MDIO integrated bidirectional digital isolator
First Claim
1. A method of communicating and isolating a digital signal across an interface between a master device and a plurality of slave devices, the method comprising:
- receiving the digital signal;
analyzing the digital signal to determine an occurrence of a read transaction;
upon determining the occurrence of a read transaction, transmitting the digital signal through an isolation channel from one of the plurality of slave devices; and
transmitting the isolated digital signal to the master device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interface between two or more integrated circuit devices employs isolation techniques to provide electrical isolation of a digital signal for transmission of the digital signal between a master device and one or more slave devices. Unidirectional isolator channels are utilized to transmit bidirectional digital signals, and a selection of an isolator channel operating in an intended direction is performed by direction control logic. Logic that monitors read and write transactions operates to determine a desired direction of the digital signal and accordingly directs the digital signal through an appropriate isolator channel.
12 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of communicating and isolating a digital signal across an interface between a master device and a plurality of slave devices, the method comprising:
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receiving the digital signal; analyzing the digital signal to determine an occurrence of a read transaction; upon determining the occurrence of a read transaction, transmitting the digital signal through an isolation channel from one of the plurality of slave devices; and transmitting the isolated digital signal to the master device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. One or more integrated circuit device having a process embodied in said integrated circuit device, said process performing a method of communicating and isolating a digital signal across an interface between a master device and a plurality of slave devices, the method comprising:
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receiving the digital signal; analyzing the digital signal to determine an occurrence of a read transaction; upon determining the occurrence of a read transaction, transmitting the digital signal through an isolation channel from one of the plurality of slave devices;
antransmitting the isolated digital signal to the master device - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An isolator component for communicating and electrically isolating a digital signal between a master device and a plurality of slave devices, the isolator component comprising:
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bi-directional communication ports for transmitting and receiving the digital signal between the devices; direction detection/control logic for determining a direction of the digital signal by monitoring an occurrence of a read transaction; and uni-directional isolator channels for isolating the digital signal upon determination of the direction of the digital signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification