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`=WARNING: The information disclosed herein may be restricted.
`> Unauthorized disclosure may be prohibited by the United States Code Title 35,
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`FILED WITH:
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`OYMPU EX. 1002 -1l74
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`5-
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`U.S. UTILITY Patent Application
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`‘AF'FPLNUM
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`10219105
`-' AEPIIIMNTS:
`
`FILING DATE
`08/15/2002
`Tasler Michaelf
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 1/74
`
`

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`PATENT APPLICATION SERIAL NO. A53;
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`US. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
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`03 HIRED]
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`00000035 501“! 7 10219105
`370.00 13"
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 2/74
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 2/74
`
`

`

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`
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`UNITED STA'
`I‘ES DEPAII’I'MEV’F 01“ C (MIMI—711733
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`B I) Data Sheet
`
`CONFIRMATION NO. 6042
`
`
`
`
`FILING DATE
`08/15/2002
`GROUP ART UNIT
`SERIAL. NUMBER
`
`22182
`10219105
`RULE
`
`
`ATTORNEY
`DOCKET NO.
`13189.129D1I150)
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`"APPLICANTS
`
`MICIIEEBI TasIer, Wuerzburg, GERMANY;
`
`.. CONTINUING DATA «mmmm“MHIIHHH
`This applicalion is a DIV GIGS/331.002 06/14/1999 PAT 6,470,399
`
`«I FOREIG N APPLICATIONS “nuyuuunun.
`GERMANY 197087556 03/04/1997
`EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE (EPO) PCT/IEP98/01187 03/03/1998
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`IF REQUIRED FOREIGN FILING LICENSE GRANTED ” SMALL ENTITY “
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`GLENN PATENT GROUP
`3475 EDISON WAY SUITE L
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`FLEXIBLE [\ITERFACE FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A HOST AND AN ANALOG I/O DEVICE
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`FEES: Authority has been given in Paper
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`D1416 Fees (Filing)
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`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 3/74
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 3/74
`
`

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`__________..__._____\
`Attorney Docket No.
`1818912901 (.150)
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`5. Oath or Declaration
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`Newly executed (original or copy)
`b.
`[8] Copy from a prior application (37 CFR 1.63 (d))
`(for a continuation/divisional with Box 18 completed)
`i E] QfiQON OF |NVENTOR_(_S_)
`Sigan statement attached deleting inventorts)
`named In the prior application, see 37 CFR
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`‘5. X Application Data Sheet (3 pages). See 37 CFR 1.76
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`11. El
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`14. E]
`15. E]
`16. El
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`13. it a CONTINUING APPLICATION. check appropriate box, and supply the requisite information below and in a preliminary amendment,
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`
`CI Continual. on
`E Divisional
`D Continuation-impart (CIP)
`of prior application No: 9_9 / 331 002
`Group (An Unit: 2_1g
`Prior application information:
`Examiner D I Thuan N
`For CONTINUATION or DIVISIONAL APPS only: The entire disclosure of the prior application. from which an oath or declaration ls supplied
`i under Box 5b, Is considered a part of the disclosure of the ac companyan or divisional application and is hereby Incorporated by reference.
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`‘ The incorporation palm be relied upon when a portion has been Inadvertently omitted from the submitted application parts.
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`19. CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 4/74
`
`LBQDL 'S'n
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Michael Taster
`Flexible Interface For Communication Between A Host And An Analog
`I/O Device Connected To The Interface Regardless The Type Of '8
`Title
`I/O Device
`Fr
`——“"“—"“*—m
`
`-_...__._._
`\ (Only for new rionprovisional applications under 37 C.F.R. 1 .53{b),i
`Express Mail Label No.
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`___- APPLICATION EL EM ENTS _
`Assistant Commissioner for Patents 1...
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`Box Patent Application
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`Washington, DC 20231
`ii:
`Fee Transmittal Form (e.g., PTO/SB/17)
`7. D (ID-ROM or CD-R in duplicate, large table or
`:31
`'I. I3
`(Submit an original and a duplicate for fee processing)
`Computer Program (Appendix)
`2::
`1). fl
`Applicant claims small entity status
`8. Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Submission
`See 37 OFF! 127.
`(if applicable, all necessary)
`[Total Pages
`Sperification
`a. 3 Computer Readable Form (CRF)
`(preferred eirrangenrentset forth below)
`L). Specification Sequence Listing on:
`- Descriptive title ofthe Invention
`i_ D CID—ROM or (ED-R (2 copies); or
`
`.15 Reference to Related Applications
`-
`ii D paper
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`_ Rewence (0 sequence listing, a table,
`Statemen s verifying Identity of above co res
`c.
`ACCOMPANYING APPLICATIONS PARTS
`or a computer program listing appendix
`
`- Background of the Invention
`
`7 Brief Summary of the Invention
`9, E]
`Assignment Papers (cover sheet & document(s))
`« Brief Description of the Drawings (i'fli'led)
`10. [:i
`37 C.F.R.§3.73(3) Statement E] Power of
`- Detailed Description
`(when there is an assignee)
`Attorney
`» Claim(s)
`7 Abstract of the Disclosure
`English Translation Document (if applicable)
`Information Disclosure
`Ci Copies of IDS
`Statement (IDS)lPTO-’i449
`Citations
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`Return Receipt Postcard (MPEP 503)
`{Should be specifically itemized)
`Certified Copy of Priority Document(s)
`(if foreign priority is claimed)
`Nonpublication Request under 35 U.S.C. 1223
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 4/74
`
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`First Named Inventor Michael Taster
`Patent fries are sutiject to annual revision.
`'——"“'———_—————————_‘“’—‘—— Examiner Name
`Du, Thuan N.
`E} Applicant claims small entity status. See 37 CFR 1.27
`GrouplAn Unit
`2135
`\ TOTAL AMOUNT OF PAYMENT
`($)
`370
`Attorne Docket No.
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 5/74
`
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`126
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`370
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`Fee Desoription
`Surcharge ~ late filing fee or oath
`Surcharge < late provisional filing fee
`or cover sheet.
`Nm‘Enqlish specification
`130
`For filing a request for reexamination
`2,52ti
`Requesting publication of SIR prior to
`920'
`Examiner action
`1.840' Requesting publication of SIR after
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`55
`Extension for reply within first month
`___—
`200
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`Filing a brief in support of an appeal ~_‘_“
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`Processing fee under 37 CFR 1,17 (at _
`Strnt
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`Recording each patent assignment
`per property (times number of
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`__
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`FEE CALCULATION
`L‘NG FEE
`itiman_ SmailEntity
`Far
`Fen Wu!
`'F"
`F“
`Coda
`(Si
`Code
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`Fee Paid
`370
`Utility filing fee
`370 _—
`101
`740
`201
`105
`330
`206
`165
`Design flung fee
`107
`510
`207
`255
`Plant filing fee
`105
`74C
`203
`370
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`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 5/74
`
`

`

`:21.
`
`'
`
`"l 31.1211 .211. 1.21:1;
`
`in 1221:;
`
`Divisional
`
`Flexible interface For Communication Between
`A Host And An Analog l/O Device Connected
`To The Interface Regardless The Type Of The
`|/O Device
`
`710
`
`2185
`
`No
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`Flexible interface For Communication Between
`A Host And An Analog l/O Device Connected
`To The Interface Regardless The Type Of The
`I/O Device
`
`13189.129D1 (.150)
`No
`
`No
`
`FIG. 1
`
`2 sheets
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Preliminary Amendment
`No
`
`N/A
`
`‘No
`
`
`
`Aarflsaflgula.__taSheet
`
`Application Information
`
`Applicaiion Type::
`
`Subject Matter:
`
`Suggested Classification:
`
`Suggested Group Art Unit::
`CD-ROM or CD-R ’?::
`
`Number of CD Disks:
`
`Number of copies of CDs::
`
`Sequence submission?::
`
`Computer Readable Form (CRF)?::
`
`Number of copies of CRF:
`Title:
`
`Attorney Docket Number:
`
`Request for Early Pu blication’?::
`
`Request for Non-Publication?::
`
`Suggested Drawing Figure:
`
`Total Drawing Sheets:
`
`Small Entityzz
`Petition lncluded?::
`
`Petition Type:
`
`Licensed US Govt. Agency::
`Contract or Grant Numbers::
`
`Secrecy Order in Parent Appl.?::
`
`539W]
`
`  
`
`

 
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 6/74
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 6/74
`
`

`

`‘i 11in “3&1!
`
`.iii|.. {Hill
`
`i155? m liIIii Ziii‘ii‘
`
`.1
`
`
`
`Applicant information
`
`Applicant Authority type::
`
`Primary Citizenship
`Country:
`Status:
`
`Given Name::
`
`Middle Name:
`
`Family Name::
`Name Sufiixzi
`
`inventor
`
`Germany
`Current
`
`Michael
`
`N/A
`
`Tasler
`
`N/A
`
`City of Residence:
`State or Province of Residence::
`
`Wuerzburg
`N/A
`
`Country of Residence:
`
`Street of mailing address:
`
`City of mailing address::
`
`State or Province of mailing address:
`
`Country of mailing address:
`
`Postal or Zip Code of mailing address::
`
`Germany
`Cronthalstrasse 6c
`
`Wuerzburg
`N/A
`
`Germany
`D-97074
`
`Correspondence Information
`
`Correspondence Customer Number:
`Name:
`
`24283
`
`Carl A. Forest
`
`Street of mailing address:
`
`City of mailing address:
`
`State or Province of mailing acldressz:
`
`Postal or Zip Code of mailing address:
`Phone Number:
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`Fax: Number::
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`E—mall acldresssz:
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`N/A
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`N/A
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`N/A
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`MA
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`303-379-1114
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`303-379-1155
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`CForest@ pattonboggs.com
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`839W}
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`Lil."
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`"3 .Lili.’iifil.iili..liiill?!iiii
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`illffiiiiiiijllifl
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`Representative Information
`
`ififi'tigie—niafiye Customer
`_
`[N0 more than 9 digits]
`h
`Nurnbe r: :
`24283
`
`
`Domestic Priority information
`
`
`
`Apriiicaitionu
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`Continuity Type:
`
`Parent Application:
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`Parent Filing 0—51ng
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`7E“ '"
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`Divisional
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`’7 09/331 ,002
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`June 14, 1999 "‘
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`:::::__m_:fi—ifl
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`"—
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`Foreign Priority information
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`
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`Applicatim‘ N03:
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`Filing Date:
`
`Priority Claimed:
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`»
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`1970137553
`
`March 4, 1997
`
`Yes
`
`""""
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`country“
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`Gerifiariy"
`
`PCT”
`
`‘
`
`EP98/01187
`
`March 3, 1998
`
`Yes
`
`‘
`
`Assignee information
`
`Assignee name:
`
`Labortechnik Tasler GmbH
`
`Street of mailing address::
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`Cronthalstrasse 60
`
`City of mailing address:
`
`Wuerzburg
`
`State or Province of mailing address:
`
`N/A
`
`Country of mailing address:
`
`Germany
`
`Postal or Zip Code of mailing address:
`
`97074
`
`Recordation Date:
`Reel/Frai‘nezz
`
`I
`
`July 23, 2001
`012023/0515
`
`li391vl
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`3
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 8/74
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`National Phase of PCT/EP98/01187 in U.S.A.
`Title: Fléxible Interface
`
`Applicant: TASLER, Michael
`s
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`Translation of PCT Application PCT/EP9B/01187
`as originally filed
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`"iii 31%.. iii]! 93531
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`
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`Flexible Interface
`
`Description
`
`The present invention relates to the transfer of data and in particular to interface
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`devices for communication between a computer or host device and a data
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`transmit/receive device from which data is to be acquired or with which two«way
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`communication is to take place.
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`Existing data acquisition systems for computers are very limited in their areas of
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`application. Generally such systems can be classified into two groups.
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`In the first group host devices or computer systems are attached by means of an
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`interface to a device whose data is to be acquired. The interfaces of this group are
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`normally standard interfaces which, with specific driver software, can be used with a
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`variety of host systems. An advantage of such interfaces is that they are largely
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`independent of the host device. However, a disadvantage is that they generally require
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`very sophisticated drivers which are prone to malfunction and which limit data
`transfer rates between the device connected to the interface and the host device and
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`vice versa. Further, it is often very difficult to implement such interfaces for portable
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`systems and they offer few possibilities for adaptation with the result
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`that such
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`systems offer little flexibility.
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`The devices from which data is to be acquired cover the entire electrical engineering
`spectrum. In a typical case, it is assumed that a customer who operates, for example, a
`diagnostic radiology system in a medical engineering environment reports a fault. A
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`field service technician of the system manufacturer visits the customer and reads
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`system log files generated by the diagnostic radiology system by means a. portable
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`Computer or laptop for example. If the fault cannot be localized or if the fault is
`intermittent, it will be necessary for the service technician to read not only an error
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`log file but also data from current. operation. It is apparent that in this case fast data.
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`transfer and rapid data analysis are necessary.
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`in (fill til: ..
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`Another case requiring;
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`the use of an interface could be, for example, when an
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`electronic: measuring device, e.g. a multimeter, is attached to a computer system to
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`transfer the data measured by the multimeter to the computer. Particularly when long
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`term measurements or large volumes of data are involved is it necessary for the
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`interface to support a high data transfer rate.
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`From these randomly chosen examples it can be seen that an interface may be put to
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`totally different uses. It is therefore desirable that an interface be sufficiently flexible
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`to permit attachment of very different electrical or electronic systems to a host device
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`by means of the interface. To prevent operator error, it is also desirable that a service
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`technician is not required to operate different interfaces in different ways for different
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`applications but that, if possible, a universal method of operating the interface be
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`provided for a large number of applications.
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`To increase the data transfer rates across an interface, the route chosen in the second
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`group of data acquisition systems for the interface devices was to specifically match
`the interface very closely to individual host systems or computer systems. The
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`advantage of this solution is that high data transfer rates are possible. However, a
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`dis advantage is that the drivers for the interfaces of the second group are very closely
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`matched to a single host system with the result that they generally cannot be used with
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`other host systems or their use is very ineffective. Further, such types of interface
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`have the disadvantage that they must be installed inside the computer casing to
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`achieve maximum data transfer rates as they access the internal host bus system. They
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`are therefore generally not suitable for portable host; systems in the form of laptops
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`whose minimum possible size leaves little internal space to plug in an interface card.
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`A, solution to this problem is offered by the interface devices of IOtech (business
`address: 25971 Cannon Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44146, USA) which are suitable for
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`laptops such as the WaveBook/Sifz (registered trade.mark).'The interface devices are
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`connected by means of a plug~in card, approximately the size of a credit card, to the
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`PCMCIA interface which is now a standard feature in laptops. The plug—in card
`converts the PCMCIA interface into an interface known in the art as IEEE 1284. The
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`said plug—in card provides a special printer interface which is enhanced as regards the
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`data transfer rate and delivers a data transfer rate of approximately 2 MBps as
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`compared with a rate of approx.
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`1 MBps for known printer interfaces. The known
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`interface device generally consists of a driver component, a digital signal processor, a
`buffer and a hardware module which terminates in a connector to which the device
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`whose data is to be acquired is attached. The driver component is attached directly to
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`the enhanced printer interface thus permitting the known interface device to establish
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`a connection between a computer and the device whose data is to he acquired.
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`In order to work with the said interface, an interface—specific driver must be installed
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`on the host device so that the host device can communicate with the digital signal
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`processor of the interface card. As described above, the driver must be installed on the
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`host device. If the driver is a driver developed specifically for the host device, a high
`data transfer rate is achieved but the driver cannot be easily installed on a different ‘
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`host system. However, if the driver is a general driver which is as flexible as possible
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`and which can be used on many host devices, compromises must be accepted with
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`regard to the data transfer rate.
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`Particularly in an application for multi-tasking systems in which several different
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`tasks such as data acquisition, data display and editing are to be performed quasi—
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`simultaneously, each task is normally assigned a certain priority by the host system. A
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`driver Supporting a special task requests the central processing system of the host
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`device for processor resources in order to perform its task. Depending on the
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`particular priority assignment method and on the driver implementation, a particular
`share of processor resources is assigned to a special task in particular time slots.
`Conflicts arise if one or more drivers are implemented in such a way that they have
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`the highest priority by default,
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`i.e.. they are incompatible, as happens in practice in
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`many applications. It may occur that both drivers are set to highest priority which, in
`the worst case, can result in a system crash.
`
`EP 0685799 A1 discloses an interface by means of which several peripheral devices
`can be attached to a bus. An interface is connected between the bus of a host device
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`and various peripheral devices. The interface comprises a finite state machine and
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`several branches each of which is assigned to a peripheral device. Each branch
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`comprises a data manager, cycle control, user logic and a buffer. This known interface
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`device provides optimal matching between a host device and a specific peripheral
`device.
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`The Specialist publication IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 38, No. 05, page
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`2145', “Communication Method between Devices through FDD Interface" discloses an
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`interface which connects a host device to a peripheral device via a floppy disk drive
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`interface. The interface consists in particular of an address generator, an MFM
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`ancoder/decoder, a serial/parallel adapter and a format signal generator. The interface
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`makes'it possible to attach not only a floppy disk drive but also a further peripheral
`device to the FDD host controller of a host device. The host device assumes that a
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`floppy disk drive is always attached to its
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`floppy disk drive controller and
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`communication is initiated if the address is correct. However, this document contains
`
`no information as to how communication should be possible if the interface is
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`connected to a multipurpose interface instead of to a floppy disk drive controller.
`
`invention to provide an interface device for
`the object of the present
`is
`It
`communication between a host device and a data transmit/receive device whose use is
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`host device-independent and which delivers a high data transfer rate.
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`This object is achieved by an interface device accordingto claim 1 or 12 and by a
`method according to claim 15.
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`The present invention is based on the finding that both a high data transfer rate anti
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`host device-independent use can be achieved if a driver for an input/output device
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`customary in a host device, normally present in most commercially available host
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`devices, is utilized. Drivers for input/output devices customary in a host device which
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`are found in practically all host devices are, for example, drivers for hard disks, for
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`graphics devices or for printer devices. As however the hard disk interfaces in
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`common host devices which can be, for example, IBM PCs, IBM-compatible PCs,
`Commodore PCs, Apple computers or even workstations, are the interfaces with the
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`highest data transfer rate, the hard disk driver is utilized in the preferred embodiment
`
`of the interface device of the present invention. Drivers for other storage devices such
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`as floppy disk drives, CD-ROM drives or tape drives could also be utilized in order to
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`implement the interface device according to the present invention.
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`As described in the following, the interface device according to the present invention
`
`is to be attached to a host device by means of a multi—purpose interface of the host
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`device which can be implemented, for example, as an SCSI interface or as an
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`enhanced printer interface. Mold-purpose interfaces comprise both an interface card
`and specific driver software for the interface card. The driver software can be
`
`designed so that it can replace the BIOS driver routines. Communication between the
`host device and the devices attached to the multipurpose interface then essentially
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`takes place by means of the specific driver software for the multi-purpose interface
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`and no longer primarily by means of BIOS routines of the host device. Recently
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`however drivers for muilti—purpose interfaces can also already be integrated in the
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`BIOS system of the host device as, alongside classical input/output interfaces, multi—
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`purpose interfaces are becoming increasingly common in host devices. it is of course
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`also possible to use BIOS routines in parallel with the specific driver software for the
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`multi—purpose interface, if this is desired.
`
`The interface device according to the present invention comprises a processor means,
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`a memory means, a first connecting device for interfacing the host device with the
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`interface device, and a second connecting device for interfacing the interface device I
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`with the data transmit/receive device. The interface device is configured by the
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`processor means and the memory means in such a way that the interface device, when
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`receiving an inquiry from the host device via the first connecting device as to the type
`of a device attached to the host device, sends a signal, regardless of the type of the
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`data transmit/receive device,
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`to the host device via the fast connecting device which
`
`signals to the host device that it is communicating with an input/output device. The
`
`interface device according to the present invention therefore simulates, both in terms
`of hardware and software,
`the way in which a conventional input/output device
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`functions, preferably that of a hard disk drive. As support
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`for hard disks is
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`implemented as standard in all commercially available host systems, the simulation of
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`a hard disk. for example, can provide host device-independent use. The interface
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`device according to the present invention therefore: no longer communicates with the
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`host device or computer by means of a specially designed driver but.by means of a
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`program which, is present in the 3108 system (Basic Input/Output System) and is
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`normally precisely matched to the specific computer system on which it is installed,
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`or by means of a specific program for the multipurpose interface Consequently, the
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`interface device according to the present invention combines the advantages of both
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`groups, On the one hand, communication between the computer and the interface
`
`takes place by means of a host device-specific BIOS program or by means of a driver
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`program which is matched to the multi—purpose interface and which could be regarded
`
`as a "device—specific driver". On the other hand,
`
`the BIOS program or
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`a
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`corresponding multi-purpose interface program which operates one of the common
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`input/output interfaces in host systems is therefore present in all host systems so that
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`the interface device according to the present invention is host device-independent.
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`In, the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in
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`more detail with reference to the drawings enclosed, in which:
`
`Eig. 1
`
`shows a general block diagram of the interface device according to the
`
`present invention; and
`
`\m
`Fig . 2 shows a detailed block diagram of an interface device according to a preferred
`
`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`Fig.
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`1 shows a general block diagram of an interface device 10 according to the
`
`present invention. A first connecting device 12 of the interface device 10 can be
`
`attached to a host device (not shown) via a host line 11. The first connecting device is
`attached both to a digital signal processor 13 and to a memory means 14. The digital
`signal processor 13 and the memory means 14 are also attached to a second
`
`connecting device 15 by means of bi—directional communication lines (shown for all
`
`lines by means of two directional arrows). The second connecting device can be
`
`attached by means of an output line 16 to a data transmit/receive device which is to
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`receive data from the host device or from which data is to be read, i.e. acquired, and
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`transferred to the host device. The data transmit/receive device itself can also
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`communicate actively with the host device via the first and second connecting device,
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`as described in more detail in the following.
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`Communication between the host system or host device and the interface device is
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`based on known standard access commands as supported by all known operating
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`systems (e. g. DOS, Windows, Unixl. Preferably, the interface device according to the
`
`invention simulates a hard disk with a root directory whose entries are
`present
`"virtual" files which can be created for the most varied functions. When the host
`
`device system with which the interface device according to the present invention is
`connected is booted and a data transmit/receive device is also attached to the interface
`
`device 10, usual BIOS routines or multipurpose interface programs issue an
`
`instruction, known by those skilled in the art as the INQUIRY instruction,
`
`to the
`
`input/output interfaces in the host device. The digital signal processor 13 receives this
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`inquiry instruction via the first connecting device and generates a signal which is sent
`to the host device (not shown) again via the first connecting device 12 and the host
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`line 11. This signal indicates to the host device that, for example, a hard disk drive is
`
`attached at the interface to which the INQUIRY instruction was sent. Optionally, the
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`host device can send an inStruction, known by those skilled in the art as "Test Unit
`
`Ready”, to the interface device to request more precise details regarding the queried
`device.
`
`Regardless of which data transmit/receive device at the output line 1