The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 14, 2020
Filed:
Feb. 02, 2018
Takuya Kemmochi, Kanagawa, JP;
Junichi Shimoda, Tokyo, JP;
Kazushi Takei, Kanagawa, JP;
Tomohide Kondoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Tetsuya Hara, Tokyo, JP;
Takuya Kemmochi, Kanagawa, JP;
Junichi Shimoda, Tokyo, JP;
Kazushi Takei, Kanagawa, JP;
Tomohide Kondoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Tetsuya Hara, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Switch units control ON and OFF of communication between a master device and slave devices. Signal levels of communication lines between switch units and slave devices are maintained at a predetermined level. A switch unit in a first stage is turned on and off by a first switch control signal. A switch unit in a second stage is turned on and off by a switch control signal generated based on a level of a communication line in the first stage and the first switch control signal. A switch unit in each of subsequent stages is turned on and off by a switch control signal generated based on a level of a communication line in a preceding stage and a switch control signal in a second preceding stage. A portion of ground short circuit is identified based on states of communication between the master device and the slave devices.