US4987578A — Mask programmable bus control gate array

Claim 1

Independent Claim 120 words

A customizable communications bus control gate array for facilitating communications between device on two disparate digital communications channels comprising a mask programmable integrated circuit having a first I/O interface means for connection to said first communications channel, a second I/O interface means for connection to said second communications channel, translating means operatively connected to each of said I/O interface means for translating the electrical signals therebetween, and logic control means including electrical I/O control means and information control means, said logic control means being operatively connected to both of said I/O interface means and to said translating means for respectively regulating electrical performance of each I/O interface means, and the direction and timing of information flow between said communications channels.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 120 words

A customizable communications bus control gate array for facilitating communications between device on two disparate digital communications channels comprising a mask programmable integrated circuit having a first I/O interface means for connection to said first communications channel, a second I/O interface means for connection to said second communications channel, translating means operatively connected to each of said I/O interface means for translating the electrical signals therebetween, and logic control means including electrical I/O control means and information control means, said logic control means being operatively connected to both of said I/O interface means and to said translating means for respectively regulating electrical performance of each I/O interface means, and the direction and timing of information flow between said communications channels.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The gate array in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said communications channels is adapted to use a TTL electrical characteristics standard.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 23 words

The gate array in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said communications channels is adapted to use an ECL electrical characteristics standard.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

The gate array in accordance with claim 3 wherein said ECL electrical characteristics standard is 10KH compatible.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

The gate array in accordance with claim 3 wherein said ECL electrical characteristics standard is 100KH compatible.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

The gate array in accordance with claim 2 wherein the other of said communications channels is adapted to use an ECL electrical characteristics standard.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

The gate array in accordance with claim 6 wherein said ECL electrical characteristics standard is 10KH compatible.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 17 words

The gate array in accordance with claim 3 wherein said ECL electrical characteristics standard is 100KH compatible.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 28 words

The gate array in accordance with claim 1, wherein said logic control means further comprises storage means for temporarily storing information provided by one of said communications channels.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 23 words

The gate array in accordance with claim 9 wherein said information control means is further adapted to regulate operation of said storage means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

The gate array in accordance with claim 1, wherein said information control means further comprises data manipulation means for handling information from one of said communications channels.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

The gate array in accordance with claim 11 wherein said data manipulation means comprises means for performing error detection.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The gate array in accordance with claim 12 wherein said means for performing error detection comprises means for performing parity checking.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 153 words

An interface for allowing a device connected to one communications bus and adapted to operate in accordance with first electrical characteristics based on ECL logic protocol to communicate with another device connected to another communications bus and adapted to operate in accordance with second electrical characteristics based on TTL logic protocol, comprising: (a) first I/O mask programmable interface means operatively connected to a first bus; (b) second I/O mask programmable interface means operatively connected to a second bus; and (c) logic control means comprising translating means for translating electrical signals from ECL to TTL logic and from TTL to ECL logic, and electrical I/O control means operatively connected to said first and to said second I/O interface means for facilitating and regulating information flow therebetween, said logic control means being mask programmable to facilitate customizing said interface in accordance with predetermined criteria which are functions of said first and said second electrical characteristics.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 153 words

An interface for allowing a device connected to one communications bus and adapted to operate in accordance with first electrical characteristics based on ECL logic protocol to communicate with another device connected to another communications bus and adapted to operate in accordance with second electrical characteristics based on TTL logic protocol, comprising: (a) first I/O mask programmable interface means operatively connected to a first bus; (b) second I/O mask programmable interface means operatively connected to a second bus; and (c) logic control means comprising translating means for translating electrical signals from ECL to TTL logic and from TTL to ECL logic, and electrical I/O control means operatively connected to said first and to said second I/O interface means for facilitating and regulating information flow therebetween, said logic control means being mask programmable to facilitate customizing said interface in accordance with predetermined criteria which are functions of said first and said second electrical characteristics.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 24 words

The interface in accordance with claim 14, wherein said information control means is also adapted to synchronize said information flow between said communications buses.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

The interface in accordance with claim 15 further comprising: (d) storage means for storing information provided by one of said communications buses.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 16 words

The interface in accordance with claim 16 wherein said storage means comprises a data storage register.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

The interface in accordance with claim 16 wherein said logic control means is further adapted to control operation of said storage means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

The interface in accordance with claim 18 further comprising: (e) information handling means for manipulating data.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 20 words

The interface in accordance with claim 19 wherein said information handling means is adapted to perform arithmetic operations on data.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

The interface in accordance with claim 20 wherein said information handling means is adapted to perform error detecting operations.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 15 words

The interface in accordance with claim 21 wherein said error detecting operations comprise parity checking.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-01-21	1994-07-23	1995-01-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-01-21	1998-07-23	1999-01-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-01-21	2002-07-23	2003-01-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Mask programmable bus control gate array

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