Redundant bus bridge systems and methods using separately-powered bus bridges

Abstract

A redundant bus bridge system includes first and second bus bridges operative to transfer data between a first bus and a second bus, the first and second bus bridges being configured to receive power from respective separate power supplies. In one embodiment, the first bus bridge and the second bus bridge share a common ground reference. The first bus bridge may be included in a first circuit assembly configured to receive power at a power supply voltage. The second bus bridge may be included in a second circuit assembly including a input circuit having a maximum input voltage associated therewith. The first circuit assembly may be operative to apply an output signal to the input circuit of the second circuit assembly, the output signal having a voltage which varies with the power supply voltage but does not exceed the maximum input voltage. To achieve this, the first circuit assembly may include a voltage regulator configured to receive power at a the power supply voltage and operative to produce a regulated power supply voltage which is less than the power supply voltage, and an output circuit responsive to the voltage regulator and operative to receive power at the regulated power supply voltage and to produce the output signal therefrom. According to another aspect, the first and second circuit assemblies are operative to prevent power transfer to one another. Related operating methods are also discussed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.