Level One Communications, Inc.

Haim Shafir

Stefan M Wurster

David T Chan

Joseph E Heideman

Ralph E Andersson

David S Wong

Mark T Feuerstraeter

Cecil Aswell

Daniel L Ray

Cheng C Shih

Dave Wong

Joe Heideman

Cheng-chung Shih

An inter-repeater backplane that allows seamless integration of multiple repeaters into a single hub and wherein each repeater may be swapped out without causing the backplane to crash, hang-up or pass error messages. The mixed signal state machines operate in conjunction with the dual analog, digital collision signaling scheme so that repeaters can be removed from the hub without causing the remaining repeaters in the hub to malfunction. Additional drivers or external glue logic are not needed for arbitration because PORTN and PORTM information is embedded within the backplane signals. Thus, the backplane scheme according to the present invention is completely seamless. The present invention provides a bus of electrically conductive signal lines coupled between repeaters for communicating electrical signals therebetween, collision signaling scheme that uses both analog and digital signals to convey state machine information to adjacent repeaters over the bus, collision force scheme for indicating transmit collision over the bus, monitor scheme for determining when transmit collision and PORTM conditions occur and mixed signal state machines for implementing the functions of the repeaters and controlling the transitions on the backplane. Thus, the unique analog digital backplane combination in conjunction with the repeater/IRB state machine makes bus arbitration unnecessary.

Inter-repeater backplane for allowing hot-swapping of individual

A system consisting of a repeater management function and media access control into a single device. The repeater management functions and the media access control may also be combined with bridging support functions. The repeater management function uses a repeater management interface to control information transferred to an access port and to control repeater functions under direction of access port and monitor repeater function and provide status via access port and to control the bridge support function. The bridge function controls information transferred through a bridge port. The MAC function transfers information between the repeater data port and the MAC port (transmit/receive). The integration of the media access controller and repeater management into a single device is independent of the implementation of any of the ports.

Method and apparatus for integrating repeater management, media access

An inter-repeater backplane employs both analog and digital circuitry to convey state machine information to adjacent repeaters thereby allowing seamless integration of multiple repeaters into a single hub without requiring additional drivers or external glue logic. A data path allows the passage of data between multiple repeaters on the inter-repeater backplane and an inter-repeater backplane enable allows individual repeaters to take control of the inter-repeater backplane data bus. An inter-repeater backplane driver enables external bus drivers which may be required in synchronous systems with large backplanes. An inter-repeater backplane clock is used to synchronize multiple repeaters on the inter-repeater backplane. Only two leads (IRCOL and IRCFS) are used to provide transmit and receive collision information. These two leads in conjunction with IRENA also indicate which repeater is receiving data. The transmit and receive collision information is presented on the backplane in a manner that is both analog and digital in nature.

Inter-repeater backplane with mixed signal state machine interconnect

A transconductor-C filter that has coarse and fine control mechanisms allowing for both high speed and high current filtering of the same signal. The filter uses a current controlled oscillator and filter elements that have switchable amplification devices enabling the circuit to adapt to external and internal conditions in real-time. An equalizer is described utilizing the transconductor-C element. Finally, a Phase Locked Loop for providing the control signals to the transconductor-C element is also described.

Transconductor-C filter element with coarse and fine adjustment

An inter-repeater backplane that may operate in either a synchronous or asynchronous mode for data transmission. The inter-repeater backplane includes a bus of electrical signal conductors coupled between repeaters for communicating electrical signals and data transmission mode detector for determining whether to transmit data synchronously or asynchronously. Data is recovered from a received data packet and is reframed for transmission across the inter-repeater backplane. According to which mode of data transmission is selected, the data is then retimed and transmitted across the backplane. In the synchronous mode of data transmission, the data is synchronized with the system clock. When the asynchronous mode of data transmission is selected, the data is transmitted asynchronously with respect to the system clock. In the asynchronous mode, the recovered data is timed with a clock signal associated with the transmitting repeater.

Inter-repeater backplane with synchronous/asynchronous dual mode

A pair of electrical display elements, LEDs, is driven by a three-state buffer driver circuit. The LEDs have associated current-limiting resistors. The driver circuit applies different selected voltage levels at different selected predetermined frequencies to the LEDs. By having two predetermined frequencies to a pair of LEDs, there can be exhibited at least five different display conditions from the pair of LEDs.

Electrical display elements for displaying multiple different conditions

An inter-repeater backplane that allows either synchronous or asynchronous data transmission between multiple repeaters integrated into a single hub and enables any repeater to be swapped out without causing the backplane to crash, hang-up, or pass error messages. A dual analog, digital collision signaling scheme is utilized to obviate the need for additional drivers or external glue logic for arbitration. 'the specific port of a hub receiving data (PORTN)'. and The one port left state (PORTM) information is embedded within the backplane signals. Thus, the backplane scheme according to the present invention is completely seamless. Unique state machines enable the repeater to transmit data either synchronously or asynchronously. In the synchronous mode of data transmission, the data is synchronized with the system clock. When the asynchronous mode of data transmission is selected, the recovered data is synchronized with a clock signal associated with the transmitting repeater. Mixed signal state machines operate in conjunction with the dual analog, digital collision signaling scheme to prevent malfunctions when individual repeaters are swapped or removed. The mixed signal state machines implement the functions of the repeaters and control the transitions on the backplane. Thus, the unique analog digital backplane combination in conjunction with the repeater inter-repeater blackplane (IRB) state machine makes bus arbitration unnecessary.

Inter-repeater backplane

A data communication system employing predetermined equalized waveforms for transmit equalization is disclosed. Serial NRZ data is received from a network controller and utilized to select from memory its equivalent as predistorted and filtered Manchester encoded data. Predetermined waveforms in memory are representative of the analog waveform produced when predistorted digital Manchester encoded data is passed through a high order transmit filter. Data from memory drives a digital to analog converter (DAC) to reconstruct the waveforms into analog form. A line driver having an integrated single pole low pass filter impresses the equalized waveform on to the transmission line.

System and method employing predetermined waveforms for transmit

A local area network (LAN) having a 10Base-T media attachment unit (MAU) is disclosed for coupling an attachment unit interface (AUI) to a twisted pair link through an AUI port of the 10Base-T MAU. In addition to meeting or exceeding standards set forth in the proposed supplement (P802.3I/D10) to IEEE standard 802.3 for LANs, the MAU provides an interface between the AUI and a RJ45 (twisted pair) connector which auto-engages when activity is detected on the twisted pair link. Lack of activity on the twisted pair link forces the 10Base-T MAU to isolate its AUI port from the AUI. An Ethernet (coaxial) type MAU commonly connected with the 10Base-T MAU at the AUI may be utilized without manual intervention when the twisted pair link is inactive.

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Sacramento, CA, United States of America

Haim Shafir