Data bus for a plurality of nodes

US6744985B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Karel Smuk · Schweitenkirchen, DE
• Robert Griessbach · Weyarn, DE
• Martin Peller · Birkenfeld, DE
• Josef Berwanger · Poing, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 16, 2000
• Grant date: Jun 1, 2004
• Expiry date: Nov 16, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F13/4022
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A data bus structure for cooperating with a plurality of nodes which are connected to each other. The data bus structure includes optical transmission modules associated with each node and a logical decision gate having inputs associated with each node. The logical decision output signal is provided in parallel to each node through the optical transmission modules. These modules serve to convert optical signals from the nodes to electrical signals and output to the logical decision gate and to convert electrical signals output from the logical decision gate to optical signals and output to the nodes. In order to separate a single node from the data bus, the transmission mode is monitored and an independently controlled switch is positioned between the logical decision gate and the optical transmission module. This arrangement functions to exclude a node from bus communication while leaving the remaining nodes uninterrupted.