Winbond Electronics Corporation

Shu-Yi Yen

Peter Chang

Chan Shen

Jao-Ching Chen

In the present invention, a PHY signal control device and a method are provided in LAN to selectively generate a specific warning data to a MAC device. When the external transmission configuration changes, the PHY signal control device and the MAC device operate under the same transmission configuration, thus avoiding possible error during transmission. The PHY signal control device mainly includes a first device and a second device, and the first device connects the PHY apparatus and the MAC device, and enables data transmission between them. The second device controls the first device to selectively transfer the general data from LAN or the warning data generated by the first device to the MAC device. Thus, when the external transmission configuration changes, the PHY apparatus soon becomes alert and adjusts to the current transmission configuration. Then the PHY apparatus sends a specific warning data to the MAC device through the second device. The transmission configuration of the MAC device is changed in response to the warning data, so the PHY apparatus and the MAC device work under the same transmission configuration as the external one to avoid transmission error. The PHY apparatus further includes a third device, a fourth device and a fifth device. The third device stores the specific warning data, the fourth device records the current transmission configuration on LAN, and the fifth device handles the general data from LAN and relays the data to the MAC device through the first device and the second device.

PHY signal control device and method for selectively generating a specific warning data

An apparatus is provided to test a device, i.e. an interface card to a computer system or an IC chip. The apparatus communicates with the computer system via a first bus and communicates with the device via a second bus. The first and second buses are standard bus such as ISA bus, EISA bus, PCI bus, and AGP bus, etc. In the apparatus, three switch circuits respectively making connection of data/address lines, power lines and a reset line of the first bus to the second bus are provided. A test program executed in the computer generates a plurality of control signal to the apparatus. A control circuit, responsive to the plurality of control signals, controls individually and selectively the turn-on of three switch circuits. By test program running in the computer system, the function test of the device can be accomplished automatically without time-consuming power-off and re-initialization of the computer system.

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Hsinchu, Taiwan

Shu-Yi Yen