# US 2013/0156438 A1 · Digital multimeter having remote display with automatic communication binding > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156438 A1 - Document ID: US20130156438A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/763,806 - Filed: 2013-02-11 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-18 - Assignees: Fluke Corporation - Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hudson; Nathaniel J. Wetzel; Glen Howard Vetter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156438A1 ## CPC - H04B 10/114: Indoor or close-range type systems - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - G08C 23/04: using light waves, e.g. infrared - H04B 10/11: Arrangements specific to free-space transmission, i.e. transmission through air or vacuum - H04W 76/14: Direct-mode setup - G01R 1/025: {concerning dedicated user interfaces, e.g. GUI, or dedicated keyboards (G01R31/31912 takes precedence)} - G01R 15/125: {for digital multimeters} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A method of automatically binding first and second devices for RF communication is disclosed. One step of the method involves establishing a secure, non-RF communication mode between the first and second devices. According to another step, first and second communication addresses respectively identifying the first and second devices are exchanged in the secure, non-RF communication mode such that the first and second devices will recognize each other as communication partners. The secure, non-RF communication mode is then terminated and an RF communication mode is established between the first and second devices as a first bound pair. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of automatically binding first and second devices for RF communication, said method comprising steps of: (a) establishing a secure, non-RF communication mode between said first and second devices; (b) exchanging first and second communication addresses respectively identifying said first and second devices in said secure, non-RF communication mode such that said first and second devices will recognize each other as communication partners; (c) terminating said secure, non-RF communication mode; and (d) establishing an RF communication mode between said first and second devices as a first bound pair. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secure, non-RF communication mode is an IR communication mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secure, non-RF communication mode is automatically established when said first and second devices are located adjacent to one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first and second devices are physically matable with one another. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first and second devices are separable units of an electrical multimeter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first device is a base unit of said multimeter and said second device is a remote display unit of said multimeter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising steps of: (e) establishing a secure, non-RF communication mode between said first device and a third device; (f) exchanging said first communication address and a third communication address respectively identifying said first and third devices in said secure, non-RF communication mode such that said first and third devices will recognize each other as communication partners; (g) terminating said secure, non-RF communication mode between said first and third devices; and (h) establishing said RF communication mode between said first and third devices as a second bound pair. ### Claim 8 Apparatus comprising: a first device and a second device each having control circuitry, IR interface circuitry and RF transceiver circuitry, said control circuitry having associated memory for storing an address of a current RF communication partner; said first and second devices having a respective first address and second address for RF communication; said first and second devices exchanging said first and second addresses with each other via said IR interface circuitry such that said first device will recognize said second device as its RF communication partner and said second device will recognize said first device as its RF communication partner; and said first and second devices being operative to communicate via said RF transceiver circuitry. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first and second devices are matable with each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said control circuitry automatically causes communication via said IR interface circuitry when said first and second devices are mated with each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said control circuitry automatically attempts communication via said RF interface circuitry when said first and second devices are separated from each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said first and second devices are separate units of an electrical multimeter. ### Claim 13 A device capable of establishing RF communication with a paired device of a communication pair, said device comprising: IR interface circuitry; RF transceiver circuitry; control circuitry having associated memory for storing a partner address of a current RF communication partner; said control circuitry operative to receive said partner address via said IR interface circuitry in an IR communication mode; and said control circuitry utilizing said partner address to communicate with said paired device in an RF communication mode.