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:
Sep. 02, 1997
Filed:
Sep. 06, 1994
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A micro control system includes a programmable microcontroller which is in bus communication with memory units and a operating power supply for providing operating power to said microcontroller. A communication module is part of the micro control system and is in communication with the data bus of the micro control system for receiving and transmitting data messages to an external device, and for encoding said transmitted data messages to conform to a serial communication protocol and decoding said received data messages. The microcontroller is programmed to generated a first control signal or a second control signal. An input-output interface is included as part of the micro control system and includes a number of switching units responsive to the first control signal of the microcontroller to place the respective switching units in a first mode of operation for providing communication between said communication module and a connector. The switching units also respond to said second control signal from the microcontroller to place said switching units in a second mode of operation for providing communication between said data bus of the micro control system and said connector to which connector the external device is attached.