Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides a system for communicating information from a detachable appliance to a base unit so that the base unit can calibrate its operation to match the characteristics of the detachable appliance. The invention has particular benefits when used with medical lasers. A receptacle, mounted on the laser base unit, is provided for operatively receiving a plug on the appliance and transferring energy from the base unit to the detachable appliance. To convey information about the appliance from the appliance to the base unit, an information bearing surface is mounted on the plug and is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the external surface of the plug. The information bearing surface includes a plurality of information zones which are each machine readable and optically readable by the base unit. The base unit includes components for optically detecting and decoding the information embedded in the information zones when the plug is received by the receptacle. The structure of the present invention included on the appliance is reliable and does not appreciably increase the cost of the appliance and thus can be disposed of after a single use. Moreover, appliances provided with the present invention can still be used with base units which are not equipped in accordance with the present invention to detect the information presented on the appliance.

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First Claim