Method and apparatus for circuit units
AssigneeU. S. Philips Corporation
InventorStewart F. Bryant
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for generating unique addresses for each of a plurality of circuit units (4-1 to 4-n) coupled to a single path (2) at individual spaced, coupling points along its length wherein a control circuit (1) transmits an address generation signal along the path (2). At each coupling point in turn the circuit unit modifies the address generation signal received so that a succeeding circuit unit receives modified, unmodified, or both modified and unmodified address generation signals dependent on the position of the circuit unit and on the form the modification takes. Various modifications are described including interrupting the passage of the address generation signal for a predetermined time and adding elements to the address generation signal.
Claims35
A method of generating and allocating a unique address to each of a plurality of circuit units coupled to a single path at individual spaced, coupling points along its length comprising the steps of transmitting an address generation signal along said path, modifying the address generation signal at each coupling point in sequence, applying, if present, modified and unmodified address generation signals available at each coupling point to the corresponding circuit unit, and deriving the unique address for each circuit unit from the address generation signals applied thereto, and storing the derived unique address within the circuit unit.
The method in any preceding claim further comprising the steps of transmitting a reset signal along the path, detecting the arrival of the reset signal at each coupling point, and resetting the circuit units to a given state when the reset signal is detected.
A network for generating and allocating a unique address for each of a plurality of circuit units comprising:
- a plurality of circuit units coupled to a single path at individual spaced, coupling points along its length, and a control circuit for transmitting an address generation signal along the path from one end thereof, from which address generation signal each circuit unit derives for itself a unique address, and wherein each circuit unit comprises;
- and address generator, means for modifying the address generation signal at its coupling point, monitoring means for determining whether a circuit unit having a coupling point nearer to said one end has modified the address generation signal and producing an output signal dependent thereon, means for inhibiting the action of the modifying means in response to the output signal from the monitoring means, and means for controlling the address generator in response to modified and unmodified address generation signals present at its coupling point.
A network for generating and allocating a unique address for each of a plurality of circuit units, comprising:
- a plurality of circuit units coupled to a single path at individual spaced, coupling points along its length, and a control circuit for transmitting an address generation signal along the path from one end thereof, wherein each circuit unit comprise;
- an address generator, the address generation signal including one or more signal level transitions or pulses or a carrier signal modulated by said one or more signal level transitions or pulses, means for modifying the address generation signal received at its coupling point by adding one or more further level transitions or pulses to the received signal, means for applying the modified signal to the path for transmission along said path to a succeeding coupling point, and means for applying the received signal to the address generator so that the circuit unit generates an address for itself dependent on the number of level transitions or pulses received at its coupling point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.