Linear Technology Corporation

Unitrode Corporation

John H Ziegler

Robert Loren Reay

John A O'Connor

John P Bazinet

Circuits and methods for interconnecting a live backplane and at least one I/O card are provided. This invention provides interconnection circuitry that utilizes buffer circuitry to connect the data and clock busses of the backplane to the data and clock busses of the I/O card in a 'hot-swappable' fashion. Buffer circuitry also isolates the capacitance associated with the backplane from the capacitance associated with the I/O card. For example, when at least one signal is driven from the backplane to the I/O card, the signal need only overcome the capacitance associate with the backplane. Conversely, when at least one signal is driven from the I/O card to the backplane, the signal need only overcome the capacitance associated with the I/O card. Hence, this capacitive isolation facilitates signal propagation between the backplane and the I/O card.

Methods and circuitry for interconnecting data and clock busses of live backplane circuitry and input/output card circuitry, and methods and circuitry for isolating capacitanes of a live backplane from the capacitanes of at least one input/output card

An integrated circuit controller for a switching power converter implementing feed-forward and synchronization features. The controller IC has pins which permit dual functionality. The feed-forward feature is implemented with a supply voltage from an unregulated auxiliary winding which additionally powers the controller. The synchronization feature is implemented by coupling an external synchronization signal to a feedback pin of the controller IC to which a feedback signal from the output of the converter is also coupled.

Growing community of inventors

Nashua, NH, United States of America

John H Ziegler