US 11,706,048 B1 · Multi-protocol bus circuit

Abstract

A multi-protocol bus circuit is provided. The multi-protocol bus circuit includes multiple master circuits each configured to communicate a respective master bus command(s) via a respective one of multiple master buses based on a respective one of multiple master bus protocols, and a slave circuit(s) configured to communicate a slave bus command(s) via a slave bus based on a slave bus protocol that is different from any of the master bus protocols. To enable bidirectional bus communications between the master circuits and the slave circuit(s), the multi-protocol bus circuit further includes a multi-protocol bridge circuit configured to perform a bidirectional conversion between the slave bus protocol and each of the master bus protocols. As a result, it is possible to support bidirectional bus communications based on heterogeneous bus protocols with minimal impact on cost and/or footprint.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A multi-protocol bus circuit comprising:

a plurality of master circuits each coupled to a respective one of a plurality of master buses and configured to communicate a respective one or more master bus commands based on a respective one of a plurality of master bus protocols, wherein each of the plurality of master bus protocols is different from at least another one of the plurality of master bus protocols;
one or more slave circuits each coupled to a slave bus and configured to communicate a respective one or more slave bus commands based on a slave bus protocol different from any of the plurality of master bus protocols;
and
a multi-protocol bridge circuit coupled to the plurality of master buses and the slave bus and configured to perform a bidirectional conversion between the slave bus protocol and each of the plurality of master bus protocols.

1 more element

A multi-protocol bridge circuit comprising:

a plurality of master bus ports each coupled to a respective one of a plurality of master circuits configured to communicate a respective one or more master bus commands via a respective one of a plurality of master buses based on a respective one of a plurality of master bus protocols, wherein each of the plurality of master bus protocols is different from at least another one of the plurality of master bus protocols;
a slave bus port coupled to one or more slave circuits each configured to communicate a respective one or more slave bus commands based on a slave bus protocol different from any of the plurality of master bus protocols;
and
a control circuit configured to perform a bidirectional conversion between the slave bus protocol and each of the plurality of master bus protocols.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-protocol bus circuit

Life of this patent

Multi-protocol bus circuit

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20