What is i button ?

The i Button is a computer chip enclosed in a 16mm thick stainless steel can. Because of this unique and durable container, up-to-date information can travel with a person or object anywhere they go. The steel i Button can be mounted virtually anywhere because it is rugged enough to withstand harsh environments, indoors or outdoors. It is small and portable enough to attach to a key fob, ring, watch, or other personal items, and be used daily for applications such as access control to buildings and computers, asset management, and various data logging tasks. i Button Components The Can and Grommet An i Button uses its stainless steel'can' as an electronic communications interface. Each can has a data contact, called the 'lid', and a ground contact, called the 'base'. Each of these contacts is connected to the silicon chip inside. The lid is the top of the can; the base forms the sides andthe bottom of the can and includes a flange to simplify attaching the button to just about anything. The two contactsare separated by a polypropylene grommet. The 1-Wire Interface By simply touching the i Button tothe two contacts described above, you can communicate with it through our 1-Wire protocol. The 1-Wire interface hastwo communication speeds: standard mode at 16kbps, and overdrive mode at 142kbps. For more information, please see our application note 3989, Add Control, Memory, Security, and Mixed-Signal Functions with a Single Contact . The Address Each i Button has a unique and unalterable address laser etched onto its chip inside the can. The address (e.g. 2700000095C33108) can be used as a key or identifier for each i Button. i Button Versions The i Button product line now comprises over 20 different products with different functionality added to the basic button. i Buttons come in the following varieties: *. Address Only *. Memory *. Real-Time Clock *. Secure *. Data Loggers See tutorial 1796, " Overview of 1-Wire® Technology and Its Use ," for more details about the products. How Do I Get Information Into andOut of the i Button? Information is transferred between your i Button and a PC with a momentary contact at up to 142kbps. You simply touch your i Button to a Blue Dot receptor or other i Button probe, which is connected to a PC. The Blue Dot receptor is cabled to a 1-Wire adapter that is attached toa spare PC port. 1-Wire adapters exist for USB, serial, and parallel ports. The Blue Dot receptor and 1-Wire Adapter are inexpensive. See our Maxim Direct for pricing and availability. The i Button is also the ultimate information carrier for AutoID and many portable applications. All the latest handheld computers and PDAs can communicate with i Buttons. For a full listing of all portable devices that communicate with i Buttons, go to the i Button Solutions Search . How Durable Is the i Button? The silicon chip within the i Button is protected by the ultimate durable material: stainless steel. You can drop an i Button, step on it, or scratch it. The i Button is wear-tested for 10-year durability. What Can I Do with the i Button? The i Button is ideal for any application where information needs to travel with a person or object. Affixed to a key fob, watch, or ring, an i Button can grant its owner access to a building, a PC, a piece of equipment, or a vehicle. Attached to a work tote, it can measure processes to improve efficiency, such as manufacturing, delivery, and maintenance. Some i Button versions can be used to store electronic cash for small transactions, such as transit systems, parking meters, and vending machines. The i Button can also be used as an electronic asset tag to store information needed to keep track of valuable capital equipment. Click here to see some of the i Button Applications used around the world. What Do I Need to Put Together an i Button Application? There are four components fundamental to any i Button application: *. i Buttons *. A host system: this can be a PC, a laptop, a handheld computer, or an embedded system. *. A reader/writer device to get information into and out of the button. This can be the Blue Dot mentioned above, a pen-style probe , or a handheld device . *. A layer of software to interface i Buttons to computers and produce the desired information in the desired format. Several software development kits (SDKs) are downloadable from this site at no charge. For a list of SDKs andlinks to download, see this page . We also offer 1-Wire Drivers forMicrosoft platforms, along with the OneWireViewer , a demo application that can read/write/exercise any i Button. How Much Does It Cost to Build a Simple i Button Application? Under $50 (US$), plus your programming time. *. i Buttons cost between $2 to$95 in quantities of one; larger quantities are discounted. *. The Blue Dot receptor and 1-Wire Adapter, which together make a simple reader/writer device, cost between $38 and$43. *. The OneWireViewer demo software and SDKs are free from our web site.