Bus speed controller using switches
AssigneeSilicon Graphics, Inc.
InventorSteven C. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Switches are used to serially isolate connectors for peripheral devices on a bus. Bus speed is selected based on the number of peripheral devices coupled to the bus via the connectors. Switches are used in the bus to provide selected isolation of the connectors. In one embodiment, the bus is able to operate at higher speeds when fewer connectors are on the bus. A method of configuring the bus determines how many devices are coupled to connectors on the bus. Portions of the bus not having devices coupled to connectors are isolated by controlling the switches between on and off states.
Claims20
A bus comprising
- a first bus portion having a slot for a card coupled thereto
- a second bus portion having a slot for a card coupled thereto,
- a switch coupled between the first and second bus portion, and
- a controller coupled to the first bus portion that determines a bus speed and switch position based on the capabilities of the bus and cards coupled to the slots.
A computer system having a bus for connection a variable number of peripheral devices, the computer system comprising
- a controller
- a first portion of a bus coupled to the controller and having a connector for a peripheral device
- a second portion of the bus having a connector for a peripheral device
- a first switch coupled between the first and second portions of the bus, wherein in the switch is used to control the number of connectors visible to the bridge.
A computer implemented method of determining an operating speed of a bus, the method comprising
- determining maximum operating speeds of one or more devices coupled to the bus
- determining the maximum operation speed of the bus given the number of devices coupled to the bus and
- setting a switch based on the number of devices coupled to the bus.
A method of determining an operating speed of a bus, the method comprising
- determining maximum operating speeds of one or more devices coupled to the bus
- determining the maximum operation speed of the bus given the number of devices coupled to the bus
- setting switches between portions of the bus based on the number of devices coupled to the bus and
- setting a bus speed based on the lesser of the lowest maximum operating speed of all devices, and the maximum operating speed of the bus given the number of devices coupled to the bus.
A system that determines an operating speed of a bus, the method comprising
- means for determining maximum operating speeds of one or more devices coupled to the bus
- means for determining the maximum operation speed of the bus given the number of devices coupled to the bus and
- means for setting a switch based on the number of devices coupled to the bus.
A system that determines an operating speed of a bus, the method comprising
- means for determining maximum operating speeds of one or more devices coupled to the bus
- means for determining the maximum operation speed of the bus given the number of devices coupled to the bus
- means for setting switches between portions of the bus based on the number of devices coupled to the bus and
- means for setting a bus speed based on the lesser of the maximum operating speed of all devices, and the maximum operating speed of the bus given the number of devices coupled to the bus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.