The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 14, 1996
Filed:
Aug. 31, 1994
Stephen M Curry, Dallas, TX (US);
Michael L Bolan, Dallas, TX (US);
Kevin E Deierling, Dallas, TX (US);
William L Payne, II, Garland, TX (US);
Hal Kurkowski, Dallas, TX (US);
Donald R Dias, Carrollton, TX (US);
Gary V Zanders, Dallas, TX (US);
Robert D Lee, Denton, TX (US);
Guenter H Lehmann, The Colony, TX (US);
Dallas Semiconductor Corporation, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
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.