Optical transmission system for generating first-edge-based serial data bit stream by inverting control output line at mark times
First Claim
1. A system for optically transmitting a first edge-based serial data bit stream at a predetermined bit transmission rate, wherein a first binary value is represented by the presence of an optical signal edge at a mark time and a second binary value is represented by the absence of an optical signal edge at a mark time, the system comprising:
- a UART having a serial output line that generates a level-based serial output signal, the UART having a control output line other than the serial output line, wherein the control output line can be inverted at any time;
a first light emitting element, operably connected to the control output line of the UART, for optically transmitting the first edge-based serial data bit stream;
a programmable timer that generates timing signals at a frequency which is an integer multiple of the bit transmission rate, wherein mark times occur at said bit transmission rate in coincidence with respective timing signals;
programmable means responsive to said timing signals for inverting the control output line to generate optical signal edges at corresponding mark time when data bits to be transmitted at the mark times have the first binary value, the optical signal edges forming the first-edge-based serial data bit stream.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein is a system for transferring a binary data stream in a serial edge-based transmission format between a computer and a portable device such as the Timex® Data-Link™ watch. In the edge-based format expected by the Data-Link™ watch, individual data bits have first and second binary values which are represented by the presence or absence of signal edges at mark times which occur at a pre-selected bit rate. The system includes a computer having a digital output line which can be turned on and off by the computer at any time. The computer also has an internal timer which is programmed to generate timing signals at a frequency which is an integer multiple n of the pre-selected bit rate. An LED is operably connected to the digital output line so that the computer can switch the LED on and off at any time through the digital output line. An application program runs on the computer. The application program monitors the timing signals to transmit individual data bits of the binary data stream at corresponding nth timing signals. Specifically, the application program turns the LED on to create an optical signal edge at a particular nth timing signal if and only if the data bit corresponding to said particular nth timing signal has a `0` value. The application program then monitors the timing signals to turn the LED back off at an intermediate timing signal which occurs after said particular nth timing signal but before the next nth timing signal. The disclosed embodiment of the system includes a light wand having a distal end which is shaped to register against the face of the receiving watch. This aids the user in aligning the LED with the receiving sensor of the watch.
25 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A system for optically transmitting a first edge-based serial data bit stream at a predetermined bit transmission rate, wherein a first binary value is represented by the presence of an optical signal edge at a mark time and a second binary value is represented by the absence of an optical signal edge at a mark time, the system comprising:
-
a UART having a serial output line that generates a level-based serial output signal, the UART having a control output line other than the serial output line, wherein the control output line can be inverted at any time; a first light emitting element, operably connected to the control output line of the UART, for optically transmitting the first edge-based serial data bit stream; a programmable timer that generates timing signals at a frequency which is an integer multiple of the bit transmission rate, wherein mark times occur at said bit transmission rate in coincidence with respective timing signals; programmable means responsive to said timing signals for inverting the control output line to generate optical signal edges at corresponding mark time when data bits to be transmitted at the mark times have the first binary value, the optical signal edges forming the first-edge-based serial data bit stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A system for optically transmitting a first edge-based serial data bit stream at a predetermined bit transmission rate, wherein first binary valued in the data bit stream are represented by the presence of optical signal edges at corresponding mark times, the system comprising:
-
a computer having a data processor, a peripheral device interface, and a programmable timer; the peripheral device interface having a serial output line that generates a level-based serial output signal, the peripheral device also having a control output line other than the serial output line, wherein the control output line can be inverted at any time; a light emitting element, operably connected to the control output line of the peripheral device interface, for optically transmitting the first edge-based serial data bit stream; the data processor being programmed to perform the following steps; setting the programmable timer to generate timing signals at a frequency which is an integer multiple of the bit transmission rate, wherein the mark time occur at said pre-selected bit transmission rate in coincidence with respective timing signals; monitoring the timing signals; inverting the control output line in response to the timing signals to generate optical signal edges at mark times when correspond data bite have the first binary value. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for optically transmitting a first edge-based serial data bit stream from a computer at a predetermined bit transmission rate, wherein first binary values in the data bit stream are represented by the presence of optical signal edges at corresponding mark times, the computer having a peripheral device interface and a programmable timer, the peripheral device interface having a serial output line that generates a level-based serial output signal, the peripheral device also having a control output line other than the serial output line, wherein the control output line can be inverted at any time, the method comprising the following steps:
-
operably connecting a light emitting element to the control output line of the peripheral device interface; using the programmable timer of the computer to generate timing signals at a frequency which is an integer multiple of the bit transmission rate, wherein mark time occurs at said pre-selected bit transmission rate in coincidence with respective timing signals; in response to said timing signals, inverting the control output line to generate optical signal edges at mark times when corresponding data bite have the first binary value. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification