Automatic bus management

• US 20080024161A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Coombs, Kevin Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 326/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40 Bus networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40032 Details regarding a bus interface enhancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40039 Details regarding the setting of the power status of a node according to activity on the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40215 Controller Area Network CAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/02 Details ; arrangements for supplying electrical power along data transmission lines systems for transmitting signals via power distribution lines H04B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0298 Arrangement for terminating transmission lines

Abstract

A method includes providing a bus, and providing a means for testing the bus for proper termination resistance during normal operation of the bus.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a bus; and

providing a means for testing the bus for proper termination resistance during normal operation of the bus.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said providing a bus comprises providing a diagnostic imaging machine bus.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said providing a means comprises providing a DC source.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said providing a means further comprises providing a switching element.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said providing a means further comprises providing a resistive element.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising monitoring the bus termination resistance.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 further comprising turning the bus off when the monitored bus termination resistance is degraded past a predetermined amount.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising notifying a user that the bus termination resistance is degraded.

9. A method comprising:

providing a bus;

monitoring the bus for proper termination resistance during normal operation of the bus; and

shutting down the bus when the bus termination resistance is degraded past a predetermined amount.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising notifying a user that the bus termination resistance is degraded past a predetermined amount.

11. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the bus is a CAN bus.

12. Apparatus comprising:

a bus; and

a circuit operationally coupled to said bus and configured to monitor said bus for proper termination resistance during normal operation of said bus.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said bus comprises a diagnostic imaging machine bus.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said circuit comprises a DC source.

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said circuit comprises a switching element.

16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said circuit comprises a resistive element.

17. A diagnostic imaging system comprising:

an x-ray source;

an x-ray detector positioned to receive x-rays emitted from said source;

a computer coupled to said source and detector; and

a device controlled by said computer, said device comprising a CAN bus, and a circuit operationally coupled to said CAN bus and configured to monitor said CAN bus for proper termination resistance during normal operation of said CAN bus.

18. A system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said computer configured to turn the bus off when the monitored bus termination resistance is degraded past a predetermined amount.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said computer configured to notify a user that the monitored bus termination resistance is degraded past a predetermined amount.

20. A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said circuit comprises:

a DC source;

at least one resistive element in electrical communication with said DC source;

and at least one switching element in electrical communication with said DC source and said resistive element.