SHUTDOWN PROTECTION FOR BUS LINE DRIVERS
First Claim
1. An electrical circuit for driving a bus, comprising:
- a plurality of branches coupled to at least one signal line at a termination of the bus;
a transmit data input configured to receive data that the electrical circuit drives across the bus;
an over-current validation unit coupled to the transmit data input, wherein the over-current validation unit is configured to validate an over-current condition detected at a first branch of the plurality of branches based at least in part on the data at the transmit data input; and
a branch control unit coupled to the over-current validation unit and configured to disable at least one of the plurality of branches in response to a validated over-current condition at the first branch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical circuit for driving a bus is described that includes a plurality of branches coupled to at least one signal line at a termination of the bus and a transmit data input configured to receive data that the electrical circuit drives across the bus. The electrical circuit also includes an over-current validation unit coupled to the transmit data input which is configured to validate an over-current condition detected at a first branch of the plurality of branches based at least in part on the data at the transmit data input. The electrical circuit also includes a branch control unit coupled to the over-current validation unit which is configured to disable at least one of the plurality of branches in response to a validated over-current condition at the first branch.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An electrical circuit for driving a bus, comprising:
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a plurality of branches coupled to at least one signal line at a termination of the bus; a transmit data input configured to receive data that the electrical circuit drives across the bus; an over-current validation unit coupled to the transmit data input, wherein the over-current validation unit is configured to validate an over-current condition detected at a first branch of the plurality of branches based at least in part on the data at the transmit data input; and a branch control unit coupled to the over-current validation unit and configured to disable at least one of the plurality of branches in response to a validated over-current condition at the first branch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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detecting an over-current condition at a first branch of a plurality of branches of a driver unit coupled to a bus for driving at least one signal line of the bus; validating the over-current condition based at least in part on data at a transmit data input of the driver unit; and disabling at least one branch of the plurality of branches in response to validating the over-current condition at the first branch. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A device comprising:
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means for detecting an over-current condition at a first branch of a plurality of branches of a driver unit coupled to a bus for driving at least one signal line of the bus; means for validating the over-current condition based at least in part on data at a transmit data input of the driver unit and in response to a change in the data; and means for disabling at least one branch of the plurality of branches in response to validating the over-current condition at the first branch. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification