Automatic address generation for modular electronic devices

A method of communicating between modules of a modular electronic system, comprising:

• in the system that comprises (i) a plurality of electronic modules that are communicatively connected in series along a first wired communication path, each electronic module including a processor, and (ii) an address bus that provides a second wired communication path for passing address information between components of the system:
• receiving a first address via the address bus;
• assigning the first address to a first module of the plurality of electronic modules;
• passing the first address to a first adder that is electrically connected to the address bus at a position that is between the first module and a second module of the plurality of electronic modules, the first adder included along the address bus and being a separate hardware component from the first module and the second module;
• and
• by the first adder:
• incrementing the first address to yield a second address, and
• passing the second address to the second module and a second adder that is electrically connected to the address bus at a position that is between the second module and a third module following the second module via the address bus.

A modular electronic system, comprising:

• a plurality of electronic modules;
• an address bus that is communicatively connected to each of the electronic modules to provide a wired communication path for passing address information between the electronic modules;
• a plurality of adders included along the address bus, each of which is a separate hardware component from each electronic module and electrically connected to the address bus at a position that is between a corresponding pair of the electronic modules, wherein each of the adders is operable to:
• receive, from a first electronic module of the corresponding pair via the address bus, an address that is assigned to the first electronic module of the corresponding pair,
• increment the address to yield an incremented address, and
• assign the incremented address to a second electronic module of the corresponding pair by passing the incremented address to the second electronic module of the corresponding pair and a second adder that is electrically connected to the address bus at a position that is between the second module and a third module following the second module via the address bus.