Patent · US Expired

Auto-termination method and apparatus for use with either active high or active low terminators

US6029216A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
53References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 27, 1997
Grant dateFeb 22, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 27, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F13/4086
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An auto-termination method and apparatus for use with either active high or active low terminators are disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) forcing a terminator to a first state by impressing a first voltage upon an input of the terminator; (b) determining, from the first voltage, a second voltage that when applied to the input of the terminator places the terminator in a second state; and (c) selectively forcing the terminator to the second state by impressing the second voltage upon the input of the terminator. The apparatus includes a terminator and a controller. The terminator is coupled to the bus and includes an input that is coupled to a first voltage that forces the terminator to a first state. The controller is coupled to the input of the terminator and is configured to determine the voltage of the first voltage coupled to the input of the terminator and to selectively force the terminator to a second state by impressing a second voltage upon the input of the terminator that is different than the first voltage.

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