Serial Port Configuration via GPIO Logic Gates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for configuring RS-232/422/485 serial communication ports in industrial personal computers require manual intervention, leading to increased time, cost, and complexity, as well as excessive wiring and space requirements on the motherboard, limiting flexibility and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A BIOS-based method combining digital logic gates with software allows users to configure serial communication ports without opening the housing, using a hardware circuit with NAND digital logic gates and chips to process electric potential signals from GPIO, enabling easy setup of RS-232/422/485 configurations within a BIOS, DOS, or Windows operation system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual hardware configuration is used for serial communication ports, then the setup can be performed with basic hardware components, but the setup time increases and requires opening the housing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of configurationVSAvoidsetup time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical configuration (opening housing, physically accessing internal devices) with an automated software-based configuration system accessible through BIOS or operating system interfaces, eliminating the need for physical access to internal hardware during setup

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables users to independently configure serial communication ports through software interfaces without requiring manufacturer intervention or physical access to internal hardware, allowing self-service configuration at any time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If manual hardware configuration is used, then the configuration can be performed with simple hardware, but the complexity of the procedure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration simplicityVSAvoidprocedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex manual hardware manipulation procedures with a simplified software-based configuration interface, transforming a physically complex procedure into a simple menu-driven or command-line operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The configuration system is designed to be universal, working across different operating systems (BIOS, DOS, Windows) and supporting multiple serial communication standards (RS-232, RS-422, RS-485) through a single unified interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional serial communication port setup is used, then the hardware can be configured, but a large number of wires are required increasing cost and layout space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware configurabilityVSAvoidnumber of wires

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the configuration function from physical hardware manipulation and relocates it to software, eliminating the need for additional wiring or physical components that would otherwise be required for hardware-based configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The software configuration system provides multi-functional capability to handle different serial communication standards and configurations without requiring separate physical wiring for each standard, reducing overall wire quantity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of manufacture

If hardware-based configuration is used, then the setup can be performed with physical devices, but the housing must be opened reducing operational flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephysical configuration capabilityVSAvoidoperational flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes mechanical access (opening housing) with software-based access, allowing configuration operations to be performed through standard computer interfaces without any physical disassembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables end-users to perform configuration operations independently through software interfaces at any time without requiring manufacturer assistance or physical access to internal hardware components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS7526584B2Method for setting up a serial communication port configuration

Publication Date: 2009.04.28 AVALUE TECH

AI summary

A method for setting up a serial communication port configuration is disclosed. The method comprises a hardware circuit of a motherboard having a plurality of digital logic gates and a plurality of chips disposed thereon, wherein a process is initiated when the digital logic gates receive a high or low electric potential signal inputted by a general programmable input/output (GPIO), and the processed high or low electric potential signal is transmitted to the chips for further processing and outputting the same to execute setting up of the serial communication port configuration.