Patent US721313A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4774493A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4774493A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for transferring information into electronic systems
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1986-05-15
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Granted: 1988-09-27
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Expires: 2006-05-15
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method are disclosed for transferring information into an integrated circuit over the power supply pins of the integrated circuit. The apparatus and method are used to load a test program into memory of the computer system and the system is caused to execute the test program to verify proper operation of the computer system. The apparatus and method are implemented by converting the information to be loaded into a serial bit stream, using the serial bit stream to modulate the power supply voltage of the computer system. Inside the computer system, the low power supply levels are sensed by a low power supply detection unit an fed to a serial-to-parallel converter where it is converted back into the original information.
Inventors
- 👤 David M. Rabinowitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 04:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G11; G11C; G11C29/00; G11C29/04; G11C29/08; G11C29/48; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/26; G06F11/273; G06F11/2733; G06F13/00; G06F13/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
An apparatus for transferring information in an electronic system, having one or more electronic devices, the apparatus comprising: power supply means having power supply lines for supplying power at a volage to the devices of the electronic system through the power supply lines, wherein the voltage varies between a first and second predetermined voltage level, wherein both voltage levels are suitable for proper operation of the devices, and wherein the voltage is varied in response to the information to be transferred to the devices; detecting means connected to the power supply lines for detecting the variations in the voltage across the power supply lines and generating a signal indicating the voltage is at the first voltage level or the second voltage level, wherein the detecting means receives its power from the power supply lines; translating means connected to the detecting means for translating the signal indciating the voltage is at the first or second voltage level into information, wherein the translating means receives its power from the power supply lines; and control means connected to the translating means for controlling the translating means, wherein the the control means receives its power from the power supply lines.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
196 words
An apparatus for transferring information in an electronic system, having one or more electronic devices, the apparatus comprising: power supply means having power supply lines for supplying power at a volage to the devices of the electronic system through the power supply lines, wherein the voltage varies between a first and second predetermined voltage level, wherein both voltage levels are suitable for proper operation of the devices, and wherein the voltage is varied in response to the information to be transferred to the devices; detecting means connected to the power supply lines for detecting the variations in the voltage across the power supply lines and generating a signal indicating the voltage is at the first voltage level or the second voltage level, wherein the detecting means receives its power from the power supply lines; translating means connected to the detecting means for translating the signal indciating the voltage is at the first or second voltage level into information, wherein the translating means receives its power from the power supply lines; and control means connected to the translating means for controlling the translating means, wherein the the control means receives its power from the power supply lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means for disabling the detection and translation means under the control of the control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the power supply means further comprises: an unregulated power supply; serializing means for serializing the information into a stream of bits; and regulating means connected to the serializing means, the power supply lines and unregulated power supply for varying the voltage across the power supply lines between the first and second voltage level in response to the stream of bits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the translating means comprises means for translating a serial bit stream into the information.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for transferring information into an electronic system, having one or more electronic devices, the electronic system having power supply inputs connected to a power supply, the method comprising: converting the information into variations in the voltage of the power supply, the variations being between a first and second voltage level, both voltage levels being suitable for proper operation of the device, while supplying power to the electronic system through the power supply inputs; detecting the variations in the voltage across the power supply inputs and translating the variations in the voltage of the power supply into information.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for transferring information into an electronic system, having one or more electronic devices, the electronic system having power supply inputs connected to a power supply, the method comprising: converting the information into variations in the voltage of the power supply, the variations being between a first and second voltage level, both voltage levels being suitable for proper operation of the device, while supplying power to the electronic system through the power supply inputs; detecting the variations in the voltage across the power supply inputs and translating the variations in the voltage of the power supply into information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein the step of converting the information into variations in voltage further comprises: serializing the information into a stream of bits; and modulating the power supply between the first and second voltage level in response to the stream of bits.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein the step of serializing the information consists of encoding the information into the bit stream by employing a method selected from the group consisting of biphase, FM, MFM and NRZ.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein translating the variations in the power supply into information further comprises converting a serial bit stream into the information.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for loading a test program into program storage of an electronic system, having one or more electronic devices, which is under test, the electronic system having power supply inputs connected to a power supply, the method comprising: serializing the test program into a stream of bits; modulating the voltage of the power supply connected to the power supply inputs of the system under test between a first and second voltage level in response to the stream of bits, both voltage levels being suitable for proper operation of the device; detecting variations in the voltage across the power supply inputs; translating the variations in the voltage of the power supply into the test program; and
Claim 12
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for loading a test program into program storage of an electronic system, having one or more electronic devices, which is under test, the electronic system having power supply inputs connected to a power supply, the method comprising: serializing the test program into a stream of bits; modulating the voltage of the power supply connected to the power supply inputs of the system under test between a first and second voltage level in response to the stream of bits, both voltage levels being suitable for proper operation of the device; detecting variations in the voltage across the power supply inputs; translating the variations in the voltage of the power supply into the test program; and
Claim 13
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for receiving information contained in variations in voltage of the power supply connected to the power supply lines of an electronic system, having one or more electronic devices, while receiving power on the power supply lines, the apparatus comprising: detecting means connected to the power supply lines for detecting the variations in the voltage across the power supply lines and generating a signal indicating the voltage is at the first voltage level or the second voltage level, wherein the detecting means receives its power from the power supply lines; translating means connected to the detecting means for translating the signal indicating the voltage is at the first or second voltage level into information, wherein the translating means receives its power from the power supply lines; and control means connected to the translating means for controlling the translating means, wherein the control means receives its power from the power supply lines.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for receiving information contained in variations in voltage of the power supply connected to the power supply lines of an electronic system, having one or more electronic devices, while receiving power on the power supply lines, the apparatus comprising: detecting means connected to the power supply lines for detecting the variations in the voltage across the power supply lines and generating a signal indicating the voltage is at the first voltage level or the second voltage level, wherein the detecting means receives its power from the power supply lines; translating means connected to the detecting means for translating the signal indicating the voltage is at the first or second voltage level into information, wherein the translating means receives its power from the power supply lines; and control means connected to the translating means for controlling the translating means, wherein the control means receives its power from the power supply lines.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising means for disabling the detection and translation means under the control of the control means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for sending information through the power supply inputs of an electronic system, having one or more electronic devices, while supplying power the system, the apparatus comprising: serializing means for generating a stream of bits from the information; and modulating means connected to the serializing means for varying the voltage of the power supply between a first and second voltage level in response to the stream of bits, both voltage levels being suitable for proper operation of the evice while supplying power to the electronic system
Claim 17
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for sending information through the power supply inputs of an electronic system, having one or more electronic devices, while supplying power the system, the apparatus comprising: serializing means for generating a stream of bits from the information; and modulating means connected to the serializing means for varying the voltage of the power supply between a first and second voltage level in response to the stream of bits, both voltage levels being suitable for proper operation of the evice while supplying power to the electronic system
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-09-27 | 1992-03-28 | 1992-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-27 | 1996-03-28 | 1996-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-27 | 2000-03-28 | 2000-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |