Method and apparatus for providing high performance interconnection between interface circuits coupled to information buses
First Claim
1. Apparatus for interconnecting first and second interface circuits respectively coupled to first and second information buses each having a plurality of data lines, the apparatus comprising:
- first and second unidirectional information paths each having conductors for conducting a plurality of data signals, each of the first and second information paths conducting a number of data signals less than the number of data lines in at least one of the information buses;
a first interconnect module for coupling to the first interface circuit, the first interconnect module comprising a first pair of registers each for respectively and simultaneously receiving a set of a first pair of sets of information from the first interface circuit, a first multiplexer for sequentially transferring each set of the first pair of sets of information bits from the first pair of registers over the data lines of the first information path, and a first connector coupled to the first multiplexer;
a second interconnect module for coupling to the second interface circuit, the second interconnect module comprising a second pair of registers each for respectively supplying a set of the first pair of sets of information bits to the second interface circuit, a second connector removably connected to the first connector, and first demultiplexer means coupled to the second connector for receiving the first pair of sets of information bits sequentially transferred by the first multiplexer and for respectively supplying the first pair of sets of information bits to the second pair of registers;
a third interconnect module for coupling to the second interface circuit and comprising a third pair of registers each for respectively and simultaneously receiving a set of a second pair of sets of information bits from the second interface circuit, a second multiplexer coupled to the second connector for sequentially transferring each set of the second pair of sets of information bits from the third pair of registers over the data lines of the second information path; and
a fourth interconnect module for coupling to the first interface circuit and comprising a fourth pair of registers each for respectively and simultaneously supplying a set of the second pair of sets of information bits to the first interface circuit, and second demultiplexer means coupled to the first connector for receiving the second pair of sets of information bits sequentially transferred by the second multiplexer and for respectively supplying the second pair of sets of information bits to the fourth pair of registers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for interconnecting first and second information buses each having a plurality of data lines. A pair of unidirectional information paths each consisting of twisted-pair cables are provided, along with a 25 MHz strobe. Information is transmitted using pseudo-ECL signal levels. A pair of clock differential receiver circuits is provided such that data is transferred over the interconnect bus using both the rising and falling edges of the transmitted clock signal and transferred from one bus to another at a rate of 50 MHz.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. Apparatus for interconnecting first and second interface circuits respectively coupled to first and second information buses each having a plurality of data lines, the apparatus comprising:
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first and second unidirectional information paths each having conductors for conducting a plurality of data signals, each of the first and second information paths conducting a number of data signals less than the number of data lines in at least one of the information buses; a first interconnect module for coupling to the first interface circuit, the first interconnect module comprising a first pair of registers each for respectively and simultaneously receiving a set of a first pair of sets of information from the first interface circuit, a first multiplexer for sequentially transferring each set of the first pair of sets of information bits from the first pair of registers over the data lines of the first information path, and a first connector coupled to the first multiplexer; a second interconnect module for coupling to the second interface circuit, the second interconnect module comprising a second pair of registers each for respectively supplying a set of the first pair of sets of information bits to the second interface circuit, a second connector removably connected to the first connector, and first demultiplexer means coupled to the second connector for receiving the first pair of sets of information bits sequentially transferred by the first multiplexer and for respectively supplying the first pair of sets of information bits to the second pair of registers; a third interconnect module for coupling to the second interface circuit and comprising a third pair of registers each for respectively and simultaneously receiving a set of a second pair of sets of information bits from the second interface circuit, a second multiplexer coupled to the second connector for sequentially transferring each set of the second pair of sets of information bits from the third pair of registers over the data lines of the second information path; and a fourth interconnect module for coupling to the first interface circuit and comprising a fourth pair of registers each for respectively and simultaneously supplying a set of the second pair of sets of information bits to the first interface circuit, and second demultiplexer means coupled to the first connector for receiving the second pair of sets of information bits sequentially transferred by the second multiplexer and for respectively supplying the second pair of sets of information bits to the fourth pair of registers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for interconnecting an interface circuit, coupled to a first information bus, to an adapter module coupled to a second information bus, each of the information buses having a plurality of data lines, the apparatus comprising:
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first and second unidirectional information paths each having conductors for conducting a plurality of data signals, each of said first and second information paths conducting a number of data signals less than the number of data lines in at least one of the information buses; a transmitter interconnect module for coupling to the interface circuit, the transmitter interconnect module comprising a first pair of registers each for respectively and simultaneously receiving a set of a first pair of sets of information bits from the interface circuit, and a multiplexer for sequentially transferring each set of the first pair of sets of information bits from the first pair of registers over the data lines of the first information path, and a connector coupled to the multiplexer; and a receiver interconnect module for coupling to the interface circuit, the receiver interconnect module comprising a second pair of registers each for respectively and simultaneously supplying a set of a second pair of sets of information bits to the interface circuit, and demultiplexer means coupled to the connector for sequentially receiving the second pair of sets of information bits over the second information path and for respectively supplying the second pair of sets of information bits to the second pair of registers; and control means for initiating transfer of information bits from the interface circuit to the adapter module in response to commands received from the interface circuit, and for responding to requests from the adapter module to the interface circuit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for interconnecting first and second interface circuits respectively coupled to first and second information buses each having a plurality of data lines, the method comprising the steps of:
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respectively and simultaneously receiving a first pair of sets of information bits from the first interface circuit into a first pair of registers; operating a first multiplexer to sequentially transfer each set of the first pair of sets of information bits from the first pair of registers over conductors of a first information path; respectively receiving, in a second pair of registers, the first pair of sets of information bits sequentially transferred by the first multiplexer; respectively and simultaneously supplying the first pair of sets of information bits from the second pair of registers to the second interface circuit; respectively and simultaneously receiving a second pair of sets of information bits from the second interface circuit into a third pair of registers; operating a second multiplexer to sequentially transfer each set of the second pair of sets of information bits from the third pair of registers over conductors of a second information path; respectively receiving, in a fourth pair of registers, the second pair of sets of information bits sequentially transferred by the second multiplexer; and respectively and simultaneously supplying the second pair of sets of information bits from the fourth pair of registers to the first interface circuit.
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22. A method for interconnecting an interface circuit, coupled to a first information bus, to an adapter module coupled to a second information bus, each of the information buses having a plurality of data lines, the method comprising the steps of:
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respectively and simultaneously receiving a first pair of sets of information bits from the interface circuit into a first pair of registers; operating a multiplexer to sequentially transfer each set of the first pair of sets of information bits from the first pair of registers over data lines of a first information path; respectively receiving in sequence, in a second pair of registers from a second information path, a second pair of sets of information bits from the adapter module; and respectively and simultaneously supplying the second pair of sets of information bits from the second pair of registers to the interface circuit. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method for interconnecting an interface circuit, coupled to a first information bus, to an adapter module coupled to a second information bus, each of the information buses having a plurality of data lines, the method comprising the steps of:
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respectively and simultaneously receiving a first pair of sets of information bits from the interface circuit into a first pair of registers; operating a multiplexer to sequentially transfer each set of the first pair of sets of information bits from the first pair of registers over data lines of a first unidirectional information path; respectively receiving in sequence, in a second path of registers from a second unidirectional information path, a second pair of sets of information bits from the adapter module; and respectively and simultaneously supplying the second pair of sets of information bits from the second pair of registers to the interface circuit.
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Specification