Uni and bi-directional signal transfer modes in peripheral controller and method of operating same
US5379382A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jan 3, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/385
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A peripheral controller is described which is suitable for connecting a selected one of a plurality of peripheral devices to a computer system. The peripheral controller comprises programmable bidirectional line driver/receiver devices which can be operated in an input only mode, an output only mode or a bidirectional mode and which can be set into an appropriate mode by configuration control data sent from the computer system to the peripheral controller. The peripheral controller also includes a re-configurable logic array which can be configured under the control of the configuration control data to implement a particular interface required for the selected peripheral device. This increases the efficiency of use of a peripheral interface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.