Data bus for a plurality of nodes

• US 6,744,985 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2000
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Berwanger, Josef, Griessbach, Robert, Peller, Martin, Smuk, Karel
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Leslie
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, DZUNG D
• Application Number:
  US09/623,898
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 398/60, 398/61, 398/63, 398/73
• US Class Current: 398/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks

Abstract

A data bus structure for cooperating with a plurality of nodes which are connected to each other. The data bus structure includes optical transmission modules associated with each node and a logical decision gate having inputs associated with each node. The logical decision output signal is provided in parallel to each node through the optical transmission modules. These modules serve to convert optical signals from the nodes to electrical signals and output to the logical decision gate and to convert electrical signals output from the logical decision gate to optical signals and output to the nodes. In order to separate a single node from the data bus, the transmission mode is monitored and an independently controlled switch is positioned between the logical decision gate and the optical transmission module. This arrangement functions to exclude a node from bus communication while leaving the remaining nodes uninterrupted.

Claims

1. A data bus arrangement for a plurality of nodes connected to each other, said data bus arrangement comprising:

a logical decision gate having a plurality of inputs corresponding to said plurality of nodes;

at least one optical transmission converter connected between said nodes and said logical decision gate wherein each said optical transmission converter receives an optical signal from one of said nodes and provides an electrical signal to one of said inputs of said logic decision gate and wherein an output of the logic decision gate is connected to an input of each of said at least one optical transmission converter;

a plurality of switching means wherein each of the said switching means is connected between an output of one of said optical transmission converters and one of said inputs of said logical decision gate, each of said switching means including a control device for providing control of said switching means independent of an output of one of said nodes corresponding to said switching means.

2. The data bus arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said switch is addressable.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said switch device is addressable.

4. A star coupled data bus configuration for a plurality of nodes connected to each other, said configuration comprising:

a logical decision gate having a plurality of inputs corresponding to said plurality of nodes;

at least one opto-electrical transducer for converting optical signals from said nodes into electrical signals output to said inputs of logical decision gate and for converting an output from said logical decision gate into an optical signal provided to said nodes;

a plurality of switch devices, each of said switch devices being connected between one of said opto-electrical transducers and one of said inputs of said logical decision gate; and

a control device for controlling each of said switch devices independently of said plurality of nodes.