IP Library Granted Patent US 11,564,165
Granted Patent B2
US 11,564,165 · App. 17/016,253 · Granted Jan 24, 2023

Systems and methods for managing communication between devices

Inventors: William Robert Pelletier (Campbell, CA); Brian B. North (Los Gatos, CA); Stephen E. Parks (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Kinetic Technologies International Holdings LP
H04W52/0212H04W84/20Y02D30/70
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,564,165
App. No.
17/016,253
Granted
Jan 24, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for managing power on distributed devices may include a first device having a master logic and a second device having a slave logic. The master logic may enable the first device to communicate with multiple devices having the slave logic on one or more channels. The slave logic may enable the second device having the slave logic to communicate with the first device and to communicate with a third device having the slave logic. The slave logic may enable the multiple devices having the slave logic to manage operations of the distributed devices.

Claims (46)

1. A master device for managing communication between the master device and multiple slave devices, the master device comprising:

a master channel connector;

master logic configured to exchange clockless communication with the multiple slave devices on a single channel over a first wired serial daisy chain connection via the master channel connector; and

at least one master data connector;

wherein the master logic is further configured to send a pulse string to the multiple slave devices on the first wired serial daisy chain connection, wherein the pulse string comprises multiple pulses, wherein at least one slave device:

modifies the pulse string by adding or removing one pulse from the pulse string and sends the modified pulse string on the first wired serial daisy chain connection, and

determines its address based on a number of pulses in the modified pulse string.

2. The master device of claim 1 , wherein the master logic enables the master device to receive a signal sent on the single channel via another single master channel connector of the master device.

3. The master device of claim 1 , wherein the master device communicates using at least one of an open-gate configuration and a closed-gate configuration.

4. The master device of claim 1 , wherein the master data connector includes an inter-integrated circuit connector.

5. The master device of claim 1 , further comprising:

up to four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two, or sixty-four of the master channel connectors, wherein the master logic enables the master device to communicate with different sets of the multiple slave devices on the master channel connectors.

6. The master device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a further master channel connector, wherein the master channel connectors enable a loop-back connection for the first wired serial daisy chain connection between the master device and the slave devices on the single channel such that a first signal transmitted by the master device on the single channel via a first one of the master channel connectors is received by the master device via a second one of the master channel connectors.

7. A system for managing communication between devices, the system comprising:

a master device comprising:

a master channel connector,

master logic configured to exchange clockless communication with multiple slave devices on a single channel over a wired serial connection via the master channel connector, and

at least one master data connector

a first slave device of the multiple slave devices, comprising:

a first slave channel connector,

a second slave channel connector, and

slave logic;

wherein the first slave channel connector enables connection of the first slave device with the master channel connector;

wherein the master logic is further configured to send a pulse string to the multiple slave devices on the wired serial connection, wherein the pulse string comprises multiple pulses, wherein at least one slave device:

modifies the pulse string by adding or removing one pulse from the pulse string and sends the modified pulse string on the wired serial connection, and

determines its address based on a number of pulses in the modified pulse string.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein:

the second slave channel connector enables connection of the first slave device with a third slave channel connector of a second slave device having slave logic; and

the slave logic is configured to:

communicate with the master device on the single channel via the first slave channel connector of the first slave device, and

communicate with the second slave device on the single channel via the third slave channel connector of the second slave device.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the slave logic enables the second slave device to:

communicate with the first slave device on the single channel via the third slave channel connector of the second slave device; and

communicate with a third slave device on the single channel via a fourth slave channel connector of the second slave device, the fourth slave device having the slave logic.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the master data connector includes an inter-integrated circuit connector.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first slave device further comprises:

multiple slave-input-output connectors, wherein the multiple slave-input-output connectors enable connection of the first slave device with one or more distributed devices, and wherein the slave logic further enables the first slave device to manage operations of the one or more distributed devices via one or more of the multiple slave-input-output connectors.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the slave logic further enables the first slave device to send or receive an analog signal or a digital signal via the one or more of the multiple slave-input-output connectors.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more distributed devices include a power device.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first slave device is a part of the power device.

15. The system of claim 7 , wherein the master device further comprises:

up to four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two, or sixty-four of the master channel connectors, wherein the master logic enables the master device to communicate with different sets of the multiple slave devices on the master channel connectors.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the multiple slave-input-output connectors include up to four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two, or sixty-four points of connections.

17. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:

a further master channel connector, wherein the master channel connectors enable a loop-back connection for the wired serial connection between the master device and the slave devices on the single channel such that a first signal transmitted by the master device on the single channel via a first one of the master channel connectors is received by the master device via a second one of the master channel connectors.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2022
From: KINETIC TECHNOLOGIES
To: KINETIC TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LP
Reel/Frame 059852/0228 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2020
From: PELLETIER, WILLIAM ROBERT; NORTH, BRIAN B.; PARKS, STEPHEN E.
To: KINETIC TECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 053728/0316 →