Echelon Corporation

Broadcom Corporation

Donald D Baumann

Stephen F Dreyer

Kurt A Stoll

Rod G Sinks

W Mike Berke

Subhas Bothra

Philip H Sutterlin

Kenneth T Small

G Michael Hey

Embodiments of the present invention provide an integrated circuit (IC) in which power to input output (IO) drivers may be distributed within unused areas over macro processing circuits. This IC includes a long distance power and ground distribution network, an input output (IO) power and ground distribution network, a number of macro processing circuits, and IO circuits. The long distance power and ground distribution network electrically couples to the IO power and ground distribution network. Both the power and ground distribution networks may be located within the upper level conductive layers. IO power and ground distribution network locally supplies power and ground to IO circuits. Macro processing circuits may be located beneath the power distribution network as some macro processing circuits do not require access to upper level conductive layers. By placing these macro processing circuits beneath these power distribution networks, die size may be reduced.

I/O driver power distribution method for reducing silicon area

A toroidal transformer for a communications application where a first winding is wound on the core. A separator comprising a pair of annular-shaped cups then encloses the core and first winding. A second winding is wound on the outer surface of the separator. The separator, fabricated from a low K material, provides substantial reduction in the capacitance between the first and second winding.

Electrical transformer for use with twisted pair

A transceiver module for coupling between cells in a distributed intelligence network and a twisted pair line. The module receives power from the line and provides power to its respective cell. At the end of transmitting a packet, the transceiver transmits a code violation, then an anti-code violation to dissipate energy in the line. This is followed by clamping the line for the dead time between packets. N transceivers may be connected (without a cell) to form a repeater. The transceiver module may be used in a network having free topology; that is, an ideal transmission line, with terminators is not needed.

Method and apparatus for interfacing between a twisted pair and an

A node power isolator for connecting a node of a two conductor transmission line network such as a twisted pair line to the network so as to enable the DC powering of the node from the network itself without significantly diminishing the signal levels on the network or interfering with the node's ability to receive signals from or transmit signals on the network. Current flow through the power isolator is through a transistor coupled in series with each transmission line to node connection, with the base to emitter voltage of the transistor clamped to be substantially constant at the signaling frequencies of interest, either directly by a capacitor connected there across, another circuit having a capacitor connected between the base and the emitter of another transistor or both. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Power coupler for coupling power from a transmission line to a node

A transceiver for transmitting and receiving digital data represented as stair-stepped sinusoidal waveforms over twisted pair lines interconnecting nodes of a network. The transmitter of the transceiver converts square waves into the stair stepped sinusoidal waveforms by utilizing a number of current sources for supplying differing amounts of current to a resistor coupled across the twisted pair lines. Shift registers control a set of switches which control the direction and the amount of current flowing through the resistor. Thereby, the output voltage across the resistor can be controlled to produce the stair-stepped sinusoidal waveform by clocking the digital signal to the shift registers. The receiver of the transceiver re-converts received stair-stepped sinusoidal waveforms back to their respective digital signals.

Transceiver for transmitting and receiving stair-stepped sinusoidal

A transistorized source power coupler for coupling a power source to a pair of transmission lines. DC power from the power source is conducted by the transistorized source power coupler to the transmission lines. Meanwhile, AC signals on the transmission lines are isolated from the power source by the source power coupler. Consequently, the same pair of transmission lines can be used to supply power to cells of a communications system while also conducting data signals between those cells with minimal effect to the power source.

Source power coupler

A transceiver module for coupling between cells in a distributed intelligence network and a twisted pair line. The module receives power from the line and provides power to its respective cell. At the end of transmitting a packet, the transceiver transmits a code violation (pulse), then an anti-code violation (pulse of opposite polarity) to dissipate energy in the line. This is followed by clamping the line for the dead time between packets. N transceivers may be connected (without a cell) to form a repeater. The transceiver module may be used in a network having free topology; that is, an ideal transmission line, with terminators is not needed.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Donald D Baumann