Over-current detection for bus line drivers
First Claim
1. An electrical circuit for driving a bus, comprising:
- at least one branch coupled to at least one signal line at a termination of the bus;
a transmit data input configured to receive data, from a processor, that the electrical circuit drives across the bus;
a current detection unit coupled to the at least one branch, wherein the current detection unit is configured to detect a current through the at least one branch; and
an over-current determination unit coupled to both the current detection unit and the transmit data input, wherein the over-current determination unit is configured to;
detect a change of the data at the transmit data input; and
after delaying for at a predetermined amount of time subsequent to the change of the data at the transmit data input, determine an over-current condition at the at least one branch based on the current through the at least one branch and a value of the data at the transmit data input, wherein the predetermined amount of time is greater than or equal to a time duration of a single bit associated with the data at the transmit data input.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical circuit for driving a bus is described that includes at least one branch coupled to at least one signal line at a termination of the bus and a transmit data input configured to receive data that the electrical circuit drives across the bus. The electrical circuit also includes a current detection unit coupled to the at least one branch, which is configured to detect a current through the at least one branch. The electrical circuit also includes an over-current determination unit coupled to both the current detection unit and the transmit data input. The over-current determination unit is configured to determine an over-current condition at the at least one branch based on the current at the at least one branch and the data at the transmit data input.
25 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. An electrical circuit for driving a bus, comprising:
-
at least one branch coupled to at least one signal line at a termination of the bus; a transmit data input configured to receive data, from a processor, that the electrical circuit drives across the bus; a current detection unit coupled to the at least one branch, wherein the current detection unit is configured to detect a current through the at least one branch; and an over-current determination unit coupled to both the current detection unit and the transmit data input, wherein the over-current determination unit is configured to; detect a change of the data at the transmit data input; and after delaying for at a predetermined amount of time subsequent to the change of the data at the transmit data input, determine an over-current condition at the at least one branch based on the current through the at least one branch and a value of the data at the transmit data input, wherein the predetermined amount of time is greater than or equal to a time duration of a single bit associated with the data at the transmit data input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16)
-
-
7. A method comprising:
-
detecting a current through at least one branch of a driver unit coupled to a bus for driving at least one signal line of the bus; detecting a change in data at a transmit data input of the driver unit, wherein the transmit data input is configured to receive the data from a processor; after delaying for a predetermined amount of time subsequent to the change of the data at the transmit data input, determining a value of the data at the transmit data input, wherein the predetermined amount of time is greater than or equal to a time duration of a single bit associated with the data at the transmit data input; and determining an over-current condition at the at least one branch based at least in part on the current through the at least one branch and the value of the data. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A device comprising:
-
means for detecting a current through at least one branch of a driver unit coupled to a bus for driving at least one signal line of the bus; means for detecting a change in data at a transmit data input of the driver unit, wherein the transmit data input is configured to receive the data from a processor; means for determining a value of the data at the transmit data input after delaying for at least a predetermined amount of time subsequent to the change of the data at the transmit data input, wherein the predetermined amount of time is greater than or equal to a time duration of a single bit associated with the data at the transmit data input; and means for determining an over-current condition at the at least one branch based at least in part on the current through the at least one branch and the value of the data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
Specification