System for determining the identity and sequence of an arbitrary number of modules
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a first base; and
a plurality of modules each having an identity, said base and modules comprising circuitry wherein;
when a first module is attached to the first base, and an arbitrary number of modules of the plurality of modules are attached, directly or indirectly, to the first module, the circuitry determines an order and the identities of all attached modules.
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Abstract
An apparatus in which a sequence of modules, the sequence including an arbitrary number of modules, can be attached to a base. Each module has an identity. The base initiates an identification sequence, and each module provides its identity. In some embodiments, each module identifies itself in turn, until the end of the sequence is reached. In other embodiments, each module provides its identity substantially simultaneously, and then the identities, in order, are transferred to the base. In this way the number of modules, and the order of the modules in the sequence, can be recognized. The apparatus could be used, for example, as a toy.
10 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a first base; and
a plurality of modules each having an identity, said base and modules comprising circuitry wherein;
when a first module is attached to the first base, and an arbitrary number of modules of the plurality of modules are attached, directly or indirectly, to the first module, the circuitry determines an order and the identities of all attached modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus comprising:
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a first base;
a plurality of modules, each having an identity and being directly attachable to the first base or other modules; and
circuitry, wherein the circuitry determines an order and the identities of all contiguously attached modules when one of the modules is attached to the first base. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of identifying order and number of modules in a sequence of modules attached to a base, each module having an identity, the method comprising:
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the base initiating an identification sequence; and
each module providing its identity, wherein only one module of the sequence is directly attached to the base. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification