Programmable connector module
First Claim
1. A programmable connector module for transmitting data between a multi-wire bus and a plurality of loads comprising:
- a molded plastic base having first and second oppositely facing surfaces, said second surface having contacts attachable to an IC chip thereon, said plastic base including a thinned-out section wherein a distance between said first and second surfaces is reduced so as to be frangible, said thinned-out section forming an indentation on said first surface;
first connecting means, located on one of said first and second surfaces, for electrically connecting to a plurality of wires in a multi-wire bus;
second connecting means, located on the opposite one of said first and second surfaces from said first connecting means, for electrically connecting to at least one electrical load;
the one of said first and second connecting means which is located on said first surface including electrical connections which extend through said plastic base from said first surface to said second surface;
input/output circuitry located on said second surface and attaching said first and second connecting means to said contacts, said input/output circuitry including a plurality of conductive portions which extend over said thinned-out sections and which also connect to some of said contacts, wherein said conductive portions can be selectively broken so as to program an IC chip mounted on said contacts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A programmable connector module is equipped with a molded plastic base on which an IC chip is mounted. The plastic base is wired with programmable inputs which can be used to provide a logic 1 or a logic 0 to each input of the IC chip. Tabs or punch holes located on the plastic base can be broken to disconnect an input circuit from ground to allow a logic 1 to be programmed. Two inputs are used to program the configuration of the module and four inputs are used to program the address of the module. The programmable module can be positioned anywhere along a multiplex wire bus and is equipped with connectors for transmitting and receiving data to and from electrical loads along the bus.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A programmable connector module for transmitting data between a multi-wire bus and a plurality of loads comprising:
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a molded plastic base having first and second oppositely facing surfaces, said second surface having contacts attachable to an IC chip thereon, said plastic base including a thinned-out section wherein a distance between said first and second surfaces is reduced so as to be frangible, said thinned-out section forming an indentation on said first surface; first connecting means, located on one of said first and second surfaces, for electrically connecting to a plurality of wires in a multi-wire bus; second connecting means, located on the opposite one of said first and second surfaces from said first connecting means, for electrically connecting to at least one electrical load; the one of said first and second connecting means which is located on said first surface including electrical connections which extend through said plastic base from said first surface to said second surface; input/output circuitry located on said second surface and attaching said first and second connecting means to said contacts, said input/output circuitry including a plurality of conductive portions which extend over said thinned-out sections and which also connect to some of said contacts, wherein said conductive portions can be selectively broken so as to program an IC chip mounted on said contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A programmable connector module for transmitting data between a multi-wire bus and a plurality of loads comprising:
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a molded plastic base having first and second oppositely facing surfaces, said second surface having contacts attachable to an IC chip thereon; first connecting means located on one of said first and second surfaces, for electrically connecting to a plurality of wires in a multi-wire bus; second connecting means, located on the opposite one of said first and second surfaces from said first connecting means, for electrically connecting to a plurality of electrical loads; the one of said first and second connecting means which is located on said first surface including electrical connections which extend through said plastic base from said first surface to said second surface; input/output circuitry located on said second surface and attaching said first and second connecting means to said contacts, said input/output circuitry including a plurality of conductive portions which also connect to some of said contacts, said conductive portions being selectively severable to program an IC chip mounted on said contacts, said input/output circuitry being conductive traces unitarily formed with said plastic base. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification