US5644254A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Rapid switching input-output couplers for high rate data transfer buses
Assignee: Bull SAS
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Filing: 1996-01-31
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Granted: 1997-07-01
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Expires: 2016-01-31
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to the field of rapid switching input-output couplers for high rate data transfer buses. The input-output coupler of an integrated circuit enables signals to be exchanged with identical couplers disposed in other integrated circuits by means of a bus line (51). Such a coupler comprises a transmitter (6) and a receiver (7) connected to a line (51) by a first conductor (5). The transmitter (6) comprises a first switch (63) whose on condition puts the first conductor (5) at a potential Vb. The coupler comprises additionally a second switch (64) or (65) whose on condition switches the first conductor (5) to a potential Vtt and arranged such that the switching on of the second switch is only possible after the switching off of the first switch (63). Accordingly, rapid switching on of the second switch (64) or (65), enables rapid variations to be obtained between two discrete states of potential Vb and Vtt of the electrical conductor connecting the transmitter to the bus line, with high stability in each of these two states.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Marie Boudry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:59
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/003; H03K19/00346; H03K19/00361; H03K17/00; H03K17/16; H03K19/02; H03K19/08; H03K19/094; H04; H04L; H04L25/00; H04L25/02; H04L25/0264; H04L25/0278; H04L25/028; H04L25/0292
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
An input-output coupler for an integrated circuit, for exchanging signals with at least two identical couplers of other integrated circuits through a bus line (51) having a characteristic impedance, comprising a transmitter (6) and a receiver (7) connected to the bus line (51) through a first conductor (5), the transmitter (6) comprising a first switch (63) having an on and an off condition, said first switch (63) in said on condition adapted to take the first conductor (5) to a potential Vb and in said off condition adapted to take said first conductor (5) to a potential different than Vb propagated along said bus line (51), at least one second switch (64), (65) having an on and an off condition, said second switch in the on condition adapted to take the first conductor (5) to a potential Vtt, and said second switch being so constructed and arranged such that switching on of the second switch (64), (65) is only possible after the first switch (63) has been switched to the off condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
An input-output coupler for an integrated circuit, for exchanging signals with at least two identical couplers of other integrated circuits through a bus line (51) having a characteristic impedance, comprising a transmitter (6) and a receiver (7) connected to the bus line (51) through a first conductor (5), the transmitter (6) comprising a first switch (63) having an on and an off condition, said first switch (63) in said on condition adapted to take the first conductor (5) to a potential Vb and in said off condition adapted to take said first conductor (5) to a potential different than Vb propagated along said bus line (51), at least one second switch (64), (65) having an on and an off condition, said second switch in the on condition adapted to take the first conductor (5) to a potential Vtt, and said second switch being so constructed and arranged such that switching on of the second switch (64), (65) is only possible after the first switch (63) has been switched to the off condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that the second switch (64) is switched to the on condition when the potential of the first conductor (5) exceeds a threshold beyond the potential Vtt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 1, including means for generating a first command for switching on the second switch (65), means for generating a second command for blocking said first command and for switching said first switch (63) to its on condition, and means for unblocking said first command after an infinitesimal delay when the first switch (63) is switched to an off condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 3, including means for generating a first command for switching on the first switch (63), means for generating a second command for blocking said first command and for switching on the second switch (65), and means for unblocking said first command after an infinitesimal delay when the second switch (65) is switched to an off condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 3, further comprising a logic gate for providing the infinitesimal delay after the first switch (63) is switched to an off condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 4, further comprising a logic gate (66) for providing the infinitesimal delay after the first switch (63) is switched to the off condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
An input-output coupler according to claim l, further comprising a second conductor (55) and an impedance switch (92, 93), connected between the first conductor (5) and second conductor (55), said impedance switch having an on and an off condition and an impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of the bus line (51), the impedance switch being in an on condition when the coupler is situated at one of the ends of the bus line (51) in a non-transmission mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 2, characterized in when the second switch (64) is in the on condition, electrical conductivity of the second switch increases with the potential of the first conductor (5).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 2, characterized in that the second switch (64) comprises an MOS transistor having a drain connected to a second conductor (55) at a potential Vtt and a gate and source connected to the first conductor (5).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 7, characterized in that the impedance switch (92, 93) comprises MOS transistors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 3, characterized in that the second switch (64) comprises an MOS transistor having a drain connected to a second conductor (55) at a potential Vtt and a gate and source connected to the first conductor (5).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 4, characterized in that the second switch (64) comprises an MOS transistor having a drain connected to a second conductor (55) at a potential Vtt and a gate and source connected to the first conductor (5).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 5, characterized in that the second switch (64) comprises an MOS transistor having a drain connected to a second conductor (55) at a potential Vtt and a gate and source connected to the first conductor (5).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 6, characterized in that the second switch (64) comprises an MOS transistor having a drain connected to a second conductor (55) at a potential Vtt and a gate and source connected to the first conductor (5).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 7, characterized in that the second switch (64) comprises an MOS transistor having a drain connected to a second conductor (55) at a potential Vtt and a gate and source connected to the first conductor (5).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 8, characterized in that the second switch (64) comprises an MOS transistor having a drain connected to a second conductor (55) at a potential Vtt and a gate and source connected to the first conductor (5).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
An input-output coupler according to claim 10, characterized in that the second switch (64) comprises an MOS transistor having a drain connected to a second conductor (55) at a potential Vtt and a gate and source connected to the first conductor (5).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-30 | 2000-12-30 | 2001-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-30 | 2004-12-30 | 2005-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-30 | 2008-12-30 | 2009-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |