Continuous power transfer scheme for two-wire serial link
First Claim
1. A method of interfacing a first interface circuit with a second interface circuit having a tri-state buffer connected between a storage device and ground, the tri-state buffer including an input terminal to receive a first signal to be transmitted to the first interface circuit, an enable terminal, and an output terminal to transmit the first signal to the first interface circuit, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a second signal having an AC-frequency component at the output terminal of the tri-state buffer, andswitching the tri-state buffer, such that (i) during a first time period, the tri-state buffer electrically transfers the second signal to a first terminal of the storage capacitor, and (ii) during a second time period different from the first time period, the tri-state buffer electrically transfers the second signal to ground rather than to the first terminal of the storage capacitor, wherein;
the steps of receiving and switching are performed during a first portion of a frame including the first and second time periods; and
the method further comprises inputting, during a second portion of the frame, the first signal to the input terminal of the tri-state buffer, such that the first signal is passed to the output terminal of the tri-state buffer during the second portion of the frame.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a single digital communication link between system-side and line-side circuitry in a DAA, capable both of carrying data signals and of transferring a substantial amount of power to the line-side circuitry. The invention comprises a system-side interface circuit, a line-side interface circuit, and an isolation barrier including a transformer. Each interface circuit is capable of connection to an upstream communication circuit (either line-side or system-side), from which it may receive data signals to be transmitted across the isolation barrier to the other interface circuit, and to which it may pass data signals received across the isolation barrier from the other interface circuit. The line-side interface circuit may further include a rectifier and a storage device.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A method of interfacing a first interface circuit with a second interface circuit having a tri-state buffer connected between a storage device and ground, the tri-state buffer including an input terminal to receive a first signal to be transmitted to the first interface circuit, an enable terminal, and an output terminal to transmit the first signal to the first interface circuit, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a second signal having an AC-frequency component at the output terminal of the tri-state buffer, and switching the tri-state buffer, such that (i) during a first time period, the tri-state buffer electrically transfers the second signal to a first terminal of the storage capacitor, and (ii) during a second time period different from the first time period, the tri-state buffer electrically transfers the second signal to ground rather than to the first terminal of the storage capacitor, wherein; the steps of receiving and switching are performed during a first portion of a frame including the first and second time periods; and the method further comprises inputting, during a second portion of the frame, the first signal to the input terminal of the tri-state buffer, such that the first signal is passed to the output terminal of the tri-state buffer during the second portion of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An apparatus for interfacing a first interface circuit with a second interface circuit having a tri-state buffer connected between a storage device and ground, the tri-state buffer including an input terminal to receive a first signal to be transmitted to the first interface circuit, an enable terminal, and an output terminal to transmit the first signal to the first interface circuit, the apparatus comprising:
-
a means for receiving a second signal having an AC-frequency component at the output terminal of the tri-state buffer, and a means for switching the tri-state buffer, such that (i) during a first time period, the tri-state buffer electrically transfers the second signal to a first terminal of the storage capacitor, and (ii) during a second time period different from the first time period, the tri-state buffer electrically transfers the second signal to ground rather than to the first terminal of the storage capacitor, wherein; the means for receiving the second signal is configured to receive the second signal during a first portion of a frame including the first and second time periods; the means for switching the tri-state buffer is configured to cause the tri-state buffer to transfer, during the first portion of the frame including the first and second time periods, the second signal (i) to the first terminal of the storage capacitor during the first time period and (ii) to ground during the second time period; and the apparatus further comprises a means for inputting, during a second portion of the frame, the first signal to the input terminal of the tri-state buffer, such that the first signal is passed to the output terminal of the tri-state buffer during the second portion of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (9)
-
Specification