Methode Electronics, Incorporated

Other

Stratos Lightwave, Inc.

Francis M Samela

Joseph R Llorens

William L Zuckerman

Robert Skepnek

Raul Medina

The invention relates to an interface module, such as a Giga-Bit Interface Converter module, provided to mate within a host device chassis where, at the rear of the mounting slot, a first connector engages a host socket of the host device. According to the invention, the first connector include sequential mating contact traces on a contact beam of a substrate such that when the module is inserted into the corresponding host socket, certain contacts are connected in a pre-defined sequence such that a first set of contacts electrically engages prior to a second set of contacts which electrically engages prior to a third set of contacts. In further accord with the present invention, the first set of contacts includes grounding contacts, the second set includes contacts for powering the substrate and the third set includes signal contacts. An advantage of this sequence is that the GBIC is grounded before it is powered and powered before it begins passing signals thus eliminating the damage to the GBIC encountered under the GBIC-to-host contact sequence given in the prior art GBIC specification.

Modified contact traces for interface converter

An interface is provided, the interface having at least two form factors&mdash;one for interfacing to a connector on a fiber channel drive and one or more other form factors for interfacing to one or more other styles of connectors. The first form factor is on a first part of the printed circuit board and the others are on a second part of the printed circuit board. Further, the first part of the printed circuit board is on one side of the printed circuit board and the other part of the printed circuit board is on an opposite side. Further, one or more non-SCA connectors are mounted on a front side of a substrate for receiving one or more non-SCA style connectors and an SCA2 receptacle is mounted on the back side of the substrate for interfacing the non-SCA connector an SCA connector on a fiber channel cable. Further, the non-SCA2 connector can include a DB9 receptacle, a high speed serial data connector (HSSDC), or RJ-45. Further, the fiber channel drive can receive a media interface adapter (MIA).

Fiber channel drive adapter

A system and a method are provided for conversion of a display of a computer monitor from VGA signals to NTSC signals for display on a television screen. The system implements a circuit which reduces flicker in the output of the NTSC screen. The system includes an input device for inputting a signal in an identifiable mode to stored non-interlaced data relating to the VGA image signals in field memory areas. The VGA image signals are converted in the field memory areas stored to interlaced NTSC image signals. A controller controls the storage and conversion of the VGA signals to NTSC image signals in field memory areas to produce an output.

VGA to NTSC converter and a method for converting VGA image to NTSC

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.

Inactive state termination tester

An SCSI bus line apparatus including in combination at least two of any of an active deassertion (ADR) circuit, a signal line impedance matching (SLIM) circuit and a signal line increased circuit kicker (SLICK) circuit. In the ADR circuit, if a current sinking circuit senses an increased voltage on the common node of the signal lines of a bus due to active deassertion of a signal line, the current sinking circuit sinks enough current from the signal lines to prevent an over-current condition on asserted signal lines or soon-to-be asserted signal lines. In the SLIM circuit, transient voltages are removed from a signal line by limiting to within a range the voltages that can appear on the signal line. In the SLICK circuit, a current switching device is controlled to provide current to raise the voltage level of a notch occurring in a signal on a signal line when the line is deasserted, but is responsive to a monitoring circuit for disconnecting the current when a programmed length of time has been exceeded after assertion.

Combination of terminator apparatus enhancements

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.

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.

An active deassertion circuit is a device that prevents signal lines used with a communications protocol from drawing too much current. Thus, the device prevents the driver(s) of the signal lines from malfunctioning and/or being damaged. The active deassertion circuit is comprised of a voltage regulator, with peripheral connections, coupled to a transistor that is used to sink excess current. The function of these elements ensures that no asserted signal line draws too much current if another signal line is actively deasserted. A method of using the active deassertion circuit is also disclosed.

Active deassertion circuit

A terminator apparatus used with a SCSI bus line controls the voltage level of a notch occurring in data and/or control signals transferred on the bus line. The terminator apparatus includes a termination network, a current switching device, and a programmed monitoring circuit. The termination network generates a first current. The current switching device generates a second current. The monitoring circuit controls a programmed length of time that the second current is generated. The current switching device is responsive to the monitoring circuit for disconnecting the second current when the programmed length of time has been exceeded. The second current serves to raise the voltage level of the notch occurring in the signal lines when they are deasserted so as to prevent erroneous data from being transferred.

Growing community of inventors

Lombard, IL, United States of America

Francis M Samela