Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dynamically assigning addresses and determining the configuration of a plurality of programmable function modules connected to an electrical conductor, such as a serial bus. The programmable function modules are electrically interconnected by a control line in a point-to-point connection between one another. A programmable controller will first transmit an enabling signal on the control line and then will transmit predetermined addressing information on the serial bus. The first function module will then access the serial bus and retrieve the addressing information, assign itself a unique address as determined by the addressing information, modify the addressing information in a predetermined manner, return the modified addressing information to the serial bus, and enable the adjacent function module on the control line. Each function module connected to the serial bus will be assigned an address in a similar fashion. The programmable controller will receive the modified address information from the final function module and will thereby know the number of function modules, the connection sequence of the function modules, and the address of each function module.

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First Claim