DIGITAL MULTIMETER HAVING REMOTE DISPLAY WITH AUTOMATIC COMMUNICATION BINDING

• US 20150215985A1
• Filed: 04/03/2015
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Hudson, Jeffrey C., Wetzel, Nathaniel J., Vetter, Glen Howard
• Application Number:
  US14/678,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20150215985A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/025 concerning dedicated user interfaces, e.g. GUI, or dedicated keyboards G01R31/31912 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/125 for digital multimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/11 Arrangements specific to free-space transmission, i.e. transmission through air or vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

A method of automatically binding first and second devices for RF communication is disclosed. One step of the method involves establishing a secure, non-RF communication mode between the first and second devices. According to another step, first and second communication addresses respectively identifying the first and second devices are exchanged in the secure, non-RF communication mode such that the first and second devices will recognize each other as communication partners. The secure, non-RF communication mode is then terminated and an RF communication mode is established between the first and second devices as a first bound pair.

Claims

1. A method of automatically binding first and second devices for RF communication, said method comprising steps of:

(a) establishing a secure, non-RF communication mode between said first and second devices;

(b) exchanging first and second communication addresses respectively identifying said first and second devices in said secure, non-RF communication mode such that said first and second devices will recognize each other as communication partners;

(c) terminating said secure, non-RF communication mode; and

(d) establishing an RF communication mode between said first and second devices as a first bound pair.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secure, non-RF communication mode is an IR communication mode.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secure, non-RF communication mode is automatically established when said first and second devices are located adjacent to one another.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first and second devices are physically matable with one another.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first and second devices are separable units of an electrical multimeter.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first device is a base unit of said multimeter and said second device is a remote display unit of said multimeter.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising steps of:

(e) establishing a secure, non-RF communication mode between said first device and a third device;

(f) exchanging said first communication address and a third communication address respectively identifying said first and third devices in said secure, non-RF communication mode such that said first and third devices will recognize each other as communication partners;

(g) terminating said secure, non-RF communication mode between said first and third devices; and

(h) establishing said RF communication mode between said first and third devices as a second bound pair.

8-13. -13. (canceled)