Multi-module system with single terminal error flag input/output

A system comprising:

• a fault condition bus;
• and
• at least one driver module coupled to the fault condition bus, the at least one driver module further comprising,
• an error flag interface block comprising a single terminal error flag input/output (EF I/O), wherein the single terminal EF I/O is coupled to the fault condition bus, and
• a control block coupled to the error flag interface block,
• wherein the control block is coupled to enable the error flag interface block to respond to a fault condition,
• wherein control block is coupled to inhibit the operation of the driver module in response to the detection of the fault condition external to the driver module by the error flag interface block, the fault condition indicated by an error flag state on the single terminal EF I/O,
• wherein the control block is coupled to control the error flag interface block to set an error flag state on the single terminal EF I/O in response to detection of the fault condition local to driver module.

A method for error reporting by a driver module having a single terminal EF I/O coupled to a fault condition bus, the method comprising:

• responding to a fault condition indicated by an error flag interface block of the driver module;
• inhibiting switching of an output of the driver module by a control block in response to the fault condition occurring external to the driver module indicated by receiving an external flag at the single terminal EF I/O;
• and
• asserting an error flag state on the single terminal EF I/O by the error flag interface block in response to the fault condition being detected local to the driver module.