Isolator for transmitting logic signals across an isolation barrier
AssigneeAnalog Devices, Inc.
InventorsGeoffrey T. Haigh, Baoxing Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A logic isolation circuit has a transmitter circuit for receiving a logic input signal and providing a periodic signal to an isolation barrier, and a receiving circuit for receiving the periodic signal from the isolation barrier and for providing an output signal that indicates the transitions in the logical input signal.
Claims41
A method for transmitting a status or control logic signal across an isolation barrier comprising:
- receiving the status or control logic signal, the logic signal including a first transition from a first state to a second state and a second transition from the second state to the first state;
- a transmitter system including a first transmitter and a second transmitter for transmitting to the isolation barrier separate first and second signals that are representative of first and second transitions;
- and
- a receiver system receiving from the isolation barrier the first and second signals, the receiving system includes a first receiver that receives signals from the first transmitter, a second receiver that receives signals from the second transmitter, and a bistable device, the first and second receivers providing signals indicating the occurrence of first and second transitions to the bistable device for providing an output signal based on the logic signal.
A method for transmitting a status or control logic signal across an isolation barrier comprising:
- receiving the status or control logic signal, the logic signal including a first transition from a first state to a second state and a second transition from the second state to the first state;
- a transmitter system transmitting to the isolation barrier separate first and second signals that are representative of first and second transitions, the transmitter system includes a first transmitter and a second transmitter;
- and
- a receiver system receiving from the isolation barrier the first and second signals, the receiving system includes a first receiver that receives signals from the first transmitter and a second receiver that receives signals from the second transmitter, the receiver system using the first and second signal to provide an output signal indicating the occurrence of first and second transitions;
- and
- monitoring the first and second receivers and providing an error signal if the first and second receivers produce the same signals.
A logic isolator circuit comprising:
- an isolation barrier;
- a transmitter circuit receiving a control or status logic signal with logical transitions between a first state to a second state, the transmitter circuit providing to the isolation barrier separate first and second signals indicative of transitions;
- a receiver circuit including a first receiver and a second receiver for receiving from the isolation barrier the first and second signals;
- and
- an output coupled to the receiver circuit for providing an output status or control signal that indicates the logical transitions of the control or status logic signal received by the transmitter circuit, the output including a bistable device coupled to receive signals from the first and second receivers.
A method for transmitting a status or control logic signal across an isolation barrier comprising:
- receiving the status or control logic signal, the logic signal including a first transition from a first state to a second state and a second transition from the second state to the first state;
- a transmitter system transmitting to the isolation barrier a periodic signal with multiple periods in a short burst to indicate the first transition;
- and
- a receiver system receiving from the isolation barrier the periodic signal and using the periodic signal to provide an output signal indicating the occurrence of the first transitions.
A circuit for transmitting a logic signal across an isolation barrier comprising a transmitter for receiving a control or status logic signal that includes a first transition from a first state to a second state and a second transition from the second state to the first state and for transmitting signals indicative of the transitions, the transmitter including a first transmitter, a second transmitter, and an inverter for providing the logic signal to the first transmitter, and the inverted logic signal to the second transmitter.
A logic isolation system comprsing:
- a chip including a substrate;
- an isolation barrier including coils formed on the chip;
- a transmitter for receiving a control or status logic signal that includes a first transition from a first state to a second state and a second transition from the second state to the first state, the transmitter transmitting to the isolation barrier periodic signals indicative of the transitions;
- and
- a receiver for receiving periodic signals from the isolation barrier and using the periodic signals to provide an output signal indicating the transitions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.