Patent · US Expired

Optical transmission system for generating first-edge-based serial data bit stream by inverting control output line at mark times

US5922058A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
9References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 25, 1997
Grant dateJul 13, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 25, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/24529
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Described herein is a system for transferring a binary data stream in a serial edge-based transmission format between a computer and a portable device such as the Timex.RTM. Data-Link.TM. watch. In the edge-based format expected by the Data-Link.TM. watch, individual data bits have first and second binary values which are represented by the presence or absence of signal edges at mark times which occur at a pre-selected bit rate. The system includes a computer having a digital output line which can be turned on and off by the computer at any time. The computer also has an internal timer which is programmed to generate timing signals at a frequency which is an integer multiple n of the pre-selected bit rate. An LED is operably connected to the digital output line so that the computer can switch the LED on and off at any time through the digital output line. An application program runs on the computer. The application program monitors the timing signals to transmit individual data bits of the binary data stream at corresponding n.sup.th timing signals. Specifically, the application program turns the LED on to create an optical signal edge at a particular n.sup.th timing signal if and …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.