Apparatus and method for transferring an analog signal between isolated systems
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorArthur Wild
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for transferring a signal from a first bus circuit to a second bus circuit. The apparatus and method includes a first constant current circuit connected to the first bus circuit, a first capacitor connected between the first bus circuit and the first constant current circuit, a second constant current circuit connected to the second bus circuit, a second capacitor connected between the second bus circuit and the second constant current circuit, and an opto-coupler connected between the first and second constant current circuits and providing signal transfer control from the first capacitor to the second capacitor.
Claims21
An apparatus for transferring a signal from a first bus circuit to a second bus circuit, comprising:
- a first constant current circuit connected to the first bus circuit;
- a first capacitor connected between the first bus circuit and the first constant current circuit;
- a second constant current circuit connected to the second bus circuit;
- a second capacitor connected between the second bus circuit and the second constant current circuit;
- and
- an opto-coupler connected between the first and second constant current circuits and providing signal transfer control from the first capacitor to the second capacitor.
A method for transferring a signal from a first bus circuit to a second bus circuit, comprising the steps of:
- charging a first capacitor connected to the first bus circuit with a signal voltage;
- enabling a first constant current circuit, connected to the first capacitor, to discharge the first capacitor through the first constant current circuit;
- activating an opto-coupler connected between the first and second bus circuits to initiate charging of a second capacitor connected to a second constant current circuit;
- and
- charging the second capacitor at a rate proportional to a rate of discharge of the first capacitor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.