Circuit system including first circuit sub-system, second circuit sub-system and bidirectional bus, circuit sub-system and method

A circuit sub-system connectable to other circuit sub-system via a bidirectional bus, the other circuit sub-system receiving a control signal for controlling the direction of the bidirectional bus, including a first output buffer coupled to the bidirectional bus, operable to assume either a transmitting state or a receiving state, for outputting an output signal onto the bidirectional bus when controlled to assume an transmitting state, a first input buffer coupled to the bidirectional bus for receiving an input signal from the bidirectional bus, and a first and a second sending units for sending out a first and a second control signals corresponding to the control signal, respectively, the circuit sub-system comprising:

• a second output buffer coupled to the bidirectional bus, operable to assume either a transmitting state or a receiving state, for outputting an output signal onto the bidirectional bus when controlled to assume an active state;
• a second input buffer coupled to the bidirectional bus for receiving an input signal from the bidirectional bus;
• a first and a second receiving units for receiving the first and second control signals from the first and second sending units, respectively;
• and
• an output buffer control circuit for controlling the second output buffer to assume either a transmitting state or a receiving state in accordance with the first and second control signals when the first and second control signals received by the first and second receiving units, respectively, consistently indicate the same state, and for controlling the second output buffer to assume a receiving state when the first and second control signals received by the first and second receiving units, respectively, indicate different states from each other.

A method of controlling a circuit system including a first circuit sub-system, a second circuit sub-system, and a bidirectional bus coupling the first circuit sub-system and second circuit sub-system, the first circuit sub-system receiving a control signal for controlling the direction of the bidirectional bus, the method comprising:

• sending out a first and a second control signals corresponding to the control signal by a first and a second sending units, respectively;
• receiving the first and second control signals from the first and second sending units by a first and a second receiving units, respectively;
• and
• controlling the second output buffer to assume either a transmitting state or a receiving state in accordance with the first and second control signals when the first and second control signals received by the first and second receiving units, respectively, consistently indicate the same state, and for controlling the second output buffer to assume a receiving state when the first and second control signals received by the first and second receiving units, respectively, indicate different states from each other by an output buffer control circuit.