Method for communicating between a microprocessor and an interface circuit
US5671375A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 26, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 23, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 26, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02J7/00304
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A protocol between a microprocessor (21) and an interface circuit (11). The interface circuit (11) transmits an enable signal (124) to the microprocessor (21). Upon receiving the enable signal (124), the microprocessor (21) transmits a set of pulses of a window signal (125) to the interface circuit (11), which in turn provides the microprocessor (21) with information concerning a circuit element (36) through a data signal (127). The microprocessor (21) initiates a command by transmitting a pulse of a command signal (126) to the interface circuit (11). The interface circuit (11) accepts and executes the command only if a predetermined chronological condition between the pulse of the command signal (126) and a corresponding pulse of the window signal (125) is satisfied. The microprocessor (21) identifies a malfunctioning interface circuit (11) by timing the enable signal (124) received from the interface circuit (11).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.