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:
Apr. 22, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 15, 1999
Cecil J. Aswell, Organgevale, CA (US);
Eugene G. Dierschke, Dallas, TX (US);
John Hull Berlien, Jr., Plano, TX (US);
Carlo S. Strippoli, Richardson, TX (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
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.