Contact module for communicating with a downhole device

A method for operating a processor as a network switch in a spearpoint contact module of a drill string having a downhole device, the method comprising:

• receiving, at the processor, data from the downhole device through a first data path, wherein the processor and the first data path are included in a first component of the spearpoint contact module and the first data path uses a first communication protocol, wherein the first data path comprises a first transceiver;
• determining whether the data is valid;
• and
• responsive to determining the data is valid, transmitting, through a second data path included in the first component, the data to a second component included in the spearpoint contact module,
• wherein the second data path comprises a second transceiver and the processor is electrically connected between the first and second transceivers,
• wherein the first component comprises a first differential line transceiver electrically connected to the second transceiver and a second differential line transceiver included in the second component, and
• wherein the second component transmits the data to a surface processor external to the spearpoint contact module, and the second component comprises a terminator that is included on a same circuit board as the first component within the spearpoint contact module or included on a different circuit board than the first component within the spearpoint contact module,
• the spearpoint contact module is physically and electrically connected to the downhole device, and
• the second component comprises a third data path comprising a third transceiver electrically coupled to an electrostatic discharge protection component configured to isolate the third data path from an external contact, wherein the third transceiver is also electrically coupled to the second differential line transceiver and is capable of communicating data to and from the first component, and the external contact is configured to make electrical contact with a surface electrical contact to communicate the data to the surface processor.

A spearpoint contact module electrically connected between a downhole device and a surface processor external to the spearpoint contact module, wherein the spearpoint contact module comprises comprising:

• a first component electrically connected to the downhole device and a second component included in the spearpoint contact module, the spearpoint contact module physically connected to the downhole device, and the first component comprising:
• a first data path comprising a first transceiver capable of communicating data using a first communication protocol;
• a second data path comprising a second transceiver capable of communicating the data using a second communication protocol;
• and
• a processor electrically connected between the first transceiver and the second transceiver, wherein the processor is capable of selectively routing the data between the first data path and the second data path;
• a first differential line transceiver electrically connected to the second transceiver and a second differential line transceiver included in the second component;
• the second component electrically connected to the first component via the first and second differential line transceivers, wherein the second component is a terminator that is included on a same circuit board as the first component within the spearpoint contact module or included on a different circuit board than the first component within the spearpoint contact module, and
• the second component comprises a third data path comprising a third transceiver electrically coupled to an electrostatic discharge protection component configured to isolate the third data path from an external contact, wherein the third transceiver is also electrically coupled to the second differential line transceiver and is capable of communicating data to and from the first component, and the external contact is configured to make electrical contact with a surface electrical contact to communicate the data to the surface processor.