US4647912A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coupling discriminator and interface adaptor
Assignee: Techsearch LLC
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Filing: 1985-12-20
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Granted: 1987-03-03
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Expires: 2005-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A coupling discriminator for Ethernet standard local area network interface equipment monitors the electrical characteristics of an incoming differential signal pair, discriminates between a signal pair that is direct coupled and a pair that is transformer coupled, and configures the interface equipment for operation with the type of coupling detected.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger D. Bates
- 👤 Merlin R. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:27
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/407; H04L12/413
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A data communication system comprising: a communicating medium; a device generating and receiving data and connectable to said communicating medium through selectable interface circuits; means for coupling said device to said communicating medium, said coupling means including driver means; means in said device for detecting signal coupling characteristics of said driver means; and means for enabling interface circuits in said device compatible with signal coupling characteristics of said driver means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A data communication system comprising: a communicating medium; a device generating and receiving data and connectable to said communicating medium through selectable interface circuits; means for coupling said device to said communicating medium, said coupling means including driver means; means in said device for detecting signal coupling characteristics of said driver means; and means for enabling interface circuits in said device compatible with signal coupling characteristics of said driver means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The data communication system of claim 1 wherein said detecting means comprises a comparator circuit which discriminates between a DC coupled signal and an AC coupled signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
In an CSMA/CD local area data communication network having a plurality of devices connected for communication through a corresponding plurality of transceivers coupling the devices to a communicating medium, a method of configuring a device for operation with a transceiver having unknown coupling characteristics comprising the steps of: monitoring a differential collision signal coupled to the device; detecting from the monitored collision signal whether a transceiver utilizes a direct coupled driver circuit or a transformer coupled driver circuit; and configuring the device to operate with the type of driver circuit detected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
In an CSMA/CD local area data communication network having a plurality of devices connected for communication through a corresponding plurality of transceivers coupling the devices to a communicating medium, a method of configuring a device for operation with a transceiver having unknown coupling characteristics comprising the steps of: monitoring a differential collision signal coupled to the device; detecting from the monitored collision signal whether a transceiver utilizes a direct coupled driver circuit or a transformer coupled driver circuit; and configuring the device to operate with the type of driver circuit detected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
A data communication system having a user device connected for communication with other devices by way of a communicating medium, each of the user devices being coupled to the communicating medium through a corresponding transceiver, the transceivers having drivers which may be either direct coupled or transformer coupled, wherein the improvement comprises: circuit means in the device for sensing coupling characteristics of a transceiver to which the device is connected; and means responsive to the sensing means for selecting device interface circuits compatible with the coupling characteristics detected of the transceiver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
A data communication system having a user device connected for communication with other devices by way of a communicating medium, each of the user devices being coupled to the communicating medium through a corresponding transceiver, the transceivers having drivers which may be either direct coupled or transformer coupled, wherein the improvement comprises: circuit means in the device for sensing coupling characteristics of a transceiver to which the device is connected; and means responsive to the sensing means for selecting device interface circuits compatible with the coupling characteristics detected of the transceiver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The data communication system of claim 4, wherein the sensing means comprises a comparator circuit having inputs connected to a differential signal representing collision data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The data communication system of claim 5 wherein said comparator circuit comprises a differential amplifier having inverting and non-inverting inputs connected to receive said differential signal for providing a first differential amplifier output level in response to a steady state d.c. differential signal, and means for biasing said inverting and non-inverting inputs for producing a second differential amplifier output level in the absence of a steady state d.c. differential signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-03-02 | 1990-09-01 | 1991-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-02 | 1994-09-01 | 1995-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-02 | 1998-09-01 | 1999-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |