Abstract: A circuit may include one or more first ports that may receive one or more input signals from a first device, such that the one or more first ports may couple to a control system. The control system may generate one or more output signals based on the one or more input signals. The circuit may also include one or more second ports that may couple to a second device, such that the one or more second ports may couple to the one or more first ports via a direct connection. The control system may also couple the one or more output signals to the one or more second ports.

Abstract: A safety controller with redundant controllers, each executing safety tasks and comparing their results, provides an improved interface in which a user interacts with a single processor and the second processor is invisible. The interacting processor provides for the transmission of programs and variables to both processors when they are safety tasks and coordinates synchronization of the two programs and comparison of their operation all without additional user input.

Abstract: Re-certification of a control program loaded in a safety controller is avoided through the use of a digital snapshot and digital signature, the snapshot providing a rapidly loadable memory image file and the signature providing a confirmation that the file loaded matches a previously certified copy so as to avoid the need for time consuming re-certification.

Abstract: A safety controller provides for reliable mixed execution of standard and safety control programs held in a common memory by providing a hardware lock that is locked at times when the safety program is not executing to minimize potential corruption of the safety program by the standard program.

Abstract: A safety controller executes a control program in two processing units to detect processor failure by comparison of the execution in each unit. This comparison is made rapid by synchronizing the input variables at the beginning of the task and comparing output variables at a conclusion of the task, avoiding line-by-line comparison of input and output variables. Intermediate variables, that are neither input nor output values, are compared at a less frequent interval.

Abstract: A connector attached to an end of a twisted wire pair, whose other end has fetal and maternal electrodes. A driving tube is removed from the twisted wire pair by pulling a drive handle and driving tube over the connector. The outer diameter of the connector is smaller than the inner diameter of the driving tube. After the connector is free, it is inserted into a housing of a leg plate, which electrically interconnects terminals of the connector and thereby the electrodes with a remote monitoring device. The housing has finger grips to help hold the housing during the insertion of the connector. The leg plate also has a base which is held in position against a mother's leg and has a ground electrode which is also electrically interconnected with the device. The housing is rotatable relative to the base.

Abstract: A connector attached to an end of a twisted wire pair, whose other end has fetal and maternal electrodes. A driving tube is removed from the twisted wire pair by pulling a drive handle and driving tube over the connector. The outer diameter of the connector is smaller than the inner diameter of the driving tube. After the connector is free, it is inserted into a housing of a leg plate, which electrically interconnects terminals of the connector and thereby the electrodes with a remote monitoring device. The housing has finger grips to help hold the housing during the insertion of the connector. The leg plate also has a base which is held in position against a mother's leg and has a ground electrode which is also electrically interconnected with the device. The housing is rotatable relative to the base.

Abstract: A connector attached to an end of a twisted wire pair, whose other end has fetal and maternal electrodes. A driving tube is removed from the twisted wire pair by pulling a drive handle and driving tube over the connector. The outer diameter of the connector is smaller than the inner diameter of the driving tube. After the connector is free, it is inserted into a housing of a leg plate, which electrically interconnects terminals of the connector and thereby the electrodes with a remote monitoring device. The housing has finger grips to help hold the housing during the insertion of the connector. The leg plate also has a base which is held in position against a mother's leg and has a ground electrode which is also electrically interconnected with the device. The housing is rotatable relative to the base.

Abstract: A connector device interposed between a fetal heart rate monitor and fetal and material electrodes. The device includes a connector inserted in a leg plate. The leg plate has a housing which contains a printed circuit board. The board or housing is detachably connected to a base. The board has tracers which interconnect output terminals of the housing with input contacts of the housing and with a ground electrode of the base. The output terminals lead to the fetal heart rate monitor. The input contacts are in electrical contact with terminals of the connector, which in turn are electrically connected with the electrodes via a twisted wire pair. The input contacts of the leg plate are preferably in the form of barrel contacts which have fingers whose free ends either electrically connect with the connector terminals or engage with a recess on an exterior periphery of the connector.