Patent · US Expired

Network interface apparatus and method for reducing conflicts through the use of times

US5378067A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
11References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 24, 1993
Grant dateJan 3, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 24, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F13/387
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A network interface circuit is interconnected to a network terminal to enable the network terminal to communicate with other network terminals on a local terminal network. The network interface circuit includes an RS-485 transceiver including a driver and transmitter function. A status timer 42 controls a status line back to the network so as to indicate to the network terminal when the network is in use. A driver timer is present to automatically enable the driver function of the RS-485 circuit when a start bit is received from the network terminal, the driver timer being designed to insure that RS-485 transmitter function remains active until all the data has been transmitted.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.