Interface module with protection circuit and method of protecting an interface
First Claim
1. An interface module for a communications system comprising a processing device and a peripheral device which are interconnected through a communications bus having a plurality of data lines, said interface module comprising:
- a transceiver interface; and
a protection circuit, said protection circuit substantially positioned between said transceiver interface and a port configured to receive a data signal from a terminal of said communications bus, and configured to automatically provide a protection voltage to the transceiver interface if a power supply for the transceiver interface is inactive, said protection voltage being derived from said data signal received at said terminal.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interface module for a communications system includes a processing device and a peripheral device which are interconnected through a communications bus. The interface module includes a transceiver interface and a protection circuit. The protection circuit is positioned between the transceiver interface and a port configured to receive a signal from a terminal of the communications bus. The protection circuit is further configured to automatically provide a protection voltage to the transceiver interface if a power supply for the transceiver interface is inactive. The protection voltage is derived from the signal received at the terminal.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An interface module for a communications system comprising a processing device and a peripheral device which are interconnected through a communications bus having a plurality of data lines, said interface module comprising:
-
a transceiver interface; and a protection circuit, said protection circuit substantially positioned between said transceiver interface and a port configured to receive a data signal from a terminal of said communications bus, and configured to automatically provide a protection voltage to the transceiver interface if a power supply for the transceiver interface is inactive, said protection voltage being derived from said data signal received at said terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A communications system comprising:
-
a communications bus, said communications bus including a plurality of data lines and being configured to allow bidirectional signal transmission; a processing device, said processing device comprising a first interface module, said first interface module configured to connect the processing device to the communications bus; and a peripheral device, said peripheral device comprising a second interface module, said second interface module configured to connect the peripheral device to the communications bus; wherein said first and second interface modules each comprises a transceiver interface and a protection circuit, said protection circuit being substantially positioned between said transceiver interface and a port of said communications bus, and configured to automatically provide a protection voltage to the transceiver interface if a power supply for the transceiver interface is inactive, said protection voltage being derived from a data signal received at said port. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
-
-
13. An interface module for a communications system comprising a processing device and a peripheral device which are interconnected through a communications bus having a plurality of data lines, said interface module comprising:
-
a transceiver interface; and means for deriving a protection voltage from a data signal received from said bus, said means substantially positioned between said transceiver interface and a port configured to receive said data signal, and configured to automatically provide said protection voltage to the transceiver interface if a power supply for the transceiver interface is inactive.
-
-
14. A method of protecting a transceiver interface associated with a communications bus to which a processing device and a peripheral device are connected, each one of said devices comprising a transceiver interface, said method comprising:
-
positioning a protection circuit between said bus and said transceiver interface, said protection circuit having a first input for a supply voltage, a second input connected to said bus, and an output connected to the transceiver interface; generating within said protection circuit a control signal if said supply voltage is deactivated; using said control signal to couple said second input to said output in order to derive a protection voltage from a data signal received from said bus; and feeding said protection voltage to the transceiver interface via said output.
-
Specification