Abstract: A wand which provides rapid contact to a two-terminal electronic token data module. The wand includes one contact which will make contact to the periphery of an electronic token which the wand is pressed against, and one contact which will make contact to the center of the token. Preferably the wand includes a base portion which is shaped to be worn on the second joint of a user's finger. This wand can be used for very rapid manual contacting of electronic tokens in various physical positions. This can be very advantageous in a variety of data collection/updating applications such as retail checkout, or tracking work-in-progress in a computer-assisted-manufacturing environment.

Abstract: Registered output circuitry for a memory device includes a first latch which stores data from a sense amplifier on the rising edge, and outputs it on the falling edge, of the falling edge of an OE signal. This data stored in the latch is provided as output of only y, during the preceding rising edge of the OE signal the CE signal to the memory device was a logical 0 level, and the WE signal was a logical 1 level. Since the falling edge of the OE signal is the beginning of the memory cycle, the data at the output pin of the memory is the data read in the previous read cycle. This latency, however, enables a shortened average cycle time, and also provides registered outputs without the necessity of an external clock signal applied to the memory device.

Abstract: A space-saving back-up power supply apparatus has length and width dimensions substantially the same as those of a conventional integrated circuit connector. The apparatus includes sockets arranged on its top for making connection to a socket-pluggable integrated circuit such as a standard CMOS RAM, and the apparatus has pins extending from its bottom for making connection to a printed circuit board or connector of a host electronic system. Control circuitry and one or more batteries are located within the apparatus. The back-up power supply is operative to provide power to the socket-pluggable integrated circuit even if the normal power supply of the host electronic system is short-circuited. The control circuitry of the back-up power supply controls the chip enable signal and performs a battery test upon power-up.