Methods for setting the address of a module
View Patent ↗A method of operating a module is disclosed. The method includes adjusting an impedance between a power connection and a ground connection to regulate a power connection voltage targeted to a predetermined target voltage, and setting a module communication address based on the adjustment. The power connection voltage is a voltage on the power connection. Other methods are disclosed.
1. A method of operating a module, the module having a power connection, a ground connection to which module voltages are referenced, and a serial communication connection, the method comprising:
adjusting an impedance between the power connection and the ground connection to regulate a power connection voltage targeted to a predetermined target voltage; and
setting a module communication address based on the adjustment,
wherein the power connection voltage is a voltage regulated on the power connection.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, through The serial communication connection, a first serial communication addressed to the module communication address; and
responding to the first serial communication.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first serial communication is an I 2 C communication.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
receiving, through the serial communication connection, as second serial communication addressed to a different address than the module communication address; and
not responding to the second serial communication.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the module communication address based on the adjustment is limited to one or two addresses.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the module communication address is synchronized to when an authentication circuit is in a low-power state.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the module communication address is synchronized to when an authentication circuit is in an idle state.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising repeating the adjusting and the setting.
9. A method of operating a module, the module having a power connection and a ground connection, the method comprising:
regulating a voltage between the power connection and the ground connection by increasing current flowing into the module through the power connection;
measuring the current flowing into the module through the power connection; and
setting a module communication address based on the measured current.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising responding to a first communication addressed to the module communication address.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first communication is an I 2 C communication.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving a second communication addressed to a different address than the module communication address; and
not responding to the second communication.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein setting the module communication address is limited to one of two addresses.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein setting the module communication address is synchronized to when an authentication circuit is in a low-power state.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein setting the module communication address is synchronized to when an authentication circuit is in an idle state.
16. A method of operating a module, the module having a power connection, a ground connection, and a communication address, the method comprising:
determining whether or not a voltage between the power connection and the ground connection is greater than a first predetermined threshold, and if so determined then decreasing an impedance between the power connection and the ground connection and setting the communication address to a first address; and
determining whether or not the voltage between the power connection and the ground connection is less than a second predetermined threshold, and if so determined then increasing the impedance between the power connection and the ground connection and setting the communication address to a second address,
wherein the first address is not the same as the second address.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first predetermined threshold is the swine as the second predetermined threshold.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first predetermined threshold is greater than the second predetermined threshold.
19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising responding to a communication addressed to the communication address.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the communication addressed to the communication address is an I 2 C communication.