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US 10,290,608 B2Granted
Signal isolator having bidirectional diagnostic signal exchange
AssigneeAllegro MicroSystems, LLC
InventorsAlexander Latham, Joseph James Judkins, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for a signal isolator having first and second dies separated by a voltage barrier region, wherein transmit and receive paths of the first and second dies provide bi-directional transfer of feedback and/or diagnostic signals between the first and second die. In embodiments, transmitter refresh signals and receiver refresh signals are exchanged to detect fault conditions.
Claims25
A method, comprising:
- employing first and second dies having a voltage barrier region between the first and second dies, and wherein transmit and receive paths of the first and second dies provide data transfer and bi-directional transfer of feedback and/or diagnostic signals between the first and second die;
- and
- sending, by a transmitter on the first die, transmitter refresh signals to a receiver on the second die;
- sending, by the receiver, receiver refresh signals to the transmitter in response to the transmitter refresh signals;
- determining that the transmitter refresh signals have not been received by the receiver for a first period of time;
- and
- transitioning a receiver data valid signal after determining that the transmitter refresh signals have not been received for the first period of time.
4 more elements
A signal isolator IC package, comprising:
- first and second dies having a voltage barrier region between the first and second dies, and wherein transmit and receive paths of the first and second dies provide bi-directional data transfer between the first and second;
- and
- a diagnostic module comprising a first diagnostic module on the first die and a second diagnostic module on the second die, wherein the diagnostic module is configured to:
- send, by a transmitter on the first die, transmitter refresh signals to a receiver on the second die;
- send, by the receiver, receiver refresh signals to the transmitter in response to the transmitter refresh signals;
- determine that the transmitter refresh signals have not been received by the receiver for a first period of time;
- and
- transition a receiver data valid signal after determining that the transmitter refresh signals have not been received for the first period of time.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.