Method and apparatus for interfacing a bus with an external device
OwnerLeesa Noujeim, Brian Verstegen +1inventors
InventorsLeesa Noujeim, Brian Verstegen, Erich Selna
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Abstract
A method for controlling a bus is provided. In particular, an external device may be interfaced with a bus internal to a computer system. The method involves detecting when a device is coupled to the bus, and driving signals onto the bus in response to detecting the device being coupled to the bus. Alternatively, when the external device is not coupled to the bus, the signals are blocked, disabled, or otherwise prevented from being delivered onto the bus.
Claims18
A method for controlling a bus, comprising:
- detecting a device coupled to a bus;
- driving signals onto the bus in response to detecting the device being coupled to the bus;
- and
- blocking signals from being delivered onto the bus in response to the absence of the device being coupled to the bus.
An apparatus for controlling a bus, comprising:
- means for detecting a device coupled to a bus;
- means for driving signals onto the bus in response to detecting the external device being coupled to the bus;
- and
- means for blocking signals from being delivered onto the bus in response to the absence of the device being coupled to the bus.
An apparatus for controlling a bus, comprising:
- a first printed circuit board having at least one electrically conductive line extending to a first edge connector;
- a repeater mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the electrically conductive line, the repeater comprising a transmitter having an enable input terminal and an output terminal, the enable input terminal being coupled to the at least one electrically conductive line on the first printed circuit board;
- a second printed circuit board having a second edge connector adapted to mate with the first edge connector, at least one terminal of the second edge connector being coupled to a preselected voltage level and to the enable input terminal of the transmitter via the electrically conductive line to enable the transmitter in response to the first and second edge connectors being coupled together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.