Data transmission system
AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation
InventorRobert Mores
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an electronic system for the transmission of data between a plurality of stations the control signals and functions of the basic elements of power supply, watchdog and signal converter in each station are linked to one another so as to ensure that the number of possible modes of operation, taken for all the elements, is reduced to a number necessary for the corresponding task and thereby guarantees a more reliable operation. Moreover, the linkage leads to an optimum default behavior of the station with regard to application-specific power-saving and safety requirements, even when, for example, the malfunction of the microcontroller of the station persists.
Claims8
A station for a system for the transmission of data between a plurality of stations which are connected to one another via a common bus, the station including at least the following elements
- a microcontroller,
- a transmit/receive circuit coupled to said microcontroller and connected to the bus,
- a timing circuit (watchdog) for the generation of reset signals for the microcontroller, and
- a first voltage regulator,
- which station can be in a normal mode of operation or in at least one further mode of operation, preferably in a standby mode,
- wherein under given conditions the watchdog supplies reset signals or interrupt signals to the microcontroller,
- in that there has been provided at least a second voltage regulator, the first voltage regulator exclusively powering the microcontroller and both voltage regulators being capable of being disabled,
- in that the number of possible modes of operation is limited to given modes of operation by linking of the control signals of the individual elements, and
- in that by linking of the control signals of the individual elements sub-functions of the station, particularly default functions, can be set autonomously without participation of the microcontroller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.