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US 11,625,351 B2Granted
Input/output apparatus and methods for monitoring and/or controlling dynamic environments
AssigneeOpteon Corporation
InventorsT. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer, Jeffrey Cho
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for flexible input/output signaling over a same signaling channel are described. A programmable interface circuit includes a signaling channel that can be adapted, prior to use or during operation, for transmission and/or reception of different types of analog and digital signals. The interface circuit can be used for communications between an isolating communication controller and components of a machine that use diverse signaling types.
Claims33
An interface circuit to adaptively communicate signals between a controller and a first component of a machine, the interface circuit comprising:
- a plurality of interconnects to communicatively couple the interface circuit to the controller;
- and
- an input/output (I/O) signaling channel to carry signals between the interface circuit and the first component;
- the interface circuit is programmable in a digital mode, following receipt of at least a first control input from the controller, to at least one of:
- receive a first digital signal from the controller and provide a second digital signal to the I/O signaling channel based on the first digital signal, the second digital signal having a first digital signaling type;
- or
- receive a third digital signal via the I/O signaling channel from the first component of the machine and provide a fourth digital signal to the controller based on the third digital signal, the third digital signal having the first digital signaling type;
- the interface circuit is reprogrammable in the digital mode, following receipt of at least a second control input from the controller, to at least one of:
- receive a fifth digital signal from the controller and provide a sixth digital signal to the I/O signaling channel based on the fifth digital signal, wherein the sixth digital signal has a second digital signaling type that is different than the first digital signaling type;
- or
- receive a seventh digital signal via the I/O signaling channel from the first component of the machine and provide an eighth digital signal to the controller based on the seventh digital signal, wherein the seventh digital signal has the second digital signaling type;
- the interface circuit is reprogrammable to an analog mode, following receipt of at least a third control input from the controller, to at least one of:
- receive a first analog signal or a ninth digital signal from the controller and provide a second analog signal to the I/O signaling channel based on the first analog signal or the ninth digital signal, the second analog signal having a first analog signaling type;
- or
- receive a third analog signal via the I/O signaling channel from the first component of the machine and provide a fourth analog signal or a tenth digital signal to the controller based on the third analog signal, the third analog signal having the first analog signaling type;
- the interface circuit is reprogrammable in the analog mode, following receipt of at least a fourth control input from the controller, to at least one of:
- receive a fifth analog signal or an eleventh digital signal from the controller and provide a sixth analog signal to the I/O signaling channel based on the fifth analog signal or the eleventh digital signal, wherein the sixth analog signal has a second analog signaling type that is different than the first analog signaling type;
- or
- receive a seventh analog signal via the I/O signaling channel from the first component of the machine and provide an eighth analog signal or a twelfth digital signal to the controller based on the seventh analog signal, wherein the seventh analog signal has the second analog signaling type.
16 more elements
An interface circuit to adaptively communicate signals between a controller and a first component of a machine, the interface circuit comprising:
- a plurality of interconnects to communicatively couple the interface circuit to the controller;
- and
- an input/output (I/O) signaling channel to carry signals between the interface circuit and the first component, wherein:
- the interface circuit is programmable, following receipt of at least a first control input from the controller, to at least one of:
- receive a first digital signal from the controller and provide a second digital signal to the I/O signaling channel based on the first digital signal, the second digital signal having a first digital signaling type;
- or
- receive a third digital signal via the I/O signaling channel from the first component of the machine and provide a fourth digital signal to the controller based on the third digital signal, the third digital signal having the first digital signaling type;
- the interface circuit is reprogrammable, following receipt of at least a second control input from the controller, to at least one of:
- receive a fifth digital signal from the controller and provide a sixth digital signal to the I/O signaling channel based on the fifth digital signal, wherein the sixth digital signal has a second digital signaling type that is different than the first digital signaling type;
- or
- receive a seventh digital signal via the I/O signaling channel from the first component of the machine and provide an eighth digital signal to the controller based on the seventh digital signal, wherein the seventh digital signal has the second digital signaling type.
8 more elements
An interface circuit to adaptively communicate signals between a controller and a first component of a machine, the interface circuit comprising:
- a plurality of interconnects to communicatively couple the interface circuit to the controller;
- and
- an input/output (I/O) signaling channel to carry signals between the interface circuit and the first component, wherein:
- the interface circuit is programmable, following receipt of at least a first control input from the controller, to at least one of:
- receive a first analog signal or a first digital signal from the controller and provide a second analog signal to the I/O signaling channel based on the first analog signal or the first digital signal, the second analog signal having a first analog signaling type;
- or
- receive a third analog signal via the I/O signaling channel from the first component of the machine and provide a fourth analog signal or a second digital signal to the controller based on the third analog signal, the third analog signal having the first analog signaling type;
- the interface circuit is reprogrammable, following receipt of at least a fourth control input from the controller, to at least one of:
- receive a fifth analog signal or a third digital signal from the controller and provide a sixth analog signal to the I/O signaling channel based on the fifth analog signal or the third digital signal, wherein the sixth analog signal has a second analog signaling type that is different than the first analog signaling type;
- or
- receive a seventh analog signal via the I/O signaling channel from the first component of the machine and provide an eighth analog signal or a fourth digital signal to the controller based on the seventh analog signal, wherein the seventh analog signal has the second analog signaling type.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.