4367 results about "Serial communication" patented technology

The invention provides a system for measuring blood pressure from a patient that includes: 1) an optical module featuring systems for measuring signals from the patient, serial communication, and power management; 2) an external computing device configured to attach to the optical module, supply power to the optical module, and receive information from the optical module through the system for serial communication; and 3) an algorithm, operating on the external computing device, that processes information received through the system for serial communication to determine the patient's blood pressure.

Disclosed herein are an external device for a mobile communication terminal, which enables non-contact NFC with the outside through a Near Field Communication (NFC) unit, and an NFC method using the external device. The external device for a mobile communication terminal includes a serial communication unit, an NFC unit, a smart card unit and an antenna. The serial communication unit is connected to a mobile communication terminal body through a connector. The NFC unit communicates with the mobile communication terminal body through the serial communication unit and communicates with the outside via non-contact NFC. The smart card unit communicates with the NFC unit. The antenna is configured such that the NFC unit transmits/receives signals via non-contact NFC through the antenna.

An HVAC system is provided with control communication over a serial data bus. In this manner, the hard wired controls of the prior art are eliminated. A thermostat includes a central control microprocessor that communicates control signals to and from a microprocessor at an indoor unit. The indoor unit may be a furnace or a fan/heater combination. The microprocessor on the indoor unit is operable to receive signals from the central control microprocessor and control the indoor unit accordingly. Moreover, the microprocessor at the indoor unit is operable to pass control signals on to an outdoor unit such as an air conditioner or heat pump. Most preferably, this outdoor unit is provided with its own microprocessor. Further, other peripheral units may be incorporated to be controlled over the same data bus from the thermostat. Iristallation and updating of HVAC systems is greatly simplified by this control arrangement.

The present invention is a high speed serial memory interface system and method that facilitates efficient communication of information between a system controller operating at a relatively high speed serial communication rate and a memory array operating at a relatively slow speed serial communication rate. In one embodiment the present invention is a high speed serial memory interface system with an information configuration core for coordinating proper alignment of information communication signals, a system interface for communicating with a system controller, and a memory array interface for communicating with a memory array. A memory module array for storing information and a high speed serial memory interface system for providing interface configuration management are integrated on a single substrate.

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a microprocessor and a power driver for generating at least one actuator signal applied to the VCM actuator, wherein a serial communication circuit is used to communicate with the power driver. At least one control component periodically generates a control signal, wherein the control signal is transmitted at a substantially constant periodic interval using the serial communication circuit, and a timer times the periodic interval. A job queue controller queues and arbitrates serial communication requests to access the power driver using the serial communication circuit. The serial communication requests include a request to transmit the control signal and requests generated by the microprocessor. The job queue controller services a communication request generated by the microprocessor if the communication request can be serviced before the timer expires.

A method and apparatus for distributing protocol processing among a plurality of computing platforms. Data communications equipment such as Remote Access Devices, Communication Servers, Terminal Servers, and Dial-up Routers provide single user or large-scale multiple user communication access to various computing environments. The equipment costs and performance of such access equipment is related to the amount of CPU processing capability and memory required to support the desired number of serial communication links. It is common to use protocols that terminate in their entirely in the same processing machine. This invention encompasses methods developed to increase the cost/performance capabilities of the communication equipment that supports these serial links, primarily by means of distributing the protocol processing for higher level protocols across multiple computing platforms, including devices such as modems. Examples of such higher level protocols include PPP, SLIP and RTP.

A method and apparatus for effectively performing optimal connection configuration by recognizing the connection status between a video device and external peripheral devices. The method for identifying predetermined peripheral devices connected to a video device over serial communication control lines, includes, transmitting a command to establish connection of a current peripheral device having no given device ID to its upper peripheral device among the predetermined peripheral devices, and transmitting a command to disconnect a connection to its lower peripheral device; requesting unique device identification information to the predetermined peripheral devices; receiving a response to the request from the current peripheral device; and giving a device ID to the current peripheral device.

A highly reliable industrial control system is produced using a network running a standard serial protocol. A safety protocol is embedded within the standard serial protocol by adding to special error detecting data redundant with the protocol of the standard serial network. In addition an overarching protocol involving timing of messages is imposed to provide the necessary level of reliability in the standard serial network. This approach allows the safety protocol to be used with a wide variety of commercially available serial communication standards without modification of the media or the specialized integrated circuits used for that communication. Safety protocol may be implemented in an additional level for integrated circuits or through firmware changes in programmable aspects of the industrial controller components.

A headset having a built-in memory to store parameter settings relating to headset performance characteristics such as headphone(s) and/or microphone performance characteristics. The performance characteristics can be measured during headset production and stored in the memory. A host adapter may communicate with the headset through a serial communications port of the headset. The host adapter may read the headset performance characteristics and adjust signals transmitted to and received from the headset in accordance thereto. When the headset is used in a system, the system parameters can be manually set and stored in the headset memory. When the headset is used again in the same system, the system parameters can be read from the memory and automatically set. The memory may also store product history information of the headset such as production date, serial and model numbers, and/or any service history.

A serial communications architecture for communicating between hosts and data store devices. The Storage Link architecture is specially adapted to support communications between multiple hosts and storage devices via a switching network, such as a storage area network. The Storage Link architecture specifies various communications techniques that can be combined to reduce the overall cost and increase the overall performance of communications. The Storage Link architecture may provide packet ordering based on packet type, dynamic segmentation of packets, asymmetric packet ordering, packet nesting, variable-sized packet headers, and use of out-of-band symbols to transmit control information as described below in more detail. The Storage Link architecture may also specify encoding techniques to optimize transitions and to ensure DC-balance.

A low-voltage, low-power, synchronous, bidirectional, time-multiplexed, serial communication, scalable system bus carrying a number of signals over a fewer number of wires between a master device and peripheral devices or between peripheral devices. One of the wires carries a composite digital signal that includes a data signal and a synchronizing signal, though other combinations are contemplated. The system bus can support more peripheral devices than there are available time slots, and supports interrupt polling and servicing. In addition, peripheral devices that include an electro-mechanical or electro-acoustical component connected to the system bus can also communicate directly to each other without using the system bus. The system bus can be implemented in low voltage, low power devices, including listening devices such as hearing instruments and headsets, portable telephones, and personal digital assistants.

A vertical-mount network remote power management outlet strip embodiment of the present invention comprises a long, thin outlet strip body with several independently controllable power outlet sockets distributed along its length. A power input cord is provided at one end, and this supplies AC-operating power to relays associated with each of the power outlet sockets. The relays are each addressably controlled by a microprocessor connected to an internal I2C-bus serial communications channel. The power-on status of each relay output to the power outlet sockets is sensed and communicated back on the internal I2C-bus. A device-networking communications processor with an embedded operating system translates messages, status, and controls between the internal I2C-bus and an Ethernet port, and other external networks.

The invention relates to a miniature unmanned helicopter auto flight control system which comprises an on-board control system, wherein, an on-board computer gets signals from sensors through a serial port, and exchanges data with a ground-based computer through on-board and ground wireless Ethernet access points; the on-board computer carries out serial communication with a digital signal processor to control a steering engine set of the unmanned helicopter; a remote control signal receiver outputs to the digital signal processor and then is connected with the on-board computer through a serial port, and an auto control signal and a ground remote control signal are accumulated to get a current steering engine control signal. And the auto flight control system also comprises a ground control system, wherein, the ground-based computer transmits flight control instructions to the on-board computer and receives and records flight data; through operating a ground helicopter remote controller, manual control instructions can be transmitted to the on-board remote control signal receiver via wireless radio frequency signals. The invention can improve the auto flight ability of the miniature unmanned helicopter, strengthen system reliability, expand the application range of the unmanned helicopter and enable the helicopter to complete given missions beyond the visual range.

An apparatus and method for improving the communication capabilities of computer systems is disclosed. The most preferred embodiments of the present invention use a series of data buffers and data registers to process an incoming high speed data signal. By using the buffers and registers, the incoming signal can be reformatted and manipulated at a much lower frequency than the original transmission frequency. The deserializer of the present invention also samples a greater portion of the incoming data signal than usual to further increase reliability. These various features of the invention provide for a more stable and reliable communication link and will also provide a less expensive solution for serialization/deserialization. The present invention includes a serializer that receives parallel data input from a computer and serializes the data for transmission over a high-speed serial communication link. On the receiving end, the present invention provides a deserializer that can quickly and efficiently transform the serial data back into parallel form for use within the computer system on the receiving end. By utilizing two related clock signals, one clock signal being an integer multiple of the other, a self-synchronizing serializer/deserializer can be created. In addition, by increasing the size of the data sample on the receiving end, the comparisons necessary to retrieve a parallel signal from a serial transmission can occur at a much lower frequency than the frequency of the serial transmission. In the most preferred embodiment, the invention is provided as a integrated solution manufactured on a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) card, thereby allowing the present invention to be easy installed into existing computer systems.

A multi-channel remote keyless entry (RKE) transponder having dynamically re-configurable input channel selection, channel disable, settable sensitivity for each channel, wake-up filter timing parameters, automatic gain control hold, internal tuning capacitor selection for each channel's antenna, minimum modulation depth requirement for input signal and bi-directional talk-back. Programmable minimum modulation depth requirement reduces false wake-up of the RKE transponder. An antenna for each channel of the RKE transponder may be tuned with internal tuning capacitors for improved range and receiver sensitivity. The internal tuning capacitor parameters may be stored in a configuration register. Gain of the channel may be fixed while the antenna is tuned. The antennas may be de-queued for talk-back to a base station for low frequency bi-directional communications. An external control device may dynamically read from and write to the configuration registers via a serial communications interface.

A control system for a refrigeration system having a refrigeration compartment and a quick chill/thaw pan. A main controller board, electrically connected to a temperature adjustment board and a dispenser board through the serial communications bus, controls the temperature of the refrigeration compartment and the quick chill/thaw pan. The control system accepts a plurality of inputs to determine a refrigeration mode and to execute a plurality of software algorithms to control the refrigeration compartment as both a chill pan to rapidly chill food and beverage items without freezing and a thaw pan to timely thaw frozen items at controlled temperature levels.

A battery monitoring and control system and method of monitoring and controlling provides a redundant and independent symmetric secondary serial bus in addition to a primary serial bus within a battery monitoring and control system that includes a plurality of battery monitoring modules and associated IC battery monitor chips in serial communication with a system controller. Additionally, no two serial communication pins from an interface in operative communication with an associated one of a primary or a secondary serial bus are directly adjacent thereby allowing for continuous battery operation when a single pin in a series of battery monitoring modules becomes non operational failed. Additionally, the battery system remains operational when an open or short circuit occurs in only one of either the primary or secondary serial bus.

A device testing apparatus, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) testing apparatus, using one host computer to test a plurality of the devices, such as to burn-in test HDDs. A host computer having at least two serial communication ports is communicably connected to power cards which supply operating power to each HDD to be tested. A serial communication exchanger is communicably connected to the serial communication ports of the host computer and to the HDDs, and responds to channel selection instructions issued by the host computer to selectively establish a serial communication channel among HDDs, the power card, and the host computer. The single host computer conducts the testing of the HDDs by communicating with the HDDs via the established serial communication channel.

A sign language recognition apparatus and method is provided for translating hand gestures into speech or written text. The apparatus includes a number of 3-axis accelerometers on fingers and back of the palm to measure dynamic and static gestures, an analog multiplexer and a programmable micro controller to detect hand postures of American Sign Language and send them to a host via serial communication. The sensors are connected to a microprocessor to search a library of gestures and generate output signals that can then be used to produce a synthesized voice or written text. The apparatus includes sensors such as accelerometers on the fingers and thumb and two accelerometers on the back of the hand to detect motion and orientation of the hand. Sensors are also provided on the back of the hand or wrist to detect forearm rotation, an angle sensor to detect flexing of the elbow, two sensors on the upper arm to detect arm elevation and rotation, and a sensor on the upper arm to detect arm twist. The sensors transmit the data to the microprocessor to determine the shape, position and orientation of the hand relative to the body of the user.

A mass storage device protection system may have a mass storage device, a processor configured to generate at least one serial write command signal to the mass storage device via a serial communication link, and a storage protector configured for communication with the processor and mass storage device, the storage protector configured to do the following: intercept the at least one serial write command signal, and determine whether the at least one serial write command signal comprises an authorized command signal or an unauthorized command signal.

The intelligent control system of NC machine tool is formed from NC machine tool, upper position machine and lower position machine. The upper position machine and lower position machine are formed into open control system, between upper position machine and lower position machine it utilizes USB to make serial communication, on the NC machine tool a photoelectric detection device is mounted and connected with lower position machine. Said system can implement on-line detection.

The disclosed embodiments relate to a Flash-based memory module having high-speed serial communication. The Flash-based memory module comprises, among other things, a plurality of I/O modules, each configured to communicate with an external device over one or more external communication links, a plurality of Flash-based memory cards, each comprising a plurality of Flash memory devices, and a plurality of crossbar switching elements, each being connected to a respective one of the Flash-based memory cards and configured to allow each one of the I/O modules to communicate with the respective one of the Flash-based memory cards. Each I/O module is connected to each crossbar switching element by a high-speed serial communication link, and each crossbar switching element is connected to the respective one of the Flash-based memory cards by a plurality of parallel communication links.