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US 6,725,304 B2Granted
Apparatus for connecting circuit modules
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRavi Kumar Arimilli, Daniel Mark Dreps
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for connecting circuit modules is disclosed. The apparatus for connecting circuit modules that receives an input and an output signal at one circuit module and uses a transmitter/receiver to transmit data to and receive data from the second circuit module. Each transmitter/receiver is selectable between a bidirectional mode that transmits and simultaneously receives via two transmission lines, and a unidirectional mode that transmits on a first transmission line and receives from a second transmission line.
Claims15
A bus interface for interconnecting a first circuit module and a second circuit module, said bus interface comprising:
- a transmitter/receiver within said first circuit module, wherein said transmitter/receiver includes two data inputs and two data outputs, wherein said transmitter/receiver is selectable between a bidirectional mode and an unidirectional mode;
- a transmitter/receiver within said second circuit module, wherein said transmitter/receiver includes two data inputs and two data outputs;
- a pair of transmission lines coupled between said transmitter/receivers within said first circuit module and said second circuit module;
- means for receiving an indication of an operational mode selected for said transmitter/receiver within said first circuit module;
- means for transmitting a first set of output data from said transmitter/receiver within said first circuit module to said second circuit module over a first one of said pair of transmission lines while simultaneously receiving a first set of input data from said second circuit module via said first one of said pair of transmission lines, and transmitting a second set of output data from said transmitter/receiver within said first circuit module to said second circuit module over a second one of said pair of transmission lines while simultaneously receiving a second set of input data from said second circuit module via said second one of said pair of transmission lines, in response to a receipt of an indication indicating that said transmitter/receiver within said first circuit module should be operated in a bidirectional mode;
- and
- means for transmitting a third set of output data from said transmitter/receiver within said first circuit module to said second circuit module over said second one of said pair of transmission lines while simultaneously receiving a third set of input data from said second circuit module via said first one of said pair of transmission lines, in response to a receipt of an indication indicating that said transmitter/receiver within said first circuit module should be operated in an unidirectional mode.
4 more elements
A method of interconnecting a first subsystem and a second subsystem, said method comprising:
- providing a transmitter/receiver within said first subsystem, wherein said transmitter/ receiver includes two data inputs and two data outputs;
- providing a transmitter/receiver within said second subsystem, wherein said transmitter/ receiver includes two data inputs and two data outputs;
- receiving an indication of an operational mode selected for a transmitter/receiver within said first subsystem;
- in response to a receipt of an indication indicating that said transmitter/receiver within said first subsystem should be operated in a bidirectional mode, transmitting a first set of output data from said transmitter/receiver within said first subsystem to said second subsystem over a first transmission line coupled to said transmitter/receiver within said first subsystem while simultaneously receiving a first set of input data from paid second subsystem via said first transmission line, and transmitting a second set of output data from said transmitter/receiver within said first subsystem to said second subsystem over a second transmission line coupled to said transmitter/receiver within said first subsystem while simultaneously receiving a second set of input data from said second subsystem via said second transmission line;
- and
- in response to a receipt of an indication indicating that said transmitter/receiver within said first subsystem should be operated in an unidirectional mode, transmitting said first set of output data from said transmitter/receiver within said first subsystem to said second subsystem over said second transmission line while simultaneously receiving said first set of input data from said second subsystem via said first transmission line.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.