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. 13, 2005
Filed:
May. 17, 2001
Terence Sean Sullivan, Brookline, MA (US);
Terence Sean Sullivan, Brookline, MA (US);
Bluebrook Associates LLC, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining the appropriate timing interval for each bit or data symbol in serial data communications. A sending device transmits a predetermined bit sequence, such as a binary pattern corresponding to one byte, either on its own initiative or in response to an action of a receiving device. A microprocessor in the receiving device measures a calibration time interval between the leading edge of a start bit and a subsequent marker transition, either between subsequent data bits or between the final data bit and the stop bit. This measured interval may be mathematically converted to units useful to calibrate a function or device that conducts input/output operations. Optionally, the process may be repeated periodically to compensate for clock rate drift. This invention may be used for autobaud data rate detection, or matching the actual data rate of a remote serial device, and permits accurate communications without precision timing references.