Signal identification method and apparatus for analogue electrical systems
First Claim
1. An apparatus for identifying signals in analogue electrical systems by utilizing a plurality of identification (ID) select signals comprising:
- a plurality of input/output (I/O) pins;
at least one first multiplexer which interfaces with at least one isolated voltage source, wherein the at least one first multiplexer is at least configured to select a corresponding I/O pin of the plurality of I/O pins in response to a selected ID select signal from the plurality of ID select signals;
and wherein the at least one voltage source is at least configured to produce an alternating current (AC) signal in response to the selected ID select signal; and
at least one second multiplexer which interfaces with the at least one voltage source, wherein the at least one second multiplexer is at least configured to select the at least one isolated voltage source and ground in response to the selected ID select signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, a method, and a computer program product are provided for identifying signals in analogue electrical systems. The ID select signals that control the timing of this signal identification circuit comprise sequential numbers that count up and identify a corresponding signal. The signals to be identified are located on a group of input/output (I/O) pins. One multiplexer (first) selects a specific I/O pin in response to the ID select signals. An isolated voltage source is connected to this multiplexer and provides the selected signal to another multiplexer (second). The second multiplexer switches from this isolated voltage source to ground potential in response to the ID select signals. The isolated voltage source floats at the DC level of the selected I/O driver pin. Therefore, by connecting to the selected signal'"'"'s I/O pin and the output of the second multiplexer, the selected signal can be identified and then probed.
17 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus for identifying signals in analogue electrical systems by utilizing a plurality of identification (ID) select signals comprising:
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a plurality of input/output (I/O) pins; at least one first multiplexer which interfaces with at least one isolated voltage source, wherein the at least one first multiplexer is at least configured to select a corresponding I/O pin of the plurality of I/O pins in response to a selected ID select signal from the plurality of ID select signals; and wherein the at least one voltage source is at least configured to produce an alternating current (AC) signal in response to the selected ID select signal; and at least one second multiplexer which interfaces with the at least one voltage source, wherein the at least one second multiplexer is at least configured to select the at least one isolated voltage source and ground in response to the selected ID select signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for identifying signals in analogue electrical systems by utilizing a plurality of ID select signals comprising:
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generating, using an ID signal lookup table, a selected ID select signal from the plurality of ID select signals; selecting, using a first multiplexer, one of a plurality of I/O pins that corresponds to the selected ID select signal in response to receiving the selected ID select signal in the first multiplexer; producing, using an isolated voltage source, an AC signal from a selected signal of a plurality of signals in response to receiving the selected ID select signal; selecting, using a second multiplexer, the AC signal and ground potential in response to receiving the selected ID select signal in the second multiplexer; probing, using test equipment, the plurality of I/O pins to identify the selected signal on one of the plurality of I/O pins; and displaying the selected signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification