US 8,274,972 B2 · Communication system with switchable connection

Abstract

A communication system is provided, including a first master device to operate as a master of a communication according to a first protocol, a second master device to operate as a master of a communication according to a second protocol, a common slave device to operate as a slave of the communication according to the first protocol and the second protocol with respect to the first master device and the second master device, and a switch to control a connection between the common slave device and the first master device and between the common slave device and the second master device for a communication between the common slave device and one of the first master device to and the second master device. Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a communication system that minimizes cost increases and improves communication speed in a system in which a plurality of master devices communicate with a slave device performing the same function as the master devices.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A communication system, comprising:

a first master device to operate as a master of a first communication according to a first protocol;
a second master device to operate as a master of a second communication according to a second protocol;
a common slave device to operate as a slave of the communications according to the first protocol and the second protocol with respect to the first master device and the second master device;
and
a switch electrically coupled between the common slave device and the first master device, and between the common slave device and the second master device, for selectively controlling the communication between the common slave device and any one of the first master device and the second master device,
wherein the common slave device is coupled to only one of the first master device and the second master device,
wherein any one of the first protocol and the second protocol comprises an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) communication protocol, and wherein the second protocol is different from the first protocol.

4 more elements

A method of controlling a communication system having a plurality of master devices that communicate with a common slave device performing the same function as the master devices, comprising:

controlling a first master device of the plurality of master devices to operate as a master of a first communication according to a first protocol;
controlling a second master device of the plurality of master devices to operate as a master of a second communication according to a second protocol;
controlling the common slave device to operate as a slave of the communications according to the first protocol and the second protocol with respect to the first master device and the second master device;
and
controlling a switch electrically coupled between the common slave device and the first master device, and between the common slave device and the second master device, for selectively controlling the communication between the common slave device and any one of the first master device and the second master device,
wherein the common slave device is coupled to only one of the first master device and the second master device,
wherein any one of the first protocol and the second protocol comprises an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) communication protocol, and wherein the second protocol is different from the first protocol.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Communication system with switchable connection

Life of this patent

Communication system with switchable connection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14