Dallas Semiconductor Corporation

William L Payne, Ii

Michael L Bolan

Stephen M Curry

Kevin E Deierling

Donald R Dias

Hal Kurkowski

Guenter H Lehmann

Robert D Lee

Gary V Zanders

Francis A Scherpenberg

Eric W Mumper

Guenther H Lehmann

A temperature-controlled counter/clock arrangement is provided where th rate or frequency of the counting is temperature dependent. This allows for a measuring of thermal accumulation and/or history. The temperature sensing is based upon the use of the varying current that will flow through a toward biased semiconductor diode. In one embodiment a constant voltage source is used so that the current variation will follow Arrhenius's law.

Temperature sensing systems and methods

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.

Method of communicating over a single wire bus between a host device and

A wireless-accessible module which provides first and second wireless-transmitter control signals, such that the first transmitter control signal can be activated automatically, in response to incoming wireless signals, but the second transmitter control signal can only be activated by manual input or direct command. Preferably the two control signal outputs are used to select the power level of transmission on a single predetermined frequency; but alternatively these outputs may be used to control two different RF transmitters and/or two different antennas.

Wireless data module with two separate transmitter control outputs

A serial-port memory is positioned in a substantially token-shaped body. The substantially token-shaped body has a perimeter and a flange extending from a portion of the perimeter. The serial-port memory comprises a serial port, a scratchpad memory coupled to the serial port, a second memory coupled to the scratchpad memory; and control logic coupled to the serial port and the scratchpad and second memories. The control logic transfers information from the scratchpad memory to the second memory as a block pursuant to a block transfer command received at the serial port. The electronic token has a first electrically conductive surface and a second electrically conductive surface that combines to create a hollow cavity and the serial port, scratchpad memory, second memory, and control logic positioned inside the hollow cavity, the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface can be electrically coupled to transmit electrical signals generated by the serial port, scratchpad memory, second memory, and control logic and to receive externally generated electrical signals. The first electrically conductive surface and the second electrically conductive surface are preferably planar. The control logic includes a cyclic redundancy check generator. Third and fourth memories can be coupled to the scratchpad memory, wherein the control logic transfers information as a block from the scratchpad memory to one of the second, third, and fourth memories pursuant to a block transfer command received at the serial port.

Memory for an electronic token

A communication module comprises a substantially token-shaped body with first and second electrically conductive surface areas. The first and second surface areas are electrically isolated from each other and circuitry is positioned in the cavity within the substantially token-shaped body, and has connections to said first and second areas. The substantially token-shaped body has a perimeter around it. The first and second electrically conductive surface areas form a substantial portion of the substantially token-shaped body. The first and second electrically conductive surface areas form a cavity. One of the surface areas forming a flange around the perimeter of the substantially token-shaped body. The flange preferably resides in one geometric plane. The circuitry provides for the receipt and transmission of digital signals that are determined as voltage differences between said first and second areas. The circuitry preferably includes a capacitor for storing energy from said voltage intermittently applied between the first and second areas, so that the circuit is powered by a battery within said body. The first area comprises one flat face of the body and the second area comprises a second flat face parallel to said one flat face plus a portion of a curved surface which is perpendicular to said flat faces. The circuitry includes (1) a voltage level detector coupled to the first and second areas for receiving signals applied as voltage differences between the first and second areas and (2) a switch connecting the first and second areas for sending signals by changing the resistance between the first and second areas. The voltage level detector preferably detects only two levels.

Communication module

A printer port adapter which permits electronic keys to be accessed through the printer port of the PC, without disrupting the normal operation of the printer port in any mode of operation whatsoever. The electronic keys used have a one-wire signal interface, and this interface can be inserted into the full standard ISA printer port pin assignment, as well as the all known nonstandard additional assignments which have been overlaid onto the standard printer port.

Printer port adapter with overlaid one-wire interface for electronic key

A transceiver (100) for TTL and RS232 communication with automatic sensing (130) of the type of input and adjustment of the output to correspond together with current stealing (131) from the input communication lines to provide extreme voltages for transmission. Hysteresis and surge suppression are built into the sensing.

Bi-level dual mode transceiver

Reset monitor for detection of power failure and external reset for devices such as microprocessors with the reset monitor providing a single settling time hold down of a reset signal. Preferred embodiments include bandgap reference with high current side compensating resistor, bond out options for analog parameter selection, glitch free state machine control of both detections, and external pushbutton debouncing both depression and release.

Growing community of inventors

Garland, TX, United States of America

William L Payne, Ii