Addressing and communication for multiple-chip optical sensor arrays

• US 6,553,437 B1
• Filed: 06/15/1999
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Aswell, Cecil J., Berlien, John Hull Jr., Strippoli, Carlo S., Dierschke, Eugene G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Application Number:
  US09/334,205
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 710/3, 710/8, 710/9, 710/10, 710/36, 710/41
• US Class Current: 710/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4291 using a clocked protocol

Abstract

A technique for serially controlling an array of optical sensor chips over a pair of signal lines. After broadcasting an initializing reset command to all chips over serial lines, a determine-address command is broadcast to commence unique address determination. On subsequent clock signals, each chip locks its address into an on-board register. Following this process, each chip can be addressed individually. Subsequently, when each array chip is directed to read data out, the data is output to a single common bus line to the controller. Alternatively, individual chip outputs may be connected directly to the controller, or the outputs of odd and even chip pairs may be tied together for broadcast readout of all odd chips or all even chips.

Claims

1. A multiple-device subsystem, comprising:

a plurality of devices, each device having a data input pin, a data output pin, a clock input pin, a strobe-input pin, and a strobe-output pin, the data input pin and the clock input pin, wherein the data input and the clock input pins are connected to receive clock and data signals over signal lines;

wherein said strobe-input and strobe-output pins are connected to define a daisy-chain relationship between each of said plurality of devices;

wherein, under at least some conditions, when one of said devices receives an active signal at said data input pin, said device automatically determines a respective address for itself which is unique among all said devices.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said devices also have data outputs pins thereof all connected together in parallel.

3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said clock and data signals are received in a serial format.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said devices also have data inputs pins thereof all connected together in parallel.

5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said addresses of devices are determined when a reset command is first broadcast, followed by a determine-address command.

6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein each said device connects to signal lines which are serial communication lines, and which comprise a single input line and a single output line.

7. The circuit of claim 1, wherein each said device comprises a register which stores said respective address thereof when the strobe-input pin is in at least one logic state.

8. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said signal lines comprise one serial input line for all devices in said subsystem and one serial output line for every two devices in said subsystem.

9. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said devices are optical sensor chips.

10. A multi-device subsystem, comprising:

a plurality of devices, each having at least one register, at least one clock input, at least on data input pin, at least one data output pin, at least one strobe-input pin, and at least one strobe-output pin, each said device clocking the state of said strobe-input pin through to said strobe-output pin when activated at said clock input, said devices being interconnected with said strobe-input and strobe-output pins jointly defining a daisy-chain relationship;

wherein, in at least one logic state, each said device will, determine its own address whenever an active state is received at said respective data input pin thereof;

wherein, in said one logic state, said devices will store said respective address within said register whenever said active state is received at said respective strobe-input pin;

whereby, in said one logic state, each of said devices will successively store their own addresses as said active state is passed along the chain of said strobe-input pins.

11. The circuit of claim 10, wherein said devices also have data outputs thereof all connected together in parallel.

12. The circuit of claim 10, wherein said devices also have data inputs thereof all connected together in parallel.

13. The circuit of claim 10, wherein each said address is unique.

14. The circuit of claim 10, wherein said one logic state occurs when a reset command is followed by a determine-address command.

15. A multi-device subsystem, comprising:

a plurality of optical sensor devices, each having at least one register, at least one clock input, at least on data input pin, at least one data output pin, at least one strobe-input pin, and at least one strobe-output pin, each said device connected to receive clock and data signals over signal lines, said clock and data signals being transmitted in a serial format, said devices being interconnected at said strobe-input and strobe-output pins to jointly define a daisy-chain relationship;

wherein, in at least one logic state, each said device will determine its own unique address whenever an active state is received at said respective data input pin thereof;

whereby, in said one logic state, said devices will successively store their own said unique addresses in said register as said active state is passed along the chain of said strobe-input and strobe-output pins.

16. The circuit of claim 15, wherein said devices also have data outputs thereof all connected together in parallel.

17. The circuit of claim 15, wherein said devices also have data inputs thereof all connected together in parallel.

18. The circuit of claim 15, wherein said signal lines comprise one serial input line for all devices in said subsystem and one serial output line for every two devices in said subsystem.

19. The circuit of claim 15, wherein said optical sensor device uses a common serial digital input for all said optical sensor devices of said subsystem.

20. The circuit of claim 15, wherein said devices are grouped in pairs of odd and even addresses with the respective data outputs of said pairs being connected to a common output line.

21. A method for controlling a multi-device subsystem, comprising the step of:

connecting a plurality of devices, each having a register, a data input pin, a data output pin and a clock input pin, said plurality of devices to receive clock and data signals over signal lines, said clock and data signals being transmitted in a serial format;

wherein said devices comprise data input pins for determining respective device addresses;

wherein said devices comprise strobe-input and strobe-output pins for determining when said respective device addresses are stored in said respective register, and said strobe-input and strobe-output pins connected to define a daisy-chain relationship;

wherein upon being activated at said data input pin, said device address is determined, and is unique among all said devices.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said devices also have data outputs thereof all connected together in parallel.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said devices also have data inputs thereof all connected together in parallel.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said signal lines comprise one serial input line for all devices in said subsystem and one serial output line for every two devices in said subsystem.

25. A method for controlling a multi-device subsystem, comprising the step of:

connecting a plurality of devices, each having at least one register, at least one clock input, at least on data input pin, at least one data output pin, at least one strobe-input pin at least one strobe-input pin, and at least one strobe-output pin, each said device clocking the state of said strobe-input pin through to said strobe-output pin when activated at said clock input, said devices being interconnected with said strobe-in and strobe-out pins jointly defining a daisy-chain relationship;

wherein, in at least one logic state, each said device will determine its own address whenever an active state is received at said respective data input pin thereof;

wherein, in said one logic state, said devices will store said respective address within said register whenever said active state is received at said respective strobe-input pin;

whereby, in said one logic state, said each of said devices will successively store their own addresses as an active state is passed along the chain of said strobe-in pins.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said devices also have data outputs thereof all connected together in parallel.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said devices also have data inputs thereof all connected together in parallel.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said addresses of devices are determined when a reset command is first broadcast, followed by a determine-address command.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein said signal lines comprise one serial input line for all devices in said subsystem and two serial output lines for two devices in said subsystem.

30. A method for controlling a multi-device subsystem, comprising the step of:

connecting a plurality of optical sensor devices, each having at least one register, at least one clock input, at least on data input pin, at least one data output pin, at least one strobe-input pin, and at least one strobe-output pin, each said device connected to receive clock and data signals over signal lines, said clock and data signals being transmitted in a serial format, said devices being interconnected at strobe-input and strobe-output pins to jointly define a daisy-chain relationship;

wherein, in at least one logic state, each said device will determine its own unique address whenever an active state is received at said respective data input pin thereof;

whereby, in said one logic state, said devices will successively store their own said unique addresses in said register as said active state is passed along the chain of said strobe-input and strobe-output pins.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said devices also have data outputs thereof all connected together in parallel.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said devices also have data inputs thereof all connected together in parallel.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said addresses of devices are determined when a reset command is first broadcast, followed by