System for the transmission of data

• US 6,674,762 B2
• Filed: 02/09/1998
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ST-Ericcson SA (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Eisele, Harald, Mores, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phunkulh, Bob A.
• Application Number:
  US09/020,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20030208700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,157 Days
• Field of Search: 370/311, 370/389, 370/420, 370/421, 370/445, 370/447, 370/449, 370/450, 370/451, 370/452, 455/38.2, 455/38.3, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574, 710/107
• US Class Current: 370/421
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• 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: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

In an electronic system for the transmission of data between a number of stations, sub-system operation can be achieved by a suitable choice of signal levels and wake-up levels, so that some of the stations can communicate with one another while other stations are in a sleep mode in which power is saved.

Claims

1. A transmission system comprising:

a plurality of stations, wherein the stations have a passive mode and, in response to a wake-up signal, an active mode, in the active mode information is transmitted using at least two different voltage levels, and

wherein the wake-up signal is transmitted using a third voltage level which lies outside the at least two different voltage level range for the transmission of information, and allows active stations to communicate with each other without waking passive stations.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the stations further include a bus driver to determined if a received signal is a wake-up signal by determining whether the voltage level of the received signals is outside the at least two voltage levels.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the stations further include a means for determining if a received signal is a wake-up signal by determining whether the voltage level of the received signals is outside the at least two voltage levels.

4. A station for use in a transmission system having a plurality of station, the station comprising:

a receiver for receiving data signals, using at least two different voltage levels,

wherein portions of the station are switchable to a passive mode in response to a wake-up signal and enables all portions of the station to an active mode, wherein the wake-up signal is transmitted using a third voltage level which lies outside the at least two different voltage levels for the reception of information, and allows active stations to communicate with each other without waking passive stations.

5. The station as claimed in claim 4, wherein the receiver is arranged to process the wake-up signal in the same way as the signal having the voltage level nearest to the wake-up level.

6. The station of claim 4, wherein the station further includes a means for determining if a received signal is a wake-up signal by determining whether the voltage level of the received signal is outside the at least two voltage levels.