GPIO Port Equipment Identification via Capacitor Discharge Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing method using General Purpose Input Output (GPIO) ports to identify hardware equipment is limited in identifying equipment identification information due to their fixed number of states, restricting the number of identifiable equipment and reducing identification efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The method involves detecting the discharging durations of a capacitor through both a resistor to be tested and a fixed value resistor using GPIO ports, calculating the resistance of the resistor, and mapping it to obtain equipment identification information, thereby increasing the number of identifiable equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed number of GPIO ports are used to identify equipment, then the identification method is simple, but the number of identifiable equipment types is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter being measured from simple high/low level states to discharging duration (time parameter). By measuring how long it takes for a capacitor to discharge through different resistors, the system can distinguish multiple equipment types using the same GPIO ports, thereby increasing adaptability without adding more hardware ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a capacitor and resistor combination as an intermediary measurement mechanism. Instead of directly reading equipment identity from GPIO states, the system uses the RC circuit's discharging characteristics as an intermediary to encode equipment information, allowing more equipment types to be identified with the same number of GPIO ports.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple GPIO ports are used to increase identification capacity, then more equipment types can be identified, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing GPIO ports multi-functional by having them perform both their original digital I/O function and the additional function of measuring discharging duration. The same GPIO ports can be configured to measure RC circuit discharge characteristics, thereby identifying more equipment types without requiring additional hardware resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the GPIO port's function from detecting static voltage levels to measuring dynamic time parameters (discharging duration). This parameter change allows each GPIO port to encode more information, effectively increasing identification capacity without increasing the number of ports.
3Productivity
If traditional GPIO level detection is used, then the implementation is straightforward, but identification efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent shifts from detecting static voltage levels to measuring dynamic time parameters (discharging duration). By timing how long it takes for the capacitor voltage to drop from high to low through the RC circuit, the system achieves more precise equipment identification, thereby improving identification efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the simple binary state detection mechanism with a time-based measurement mechanism. Instead of merely reading high or low levels, the system measures the duration of the discharge process, substituting a more sophisticated measurement approach that provides better discrimination between different equipment types.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the identification efficiency of GPIO ports by allowing the identification of a greater number of equipment types, overcoming the limitation of fixed GPIO port states.
Implementation Method 1
detecting, by using a first general purpose input output GPIO port, a first discharging duration for a capacitor to discharge through a resistor to be tested
Implementation Method 2
obtaining a resistance of the resistor to be tested according to the first discharging duration, the second discharging duration, and a resistance of the fixed value resistor
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and an apparatus for obtaining equipment identification information, where the method includes: detecting, by using a first GPIO port, a first discharging duration for a capacitor to discharge through a resistor to be tested; detecting, by using a second GPIO port, a second discharging duration for the capacitor to discharge through a fixed value resistor; and obtaining a resistance of the resistor to be tested according to the first discharging duration, the second discharging duration, and a resistance of the fixed value resistor. The embodiments of the present invention are capable of increasing identification efficiency of the GPIO port. The embodiments of the present invention are capable of avoiding a problem in the prior art that the number of pieces of equipment identification information that the GPIO port may identify is limited, which is caused by the fact that, a fixed number of GPIO ports may identify only a limited number of pieces of equipment identification information, thereby increasing the identification efficiency of the GPIO port.