Patent · US Expired

Current-based contention detection and handling system

US5941997A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
9References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 10, 1997
Grant dateAug 24, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 10, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N5/268
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A current-based contention detection and handling system, upon detection of excessive current being applied to a communicating subsystem, avoids potential system damage by preventing continued excessive current. In a preferred embodiment, a current sensor and a subsystem control unit are provided in each communicating subsystem. The subsystem control unit preferably includes a latch and control logic. A system coordinator is further preferably provided for directing recovery. Upon current sensor detection of excessive current to a subsystem bus driver, the subsystem control unit disables the bus driver and asserts an interrupt and fault line to alert the system coordinator. The system coordinator confirms the alert and, upon confirmation, a preferably resets both the subsystem and the subsystem control unit. The subsystem control unit preferably includes a latch and control logic.

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