Serial bus identification circuit for a computer chip enclosed in a stainless steel can

• US 7,656,867 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marcon International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Marcon International Inc.
• Inventors: Herbert, Edmund E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, IV; William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shand; Roberta A
• Application Number:
  US10/996,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20050111443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: 370360-363, 340/825.52
• US Class Current: 370/360
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/131 Register
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13305 Transistors, semiconductors in general

Abstract

The invention is a serial bus identification circuit for a module that enables a microcontroller or microprocessor to identify one or many modules, each having an iButton digital device. The invention enables electronic activating and identifying the digital device amongst a plurality of similar devices. Each digital device has a unique digital registration number, and is an element of a module. In addition to the digital device, the module has a dual addressable switch component having a first switch and second switch, where the dual addressable switch component has a unique digital address; a light emitting source; and a source of electrical power. The dual addressable switch component and the unique digital device are in electrical communication with the serial data bus, and can be added as modules. When the first switch of the unique addressable component is closed, the digital device can be accessed, and the unique digital registration number can be down loaded and correlated to the dual addressable switch component. The second switch of the unique addressable component can be closed activating the light emitting source utilizing the source of electrical power. The light emitting source provides an identifying position signal for the device.

Claims

1. An electronic activating and identifying module, comprising:

one or more digital devices, wherein each of the one or more digital devices has a unique digital registration number;

one of a key fob, ring, and watch coupled to each of the one or more digital devices for access control;

a dual addressable switch component comprising a first switch and second switch, wherein the dual addressable switch component has a unique digital address;

one or more light emitting sources, wherein each of the one or more light emitting sources corresponds to one of the one or more digital devices; and

a source of electrical power;

wherein the dual addressable switch component and the one or more digital devices are in electrical communication with a serial data bus;

wherein closing the first switch of the dual addressable switch component enables one or more of the digital devices to be accessed, and one or more of the unique digital registration numbers to be correlated to the dual addressable switch component;

wherein closing the second switch of the dual addressable switch component activates a light emitting source of the one or more light emitting sources responsive to a conditional search utilizing the source of electrical power; and

wherein the light emitting source provides an identifying position signal for a digital device of the one or more digital devices responsive to the conditional search.

2. The electronic activating and identifying module according to claim 1, wherein the digital device comprises an iButton microprocessor that is enclosed in a steel can.

3. The electronic activating and identifying module according to claim 1, wherein each of the light emitting sources are light emitting diodes.

4. The electronic activating and identifying module according to claim 1, wherein the dual addressable switch component comprises an EPROM based chip that comprises a memory which can be used as an electronic label to store information comprising switch function, physical location, and installation date.

5. The electronic activating and identifying module according to claim 1, wherein the dual addressable switch component follows standard 1-Wire protocol.

6. An electronic activating and identifying system, comprising:

a plurality of modules, wherein each of the plurality of modules is utilized for access control;

wherein each of the plurality of modules comprises;

one or more digital devices, wherein each of the one or more digital devices has a unique digital registration number;

one of a key fob, ring, and watch coupled to each of the one or more digital devices for access control;

a dual addressable switch component comprising a first switch and second switch, wherein the dual addressable switch component has a unique digital address;

one or more light emitting sources, wherein each of the one or more light emitting sources corresponds to one of the one or more digital devices; and

a source of electrical power;

wherein the dual addressable switch component and the one or more digital devices are in electrical communication with a serial data bus;

wherein closing the first switch of the dual addressable switch component enables one or more of the digital devices to be accessed, and one or more of the unique digital registration numbers to be correlated to the dual addressable switch component;

wherein closing the second switch of the dual addressable switch component activates a light emitting source of the one or more light emitting sources responsive to a conditional search utilizing the source of electrical power; and

wherein the light emitting source provides an identifying position signal for a digital device of the one or more digital devices responsive to the conditional search.

7. The electronic activating and identifying system according to claim 6, wherein the digital device has a unique factory-set 64-bit registration number.

8. A method of utilizing an electronic activating and identifying system, comprising:

providing at least one module, wherein the at least one module comprises a digital device with a unique digital registration number, an associated dual addressable switch component having a unique digital address comprising a first switch and second switch, an associated light emitting source, and an associated source of electrical power, and wherein the at least one module is coupled to one of a key fob, ring, and watch for access control;

performing a conditional search for the at least one module;

selectively closing the first switch of the dual addressable switch component wherein the dual addressable switch component is connected to a serial data bus;

establishing querying communication between a database and the at least one module;

downloading and recording the unique digital registration number of the digital device and its correlation with the unique digital address of the dual addressable switch component; and

selectively closing the second switch of the dual addressable switch component, thereby activating the light emitting source.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the steps of the method are repeated until the system is fully characterized as to all modules.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

sending a signal along the serial data bus to close the second switch of the dual addressable switch component, wherein the second switch thereby activates the light emitting source associated with the module.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

sending a signal along the serial data bus to open the first switch of the dual addressable switch component, wherein the first switch thereby takes any or all digital devices off line associated with the first switch.