Method of communicating over a single wire bus between a host device and a module device which measures thermal accumulation over time

• US 6,112,275 A
• Filed: 12/28/1994
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zanders, Gary V., Lehmann, Guenter H., Dias, Donald R., Lee, Robert D., Kurkowski, Hal, Curry, Stephen M., Deierling, Kevin E., Bolan, Michael L., Payne, William Lee II
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoo, Do Hyun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, T. V.
• Application Number:
  US08/365,252
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 395/491, 395/284, 395/427, 395/376, 395/287, 380/4, 455/38.3, 455/127, 711/1, 711/4, 711/100, 711/280, 257/659, 235/492, 206/306, 374/187, 374/188
• US Class Current: 711/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/028 arrangements for numerical indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/10 in respect of time, e.g. reacting only to a quick change of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/245 in an oscillator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/73 by creating or determining hardware identification, e.g. serial numbers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0021 for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/066 Means for reducing external access-lines for a semiconductor memory clip, e.g. by multiplexing at least address and data signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/143 Detection of memory cassette insertion or removal; Continuity checks of supply or ground lines; Detection of supply variations, interruptions or levels G11C5/148 takes precedence; Switching between alternative supplies G11C5/141 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/065 Differential amplifiers of latching type
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/24 Memory cell safety or protection circuits, e.g. arrangements for preventing inadvertent reading or writing; Status cells; Test cells
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 8/20 Address safety or protection circuits, i.e. arrangements for preventing unauthorized or accidental access
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/58 Structural electrical arrangements for semiconductor devices not otherwise provided for , e.g. in combination with batteries H01L23/49593, H01L23/49596 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A method of communicating information between a host device and a potentially portable module device which measures thermal accumulation over time via a temperature controlled counter. The temperature controlled counter may operate using substantially Arrhenius'"'"' law. The host device communicates with the portable module via a single wire bidirectional data bus. The single wire bus and one-wire communication protocol allows data flow between a host and a plurality of devices connected to the single wire bus. The single wire bus allows for a great versatility of uses for the portable module.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between a host and a module comprising a counter which measures chemical equivalent time based on temperature according to Arrhenius'"'"'s law via a one wire bus, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a reset signal, from said host to said module via said one wire bus;

providing a presence signal from said module to said host via said one wire bus, said presence signal indicating that said module is present on said one wire bus;

providing a read ROM data command from said host to said module via said one wire bus;

reading a family code of said module by said host via said one wire bus, said family code indicating a model number of said module;

reading a serial number of said module by said host via said one wire bus, said serial number identifying a particular module; and

providing a chemical equivalent time count from said module to said host over said one wire bus indicating a thermal accumulation over time history, said chemical equivalent time count being generated via a temperature-controlled counter which utilizes a temperature sensitive band-gap circuit within said module.

2. The method of communicating between a host and a module via a one wire bus of claim 1, further comprising, after the step of reading said serial number, the step of generating a first cyclic redundancy number (CRC1) by said host and comparing said CRC1 with a CRC provided to said host by said module.

3. The method of communicating between a host and a module via a one wire bus of claim 1, wherein said family code is comprised of one byte.

4. The method of communicating between a host and a module via a one wire bus of claim 1, wherein said serial number comprises six bytes.

5. The method of communicating between a host and a module via a one wire bus of claim 1, wherein said family code is read by said host by said host pulling said one wire bus high and said module either pulling said one wire bus low or leaving it high for each bit in said family code.

6. A method for communicating between a master device and a portable module device, having a counter circuit which measures chemical equivalent time based on thermal absorption, over a one wire bus, said one wire bus comprising a first conductor and a ground conductor, said method comprising the steps of:

pulling said first conductor low by said master in order to reset said module;

providing a presence signal on said first conductor by said module to said master, said presence signal indicating that said module is in a listening mode;

providing a command byte to said module by said host, said command byte being at least one of a Read ROM Data command, a Match ROM Data command, a Search ROM Data command, and a Skip ROM Section Command; and

providing a chemical equivalent time count from said module to said master device over said one wire bus, said chemical equivalent time count indicating a thermal accumulation over time, said chemical equivalent time count being generated by a temperature-controlled counter that utilizes a temperature sensitive band-gap circuit positioned within said module.

7. The method for communicating between a master device and a module device over a one wire bus of claim 6, wherein said module is a slave device.

8. The method for communicating between a master device and a module device over a one wire bus of claim 6, wherein said Read ROM Data command instructs said module to allow said master to read a serial number of said module.

9. The method for communicating between a master device and a module device over a one wire bus of claim 6, wherein said Match ROM Data command allows said master to single out a specific module when a plurality of modules are connected to said one wire bus.

10. The method for communicating between a master device and a module device over a one wire bus of claim 6, wherein said Search ROM Data command allows said master to find all serial numbers of all modules connected to said one wire bus, and further to determine the family code of each of said all modules connected to said one wire bus.

11. A method of transmitting information over a single wire data bus between a master device and a module device for measuring the accumulation of thermal energy over time, said single wire data bus comprising a single data conductor and a ground conductor, said method comprising the steps of:

pulling said single wire data bus low for at least a predetermined amount of time by said master device in order to reset said module device;

pulling said single wire data bus high by said master device and determining if said module device pulls said single wire data bus low thereby providing a presence detect signal to said master device, said presence detect signal indicates that said module device is in a listening mode;

providing a command word from said master device to said module by said master device; and

reading a chemical equivalent time count data from at least one register in a RAM in said module device, said chemical count data being generated by a temperature controlled counter circuit comprising a temperature sensitive band-gap circuit within said module, said temperature controlled counter being connected to said RAM.