US5006842A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Identity insert block for electronic modules
Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA Inc
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Filing: 1989-06-08
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Granted: 1991-04-09
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Expires: 2009-06-08
Abstract
Abstract A multiple pin block having a distinct electrically readable pin pattern and a corresponding visually readable label is useful as an identifier for electronic modules and other elements in electrical networks. Differing blocks each with identifiable labels, and corresponding electrical pin patterns may be inserted in devices to identify and distinguish the differing network modules or lines and thereby facilitate assembly, maintenance, testing and operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Nathan H. Tobol
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/006; G09; G09F; G09F7/00; G09F7/02; H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/465
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A fixed connection identifier article for use with an electrical connection point having signal input and output channels, comprising: (a) a body having a plurality of surfaces forming top, bottom, and side faces, including a first surface having thereon at least one visible identifying symbol, a second surface having a plurality of electrical connection pins, and substantially parallel third and fourth surfaces, said third and said fourth surfaces each being characterized by at least one corresponding interlock surface area; (b) means for forming said input channel for receiving an electrical input signal, comprising at least one but less than all of said connection pins; (c) said output channel comprising the remainder of said connection pins; and (d) preselected, hard-wired electrical connections between the electrical input channel and at least one of the output channel connection pins.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A fixed connection identifier article for use with an electrical connection point having signal input and output channels, comprising: (a) a body having a plurality of surfaces forming top, bottom, and side faces, including a first surface having thereon at least one visible identifying symbol, a second surface having a plurality of electrical connection pins, and substantially parallel third and fourth surfaces, said third and said fourth surfaces each being characterized by at least one corresponding interlock surface area; (b) means for forming said input channel for receiving an electrical input signal, comprising at least one but less than all of said connection pins; (c) said output channel comprising the remainder of said connection pins; and (d) preselected, hard-wired electrical connections between the electrical input channel and at least one of the output channel connection pins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
155 words
A unique identity article for external electrical determination of an object, comprising: (a) a body having a plurality of surfaces forming top, bottom, and side faces, including a first surface having thereon at least one visible identifying symbol, a second surface having a plurality of electrical connection pins, and substantially parallel third and fourth surfaces, said third and said fourth surfaces each being characterized by at least one corresponding interlock surface area; (b) an electrical input channel adapted to receive an electrical identity request signal, comprising at least one and less than all of said connection pins; (c) an electrical output channel comprising the remainder of said connection pins; and (d) means for establishing hard-wired electrical connection between the electrical input channel and at least one of the electrical output channel connection pins, wherein said means for establishing electrical connection is fixed and comprises a preselected pattern of connections corresponding to said visible identifying symbol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
155 words
A unique identity article for external electrical determination of an object, comprising: (a) a body having a plurality of surfaces forming top, bottom, and side faces, including a first surface having thereon at least one visible identifying symbol, a second surface having a plurality of electrical connection pins, and substantially parallel third and fourth surfaces, said third and said fourth surfaces each being characterized by at least one corresponding interlock surface area; (b) an electrical input channel adapted to receive an electrical identity request signal, comprising at least one and less than all of said connection pins; (c) an electrical output channel comprising the remainder of said connection pins; and (d) means for establishing hard-wired electrical connection between the electrical input channel and at least one of the electrical output channel connection pins, wherein said means for establishing electrical connection is fixed and comprises a preselected pattern of connections corresponding to said visible identifying symbol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The unique identity article as in claim 2, wherein said hard-wired, permanent electrical connections between the electrical input channel and the electrical output channel form a unique pattern to provide a unique electrical output and said first surface visible identifying symbol corresponds to said unique pattern.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said unique electrical output is unchanged by physical orientation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The unique identity article as in claim 3, wherein said visible identifying symbol is distinguishable in a normal position and in an inverted position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The unique identity article as in claim 3, wherein said visible identifying symbol further includes a visually distinguishable orientation symbol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the object is an electrical module among a plurality of electrical modules.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the object is an electrical connection among a plurality of electrical connections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the object is an electrical circuit among a plurality of electrical circuits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the object is an electrical article among a plurality of electrical articles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The unique identity article as in claim 2, wherein said hard-wired, permanent electrical connections between the electrical input channel and the electrical output channel are mechanically inactuatable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The unique identity article as in claim 2, wherein said hard-wired, permanent electrical connections between the electrical input channel and the electrical output channel form a keyless coding means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The unique identity article as in claim 2, wherein said hard-wired, permanent electrical connections between the electrical input channel and the electrical output channel form a keyboardless coding means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The unique identity article as in claim 2, wherein said third and fourth surfaces include corresponding tongue and groove surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
99 words
The unique identity article as in claim 2, further including an interface unit and a processing unit, wherein said interface unit includes means for (i) issuing at least one test signal to said input channel, and for (ii) receiving at least one request signal and at least one response signal via said output channel; and wherein said processing unit includes means for (i) issuing said request signal to said interface unit for controlling the issuance of at least one test signal by the interface unit, for (ii) decoding the response signal, and for (iii) issuing an identification output signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The unique identity article as in claim 2, wherein said connection pins are substantially permanently connectable to a socket connector.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
195 words
A system of unique identity elements for external electrical determination of an object, comprising a plurality of physically joined unique identity articles in combination to form a unique identity label, each of which identity article comprises: (a) a body having a plurality of surfaces forming top, bottom, and side faces, including a first surface having thereon at least one visible identifying symbol, a second surface having a plurality of electrical connection pins, and substantially parallel third and fourth surfaces, said third and said fourth surfaces each being characterized by at least one corresponding interlock surface area; (b) an electrical input channel adapted to receive an electrical identity request signal, comprising at least one and less than all of said connection pins; (c) an electrical output channel comprising the remainder of said connection pins and (d) means for establishing hard-wired electrical connection between the electrical input channel and at least one of the electrical output channel connection pins, wherein said means for establishing electrical connection is fixed and comprises a preselected pattern of connections corresponding to said visible identifying symbol, wherein said plurality of unique identity articles are sequentially joined by said corresponding interlock surface areas.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
195 words
A system of unique identity elements for external electrical determination of an object, comprising a plurality of physically joined unique identity articles in combination to form a unique identity label, each of which identity article comprises: (a) a body having a plurality of surfaces forming top, bottom, and side faces, including a first surface having thereon at least one visible identifying symbol, a second surface having a plurality of electrical connection pins, and substantially parallel third and fourth surfaces, said third and said fourth surfaces each being characterized by at least one corresponding interlock surface area; (b) an electrical input channel adapted to receive an electrical identity request signal, comprising at least one and less than all of said connection pins; (c) an electrical output channel comprising the remainder of said connection pins and (d) means for establishing hard-wired electrical connection between the electrical input channel and at least one of the electrical output channel connection pins, wherein said means for establishing electrical connection is fixed and comprises a preselected pattern of connections corresponding to said visible identifying symbol, wherein said plurality of unique identity articles are sequentially joined by said corresponding interlock surface areas.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 17, wherein each of said hard-wired, permanent electrical connections between the electrical input channel and the electrical output channel form a unique pattern to provide a unique electrical output and said first visible identifying symbol corresponds to said unique pattern.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 18, wherein said unique electrical output is unchanged by physical orientation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 18, wherein said visible identifying symbol is distinguishable in a normal position and in an inverted position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 18, wherein said visible identifying symbol further includes a visually distinguishable orientation symbol.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system claim 17, wherein the object is an electrical module among a plurality of electrical modules.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the object is an electrical connection among a plurality of electrical connections.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the object is an electrical circuit among a plurality of electrical circuits.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the object is an electrical article among a plurality of electrical articles.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 17, wherein said hard-wired, permanent electrical connections between the electrical input channel and the electrical output channel are mechanically inactuatable.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 17, wherein said hard-wired, permanent electrical connections between the electrical input channel and the electrical output channel form a keyboardless coding means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 17, wherein said hard-wired, permanent electrical connections between the electrical input channel and the electrical output channel form a keyless coding means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 17, wherein said third and fourth surfaces include corresponding tongue and groove surfaces.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
96 words
The system of claim 17, further including an interface unit and a processing unit, wherein said interface unit includes means for (i) issuing at least one test signal to said input channel, and for (ii) receiving at least one request signal and at least one response signal via said output channel; and wherein said processing unit includes means for (i) issuing said request signal to said interface unit for controlling the issuance of at least one test signal by the interface unit, for (ii) decoding the response signal, and for (ii) issuing an identification output signal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of unique identity elements as in claim 17, wherein the connection pins of each of said unique identity articles are substantially permanently connectable to a socket connector.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-04-08 | 1994-10-08 | 1995-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-08 | 1998-10-08 | 1999-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-08 | 2002-10-08 | 2003-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |