Host adapter providing automatic terminator configuration

Claim 2

A host adapter adapted for inclusion into a digital computer system, the host adapter comprising: at least two connectors, each such connector belonging to a digital computer bus; a first terminator coupled to a first portion of the digital computer bus for electrically terminating the first portion of the digital computer bus, said first terminator being responsive to a first terminator control signal for enabling said first terminator and for disabling said first terminator; a second terminator coupled to a second portion of the digital computer bus, that is separate from the first portion of the digital computer bus, for electrically terminating the second portion of the digital computer bus; said second terminator being responsive to a second terminator control signal for enabling said second terminator and for disabling said second terminator; termination control logic coupled to said first terminator, to said second terminator and to said connectors: for receiving a first connection sensing signal from each such connector which indicates connection or non-connection of a device to the first portion of the digital computer bus; for receiving a second connection sensing signal from each such connector which indicates connection or non-connection of a device to the second portion of the digital computer bus; for processing the two first connection sensing signals received respectively from each of said connectors, and the two second connection sensing signals received respectively from each of said connectors; and for transmitting, in response to such connection sensing signals processing, both the first terminator control signal to said first terminator to enable or disable said first terminator, and the second terminator control signal to said second terminator to enable or disable said second terminator, whereby the host adapter automatically configures both said first terminator and said second terminator for properly terminating the digital computer bus for operation with all devices coupled to said connectors.

Claim 3

The host adapter of claim 1 wherein the digital computer bus includes only the first portion and the second portion.

Claim 4

The host adapter of claim 1 further comprising a third connector that also belongs to the digital computer bus, said termination control logic receiving from said third connector a first connection sensing signal which indicates connection or non-connection of a device to the first portion of the digital computer bus, said termination control logic processing the connection sensing signals from all three connectors, and transmitting, in response to such connection sensing signals processing, both the first terminator control signal to said first terminator to enable or disable said first terminator, and the second terminator control signal to said second terminator to enable or disable said second terminator.

Claim 5

The host adapter of claim 3 wherein said termination control logic further detects and indicates if devices are invalidly connected to the digital computer bus.

Claim 6

The host adapter of claim 4 wherein said termination control logic indicates an invalid connection of devices to the digital computer bus by activating a visible indicator included in the host adapter.

Claim 7

The host adapter of claim 4 wherein said termination control logic indicates an invalid connection of devices to the digital computer bus by providing digital data for processing by a computer program executed by a digital computer that is connected to the host adapter.

Claim 8

The host adapter of claim 1 wherein said termination control logic further detects and indicates detection of a faulty connection of a cable between a host adapter connector and a device.

Claim 9

The host adapter of claim 7 wherein said termination control logic indicates a faulty connection of a cable by activating a visible indicator included in the host adapter.

Claim 10

The host adapter of claim 7 wherein said termination control logic indicates a faulty connection of a cable by providing digital data for processing by a computer program executed by a digital computer that is connected to the host adapter.

Claim 11

A computer system comprising: a device; a digital computer bus to which said device connects; and a digital computer host system including a host adapter having at least two connectors that belong to the digital computer bus, the host adapter including: at least two connectors, each such connector belonging to a digital computer bus; a first terminator coupled to a first portion of the digital computer bus for electrically terminating the first portion of the digital computer bus, said first terminator being responsive to a first terminator control signal for enabling said first terminator and for disabling said first terminator; a second terminator coupled to a second portion of the digital computer bus, that is separate from the first portion of the digital computer bus, for electrically terminating the second portion of the digital computer bus; said second terminator being responsive to a second terminator control signal for enabling said second terminator and for disabling said second terminator; termination control logic coupled to said first terminator, to said second terminator and to said connectors: for receiving a first connection sensing signal from each such connector which indicates connection or non-connection of a device to the first portion of the digital computer bus; for receiving a second connection sensing signal from each such connector which indicates connection or non-connection of a device to the second portion of the digital computer bus; for processing the two first connection sensing signals received respectively from each of said connectors, and the two second connection sensing signals received respectively from each of said connectors; and for transmitting, in response to such connection sensing signals processing, both the first terminator control signal to said first terminator to enable or disable said first terminator, and the second terminator control signal to said second terminator to enable or disable said second terminator, whereby the host adapter automatically configures both said first terminator and said second terminator for properly terminating the digital computer bus for operation with all devices coupled to said connectors.

Claim 12

A computer system comprising: a device; a digital computer bus to which said device connects; and a digital computer host system including a host adapter having at least two connectors that belong to the digital computer bus, the host adapter including: at least two connectors, each such connector belonging to a digital computer bus; a first terminator coupled to a first portion of the digital computer bus for electrically terminating the first portion of the digital computer bus, said first terminator being responsive to a first terminator control signal for enabling said first terminator and for disabling said first terminator; a second terminator coupled to a second portion of the digital computer bus, that is separate from the first portion of the digital computer bus, for electrically terminating the second portion of the digital computer bus; said second terminator being responsive to a second terminator control signal for enabling said second terminator and for disabling said second terminator; termination control logic coupled to said first terminator, to said second terminator and to said connectors: for receiving a first connection sensing signal from each such connector which indicates connection or non-connection of a device to the first portion of the digital computer bus; for receiving a second connection sensing signal from each such connector which indicates connection or non-connection of a device to the second portion of the digital computer bus; for processing the two first connection sensing signals received respectively from each of said connectors, and the two second connection sensing signals received respectively from each of said connectors; and for transmitting, in response to such connection sensing signals processing, both the first terminator control signal to said first terminator to enable or disable said first terminator, and the second terminator control signal to said second terminator to enable or disable said second terminator, whereby the host adapter automatically configures both said first terminator and said second terminator for properly terminating the digital computer bus for operation with all devices coupled to said connectors.

Claim 13

The host adapter of claim 10 wherein the digital computer bus includes only the first portion and the second portion.

Claim 14

The host adapter of claim 10 further comprising a third connector that also belongs to the digital computer bus, said termination control logic receiving from said third connector a first connection sensing signal which indicates connection or non-connection of a device to the first portion of the digital computer bus, said termination control logic processing the connection sensing signals from all three connectors, and transmitting, in response to such connection sensing signals processing, both the first terminator control signal to said first terminator to enable or disable said first terminator, and the second terminator control signal to said second terminator to enable or disable said second terminator.

Claim 15

The host adapter of claim 12 wherein said termination control logic further detects and indicates if devices are invalidly connected to the digital computer bus.

Claim 16

The host adapter of claim 13 wherein said termination control logic indicates an invalid connection of devices to the digital computer bus by activating a visible indicator included in the host adapter.

Claim 17

The host adapter of claim 13 wherein said termination control logic indicates an invalid connection of devices to the digital computer bus by providing digital data for processing by a computer program executed by a digital computer that is connected to the host adapter.

Claim 18

The host adapter of claim 10 wherein said termination control logic further detects and indicates detection of a faulty connection of a cable between a host adapter connector and a device.

Claim 19

The host adapter of claim 16 wherein said termination control logic indicates a faulty connection of a cable by activating a visible indicator included in the host adapter.

Claim 20

The host adapter of claim 16 wherein said termination control logic indicates a faulty connection of a cable by providing digital data for processing by a computer program executed by a digital computer that is connected to the host adapter.

Claim 21

An automatic partial termination system for a digital computer bus comprising: at least two connectors, each such connector belonging to a digital computer bus; a first terminator coupled to a first portion of the digital computer bus for electrically terminating the first portion of the digital computer bus, said first terminator being responsive to a first terminator control signal for enabling said first terminator and for disabling said first terminator; a second terminator coupled to a second portion of the digital computer bus, that is separate from the first portion of the digital computer bus, for electrically terminating the second portion of the digital computer bus; said second terminator being responsive to a second terminator control signal for enabling said second terminator and for disabling said second terminator; termination control logic coupled to said first terminator, to said second terminator and to said connectors: for receiving a first connection sensing signal from each such connector which indicates connection or non-connection of a device to the first portion of the digital computer bus; for receiving a second connection sensing signal from each such connector which indicates connection or non-connection of a device to the second portion of the digital computer bus; for processing the two first connection sensing signals received respectively from each of said connectors, and the two second connection sensing signals received respectively from each of said connectors; and for transmitting, in response to such connection sensing signals processing, both the first terminator control signal to said first terminator to enable or disable said first terminator, and the second terminator control signal to said second terminator to enable or disable said second terminator, whereby the automatic partial termination system automatically configures both said first terminator and said second terminator for properly terminating the digital computer bus for operation with all devices coupled to said connectors.

Claim 22

An automatic partial termination system for a digital computer bus comprising: at least two connectors, each such connector belonging to a digital computer bus; a first terminator coupled to a first portion of the digital computer bus for electrically terminating the first portion of the digital computer bus, said first terminator being responsive to a first terminator control signal for enabling said first terminator and for disabling said first terminator; a second terminator coupled to a second portion of the digital computer bus, that is separate from the first portion of the digital computer bus, for electrically terminating the second portion of the digital computer bus; said second terminator being responsive to a second terminator control signal for enabling said second terminator and for disabling said second terminator; termination control logic coupled to said first terminator, to said second terminator and to said connectors: for receiving a first connection sensing signal from each such connector which indicates connection or non-connection of a device to the first portion of the digital computer bus; for receiving a second connection sensing signal from each such connector which indicates connection or non-connection of a device to the second portion of the digital computer bus; for processing the two first connection sensing signals received respectively from each of said connectors, and the two second connection sensing signals received respectively from each of said connectors; and for transmitting, in response to such connection sensing signals processing, both the first terminator control signal to said first terminator to enable or disable said first terminator, and the second terminator control signal to said second terminator to enable or disable said second terminator, whereby the automatic partial termination system automatically configures both said first terminator and said second terminator for properly terminating the digital computer bus for operation with all devices coupled to said connectors.

Claim 23

The automatic partial termination system of claim 19 wherein the digital computer bus includes only the first portion and the second portion.

Claim 24

The automatic partial termination system of claim 19 further comprising a third connector that also belongs to the digital computer bus, said termination control logic receiving from said third connector a first connection sensing signal which indicates connection or non-connection of a device to the first portion of the digital computer bus, said termination control logic processing the connection sensing signals from all three connectors, and transmitting, in response to such connection sensing signals processing, both the first terminator control signal to said first terminator to enable or disable said first terminator, and the second terminator control signal to said second terminator to enable or disable said second terminator.

Claim 25

The automatic partial termination system of claim 21 wherein said termination control logic further detects and indicates if devices are invalidly connected to the digital computer bus.

Claim 26

The automatic partial termination system of claim 22 wherein said termination control logic indicates an invalid connection of devices to the digital computer bus by activating a visible indicator included in the automatic partial termination system.

Claim 27

The automatic partial termination system of claim 22 wherein said termination control logic indicates an invalid connection of devices to the digital computer bus by providing digital data for processing by a computer program executed by a digital computer that is connected to the automatic partial termination system.

Claim 28

The automatic partial termination system of claim 19 wherein said termination control logic further detects and indicates detection of a faulty connection of a cable between a automatic partial termination system connector and a device.

Claim 29

The automatic partial termination system of claim 25 wherein said termination control logic indicates a faulty connection of a cable by activating a visible indicator included in the automatic partial termination system.

Claim 30

The automatic partial termination system of claim 25 wherein said termination control logic indicates a faulty connection of a cable by providing digital data for processing by a computer program executed by a digital computer that is connected to the automatic partial termination system.