provides the input via the same output terminal.

11. The serial digital data acquisition system of claim 8 , wherein a user is enabled to select at least one of the first serial telemetry data stream or the second serial telemetry data stream for recording at the same output terminal.

12. The serial digital data acquisition system of claim 8 , wherein a user is enabled to select the first serial telemetry data stream for recording while the second serial telemetry data stream is displayed and the phase delay to the DATA signal relative to the CLK signal is adjusted via the phase delay controller.

13. A dual autonomous telemetry acquisition system comprising:

a first serial digital data acquisition receiver operably coupled to an output terminal, the first serial digital data acquisition receiver receiving both a range telemetry clock (CLK) signal and a range telemetry data (DATA) signal; and

a second serial digital data acquisition receiver operably coupled to the output terminal, the second serial digital data acquisition receiver being operably coupled to the first serial digital data acquisition receiver to receive the CLK and DATA signals, each of the first and second serial digital data acquisition receivers comprising:

an opto-isolator assembly through which both the CLK and DATA signals pass upon receipt of the CLK and DATA signals at the first and second serial digital data acquisition receivers, respectively;

sampling logic operably coupled to the opto-isolator assembly, the sampling logic being configured to determine a point at which to sample the DATA signal based on state changes in the CLK signal; and

a universal serial bus (USB) interface operably coupled to the sampling logic and the output terminal, the USB interface being configured to provide a first serial telemetry data stream from the first serial digital data acquisition receiver and a second serial telemetry data stream from the second serial digital data acquisition receiver for processing, display or recording at the output terminal,

wherein the USB interface is further configured to enable the first serial digital data acquisition receiver and the second serial digital data acquisition receiver to each be powered from the output terminal,

wherein the second serial digital data acquisition receiver comprises a phase delay controller configured to enable insertion of a phase delay to the DATA signal relative to the CLK signal input to the first serial digital data acquisition receiver, and

wherein the phase delay controller is configured to insert the phase delay to the DATA signal to delay the DATA signal by a half clock cycle relative to the CLK signal received at the first serial digital data acquisition receiver.

14. The dual autonomous telemetry acquisition system of claim 13 , wherein a user is enabled to input the phase delay via local or remote interface with the phase delay controller.

15. The dual autonomous telemetry acquisition system of claim 13 , wherein the phase delay controller is configured to vary the phase delay to the DATA signal to delay the DATA signal by a selected amount relative to the CLK signal received at the first serial digital data acquisition receiver.

16. The dual autonomous telemetry acquisition system of claim 15 , wherein a user is enabled to select the first serial telemetry data stream for recording while the second serial telemetry data stream is displayed and the phase delay to the DATA signal relative to the CLK signal is adjusted by the selected amount via the phase delay controller.