Serial data interface apparatus and method for detecting an input word length and selecting an operating mode accordingly
AssigneeAnalog Devices, Inc.
InventorsMichael C. W. Coln, John M. Wynne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and a method for controlling a mode of operation of a data converter is based on a length of an input word signal to the data converter. The apparatus includes a bit counter that counts the number of bits in the word received by the data converter and provides a word length signal corresponding to the number of bits in the word, and a mode selector that receives the word length signal and selects an operational mode of the data converter based on the word length signal. The method includes steps of counting the number of bits in the word, and selecting a mode of operation of the data converter based on the number of bits in the word.
Claims19
A data converter for receiving serial data words having a variable number of bits, the data converter comprising:
- a bit counter that receives the serial data words having a variable number of bits, and for each word counts the number of bits in the word and generates a word length signal corresponding to the number of bits in the word;
- and
- a mode selector, coupled to the bit counter, that receives the word length signal and selects an operational mode of the data converter based on the number of bits in the word.
A method of selecting a mode of operation of a data converter that receives serial data words having a variable number of bits, the method comprising steps of:
- for each word received, counting the number of bits in the word;
- and
- selecting a mode of operation of the data converter based on the number of bits in the word.
A method of selecting a mode of operation of a data converter using a data transmitter that transmits serial data words having a variable number of bits to the data converter, the method comprising steps of:
- determining a mode of operation of the data converter;
- setting the number of bits in the serial data words to a first value for a first mode of operation of the data converter;
- and
- setting the number of bits in the serial data words to a second value for a second mode of operation of the data converter.
A microprocessor for processing received data and transmitting serial data to a data converter, the microprocessor comprising:
- a processing unit that processes the received data;
- and
- means for setting a number of bits of a word of the serial data to a first value for a first mode of operation of the data converter and to a second value for a second mode of operation of the data converter.
A process control module for receiving an input signal and providing an output signal in response to the input signal, the process control module comprising:
- a microprocessor that receives and processes the input signal and provides, at an output, a serial signal having a number of bits in a word;
- and
- a data converter that receives the serial signal, the data converter including:
- a bit counter that counts the number of bits in the word received by the data converter, and generates a word length signal corresponding to the number of bits in the word, and
- a mode selector, coupled to the output of the bit counter, that receives the word length signal and selects an operational mode of the data converter based on the word length signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.