Nortel Networks Corporation

Stephane Gagnon

Mark Stephen Wight

Mohammed Ismael Tatar

Kalamaljit S Masonde

Peter J Barry

A peak detector for measuring the voltage amplitude of low amplitude balanced digital signals. The N-diode peak detector uses the non-linear characteristics of a diode to convert a high speed low amplitude input signal into a DC voltage, linearly proportional to the signal amplitude (peak). A compensation circuit is designed to match the characteristics of a digital modulation signal and track over a large range of temperatures and signal amplitudes. The circuit can be used for digital and analog modulation signals. For analog signals, the peak detector uses a larger number of diodes or a reduced range.

N-diode peak detector

A message hub is provided for use in a message communication system having a plurality of nodes connected to the message hub by a data communication medium for inter-node messaging. The message hub operates in a scheduling phase and a transmission phase. In the scheduling phase, request receiving means receives a messaging request signal is received from each node. In accordance with the messaging request signal, selecting means selects a selected node in the scheduling phase. Granting means generates a grant signal to the selected node for allowing the selected node to transmit a message to the message hub on the data communication medium. The granting means also generates a listen signal to the other nodes for commanding the other nodes to listen to the data communication medium. The message hub enters in the transmission phase in which message receiving means receives a message transmitted from the selected node on the data communication medium. The message includes an end of message signal at the end of the message. The message is then broadcasted by broadcasting means to all nodes on the data communication medium so as to enter into the scheduling phase by broadcasting the end of message signal.

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Ottawa, Canada

Stephane Gagnon