US5568046A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inactive state termination tester
Assignee: Methode Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-16
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Granted: 1996-10-22
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Expires: 2014-12-16
Abstract
Abstract An inactive state termination tester for determining the number of terminators connected to a bus when the bus is inactive. The termination tester monitors the bus for determining when it is inactive. During the periods of bus inactivity, the termination tester senses the bus to determine the number of terminators connected to the bus. The termination tester then displays how many terminators were detected and/or generates a signal to either enable or disable, respectively, a controllable bus terminator depending on if there are not enough or too many terminators determined to be connected to the bus. Furthermore, the termination tester maintains the controllable bus terminator in the proper enable or disabled mode whenever bus activity resumes.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis M. Samela
- 👤 Joseph R. Llorens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/2205; G06F11/221; G06F11/30; G06F11/3003; G06F11/3027; G06F11/3051
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
An inactive state termination tester for determining the number of terminators connected to a bus, said inactive state termination tester comprising: a) means for detecting bus inactivity to produce a bus inactivity signal; b) means for detecting said number of terminators connected to said bus, when said bus inactivity signal is received, to produce a terminator detection signal corresponding to said number or terminators connected to said bus; c) means for providing a signal for terminator enablement or disablement, respectively, depending on if there are not enough or too many terminators detected on said bus; and d) means for generating a signal to maintain terminator enablement or disablement whenever bus activity is resumed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
An inactive state termination tester for determining the number of terminators connected to a bus, said inactive state termination tester comprising: a) means for detecting bus inactivity to produce a bus inactivity signal; b) means for detecting said number of terminators connected to said bus, when said bus inactivity signal is received, to produce a terminator detection signal corresponding to said number or terminators connected to said bus; c) means for providing a signal for terminator enablement or disablement, respectively, depending on if there are not enough or too many terminators detected on said bus; and d) means for generating a signal to maintain terminator enablement or disablement whenever bus activity is resumed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 1, which further comprises means for providing a display corresponding to said terminator detection signal to indicate said number of terminators connected to said bus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 1, further comprising a controllable bus terminator which is enabled or disabled, respectively, depending on if there are not enough or too many terminators detected on said bus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 1, which further comprises means for determining if power is applied to said inactive state termination tester.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
An inactive state termination tester for determining the number of terminators connected to a SCSI bus, said inactive state termination tester comprising: a) means for detecting when the SCSI bus is inactive to produce a SCSI bus inactivity signal; b) means for determining the number of terminators connected to said SCSI bus, when said SCSI bus inactivity signal is received, to produce a terminator detection signal corresponding to said number of terminators connected to said SCSI bus; c) means for providing a signal for SCSI bus terminator enablement or disablement, respectively, depending on if there are not enough or too many terminators detected on said SCSI bus; and d) means for generating a signal to maintain SCSI bus terminator enablement or disablement whenever SCSI bus activity is resumed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
An inactive state termination tester for determining the number of terminators connected to a SCSI bus, said inactive state termination tester comprising: a) means for detecting when the SCSI bus is inactive to produce a SCSI bus inactivity signal; b) means for determining the number of terminators connected to said SCSI bus, when said SCSI bus inactivity signal is received, to produce a terminator detection signal corresponding to said number of terminators connected to said SCSI bus; c) means for providing a signal for SCSI bus terminator enablement or disablement, respectively, depending on if there are not enough or too many terminators detected on said SCSI bus; and d) means for generating a signal to maintain SCSI bus terminator enablement or disablement whenever SCSI bus activity is resumed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 5, wherein said SCSI bus inactivity detection means comprises a voltage divider connected to the BUSY signal and the SELECT signal of said SCSI bus to provide a voltage divider output to indicate that said SCSI bus is inactive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 6, wherein said SCSI bus inactivity detection means further comprises means for comparing said voltage divider output to a voltage reference to provide said SCSI bus inactivity signal when said voltage divider output is greater than said voltage reference.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 5, wherein said means for determining the number of terminators comprises: a) means for sensing the number of terminators connected to said SCSI bus to provide a sense output corresponding to said number of terminators connected to said SCSI bus; and b) means for connecting said sensing means to said SCSI bus when said SCSI bus inactivity signal is received.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 8, wherein said means for determining the number of terminators further comprises means for amplifying said sense output corresponding to said number of terminators detected on said SCSI bus to provide said terminator detection signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 5, which further comprises means for providing a display corresponding to said terminator detection signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 10, wherein said means for providing a display comprises means for visually displaying when less than one terminator is indicated by said terminator detection signal as being connected to said SCSI bus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 10, wherein said means of providing a display comprises means for visually displaying when more than two terminators are indicated by said terminator detection signal as being connected to said SCSI bus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 10, wherein said means of providing a display comprises means for visually displaying when two terminators are indicated by said terminator detection signal as being connected to said SCSI bus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 10, wherein said means of providing a display comprises means for displaying when one, two, or three or more terminators are indicated by said terminator detection signal as being connected to said SCSI bus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 5, wherein said inactive state termination tester further includes: a) means for comparing said terminator detection signal to a reference voltage to provide a display signal indicating said number of terminators connected to said SCSI bus; and b) means for illuminating an LED corresponding to said display signal indicating said number of terminators connected to said SCSI bus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
83 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 5, wherein said signal providing means comprises: a) means for comparing said termination detection signal to a reference voltage to provide at least one signal corresponding to said number of terminators connected to said SCSI bus; b) means for determining if terminators should be enabled or disabled from said SCSI bus; and c) means for latching said enabling or disabling signal corresponding to if said SCSI bus terminators should be enabled or disabled from said bus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
96 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 5, wherein said signal generating means comprises: a) a voltage divider connected to the BUSY and the SELECT signal of said SCSI bus to provide a voltage divider output to indicate that said SCSI bus is active; b) means for comparing said voltage divider output to a voltage reference to provide a SCSI bus activity signal when said voltage divider output is greater than said voltage reference; and c) means for inverting said SCSI bus activity signal to produce said signal to maintain SCSI bus terminator enablement or disablement.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 5, further comprising a SCSI controllable bus terminator which is enabled or disabled, respectively, depending on if there are not enough or too many terminators determined to be connected to said SCSI bus.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The inactive state termination tester of claim 5, which further comprises means for determining if power is applied to said inactive state termination tester.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for determining the number of terminators connected to a bus, said method comprising the steps of: a) detecting bus inactivity; b) determining the number of terminators connected to said bus during bus inactivity; c) providing a signal for controllable bus terminator enablement or disablement, respectively, depending on if there are not enough or too many terminators determined to be connected to said bus; and d) generating a signal to maintain SCSI bus terminator enablement or disablement whenever SCSI bus activity is resumed.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for determining the number of terminators connected to a bus, said method comprising the steps of: a) detecting bus inactivity; b) determining the number of terminators connected to said bus during bus inactivity; c) providing a signal for controllable bus terminator enablement or disablement, respectively, depending on if there are not enough or too many terminators determined to be connected to said bus; and d) generating a signal to maintain SCSI bus terminator enablement or disablement whenever SCSI bus activity is resumed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 20, which further includes displaying said number of terminators connected to said bus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 20, which further includes enabling or disabling, respectively, a controllable bus terminator depending on if there are not enough or too many terminators determined to be connected to said bus.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-22 | 2000-04-22 | 2000-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-22 | 2004-04-22 | 2004-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-22 | 2008-04-22 | 2008-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |