Bus interface and method for conveying multi-level communication signals between a communication bus and a device coupled to a communication bus

A full duplex bus interface for conveying communication signals in a communication protocol, which includes a plurality of modes of communication, at least two of the modes of communication each having a distinct operational signal level, the full duplex bus interface comprising:

• a pair of simplex bus interfaces, each simplex bus interface having:
• an amplitude adjustment circuit including a mode detector circuit, for selectively adjusting the amplitude of received communication signals, based upon a detected mode of the communication signals,
• a transmitter coupled to the amplitude adjustment circuit for emitting amplitude adjusted communication signals received from the amplitude adjustment circuit, which includes signals supporting multiple modes having compatible signal levels;
• a receiver communicatively coupled to the transmitter for detecting amplitude adjusted communication signals emitted by the transmitter;
• and
• an amplitude restoration circuit coupled to the receiver and including a mode detector circuit, for restoring the amplitude of the detected amplitude adjusted communication signals, based upon the detected mode of the detected amplitude adjusted communication signals, the amplitude restored, detected, amplitude adjusted communication signal including signals supporting multiple modes having distinct signal levels;
• and
• wherein an input of the amplitude adjustment circuit of a first one of the pair of simplex bus interfaces is coupled to a communication bus for receiving communication signals, and an output of the amplitude restoration circuit is coupled to a device to be coupled to the communication bus;
• and wherein an input of the amplitude adjustment circuit of a second one of the pair of simplex bus interfaces is coupled to the device to be coupled to the communication bus, and an output of the amplitude restoration circuit is coupled to the communication bus.

A method for conveying signals between a communication bus and a device coupled to a communication bus comprising:

• receiving communication signals for a communication protocol, which includes a plurality of modes of communication, at least two of the modes of communication each having a distinct operational signal level;
• detecting a mode of the communication signals;
• selectively adjusting the amplitude of the communication signals, based upon a detected mode of the communication signals, between communication signals having multiple distinct signal levels and communication signals having compatible signal levels;
• and
• emitting the communication signals supporting multiple modes, which have compatible signal levels.